1680 Christian, son of Peter Brächbühl and Christiana Hofstetter was baptized on September 10 at Trachselwald. [1]
Christian Brächbühl lived at Krumholtz in Trachselwald. [2]
1705 Christian Brächbühl of Krumholtz and Anna Steiner of Langnau were married on January 30 at Trachselwald. [3]
1706 Madleni, daughter of Christen Brächbul and Anna Staÿner, was baptized on November 7 with sponsors Ulli Luthi(?) and Babi Luthi(?) and Ursula Susanna at Trachselwald, Bern, Switzerland. [4] She died on 20 APR 1708.
1706 Ulli, son of Christen Brächbühl of Krumholtz and Anna Steiner, was baptized on April 29 with sponsors Hans Wutrich(?) and Niclaus (?) a young muller and and Anna Spaar of Langnau, at Trachselwald, Bern, Switzerland. [5]
1710 Christen, son of Christen Brächbühl of Krumholtz and Anna Steiner, was baptized on December 7 with sponsors Hans Brächbühl of Hans Brand of Bi(?), Mathÿs Steiner von Langnau, and Anna Mathÿs von Trub(?), at Trachselwald, Bern, Switzerland. [6]
Anna Switz has been named as the spouse of Christian Brechbill.
1754 Christian immigrated to America. [7] [8] [9]
Christen reportedly died in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania in 1761.
1712 Benedicht, son of Christen Brächbühl of Krumholtz and Anna Steiner, was baptized on December 18 with sponsors Ulli Brand son of Hans Brand of Eggiwil and Cathrina Steiner of Langnau, at Trachselwald, Bern, Switzerland. [10]
1710 "Benedicht Breckbuhl, of Trachselwald, teacher and elder at Mannheim", was one of 24 who were questioned at Amsterdam. [11]
1709 "Benedict Brechbuhl, von Trachelswald teacher and elder in Mannheim. He had been exiled previously from Bernese territory, and had gone to Germany. He returned to fetch his wife and children when he was again taken prisoner and condemned to be transported to America." [12]
1718 Benedictus Brackbill was named on the first assessment list for Conestoga, which included all of Lancaster County. [13]
1754 The estate of Benedict Brechtbill was administered in Lancaster County. [14]
1761 Benedict Breckbill received a patent for 200 acres of land in Lancaster County on May 21. The tract had been warranted by John Heer on September 25, 1728. [15] On May 23, Frances Breckbill, relationship unknown, patented 200 acres land in Lancaster County. [16]
1715 Anna, daughter of Christen Brächbul der Kelch(?see also page 225 infant 14) zu Krumholtz and Anna Steiner, was baptized on October 6 with sponsors (?) and Babi Steiner and Madleni (?) at Trachselwald, Bern, Switzerland. [17]
1720 Hans, son of Christen Brächbühl im Krumholtz der alt Kelchmeÿer and Anna Steiner, was baptized on December 18 with sponsors (?), at Trachselwald, Bern, Switzerland. [18]
Research Notes:
There are many spellings for the surname: Brächbühl Brechtbühl Brechtbuhl Brechbill Brächbühl Breckbill Brackbill.
Krumholz (also spelled Krummolz) is a German word used to describe the stunted trees that grow on exposed mountain tops above the treeline.
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): from Krumbholz 'bent timber, mountain pine', hence a metonymic occupational name for a cartwright or wheelwright.
Perhaps Krumholz is near Krumholzmatte, southeast of Sumiswald.
Perhaps Kelchmeÿer is one who takes care of the chalice at the church.
[1] Staatsarchivs des Kantons Bern, Trachselwald, K Trachselwald 03, Eherodel 1677-1724, 11, item 17, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].
[2] Richard Warren Davis, Mennosearch.com Family Notes, Brachbuhl C3, [Website].
[3] Staatsarchivs des Kantons Bern, Trachselwald, K Trachselwald 03, Eherodel 1677-1724, 328, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].
[4] Staatsarchivs des Kantons Bern, Trachselwald, K Trachselwald 03, Eherodel 1677-1724, 157, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].
[5] Staatsarchivs des Kantons Bern, Trachselwald, K Trachselwald 03, Eherodel 1677-1724, 170, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].
[6] Staatsarchivs des Kantons Bern, Trachselwald, K Trachselwald 03, Eherodel 1677-1724, 185, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].
[7] U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, [AncestryRecord].
[8] U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, [AncestryRecord].
[9] U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, [AncestryRecord].
[10] Staatsarchivs des Kantons Bern, Trachselwald, K Trachselwald 03, Eherodel 1677-1724, 195, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].
[11] Henry Frank Eshleman, Historic Background and Annals of the Swiss and German pioneer Settlers of Southeastern Pennsylvania (Lancaster, PA: 1917), 156, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].
[12] F. R. Diffenderffer, "Letters of Mennonite Clergymen," Historical Papers and Addresses of the Lancaster County Historical Society 6 (1901), 41-42, at 41, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[13] Henry Frank Eshleman, Historic Background and Annals of the Swiss and German pioneer Settlers of Southeastern Pennsylvania (Lancaster, PA: 1917), 205, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].
[14] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Letters of Administration index, [FamilySearchImage].
[15] Pennsylvania Land Patent, AA1-323, [PAPatentBookLinks].
[16] Pennsylvania Land Patent, AA1-337, [PAPatentBookLinks].
[17] Staatsarchivs des Kantons Bern, Trachselwald, K Trachselwald 03, Eherodel 1677-1724, 207, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].
[18] Staatsarchivs des Kantons Bern, Trachselwald, K Trachselwald 03, Eherodel 1677-1724, 228, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].