Son of Unknown Parents (See Below)
Born ca 15 Jun 1579- 15 Jun 1580 (1) possibly at Schlieregg-Spitzenmoos am W�denswilerberg, Z�rich, Switzerland
Died: ca mid 1648 (2) at Oetenbach Prison, Z�rich, Switzerland (here after "CH")
Married: ca Nov 1599, Hirzel(3), Horgen, ZH, CH (4)
Anna Landis (5)
Daughter of Rudolf and Anna (Bruppacher) Landis
Born: 20 May 1582, Bruderhaus, Hirzel, Horgen, CH (6) Died: 7 Apr 1657, Har�ti, Hirzel, ZH, CH aged 74 yrs 10 months 18 days (7)
1) His date of birth is derived from the Mennonite Census of 1633 that listed him as 53 years old, or born 15 Jun 1579-15 Jun 1580
2) In 1648 Conrad�s eldest son Hans was ordered to pay tax by 1649 for Conrad Strickler to receive back the property seized from him. This seems to imply that Conrad�s death had been recent to that date. The June 1649 Mennonite Census lists Conrad�s widow Annali-Strickler-Landis, living with her son Hans. It is believed that Hans never paid the tax as by July 1648 he had moved from the Bruderhaus to Har�ti, indicating the property at the Bruderhaus had been seized.
3) Until 1617, Hirzel was considered under the jurisdiction of Horgen.
4) Date based on the subtraction of 9 months to a year from the birth of the eldest child. Location of marriage is speculation as the birth of the oldest child is not listed in the register of Hirzel, but obtained from death records and later clerical surveys of Hirzel church.
5) She is almost always called Anna or Annali (little Anna) Landis. Some Landis research concludes her full name was Anna Elizabeth Landis. The source for this conclusion is unknown.
6) A clerical survey of Hirzel church lists Anna�s date of birth and her parents names. The location of her birth is believed to have been at the Bruderhaus because it is older than Chelen located above the hill from the Bruderhaus. Chelen is where Rudolf Landis later lived.
7) Death register of Hirzel, Switzerland
Over the years I have hit the same brick wall in researching the Strickler family. That brick wall reads, �Where did Conrad Strickler come from?� I have a number of theories but so far no real concrete evidence to show who Conrad�s father was or his origins. It may be that his birth will turn up in the sparse and damaged early record books of Horgen, Switzerland, from whence Hirzel was made from. However for now, no such record has been found and we can only speculate on Conrad�s lineage. Below are the three common theories outlining possible origins for Conrad Strickler.
The Theories:
1) The foremost theory is that he came from the area of Horgen/Richterswil/W�denswil where most of the early Stricklers were known to have lived. There were a few other Mennonite families who lived in that region at an early time (1570-1600). Unfortunately the earliest registers of Richterswil have been mostly destroyed by fire and yield few answers. Adding some credence to the above theory are the records of a Margaretha and Dorothea Strickler. Margaretha married a Peter Bruppacher. They lived at Spitzen (near Hirzel) and immigrated to Ibersheim, Germany, becoming some of the first Mennonites to settle there. Peter was born near W�denswil. Margaretha and Peter had one son named Conrad Bruppacher. Dorothea Strickler also lived near Spitzen and was married to Felix Ringger and had a number of children including a Conrad Ringger. This family is also closely connected to the Mennonite family of J�rg Strickler (1585-aft 1618) family who lived at Herrliberg, Horgen, ZH, CH by 1610. J�rg married Barbara Rytler and had at least three children; Abraham, Jakob and Conrad Strickler Abraham�s children immigrated to France. Herrliberg is only a short distance due east of Har�ti where the descendants of Conrad Strickler lived and just northeast of Spitzen. In 1568 Strikclers moved to Egg near Spitzen. There are a number of places near W�denswil with the designation of Egg; pronounced Eck, which simply means corner. In the context of its use the term more specifically refers to the corner of the W�denswil district. Only one with such corner appears to be on W�denswilerberg. If the correct corner of W�denswilerberg has been identified, it places the land in this lease at the intersecting boundaries of W�denswil and Hirzel at or near what is today Schlieregg-Spitzenmoos and near the previously mentioned farm of Rosenblatt.. However one must be cautious because as previously stated there were many places designated as �Egg�.
The significance of this deed and this location is that the early Stricklers Dorothea and Margaretha who later lived in Hirzel (town) had lived near Spitzen. Spitzen is the corner region of Hirzel District and abuts W�denswil at Schlieregg. Spitzen the town is itself several miles from the boundary. The Mennonite J�rg Strickler (b.c1585) lived not far from here at Herliberg. The mention of the Bruppacher family is also significant because Margaretha married Peter Bruppacher a descendant of the Peter Bruppacher mentioned in the deeds. It is known that Conrad Strickler�s sister was Margaretha who married Peter Bruppacher. When she married Margaretha lived at Har�ti where Conrad�s descendants also lived.
There was also a large settlement of Stricklers at Rosenblatt south of Spitzen and just west of Egg. Among the early Stricklers there was a Conrad Strickler. It is not impossible to think that Conrad b.1578 has some connection to the Strickler familes of Rosenblatt. In 1568 living at Rosenblatt was Hans, Hans, Wernli, Rudolph and Konrad Strickler.
2) A second dominant theory is that Conrad was from a settlement of Stricklers in the area of Menzingen in Canton, Zug. Although the early Stricklers there were Catholic and not Mennonite, their close proximity to the Bruderhaus where Conrad lived makes them a valid candidate for the ancestral clan of Conrad Strickler. Some theories suggest that the Johannes Franz Strickler (b.c1592) who is the first recorded in Menzingen in the 1630�s was a brother of Conrad Strickler b. 1578 and that they both descend from a common Strickler from W�denswilerberg. It is pointed out that Johannes Franz Strickler had a son named Konrad Strickler. However this theory does not take into account the Stricklers already living in Zug at Finstersee as an origin for the Menzingen Strickler named Johannes. It also does not account for the tradition that Johannes Franz Strickler�s father was named Melchoir Strickler who reportedly lived at Finstersee near Menzingen. Yet it is still possible that a Catholic Konrad Strickler turned Mennonite fled across the Sihl River from Menzingen to the Bruderhaus.
3) A third theory is that the Hirzel Stricklers migrated there from Cneaus. However it might actually be that Cneaus was the place of origin for the Menzingen Stricklers. Cneaus is located along the Sihl River to the north of Finstersee. The Stricklers were at Cneaus by the mid 1400�s and moved from Cneaus to Finstersee. Then it is believed that members of the family moved from Finstersee to Menzingen.
Conclusion:
Keep in mind that at this time there is no definitive answer to the question of who Konrad Strickler's parents were. Each theory has its own pros and cons. None of them have real concrete evidence to support or discount them.
However if I were to choose I would suggest the W�denswil origin theory is most likely, if for no other reason than nearly all the Stricklers at some point have ties to W�denswil.
Frank's Unofficial Unproved Theory
My own theory on the origins of Conrad Strickler combine aspects of several of the above mentioned theories.
I think the family in Rosenblatt and at Egg are the same families. And that our Conrad descends from members of this family that moved to near Spitzen.
In early 1568 we find Hans (known as Grosshans), Hans (also called Aberhans), Wernli, Rudolf and Konrad Strickler living at Rosenblatt. On 10 June 1568 a Aberhans (other Hans) Strickler appears at nearby Egg where he obtains land rights on behalf of his sons Heinrich, Peter and Kleinhans (Little Hans). In July of the same year a Grosshans Strickler obtains land rights at the Egg adjacent to land of Conrad Bruppacher, Rudolf Hotz and Aberhans Strickler.
In a deed of contract dated 15 Jul 1570 , Hans Strickler (Kleinhans) and his brother Heinrich Strickler are leased land at the corner �Egg� of W�denswilerberg. This land lies beside land of Grosshans Strickler, Heinrich Strickler (son of Grosshans), Hans Strickler (son of Grosshans, also called Aberhans), Heinrich and Hans (Klein) Strickler (sons of Aberhans) which is land beside what they already lease. Apparently this is part of the land of either Conrad Bruppacher or Rudolf Hotz. Witnesses were among others Grosshans Strickler.
Data Source I A 1585, Z�rich, Archives-W�denswil Date 15 July 1570
Date Comment Margarethentag (translation unknown) Document Book # See above
Contracting Party 1 Stampfer, Jakob, surveyor for W�denswil
Contracting Party 2 Strickler, Hans; Strickler, Heinrich
Localities W�desnwil; Egg-W�denswilerberg
Key Words W�denswil; Interest; Real Estate Property
Summary Mortgage letter of 100 pounds (interest of 5 pounds) land resting at Grosshans Strickler (old Hans) at the corner of W�denswilerberg towards the way of Heinrich Strickler (son of old Hans), again Heinrich Strickler and Hans Strickler, named sons of Hans Strickler the elder; lease for house and goods on the corner. Wintessed Heini Rusterholz, Rudolf Hotz and Grosshans Strickler (old Hans)
Notes The seal of Jakob Stampfer, surveyor for W�denswil is missing from the original lease. A document dated 13 Dec 1860 cancels the lease (the meaning of this last phrase is unknown)
Data Source I A 1523-BS, Z�rich, Archives-W�denswil Date 10 Jun 1568
Contracting Party 1 Stampfer, Jakob, surveyor for W�denswil
Contracting Party 2 Strickler, Aberhans; Strickler, Heinrich; Peter Strickler
Localities W�desnwil; Egg-W�denswilerberg ; Key Words W�denswil; Interest; Real Estate Property Summary Mortgage letter of 100 pounds (interest of 5 pounds) land by the land of Grosshans Strickler and wife Anna, at the corner of W�denswilerberg towards the way of Aberhans Strickler; Heinrich Strickler, Peter Strickler Kleinhans Strickler, named sons of Aberhans Strickler who leases on behalf of his sons; lease for house and goods on the corner. Wintessed Rudolf Hotz, Heini Rusterholz, Peter Bruppacher
Grosshans Strickler b. c1485-1500 d. c 1569 md probably Adelheid Tanner
Ressided by 1568 at Rosenblatt and then later in Egg. He may be the Grosshans Strickler
mentioned as the son of Oderhans Strickler of Fridhuebsch. Grosshans may have died
soon after 1570 as he is not mentioned further in known record.
1) Aberhans Strickler b. c 1515-1520 10 Jun 1568 mvd to Egg with at least 3 sons prosbably
married Anna Rusterholz b. c 1525 The children marked with a "?" are children of Hans
Strickler and Anna Rusterholz
a) Heinrich Strickler b. c 1543
b) Peter Strickler b. c 1545
c) Kleinhans Strickler b. c 1548
?) Anna Strickler b. 2 May 1550 d. 9 Sep 1554
?) Barbara Strickler b. 9 May 1553
?) Adelheit Strickler b. 24 Aug 1561
?) Ulrich Strickler b. 1 May 1566 md Verena Hoehn
1) Werner Strickler b. 25 May 1595
2) Hans Heinrich Strickler b. 11 Jul 1596
3) Hans Stickler b. 12 Nov 1598
4) Ulrich Strickler b. 24 Nov 1603
5) Anna Strickler b. 9 Jun 1606
6) Verena Strickler b. 11 Mar 1610
h) Anna Strickler b. 2 May 1569 d. 23 Oct 1591 md Hans Hotz
2) Heinrich Strickler b. c 1518-1524 by 1570 lived in Egg.
3) Werner Strickler b. c 1522-1526 remained at Rosenbaltt
4) Rudolf Strickler b. c 1524-1530 remained at Rosenblatt
5) Konrad Strickler b. c1526-1538 NFR to Hirzel (?)
It is quite possible that our Conrad Strickler somehow fits into this larger family tree. However the connection remains unknown.
Records of Conrad Strickler
Earliest record of Conrad Strickler place him living at the Bruderklausen. In 1598 Conrad is shown living at the Bruderklausen, a Mennonite refuge located at what is today the Bruderhaus. So it appears that at least by 1598 and probably before that, Conrad was a member of the faith.
The Bruderhaus was first mentioned in 1594 and was then occupied by "the Strickler" family.(Archivfuehrer Kanton Zurich- Bezzirk Horgen Gemeinde Hirzel 1891 p.14)
Further early records of Conrad Strickler in the district of Hirzel place him at the Bruderhaus. The Bruderhaus is a farm consisting of two homes and a number of out buildings. The farm is located on a steep downward grade above the Sihl River, and just southwest of Hirzel the town. It was recently discovered that before the Bruderhaus there was another structure on the property called the Bruderclausen. It is not yet known who built Bruderclausen nor for what purpose. It is speculated by local historians and archaeologists that the Bruderclausen was a refuge house for persecuted Mennonites, which could explain what drew Conrad Strickler to the area. Primarily two families, the Strickler and Landis family occupied the Bruderhaus farm early on. From the Bruderhaus, Chelen, another Landis home can be seen. Built before 1600 , the Bruderhaus was home to many generations of the Strickler and Landis families.
It is not known for certain when Conrad Strickler married. However we do know who he married and about when he married. Conrad married about or by November 1599 to January 1600 to Anna Landis, sometimes called Anna Elizabeth Landis , daughter of Rudolph Landis and his wife Anna Bruppacher of Chelen . Chelen is on the hill above the Bruderhaus.
Eight children appear in the household of Conrad Strickler and in other records. They are all confirmed by at least two sources of data or from two independent researchers who have found the same records. The Mennonite censuses are a valuable source of data for the early Strickler family in Hirzel. Many thanks to Professor Irvin Horst for helping me find these records.
1633 Mennonite Census
Conrad Strickler age 53 of the Bruderhaus (unteres) b. 1579-80
Hans Strickler age 28 b. 1605
Anna Strickler-Landis age 50 b. 1582
Barbara Strickler age 8 b. 1623
Rudolph Strickler age 12 b. 1621 (grandson of Conrad Strickler)
Peter Landis age 32 of the Bruderhaus (oberes) b. 1601
Hans Landis age 3 b. 1630
Margaretha Landis-Strickler age 25 b. 1608 (daughter of Conrad)
Catherina Landis age 1 b. 1632
Not all of Conrad�s children are listed in the census for these reasons. 1) Oswald Strickler died in 1629. 2) Elsbeth Strickler has probably died or is married 3) Rudolph Strickler died in 1618 4) Ulrich Strickler has either died or had moved by 1633.
Conrad the Rebel
Conrad Strickler was a leading figure in the Anabaptist movement of Hirzel. He was persecuted with many of his contemporaries. After several warnings, in June 1644 Conrad was arrested and his property confiscated. His wife was imprisoned with him for resisting arrest. Chrisopher Saucer's Hymnal called Ausbund was published in 1751. It contained a brief statement about Conrad Strickler in which he states �...Conrad Strickler, then an old man, was taken prisoner and sent to Oetenbach. Conrad's wife was imprisoned there for many years, but by the graces of God has been released. Conrad's property was handed over to his son for a fee of 500 gulden (florin) as a tax.
Another account states:
Letter dated 11 June 1644 "Conrad Strickler was apprehended an old brother from the Horgenberg, who though had been apprehended outside of the Z�rich jurisdiction, was nevertheless imprisoned at Z�rich, in the place of Oetenbach and put there in chains every night. His wife was also apprehended and imprisoned in the same place, however through a certain
means, defending her faith, escaped again but the aforementioned Conrad, her husband, was not so successful, so that he remained in severe imprisonment until he close of 1645, after which time we have learned nothing of him or his deliverance."
It is assumed that Conrad Strickler remained there in chains for his beliefs until mid 1648, at which time Conrad's oldest living son, Hans Strickler, was directed to pay tax for the remaining property of his father by 1649. The tax levied was 500 florin.
By July 9, 1648, Hans Strickler had moved from their home at the Bruderhaus to Har�ti, indicating that he never claimed the property of his father and that Conrad had died prior to July 1648 and after January 1648.
The 1649 Mennonite Census of Hirzel shows Hans Strickler and wife Margareth living with Annali (Landis) Strickler, Conrad being deceased. In 1649 Anna is aged 66 or born 1583.
Image of Conrads Footnote in the Marty's Mirror
Children of Conrad Strickler
From the register of Hirzel, we know for certain that Conrad Strickler married Anna Landis. In the baptism for her son Uli she appears with the name Anna Elisabetha Strickler-Landis
Conrad Strickler is the only Strickler in Hirzel and is assumed to be the father of all the Stricklers there. Two daughters Elizabet and Margaretha are unproved as children of Conrad, although there is nearly a 100% certainty they are.
Research Update 3/23/07: Two additional children of Conrad Strickler have been located in the church books of Hirzel. They previously had been overlooked because the spelling was Trickler, however the parents are listed as Conrad & Anna Landis Strickler. Also located confirming evidence that Ulrich Strickler, son of Conrad, moved to Hinter-Schonau and had children there.
Check back in soon to see this new material.
1) Oswald �Osli� Conrad Strickler b. 20 Sep 1600, Hirzel-Horgen, ZH, CH d. 23 Sep 1629 of the plague, Forenmoos, Hirzel, ZH, CH. Oswald, called Osli is proved a son of Conrad Strickler by his marriage 3 Oct 1619 at Hirzel, when he is named the son of Conrad Strickler (Z�rich--StAZ EIII 53-1-Hirzel). Osli died of the plague. His birth date was taken from a clerical survey in 1625 listing his age as 25 years since 20 Sep of this year, or born 20 Sep 1600. He married Anna Landis, not to be confused with his mother who had the same name. He resided at Bruderhaus until 1621 when he moved to Forenmoos. His family was stricken by the 1629 plague.
a) Konrad Strickler 8 Jun 1620-19 Sep 1629
b) Hans Rudolph Strickler 20 Jun 1622-9 Oct 1652 md 3 ch
c) Elsbeth Strickler 20 Feb 1625-27 Oct 1636
d) Hans Jakob Strickler 12 Feb 1626-19 Sep 1629
e) Jakob Strickler 2 Sep 1627-30 Jun 1689 md 10 ch
f) Margaretha Strickler 29 Mar 1629-7 Jun 1629
2) Elizabet Strickler b. 9 Sep 1603, Hirzel-Horgen, ZH, CH md 2 Aug 1621, Hirzel, ZH, CH to Hans Landis, brother of Anna Landis who married Oswald Strickler. She is NOT proved as a daughter of Conrad Strickler, but without doubt was. Conrad was the only Strickler living in Hirzel who could have been her father. She probably died in the 1629 plague.
a) Hans Landis 23 Sep 1622-
b) Elsbeth Landis 11 Nov 1624-
c) Margaretha Landis 4 May 1626-
d) Oswald Landis 9 Feb 1628-11 Sep 1629
3) Hans Strickler b. 18 Apr 1605, Hirzel-Horgen, ZH, CH d. 1 Oct 1701, Har�ti, Hirzel, ZH, CH md 25 Mar 1634, Hirzel, ZH, CH to Margaretha Hitz. The 1633 Mennonite census supports his birth year. When he died he was aged 96 yrs 5 mo and 13 days, which tabulates to about the 18th of April 1605. In 1649 Hans claimed the property of his father Conrad Strickler who had died while in prison. (See biography of Hans Strickler b. 1605)
4) Margaretha Strickler b. 7 Aug 1608, Hirzel-Horgen, ZH, CH d. 15 Nov 1661, Bruderhaus, Hirzel, ZH, CH md 1 Dec 1629, Hirzel, ZH, CH to Peter Landis. They lived at the Bruderhaus. NO record link Margaretha to Conrad Strickler as a daughter, however she lived beside him at the Bruderhaus. Also as previously mentioned Conrad is the only Strickler known living at Hirzel who could have been her father.
a) Hans Landis 5 Sep 1630
b) Catharina Landis 13 May 1632
c) Hans Heinrich Landis 30 Mar 1634 md 9 ch
d) Conrad Landis 29 Oct 1638-31 Oct 1638
e) Barbara Landis 22 May 1643
f) Heinrich Landis 16 May 1646
g) Anna Landis 25 Feb 1649
5) Ulrich �Uli� Strickler b. 2 Oct 1615 at Hirzel, ZH, CH baptized 22 Oct 1615 at Hirzel, ZH, CH NFR. Uli is not listed in the 1633 Mennonite Census when he would have been aged 17 or 18. He has been found living by 1653 at HInter Schonau with wife Margaretha Hiestand and among other children, daughter Barbara. IN 1656 Margaretha was among killed and wounded in a Schwyzer raid. Text and details soon to follow.
6) Rudolph Strickler b. 18 Feb 1618 at Bruderhaus, Hirzel, ZH, CH baptized 25 Feb 1618 at Hirzel. He died 2 July 1618 at Bruderhaus, Hirzel.
7) Anna Strickler b. 24 Mar 1622 at Hirzel, ZH, CH baptized 12 Apr 1622 at Hirzel. Died 6 Sep 1629 Hirzel of the plague.
8) Barbara Strickler b. 31 Jul 1625 at Hirzel, ZH, CH baptized 8 Aug 1625, Hirzel. Died aft 1658. She married Hans Heinrich Landis. They lived in Hirzel, then in Spitzen. They later moved to near Richterswil where she is said to have died.
a) David Landis 2 Jan 1650
b) Elsbeth Landis 19 Jun 1654
c) Conrad Landis 18 Apr 1657-29 Apr 1657
9) Anna Catharina Strickler b. 1620 d. young (details soon to be added)
10) Elsbeth Strickler (Details soon to be added)
