Christian Gerber

Male 1797 - Yes, date unknown


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  • Name Christian Gerber 
    Born 4 Feb 1797  [1
    Gender Male 
    Address Hinter Baeregg / Bäregg Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Died Yes, date unknown 
    Person ID I2493  Gerber Family Tree | Descendants of Christian Gerber I5869
    Last Modified 14 Oct 2022 

    Father Michael Gerber,   b. 13 Feb 1761,   d. 31 Mar 1853  (Age 92 years) 
    Mother Anna Roethlisberger,   b. 12 May 1761,   d. 16 May1831 
    Married 21 Aug 1787  [1
    Notes 
    • From "Geschichte der bernischen Täufer" by Ernst Müller, page 565:

      On March 20, 1811, the small council thanks the announcement of these actions and adds that henceforth all children of the Anabaptists should be baptized as before the revolution. However, the execution of this arrangement encountered further difficulties. The pastor of Langnau reported to the church council that four older children of Michael Gerber on the Hinteren Bäregg refused to be baptized and, along with several others, also did not want to be instructed. The answer of the small council is that according to the directive of February 26, 1810, people who have not yet been baptized are to be encouraged to be baptized. They are also to be instructed and admitted so that they can be entered in the church register and their rights as citizens are not forfeited. However, if these legal requirements are satisfied, they are free to attend the table of the Lord or to stay away from it.
      The pastor in Langnau then explains that the five quite adult children of Gerber on Bäregg would probably give offense when they were forced to be baptized and that the children would have to be fetched by the policeman every day, so that you teaching would be of no use. The church council now proposes that children under the age of ten should be brought to baptism by force, since no exceptions can be made in civil laws <383>. Parents of children who are not baptized by the age of 16 should lose land and civil rights.
      According to a report by the prefect of Signau on April 26, 1813, the Anabaptists also refused to take the oath of homage. The Council of State declares that, pursuant to Article 7 of the Decree of August 25, 1806, they are consequently excluded from exercising all civil rights and from being able to vote for any position.
    • This family appears to have lived in Muenster in the Jura mountains. That would indicate they fled from religious persecution. According to the "Geschichte der bernischen Täufer" by Ernst Müller, civil penalties, including loss of land, could have been the penalty if not all children were baptized by the age of 16. This would explain why the family is later living in the Jura mountains. It would also explain why the youngest male child, Ulrich, was baptized on 15 Mar 1811. He would have been the child to maintain rights to their farm, Hinter Baeregg. So, there was a pragmatic reason to have him baptized. [2]
    Documents
    Michael Gerber and Anna Roethlisberger family record.
    Michael Gerber and Anna Roethlisberger family record.
    From: Heimatrodel der Tauferfamilien von Langnau 1791-1870, pg 13.
    Family ID F0196  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Maria Aeschlimann,   b. 1806,   d. Yes, date unknown  [3
    Married 7 Jul 1827  [1
    Children 
     1. Anna Barbara Gerber,   b. 7 Apr 1828, Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland Find all individuals with events at this location
     2. Johannes Gerber,   b. 9 Nov 1829, Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 19 Jun 1834  (Age 4 years)
     3. Elisabeth Gerber,   b. 23 Apr 1832, Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland Find all individuals with events at this location
     4. Maria Gerber,   b. 6 Aug 1835, Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland Find all individuals with events at this location
     5. Catharina Gerber,   b. 19 Oct 1837, Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland Find all individuals with events at this location
    Documents
    Family Record of Christian Gerber and Maria Aeschlimann at Baeregg
    Family Record of Christian Gerber and Maria Aeschlimann at Baeregg
    From: Heimatrodel der Tauferfamilien von Langnau (1791-1870), page 23
    Last Modified 14 Mar 2021 
    Family ID F0798  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsAddress - - Hinter Baeregg / Bäregg Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Sources 
    1. [S0018] Helen Riphahn Gerber, Email - Nov 18, 2002 (Reliability: 3).

    2. [S5] Heimatrodel der Tauferfamilien von Langnau 1794-1870, 21 (Reliability: 3), 3 Aug 2022.

    3. [S5] Heimatrodel der Tauferfamilien von Langnau 1794-1870, 23 (Reliability: 3).