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Refugees of 1671
In 1671 a letter was issued to members of Mennonite congregations in Amsterdam
in a plea for donations to aid Swiss Mennonite refugees who were fleeing Switzerland
and settling in the Pfalz. The stories of imprisonment, torture, branding, and
banishment generated financial support among Mennonites of Amsterdam. The following
notations are from books of accounting which provide records of donations to
the 146 household receiving assistance. Among those receiving aid were Melchior
Brenneman, "the prisoner", Michael and Christian Schenk, and the Eymans.
109. Waartenberg
Hans Eyman (b/65) about 48 years. Left his wife and his children, 5 in number.
He has been in prison.
| 1 clothing |
12-6 |
| 2 shirts |
3-12 |
| and if the wife comes, 1
who is not yet in the congregation |
| 1 cow |
25 |
| 1 cart |
30 |
146. Tienen by Openum
Michael Kaufman and Anna Eyman, his wife, each about 60 years old, have 5
children the oldest over 20, the youngest 7 years.
| 3 mattresses |
75— |
| 2 comfoerters |
30 |
| 4 sheets |
9.8 |
| 6 shirts |
10-16 |
| 1 man's and
1 woman's clothing |
24-6 |
| clothing for 5 children |
40 |
| 2 horses |
100 |
| 1 cow and 2 pigs |
33 |
| food and seed corn |
112 |
Notes
(1) Although this seems to raise the question as to
whether Hans' wife shared in his beliefs (families were being torn apart
on such issues), the wife did join Hans and was likely pregnant at the
point of departure. The record suggests that Hans has been emprisoned;
perhaps in the basement of Thun Castle, along with the Melchior Brenneman
who was also involved in this group of refugees. According to annecdotes
from Shanks, Eymans even in the Pfalz often risked censure for "re-baptizing"
others, a practice much admonished by the local authorities.
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