Notes:

In 1637, "Hans Landis the second, a steadfast minister of the church in Horgerberg and his daughter Margaretha" were confined for more than a year at Othenbach, during which time the authorities confiscated their property selling it for 7000 florins. Hans was an ordained minister.

Hans married ERTZINGER Elsbeth. Elsbeth was born in 1593 in Eggersburg, Switzerland. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Hans Landis, "a pious witness of the Divine truth", was a pietist, or mennonite, preacher, who resided on the Swiss Rhine and ministered to those who were seeking after righteousness. The Council of Zurich ordered his arrest hoping thus to stop his teachings. The good man "was taken prisoner by his enemies and sent in irons from Zurich to the Papists at Solothurn." He was liberated on this occasion, but was retaken and sent to Zurich, where he was rigorously examined as to his doctrines and condemned to death: and, in September, 1614, he was beheaded with a sword.

In January 1613 a new mandate was issued against the Anabaptists, which was largely a repetition of that of 1585. On the basis of this mandate attempts were first made to win over the anabaptist peacefully through disputations or conversations. At the first disputation, which took place at Wadenswil on Jan. 26, the Zurich Burgermeister Rahn, aided by J.J. Breitinger, pastor at St. Peter's in Zurich, soon to be the leader of the the Zurich church, represented Qurich, while the elders HANS LANDIS and Rudolph Bachmann and a preacher Galatz represented the Anabaptsts. The meeting was fruitless. There was a second disputation but it was also fruitless. At last extreme measures were taken. Six Anabaptist leaders from Wadenswil and Horgen were arrested, among them HANS LANDIS, who finally was executed the following year as the last Anabaptist martyr in Zurich. The Ausbund (from 1655 on ) contains a hymn of 47 verses abut him.


A letter written by a preacher of Zurich, dated July 19-29, 1659, describes the person and character of Hans Landis and the manner of his execution.

"Havavier Salr, was present at the decapitation of Hans Landis, which circumstance is still fresh in my memory, having witnessed it at the Wolfs-statt, and the whole transaction seems as vivid to me now as though it had transpired but a few weeks ago." In the sequel he describes his person and the manner of his death as follows: "Hans Landis was tall of stature, had a long black beard, a little gray, and a masculine voice. Being led out cheerfully with a rope, to Wolfs-statt the place of decollation, the executioner, Mr. Paul Volmar, let the rope fall, raised both hands to heaven, and said: O! God of mercy, to thee be it complained, that you, Hans have fallen into my hands: for God's sake forgive me for what I must do to you. Hans consoled the executioner, saying: I have already forgiven you, may God forgive you also: I am well aware that you must execute the sentence of the magistracy, be undismayed and see that nothing hinders you in this matter. Whereupon he was beheaded. The people were of the opinion that when the executioner let the
rope go he wanted to give Hans an opportunity to escape; and, moreover, it was a common saying that if he had run off no one would have pursued him.

The following, from credible witnesses may be added, namely; that when the oft-mentioned Hans Landis was awaiting his doom at the place of execution, his wife and child came to him with tears and lamentation, to bid him a last farewell. But when he saw them he entreated them to depart, so that his resolution to meet his impending fate might not be shaken, and his tranquiltiy of mind disturbed by tears and sorrowing. This done, and having commended his soul to God, a stroke of the sword put a speedy termination to his life."

Although Hans Landis was the last person in that vicinity to be beheaded for religious convictions, persecutions did not cease with his death.

About 1660 or thereabouts, the Landis family took refuge in Germany, some settling in Zwieburg and Alsace, others locating in the neighborhood of Strasburg, while still others found a home in Manheim where, like the Palentines, they became cultivators of the soil. the first mention of the family in the Palantinate occurred on 2 March 1661, when a group of 50 persons was surprised at an evening meeting at Steinsfurt near Sinsheim on the Elsenz, they were heavily fined. Among them were Hans Landes of Rohrbach, his son Rudolf Landes of Weiler, and his mother and sister. In the 18th century there were Mennonite members of the Landes family in the Palatinate at Steinsfurt, Zuzenhausen, Schatthausen, Richen, Bockschaft, Kirschgartschausen, Ibersheim, Heppenheim, and Herrnsheim.


After the execution of Hans Landis the Zurich council decided to confiscate Anabaptist property without respite. On 22 October 1614, it ordered the confiscation of the property of exiles. The property left by Hans Landis was indeed promised to his wife and children on 23 February 1615, but only on the condition that they join the state church within two weeks. Otherwise they could expect only exile and loss of property. Since the sorely tried widow could not make such a promise she was "laid in bonds" on 24 May. The Reformed preacher tried to win her to his church in prison. It is not known how long she was held. Her children were at first intimidated, but finally most of them decided to stay with the Swiss Brethren. The government then confiscated the property and put dependent members of the family among strangers. About 1640 the property of Rudolf, Hans and Felix Landis, all sons of the martyr, was sold.

The oldest Landis homestead is located in Hirzel, built aboud 1488, and still in the hands of Landis descendants.

Hans married HOCHSTRASSER Barbara Margaretha in ABT. 1578 in Switzerland. Barbara was born in ABT. 1555; died in ABT. 1642 in Switzerland. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

There were either two sisters named Barbara and Margaretha Hochstrasser that Hans married in succession, or the same woman had both names. It is not clear if he had two spouses or one.e matter of the widow of the beheaded Hans Landis and their children of Horgenberg. Confiscation of the household of Hans Landis...When the head governors of Horgan met with Margaretha Hochstrasser, the widow of the late Hannsen Landis of the Horgenberg, after long imprisonment (they) admonished her to leave her beliefs and return to the church. Although these men spoke kindly and gently with her, she would not reconsider...It is to be considered what to do. She cannot be talked to or interviewed. She will not be converted and it would not be good to let her stay single. That is why she shall be taken to the Spital (hospital) in the death room and bound and only the most necessary provisions given. No one will be allowed to speak to her or enter the room, in hopes that she may in this wise be listening and converted." Sources for this information: date: Abt 1554 (Ref: Bittinger LANDIS p 29)

There were either two sisters named Barbara and Margaretha Hochstrasser that Hans married in succession, or the same woman had both names. It is not clear if he had two spouses or one.e matter of the widow of the beheaded Hans Landis and their children of Horgenberg. Confiscation of the household of Hans Landis...When the head governors of Horgan met with Margaretha Hochstrasser, the widow of the late Hannsen Landis of the Horgenberg, after long imprisonment (they) admonished her to leave her beliefs and return to the church. Although these men spoke kindly and gently with her, she would not reconsider...It is to be considered what to do. She cannot be talked to or interviewed. She will not be converted and it would not be good to let her stay single. That is why she shall be taken to the Spital (hospital) in the death room and bound and only the most necessary provisions given. No one will be allowed to speak to her or enter the room, in hopes that she may in this wise be listening and converted." Sources for this information: date: Abt 1554 (Ref: Bittinger LANDIS p 29)