Notes:

Imprisoned at Othenbach, he was not given anything to eat for many days, so that even some criminals that were confined near him in another place, took pity on him and managed to get some food to him...But when the doorkeeper perceived this, he was put into another prison. Finally, however, they gave him some food: but he was so impaired in his body that he could not bear food any more. Yet in his greatest distress he was carried to church, during the sermon, where he, O dreadful inhumanity! was thrown under a bench; but he soon after gave up the ghost, which he had commended into the hands of God.onscience, escaped from her bonds. But in the meantime the authorities had broken up their family, put out the children among strangers, and then sold house and furniture.d been married 3 times, first to Margareth Streler, then to Magdalene Hess, then to Adelheid Egli. It is assumed that his first 2 wives predeceased him.

Felix married EGLI Adelheid in ABT. 1625 in Switzerland. Adelheid was born in ABT. 1590 in Fischenthal, Switzerland; died in 1646 in Zurich, Switzerland. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Adelheid was also imprisoned in Orthenbach, for nearly four years. During this period they treated her not only unmercifully, but disgracefully: they threw her into several offensive places, stripped her twice in irons, and for a time took her clothes from her every night. She afterwards escaped from prison with a good consicinece.Meantime, authorities dispersed her family, drove the children among strangers, and then confiscated her house and furniture, and sold them for 5000 florins. From Martyr's Mirror.

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)

Notes:

His home was said to be the scene of one of the Zurich's first adult baptisms.s Oberhirzel, near Wadenswil, Canton Zurich, Switzerland. Address: Dorfstrasse 53, 8816 Hirzel, Canton Zurich, Switzerland. Others at the address include: Dieter, Hedy, Peter and Werner Landis.ters on Rev. Hans Landis, the Anabaptist preacher from Hirzel, Switzerland, who was executed in 1614. Documents from this era are understandably difficult to verify, so future researchers must be cautious. Four sources appearing in the footnotes have provided a little more detail:me a citized of Zurich.hurch in 1538.

Johannes married SCHINZ Katherina in 1547 in Hirzel, Canton Zurich, Switzerland. Katherina was born in 1524 in Hirzel, Canton Zurich, Switzerland; died in AFT. 1560 in Switzerland. [Group Sheet]