Life and evidence
Children of Jacob Gosteli × Anni Zoss, Bolligen baptisms (K Bolligen 3, read 1659–1676 on 2026-10-31 and 2026-11-01)
Baptized Child Image c. 20–27 Oct 1660 Johannes (godparents Dürs Schnal, Hans Wali the innkeeper, Frau Johanna Häberi?) 133, p. 263 8 Dec 1661 Bendicht (godparents Daniel Wagner, church warden; Bendicht Stämpfli of Habstetten; Anna [Teras?], Claus Krieg’s wife) 135, p. 267 15 [Feb] 1663 Marthi (Martin) (godparents Andreas Baltzli; Peter Schaller; Cathrina Stämpfli, Bendicht Zoss’s wife) 138, p. 243 4 Aug 1665 Christina (our ancestor) 144 21 Feb 1668 Niclaus (godparents Niclaus Cuntz, Niclaus Krieg, Rosina Kauffmann, the pastor’s wife) 150 25 Feb 1670 Barbara (godparents Marti Wäli, Barbara Blanck, Barbara Baldiswyl) 154 17 Jan 1673 Anna (godparents Bast Stämpfli, Anni Zoss, Madle Krieg?) 158 [!documented] What the earlier baptisms add (K Bolligen 3, read 2026-11-01)
- Three older brothers of Christina: Johannes (Oct 1660), Bendicht (Dec 1661) and Martin (Feb 1663). Johannes is the first child found, so the couple probably married about 1659–60 (none found Aug 1659 – Apr 1660).
- Home: Ostermundigen (Anna is “Jacob Kostelis frauw zu Ostermundigen” as a godmother, Sept 1663), in Bolligen parish just east of Bern.
- Bendicht Zoss and Catharina Stämpfli were baptizing at Bolligen at the same time (daughter Barbara, Oct 1660; son Niclaus, Oct 1661), and Catharina was godmother to Martin in 1663: Bendicht was very probably Anna’s brother (or another close relative). Anna in turn was godmother in 1663, 1664 and 1665.
- Many other Gosteli (Kosteli) households in the parish then: Niclaus at Ostermundigen (× Margreth Schütz), Hans “im Thal” (× Christina Kosteli), Bendicht at Flugbrunnen (× Susanna Krieg), Bendicht “der Baur” at Steinstein?, Marthi “der Amman” and others.
Jacob also stands as godfather in Dec 1668 and Jul 1669. Caution: a different Jacob Gosteli, married to Christina Krieg, baptized children at Bolligen in Sep 1669, Jan 1672 and Aug 1673: only entries naming Anni Zoss are counted here. Not yet read: 1655–64 (an older sibling and the couple’s marriage) and after 1676.
Named as father of Christina Gosteli at her baptism, Bolligen, 4 Aug 1665 (K Bolligen 3, image 144).
Search of the Bolligen baptisms, 1636–1647 (2026-10-31)
K Bolligen 3, images 65–99, read page by page. No baptism of Jacob Gosteli or Anni Zoss was found. Gosteli families were baptizing at Bolligen then (Benedict Gosteli at Flugbrunnen, Martin Gosteli at Ostermundigen, Hans Gosteli, Benedict Gosteli “vom Baraustein”); any of them could be Jacob’s family, but nothing ties him to one. Zoss never appears in these years, which suggests Anni was born in another parish (Zoss is a Worb/Vechigen-area name) and married into Bolligen. The handwriting is hard and the scans poor, so a missed entry is possible.
Research tasks
- Children 1665–76 found (see above)
- Children before 1665 found (2026-11-01): Johannes 1660, Bendicht 1661, Martin 1663
- Their marriage c.1659–60: Bolligen 22 (now downloaded) has a faded 1659–60 page (image 40) that needs a better reading (human eye or enhanced scan); otherwise try Anna’s home parish (Worb, Vechigen, Stettlen) task/ai
- Bolligen baptisms 1615–1636 (img 1–64) for Jacob Gosteli, if he was older task/ai
Narratives and research
- Research: How far back each line goes
Research log
- 2026-10-31: (earlier session) Bolligen baptisms 1665-1676 read: children with Anni Zoss; his own baptism and parents to search (Bolligen 1630s-40s)
- 2026-10-31: K Bolligen 3 (Taufrodel 1615-1683) images 65-99 read (Aug 1636 - Dec 1647), page by page: no baptism of a Jacob Gosteli or an Anna/Anni Zoss seen. Gosteli/Kosteli fathers present: Benedict Gosteli zu Flugbrunnen, Martin Gosteli zu Ostermundigen, Hans Gosteli, Benedict Gosteli ‘vom Baraustein’. The surname Zoss does not appear at all in these years. Old German script on poor scans: a missed entry is possible. Not yet read: 1615-1636 (img 1-64) and 1648-1664 (img 100-143)
- 2026-11-01: K Bolligen 3 images 130–143 (Aug 1659 – Apr 1665) read: children Johannes (Oct 1660), Bendicht (8 Dec 1661), Martin (15 Feb 1663); home Ostermundigen; Bendicht Zoss × Catharina Stämpfli baptizing 1660–61 (probably Anna’s brother). No child Aug 1659 – Apr 1660, so marriage c.1659–60
- 2026-11-01: K Bolligen 22 (Eherodel 1605–1761) downloaded (Staatsarchiv Bern ID 221000, D94433.pdf) and read for 1659–1663 (images 40–43): no Jacob Gosteli × Anna Zoss marriage found in Oct 1660 – 1663. The 1659 – early 1660 page (image 40, left) is badly faded and could not be read with confidence; the marriage may be there, or they married in Anna’s home parish
Record compiled 31 October 2026.
About this research
Supporting documentation is linked throughout. This project is an exercise in AI-assisted research and development, and I haven’t manually verified every link or conclusion. All transcriptions and translations of Swiss parish records were made with AI, and their accuracy should be treated accordingly.