c.1735 – 1805
Christopher’s 6th great-grandfather · ancestor no. 318 · generation 9
Evidence: identity documented · link to parents compiled lead
Family
- Parents: Jacob Hochstetler (1712–1776) and Anna Hochstetler (killed 1757)
- Spouse: Catherine Hertzler (fl. 1760)
- Children in this vault: Anna Hochstetler (Anelli)
Life and evidence
1912 genealogy #2: born in Europe about 1735, came at about 3 on the Charming Nancy (1738). An older married son in 1757, he watched the attack from hiding. Moved to Elklick, Somerset County, about 1784; will 1805. Married (1) Catherine Hertzler. Named in the 1776 heirs’ deed (‘John Hochstetter and wife Catherine’). Brother of the captive Joseph — so Christopher descends from both brothers.
Where they lived
- 1735 — Echery
- 1738 — Philadelphia
- 1757 — Northkill (Berks County)
- 1784 — Somerset County
In their lifetime
- 1738 — 1738 The Charming Nancy
- 1750 — 1750 The Brotherhood
- 1757 — 1757 The Hochstetler massacre
- 1764 — 1764 Captives returned after Bouquet’s treaty
- 1776 — 1776 Census of Mennonites in West Prussia
- 1789 — 1789 First Prussian Mennonites settle in Russia
- 1798 — 1798 Old Bern falls; religious freedom
Pedigree
%%{init: {"flowchart": {"useMaxWidth": true}}}%% flowchart RL n84009264["Anna Hochstetler (killed 1757)"] n66959082["Jacob Hochstetler (c.1666–c.1722)"] n14980418["John Hochstetler (c.1735–1805)"] n99487970["Jacob Hochstetler (1712–1776)"] n14980418 --> n99487970 n99487970 --> n66959082 n14980418 --> n84009264 class n84009264,n66959082,n14980418,n99487970 internal-link;
Conflicts
- Mother: whether the Anna killed in 1757 was his mother or a stepmother is unknown
Sources
Narratives and research
- Stories: Double ancestors, The Hochstetler massacre of 1757
- History: 1738 The Charming Nancy, 1750 The Brotherhood, 1757 The Hochstetler massacre, 1764 Captives returned after Bouquet’s treaty, 1776 Census of Mennonites in West Prussia, 1789 First Prussian Mennonites settle in Russia, 1798 Old Bern falls; religious freedom, Faith traditions
- Research: Ships and journeys of the immigrant ancestors
- Congregations: Northkill Amish congregation
- Sources: Descendants of Jacob Hochstetler (1912), Lancaster deed of Jacob Hochstetler’s heirs (1776)
Open questions
- Mother: whether the Anna killed in 1757 was his mother or a stepmother is unknown
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.