Hans Scheurer
of Bargen, Switzerland
and Mosersville, Pennsylvania

First Generation in America

Scheurer Coat-of-Arms from Bargen Church

Hans Scheurer and his Heimatschein

Hans Scheirer was born in Bargen, Switzerland. He emigrated to America and located in Mosersville, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. He married in 1732 and fathered 10 children. One of these children was born 1756 August 1 and received the name Carl.

The above brief biography of Hans Scheurer is from a booklet published by the Scheirer Family Reunion Association in 1950. The booklet does not mention the names of Hans's wife or any of the other nine children, nor does it cite a source for the precise birthdate given for Carl.

The booklet does, however, provide a photo and transcription of a truly remarkable document that provides convincing evidence for Hans's place of origin. It is a Heimatschein signed by Gabriel Starler, the Pastor in Bargen, in 1725 March 1. The Heimatschein notes that Hans is from Bargen in the Dukedom of Arberg, but he intends to leave his homeland to seek his fortune elsewhere. It attests that Hans was baptized, diligently partook of the Holy Sacrament, and generally lived as a Christian.

In Pennsylvania, the name still appears as Scheurer in some early records, but later it was frequently altered to similar forms including Scheirer, Scheiry, Shirer, and others.

Hans Scheurer's Heimatschein.

Bargen, Switzerland

Bargen is a small village about 10 miles northwest of the Swiss capital of Bern. In the future I will try to write a little about the history of Bargen. Meanwhile, here are a few pictures of Bargen and its church.

The village of Bargen, Canton Bern, Switzerland Enlarge.

Bargen Church

Bargen church.

Coats-of-Arms displayed in the window of Bargen church. Note Scheurer second from right. (Also see enlargement at top of this page.)

The booklet of the Scheirer Family Reunion Association

My knowledge of the first generation of Scheirers in America comes from a booklet entitled Scheirer Family Directory and Historical Foreword. It was compiled by the "General Committee of the Scheirer Family Reunion Association" on the occasion of their 53rd Annual Reunion in 1950. The booklet was printed by The News Publishing Co., Slatington, Pennsylvania.

This Family Reunion Association comprises descendants of Hans's grandson Johann Carl, born 1793 July 21. In contrast, my direct line is through Carl's brother Gottlieb, born 1776 February 27. I don't know whether this Family Reunion Association is still active, but in any case I'd enjoy hearing from any descendants in the Johann Carl line.

Elsewhere on this Website, you can find information about Han's son Carl and his family. In the future, I will try to add material about two of Carl's sons (Hans's grandsons) about whom I have information, Johann Carl and Gottlieb. I also plan eventually to add information on Gottlieb's son Charles, who served in the Civil War, and Charles's daughter Sarah, my great grandmother.