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Switzerland - Die Schweiz - La Suisse
The number of Swiss who came to Nova Scotia as foreign Protestants cannot be determined with
any degree of precision because passenger lists have not survived for the 1750 voyages of the
‘Alderney’ and the ‘Nancy’, whose passengers included a majority of non-British Europeans. .
. . Bell [1960, pp. 302-316] estimates that 316 of the 2,444 immigrants with “identifiable places
of origin” were Swiss and that a further 20 might have been Swiss.
The proportion of Swiss among the founders of Lunenberg was apparently only eleven percent.
. . . Ten Swiss communities from which settlers definitely came to Nova Scotia are presented
in the next few pages. . . .
| Adelboden |
Switzerland |
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| Canton |
Bern |
| Name(s): |
Rösti, [Rust] Kilian, wife/Ehefrau,
4 children/Kinder |
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Boden and Adelboden comprise a single community, immediately adjoining one another,
but with Boden at a lower level. One wonders whether the difference in names and
elevation reflect differences in wealth and social status.
This Wooden Marriage-bench inscribed “Maria Andres, Anno D. 1649" was a departure
gift from a minister’s wife.
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| Attiswil |
Switzerland |
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| Canton |
Bern |
| Name(s): |
Bünker, Jakob
Weber [Weaver], Christoph |
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The village of Attiswil is located on a steep slope directly above the Aare. Through
its strong agricultural tradition, horse trading and craftsmanship, the citizens
of Attiswil became exceptionally affluent in the 18th century. After the Reformation
this Protestant community belonged to the parish Oberbipp.
“Heidenstock,” built/gebaut 1548. This privately-owned structure
near the former mill in the upper village served as a granary and food warehouse,
but might have included an oven for baking. . . . (The private owner, a Mr. Fischer,
who kindly permitted us to photograph on his property, turned out to have a Canadian
“connection.” He had emigrated to Vancouver in 1958, but had eventually returned
to Switzerland. In Attiswil he had acquired the two historic buildings and was gradually
restoring them to their former condition.)
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| Oberwil |
Simmental, Switzerland |
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| Canton |
Bern |
| Name(s): |
Ülsche, [Hiltschi, Hilchey, Hilchie]
Jacob with wife/mit Ehefrau, 3 children/Kinder
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Oberwil became Protestant in 1528. Its church – a small jewel on
the side of a steep valley – has been recognized as a Swiss national monument. .
. . Ülschi (Ülsche) remains a common name in the area. In Nova Scotia, it has become
anglicized to Hilchie (variously spelled).
A balcony of the church, showing the builders’ names, including
two Ülschis, one of whom was the local Governor.
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