Historical TimeLine

Below is a (very incomplete!) timeline showing some significant dates in the origins and historical migrations of our ancestors. Source of the information is shown. If you have major dates and events to add, please send to patrick.mead@comcast.net.     

• 1300s: Kreyenbuhl-Kraehenbuehl families originate in the Lucerne region of Switzerland. Historisch-Biographisches Lexikon der Schweiz, p. 545.
• 1400s: Kreyenbuhl-Kraehenbuehl families are found in the Sursee region of Switzerland. Historisch-Biographisches Lexikon der Schweiz, p. 545.
• 1424: Anton Kreyenbuehl, a surgeon, is elected mayor of Lucerne. Historisch-Biographisches Lexikon der Schweiz, p. 545.
• 1500s: Kreyenbuhl-Kraehenbuehl families are found in the Willisau region of Switzerland. Historisch-Biographisches Lexikon der Schweiz, p. 545.
• 1525: What was to become known as the Mennonite church was born in Zurich, Switzerland, with leadership by Conrad Grebel (no apparent relation), Felix Manz and George Blaurock.
• 1558: Hans Kraehenbuehl of Signau, east of Bern, takes part in a religious debate with local government officials. History of the Kraybill Family in America, p. 66.
• 1664: Elector Karl Ludwig of the Palatinate grants a "concession", permitting Mennonites to settle in his territory under certain restrictions, including the paying tribute and being subject to regular censuses, many of which are still preserved. History of the Kraybill Family in America, p. 66.
• 1671: Jost Krehbiel (Kraehenbuehl) and other Anabaptists leave Switzerland to escape religious persecution and settle in the Palatinate. History of the Mennonite General Conference of North America, p. 428.
• 1682: Peter Krehbiel settles on the Weierhof River near Bolanden, in the Palatinate. History of the Kraybill Family in America, p. 67.
• 1709: With conditions in the Palatinate worsening, a colony of hundreds of Germans decided to emigrate to America. They landed in New York and settled in the Mohawk Valley. But life was difficult and within three years, most had returned to the Palatinate, bringing the exodus to a halt.
• 1727: Palatine Germans, many of them Mennonites, again decided to seek a better life in America. A Christian Kriebiel (also spelled as Krayebiel and Crybile) is listed as one of the German pioneers that arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, aboard the ship Bristol in 1727. Pennsylvania German Pioneers, Strassburger, vol. 1.
• 1739: Henry Crebill bought 100 acres of land in Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. History of the Kraybill Family in America, p. 217.
• 1754: John Krebiel (1735-1806) leaves the Palatinate and sails to America with sons Peder (Peter), John and Jacob. They apparently landed in Philadelphia and were brought as indentured servants to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where Jacob became the progenitor of many Kraybills. John Jr. (1735-1806) changed his name to Graybill and is the ancestor of many Graybills of the Juniata, Mifflin and Snyder County area. History of the Kraybill Family in America, p. 113-114.
• 1754: In the same year, a dozen or so families, including a Graybill family, were reported to have migrated from Lancaster and Franklin Counties, Pennsylvania, to Page and Shenandoah Counties, Virginia. History of the Kraybill Family in America, p. 212-213.
• 1770: A Krehbiel family migrates from the Palatinate to Poland and 15 years later moved to Russia. History of the Kraybill Family in America, p. 67.
• 1792: Krehbiels migrated from Russia to America. History of the Kraybill Family in America, p. 67.

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