The family name Wichser originates, according to Paul Oetli's German-Swiss
surnames, from the tree name Weichsel (dialect: Wiechsel).
The appearance of the name originally shows in the form der Wiechselere, later Wiechseler, Wichseler, Wichssler, Wichsser and Wichser. [ In a copy of old records sent to me from Switzerland, I also discovered it spelled Wychser. In the United States the spelling also occurs as Wickser. [CBW]
The Wichser family is an original, scattered and reformed main family of the land Glarus, citizens of the towns of Schwanden, Glarus, Linthal, Ruti and Betschwanden.
Johann Heinrich Tschudi writes in his book printed in Zurich in 1714, "Description of the Lob'l. Towns and Country Glarus", according to papers of Aegidius Tschudi:
It is however, to remark, that twelve free, old and blue blooded families descended from this original Sekingischen family. The heads of these twelve families represented the Country's Regiment and defended with shield and spear the House of God's Rights when they found it necessary to protect it.
These families were the Wichsslers, now Wichsser.
From these, the Kilchmatter and the Wichssers from Hr. Gulor were brought into the register of the Rhaetischen-Edel-Knechten; if same and those from the land of Glarus originated from the same tree is not known to me.
In this year the Wichser family appeared for the first time in papers. Through
one of the records of that year is shown that the former Meier Heinrich
Tschundi divided his loans and possessions among his three sons. Witnesses
to this transaction were the Ritters of Wildegg, Wagenburgh and Karpfenstein,
also some respected citizens of Glarner (Glarus), among them Albertus der
Wiechseler.
More importantly, in this year is the appearance of Hugo Wichseler. The Meier Rudolf Tschudi died in 1253. Since he left no children, the Abbess of Säckingen lent the Meier-Office to the Ritter of Windegg, whose mother Margaretha was a sister of Meier Rudolf Tschudi. Two sides spoke out against this loan. On one side was the uncle of the deceased, the Minister Johannes Tschudi, who maintained he had the most rights to the Meier-Office since this had belonged to the men of the Tschudi family. On the other side was Hugo Wichseler, Herrmann in the Kilchmatte, and Hugo Vogel claimed rights to the respectful and successful Meier-Office. They stated that they, as brothers-in-law of the deceased, were next in line, especially since they, as free people of the land Glarus should have preference over non-Glarner (Glarus) Ritter Diethelm of Windegg.
On August 24, 1256 the Abbess called her Vassallen to Sackingen and laid before them the above question of rights. The gathering decided unanimously that the Abbess had the free and complete right to appoint whoever she wished to the Meier-Office and her original decision stood. That is, Diethelm of Windegg remained Meier of Glarus and Hugo Wichseler, who among the named brothers-in-law apparently most hoped for the Meier-Office had to abandon his expectations. Hugo Wichseler was born in 1208 and was married to Appalonia Tschudi.
Origin of the comradeship oath ... [rest of this entry is not legible]
Because a new regiment was chosen at this time at Zürich, and was divided into Constafel and Zünfte, there came to the Zünftmaster position Heinrich Tschudi and Heinrich Wichssler. ----- [further entry not legible]
In this time after 1256 the Meier-Office and Vogt-Office over the Glarnerland was transferred to the Herzogs of Austria and those Vogts sat over the lands. Untervogts of Autria in the Glarnerland were:
In 1347, the Austrian Untervogt of Glarus and Weesen, Albrecht Wichsler,
held court in Schänis concerning a claim of the local abbey.
Contract of the land Glarus with the Abbess of Sackingen, Mrs. Margaretha von Grünenberg. Among citizens of the land are the twelve highly esteemed judges, also Hugo Wichsseler.
Battle of Näfels
Heinrich Wichser is among the fourteen citizens and hostages, who had to demand of the land Glarus proper payment of the ransom sum from Abbey of Säckingen.
Guthild von Gerstnegg, Peter von Unterwegen's wife, donated, with the knowledge and consent of her daughter Mathia and husband Hans Wichsler, to gentlemen of the Domcapitol of Chur, a yearly measure of four pounds mailisch, according to Chur's valuation, from a vineyard of Trimmis, named Constance, which belonged to the vestry of Ruchenberg.
In the Mühlebacher Alpineletter, Albrecht and Rudi Wichser appear as Alpine leaders.
Termination of the fight of heinrich Wichser and other Alpine comrades over boundaries and grazing rights on the Alp Braunwald with those from Schwyz.
Inheritance contract of the Chorusmaster Eglolfvon Rorschach with Chur, his wife Dorathea, Hans Wichsler's daughter, and her two children against the Domcapitol of Chur, over a half Juchart acre near the lower gate of Chur, from which he, Rorschach, had made a vineyard.
The Old Zürichwar
Hans von Westerstetten, called Schob, sells to Jos. Walhier, citizen of Chur, and his housewife Agta Frumolt, a stadel in Chur, located in town, with all the rights he some time ago bought from Peter von Unterwegen and Guthild von Gerstenegg, his wife, from Hans von Stampf and Anton, whose brother Bartolome's son purchased it and him from Anna Wichslerin, Hans Wichsler's daughter, which had come Westerstetten's Mume by inheritance.
Rudolf Wichser is chosen Landvogt of Sargans
--- for the second time, died during his second term in office. His emblem is in the Castle of Sargans. [This statement apparently refers to the above named Rudolf Wichser]
Burgunderwar
Ratsherr Peter Wichser is sent to Wil as ambassador.
Schwaberwar
Italian Field Marches
Rudolf Wichser is ambassador - 1500, 1512, 1514, 1516 he officiated as Landvogt in Utznach is Gaster. In the "egglayerbook" [?] of the luckharbor of Zurich, in the year 1504, he set six times on St. Fridolin and six times on Holy Cross. In 1507, Vogt Rudolf Wichser, from the land of Glarus, was delegated to the renewal of the Bunde in Basel. The chronicles of Basel contain detailed description about the renewal of the Bunde.
Fridolin Wichser officiated as Landvogt in Gaster.
Gilg, Hans, and Felix Wichser lose their lives in the battle at Marignano.
Reformation and Anti-Reformation.
Hans Rink von Baldenstein and his father Jörg owe Rudolf Wychser, citizen and officer of Glarus, 300 gulders rh. for which Rudolf von Marmels and Haldenstein gave guarantee. They promise the latter to keep him free from debts and harm their possessions.
Captain Hans Wichser from Rüti arrives for the new training and is sent as a reformed ambassador to Zürich and Einsiedeln. In 1529 he becomes Landesseckelmeister. In 1538 he is part owner of the Quartz Mountain Works Gruppen. In 1531 named to be a captain of a troop movement in Gaster.
Deposits entered by Ludwig Tschundi, Vogt Rudolf Wichser, Pannerherr Hans Stucki, and Seckelmeister Bernhardt Heer of Luzerne, which were sealed with personal seals.
Magnus Wichser of Thon gives temporary shelter to Father Peter Rumelin of Schwanden who had power of deeds of the Catholic believers.
Peter Wichser of Glarus, serving as a Captain in France is chosen as County scribe (Landschreiber).
Uli Wichser serves as church Vogt in Betschwanden.
Captain Jakob Wichser and Captain Jost Tschudi sue Hans Altmann and Uli
Tschudi regarding services payment in court. Captain Jakob Wichser is the
son of Hans Wichser, Seckelmeister; Ulrich Tschudi, county judge and Rudolf
Zweifel are his sons-in-law.
Rudolf Wichser and Landvogt Aegidius Tschudi demand downfall ...
S. Wichser is taken under oath, along with Jaochim Elmer, F. Solmann, and
Adam Ott to draw the layout of the Freiberg. Jost Wichser is Hans Wichser's
brother.
Captain Peter Wichser complains about many deserters from his company in
France.
According to Ratsprotocol, Hans Wichser and Paulus Wichser shoot a wild
deer in Freiberg. In punishment, they had to deliver the horns of the animal
to the Rat, who kept them in Rathaus of Glarus. They were destroyed during
the Great Fire of November 11, 1861.
Magnus Wichser speaks at the county gathering (Landsgemeinde).
Adrian Wichser, Captain of the Rat, receives permission to shoot three mountain
goats from the Freiberg for his wedding.
Thomas Wichser, Priest, receives mountain goats from Freiberg for the festivity
of the first reading of Mass.
Hans Wichser swears Urfehde at Glarus. [Ur: great; fehde: feud or quarrel]
Wolfgang Wichser is the Spittelvogt in Glarus.
The chronicler Aegidius Tschudi, Landvogt, Landamann, Officer in the French services, and the sworn representative to Kaiser Ferdinand 1st, marries his third wife, Maria Wichser of Glarus. This woman was the widow of:
Ludwig Wichser of Schwanden and Glarus is chosen Landvogt of Sargans after
he became Landschreiber in 1565.
A sworn ambassador is sent to the new King Henry 3rd of France; ambassador
of the Glarnerland is Ludwig Wichser, former Stadthalter.
Ludwig Wichser becomes Landammann.
Ludwig Wichser is Landammann for the second time.
Ludwig Wichser goes to Appenzell, in his position as Landammann, for the
purpose of easing the religious struggle.
Ludwig Wichser leads an entire regiment of Swiss soldiers to Paris, he becomes
a Colonel and Commander of this Swiss regiment. He received many medals
and was made a nobleman in 1596 by King Henry 4th. He lent his entire fortune
of 54000 Kroners to the King of France for which he was given notes. The
French government never honored these notes and therefore Ludwig Wichser,
his family and heirs were reduced to poverty.
Hug Wichser is witness in court.
King Henry 4th sent Ludwig Wichser, Colonel, to the Badische year-reckoning.
Verena Wichser is godmother in Betschwanden.
Colonel Ludwig Wichser returns to Switzerland.
David Wichser serves as a judge in Schwanden.
Political fall and religious renewal in Glarus.
Ludwig Wichser speaks at the county seat for Captain Fridolin Heer who wants to build a street along Walensee.
Adrian Wichser dies; he is son of Ludwig Wichser and is a Captain in the Regiment Gallati in France.
Hans Thomas Wichser, son of Ludwig, becomes Landvogt in the free offices and dies there in 1617.
Writings of Landammann and Rat of Glarus to the chiefs of gem. Bünde regarding Captain Peter Wichser, old Landvogt or Werdenberg, because as outstanding debts for one as Langvogt of Weredenberg, at the request of the Bündner in the years 1622 and 1623 released faithful service, because of warring folk along the Rhine. From the City Scribe of Chur, from Tscharner he received an obligation of 70 Gulders.
Kaspar Wichser is in military service in Holland.
The Tagwenrecht of Mstr. Jakob Wichser's sons, Peter, Rudolf, and Niklaus is renewed in Schwanden.
The Kurfurst of Brandenberg seeks in the oathmembership people for settlement on his farmlands in East Prussia, which lands were laid bare due to pestilence.
From Malans [Wartau] moved Thomas Wapp, with his wife Susanna Wiieserin along with her son Jakob, to these farmlands.
Peter Wichser goes to Paris as a soldier.
Peter Wichser, grocer, plants two Christmas trees privately on the Allmend.
Wolfgang Wichser is hospitalized in deGrave. He is a soldier under Colonel
von Planta in Bünd, Regiment of Salis.
Fridolin Wichser is working in Holland as a bargeman.
Pawnbroker Jost Wichser pays 20 Florin for his promotion to Unterleutenant.
Hans Rudolf Wichser buys the Weideli for 1750 Florin and rents the Weideli-Rhine
for twelve years.
Bernhard Wichser is missing in foreign service.
Major-aide Paulus Wichser is named Exercise Master for the new BernerExcercitio.
He becomes Ratsherr in 1822.
Jakob Wichser received for his houses six Stähr wood.
Rebuilding of the Swiss State.
Fabian Wichser has an accident in the Jägernstöcken when he became
lost on retreat from the French in the Klausenpass.
Bartolome Wichser enters the Royal Military Services of Holland. His last
service was in the East Indies where he died from yellow fever on the Island
of Java in 1830. he is buried at Watewreden, Island of Java.
Johann Melchior Wichser is hospitalized in Rochelle. Serving in the 1st
Swiss Halbbrigade, 5th Company, 3rd Battalion.
Wolfgang Wichser is serving as a soldier in the 3rd Corp of the Glarner
Battalion in Hüningen.
Bernhard Wichser is a soldier in the Guard of France.
Johann Heinrich Wichser is in the Royal Military Service in Holland.
Rudolf Wichser is in the Royal Military Service in Holland.