The Von Tschudy Family
This from an Edward A. Tschudy of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
I'm not quite sure when or how Lorelle Parrott Weidlein came to obtain this information from Edward. I simply know that she shared it with her cousin, Robert Elmer McCullough prior to her death in 1995. His daughter, Karen McCullough Kidd has been kind enough to share it with me, and through me, with you. Here's hoping it will help fill in some spaces in our family notes.
In places, if I cannot make out the text, I will place a couple underline characters (___). My grammar & spell-checker didn't like the following piece at ALL...grin...but I've been faithful to type it as it appears on the paper. If I THINK I know what a word is, but am not positive, I'll italicize it. The quoted text follows as she wrote it. Words that I add to aid in grammar will be in red.
The Flag of the Canton Glarus 
with the image of Fridolin on it.
Before presenting "The Von Tschudy Family" history to you, I must preface it with the following which was emailed to me from Thomas Schatti. He lives in Glarus, and works in Schwanden. He is the founder of the Schwanden Historical Society there. His email, answering my question of validity of the often repeated lineage of Tschudi's back to 906, states on November 30, 2004:
"On the Tschudi family of Schwanden I have read in the last publication on the Tschudi family from Schwanden by Karin Marti-Weissenbach, 2003. It gives the explanation of the surname Tschudi/Schudi as Mensch mit dichtem, wirrem und struppigem Haar. I'll try a translation. "People with dense, wild and strong hair" - it must have been a nickname at first.
The first Tschudi of Glarus is mentioned on November 14, 1289 in a guarantee of a loan with others by a man named "Schudin" and "Hugen Schudin". The first Tschudi in Schwanden was Heinrich Tschudi, born 1382, who was married to Katherina Netstaler. Her brother was said to have been the wealthiest man in Switzerland at that time.
They had a son named Heinrich (Heinitze) Tschudi born in 1427. All Tschudis from Schwanden are descendants of Heinrich and Katherina Tschudi-Netstaler. Karin Marti-Weissenbach mentions in her book that it is a myth that the Glaronese Tschudis can be traced back to 906. Frieda Gallati, historian, proved that this (Aegidius' lineage") is untrue. The famous historian, Aegidius Tschudi, of Glarus (1505-1572) manipulated, and even faked documents to make it seem that his family was of noble decent."
A History of "
The Von Tschudy Family"
Founder: An uneducated but intelligent and ambitious ____, or slave, schooled by experience, born during the Feudal Ages in 870 A. D. in Canton Glarus, Switzerland. His name was probably Yost Schudy or Shudy (a corruption of the Latin word meaning "Chief Shield Bearer". Yost is a corruption of Johann or John.
At that time, the church and the state owned all the land. The rule of Switzerland was in their hands and the people therof were merely slaves who tilled land grants from the state, keeping for themselves only enough for their living. The rest was taken by the church and state in the form of taxes. These taxes were collected by Nobles for the Church and state, and the lives of the people were also governed and directed by such Suzerains or governors.
At the time Yost Shudy lived, the land was divided between the King of Burgundy and the Catholic Church, wherin resided all formal education (such as it was then) and knowledge was dispensed by it's Monasteries to the scions of Noble families.
For some special reason, in 906 A. D. Yost Shudy was enfeoffed, or freed by King Ludwig III of Burgundy, at the request of Count Purchartus at Rottorlo. After becoming a freeman he enjoyed the patronage of the Bavarian royalty and was ennobled or knighted and allowed to us the "Von" in his name as a sign of this. He died about 936 A. D.
His son, known as Rudolph of Glarus retained the title and the sons of Rudolph, Johann I born 930 A. D. - died 998; Ulrich his son born 960 - died 1029 and Rudolph II his son, born 990 - died 1062 retained the title "of Glarus" and became feudal lords or suzerains.
All descendants of Yost were ardent supporters of the Church and State and were educated in the Monasteries of certain abbeys in neighboring Cantons, such as St. Gael, Saeckingen in Baselland, etc. Because of this they enjoyed the patronage of both the Church and the state and were made Cantonal Governors of Glarus for Burgundy and overlords for the Monasteries collecting taxes from the serfs for such abbeys. Thus they grew in influence, wealth and power with fiefs of their own as reward for their service to Church and state.
In 1026 we have the first evidence of this in a grant of a bill of feoffment to Rudolph II of Glarus by Bertha, the abbess of Saeckingen, confirmed by a second bill of feoffment granted to Heinrich of Glarus called Schudi, by Gutta, abbess of Saeckingen in 1120. When Yost Shudy was freed in 906 A. D. he acquired the Castle and domain of Graepplancy in Glarus and from 1029 on, his descendants were Cantonal Governors.
The feudal age lasted until 1250 A. D. but after abolition of serfdom, the state and Church still controlled the lives of the Swiss. By that time however, Switzerland had come under the domination of Austria and the Emperors of Austria were also patrons of the founder's descendants.
During the feudal ages the descendants of Yost confined their migrations mainly to towns in Glarus and neighboring Cantons as Vor, St. Gael, Schwyz [I corrected spelling of Schwitz] and by intermarriage through the other Noble families, added to their domains and wealth. From 1200 to 1400, during the Middle ages, Johann Tschudi, born in 1252 in Glarus and the 14th descendant of Yost, emigrated to Baselland and founded a branch of the family there. Later this branch acquired the Castle and domain of Schwargwesserstel, near Kaeserstuhl on the Rhine.
In 1219 Heinrich II Von Tschudi was Knighted by King Frederick II of Germany, and the line of descent continued from Yost to 1500 A. D. when the beginning of the Reformation and its progress affected the lives of his successors in Switzerland. From 1500 - 1600 A. D. was the period of greatest expansion and power for the family at Glarus. They already possessed the Castles of Sargan, Liebenburg, Schupfen, Ereplang, Fleum and Graepplang and acquired the domains of Tscherluck (1513) - Ortenstein link (1543) - Griefensee [I corrected spelling from Griefencee](1544) - Schwarzwassarlly in 1591. Graepplang was in the possession of the family until 1766.
For educational purposes, I've inserted hyperlinks to various places on the internet that offer either photos or data you will find helpful.
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Photos & Info. on Castle of Graepplang and Flums: Translated to English - In the original French language. |
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Photos & Info. on Castle of Ortenstein: Translated to English - In the original French language. |
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Photos of Castle of Griefensee: Translated to English - In the original German language. |
From 1500 on, some emigration began from Glarus and other Swiss Cantonal branches to countries outside of Switzerland - as Germany, France, Austria, etc. where family branches were established. The most famous member of the family, Aegidius Von Tschudi [Data re: Aegidius: English , MORE - German , MORE], at present known as the "Father of Swiss History" was born in Glarus in 1505 and died there in 1572. He was a statesman, historian, genealogist and natural scientist and in 1559, while Swiss Envoy to the Confederation at Augsburg, Emperor Ferdinand granted him documentary confirmation of the status of Nobility to all male members of the family so the use of "Von" in the name may be continued. This was necessary because from 1500 on, the Cantons were engaged in a series of wars with Burgundy and Austria, after acknowledgement of their independence by the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. These wars were over by 1648 when the Treaty of Westphalia with Germany ended the "Thirty Years War" and gave the Swiss freedom.
During 1500 to 1600 there were many who emigrated from Glarus to Italy, France and Spain. The family branches founded there produced many brilliant military leaders and statesmen, who at first were known as "mercenaries".
During 1600 - 1700 the Glarus branch acquired the domain of Ulster and Gonveil but after 1650 the fortune of its individual members began to decline as they had to readjust their lives to changed conditions in their loyalty to state and Church. The Reformation had produced considerable friction between Protestants and Catholics and the freedom of the Swiss after 1650 reduced their status to a level of the ordinary man instead of the Nobleman. The religions were resulting from the Church conflict and caused considerable emigration to other European countries such as England, Norway, Russia and Spain where still other branches of the family were founded.
After 1700 another opportunity for the Glarus branch opened when transportation to America was available, and from 1700 to 1800 many members of the family emigrated to the United States, landing at the ports of Philadelphia and New York at various times. These are the ancestors of most of the Tschudi families in the U.S. today. They occur mostly in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Kentucky, Massachusetts and Virginia. With many of these families, the family name has been simplified so that it has become Judy, Judah and Tschudin.
From 1600 to 1750 the members of the Glarus branch were prominent in (the) manufacturing, science, medicine and juris-prudence, and held many offices in Glarus for the Canton and Swiss government.
The period from 1700 - 1800 was most brilliant for members of these branches and founders of which had emigrated to France, Spain and Italy. They acquired many titles and decorations (orders) as reward for their services.
Among the better known were:
FRANCE
- Ludwig Von Tschudi 1495 - 1530 Served in Crusades. Received Order of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem and was knighted.
- Christopher Von Tschudi 1572 - 1616 Knight of the Order of Malta.
- Joseph Ulrich Von Tschudi 1675 - 1735 Knight of the Order of St. Michael.
- Fidel Dominick Von Tschudi 1720 - 1787 Knight of the Order of St. Louis in 1768.
- Carl Richard Von Tschudi 1751 - 1781 Knight of the Order of St. John's in 1769.
ITALY
- Leonard Ludwig Von Tschudi 1701 - 1779 Lieut. Governor of Swiss Guards 1759
- Joseph Anton Von Tschudi 1703 - 1770 Field Marshall and Knight of the Order of the Golden Key in 1737.
- Joseph Anton Xavier Von Tschudi 1737 - 1809 Colonel in Neopolitan Service. In 1769 he received the Order of St. Stephen & St. Constantine.
- Fridolin Joseph Von Tschudi 1741 - 1803 In 1776 was Field Marshall and Knight of the Order of St. Stephen and St. Constantine. In 1789 he was Lieut. General and Governor of Galta.
- Ludwig Sebastian Von Tschudi 1743 - 1815 In 1767 he was Knight of the Order of St. Stephen and Constantine. He was General of Neopolitan Troops in 1789.
- Joseph Anton Von Tschudi 1770 - 1839 Commanding General of Swiss Guards and Viceroy of Sicily and Palermo.
SPAIN
- Pasquale Michael Von Tschudi 1786 - 1858 Lieut. Colonel and Knight of the Order of Hermangilda and Golden Crown.
- Ludwig Von Tschudi 1787 - 1851 Knight of the Order of Hermangilda and Golden Crown.
From 1800 to the present time [I'm not sure when this was written] the most outstanding member of the Glarus branch was Johann Jacob Von Tschudi 1818 - 1883 He was an explorer and Statesman. His explorations embraced voyages to South America, covering Brazil, Peru, Chile and Bolivia.
The former domains of the family have been disposed of by their holders to the Swiss Government since 1650 by gradual sale. All the old castles on these domains are now in ruins save Graepplang. In Switzerland all family titles have been abolished. The most prominent of these was Baron of Ereplang and Vicomte de Flume.
The family Coat of Arms which is permitted to be used ONLY by male members of the family whose name is Tschudi or Tschudy is mentioned in the Cantonal Library at St. Gall in the Canton of that name.
The original Arms was modified somewhat in 1632 by addition of the motto, "Asperon non spirent", which translated means, "Do not be dismayed by difficulties". The seven pointed crown also is different from the 1632 change which is a crown with five pima___. END
It seems that this history ends rather abruptly to me, but this is all I have.
