If you would like to be listed as a Key researcher for one of these lines please contact me.
I am often asked; "where is your family from?" This question promptly generates a question from me asking "how far back do you want me to go". I have read numerous genealogies for "Forney's" regardless of what Forney line they are; claiming they are of German descent. The evidence for this has been a result of documents stating they were citizens of various locations in Alsace, Baden, and Pfalz. In addition many of the early immigrants spoke German.
In fact Germany and Alsace were temporary safe havens for our ancestors.
Switzerland in the sixteenth century was known throughout Europe for it religious tolerance. As a result the Anabaptist or "Taufer" movement flourished there. From these roots grew the Swiss Mennonites. By the seventeenth century the Anabaptist Mennonites lost favor and began to be persecuted. The Taufer Kammer (Office of Anabaptist Affairs) was formed. Decrees from the Taufer Kammer resulted in mass expulsions from Switzerland to Alsace, Baden, and Pfalz. The expulsions were not limited to Anabaptist Mennonites but to sympathizers known as Halb-Taufer (Halfway Anabaptist) as well. Many leaders of the "Taufer" Anabaptist movement were decapitated or drowned.
Many of our ancestors who were forced to flee the persecution to Alsace, Baden, and Pfalz were stripped of their wealth prior to their departure. Upon their arrival in Alsace, Baden, and Pfalz they were subjected to protection taxes and forms of persecution in their new homes. Some for an example in Alsace were forced to baptize their children as Catholics.
Promises of religious freedom in the new land of America, particularly in Pennsylvania led to a new migration from Alsace, Baden, and Pfalz to America. At first there was a handful of migrations however in time tens of thousands came. Many were required to indenture themselves to pay for their passage. There were still others that were forced into the Hessian Army and were sent to America to support the British during the American Revolution. A large contingent of these Hessian Soldiers defected and found homes among their relatives already living here.
There is an often overlooked fact about Switzerland (Switzerland does not have its own language.) namely that there are four languages spoken in the country German, French, Italian and Romansh. The particular language of choice is demography based on the bordering countries (Germany, France Italy). Typically the Swiss are multilingual, speaking usually at least two of the four national languages.
We previously identified seven unique Forney branches in America. After decades of research by many researchers including significant contributions by Swiss National Gottfried Fahrni we can now reduce the number of unique Forney branches in America from seven to four! We can now combine the York, Lancaster, Southern, and Utah branches into one common line. Because we can identify Switzerland as a common denominator to these four lines we are changing the identifier name to the "Swiss Forneys"
As a result of these new findings this website will be going through significant changes.
We have preliminary DNA test results that connect the Southern Forney Line, Berks County, York, and Cocalico Line.
We also have DNA tests on what we are now calling the "UTAH LINE". This line can be traced via a paper trail to Switzerland. The Surname is Fahrni and as can be seen on the DNA results page has a significant number of matching alleles. This family did not immigrate to America until 1882 from Switzerland.
We lack DNA testing for the Somerset County Line as yet. We now have a DNA sample for the Lancaster Line however the results are not what was expected and further DNA testing is necessary to confirm a connection.
DNA testing is expected to connect all seven of these lines genetically and place them in a Swiss genealogy dating back to the early 1500's.
This Swiss genealogy is in the possession of a Swiss National Gottfried Fahrni. Gottfried has spent thousands of dollars of his own money to have a professional Swiss genealogist document the Swiss side of the American Forney's. He is currently writing a book that will connect the American Forney's to their Swiss ancestors. To ensure proper credit is given for his efforts we will not release any of the documentation on this site or the web until the book is published. It is most important that the various paper trails of Farni / Fahrni leading to Forney and Fahrney families in the US are confirmed by DNA. Any person believing to belong to one of the above American Forney lines should come forward and offer to take a DNA test. We have identified here seven principal lines of Forney's/Fahrni's on this page. We can conclusively document the Lancaster County Line and the York County Line to roots in Switzerland.
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