View source for Jacobs, Anthoni (ca. 1594-1624)

[[File:Roscius.jpg|300px|thumb|right|''Source: [http://dpc.uba.uva.nl/cgi/i/image/image-idx Bibliotheek van de Universiteit van

Amsterdam: Doopsgezinde Prenten]'']]     Anthoni (Anthony) Jacobs (Jacobsz, sometimes called Roscius after the friend and teacher of Cicero), b. 1594 probably at [[Amsterdam (Noord-Holland, Netherlands)|Amsterdam]] (according to [[Schijn, Herman (1662-1727)|Schijn]] in Hoorn), d. 1624, was a Dutch Mennonite elder in the [[Waterlanders|Waterlander]] congregation at Hoorn. In January 1624 he was skating from Hoorn to Amsterdam, where he was to preach a sermon, pushing the sled in which his wife Jannetje Jansdochter was sitting with their child, and fell through a hole in the ice. The child drowned and Jacobsz with much trouble saved his wife, who, however, died soon after. Two weeks later Jacobsz also died. This tragic accident made a deep impression. Joost van den Vondel<em>, </em>Holland's greatest poet, then still a member of the Amsterdam Waterlander congregation, celebrated the family in a poem, and Jeme de Ring of Harlingen published a sermon for Anthoni's funeral.

Anthoni Jacobsz was a grandson on his mother's side of the well-known [[Gerritsz, Lubbert (1534-1612)|Elder Lubbert Gerritsz]] and a son of [[Theunisz, Jacob (ca. 1569-1625)|Jacob Thonis]] (Theunissen), a deacon of the Waterlander congregation of Amsterdam; his brother [[Jacobsz, Lambert (ca. 1598-1636)|Lambert Jacobsz]] was an elder of the Waterlander congregation of [[Leeuwarden (Friesland, Netherlands)|Leeuwarden]]. Anthoni studied medicine, obtained his doctor's degree, and was appointed elder at an early age, being much appreciated by his congregation. He published <em>Wederlegginghe des Kinder doops . . . teghen Robertum Puppium, dat deselve niet uit God is </em>(n.p., 1617, reprinted Amsterdam 1636). After [[Faukelius, Hermann (ca. 1560-1625)|Herman Faukelius]]<em>, </em>a Reformed divine, had attacked the Mennonites in <em>Babel, dat is Verwerringhe der Wederdooperen onder malkanderen </em>(1621), and [[Claesz, Claes (17th century)|Claes Claesz]] of [[Blokzijl (Overijssel, Netherlands)|Blokzijl]] had defended the Mennonites, Anthoni Jacobsz also wrote a refutation entitled <em>Babel, d.i. Verwerringe der Kinderdooperen onder malcanderen </em>(n.p., 1626), which was published after Jacobsz' death. He is also thought to have been the author of a booklet published at Amsterdam in 1628 under the pseudonym of Ben Israels, <em>Tractaet der Buytengetrouwden sonder onderscheijt. </em>
= Bibliography =
<em>Doopsgezinde Bijdragen</em> (1883): 7.

Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. <em>Mennonitisches Lexikon</em>, 4 vols. Frankfurt &amp; Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. II,<strong> </strong>386.

Kühler, Wilhelmus Johannes. <em>Geschiedenis van de Doopsgezinden in Nederland II. 1600-1735 Eerste Helft</em>. Haarlem: H.D. Tjeenk Willink &amp; Zoon n.v., 1940: 44, 59, 64, 66-69, 77, 142 f.

Schijn, Hermann. <em>Aanhangzel Dienende tot den Vervolg of Derde Deel van de Geschiedenis der Mennoniten .. . in het welke noch Negentien Leeraars der Mennoniten </em>. . .  Amsterdam: Kornelis de Wit, 1745: III, 270-289.

Visscher, H. and L. A. van Langeraad. <em>Biographisch Woordenboek von Protestantsche Godgeleerden in Nederland, </em>A-L v. I Utrecht, 1903- : IV, 480-482.
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