The following brief account of Caspar Weiss is taken from the Vorrede und Bericht prefacing the manuscript volume of the year 1758:
"Dieser Caspar Weiss ist gebiirtig gewesen von Deutmannsdorff, im Fürstenthum Jauer in Schlesien, sehr schlechter[1] und armer Ankunfft; hat das Leinweber-Handwerck gelernet; und sich in Harpersdorff (im Fürstenthum Liegnitz) mit Anna Andersen, George Anders dess Aeltern, Tochter, vertrauet; und also in Harpersdorff in einem schlechten[1] Haüsslein gewohnet; Und hat also seine gantze Lebens-Zeit in Armuth zugebracht. Gott hat ihm Zwey Söhne und eine Tochter bescheret. Der jüngste Sohn aber, und die Tochter sind in ihrer Jugend gestorben. Der älteste Sohn aber, mit Namen George, ist eben der, so[2] hernach an diesem Gesangbuche[3] gear-beitet, und es vermehret hat."
Translation :
"The above mentioned Caspar Weiss was born at Deutmannsdorf, Principality of Jauer, Silesia, of very plain and poor parents. He was a linen weaver by trade, and plighted his troth to Anna Anders, daughter of George Anders, the elder, of Harpersdorf, Principality of Liegnitz, and lived in Harpersdorf in a modest little home. And thus he passed his entire life in poverty. God gave him two sons and a daughter. The second son, however, and the daughter died young. The elder son, George by name, it was who later revised and enlarged this hymn-book."
In testimony of the fact that Weiss was recognized as a man of intelligence and influence, and that he bore his part in the persecution, to which in the closing years of his life the Schwenkfelders of Liegnitz in particular were subjected, we cite a brief excerpt from the so-called Erläuterung[4] of the Schwenkfelders. Tottering with age, the venerable Weiss was compelled to stand for six long hours before the notorious Herr Pastor Johann
