Gerrit van Benschop (d. 1535)
Gerrit van Benschop (Gheryt Ghijsen, or Gheryt van Wou), a Dutch Anabaptist leader in 1534-1535; in his home town of Benschop (Dutch province of Utrecht) his influence was so great that Benschop became an Anabaptist center. Here and in other towns he baptized a large number of persons. Whether he was infected with the revolutionary principles of Münsterism and by his activities responsible for the revolts at Hazerswoude and Poeldijk, is not quite clear. In February 1535 he stayed at Amsterdam and joined the group of Anabaptists who walked naked along the streets (see Naaktlopers). During this event he was taken prisoner and beheaded at Amsterdam on 25 February 1535.
Bibliography
Doopsgezinde Bijdragen (1917): 11, No. 22.
Mellink, Albert F. De Wederdopers in de noordelijke Nederlanden 1531-1544. Groningen: J.B. Wolters, 1954: See index.
"Verhooren en Vonissen der Wederdoopers, betrokken bij de aanslagen op Amsterdam in 1534 en 1535." Bijdragen en Mededeelingen van het Historisch Genootschap 41 (1920): 57-58.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, p. 502. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.
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MLA style: van der Zijpp, Nanne. "Gerrit van Benschop (d. 1535)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1956. Web. 24 May 2013. http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/G4794.html.
APA style: van der Zijpp, Nanne. (1956). Gerrit van Benschop (d. 1535). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 24 May 2013, from http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/G4794.html.
