When Hans Jacob Meier was born on 30 June 1715, in Herisau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Switzerland, his father, Lorenz Meyer, was 30 and his mother, Elisabeth Schoch, was 30. He married Anna Frischknecht on 15 May 1739, in Herisau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Switzerland. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 3 daughters. He died on 24 December 1760, at the age of 45.