Week 13 (March 26 – April 1) – Different. What ancestor seems to be your polar opposite? What ancestor did something that seems completely different than what they “should” have done or what you would have done?
Moving on to the next generation, my children’s 16 sets of great-great-great-grandparents. A quarter of these were discussed last year when I did 8 individuals (4 sets in red on the chart) of my/their American lines. See links for 2014 52Ancestors #8 through #15.

Théodore MEDER (1807-1898) is on the opposite side of the chart from Maria MAJERUS (1850-1931). My son inherited Théodore’s Y-DNA through his father and Maria’s mtDNA through me. I need to learn more about DNA, but this I get: Y-DNA and mtDNA are completely opposite.
The MEDER-REIFFER Family (1807-1930)
Please excuse my going off on a tangent here but I find old occupations quite fascinating and it is interesting to learn more about the crafts and trades of our ancestors, or as was the case here, of their neighbors or acquaintances.

I had a bit of difficulty finding a translation for the French word mégissier. Google Translate “knew” the French word but did not come up with the English equivalent. After a bit, I found that mégissier is a tawer. In search of the translation and definition, I found this illustration (above). A tawer is a person who taws or makes leather out of hide without the use of tanning.
Let’s get back to the main subjects!
The mother of this family group, Susanna REIFFER (1808-1877) born Wednesday, 6 April 1808 in Wahlhausen, Clervaux, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, according to the extract of her baptismal record that was presented in Diekirch in 1833 when she married. The same date and place are also listed on the 1843 census. She was the daughter of Théodore REIFFER and Elisabethe CLOS whose dates of death were listed on her 1833 marriage record.[2]
Théodore and Susanna were the parents of a dozen children:
The Occupations of Théodore MEDER
Life may have been hard for Théodore, Susanna, and their many children. As seen in the following chart Théodore worked as a day laborer from the time of his marriage in 1833 until 1846 when he became a shepherd. He remained in this occupation for about 10 years. On one record it is clearly noted that he was a goat shepherd. By 1858 he was once again working as a day laborer. In 1880 at the age of 73 he was seen on the census as a miner (Bergbauarbeiter). This seems to be a very hard job for a man of his age. Finally at the time of his death, at the age of 91, he was seen as having no occupation.
The MEDER-REIFFER family in the Luxembourg census
Previous posts on family groups in Luxembourg have concentrated on the birth and marriage records of the children. For this family, I’ve decided to do something different. Above I used a pink or blue box for each child, including footnote links to the very long source list found at the end of this post. Instead of discussing the birth and/or marriage records, I’ve chosen to focus on the census records of this family.
The census in Luxembourg was taken every three or so years. At FamilySearch there are presently 1,115,931 census images available for these years: 1843, 1846, 1847, 1849, 1851, 1852, 1855, 1858, 1861, 1864, 1867, 1871, 1875, 1880, 1885, 1887, 1890, 1895 and 1900.
*Source: Luxembourg, registres paroissiaux, 1601-1948 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Ettelbruck > Baptêmes 1748-1792 > image 59 of 147. Jean Nicolas Meder baptismal record. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32462-751-39?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-ZJ4:1500939401,1501045912 : accessed 23 March 2015).
Théodore and Susanna were married nearly 45 years when Susanna died at 9 o’clock in the evening on 11 October 1877 in their home in Diekirch. Théodore who was the informant of her death declared that he could not write and did not sign the death record.[49] The place of birth of the deceased was seen as Merscheid instead of Wahlhausen as seen in her marriage record and on several census sheets. I hoped that this would lead to her birth record but was disappointed once again.
Théodore spent the next 22 years as a widower and may have spent some time in the local hospital before his death. He died at three o’clock in the morning on 29 July 1898 in the hospital (Spital) in Diekirch. His death was reported by Dominik ZENNER, the 64 years old overseer in the hospital (Aufseher im Spital).[50] It was interesting to see that Mathias WENGLER, age 72 was still the secretary of the city hall in Diekirch and a witness on this death record. In 1877 at the age of 50, he had been the witness and secretary on Susanna’s death record.
If you have any connection to this family, please let me know. I look forward to reading your comments.
Sources:
[1] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > Tables décennales 1803-1892 Naissances, mariages, décès 1797-1800 Naissances 1800-1823 > image 937 of 1493. 1807 Birth Record. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11030-125548-25?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2N5:n983817566 : accessed 24 Apr 2010).
[2] Ibid, Diekirch > Naissances 1879-1890 Mariages 1796-1842 > image 1312 of 1492. 1833 Marriage Record No. 9. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11618-99298-93?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2N2:1627336735 : accessed 01 Apr 2013).
[3] Ibid, Diekirch > Naissances 1879-1890 Mariages 1796-1842 > image 1300 of 1492. 1833 Marriage Publication, upper left. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11618-104226-22?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2N2:1627336735 : accessed 01 Apr 2013).
[4] Ibid, Diekirch > Naissances 1823 > image 267 of 1507. 1834 Birth Record No.3. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11681-32931-0?cc=1709358&wc=9RY4-BZ9:129628901,130131601 : accessed 18 March 2010).
[5] Ibid, Bettendorf > Mariages 1817-1890 Décès 1800-1859 > image 565 of 1494. 1864 Marriage Record No. 2. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12456-35377-81?cc=1709358&wc=9RY8-SP8:129626601,129729901 : accessed 13 March 2015).
[6] Ibid, Bettendorf > Décès 1895-1923 > image 94 of 389. 1901 Death Record No. 42. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32048-25476-87?cc=1709358&wc=9RT1-926:129626601,129623802 : accessed 15 January 2015).
[7] Ibid, Bettendorf > Décès 1895-1923 > image 165 of 389. 1906 Death Record No. 34 (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32048-24647-64?cc=1709358&wc=9RT1-926:129626601,129623802 : accessed 22 March 2015).
[8] Ibid, Diekirch > Naissances 1823 > image 311 of 1507. 1835 Birth Record No. 86. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11681-29914-78?cc=1709358&wc=9RY4-BZ9:129628901,130131601 : acccessed 18 March 2010).
[9] Ibid, Bettendorf > Mariages 1817-1890 Décès 1800-1859 > image 558 of 1494. 1863 Marriage Record No. 10. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12456-36446-81?cc=1709358&wc=9RY8-SP8:129626601,129729901 : accessed 13 March 2015).
[10] Ibid, Bastendorf > Décès 1895-1923 > image 128 of 213. 1912 Death Record No. 9. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32027-17450-21?cc=1709358&wc=9RTY-JW1:129624201,129623802 : accessed 13 March 2015).
[11] Ibid, Bettendorf > Décès 1895-1923 > image 234 of 389. 1911 Death Record No. 15. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32048-24398-34?cc=1709358&wc=9RT1-926:129626601,129623802 : accessed 13 March 2015).
[12] Ibid, Diekirch > Naissances 1823 > image 363 of 1507. 1837 Birth Record No. 84. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11681-34390-9?cc=1709358&wc=9RY4-BZ9:129628901,130131601 : accessed 18 March 2010).
[13] Ibid, Diekirch > Mariages 1843-1890 Décès 1797-1824 > image 408 of 1493. 1860 Marriage Record No. 14. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12052-48463-31?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-929:129628901,129848701 : accessed 17 April 2010).
[14] Ibid, Diekirch > Décès 1825-1890 > image 1136 of 1358. 1881 Death Record No. 9. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12147-165899-41?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-2NL:129628901,129628902 : accessed 22 March 2015).
[15] Ibid, Diekirch > Décès 1903-1912 > image 378 of 500. 1918 Death Record No. 67. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32027-19878-84?cc=1709358&wc=9RTY-J4Q:129628901,129787701 : accessed 10 March 2015).
[16] Ibid, Diekirch > Naissances 1823 > image 405 of 1507. 1839 Birth Record No. 64. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11681-35084-98?cc=1709358&wc=9RY4-BZ9:129628901,130131601 : acccessed 18 March 2010).
[17] Ibid, Diekirch > Décès 1825-1890 > image 262 of 1358. 1839 Death Record No. 53. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12147-170780-90?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2NH:n538876208 : accessed 17 Feb 2013).
[18] Ibid, Diekirch > Naissances 1823 > image 437 of 1507. 1841 Birth Record No. 7. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11681-29201-28?cc=1709358&wc=9RY4-BZ9:129628901,130131601 : accessed 18 March 2010).
[19] Ibid, Diekirch > Mariages 1843-1890 Décès 1797-1824 > image 538 of 1493. 1867 Marriage Record No. 27. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12052-48372-59?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-929:129628901,129848701 : accessed 17 April 2010).
[20] Ibid, Diekirch > Mariages 1895-1923 Décès 1895-1902 > image 513 of 661. 1897 Death Record No. 2. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32038-1472-27?cc=1709358&wc=9RTB-92Q:129628901,130043302 : accessed 13 March 2015).
[21] Ibid, Diekirch > Décès 1903-1912 > image 203 of 500. 1911 Death Record No. 13. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32027-19532-70?cc=1709358&wc=9RTY-J4Q:129628901,129787701 : accessed 10 March 2015).
[22] Ibid, Diekirch > Naissances 1823 > image 476 of 1507. 1842 Birth Record No. 68. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11681-30337-12?cc=1709358&wc=9RY4-BZ9:129628901,130131601 : accessed 18 March 2010).
[23] Ibid, Diekirch > Mariages 1843-1890 Décès 1797-1824 > image 496 of 1493. 1865 Marriage Record No. 13. Note: Lists her name as Maria “known as Elisa” Meder.(https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12052-49678-18?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-929:129628901,129848701 : accessed 13 March 2015).
[24] Ibid, Diekirch > Naissances 1823 > image 1423 of 1507. 1876 Birth Record No. 19. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11681-29780-66?cc=1709358&wc=9RY4-BZ9:129628901,130131601 : accessed 13 March 2015).
[25] Ibid, Diekirch > Naissances 1823 > image 514 of 1507. 1844 Birth Record No. 15. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11681-29227-86?cc=1709358&wc=9RY4-BZ9:129628901,130131601 : accessed 18 March 2010).
[26] Ibid, Diekirch > Naissances 1823 > image 546 of 1507. 1845 Birth Record No. 38. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11681-25504-24?cc=1709358&wc=9RY4-BZ9:129628901,130131601 : accessed 18 March 2010).
[27] Ibid, Diekirch > Décès 1825-1890 > image 347 of 1358. 1845 Death Record No. 27. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12147-161635-71?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-2NL:129628901,129628902 : accessed 19 May 2011).
[28] Ibid, Diekirch > Naissances 1823 > image 600 of 1507. 1847 Birth Record No. 63. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11681-29087-80?cc=1709358&wc=9RY4-BZ9:129628901,130131601 : accessed 18 March 2010).
[29] Ibid, Diekirch > Décès 1825-1890 > image 393 of 1358. 1848 Death Record No. 25. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12147-170739-77?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-2NL:129628901,129628902 : accessed 19 May 2011).
[30] Ibid, Diekirch > Décès 1825-1890 > image 413 of 1358. 1849 Death Record No. 32. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12147-159137-65?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-2NL:129628901,129628902 : accessed 19 May 2011).
[31] Ibid, Diekirch > Naissances 1823 > image 683 of 1507. 1850 Birth Record No. 77. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11681-24855-92?cc=1709358&wc=9RY4-BZ9:129628901,130131601 : accessed 18 March 2010).
[32] Ibid, Diekirch > Mariages 1843-1890 Décès 1797-1824 > image 687 of 1493. 1878 Marriage Record No. 9. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12052-49334-55?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-929:129628901,129848701 : accessed 17 April 2010).
[33] Ibid, Diekirch > Décès 1825-1890 > image 1096 of 1358. 1879 Death Record No. 14. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12147-166632-62?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-2NL:129628901,129628902 : accessed 19 May 2011).
[34] Ibid, Diekirch > Décès 1825-1890 > image 1095 of 1358. 1879 Death Record No. 11. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12147-168135-86?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-2NL:129628901,129628902 : accessed 19 May 2011).
[35] Ibid, Alscheid > Mariages 1831-1890 > image 233 of 287. 1880 Marriage Record No. 2. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12419-77701-88?cc=1709358&wc=9RYZ-L27:129624001,129733101 : accessed 23 March 2015).
[36] Luxembourg, Volkszählungen 1843-1900 (images), <i>FamilySearch</i>, (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > 1843 > image 332 of 444. Meder-Reiffer household (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32349-22719-47?cc=2037957&wc=M5LR-MJ4:345999901,345863501 : accessed 25 January 2015).
[37] Ibid, Diekirch > 1846 > image 170 of 347. Meder-Reiffer household. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32358-17571-45?cc=2037957&wc=M5LT-82R:345999901,345858602 : accessed 11 March 2015).
[38] Ibid, Diekirch > 1847 > image 85 of 506. Meder-Reiffer household. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32360-31013-36?cc=2037957&wc=M5LT-7MB:345999901,345864101 : accessed 11 March 2015).
[39] Ibid, Diekirch > 1849 > image 496 of 504. Meder-Reiffer household. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32357-25769-37?cc=2037957&wc=M5LT-44Q:345999901,345864801 : accessed 11 March 2015).
[40] Ibid, Diekirch > 1851 > image 28 of 601. Meder-Reiffer household. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32358-23247-83?cc=2037957&wc=M5LT-6Y3:345999901,345865601 : accessed 11 March 2015).
[41] Ibid, Diekirch > 1852 > image 28 of 551. Meder-Reiffer household. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32376-17058-35?cc=2037957&wc=M5LY-Y4T:345999901,345865501 : accessed 12 March 2015).
[42] Ibid, Diekirch > 1855 > image 212 of 534. Meder-Reiffer household. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32378-30312-32?cc=2037957&wc=M5GM-K6Y:345999901,345866501 : accessed 12 March 2015).
[43] Ibid, Diekirch > 1858 > image 122 of 635. Meder-Reiffer household. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32378-12764-40?cc=2037957&wc=M5LB-VZL:345999901,345867601 : accessed 12 March 2015).
[44] Ibid, Diekirch > 1861 > image 150 of 646. Meder-Reiffer household. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32381-11875-67?cc=2037957&wc=M5LY-16P:345999901,345867101 : accessed 13 March 2015).
[45] Ibid, Diekirch > 1864 > image 483 of 689. Meder-Reiffer household No. 3 (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32372-10399-87?cc=2037957&wc=M5LY-168:345999901,345868401 : accessed 25 January 2015).
[46] Ibid, Diekirch > 1867 > image 361 of 649. Meder-Reiffer household No. 198 (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32377-7605-67?cc=2037957&wc=M5GM-SP8:345999901,345869101 : accessed 7 January 2015).
[47] Ibid, Diekirch > 1875 > image 233 of 1488. Meder-Reiffer household No. 44. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32379-20952-48?cc=2037957&wc=M5G9-SPK:345999901,345870501 : accessed 15 March 2015).
[48] Ibid, Diekirch > 1880 > image 321 of 1562. Meder-Faber household No. 85 (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32389-5935-92?cc=2037957&wc=M5GS-GPL:345999901,345872201 : accessed 7 January 2015).
[49] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), <i>FamilySearch</i> (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > Décès 1825-1890 > image 1066 of 1358. 1877 Death Record No. 58. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12147-166176-67?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2NH:n538876208 : accessed 01 Apr 2013).
[50] Ibid, Diekirch > Mariages 1895-1923 Décès 1895-1902 > image 550 of 661. 1898 Death Record No. 53. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32038-1425-70?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2NF:21518491 : accessed 17 Feb 2013).
© 2015 Cathy Meder-Dempsey
This is my weekly entry for Amy Johnson Crow’s challenge:
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – 2015 Edition. It was so successful in 2014 that genealogists wanted to continue or join in on the fun in 2015. Be sure to check out the other great posts by visiting Amy’s blog No Story Too Small where she’ll be posting the weekly recap on Thurdays and allowing all participants to leave a link to their post(s) in the comments.
Your research continues to teach and inspire me! I loved the story of this family, sad at times. I love the pink and blue backgrounds and had noticed them! Your sources list is incredible! So interesting Cathy!
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Thank you Helen. If anyone else notices the boxes and comments on them I might do a short post on how I did them. 🙂
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Wonderful research, as always. And to think you have a tawer (a new one to me) and a goat herder in the family!
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Thanks Amy. The tawer was only a witness but I hate not knowing something! As for the goat herder I should have interchanged that with shepherd! Anyway, I was going to have my husband get a photo of a goat in a field in our area but the weather has been so bad that we haven’t gotten to ride our bikes. I can always add it later! 🙂
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