52 Ancestors: #15 Clemens-Weber Family of Steinheim, Luxembourg

Joannes CLEMENS (1750-1827) and Susanna WEBER (1750-1825) were my children’s 5th great-grandparents. Their research took me to villages I had not yet researched but I wasn’t surprised they had me searching through the parish records of the town I live in. The parish registers of baptisms, marriages, and burials for Echternach (blue cross) date from 1637 to 1797 and include the villages of Bech, Osweiler, and Steinheim (all in Luxembourg) and Ernzen, Ferschweiler, Irrel, Menningen, and Minden (all in Rhineland, Germany) (ruby icons).

Minden and Steinheim

Johannes Bertelius [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Minden lies at the confluence of the Nims, a tributary of the Prüm, and the Sauer on the German side. The village was formerly attached to Echternach, but since the abbey was abolished it now belongs to the Edingen parish. Across the Sauer on the Luxembourg side lies the village of Steinheim (Steenem in Luxembourgish). It was also attached to Echternach and today belongs to the commune of Rosport. In a document from the 7th century, the place was called “Staneheim.” In earlier times quality stone was quarried there. In the Trierischen Chronik in 1822 Court of Appeals judge Müller tried to prove the stones used for the construction of the Roman baths near the monastery of St. Barbara in Trier, which had been uncovered that year, originated from Steinheim.

Susanna WEBER aka Susanna FEILEN

Susanna was baptized on 10 January 1750 in Minden.[1] She was the daughter of Matthias WEBER and Anna Margaretha FEILEN who married on 19 November 1748 in Echternach.[2] She was Matthias’ first born but not Anna Margaretha’s. Her mother was previously married in 1745[3], had a son in 1747[4], and was widowed in January 1748[5]. Ten months later she married Matthias.

Susanna had five known full siblings, all baptized in Minden where they were born: Maria on 14 September 1752, Peter on 2 August 1755, Maria on 9 May 1758, Johann on 14 December 1760, and Matthias on 13 April 1763[6]

Susanna WEBER married Joannes CLEMENT on 20 November 1771 in Steinheim.[7] If you take a close look at the marriage entry in the church records, you may ask, can this be the correct record?

In prasentia Petri Saubert ex Birckelt et Matthia Feilen ex Minheim R.D. Lucius Solemniza vit nomine meo in Stienheim matrimonium inter honestos adolescentes Joem filium gegitimum Danielis Clement ex Steinheim et Susanna filiam legitimam Matthias Feilen ex Minheim.

In the presence of Petri Saubert from Birckelt and Matthias Feilen from Minheim, R.D. Lucius solemnized a marriage in Steinheim between the respectable young Joem, legitimate son of Danielis Clement from Steinheim, and Susanna, the legitimate daughter of Matthias Feilen from Minheim. 

Susanna and her father Matthias were seen with the surname FEILEN, her mother’s maiden name, on the marriage record. This was not unusual as men and their families were at times known by their wives’ surname if they were living and/or working in the woman’s family home and/or business.

Joannes CLEMENS aka Joannes CLEMENT

Joannes “Jean” CLEMENT (1750-1827) was born about 1750 in Steinheim. No baptismal record has been found. The estimated year and place were taken from his death record.[8] He was seen as the son of Daniel CLEMENT on his marriage record (above). A woman named Elisabetha, wife of Daniel CLEMENT, died on 6 November 1777[9] and a man named Daniel CLEMENT died on 29 June 1778[10], both in Steinheim. These are believed to have been Joannes’ parents.

Over the years entries were found for Joannes with his surname spelled CLEMENT and CLEMEN. By the time he died his surname spelling had changed to CLEMENS.

Susanna and Joannis’ Children

Susanna and Joannes were the parents of eight children. When their first child was born in 1773 the mother’s maiden name was seen in the parish register as FEILEN. Later, at the time of the baptisms of their next seven children, she was seen with her father’s surname, WEBER.

1. Elisabeth was baptized on 22 September 1773 in Steinheim; the godparents were Matthias Weber of Minden and Elisabeth Clement of Steinheim. Her godparents were likely her paternal grandmother and her maternal grandfather.[11]
2. Lucia was baptized on 9 December 1775 in Steinheim; the godparents were Peter Sauber of Steinheim and Lucia Diemer of Ernzen. Lucia Diemer was the wife of Johann Feilen, the brother of the maternal grandmother.[12]
3. Anna was baptized on 17 March 1780 in Steinheim; the godparents were Mathias Sauber and Anna Maria Hemsthal, both of Steinheim.[13]

Following the births of the first three children and before Susanna became pregnant with her fourth child, two of her daughters died. Lucia on 19 August 1781[14] and Anna Maria in 1782.[15]

4. Pierre was baptized on 12 March 1783 in Steinheim; the godparents were Peter Kayser of Berdorf and Margaretha Feilen of Minden.[16]
5. Johann was baptized on 9 February 1786 in Steinheim; the godparents were Johann Peters of Bollendorf and Maria Catharina Grupper of Steinheim.[17]

The family was now made up of one daughter and two sons. Their oldest child, daughter Elisabeth died on 11 May 1787.[18] It was about this time the family name spelling changed from CLEMENT to CLEMEN likely due to a change in the person who was in charge of making entries in the parish records (clearly seen in the change in handwriting).

6. Hubert was baptized on 8 July 1788 in Steinheim; the godparents were Hubert Helfen of Kirsch and Anna Maria Goeden of Steinheim.[19]
7. Anna was baptized on 20 February 1792 in Steinheim; the godparents were Christian Schneider of Minden and Anna Maria Grupper of Steinheim.[20] She lived only two days.[21]
8. Elisabetha was baptized on 30 October 1796 in Steinheim; the godparents were Johann Feilen of Minden and Elisabeth Wagner of Steinheim.[22]

The youngest of Susanna and Joannes’ children was my children’s 4th great-grandmother.

Genealogy Sketch

Name: Joannes CLEMENS
Parents: Daniel CLEMENS and Elisabetha
Name of spouse: Susanna WEBER
Parents of spouse: Matthias WEBER and Anna Margaretha FEILEN
Whereabouts: Steinheim, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Relationship to Cathy Meder-Dempsey: children’s 5th great-grandfather

1. Joannes CLEMENS and Susanna WEBER
2. Elisabetha CLEMENS
3. Catharina SCHERFF
4. Margaretha GORGES
5. Catharina “Catherine” “Ketty” “Ged” SCHWARTZ
6. Marcel Mathias MEDER
7. Cathy’s husband
8. Cathy’s children

The children begin to marry

The first of Susanna and Joannes’ children to marry was Pierre who married Marguerite KOENIG on 9 January 1809 in Rosport.[23] Pierre’s brother Johann must have met Marguerite’s sister following their marriage as Johann married Anna Maria KOENIG six years later, on 17 January 1815 in Rosport.[24]

By 1815 four of the eight children born to Susanna were deceased and two were married leaving only Hubert (27) and Elisabetha (19) at home. The family surname was now spelled CLEMENS in most records. Ten years later Susanna WEBER died on 4 March 1725 in Steinheim at the age of 75.[25] She left her husband Joannes (75), son Hubert (37), and daughter Elisabetha (28).

Nearly two years later Elisabetha at the age of 30 married the 34 years old Michel SCHERFF (1792-1865) on 12 February 1827 in Born.[26] Elisabetha and Michel’s story can be read here.

Joannes CLEMENS died on 25 September 1827 in Steinheim at the age of 77.[8] Three of his children were married. It is not known what became of his fourth child, Hubert who was not located in the marriage or death records of the commune of Rosport. Did he go off to work in another village or town in Luxembourg; in France, Germany, or Belgium; or did he emigrate to one of the Americas? Or do I really need to go back and check the parish records for deaths from the time of his birth in 1788 until 1797 (end of available church records online)?

Joannes and Susanna’s sons Pierre and Johann did not live to the ripe age of their parents. They died only a few years after their father, Pierre on 27 February 1830[27] at the age of 46 and Johann on 6 March 1831[28] at the age of 45.

The only known living child of Susanna and Joannes was their youngest, Elisabeth. She outlived her siblings by forty years, dying on 17 June 1870 at the age of 73.[29] She did not live quite as long as her parents but came close to their 75 and 77 years.

This post brings me halfway through my children’s paternal 5th great-grandparents.

Sources:
[1] Luxembourg, registres paroissiaux, 1601-1948 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Echternach > Baptêmes 1638-1676, 1706-1760 > image 245 of 291. 1750 Baptismal Record. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32401-1757-49?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-SP1:1500937901,1500973966 : accessed 13 August 2015).
[2] Ibid., Echternach > Mariages, décès 1706-1778 > image 100 of 293. 1748 Religious Marriage Record. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32399-12628-34?cc=2037955&wc=STHC-PYM:1500937901,1501028848 : accessed 13 August 2015).
[3] Ibid., Echternach > Mariages, décès 1706-1778 > image 92 of 293. 1745 Marriage Record (left page, 4th entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L971-1X3T?cc=2037955&wc=STHC-PYM%3A1500937901%2C1501028848 : 9 January 2015).
[4] Bodo Bölkow and Richard Schaffner, Familienbuch 2 der Pfarrei St. Lambertus Edingen an der Sauer Daten bis 1798 aus den Kirchenbüchern der Pfarrei Echternach (damals für Minden und Menningen zuständig) mit Edingerberg, Minden u. Menningen 1680-1899 Edingen selbst ab 1705 (2000), page 196, family nr. 822. Roths-Feilen family group.
[5] Luxembourg Church Records, Echternach > Mariages, décès 1706-1778 > image 234 of 293. 1748 Death Record (left page, 8th entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8971-169B?cc=2037955&wc=STHC-PYM%3A1500937901%2C1501028848 : 9 January 2015).
[6] Bölkow and Schaffner, FB Edingen, page 196, family nr. 822. Roths-Feilen family group.
[7] Luxembourg Church Records, Echternach > Mariages, décès 1706-1778  > image 160 of 293. 1771 Marriage Record (right page, 5th entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L971-16P2?cc=2037955&wc=STHC-PYM%3A1500937901%2C1501028848 : 9 January 2015).
[8] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Rosport > Naissances 1889-1890 Mariages 1797-1890 Décès 1797-1853 > image 1110 of 1410. 1827 Death Record No. 26. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11613-14127-96?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-L6L:n1038283664 : accessed 5 Apr 2010).
[9] Luxembourg Church Records, Echternach > Mariages, décès 1706-1778  > image 282 of 293. 1777 Death Record (left page, 3rd entry from bottom).(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L971-1XGK?cc=2037955&wc=STHC-PYM%3A1500937901%2C1501028848 : 9 January 2015).
[10] Ibid., Echternach > Mariages, décès 1706-1778 > image 283 of 293. 1778 Death Record (left page, 3rd entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-9971-1XGM?cc=2037955&wc=STHC-PYM%3A1500937901%2C1501028848 : 9 January 2015).
[11] Ibid., Echternach > Baptêmes 1761-1797 > image 65 of 131. 1773 Baptismal Record ( left page, 8th entry).  (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8971-1X7D?cc=2037955&wc=STHC-PY3%3A1500937901%2C1501065634 : 9 January 2015).
[12] Ibid., Echternach > Baptêmes 1761-1797 > image 76 of 131. 1775 Baptismal Record (left page, 8th entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8971-1XQL?cc=2037955&wc=STHC-PY3%3A1500937901%2C1501065634 : 9 January 2015).
[13] Ibid., Echternach > Baptêmes, mariages, décès 1779-1787 > image 45 of 319. 1780 Baptismal Record (left page). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WM-9HGX?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-FM4%3A1500937901%2C1501004260 : 9 January 2015).
[14] Ibid., Echternach > Baptêmes, mariages, décès 1779-1783 > image 104 of 177. 1781 Death Record (right page, 8th entry). “Luxembourg registres paroissiaux, 1601-1948,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WM-MD5X?cc=2037955&wc=STHC-YWT%3A1500937901%2C1500939202 : 9 January 2015).
[15] Ibid., Echternach > Baptêmes, mariages, décès 1779-1783 > image 139 of 177. 1782 Death Record (left page, 7th entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WM-MDR3?cc=2037955&wc=STHC-YWT%3A1500937901%2C1500939202 : 9 January 2015).
[16] Ibid., Echternach > Baptêmes, mariages, décès 1779-1787 > image 149 of 319. 1783 Baptismal Record (right page, last entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WM-94RR?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-FM4%3A1500937901%2C1501004260 : 9 January 2015).
[17] Ibid., Echternach > Baptêmes, mariages, décès 1779-1787 > image 260 of 319. 1786 Baptismal Record (right page, top).  (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WM-942J?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-FM4%3A1500937901%2C1501004260 : 9 January 2015).
[18] Ibid., Echternach > Baptêmes, mariages, décès 1779-1787 > image 317 of 319. 1787 Death Record (left page, 1st entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WM-94GG?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-FM4%3A1500937901%2C1501004260 : 9 January 2015).
[19] Ibid., Echternach > Baptêmes, mariages, décès 1788-1797 > image 12 of 331. 1788 Baptismal Record (right page, 3rd entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WM-94RR?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-4W5%3A1500937901%2C1500937902 : 9 January 2015).
[20] Ibid., Echternach > Baptêmes, mariages, décès 1788-1797 > image 131 of 331. 1792 Baptismal Record (left page, first entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WM-9CH5?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-4W5%3A1500937901%2C1500937902 : 9 January 2015).
[21] Ibid., Echternach > Baptêmes, mariages, décès 1788-1797 > image 145 of 331. 1792 Death Record (left page, 7th entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WM-9C8Q?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-4W5%3A1500937901%2C1500937902 : 9 January 2015).
[22] Luxembourg Civil Records, Echternach > Tables décennales 1823-1892 Registres paroissiaux 1779-1797 Naissances 1796-1808 > image 936 of 1446. 1796 Baptismal Record. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11573-69388-66?cc=1709358&wc=9RY9-3TL:129623201,130776701 : accessed 10 August 2015).
[23] Ibid., Rosport > Naissances 1889-1890 Mariages 1797-1890 Décès 1797-1853 > image 110 of 1410. 1809 Marriage Record No. 1 (part 1). (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11613-16270-46?cc=1709358&wc=9RY4-3TL:130314401,130555301 : accessed 13 August 2015).
[24] Ibid., Rosport > Naissances 1889-1890 Mariages 1797-1890 Décès 1797-1853 > image 146 of 1410. 1815 Marriage Record No. 2. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11613-8390-85?cc=1709358&wc=9RY4-3TL:130314401,130555301 : accessed 13 August 2015).
[25] Ibid., Rosport > Naissances 1889-1890 Mariages 1797-1890 Décès 1797-1853 > image 1085 of 1410. 1825 Death Record No. 5. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11613-8498-12?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-L6L:n1038283664 : accessed 5 April 2010).
[26] Ibid., Mompach > Naissances 1834-1890 Mariages 1797-1814, 1796-1809, 1799-1830 > image 1061 of 1393. 1827 Marriage Record No. 2.  (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-134204-2?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-LHS:2047330937 : accessed 7 Apr 2010).
[27] Ibid., Rosport > Naissances 1889-1890 Mariages 1797-1890 Décès 1797-1853 > image 1134 of 1410. 1830 Death Record No. 6. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DY34-JJ?cc=1709358&wc=9RY4-3TL%3A130314401%2C130555301 : accessed  14 April 2017).
[28] Ibid., Rosport > Naissances 1889-1890 Mariages 1797-1890 Décès 1797-1853 > image 1143 of 1410. 1831 Death Record No. 8. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DY36-8J?cc=1709358&wc=9RY4-3TL%3A130314401%2C130555301 : accessed 14 April 2017).
[29] Ibid., Mompach > Mariages 1831-1890 Décès 1796-1814, 1799-1830, 1799-1880 > image 1393 of 1480. 1870 Death Record No. 13. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12874-16490-66?cc=1709358&wc=9RYW-MNL:130097801,130138901 : accessed 9 August 2015).

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