Christophe HASTERT and Barbara SCHMIT did not make it easy to research this set of 5th great-grandparents for my children. To begin with Christophe’s date of birth was not listed on their 1810 marriage record.[1] He was thirty-two years old, born in Grevenmacher, and his parents Mathias HASTERT and Anne NIEDERKORN were day laborers living Hollenfels.
The Groom’s Family
Mathias HASTERT (1750-aft. 1810) and Anne NIEDERKORN (1755- aft. 1810) were the parents of two known children. No births of children were found in Grevenmacher in 1773 to 1777. On 1 April 1777 a daughter Catharina was born.[2] Twenty months later, a son Christianus was born on 13 December 1778.[3] This fits the age and place of birth for Christophe as seen in his marriage record. Were they the same person?
Let’s Analyze the Marriage Record
Christophe HASTERT married Barbara SCHMIT on 28 November 1810 in Nommern in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The groom’s father Mathias was present and consenting to the marriage. Down at the bottom of the marriage record were four witnesses. The fourth was a young man named Philippe HASTERT age 25 and from Mühlenbach.[1]
Who was Philippe HASTERT?
Mühlenbach is part of the commune of Eich. This is on the outskirts of Luxembourg City and quite large compared to the towns and villages I have been researching. I took the chance that if he was living there in November 1810 he may, in time, also marry there. Surprisingly, I found Philippe married earlier in 1810. His parents were listed as Mathias HASTERT and Anne NIEDERKORN of Hollenfels, both present and consenting to the marriage which took place on 3 March 1810.[5] Christophe was not present or a witness to the marriage. The parents’ names and place of residence confirmed Philippe and Christophe were brothers. Did this help in locating other siblings?
Philippe was born 29 September 1784 in Dudelange.[6] His baptismal record was enlightening. Mathias HASTERT was listed as militis incliti Regimis Kaunitz. Did this mean Mathias was in Franz Wenzel von Kaunitz-Rietberg’s infantry regiment? Being in the militia would explain his not remaining in Grevenmacher were his parents were from. Christian, as Christophe was seen in his baptismal record, was born in 1778 and Philippe in 1784. Six years in which one or two children could be missing. And for the years following Philippe’s birth until his marriage, where did the family live? This question will remain to be answered.
Getting Back to the Marriage Record
Christophe’s bride Barbara SCHMIT was the daughter of Jean SCHMIT (1752-1810) and Maria LENTZ (1759-1824) of Nommern. Barbara was born on 4 December 1783 in Schrondweiler, a part of the commune of Nommern.[7] Her father was not present at the marriage on the 28 November 1810 as he had died only four days earlier.[8]
Barbara’s parents had been married only a little more than three months when she was born.[9] She was the first of nine children born to them. Four of these died very young and only two of Barbara’s sisters are known to have married.
Only Daughters Born to the Couple
Christophe and Barbara were the parents of five daughters. Their not having sons makes it all the more difficult to follow possible descendants who may have already researched the family.
- Ch 1: Anna Catharina was born on 15 December in Schrondweiler[10]
- Ch 2: Catharina was born 16 July 1815 in Niederglabach[11]
- Ch 3: Susanna was born 17 May 1818 in Niederglabach[12]
- Ch 4: Apollonia was born 31 March 1821 in Niederglabach[13]
- Ch 5: Margaretha was born 30 October 1823 in Niederglabach[14]
The girls’ maternal grandmother Maria LENTZ lived long enough to witness their births. She died on 4 April 1824 in Oberglabach.[15] Niederglabach, Oberglabach, and Schrondweiler were parts of the commune of Nommern.
Christophe and Barbara lost their youngest daughter Margaretha on 22 March 1827 at the age of nearly three and a half years.[16] Five years later their oldest daughters began to marry.
Within ten years of each other three of the daughters of Barbara and Christophe married. Their oldest daughter Anna Catharina HASTERT married Peter MERKES (1805-1867) on 28 February 1832 in Nommern.[17] Anna Catharina and Peter were my children’s fourth great-grandparents. Their story: 52 Ancestors: #35 MERKES-HASTERT Family – Back to School or Back to Work?.
Barbara and Christophe’s second daughter Catharina married Johann Nicolas STROESSER on 19 January 1836 in Nommern.[18] Their third daughter Susanna married Johann RITGEN on 10 August 1841 in Nommern.[19]
The Family Moves to Oberglabach
In 1832 and in 1836 when the first two daughters married Christophe and Barbara were living in Niederglabach. At some time before the 1841 marriage of their daughter Susanna their residence changed to Oberglabach.
On 16 December 1843 when the census[20] was taken in Oberglabach as expected we see Christophe and Barbara with their only single daughter, Apollonia, living at home. However, their married daughter Susanna was listed as well as a young boy named Nicolas RITGEN who was born in 1842 in Useldange. The birth record confirms he was Susanna’s son. The whereabouts of her husband are unknown.
On the 6 December 1846 census[21] Apollonia age 24 was still living with her parents Christophe and Barbara in Oberglabach. Susanna was no longer in the household.
Apollonia HASTERT married Joseph GALLION (1823-1854) on 26 September 1847 in Nommern.[22] She and her husband remained in her parents home and were seen with them on the 31 December 1847 census.[23] The enumerator omitted the location on this census record. The grandson Nicolas RITGEN who had been with his mother in Christophe’s household in 1843 was listed but then marked out.
On the December 1849 census[24] no distinction was made between Niederglabach and Oberglabach and we see only that Christophe and Barbara were living in Gladbach. Apollonia, her husband Joseph, and their nine months old son Nicolas were living in the home as a second family.
Apollonia had another son six months before the 31 December 1851 census.[25] He was listed with the same name as his three years old brother Nicolas. They were living with their parents in their maternal grandparents’ home in Oberglabach. This would be the last time Christophe would be seen on the census. He died on 1 October 1852. His death was reported by Peter LENTZ, a relative of his wife Barbara.[26]
Lenzen House in Oberglabach
In December 1852 the widowed Barbara SCHMIT was living in the household of her son-in-law Joseph GALLION and daughter Apollonia. The two sons were both identified as Nicolas.[27]
Barbara and Christophe’s daughter Susanna at some time went to Paris as she died there on 22 May 1854.[28] Not only Susanna but also Apollonia’s husband Joseph GALLION died while in Paris. Joseph was a mason living in the 9th arrondisement in impasse Putigneux No. 2 and died at 7 in the evening of 1 July 1854 at Parvis Nôtre Dame No. 4.[29]
The address Joseph died at is likely that of Paris’ Hôtel Dieu hospital which is on the square of the Nôtre Dame. Joseph’s death record was acquired in 1860 and recorded in the Nommern death register at the time of his widow’s remarriage. The records for Paris for the years prior to 1860 are missing however some have substitutes in the form of cards with the name, date, and arrondisement. Susanna’s card indicates she also died in the 9th arrondisement. Could she have also been a patient in the hospital? During 1854 there was a cholera epidemic within the walls of the city of Paris.
On 1 December 1858 the widowed Apollonia was the head of household with her three sons and her mother Barbara SCHMIT.[30] Since the 1852 census the house they were living in was named Lenzen. This was very likely the home of Barbara’s mother’s LENTZ family.
Apollonia married Johann SCHAUS (1830-1869) on 29 December 1860 in Nommern.[31] It was at the time of this marriage that the death record of her first husband was sent for in Paris and recorded in the death register of Nommern.
Barbara SCHMIT continued to live with her daughter Apollonia in the Lenzen house until death. She died at 3 in the afternoon on 29 August 1861 in the home. The death was reported by her new son-in-law Johann SCHAUS. Johann, or the official who recorded the death, incorrectly gave the place of residence of Johann as Niederglabach but correctly noted Lenzen house being in Oberglabach.[32]
Apollonia remained in the Lenzen house after her mother’s death. She gave her second husband two sons, a third was stillborn. Johann SCHAUS died in 1869[33] leaving her to raise her sons on her own. She died on 30 October 1878. Her death was reported by her son Jean GALLION.[34]
Ten years later the oldest daughter of Christophe and Barbara, Anna Catharina HASTERT, died on 9 May 1888 in Rumelange.[35]
None of the daughters had children who carried on the HASTERT name. Their children were born with the surnames MERKES, RITGEN, GALLION, and SCHAUS. Catharina, the second oldest daughter, married a STROESSER but nothing has been found for her after her marriage. Were there also grandchildren with the STROESSER surname? If you know of any, please get in touch.
Sources:
[1] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Nommern > Naissances 1851-1890 Mariages 1797-1823, 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1823, 1796-1849 > image 610 of 1477. 1810 Marriage Record No. 1. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12870-22206-23?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-LCR : accessed 31 August 2015).
[2] Ibid., Grevenmacher > Baptêmes 1738-1781, confirmations 1747-1770, tables des baptêmes 1738-1763 > image 144 of 226. 1777 Baptismal Record (right page, 3rd entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WS-SG9H?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-L23%3A1500939801%2C1501022236 : accessed 8 May 2017).
[3] Ibid., Grevenmacher > Baptêmes 1738-1781, confirmations 1747-1770, tables des baptêmes 1738-1763 > image 153 of 226. 1778 Baptismal Record. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32462-19661-73?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-L23:1500939801,1501022236 : accessed 31 August 2015). Note: Baptismal name seen as Christian.
[4] Ibid., Grevenmacher > Baptêmes 1738-1756, 1797-1804 > image 34 of 95. 1750 Baptismal Record (right page, top). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WS-SLKK?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-L26%3A1500939801%2C1501075988 : accessed 8 May 2017).
[5] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Eich > Mariages 1794-1841 > image 742 of 1498. 1810 Marriage Record (right page). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DBRW-WBX?cc=1709358&wc=9RY4-829%3A129629601%2C129984601 : accessed 12 May 2017).
[6] Luxembourg Church Records, Dudelange > Baptêmes, sépultures 1774-1796 > image 38 of 132. 1784 Baptismal Record (bottom left, top right).(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WM-9J39?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-MJQ%3A1500943101%2C1501085980 : 9 January 2015).
[7] Ibid., Nommern > Baptêmes 1744-1787, confirmations 1750-1789, mariages 1751-1765, 1769-1787, sépultures 1752-1787 > image 85 of 170. 1783 Baptismal Record No. 846. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WS-93C5?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-L2V%3A1500981117%2C1501018978 : accessed 9 May 2017).
[8] Luxembourg Civil Records, Nommern > Naissances 1851-1890 Mariages 1797-1823, 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1823, 1796-1849 > image 1224 of 1477. 1810 Death Record No. 6. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-XCM9-9LM?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-T38%3A130145901%2C130293701 : accessed 8 May 2017).
[9] Luxembourg Church Records, Nommern > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 35 of 153. 1783 Marriage Record (left page, 2nd entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WS-9SRJ?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-TQQ%3A1500981117%2C1500913302 : 9 January 2015).
[10] Luxembourg Civil Records, Nommern > Naissances 1796-1850 > image 120 of 502. 1810 Birth Record No. 16. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-XS35-2G?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-GP6%3A130145901%2C130237801 : accessed 08 Apr 2013).
[11] Ibid., Nommern > Naissances 1796-1850 > image 153 of 502. 1815 Birth Record No. 13. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-XS32-LQ?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-GP6%3A130145901%2C130237801 : accessed 8 May 2017).
[12] Ibid., Nommern > Naissances 1796-1850 > image 175 of 502. 1818 Birth Record No. 1. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-XS3T-MR?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-GP6%3A130145901%2C130237801 : accessed 8 May 2017.
[13] Ibid., Nommern > Naissances 1796-1850 > image 198 of 502. 1821 Birth Record No. 7. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-XS35-PG?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-GP6%3A130145901%2C130237801 : accessed 8 May 2017).
[14] Ibid., Nommern > Naissances 1796-1850 > image 218 of 502. 1823 Birth Record No. 16. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-XS3R-6Q?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-GP6%3A130145901%2C130237801 : accessed 8 May 2017).
[15] Ibid., Nommern > Naissances 1851-1890 Mariages 1797-1823, 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1823, 1796-1849 > image 1296 of 1477. 1824 Death Record No. 4. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-XCM1-CH?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-T38%3A130145901%2C130293701 : accessed 8 May 2017).
[16] Ibid., Nommern > 1890 Décès 1796-1823, 1796-1849 > image 1311 of 1477. 1827 Death Record No. 5. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-XCMB-XH?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-T38%3A130145901%2C130293701 : accessed 8 May 2017).
[17] Ibid., Nommern > Naissances 1851-1890 Mariages 1797-1823, 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1823, 1796-1849 > image 729 of 1477. 1832 Marriage Record No. 4. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12870-29072-7?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-LCR:n1552617334 : accessed 07 Apr 2013).
[18] Ibid., Nommern > Naissances 1851-1890 Mariages 1797-1823, 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1823, 1796-1849 > image 757 of 1477. 1836 Marriage Record No. 1. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-XCMB-GN?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-T38%3A130145901%2C130293701 : accessed 8 May 2017).
[19] Ibid., Nommern > Naissances 1851-1890 Mariages 1797-1823, 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1823, 1796-1849 > image 788 of 1477. 1841 Marriage Record N. 5. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-XCM5-TK?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-T38%3A130145901%2C130293701 : accessed 8 May 2017).
[20] Luxembourg, Volkszählungen 1843-1900 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Nommern > 1843 > image 101 of 136. Hastert-Schmit household. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-997B-V8YR?cc=2037957&wc=M5LT-ZJQ%3A345970101%2C345863501 : accessed 8 May 2017).
[21] Ibid., Nommern > 1846 > image 107 of 147. Hastert-Schmit household. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G97B-7HZM?cc=2037957&wc=M5L5-GRQ%3A345970101%2C345858602 : accessed 8 may 2017).
[22] Luxembourg Civil Records, Nommern > Naissances 1851-1890 Mariages 1797-1823, 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1823, 1796-1849 > image 821 of 1477. 1847 Marriage Record No. 7. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-XCMY-BD?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-T38%3A130145901%2C130293701 : accessed 8 May 2017).
[23] Luxembourg Census Records, Nommern > 1847 > image 106 of 144. Hastert-Schmit household. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-997B-LF2K?cc=2037957&wc=M5LR-821%3A345970101%2C345864101 : accessed 8 May 2017).
[24] Ibid., Nommern > 1849 > image 48 of 138. Hastert-Schmit household. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G97B-N272?cc=2037957&wc=M5LR-T32%3A345970101%2C345864801 : accessed 8 May 2017).
[25] Ibid., Nommern > 1851 > image 75 of 168. Hastert-Schmit household. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G971-41C?cc=2037957&wc=M5L1-CXZ%3A345970101%2C345865601 : accessed 8 May 2017).
[26] Luxembourg Civil Records, Nommern > Décès 1849-1890 > image 21 of 341. 1852 Death Record No. 27. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12404-63381-45?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-LCG : accessed 31 August 2015).
[27] Luxembourg Census Recors, Nommern > 1852 > image 66 of 164. Gallgen-Hastert houshold. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-9971-3H5R?cc=2037957&wc=M5LB-VZD%3A345970101%2C345865501 : accessed 8 May 2017).
[28] Archives de Paris (75), browsable images of microfilm collection of parish and civil records, Fichiers de l’état civil reconstitué > V3E/D 722 > image 43. Images from this site are not allowed to be shared with others, used on the internet, or for commercial purposes without permission. 1854 Death Record. (http://archives.paris.fr: accessed 8 May 2017).
[29] Luxembourg Civil Records, Nommern > Décès 1849-1890 > image 83 of 341. His 1854 death was recorded in Nommern in the death register in December 1860.
(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6PXS-H2H?cc=1709358&wc=9RYQ-GPD%3A130145901%2C130066702 : accessed 8 May 2017).
[30] Luxembourg Census Records, Nommern > 1858 > image 166 of 186. Gallion-Hastert household. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L971-Z99V-S?cc=2037957&wc=M5LB-ZNR%3A345970101%2C345867601 : accessed 8 May 2017).
[31] Luxembourg Civil Records, Nommern > Naissances 1851-1890 Mariages 1797-1823, 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1823, 1796-1849 > image 905 of 1477. 1860 Marriage Record No. 8. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-XCMB-R6?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-T38%3A130145901%2C130293701 : accessed 8 May 2017).
[32] Ibid., Nommern > Décès 1849-1890 > image 90 of 341. 1861 Death Record No. 13. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12404-61065-98?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-LCG : accessed 31 August 2015).
[33] Ibid., Nommern > Décès 1849-1890 > image 152 of 341. 1869 Death Record No. 1. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6PXS-DQX?cc=1709358&wc=9RYQ-GPD%3A130145901%2C130066702 : accessed 8 May 2017).
[34] Ibid., Nommern > Décès 1849-1890 > image 240 of 341. 1878 Death Record No. 16. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6PXS-JCX?cc=1709358&wc=9RYQ-GPD%3A130145901%2C130066702 : accessed 8 May 2017).
[35] Ibid., Kayl > Décès 1879-1890 > image 290 of 393. 1888 Death Record No. 49. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11017-120661-19?cc=1709358&wc=9RT1-T3D:129946501,129623502 : accessed 25 August 2015).
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