Tag: Hames

Agnes BOUR alias HEITZ and Johannes HAMES of Mamer

Agnes BOUR alias HEITZ (1755-1836)

On 29 October 1755 twin girls were born in Luxembourg in the town of Septfontaines.1 Maria Catherina and Agnes were the daughters of Nicolas HEITZ and Anna Catharina RONAS. Agnes was my fifth great-grandmother and her parents my sixth great-grandparents.

1755 Baptismal Records of Maria Catharina BOUR and Agnes BOUR

In Maria Catharina’s baptismal record the priest gave her parents’ names as Nicolai BOUR alias HEITZ and Anna Catharina RONAS. In Agnes’ record, he wrote Nicolai HEITZ and Anna Catharina BOUR alias RONAS. The difference in how the names are listed is due to the use of the house name BOUR. In the first record, it’s associated with the father while in the second it’s associated with the mother.

The twins were the first children of Anna Catharina RONAS and Nicolas HEITZ who married on 6 February 1755.2 However, these girls were not Anna Catharina’s first children. She was the widow of Dominique MAMER with whom she had eight children. Dominique died on 20 May 1753 in Septfontaines.3 Anna Catharina and her first husband’s house name was BOUR. Her second husband Nicolas HEITZ would also be known by the same house name (BOUR alias HEITZ or HEITZ domo BOUR) in later records.

A view of the castle of Septfontaines

Following the births of the twins, Anna Catharina had four more children with Nicolas. In all, she had a dozen children between 1741 and 1762.

In 1766 Maria Theresa of Austria implemented the first modern cadastre and census in a large part of the territories under the rule of the House of Habsburg. This included Luxembourg, along with Belgium, a part of the Netherlands.

The household of Nicolas HEITZ in Septfontaines in the 1766 census.

Nicolas HEITZ was found on the 1766 census with his wife Anna Catharina, her two sons Antoine and Dominique MAMER from her first marriage, and their daughters Agnes, Maria Catharina, and Marie HEITZ.4 They were living in Septfontaines in the Bourhouse near the pond.  A complete history of the house can be found in a book on the house and family history of Septfontaines for the years 1654-1985.5 Anna Catharina’s father Leonardus RONAS, a stonemason and builder, was mentioned as early as 1713 in a Septfontaines record.6

This line is of special interest to me as Agnes HEITZ and her mother Anna Catharina RONAS are my matrilineal ancestors. The continuation of my mitochondrial DNA line is stuck at this point as the name of the wife of Leonardus RONAS is unknown to me at this time.

Johannes HAMES (c1756-1826)

Town sign of Schoenfels (Schëndels in Luxembourgish) with a partial view of the church in the distance.

On 15 October 1755 Jacob HAMES of Schoenfels and Magdalena MATHIEU of Septfontaines were married in the chapel of Schoenfels Castle.7 They were my sixth great-grandparents.

Schoenfels Castle in the village of Schoenfels in the Mamer Valley between Kopstal and Mersch

Jacob and Magdalena would make their home in Mamer from at least 1759. The baptismal dates and godparents of nine of their children born between 1759 and 1776 are recorded in the alphabetical family group register of births/baptisms and marriages for Mamer.8 Actual baptismal records for this time period are missing.

Two pages out of the Family Register of the Paris of Mamer with the Hames-Mathieu and Hames-Heitz families

Their oldest son Johannes born after their marriage in 1755 and before 1759 appears to have been added as an afterthought in the entry but without a baptismal/birth date. Following Jacob and Magdalena’s family group there is an entry for my fifth great-grandfather Johannes, his wife, and their children. In Latin the compiler added filius praedictorum conjugum, indicating Johannes was the son of the couple in the previous entry.

Although my fourth great-grandfather Michel TRAUSCH indicated his father-in-law Johannes HAMES was born in Mamer when he reported his death in 1826, I think it unlikely. Baptismal records for Septfontaines, where his mother hailed, and Mersch (the parish Schoenfels was part of), where his father was from, have been checked without avail. Could his parents have been on the move after the marriage and before they settled in Mamer?

As Jacob and Magdalena were having children in Mamer, their household on the census would include their oldest son Johannes as well as Nicolas, Catherine, Willibrod, and Anton who were all born before 1766. The last two have been found in records after 1766. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to locate the Mamer census for 1766 in the browse-only collection on FamilySearch. As I understand Mamer was part of the Decanat Mersch which I have looked through several times.

Johannes and Agnes likely met as children

Although the 1766 listing for the HAMES family in Mamer wasn’t found, Johannes HAMES’ maternal grandmother was. Marie Jeanne ENDRÉ, the mother of Magdalena MATHIEU and the widow of Mathias MATHIEU, was living with her son Jean MATHIEU in Septfontaines next door to Nicolas HEITZ and Anna Catharina RONAS.

This means my fifth great-grandmother Agnes HEITZ was living next door to the grandmother of her future husband Johannes HAMES and they likely knew each other as children.

An aside concerning Marie Jeanne ENDRÉ

Johannes HAMES’ grandmother Marie Jeanne ENDRÉ came from Marienthal to Septfontaines in 1722 when she married Mathias MATHIEU alias BODEN. Their first child’s godmother was Ursula de Manteville, a religious lady from the convent of Marienthal. At that time, Marie-Catherine de Manteville was the prioress of the convent.

Former Abbey Marienthal

Marie Jeanne’s parents are at this time unknown. Could this connection to the convent, founded in the 13th century for daughters of nobility, mean she was of nobility, a convert, or only a servant? Will further research lead to records with her parents’ names?

Agnes and Johannes marry in 1785

1785 Marriage Record of “Joannes Hames” and “Agnes Heutz”

Agnes HEITZ married Johannes HAMES on 18 January 1785 in Mamer.9 Two weeks short of their first wedding anniversary their first child was born followed by five others in ten years.

The children of Johannes and Agnes

Willibrodus was born 4 January 1786. He was baptized the following day with Willibrod HAMES of Mamer and Catharina TRAUSCH, wife of Anton MANGEL of the Koerich quarry, being named as his godparents.10 Willibrodus died less than a month later on 30 January.11

Susanne was born 28 December 1786 at 6 o’clock in the morning. She was baptized the same day with Susanna MULLER, the wife of Wilhelm MAMER of Septfontaines, and Anton HAMES of Mamer serving as her godparents.12

Catharina was born 16 May 1789 and baptized the following day. Her godparents were Catharina HAMES and Joannes GOEDERS both of Mamer.13

Antonius was born 22 December 1790 at 2 o’clock in the morning and baptized the same day. His godparents were Anton MAMER of the Koerich quarry and Maria HINTGEN, wife of Nicolas KNEPPER of Mamer.14 Antonius died at the age of two years on 20 December 1792.15

Petrus was born 14 September 1792 and baptized the same day in the presence of his godparents Peter HEBER of Mamer and Maria BRAUSCH, wife of Willibrod HAMES of Bertrange.16 Petrus died at the age of a year on 10 October 1793.17

Baltasar was born 29 January 1795. He was baptized the same day with Baltasar WAGENER and Catharina FREYMAN both of Mamer being his godparents.18

Only the girls survived to marry

Susanne and Catharina grew up with their little brother Baltasar. Sadly, he died at the age of nearly 19 years on 4 January 1814 in Mamer.19

A year later on 11 January 1815, my 4th great-grand aunt Susanne married Michel KOLBACH, the half-brother of my 3rd great-grandfather Johannes FRANTZ. Michel was the son of my 4th great-grandmother Susanne KIEFFER (1754-1808) and her first husband Michel KOLBACH (1748-1796). The groom’s parents were both deceased. The bride’s parents, as well as two of her paternal uncles, were present at the marriage.20

The connections between the Hames, Trausch, and Kolbach families

Catharina, my fourth-great-grandmother, likely lived alone with her parents for two years following her sister’s marriage. Like her sister Susanne, she married a man named Michel whose parents were both deceased. Michel TRAUSCH, son of Remacle TRAUSCH and Theresia BRAUN (also seen as COLLING), married Catharina HAMES on 18 February 1817. Her parents Johannes and Agnes were present at the marriage as well as her brother-in-law Michel KOLBACH.21:

The family grows as grandchildren are born

Susanne gave Agnes and Johannes six grandchildren between 1816 and 1827, five granddaughters and a grandson. The two youngest granddaughters did not live past the age of 2 and 4 years. The four older grandchildren all married and continued the KOLBACH line.

Catharina gave Agnes and Johannes seven grandchildren between 1818 and 1829. Six granddaughters and a grandson. The oldest and the youngest died as infants. The grandson was last seen in 1855 with his parents – no trace of him has been found thereafter. The three oldest granddaughters married and had children. The youngest granddaughter never married and died at the age of 73 years in 1900.

Johannes and Agnes lived long lives

Johannes HAMES did not live to see the births of his three youngest grandchildren. He died on 13 May 1826 in Mamer at two o’clock in the morning at the age of 71 years. His death was reported by his son-in-law Michel TRAUSCH.22

Agnes HEITZ lived another ten years dying on 23 February 1836 in Mamer at four in the afternoon at the age of 80 years. Her death was also reported by her son-in-law Michel TRAUSCH.23 She was survived by her two daughters, their husbands, and nine grandchildren.

Susanne24 and her husband Michel KOLBACH25 died within a month of each other in 1855 at the ages of 68 and 70. Catharina lived until the age of 75 dying in 1864.26 Her widower Michel TRAUSCH died four years later in 1869.27

I would like to end this post with a very special thank you to my husband for the wonderful photographs he took last week. He planned his 140 kilometer bike ride around the towns where my HEITZ, RONAS, HAMES, and MATTHIEU families lived in the 1700s.

© 2019, copyright Cathy Meder-Dempsey. All rights reserved.

  1. Luxembourg, registres paroissiaux, 1601-1948 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Septfontaines > Baptêmes 1735-1797, confirmations 1774-1791, mariages 1738-1797, sépultures 1738-1788 > image 34 of 208. 1755 baptismal records for twins Agnes and Maria Catharina, 3rd and 4th entries on left page. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32463-3785-56?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-4WR:1501152901,1501459884 : accessed 7 June 2015). ↩
  2. ibid., Septfontaines > Baptêmes 1735-1797, confirmations 1774-1791, mariages 1738-1797, sépultures 1738-1788 > image 155 of 208. 1755 Marriage Record, 1st entry on left page. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32463-3700-90?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-4WR:1501152901,1501459884 : accessed 7 June 2015). ↩
  3. Ibid., Septfontaines > Baptêmes 1735-1797, confirmations 1774-1791, mariages 1738-1797, sépultures 1738-1788 > image 194 of 208. 1753 Death Record (left page entry for 20 May 1753). (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32463-4937-58?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-4WR:1501152901,1501459884 : accessed 7 June 2015). ↩
  4. Luxembourg, Dénombrement, 1766 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Archives Générales du Royaume, Bruxelles), Film/DGS 1781981 > Film # 8182018 > Decanat de Mersch v. 2-3 > Septfontaines (paroisse de Septfontaines) > Image 328 of 556. Hietz family including Mamer step-sons. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS21-FQ85-S?i=327&cat=1184675 : accessed 16 January 2018). ↩
  5. Haus- und Familienchronik Simmern 1654-1985, herausgegeben anlässlich des 75. Stiftungsfestes der Feuerwehr Simmern und des Kantonalverbandes Capellen (unter der Schirmherrschaft der Gemeindeverwaltung Simmern), page 75, Nr. 41a. ↩
  6. Ibid., page 15. ↩
  7. Luxembourg Church Records, Mersch > Mariages 1749-1772 > image 19 of 88. 1755 Marriage Record (left page, last entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WS-938P?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-168%3A1500963301%2C1500969860 : acccessed 26 June 2019). ↩
  8. Ibid., Mamer > Baptêmes 1718-1940, familles alphabétique > image 102 of 375. Jacob Hames and Magdalena Mathieu family group information with 10 children, p. 193-194. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32402-4-51?cc=2037955 : accessed 15 January 2018). ↩
  9. Ibid., Mamer > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 65 of 168. 1785 Marriage Record. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32401-17714-18?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-C6G:1500941501,1500913302 : accessed 6 June 2015). ↩
  10. Ibid., Mamer > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 70 of 168. 1786 Baptismal Record (right, 1st entry).(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WM-92HN?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-C6G%3A1500941501%2C1500913302 : accessed 15 January 2018). ↩
  11. Ibid., Mamer > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 77 of 168. 1786 Death Record (right, 2nd entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WM-92Q2?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-C6G%3A1500941501%2C1500913302 : accessed 15 January 2018). ↩
  12. Ibid., Mamer > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 73 of 168. 1786 Baptismal Record (right, last entry).(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WM-9KF7?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-C6G%3A1500941501%2C1500913302 : accessed 22 December 2017). ↩
  13. Ibid., Mamer > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 102 of 168. 1789 Baptismal Record (left, first entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WM-SPR?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-C6G%3A1500941501%2C1500913302 : accessed 14 January 2018). ↩
  14. Ibid., Mamer > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 114 of 168. 1790 Baptismal Record (left, 1st entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WM-SKW?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-C6G%3A1500941501%2C1500913302 : accessed 15 January 2018). ↩
  15. Ibid., Mamer > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 149 of 168. 1792 Death Record (left, 3rd entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WM-SN1?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-C6G%3A1500941501%2C1500913302 : accessed 15 January 2018). ↩
  16. Ibid., Mamer > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 139 of 168. 1792 Baptismal Record (bottom left and upper right). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WM-SJV?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-C6G%3A1500941501%2C1500913302 : accessed 15 January 2018). ↩
  17. Ibid., Mamer > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 168 of 168. 1793 Death Record (left, 2nd entry from bottom). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WM-SXT?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-C6G%3A1500941501%2C1500913302 : accessed 5 January 2018). ↩
  18. Diözesanarchiv Luxemburg / Archives diocésaines Luxembourg (images), Matricula Online, http://data.matricula-online.eu/de/LU/luxemburg/, Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 (original records in the Luxembourg Diocesan Archives, Luxembourg City), Microfilm/-fiche GV.MF 356-443, Mamer, KB-01, Heiraten – Sterbefälle – Taufen – 1790 – 1804, page 56, image 30, right page, last entry. 1795 Baptismal Record (right page, last entry). (http://data.matricula-online.eu/de/LU/luxemburg/mamer/KB-01/?pg=30 : accessed 14 May 2019). ↩
  19. Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 644 of 1497. 1814 Death Record No. 1. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6XPQ-DVK?cc=1709358&wc=9RY3-VZ9%3A130065401%2C130130201 : accessed 15 January 2018). ↩
  20. Ibid., Mamer > Naissances 1834-1890 Mariages 1796-1837 > image 1259 of 1504. 1815 Marriage Record No. 1. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-61F9-R26?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-FM9%3A130065401%2C130365601 : accessed 8 October 2015). ↩
  21. Ibid., Mamer > Naissances 1834-1890 Mariages 1796-1837 > image 1283 of 1504. 1817 Marriage Record No. 3. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12585-51831-91?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-FM9:130065401,130365601 : accessed 22 August 2011). ↩
  22. Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 770 of 1497. 1826 Death Record No. 20. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6XPQ-639?cc=1709358&wc=9RY3-VZ9%3A130065401%2C130130201 : accessed 22 August 2011). ↩
  23. Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 874 of 1497. 1836 Death Record No. 6. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6XPQ-X8M?cc=1709358&wc=9RY3-VZ9%3A130065401%2C130130201 : accessed 22 August 2011). ↩
  24. Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 1119 of 1497. 1855 Death Record No. 15. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6XPQ-X88?cc=1709358&wc=9RY3-VZ9%3A130065401%2C130130201 : accessed 22 December 2017). ↩
  25. Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 1118 of 1497. 1855 Death Record No. 11. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6XPQ-XXV?cc=1709358&wc=9RY3-VZ9%3A130065401%2C130130201 : accessed 22 December 2017). ↩
  26. Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 1250 of 1497. 1864 Death Record No. 19. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12143-121075-9?cc=1709358 : accessed 22 August 2011). ↩
  27. Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 1336 of 1497. 1869 Death Record No. 34. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12143-119820-91?cc=1709358 : accessed 22 August 2011). ↩

52 Ancestors: #47 Michel Trausch and Catharina Hames of Mamer

With this post, all of my children’s known ancestors from their grandparents to their 5th great-grandparents have been featured since I began blogging four years ago. I actually did it in three years as I took a break from the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks in 2016.

Michel and Catharina

Michel TRAUSCH (1792-1869) and Catharina HAMES (1789-1864) married in Mamer, Luxembourg, on 18 February 1817.1 Their marriage record included the groom and bride’s dates and places of birth. His parents were both deceased; their names and dates and places of death were included. Her parents were living, present and consenting to the marriage. Also present were four witnesses. Michel KOLBACH, the bride’s brother-in-law, and three unrelated persons.

1817 Marriage Record No. 3 [1]
Michel was born on 9 May 1792 in Colmar-Berg, Mersch, Luxembourg, to Remacle TRAUSCH (1761-1804) and Theresia BRAUN (COLLING) (1766-1798).2 Catharina was born on 17 May 1789 in Mamer to Johannes HAMES (~1758-1826) and Agnes HERTZ (1755-1836).3 I will come back to the parents and siblings of Michel and Catharina after I have discussed their children.

Michel and Catharina had the following children:

1. Anna Catharina TRAUSCH was born the day after her parents’ first wedding anniversary on 19 February 1818 in Mamer.4 She died on 26 February 1819 in Mamer at the age of a year and a week.5
2. Maria TRAUSCH was born exactly two years after Anna Catharina, on 19 February 1820.6 She married and had one daughter. She died on 13 May 1875. She was my 3rd great-grandmother and her daughter was my 2nd great-granddaughter.
3. Peter TRAUSCH was born on 3 October 1821 in Mamer.7 He was last seen at the age of 34 years in Mamer with his parents in 1855. At this time it is unknown if he married or had children.
4. Elisabeth TRAUSCH was born on 23 July 1823.8 She married and had three sons. She died on 7 March 1877.
5. Susanna TRAUSCH was born on 23 September 1825.9 She married and had three sons. She died on 29 August 1903.
6. Catherine TRAUSCH was born on 13 March 1827 in Mamer.10 She died on 4 April 1900 in Mamer. Catherine never married.
7. Marie Catherine TRAUSCH was born on 26 April 1829 in Mamer.11 She died on 13 May 1832 in Mamer at the age of three years.12

As can be seen above Michel and Catharina had seven children, two of whom died young, one who never married, three who married and gave them seven grandchildren, and one son who has not been traced after 1855. Of the grandchildren, only one was a girl – an important fact as will be seen at the end of this post.

Three daughters marry and have children

Maria TRAUSCH although the second born was always the oldest of the bunch as her older sibling died a year before her birth. Maria married Jean MAJERUS (1817-1887) on 31 May 1849 in Mamer.13 He was the son of Jean Baptiste MAJERUS and Catharina CORNELY. Their daughter Marie MAJERUS (1850-1931) was born on 19 June 1850 in Mamer.14 Marie was my 2nd great-grandmother. She lived with her parents and grandparents in the home in Mamer.

Soon after the birth of their first grandchild, Michel and Catharina saw their daughter Elisabeth marry in Kehlen. She married Jean Henri KLEIN (1811-1866) on 15 December 1852.15 A year later, she gave birth to the second grandchild Johann KLEIN on 7 December 1853 in Nospelt.16

The third daughter to marry was Susanna. She married Pierre KLEES (1823-1903) on 14 February 1855 in Kehlen where her sister Elisabeth had married.17

These marriages in Kehlen were only found with the help of the Marriage Database dedicated members of my genealogy association Luxracines are working on. As a member of the board, I have access to the database which will soon be made available on our website. It will be a real time-saver for all researchers who have ancestors who married in Luxembourg between 1797-1923 as marriage records include so much genealogical information.
Lëtz Play! Can You Top This? A Marriage Record With 15 Events

Following Susanna’s marriage five more grandsons were born into the family:

  • Mathias KLEIN on 11 December 1855 in Nospelt18
  • Peter KLEES on 7 March 1856 in Kehlen19
  • Nicolas KLEIN on 2 October 1857 in Nospelt20
  • Michel KLEES on 30 October 1857 in Kehlen21
  • Johann KLEES on 25 May 1860 in Kehlen22

It is unknown if Nicolas, the only son of Catharina and Michel, ever married and had children. Perhaps when the Marriage Database 1797-1923 is finished he will be found. Without this information, it is at this time only possible to note that all known grandchildren of Catharina and Michel were born before their deaths.

Catharina and Michel die in a three-generation house

Catharina HAMES died on 22 November 1864 at the age of 75 years.23 Her husband Michel TRAUSCH died five years later on 28 December 1869 at the age of 77 years.24 They both died in Mamer in the house called Schreinesch where they had raised their family. It had been a three-generation home as their son-in-law Jean MAJERUS, who was the informant at the time of both deaths, lived there with his wife Maria and their only daughter Marie.

Marie would marry Jean FRANTZ (1837-1929) in 1870.25 Her mother Maria TRAUSCH died on 13 May 1875.26 The oldest of the grown siblings, she was the first to die. She was followed by her sisters Elisabeth who died on 7 March 1877 in Goeblange27, Catherine, an old maid, on 4 April 1900 in Mamer28, and Susanna on 29 August 1903 in Kehlen.29

The Parents and Siblings of Michel TRAUSCH

Michel’s parents Remacle TRAUSCH and Theresia BRAUN (also seen as COLLING) were married on 24 July 1787 in Bissen.30 The marriage index cards for marriages in the parish records incorrectly listed the year as 1789. I was searching for a marriage in 1789 and wondering why a child was born in 1788. After not finding the marriage in 1789, I continued back until it was located in 1787. The marriage was recorded twice, by two different persons, first on the 23rd of July and then on the 24th. The later was complete and included signatures.

Remacle and Theresia had six children all born in Colmar-Berg. The oldest three grew to adulthood, married and had children. Franz born in 1788 was the father of 10 children; Catherine born in 1790 was the mother of 14 children; and Michel, as was seen above, was born in 1792 and was the father of 7 children. The three youngest have not been traced past their baptisms: Nicolas b. 1794, Susanna b. 1796, and Maria b. 1798. The mother Theresia died on 16 February 1798 in Berg, a week after the birth of her last child.31 Michel was not yet six years old when he lost his mother. Four of the six children’s baptismal records had their mother’s maiden name listed as COLLING instead of BRAUN(ERS). The different names will hopefully lead to more information on Theresia’s ancestors.

Remacle remarried six months later on 26 August 1798 in Berg to Anne Marie WIROTH.32 They had one known daughter, Peternelle born in 1799. Remacle  and Anne Marie had removed to Luxembourg City from Colmar-Berg sometime after the birth of their daughter and before Remacle’s death on 31 August 1804.33

Two years later Catherine, sixteen years and six months, was in a family way and the conseil de famille, or family counsel, gave their permission for her to marry Peter OLINGER. This was necessary as she was under age and both parents were deceased. Catherine’s uncle Nicolas COLLING, a witness to the marriage, was likely one of the family counsel. It was not mentioned in the marriage record dated 29 November 180634 that she was expecting but four months later on 2 April 1807 she gave birth to a son François.35

By 1813 Franz, the oldest of Remacle and Theresia’s children, was living in Schieren near Ettelbrück where he would marry Eva MERTZ and raise a large family.36 His brother Michel remained in Colmar-Berg until 1817 when he married Catharina HAMES of Mamer.

The Parents and Siblings of Catharina HAMES

Catharina’s parents, Johannes HAMES and Agnes HERTZ were married in Mamer on 18 January 1785.37 They were the parents of six known children. Three sons died as infants, one son died at the age of 18, leaving only two daughters who would marry and raise families. Catharina was the younger of the two. Her sister Susanne was the first to marry. She married Michel KOLBACH, son of Michel KOLBACH and Susanne KIEFFER, on 11 January 1815 in Mamer.38 Her mother-in-law Susanne KIEFFER was one of my 4th great-grandmothers. She had married Paulus FRANTZ after the death of the elder Michel KOLBACH. Susanne and Michel (the younger couple) were the parents of six, two of whom died in infancy. Their four children married and had children.

Agnes HERTZ, her daughter Catharina HAMES, her granddaughter Maria TRAUSCH, and her great-granddaughter Marie MAJERUS are my mitochondrial line down from Agnes’ mother Anna Catharina RONAS. The parents of Anna Catharina are at this time unknown to me. A couple of years ago I talked to a person who appears to have been “on to something” concerning the RONAS family but did not want to make the research public at the time.

Family history research will never be finished or ready to publish. Share what you have, make corrections and additions, write about your ancestors. Yes, it probably will remain a work in progress or a draft of a family book. By sharing what you think is incomplete, you may reach someone who has the missing information or the key to open the door in your brick wall.

P.S. A special thank you to Amberly Peterson Beck, The Genealogy Girl, for letting me know I can enable Markdown in WordPress.com posts, pages, and comments for easier styling, including footnotes – see below, aren’t they beautiful? Note: Footnotes in numbered and bulleted lists did not seem to work until I tricked the editor into not using html formatting for the lists.

© 2018, copyright Cathy Meder-Dempsey. All rights reserved.

  1. Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Mamer > Naissances 1834-1890 Mariages 1796-1837 > image 1283 of 1504. 1817 Marriage Record No. 3. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12585-51831-91?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-FM9:130065401,130365601 : accessed 22 August 2011). ↩
  2. Ibid., Bissen > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1785-1793 > image 146 of 186, 1792 Baptismal Record part 1 (right, bottom (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WM-94K3?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-FMS%3A1500938201%2C1500938228 : accessed 15 January 2018) and image 147 of 186, 1792 Baptismal Record part 2 (left, top). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WM-9H9Z?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-FMS%3A1500938201%2C1500938228 : accessed 15 January 2018). ↩
  3.  Ibid., Mamer > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 102 of 168. 1789 Baptismal Record (left, first entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WM-SPR?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-C6G%3A1500941501%2C1500913302 : accessed 14 January 2018). ↩
  4. Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Mamer > Naissances 1796-1833 > image 307 of 549. 1818 Birth Record No. 5. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12667-23016-9?cc=1709358 : accessed 22 August 2011). ↩
  5.  Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 708 of 1497. 1819 Death Record No. 18. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12143-119965-11?cc=1709358 : accessed 22 August 2011). ↩
  6. Ibid., Mamer > Naissances 1796-1833 > image 337 of 549. 1820 Birth Record No. 7. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12667-22797-81?cc=1709358 : accessed 22 August 2011). ↩
  7. Ibid., Mamer > Naissances 1796-1833 > image 359 of 549. 1821 Birth Record No. 42. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12667-21344-82?cc=1709358 : accessed 22 August 2011). ↩
  8. Ibid., Mamer > Naissances 1796-1833 > image 386 of 549. 1823 Birth Record No. 20. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12667-22469-66?cc=1709358 : accessed 22 August 2011). ↩
  9. Ibid., Mamer > Naissances 1796-1833 > image 419 of 549. 1825 Birth Record No. 27. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12667-23598-78?cc=1709358 : accessed 22 August 2011). ↩
  10. Ibid., Mamer > Naissances 1796-1833 > image 443 of 549. 1827 Birth Record No. 10. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12667-23242-91?cc=1709358 : accessed 22 August 2011). ↩
  11. Ibid., Mamer > Naissances 1796-1833 > image 473 of 549. 1829 Birth Record No. 23. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12667-22404-81?cc=1709358 : accessed 22 August 2011). Note: listed as Maria. ↩
  12. Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 832 of 1497. 1832 Death Record No. 14. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12143-119559-99?cc=1709358 : accessed 22 August 2011). Note: listed as Marie Catherine. ↩
  13. Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 114 of 1497. 1849 Marriage Record No. 19. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12143-120796-17?cc=1709358&wc=9RY3-VZ9:130065401,130130201 : accessed 6 September 2014). ↩
  14. Ibid., Mamer > Naissances 1834-1890 Mariages 1796-1837 > image 311 of 1504. 1850 Birth Record No. 30. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12585-50928-75?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-FM9:130065401,130365601 : accessed 27 March 2010). ↩
  15. Ibid., Kehlen > Naissances 1887-1890 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1828 > image 737 of 1490. 1852 Marriage Record No. 11. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DRYS-RV9?cc=1709358&wc=9RYW-K68%3A129987101%2C130453502 : accessed 15 January 2018). ↩
  16. Ibid., Kehlen > Naissances 1833-1886 > image 715 of 1501. 1853 Birth Record No. 85. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6YJS-7Z9?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-4WL%3A129987101%2C130292501 : accessed 16 January 2018). ↩
  17. Ibid., Kehlen > Naissances 1887-1890 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1828 > image 763 of 1490. 1855 Marriage Record No. 3. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DRYS-YVG?cc=1709358&wc=9RYW-K68%3A129987101%2C130453502 : accessed 15 January 2018). ↩
  18. Ibid., Kehlen > Naissances 1833-1886 > image 762 of 1501. 1855 Death Record No. 72. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6YJS-4RK?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-4WL%3A129987101%2C130292501 : accessed 16 January 2018). ↩
  19. Ibid., Kehlen > Naissances 1833-1886 > image 771 of 1501. 1856 Birth Record No. 14.”Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1796-1941,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6YJS-C9T?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-4WL%3A129987101%2C130292501 : accessed 16 January 2018). ↩
  20. Ibid., Kehlen > Naissances 1833-1886 > image 803 of 1501. 1857 Death Record No. 50. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6YJS-7YC?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-4WL%3A129987101%2C130292501 : accessed 16 January 2018). ↩
  21. Ibid., Kehlen > Naissances 1833-1886 > image 804 of 1501. 1857 Birth Record No. 56. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6YJS-7J7?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-4WL%3A129987101%2C130292501 : accessed 16 January 2018). ↩
  22. Ibid., Kehlen > Naissances 1833-1886 > image 873 of 1501. 1860 Birth Record No. 34. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6YJS-472?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-4WL%3A129987101%2C130292501 : accessed 16 January 2018). ↩
  23. Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 1250 of 1497. 1864 Death Record No. 19. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12143-121075-9?cc=1709358 : accessed 22 August 2011). ↩
  24. Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 1336 of 1497. 1869 Death Record No. 34. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12143-119820-91?cc=1709358 : accessed 22 August 2011). ↩
  25. Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 310 of 1497. 1870 Marriage Record No. 5. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12143-120441-3?cc=1709358&wc=9RY3-VZ9:130065401,130130201 : accessed 6 September 2014). ↩
  26. Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 1412 of 1497. 1875 Death Record No. 13. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12143-119726-4?cc=1709358 : accessed 27 March 2010). ↩
  27. Ibid., Koerich > Décès 1861-1890 > image 194 of 332. 1877 Death Record No. 8. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DRN3-HHG?cc=1709358&wc=9RYW-ZNG%3A129989801%2C129816202 : accessed 16 January 2018). ↩
  28. Ibid., Mamer > Décès 1895-1923 > image 67 of 379. 1900 Death Record No. 5. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32050-1365-5?cc=1709358 : accessed 26 November 2015). ↩
  29. Ibid., Kehlen > Décès 1895-1923 > image 104 of 363. 1903 Death Record No. 27. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G97V-W6FQ?cc=1709358&wc=9RTB-RM9%3A129987101%2C129623802 : accessed 16 January 2018). ↩
  30. Luxembourg, registres paroissiaux, 1601-1948 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Bissen > Mariages 1779-1791, sépultures 1779-1791 > image 65 of 91. 1787 Marriage Record (p.120+121). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WS-Q784?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-DPJ%3A1500938201%2C1501129408 : accessed 15 January 2018). ↩
  31.  Ibid., Berg > Décès 1796-1830 > image 4 of 167, 1798 Death Record part 1 (bottom left page and all of right page),  (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-62YQ-KYG?cc=1709358&wc=9RYQ-C6X%3A129623401%2C129623402 : accessed 14 January 2018) and image 5 of 167, 1798 Death Record part 2 (top left page). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-62YQ-645?cc=1709358&wc=9RYQ-C6X%3A129623401%2C129623402 : accessed 14 January 2018). ↩
  32. Luxembourg Civil Records, Berg > Mariages 1796-1858 > image 9 of 270. 1798 Marriage Record part 1 (right, lower half). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-62YQ-XCY?cc=1709358&wc=9RYQ-C6J%3A129623401%2C129709001 : accessed 14 January 2018). parts 2 and 3 of record on next two images. ↩
  33.  Ibid., Luxembourg > Mariages 1888-1890 Décès 1796-1806 > image 1070 of 1420. 1804 Death Record (right, bottom). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-69H9-W6S?cc=1709358&wc=9RYH-DP8%3A130045801%2C131708201 : accessed 14 January 2018). ↩
  34.  Ibid., Berg > Mariages 1796-1858 > image 28 of 270. 1806 Marriage Record part 1 (right). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-62YQ-L1X?cc=1709358&wc=9RYQ-C6J%3A129623401%2C129709001 : accessed 16 January 2018), part 2 on next image. ↩
  35.  Ibid., Berg > Naissances 1796-1814 > image 92 of 140. 1807 Birth Record (lower right). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2S-V5Y?cc=1709358&wc=9RYQ-K68%3A129623401%2C129773501 : accessed 17 January 2018), second half of record on next image. ↩
  36.  Ibid., Ettelbruck > Naissances 1885-1890 Mariages 1796-1844 > image 627 of 1505. 1813 Marriage Record No. 15. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6X2S-MB5?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-FM9%3A129625001%2C130529102 : accessed 16 January 2018). ↩
  37. Luxembourg Parish Records, Mamer > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 65 of 168. 1785 Marriage Record. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32401-17714-18?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-C6G:1500941501,1500913302 : accessed 6 June 2015). ↩
  38. Luxembourg Civil Records, Mamer > Naissances 1834-1890 Mariages 1796-1837 > image 1259 of 1504. 1815 Marriage Record No. 1. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-61F9-R26?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-FM9%3A130065401%2C130365601 : accessed 8 October 2015). ↩

52 Ancestors: #44 Legendary Two-Time Tour de France Winner’s Second Great-Grandparents

Susanne KIEFFER was born on 25 March 1754 in Mamer to Nicolaus KÜFFER (1734-1796) and Susanna SCHILTZ (1737-1807). Earlier variations of the surname were KIEFER and KÜFFER. Susanne was the oldest of eight known children. The only reference available online is an alphabetical family group register of births/baptisms and marriages for the town of Mamer. Actual parish records for baptisms, marriages, and burials in Mamer are only available on FamilySearch for the years 1779-1793.

Küffer-Schiltz family group from the Mamer parish book. “Luxembourg registres paroissiaux, 1601-1948,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32402-77-6?cc=2037955 : accessed 28 November 2015), Mamer > Baptêmes 1718-1940, familles alphabétique > image 135 of 375; paroisses, Luxembourg (parishes, Luxembourg).

Susanne was my fourth great-grandmother. She married Michel KOLBACH on 17 February 1783.1 Michel was born about 1748 in Kehlen to Francisci KOLBACH and Maria KAYSER. His parents were deceased at the time of his marriage. Michel and his parents were not my ancestors.

Luxembourg, registres paroissiaux, 1601-1948 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Mamer > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 46 of 168. 1783 Marriage Record (top of left page). (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32401-17711-69?cc=2037955 : accessed 29 November 2015).

Susanne and Michel were the parents of five children.

Margaretha born on 4 January 17842
Michel born on 31 March 17853
Catherine born on 29 November 17864
Peter born on 9 January 17895
Anna Maria born on 14 May 17916

These children are documented as they were born during the period in which actual parish records are available on FamilySearch for baptisms, marriages, and burials during the years 1779-1793.

Following the birth of Susanne and Michel’s fourth child, her sister Elisabeth married Nicolas CHRISTOPHORY (1743-1803) on 11 May 1789.7 Elisabeth was the only known sibling of Susanne to also marry. [As of this writing. A brother’s marriage was found in April 2021. Read the post here: The Ancestors: Nicolaus Küffer and Susanna Schiltz of Mamer, Luxembourg]

When their youngest child had just turned two years old, Susanne was widowed when Michel KOLBACH died on 30 May 1793. He had been a linen weaver or linitextor and was about 45 years old.8

1793 Death Entry for Michel KOLBACH.

A little over seven months later Susanne remarried. On 7 January 1794, she married Paul FRANTZ. Paul was the son of Nicolaus FRANTZ and Angela BARTEL of Senningen.9

1794 Marriage Index Card. 2.

No marriage record has been found for Susanne and Paul. Their marriage is recorded on a marriage index card. The information on the card points to Paul being from Bergem in the parish of Schifflingen. Per the 1843 census, Paul was born on 10 August 1763 in Senningen.10 On the 1846 census, the day and month were the same but the year was 1764.11 The place of birth on the 1846 census was blank. Although their names are known, his parents and siblings are at this time a brick wall.

Paul was my fourth great-grandfather. When he married Susanne he took on a family of five children between the ages of 3 and 10 years. Like Susanne’s first husband Michel, Paul was a linen weaver.

Susanne was soon expecting twins. Nicolas and Johannes were born on 21 November 1794. As no birth records are available for the twins it is not known who was the oldest. Nicolas or my third great-grandfather Johannes.

When the twins were seventeen months old their grandfather, Susanne’s father, Nicolaus KEIFFER died on 1 May 1796.12

Susanne gave birth to another son on 10 January 1797. He was named Henri.13 Less than two months later Susanne’s youngest daughter from her first marriage, Anna Maria, died at the age of five years on 6 March 1797.14 The family may have been battling some kind of disease or the baby was not strong enough to survive as little Henri died on 6 June 1797 at the age of five months.15

The children grew and by 1802 Susanne’s oldest daughter was courting and the results were soon to be seen. Margaretha was 17 years old when she married Leonardus RÖELINGER on 18 November 1802.16 Three and a half months later, on 9 March 1803, she gave birth to a boy she named after her father Michel.17

Susanne’s brother-in-law Nicolas CHRISTOPHORY died on 16 December 1803.18 His widow Elisabeth was 46 years old when she married Theodore HELLESCH on 7 May 1806.19 It was on this marriage record that the 1796 date of death for Nicolaus KIEFFER, the bride’s father, was found.

Susanne’s mother Susanna SCHILTZ died on 4 August 1807. Her son-in-law Paul FRANTZ was the informant on her death record.20 A little over a year later, on 9 October 1808, he was once again at the city hall reporting a death. This time it was his wife Susanne KIEFFER who died at the age of 54 years.21 She left 4 KOLBACH children and the FRANTZ twins.

My 4th great-grandfather was now alone and caring for his 13-year-old twin boys and three unmarried step-children who were in their twenties. Only his step-daughter Marguerite was married with two little boys but likely also living in the household as was her right as the oldest.

Five years after the death of Susanne, her daughter Catherine KOLBACH married Jacques HENTGES in Mondercange on 29 December 1813.22 This marriage was only found in the last few days.

Her brothers Michel and Peter KOLBACH would add some very interesting branches to my family tree.

Michel KOLBACH married Susanne HAMES (1786-1855) on 11 January 1815 in Mamer.23 Susanne was the sister of my 4th great-grandmother Catherine HAMES (1789-1864), my direct matrilineal line.

Petrus KOLBACH married Susanna FRISCH, daughter of Jacob FRISCH and Regina HUBERTY, on 14 January 1818 in Mamer.24 Jacob and Regina are also my fourth great-grandparents.

Confused? I hope this will help.

Less than three weeks later Nicolas FRANTZ, one of the twins, married Anna KÜNSCH (1795-1875) on 3 February 1818 in Mamer.25

It would be another nine years before the other twin, my fourth great-grandfather, would marry Elisabeta FRISCH (1800-1880), daughter of the above-mentioned Jacob FRISCH and Regina HUBERTY. They were married on 18 January 1827 in Holzem.26

All of Paul FRANTZ’s children, biological and step, were now married. I believe Paul was living in the home he had shared with his wife Susanne with her oldest daughter Margaretha and her family. This is supported by the census taken in 1843 and 1846. But before the census was enumerated there were several deaths in the family.

Petrus KOLBACH, a father of three sons, died on 23 April 1837 in Mamer at the age of 48.27 His widow Susan FRISCH would live to the age of 93 dying on 20 October 1885.28

The oldest of the bunch, Margaretha KOLBACH had given birth to ten children. She died on 16 December 1838 in Mamer.29 She left a widower and six children. During the years the family had changed the spelling of RÖELINGER to RELINGER and finally REDLINGER, the version seen when Margaretha’s widower Leonardus die on 20 March 1843.30

1843 Paul Frantz household.

In 1843 when the census was taken, Paul FRANTZ was the head of a household in Mamer. Living with him was his step-grandson Peter REDLINGER, his wife Susana WAGNER, and their four children. Both of Peter’s parents were deceased and he was likely the oldest of the REDLINGER children. The family home may have been passed on to him. In 1846 Peter REDLINGER was the head of household and Paul FRANTZ, as well as three of Peter’s single brothers, was living with the family.

Paul died at 8 in the morning on 27 July 1847 in Mamer at the age of 83. His death was reported by his step-grandson Peter REDLINGER.31

Michel KOLBACH died on 18 April 1855 in Mamer at the age of 70.32 He had fathered six children, two of whom died at a young age. His widow Susanna HAMES died exactly a month later on 18 May 1855 at the age of 68.33

The only living KOLBACH child, Catherine died on 30 October 1869 in Bergem.34 Until a few days ago I thought she may have died as a child. However, after finding her marriage record, I learned she was the mother of at least six children. Her husband Jacques died on the oldest son’s 15th birthday in 1830 leaving her widowed with children between the ages of 2 and 15.35

Susanne KIEFFER’s KOLBACH children were now all deceased. Her twins, the sons she bore Paul FRANTZ, lived into their eighties. Nicolas FRANTZ, father of seven children (at least two died young), died on 8 August 187936 at the age of 84 and my fourth great-grandfather Johannes FRANTZ, father of five children (one died young) died on 24 January 188037 at the age of 85.

One final note of interest and the reason for the peculiar title for this article. My 4th great-grandparents Paul FRANTZ and Susanne KIEFFER were the 2nd great-grandparents of the famous Nicolas “Nic” FRANTZ, winner of the 1927 and 1928 Tour de France. He was not the first Luxembourger to win the Tour but he was the only one to win it twice and twice in a row.

 

P.S. Things are always busy this time of the year and I have not had the time to include the sources at the end of my last few articles. I relied on being able to point my readers to my online GEDCOM file, however, Rootsweb is currently unavailable and it is not known how long the downtime will last. Three more sets of 4th great-grandparents to go and then I will come back and add the sources later in January 2018. [Sources on this post were finally added 4 May 2021.]

© 2017-2021, copyright Cathy Meder-Dempsey. All rights reserved.

  1. Luxembourg, registres paroissiaux, 1601-1948 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Mamer > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 46 of 168. 1783 Marriage Record (top of left page). (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32401-17711-69?cc=2037955 : accessed 29 November 2015). ↩
  2. Ibid., Mamer > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 51 of 168. 1784 Baptismal Record. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32401-18408-0?cc=2037955 : accessed 29 November 2015). ↩
  3. Ibid., Mamer > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 62 of 168. 1785 Baptismal Record (top of left page). (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32401-18173-83?cc=2037955 : accessed 29 November 2015). ↩
  4. Ibid., Mamer > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 73 of 168. 1786 Baptismal Record (top of left page). (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32401-17555-71?cc=2037955 : accessed 29 November 2015). ↩
  5. Ibid., Mamer > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 100 of 168. 1789 Baptismal Record (top of right page). (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32402-806-79?cc=2037955 : accessed 29 November 2015). ↩
  6. Ibid., Mamer > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 122 of 168. 1791 Baptismal Record (top of left page). (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32402-540-56?cc=2037955 : accessed 29 November 2015). ↩
  7. Diözesanarchiv Luxemburg / Archives diocésaines Luxembourg (images), Matricula Online, http://data.matricula-online.eu/de/LU/luxemburg/, Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 (citing original records in the Luxembourg Diocesan Archives, Luxembourg City), Mamer, KB 18: neuer Einband, Paginierung übernommen, Taufen, Heiraten, Sterbefälle [1779-1793], image 108 of 172, page 217, entry at top of page. 1789 Marriage Record. (https://data.matricula-online.eu/de/LU/luxemburg/mamer/KB-18/?pg=108 : accessed 1 May 2021). ↩
  8. Luxembourg registres paroissiaux 1601-1948, Mamer > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 167 of 168. 1793 Death and Burial Record (right page, 7th entry). (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32402-335-60?cc=2037955 : accessed 29 November 2015). ↩
  9. Ibid., Mamer > Tables des mariages 1779-1804 (index organisée par l’époux) > image 41 of 238. 1794 Marriage Index Card. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WS-431Q?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-2NY%3A1500941501%2C1501133556 : accessed 20 December 2017). ↩
  10. Luxembourg, Volkszählungen 1843-1900 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Mamer > 1843 > image 73 of 291. Households of Paul Frantz and his step-grandson Pierre Redlinger. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-997B-2YDZ?cc=2037957&wc=M9MV-928 : accessed 3 May 2021). ↩
  11. Ibid., Mamer > 1846 > image 195 of 297. Households of Pierre Redlinger and his step-grandfather Paul Frantz. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L97B-2TK5?cc=2037957&wc=M5LT-RMW%3A345860401%2C345858602 : accessed 3 May 2021). ↩
  12. Archives diocésaines Luxembourg, GV.MF 356-443, Mamer, KB-01, image 118 of 128, page 227 (stamped). 1796 Death Record. (https://data.matricula-online.eu/de/LU/luxemburg/mamer/KB-01/?pg=118 : accessed 25 April 2021). ↩
  13. Ibid., GV.MF 356-443, Mamer, KB-01, image 40 of 128, page 52, bottom. 1797 Baptismal Record. (https://data.matricula-online.eu/de/LU/luxemburg/mamer/KB-01/?pg=40 : accessed 28 April 2021). ↩
  14. Luxembourg registres paroissiaux 1601-1948, Mamer > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1790-1804 > image 28 of 30. 1797 Death Entry (index). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WM-SDQ?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-C6V%3A1500941501%2C1501074474 : accessed 23 December 2017). ↩
  15. Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 521 of 1497. 1797 Death Record (18 Prairial V) (right page). (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12143-121172-9?cc=1709358 : accessed 26 March 2010). ↩
  16. Ibid., Mamer > Naissances 1834-1890 Mariages 1796-1837 > image 1185 of 1504. 1802 Marriage Record. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12585-49719-87?cc=1709358 : accessed 29 November 2015). ↩
  17. Ibid., Mamer > Naissances 1796-1833 > image 99 of 549. 1803 Birth Record (18 Ventôse year XI). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-XS45-8K?cc=1709358&wc=9RY8-L29%3A130065401%2C130303901 : accessed 23 December 2017). ↩
  18. Archives diocésaines Luxembourg, GV.MF 356-443, Mamer, KB-01, image 127 of 128, page 244 (stamped), 4th entry. 1803 Death Record. (https://data.matricula-online.eu/de/LU/luxemburg/mamer/KB-01/?pg=127 : accessed 26 April 2021). ↩
  19.   Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil 1662-1941, Mamer > Naissances 1834-1890 Mariages 1796-1837 > image 1195+1196 of 1504. 1806 Marriage Record (part 1). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-61F9-RCL?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-FM9%3A130065401%2C130365601 : accessed ‎21. ‎August ‎2011) and 1806 Marriage Record (part 2). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-61F9-G1N?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-FM9%3A130065401%2C130365601 : accessed ‎21. ‎August ‎2011). ↩
  20.   Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 585 of 1497. 1807 Death Record No. 17 (age 70). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6XPQ-65D?cc=1709358&wc=9RY3-VZ9%3A130065401%2C130130201 : accessed 20 December 2017). ↩
  21. Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 595 of 1497. 1808 Death Record No. 21. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12143-119238-21?cc=1709358 : accessed 23 March 2010). ↩
  22. Ibid., Mondercange > Naissances 1879-1890 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1870 > image 217 of 1385. 1813 Marriage Record No. 14. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-698S-6J1?cc=1709358&wc=9RYH-N38%3A130108901%2C130286801 : accessed 28 December 2017). ↩
  23. Ibid., Mamer > Naissances 1834-1890 Mariages 1796-1837 > image 1259 of 1504. 1815 Marriage Record No. 1. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-61F9-R26?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-FM9%3A130065401%2C130365601 : accessed 8 October 2015). ↩
  24. Ibid., Mamer > Naissances 1834-1890 Mariages 1796-1837 > image 1289 of 1504. 1818 Marriage Record No. 3. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12585-52496-64?cc=1709358 : accessed 30 November 2015). ↩
  25. Ibid., Mamer > Naissances 1834-1890 Mariages 1796-1837 > image 1290 of 1504. 1818 Marriage Records No. 5. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12585-48736-80?cc=1709358 : accessed 26 March 2010). ↩
  26. Ibid., Mamer > Naissances 1834-1890 Mariages 1796-1837 > image 1370 of 1504. 1827 Marriage Record No. 2. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12585-48893-0?cc=1709358 : accessed 26 March 2010). ↩
  27. Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 887 of 1497. 1837 Death Record No. 21. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6XPQ-X3D?cc=1709358&wc=9RY3-VZ9%3A130065401%2C130130201 : accessed 22 December 2017). ↩
  28. Ibid., Mamer > Décès 1881-1890 > image 66 of 144;. 1885 Death Record No. 32. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12699-122496-5?cc=1709358 : accessed 30 November 2015). ↩
  29. Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 904 of 1497. 1838 Death Record (right, bottom). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6XPQ-XM6?cc=1709358&wc=9RY3-VZ9%3A130065401%2C130130201 : accessed 22 December 2017). ↩
  30. Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 957 of 1497. 1843 Death Record No. 16. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6XPQ-XKN?cc=1709358&wc=9RY3-VZ9%3A130065401%2C130130201 : accessed 23 December 2017). ↩
  31. Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 1002 of 1497. 1847 Death Record No. 28. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12143-120450-0?cc=1709358 : accessed 24 March 2010). ↩
  32. Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 1118 of 1497. 1855 Death Record No. 11. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6XPQ-XXV?cc=1709358&wc=9RY3-VZ9%3A130065401%2C130130201 : accessed 22 December 2017). ↩
  33. Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 1119 of 1497. 1855 Death Record No. 15. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6XPQ-X88?cc=1709358&wc=9RY3-VZ9%3A130065401%2C130130201 : accessed 22 December 2017). ↩
  34. Ibid., Mondercange > Naissances 1879-1890 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1870 > image 1371 of 1385. 1869 Death Record No. 28. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-698S-ZLS?cc=1709358&wc=9RYH-N38%3A130108901%2C130286801 : accessed 28 December 2017). ↩
  35. Ibid., Mondercange > Naissances 1879-1890 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1870 > image 983 of 1385. 1830 Death Record No. 7. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-698S-S22?cc=1709358&wc=9RYH-N38%3A130108901%2C130286801 : accessed 28 December 2017). ↩
  36. Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 1472 of 1497. 1879 Death Record No. 29. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12143-120679-13?cc=1709358 : accessed 26 March 2010). ↩
  37. Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 1478 of 1497. 1880 Death Record No. 4. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12143-120588-9?cc=1709358&wc=9RY3-VZ9:130065401,130130201 : accessed 23 March 2010). ↩

52 Ancestors: #17 Mathias Friederich dite Thivels and Maria Olsem of Dillingen

Sometimes I am amazed at the discoveries I make when I sit down to write about these ancestral couples. Of course this only happens when I do a new round of research to learn more about the couple, their children, their parents and siblings, and any other possible connections.

While working through this family group, I discovered the father of the nearly 20 years old Mathias FRIEDERICH dite THIVELS had not died in 1791 as believed. The discovery of his death record started an avalanche of records which I will work through when I do the next generation. You’ll get a tiny peek below.

Genealogy Sketch

Name: Mathias FRIEDERICH dite TIVELS
Parents: Johann THIVELS alias FRIEDERICH and Catharina FEDERSPIEL
Spouse: Maria OLSEM
Parents of spouse: Martin HUNTGES aka Martin OLSEM and Margaretha MAY
Whereabouts: Dillingen, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Relationship to Cathy Meder-Dempsey: husband’s 4th great-grandfather

1. Mathias FRIEDERICH dite THIVELS
2. Elisabeth FRIEDERICH
3. Anton KREMER
4. Nicolas KREMER
5. Franz “Fritz” KREMER
6. Marie Françoise “Maisy” KREMER
7. husband of Cathy Meder-Dempsey

My children’s 4th great-grandmother Elisabeth FRIEDERICH was the daughter of Mathias FRIEDERICH dite THIVELS and Maria OLSEM. As seen in the post I wrote about her and her husband Nicolas KREMER, 52 Ancestors: #34 KREMER-FRIEDERICH Family – Using Substitutes to Tell Their Story, she was the only child of Mathias and Maria known to have grown to adulthood and marry. This is her parents’ story.

Mathias and Maria Marry in Wallendorf

The parish church of Wallendorf built in 1748. Photo credit: Egon Meder.

After the marriage banns had been read in Wallendorf and Bissen, and there being no objection to the marriage, a minor young man named Mathias FREDERICH and a young woman who was of age named Maria OLSEM were married on 7 February 1791 in the parish of Wallendorf. At the time Wallendorf was part of Luxembourg; after 1815 it became part of Germany.

Mathias was the legitimate son of Joannis FREDERICH, a farmer who was present, and the deceased Catharina FEDERSPIEL, both of Dillingen. Maria was the legitimate daughter of the deceased couple Martini OLSEM and Margaretha MAY of Colmar. Witnesses to the marriage were J.P. MAY from Bastendorf (could he have been a maternal uncle?) and Franciscus CONCEMIUS from Bettendorf. The groom, bride, and father of the groom left their mark while the two witnesses to the marriage signed their names. [Names are given as found in the marriage record.]

1791 Marriage Record of Mathias and Maria [1]

Mathias’ Parents

Mathias’ parents were Johann THIVELS alias FRIEDERICH (1741-1811) and Catharina FEDERSPIEL (1746-1785). Catharina died on 30 November 1785 in Dillingen.[2] She left her husband Johann with three sons and a daughter between the ages of 2 and 15 years. Records for this family were found in Wallendorf-Pont and Beaufort.

Maria’s Parents

Maria’s parents were Martin HUNTGES also known as Martin OLSEM (1722-1782) and Margaretha MAY (1727-1789). They were the parents of six known children who carried the OLSEM surname and were born in Colmar between 1756-1773. When Martin OLSEM died on 13 October 1782 in Colmar and was buried in Berg,[3] he left his wife with five children at home. Their oldest son had married earlier in the year. Margaretha, Maria’s mother, saw her two oldest daughters marry before she died on 6 June 1789 in Colmar and was buried in Berg.[4] Maria was now the oldest unmarried child with a younger brother and sister.

The First Clue to an Error

1791 death entry in the parish register of Wallendorf [5]
Following the marriage of Mathias and Maria in 1791, a Johann TIVELS died on 20 August 1791 in Dillingen.[5] The record was misinterpreted by an earlier researcher who attributed the death to Mathias’ father Johann TIVELS. When I viewed the death record, I questioned it being for the father as it read Joannes infansis Joannis Tivels (Johann child or infant of Johann Tivels). Johann Sr. was, I thought, a widower at the time and would have been seen in the parish register entry as viduus.

Mathias and Maria’s Children

Mathias and Maria lived in Dillingen their entire married life. They likely attended the little church seen above in the background. The old cobblestone paved bridge which crosses the Sauer River, the border between Luxembourg and Germany, leads into the town.

The first known child of Mathias and Maria was a male stillborn on 5 July 1794 in Dillingen.[6] The information is attributed to the Familienbuch der kath. Pfarrei St.Peter und Paul in Wallendorf by Mathias Emil Hubsch. The family book of Wallendorf includes the towns of Hösdorf (1744-1822), Ammeldingen and Biesdorf (1744-1899) and Dillingen (1744-1807). I’ll check the book when I visit the Archive Luxracines tomorrow.

Maria and Mathias’s second child, a daughter Maria FRIDERICH was born on 14 April 1796 in Dillingen.[7] Her birth was found in the index to the microfilm records Deutschland Geburten und Taufen, 1558-1898.

1846 Census for the KREMER-FRIEDERICH family of Bettendorf [8]
On 14 April 1802, exactly six years later Elisabeth FRIEDERICH, the last known child of Mathias and Maria, was born in Dillingen. Her birth record has not been located. The date of birth was found on the 1846 census.[8] Or should I use 15 April 1803, the date found on the 1849 census?[9] Normally a date of birth would be found on her marriage record but, in this case, her age and date of birth were omitted on the record. At the time of death on 28 October 1871, she was listed as 70 years old.

Mathias’ Father Dies

Château de Beaufort by N. Maroldt, Diekirch. From a series of ten framed photographs of castles in Luxembourg, private collection of the Meder-Dempsey Family.

Johann THIVELS alias FRIEDERICH, father of Mathias, lived twenty years longer than first believed. Mathias was 39 years old when he went before Johann Georg EVEN, mayor of Beaufort, and reported the death of his father in Dillingen on 4 August 1811 in his home known as Thivels. The death record had a surprising detail. Johann left a widow named Maria BOUR.[10]

1811 death record for Johann THIVELS alias FRIEDERICH [10]
Further research showed that due to the nature of the surnames used in different records [changing surnames and house names] the connection had not been made by others who have researched the areas of Wallendorf, Dillingen, Colmar, and Beaufort. I believe this is due to the difference between research done for family books of towns and research done for families. Town family books are wonderful references but verification of the dates and places for the individuals and family groups needs to be obtained by accessing the records.
Marriage Index Cards for the marriages of Tivels-Federspiel [11] and Friderich-Boor [12]
Johann THIVELS married Catharina FEDERSPIEL[11] and Johann FRIEDERICH married Maria BOUR.[12] Since the Johann who married Catharina was believed to have died in 1791 the connection to Johann who married Maria BOUR was not made. The son Mathias from the first marriage is the common denominator and led me to the records which I believe prove only one Johann married both ladies. His second marriage[12] took place three and a half months after his first wife’s death.[2] I am still working on the children of the second marriage. The death record[13] of a son Peter who lived less than a month and died in 1786 lists the father as Joannis FREDERICH vulgo TIVELS and shows the connection between the two names as is later seen on Johann’s death record.[10]

Mathias Dies

A year after he was seen as the informant on his father’s death record, Mathias FRIEDERICH dite THIVELS died on 16 August 1812 in Dillingen.[14] He left a wife, Maria OLSEM, and a daughter Elisabeth who was just ten years old.

Other Connections

Château de Berg by N. Maroldt, Diekirch. From a series of ten framed photographs of castles in Luxembourg, private collection of the Meder-Dempsey Family.

So little is known of the FRIDERICH-OLSEM couple that I focused my research a bit more closely on the siblings of Mathias and Maria. Although I knew Maria lived another 16 years after Mathias died and would die in Dillingen, I wondered if there may be stronger connections between her and her family in Colmar. This turned up a strange intertwined connection.

Maria’s brother Dominique OLSEM was 38 years old when he married the 26 years old Susanne HAMES on 18 May 1806 in Berg. [15] They had four children.

Mathias’ youngest sibling and only sister Marie TIWELS married Joseph KOOB on 11 January 1808 in Bettendorf.[16] She was 26 years old. They had a son.

Dominique OLSEM died on 28 Mar 1813 in Colmar[17] and Marie TIWELS died on 16 May 1815 in Moestroff.[18] Dominique’s widow Susanne HAMES and Marie’s widower Joseph KOOB married on 29 November 1815 in Berg.[19] Perhaps Marie played matchmaker for her sister-in-law and brother-in-law. Or the matchmaker could have been her older brother Nicolas OLSEM who was a witness to the marriage in Berg.

Marie Dies

Marie OLSEM died on 1 April 1828 in Dillingen. [20] The informant gave her age as 73 years but she was only 64. She was survived by her daughter Elisabeth and one living sibling, Maria Barbara OLSEM who died on 16 December 1829 in Wiltz.[21]

Elisabeth FRIEDERICH was not yet married and celebrated her 26th birthday a little over two weeks after her mother’s death. Almost two years later, on 17 February 1830, she married Nicolas KREMER (1797-1867) in Bettendorf [22] to begin her own little family. It would not be a happy first year of marriage…. Her story continues here.

bestwishescathy1

Sources:
[1] Luxembourg, registres paroissiaux, 1601-1948 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Wallendorf-Pont > Naissances 1799-1814, baptêmes 1779-1793, mariages 1779-1793, 1799-1814, décès 1799-1814, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 88 of 438. 1791 Marriage Record (second entry). (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32461-5216-23?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-92F:1501154317,1501199302 : accessed 19 August 2015).
[2] Ibid., Wallendorf-Pont > Naissances 1799-1814, baptêmes 1779-1793, mariages 1779-1793, 1799-1814, décès 1799-1814, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 47 of 438. 1785 Death Record (left page, 4th entry).  (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WS-975T?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-92F%3A1501154317%2C1501199302 : 9 January 2015).
[3] Ibid., Bissen > Baptêmes 1779-1784, mariages 1779-1784, sépultures 1779-1784 > image 45 of 68. 1782 Death Record (left page, 1st entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WS-QQRD?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-DPN%3A1500938201%2C1500938202 : accessed 24 April 2017).
[4] Ibid., Bissen > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1785-1793 > image 99 of 186. 1789 Death Record (right page, 2nd entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WM-9W7K?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-FMS%3A1500938201%2C1500938228 : accessed 24 April 2017),.
[5] Ibid., Wallendorf-Pont > Naissances 1799-1814, baptêmes 1779-1793, mariages 1779-1793, 1799-1814, décès 1799-1814, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 87 of 438. 1791 Death Record (left page, 6th entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-975C?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-92F%3A1501154317%2C1501199302 : accessed 25 April 2017).
[6] Mathias Emil Hubsch, compiler. Die Pfarrei Sankt Peter und Paul in der Grenzortschaft Wallendorf (Kreis Bitburg-Prum) : mit den filialen Ammeldingen und Biesdorf 1744-1899 sowie den heutigen Luxemburger filialen Dillingen, Pfarrei Befort 1744-1807 und Hosdorf, Pfarrei Reisdorf 1744-1822
[7] Germany Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898 / Deutschland Geburten und Taufen, 1558-1898, (index), FamilySearch, FHL microfilm 530,206. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NLBY-1BV : accessed 25 April 2017), Maria Friderich, born and christened 14 Apr 1796, father Mathias Friderich, mother Anna Maria Olsem; citing Wallendorf, Rheinland, Preussen.
[8] Luxembourg, Volkszählungen 1843-1900 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Bettendorf > 1846 > image 27 of 334. 1846 Kremer-Friederich household.  (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32356-27262-77?cc=2037957&wc=M5LR-BZ9:346114101,345858602 : accessed 18 February 2015).
[9] Ibid., Bettendorf > 1849 > image 33 of 343. 1849 Kremer-Friederich household. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32356-21299-31?cc=2037957&wc=M5LR-TQW:346114101,345864801 : accessed 18 February 2015).
[10] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Beaufort > Mariages 1864-1890 Décès 1799-1890  > image 427 of 1474. 1811 Death Record (right page). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DRY7-FHY?cc=1709358&wc=9RY9-W38%3A129623701%2C129687501 : accessed 25 April 2017).
[11] Luxembourg parish records, Wallendorf-Pont > Tables des mariages 1746-1802 (index organisée par l’époux) > image 197 of 210. 1769 Marriage Index Card. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WS-SKC7?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-K6P%3A1501154317%2C1501154318 : accessed 24 April 2017).
[12] Ibid., Wallendorf-Pont >  Naissances 1799-1814, baptêmes 1779-1793, mariages 1779-1793, 1799-1814, décès 1799-1814, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 63 of 210. 1786 Marriage Index Card. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WS-S29P?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-K6P%3A1501154317%2C1501154318 : accessed 26 April 2017).
[13] Ibid., Wallendorf-Pont > Naissances 1799-1814, baptêmes 1779-1793, mariages 1779-1793, 1799-1814, décès 1799-1814, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 54 of 438. “1786 Baptismal Record (left page, 4th entry).” 1786 Death Record (right page, last entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WS-97PC?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-92F%3A1501154317%2C1501199302 : acccessed 26 April 2017).
[14] Luxembourg Civil Records, Beaufort > Mariages 1864-1890 Décès 1799-1890 > image 440 of 1474. 1812 Death Record. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11577-147496-32?cc=1709358&wc=9RY9-W38:129623701,129687501 : accessed 17 August 2015).
[15] Ibid., Berg > Mariages 1796-1858 > image 24 of 270. 1806 Marriage Record , part 1 (right page). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-62YQ-NCR?cc=1709358&wc=9RYQ-C6J%3A129623401%2C129709001 : accessed 25 April 2017) cont. on next image.
[16] Ibid., Bettendorf > Naissances 1828-1890 Mariages 1800-1816 > image 1409 of 1507. 1808 Marriage Record (first part on right page).  (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-X2M3-GF?cc=1709358&wc=9RYD-FM9%3A129626601%2C129945501 : accessed 25 April 2017) cont. on next image.
[17] Ibid., Berg > Décès 1796-1830 > image 80 of 167. 1813 Death Record (right page, top). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-62YQ-K29?cc=1709358&wc=9RYQ-C6X%3A129623401%2C129623402 : accessed 24 April 2017).
[18] Ibid., Bettendorf > Mariages 1817-1890 Décès 1800-1859 > image 953 of 1494. 1815 Death Record (left page, bottom). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6RW9-6XM?cc=1709358&wc=9RY8-SP8%3A129626601%2C129729901 : accessed 25 April 2017).
[19] Ibid., Berg > Mariages 1796-1858 > image 65 of 270. 1815 Marriage Record No. 4. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-62YQ-P4D?cc=1709358&wc=9RYQ-C6J%3A129623401%2C129709001 : 17 July 2014).
[20] Ibid., Beaufort > Mariages 1864-1890 Décès 1799-1890 > image 676 of 1474. 1828 Death Record No. 8. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11577-141484-84?cc=1709358&wc=9RY9-W38:129623701,129687501 : accessed 17 August 2015) Note: May be an error on record as she was listed as age 73 therefore b. 1755.
[21] Ibid., Wiltz > Mariages 1886-1890 Décès 1797-1862  > image 587 of 1390. 1829 Death Record No. 48. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-62TJ-G1?cc=1709358&wc=9RYQ-4WL%3A130592301%2C130900801 : accessed 24 April 2017).
[22] Ibid., Bettendorf > Mariages 1817-1890 Décès 1800-1859 > image 220 of 1494. 1830 Marriage Record No. 10. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12456-39950-62?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2ZY:2071013250 : accessed 07 Apr 2013).

© 2017, copyright Cathy Meder-Dempsey. All rights reserved.

52 Ancestors: #49 The MAJERUS-TRAUSCH Family of Mamer

Week 49 (December 3-9) – Holidays. What ancestor do the holidays put you in mind of?

Every St. Nicholas Day I am reminded of the day I uploaded my first GEDCOM file to Rootsweb’s WorldConnect Project thirteen years ago, on 6 December 2002. I remember the day so well because it was my St. Nick’s gift to friends and family who had helped me get started. To answer the question, all of my ancestors and their descendants put the holidays in my mind.

Since 2002 my family tree has grown, my research habits have changed. I’ve continued to share my GEDCOM file and have been writing posts for the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge for the past two years. Today’s post features the last of my known third great-grandparents and the last of my children’s known fourth great-grandparents.

Jean MAJERUS of Strassen and Maria TRAUSCH of Mamer

My 3rd great-grandfather Jean MAJERUS (1817-1887) was born Saturday,  24 May 1817 in Strassen in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to Catharina CORNELY (1794-1871) and Jean Baptiste MAJERUS (1797-1868).[1]

Catharina, 22 years old, and Jean Baptiste, 20 years old, had gotten married just in the nick of time on Friday, 25 April 1817[2], a month before their first child Jean was born.

1817jeanmajerusbirth
1817 Birth Record No. 8 [1]
The newlywed father Jean Baptiste complicated things a bit when he reported the birth of his first son. He may have been a bit nervous when he went to the city hall at four in the afternoon. The mother of the child on the birth record was seen as Maria CORNELY instead of Catharina – was it the father’s nervousness or a error made by the clerk? In any case, Jean Baptiste and Catharina’s son Jean was born at 11 o’clock in the morning. His father could not read and write and did not sign the record which was witnessed by two other persons present.

Jean lived with his parents and younger siblings in Strassen at the time of the 1843, 1846, and 1847 census.

1843censusmajerus
1843 Luxembourg Census [3]
The 1843 MAJERUS household included Baptiste Majerus, Catherine Cornely, and children Jean, Mathias, Baptiste, Pierre, Nicolas, Jean Pierre, Michel, Marie. The head of the household and his two oldest sons were masons.[3]

1846censusmajerus
1846 Luxembourg Census [4]
The 1846 MAJERUS household included Jean Baptiste Majerus, Catherine Cornely, and children Jean, Jean, Baptiste, Marie, Pierre, Nicolas, Jean Pierre, and Michel. The head of household and his three oldest sons were masons.[4]

1847censusmajerus
1847 Luxembourg Census [5]
The 1847 MAJERUS household included Jean Baptiste Majerus, Catherine Cornely, children Jean, Jean, Jacques, Jean Baptiste, Pierre, Nicolas, Jean Pierre, Michel, and Marie. Only the occupation of the head of household was given, a mason.[5]

Jean MAJERUS married Maria TRAUSCH (1820-1875) on Thursday, 31 May 1849 in Mamer.[6]

1849marriage1
1849 Marriage Record No. 19 (part 1)[6]
Jean and Marie met with Nicolas BORNONG, the mayor of Mamer, at 9 o’clock Thursday morning. The groom Jean was 32 years old and a mason, Maurer. His parents Jean Baptiste MAJERUS and Catherine CORNELY, both from Strassen, were present and consented to the marriage.

1849marriage2
1849 Marriage Record No. 19 (part 2)[6]
The bride Marie was 30 years old. Her parents Michel TRAUSCH and Catherine HAMES, both of Mamer, were present and consenting to the marriage. The banns had been published on Sunday the 13th and 20th of the month in Mamer and in Bertrange, the commune Strassen belonged to at that time.

1849marriage3
1849 Marriage Record No. 19 (part 3)[6]
The marriage was witnessed by the mayor’s son Nicolas BORNONG, Jean REDLINGER, Michel PESCH, and Paul OLINGER, all of Mamer. The witnesses, mayor, and groom signed the marriage record. The parents of both the groom and bride and the bride declared not being able to write.

1820mariabirth
1820 Birth Record No. 7 [7]
Jean’s bride Maria TRAUSCH was born Saturday, 19 February 1820 in Mamer to Michel TRAUSCH (1792-1869) and Catharina HAMES (1789-1864).[7] At the time of her birth, the mayor of Mamer was Jacob BORNONG, the father of Nicolas BORNONG who would perform the marriage ceremony in 1849, and the grandfather of Nicolas BORNONG who would witness the marriage. Maria’s father, after reporting the birth to Jacob BORNONG, declared not being able to write and the birth record was signed by the mayor and two witnesses. Maria was their second child but grew up as the oldest of six as the first born daughter died a week after her first birthday.

MajerusTrauschfamilyinMamer
Parish Register entry for Majerus-Trausch family [8]
At the time of his marriage to Maria TRAUSCH, Jean MAJERUS moved permanently from Strassen to Mamer. The entry in the parish register of families in Mamer shows in the far right column that he came from Strassen.[8]

map mapzoomIn 1849 when the census was enumerated Jean and Maria were living with her parents in Mamer. The household included Michel TRAUSCH, wife Catherine HAMES, daughter Marie TRAUSCH, son-in-law Jean MAJERUS, son Peter TRAUSCH, and daughter Susanne TRAUSCH.[9]

1849censustrausch
1849 Luxembourg Census [9]
Jean and Maria welcomed their first and only child Marie “Maria” MAJERUS (1850-1931) into the little family on Wednesday, 19 June 1850 in Mamer.[10]

1850mariamajerusbirth
1850 Birth Record No. 30 [10]
It was two o’clock in the afternoon when Jean, age 32, reported the birth of his daughter Marie to the mayor Nicolas BORNONG. Marie was born at noon the same day to Jean’s wife Maria TRAUSCH, age 30. Nicolas BORNONG, the son of the mayor, and Peter GOUDEN were witnesses to the birth report.

Jean, Maria, and their daughter Marie continued to live with Maria’s parents in the TRAUSCH-HAMES household in 1851[11], 1852[12], 1855[13], 1858[14], and 1861[15]. The Michel TRAUSCH home was given the house name Schreinisch as his occupation was carpenter or Schreiner.

Maria’s mother Catharina HAMES died Tuesday, 22 November 1864 in Mamer.[16] The widower Michel TRAUSCH was seen as the head of household in 1864[17] with Jean, Maria, and Marie and then as part of the MAJERUS-TRAUSCH household in 1867[18]. They were still living in the house named Schreinisch.

Jean ‘s father Jean Baptiste MAJERUS died Tuesday, 7 July 1868 in Strassen[19]. A year later, Maria’s father Michel TRAUSCH died Tuesday, 28 December 1869 in Mamer
[20].

Jean and Maria’s only child Marie “Maria” MAJERUS married Jean “Johann” FRANTZ (1837-1929) on Wednesday, 16 February 1870 in Mamer[21].

Jean’s mother Catharina CORNELY died Saturday, 10 June 1871 in Strassen[22]. At the end of the year when the 1871 census[23] was taken Jean MAJERUS, wife Maria TRAUSCH, daughter Marie MAJERUS, son-in-law Jean FRANTZ, and first grandchild Maria FRANTZ were living together in one household. The name of the house was no longer given but they were still living in the same house as seen in the death record below.

1875mariadeath
1875 Death Record No. 13 [24]
Maria TRAUSCH died at 10 o’clock the morning of Thursday, 13 May 1875 in her home, in a house named Schreinesch in Mamer[24]. This was the home she shared with her parents while growing up and with her husband and daughter Marie.

Her widower was listed as the head of household in 1875[25] with his daughter, her husband, and three granddaughters. Jean MAJERUS most likely did not move out of the home he lived in since his marriage. He remained with his daughter and her family in what was now known as the FRANTZ-MAJERUS household in 1880[26], 1885[27], and 1887[28].

1887jeanmajerusdeath
1887 Death Record No. 31 [29]
Jean MAJERUS died at 6 o’clock the morning of Saturday, 15 October 1887 in Mamer[29]. His son-in-law Johann FRANTZ reported the death three hours later. He left his only daughter Marie, her husband and seven grandchildren. Eleven months later the last grandchild was born.

Did the TRAUSCH-HAMES, MAJERUS-TRAUSCH, and FRANTZ-TRAUSCH families live in the same home, a house named Schreinisch, from 1817 when the first couple married until 1931 when Marie MAJERUS died? It would be interesting to learn how to find the answer to this question.

Family history research will never be finished or ready to publish. Share what you have, make corrections and additions, write about your ancestors. Yes, it probably will remain a work in progress or a draft of a family book. By sharing what you think is incomplete you may reach someone who has the missing information or the key to open the door in your brick wall.

Sources:
[1] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Strassen > Naissances, mariages 1796-1823, 1850-1890 > image 214 of 1464. 1817 Birth Record No. 8. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12588-61261-75?cc=1709358 : accessed 27 March 2010). Note: mother listed as Maria Cornely.
[2] Ibid., Strassen > Naissances, mariages 1796-1823, 1850-1890 > image 1000 of 1464. 1817 Marriage No. 4. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12588-58675-14?cc=1709358 : accessed 2 December 2015).
[3] Luxembourg, Volkszählungen 1843-1900 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Bertrange > 1843 > image 406 of 407. Majerus-Cornely household. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32355-17013-8?cc=2037957 : accessed 30 November 2015). Citing: Baptiste Majerus, Catherine Cornely, and children Jean, Mathias, Baptiste, Pierre, Nicolas, Jean Pierre, Michel, Marie.
[4] Ibid., Bertrange > 1846 > image 295 of 431. Majerus-Cornely household. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32358-11288-83?cc=2037957 : accessed 2 December 2015). Citing: Jean Baptiste Majerus, Catherine Cornely, and children, Jean, Jean, Baptiste, Marie, Pierre, Nicolas, Jean Pierre, and Michel.
[5] Ibid., Bertrange > 1847 > image 41 of 448. Majerus-Cornely household No. 202. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32349-21532-74?cc=2037957 : accessed 2 December 2015). Citing: Jean Baptiste Majerus, Catherine Cornely, Jean, Jean, Jacques, Jean Baptiste, Pierre, Nicolas, Jean Pierre, Michel, and Marie.
[6] Luxembourg Civil Records, Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 114 of 1497. 1849 Marriage Record No. 19. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12143-120796-17?cc=1709358&wc=9RY3-VZ9:130065401,130130201 : accessed 6 September 2014).
[7] Ibid., Mamer > Naissances 1796-1833 > image 337 of 549. 1820 Birth Record No. 7. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12667-22797-81?cc=1709358 : accessed 22 August 2011).
[8] Luxembourg, registres paroissiaux, 1601-1948 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Mamer > Baptêmes 1718-1940, familles alphabétique > image 181 of 375. Majerus-Trausch family register pg. 252bis-253. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32401-19204-33?cc=2037955 : accessed 27 November 2015).
[9] Luxembourg Census Records, Mamer > 1849 > image 299 of 307. Trausch-Hames household No. . (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32349-13221-98?cc=2037957 : accessed 1 December 2015). Citing: Michel Trausch, wife Catherine Hames, daughter Marie, son-in-law Jean Majerus, son Peter, daughter Susanne.
[10] Luxembourg Civil Records, Mamer > Naissances 1834-1890 Mariages 1796-1837 > image 311 of 1504. 1850 Birth Record No. 30. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12585-50928-75?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-FM9:130065401,130365601 : accessed 27 March 2010).
[11] Luxembourg Census Records, Mamer > 1851 > image 314 of 329. Trausch-Hames household No. . (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32381-11079-75?cc=2037957 : accessed 1 December 2015). Citing: Michel Trausch, wife Catherine Hames, children Peter, Elisabeth, Susanne, Catherine, son-in-law Jean Majerus, daughter Marie Trausch, and granddaughter Marie Majerus.
[12] Ibid., Mamer > 1852 > image 274 of 332. Trausch-Hames household. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32371-19724-61?cc=2037957 : accessed 1 December 2015). Citing: Michel Trausch, wife Catherine Hames, son Peter, daughters Elisabeth and Susanna, son-in-law Jean Majerus, daughter Marie, granddaughter Marie.
[13] Ibid., Mamer > 1855 > image 120 of 335. Trausch-Hames and Majerus-Trausch household. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32369-2989-18?cc=2037957&wc=M5LY-VZ4:345860401,345866501 : accessed 30 November 2015). Citing: Michel Trausch, wife Catherine Hames, son Peter, son-in-law Jean Majerus, daughter Marie, granddaughter Marie.
[14] Ibid., Mamer > 1858 > image 28 of 356. Majerus-Trausch household No. 27. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32380-8908-57?cc=2037957 : accessed 30 November 2015). Citing: Jean Majerus, wife Marie Trausch and daughter Marie, father-in-law Michel Trausch and mother-in-law Catherine Hames.
[15] Ibid., Mamer > 1861 > image 19 of 357. Trausch-Hames household No. 25. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32379-35011-27?cc=2037957 : accessed 30 November 2015). Citing: Michel Trausch, wife Catherine Hames, son-in-law Jean Majerus, daughter Marie Trausch, and granddaughter Marie Majerus.
[16] Luxembourg Civil Records, Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 1250 of 1497. 1864 Death Record No. 19. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12143-121075-9?cc=1709358 : accessed 22 August 2011).
[17] Luxembourg Census Records, Mamer > 1864 > image 267 of 380. Trausch-Hames household No. 120. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32379-10200-26?cc=2037957 : accessed 30 November 2015). Citing: Michel Trausch, son-in-law Jean Majerus, daughter Marie Trausch, and granddaughter Marie Majerus.
[18] Ibid., Mamer > 1867 > image 298 of 372. Majerus-Trausch household No. 102.  (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32377-13108-85?cc=2037957 : accessed 1 December 2015). Citing: Jean Majerus, wife Marie Trausch, daughter Marie Majerus, and father-in-law Michel Trausch.
[19] Luxembourg Civil Records, Strassen > Décès 1850-1890 > image 185 of 446. 1868 Death Record No. 13. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11740-162036-71?cc=1709358 : accessed 22 August 2011).
[20] Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 1336 of 1497. 1869 Death Record No. 34. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12143-119820-91?cc=1709358 : accessed 22 August 2011).
[21] Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 310 of 1497. 1870 Marriage Record No. 5. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12143-120441-3?cc=1709358&wc=9RY3-VZ9:130065401,130130201 : accessed 6 September 2014).
[22] Ibid., Strassen > Décès 1850-1890 > image 224 of 446. 1871 Death Record No. 30. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11741-2453-64?cc=1709358 : accessed 22 August 2011).
[23] Luxembourg Census Records, Mamer > 1871 > image 517 of 840. Majerus-Trausch household No. 56. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32379-27646-49?cc=2037957&wc=M5G9-SPN:345860401,345869501 : accessed 18 June 2015). Citing: Johann Majerus, wife Maria Trausch, son-in-law Johann Frantz, daughter Maria Majerus, granddaughter Maria Frantz. Front and back matter on images 516 and 518.
[24] Luxembourg Civil Records, Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 1412 of 1497. 1875 Death Record No. 13. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12143-119726-4?cc=1709358 : accessed 27 March 2010).
[25] Luxembourg Census Records, Mamer > 1875 > image 462 of 795. Johann Majerus household No. 29. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32374-4220-81?cc=2037957&wc=M5LB-K6V:345860401,345870501 : accessed 18 June 2015). Citing: Johann Majerus, son-in-law Johann Frantz, daughter Maria Majerus, and granddaughters Maria, Katharina and Josephina Frantz. Front and back matter on images 461 and 463.
[26] Ibid. Mamer > 1880 > image 231 of 803. Frantz-Majerus household No. 65. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32391-9005-98?cc=2037957&wc=M5G7-16N:345860401,345872201 : accessed 18 June 2015). Citing: Johann Frantz, wife Marie Majerus, daughters Marie, Catherine, Josephine Frantz, father-in-law Johann Majerus, sons Johann and Paul Frantz. Front and back matter on images 230 and 232.
[27] Ibid., Mamer > 1885 > image 41 of 829. Frantz-Majerus household No. 11. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32390-5896-81?cc=2037957&wc=M5G7-GP8:345860401,345873701 : accessed 18 June 2015). Citing: Johann Frantz, wife Marie Majerus, children Josephine, Catherine, Johann, Pauline, Johann Peter, Marguerithe, and father-in-law Johann Majerus. Front and back matter on images 40 and 42.
[28] Ibid., Mamer > 1887 > image 715 of 828. Frantz-Majerus household No. 30. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32393-787-37?cc=2037957&wc=M5GC-Y4J:345860401,345875201 : accessed 18 June 2015). Citing: Johann Frantz, wife Marie Majerus, children Marie, Catherine, Josephine, Johann, Pauline, Johann Peter, Margaretha, and father-in-law Johann Majerus. Front and back matter on images 714 and 716.
[29] Luxembourg Civil Records, Mamer > Décès 1881-1890 > image 93 of 144. 1887 Death Record No. 31. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12699-121161-49?cc=1709358 : accessed 22 August 2011).

Genealogy Sketch

Name: Jean MAJERUS
Parents: Jean Baptiste MAJERUS and Catharina CORNELY
Spouse: Maria TRAUSCH
Parents of Spouse: Michel TRAUSCH and Catharina HAMES
Whereabouts: Strassen and Mamer, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Relationship to Cathy Meder-Dempsey: 3rd great-grandfather

1. Jean MAJERUS
2. Marie MAJERUS
3. Catharina FRANTZ
4. Marie Marcelle FOURNELLE
5. Living WILDINGER
6. Cathy Meder-Dempsey

© 2015 Cathy Meder-Dempsey

52ancestors-2015This 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.

Happy Mother’s Day – My Mitochondrial DNA Line

Yes, where I live this Sunday is Mother’s Day. Luxembourg is the only country to celebrate Mother’s Day on the 2nd Sunday in June. What better day to honor my direct matrilineal line since it goes back 10 generations in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg?

Genealogy Sketch

Name: Anna Catharina RONAS alias BOUR
Parents: Unknown
Spouse: Dominique MAMER and Nicolai HERTZ(*) (also seen as HEITZ, HEURTZ)
Children: (*)twins: Agnes and Maria Catharina HERTZ
Whereabouts: Septfontaines, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Relationship to Cathy Meder-Dempsey: 6th great-grandmother

1. Anna Catharina RONAS ca.1710-aft. 1785
2. Agnes HERTZ 1755-1836
3. Catharina HAMES 1789-1864
4. Maria TRAUSCH 1820-1875
5. Maria MAJERUS 1850-1931
6. Catharina FRANTZ 1872-1934
7. Marie Marcelle FOURNELLE 1909-2005
8. Living WILDINGER
9. Catherine Ann DEMPSEY
10. Living MEDER

As you can see in the Genealogy Sketch box my given name is nearly the same as my 6th great-grandmother’s, only reversed. Catherine (and other spellings) is a name I share with at least 27 ancestors. Fearless Females: 27 Female Ancestors Share My First Name!

Happy Mother’s Day to all Mother’s in Luxembourg!

Generation 1:

My 6th great-grandmother Anna Catharina RONAS (Ronnas, Rones) is my oldest known direct matrilineal ancestor. She was born around 1710 to unknown parents. She gave birth to ten children between 1741-1755, all in Septfontaines or Siebenbüren. This village name translates to Seven Fountains or Seven Wells. Since all modern Europeans are classified into seven mitochondrial haplogroups it seems fitting that my mitochondrial line goes back to a place with SEVEN in the name.

1755marriage
My 6th great-grandmother Anna Catharina RONAS’ marriage record shows her with her deceased husband’s house name, BOUR. Her parents are not listed.[1]
When Anna Catharina married my 6th great-grandfather Nicolaus HEITZ in 1755 she was the widow of Dominique MAMER alias BOUR alias FRIDGES and mother of 8 children. With her second husband she had twin daughters, my 5th great-grandmother Agnes and her sister.

1755twins
1755 baptismal records of Maria Catharina and Agnes. Even the person who record the baptisms was confused about which surname or house name was used for the daughters of Nicolai Bour alias Heitz and Anna Catharina Bour alias Ronas.[2]
She was living in Koerich in January 1785 when her daughter Agnes HERTZ married in Mamer.

Generation 2:

My 5th great-grandmother Agnes HERTZ’s marriage record show’s her mother’s name: Catharina RONAS

1785marriage
1785 Marriage Record of Agnes Hertz and Joannes Hames [3]

Generation 3:

My 4th great-grandmother Catharina HAMES’ marriage record show’s her mother’s name: Agnes HERTZ

1817marriage
1817 Marriage Reocrd of Michel Trausch and Catharina Hames [4]

Generation 4:

My 3rd great-grandmother Maria TRAUSCH’s marriage record shows her mother’s name: Catharina HAMES

1849marriage
1749 Marriage Record of Johann Majerus and Maria Trausch [5]

Generation 5:

My 2nd great-grandmother Maria MAJERUS’ marriage record shows her mother’s name: Maria TRAUSCH

1870marriage
1870 Marriage Record of Johann Frantz and Maria Majerus [6]

Generation 6:

My great-grandmother Catherine FRANTZ’s marriage record shows her mother’s name: Maria MAJERUS

1900marriage
1900 Marriage Record of Johann Joseph Fournelle and Catharina Frantz ¨[7]
1934preggrmother
My great-grandmother Catherine FRANTZ

Generation 7:

My grandmother Marie Marcelle FOURNELLE’s marriage record shows her mother’s name: Catherine FRANTZ

1935marriage
1935 Marriage of Nicolas WIldinger and Marie Marcelle Fournelle noted in the Wildinger-Fournelle Family Book, Commune d’Echternach Nr. 13/1935 [8]

Generation 8:

My mother’s marriage record to my father Fred Roosevelt DEMPSEY shows her mother’s name: Marie Marcelle FOURNELLE. I have a copy of the record but will not share as she is still living.

1942mom+bomi
Mom with her mother Marie Marcelle FOURNELLE

Generation 9:

My marriage record lists my mother’s name.

1958cathy
Yours truly!

Generation 10: 

Through my daughter, the matrilineal line continues.

1988daughter
Our daughter

Sources:
[1] Luxembourg, registres paroissiaux, 1601-1948 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Septfontaines > Baptêmes 1735-1797, confirmations 1774-1791, mariages 1738-1797, sépultures 1738-1788 > image 155 of 208. 1755 Marriage Record, 1st entry on left page. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32463-3700-90?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-4WR:1501152901,1501459884 : accessed 7 June 2015).
[2] Ibid., Septfontaines > Baptêmes 1735-1797, confirmations 1774-1791, mariages 1738-1797, sépultures 1738-1788 > image 34 of 208. 1755 baptismal records for twins Agnes and Maria Catharina, 3rd and 4th entries on left page. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32463-3785-56?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-4WR:1501152901,1501459884 : accessed 7 June 2015).
[3] Ibid., Mamer > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 65 of 168. 1785 Marriage Record. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32401-17714-18?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-C6G:1500941501,1500913302 : accessed 6 June 2015).
[4] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Mamer > Naissances 1834-1890 Mariages 1796-1837 > image 1283 of 1504. 1817 Marriage Record No. 3. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12585-51831-91?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-FM9:130065401,130365601 : accessed 22 August 2011).
[5] Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 114 of 1497. 1849 Marriage Record No. 19. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12143-120796-17?cc=1709358&wc=9RY3-VZ9:130065401,130130201 : accessed 6 September 2014).
[6] Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 310 of 1497. 1870 Marriage Record No. 5. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12143-120441-3?cc=1709358&wc=9RY3-VZ9:130065401,130130201 : accessed 6 September 2014).
[7] Ibid., Mamer > Naissances, mariages 1895-1923 > image 547 of 819. 1900 Marriage Record No. 18. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32045-16170-78?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-LQS:415858536 : accessed 6 March 2015).
[8] Commune d’Echternach Nr. 13/1935, Wildinger-Fournelle Family Book. This is an official document given to the bride and groom at the time of their civil marriage. It is used to record births, christenings, and deaths of children as well as death of one or the other spouse. Scanned copy of the original, in possession of their daughter.

© 2015 Cathy Meder-Dempsey

Fearless Females: 27 Female Ancestors Share My First Name!

This is my entry for Day 3:  Fearless Females: 31 Blogging Prompts to Celebrate Women’s History Month

March 3 — Do you share a first name with one of your female ancestors? Perhaps you were named for your great-grandmother, or your name follows a particular naming pattern. If not, then list the most unique or unusual female first name you’ve come across in your family tree.

My first name is Catherine and I share it with the following 27 ancestors (mostly maternal, only 5 are paternal and marked with an *):

mother, Catherine Josette WILDINGER
great-grandmother, Catherine PÖPPELREITER
great-grandmother, Catherine FRANTZ
3rd great-grandmothers, Maria Katharina GROELINGER
3rd great-grandmothers, Catherine SCHRAMEN
3rd great-grandmothers, Marie Catherine PHILIPPART
4th great-grandmother, Maria Catharina SCHUMACHER
4th great-grandmother, Catharina HAMES
4th great-grandmother, Catharina CORNELY
4th great-grandmother, Anne Catherine HENNES
4th great-grandmother, Catherine MEUNIER
5th great-grandmother, Katharina KLEIN
5th great-grandmother, Maria Katharina HUSS
5th great-grandmother, Catherine Barbara NOLL *
5th great-grandmother, Catherine SINGER
5th great-grandmother, Catherine ARENT
5th great-grandmother, Marie-Cathérine HASTERT
6th great-grandmother, Catharina RONES
6th great-grandmother, Catherine PLICKENSTALVER *
7th great-grandmother, Marie Catherine [–?–] HUSS (descended from her twice)
7th great-grandmother, Catherine SETON
7th great-grandmother, Anne-Catherine ECKART
8th great-grandmother, Catharina KUENZ *
8th great-grandmother, Katharina B. [–?–] BLICKENSDOERFER *
8th great-grandmother, Catherine LEPINE
9th great-grandmother, Catherine RATZEN
12th great-grandmother, Katherine (Honeywood) FLEETE *

© 2014, copyright Cathy Meder-Dempsey. All rights reserved.