Hennes – Opening Doors in Brick Walls

52 Ancestors: #35 The Welter-Hennes Family of Ernzen, Germany

Anton WELTER (1773-1849)

Anton WELTER, son of Johann Bernard WELTER and Maria BRIMERS, was born on 15 December 1773 on Ernzerhof outside of Ernzen. He was baptized the same day in Ernzen.[1]

1773 Baptismal Record of “Antonius Welter”[1]

Anton was the only son, a middle child, but also the youngest as his two younger sisters died at an early age. His mother Maria died in 1781[2] leaving an 8-year-old Anton and his two older sisters. Her widower Bernard, as he was known, married again six months after her death.[3] He and his second wife Maria BARTZ had a daughter nearly nine months after the marriage.[4] The baby only survived two months.[5] Bernard and Maria did not have any other children. Anton’s step-mother died in 1791.[6] By this time Bernard’s children were nearly all grown. His oldest daughter Elisabeth had been married two years at the time and Catharina would marry in 1800. His only son Anton was nearly 18 years old. Bernard never married again.

Anna Katharina HENNES (1779-1845)

Anna Katharina HENNES, daughter of Johann HENNES and Magdalena MÜLLER, was born on 14 May 1779 in Holsthum.[7]

Like Anton WELTER, Anna Katharina was a middle child and had two older sisters. Her father Johann died in 1786 when his wife was pregnant with their youngest child.[8] Matthias, their only son, was born two months later. Two months after giving birth to her deceased husband’s child, Magdalena MÜLLER married Johann TRAMPERT.[9] Magdalena was 44 and Johann was 27. With this marriage, her husband took on the responsibility of five step-children between 9 years and 2 months. Magdalena and her second husband did not have children of their own.

Anna Katharina and Anton marry in 1803

Anna Katharina HENNES married Anton WELTER on 23 March 1803 in Ernzen.[10] They had three children during their first seven years of marriage. Their first, Bernard was born in 1805 and named after his paternal grandfather. A record of baptism has not been searched for but it is likely his grandfather was his godfather as was the practice of the times. Their next two children were girls: Elisabeth was born on 31 January 1807[11] and Katharina WELTER on 21 July 1810.

Before they had more children there were several deaths in the family. Anna Katharina’s step-father Johann TRAMPERT died on 19 August 1812 at the age of 55 years.[9] Anton and Anna Katharina youngest daughter Katharina died on 5 December 1812 at the age of nearly two and a half years.[10] Anton’s father Johann Bernard WELTER died on 27 March 1813 at the age of 76 years.[3] Almost a week later the family would be attending another funeral. Anna Katharina’s mother Magdalena MÜLLER died on 2 April 1813 at the age of 70 years.[12] Three deaths in four months make me wonder if they were caused by disease or a hard winter.

A year later Anna Katharina and Anton named their son born on 4 April 1814 Peter. He lived only ten months dying on 6 February 1815. A little more than two years later another son was born and named Peter. He was born on 10 August 1817 and died on 12 May 1819 at the age of twenty months.[10]

Anton and Anna Katharina’s youngest child, Anna Maria was born on 3 April 1822.[10] Anna Katharina was 43 and Anton was going on 49.

The WELTER children begin to marry

Their oldest daughter Elisabeth married Hubert WEIMANN, son of Bernard WEYMANN and Susanna MALAMBRÉ, on 11 February 1835 in Ernzen. Hubert was born on 13 July 1805 in Ernzen.[13]

Their oldest son Bernard married Katharina WEBER on 2 April 1837 in Aach (Eifel).[14] Katharina was born on 2 January 1795 in Aach to Peter WEBER und Susanna KREIN.

The mother of this family, Anna Katharina HENNES died on 9 March 1845 in Ernzen and was buried two days later.[10] Her widower Anton was left with three children, two of whom were married.

The youngest daughter Anna Maria married Peter STEIL on 18 February 1846 in Ernzen.[15] Peter was born on 3 January 1810 in Berdorf (Luxembourg).[16]

The father of this family, Anton WELTER died on 26 January 1849 in Ernzen and was buried two days later.

After their parents’ deaths

The oldest of the WELTER children, Bernard died on 1 February 1855 in Ernzen at the age of 55. His widow Katharina WEBER died two decades later on 30 April 1875 in Ernzen and was buried two days later. They may have remained childless.[14]

Anna Maria, the youngest of the WELTER children, died on 9 January 1861 and was buried two days later. She was 38 years old and left a husband and four children.

Elisabeth’s husband Hubert WEIMANN died at the age of 67 on 29 October 1872 in Ernzen and was buried two days later. He left her with three children.

Peter STEIL, Anna Maria’s widower, died on 21 December 1872 in Ernzen and was buried two days later. He was survived by two daughters and a son. The son emigrated to North America during the year and likely only learning of the death of his father after the new year.

A Peter STEIL, age 18, was found on a passenger list with an arrival in New York on 20 May 1872 via Liverpool, England. A match for Peter STEIL born 12 January 1854 in Ernzen was not found in America. He cannot be the same person as the Peter Steil 1852-1913 who lived in Stearns County, Minnesota, as he came over in 1867. Suggestions on other spelling for the STEIL name would be appreciated.

Elisabeth WELTER, the last living child of Anton and Anna Katharina, died on 24 September 1877 in Ernzen and was buried three days later. Elisabeth, my third great-grandmother, was 70 years old. She left three children who would live to see the outbreak of World War I. Only one of these would live to see the end of it.

How are the DNA matches looking for this branch?

One of the first Shared Ancestor Hints on Ancestry DNA for my brother’s test was for a match who descends from Johann HENNES, the father of Anna Katharina HENNES.

The person who matches was quick to reply to my short message sent in June 2016 and we have not corresponded since then. It’s been over a year since she has signed in. I really need to get in touch with her as I realized while writing this post that we have another set of common ancestors who do not show up as a hint. She does not have the parents of Mathias HENNES’ wife Elisabetha MALAMBRÉ. My 4th great-grandmother Susanna MALAMBRÉ was Elisabetha’s sister. This match is a 6th cousin through Johann HENNES and Magdalena MÜLLER and through Gérard MALAMBRÉ and Barbara BIESDORF.

1856 Passenger list for the Peter Hennes family. Ancestry.com. New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957

Mathias HENNES, the brother of Anna Katharina HENNES, had two sons who went to America. The youngest son Michael went in 1837 at the age of 21. He appears to have not been married and therefore without known descendants. The older son Peter went in 1856 with his wife and their seven children. They had lived in Silberberg/Nusbaum since their marriage in 1836, the year before Michael left.[17] They met up with him in Lemont, Cook County, Illinois, and he was in their household at the time of the 1860 census.

At the time I found this match I did not know so many people with connections in my tree left the Eifel area for America. This gives me another reason which may convince people to upload their raw data to GEDmatch. I haven’t been able to map any of the maternal chromosomes as matches are few and hard to figure out. It would be nice to get this tiny 14 centimorgans segment labeled but with there being two sets of MRCAs I’d need more matches to triangulate.

A few photos to end this post

While I was working a stand at the 12th National Day of Genealogy and Family History in Leudelange on October 15th, my husband took a bike ride especially planned to go through the Nusbaum area so he could get some pictures for this post.

Willkommen in Nusbaum – Welcome to Nusbaum

52 Ancestors: #34 The Malambré Brick Wall

Gerard MALAMBRÉ first turned up in the baptismal record of his daughter Susanna, my 4th great-grandmother, on 7 November 1772.[1]

1772 Baptismal Record of Susanna Malambré[1]

Before this date, there is no evidence of his existence. If I am to trust the information in the family book of Ernzen where he lived from this time, he died on 7 September 1808 at the age of 80.[2] Where can I find him between his birth around 1728 and the birth of his daughter in 1772? If his age at the time of death is correct, he was 44 years old when Susanna was born and baptized. After Susanna’s birth, six more children were born to Gerard MALAMBRÉ and his wife Barbara BIESDORF between 1775 and 1788.[3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8]

This is a moot point to make but, as no record has been found prior to the baptism of Susanna in 1772, no marriage record has been found for Gerard and Barbara.

Susanna was likely their second child of eight. Her sister Anna Maria, whose date of birth and baptism are not known, was the first to marry in 1792[9] which makes me suspect she was their first born. Anna Maria was seen as a godmother in 1786.[10] If she was 16 at the time she would have been born about 1770. How young could a godmother be?

The baptismal records of Susanna and her other siblings were found in the Echternach parish to which Ernzen was affiliated. As already mentioned, they were born between 1772 and 1788. The 1788 baptismal record of their youngest daughter Maria Catharina brought new information to light.[8]

1788 Baptismal Record of Maria Catharina Malampreux[8]

The record not only includes the place of residence of Gerard and Barbara at the time of the baptism of their youngest child but also where they hailed from. Barbara BIESDORF’s town of origin was Dickweiler.

1766 Luxembourg Census for the household of Hubert Bisdorff which included two families. His own with his wife and children and a Hubert Wildanger and his wife.[11]

Now, this is where my newest not so secret new tool comes into play. The 1766 Luxembourg census. Dickweiler was a part of the parish of Rosport. Only one BIESDORF family lived in Dickweiler in 1766 and it included Anna Barbara who was 14 years or older.[11] Also in the household were three siblings (the census does not indicate this relationship) who were godparents of her children in 1772, 1775, and 1777. Thomas Webers’ family book of Rosport includes the BIESDORF family. Anna Barbara was born in 1744[12] and was 22 years old at the time of the census. Her parentage has been proven with her baptismal record[12] with secondary evidence coming from the baptismal records of her children who had her siblings as godparents. Case closed?

The 1788 baptismal record[8] was the case cracker for the child’s mother’s parentage but what of the father? Gerard MALAMBRÉ was from “Ramrig” per the record. This is likely Rambrouch, also known as Rammerech in Luxembourgish, a commune and small town in western Luxembourg, in the canton of Redange. It lies close to the border with Belgium. The 1766 census for the parish of Rambrouch did not have any families with a name similar to Malambré, Malampré, or Malampreux. It is a rare surname not even mentioned in the Dictionary of Luxembourgish Family Names.[13]

I searched the 1766 census in several other villages I thought Gerard might have lived in but without an index, this is hit and go. Two Melampré siblings married in Hemstal in 1758. By 1766 the male was deceased without issue and his wife had remarried. Their place of residence at the time of marriage was Pletschet on the marriage record. Pleschette is a village in the Medernach area. The 1766 census for the parish of Medernach did not yield any results. A family book of Helmstal published in 1907 gives the place of residence as Pascheterhof which was part of the parish of Consdorf. Once again this did not produce any new leads. My next attempt may be to look through all the villages in the parish of Echternach.

The names MALAMPRÉ, MALAMPREUX, and MALAMBRÉ fascinate me and I would like to get past this brick wall. The name has not, as far as I can tell, been passed on to very many descendants.

Beautifully tended graves of Malambré descendants in the church cemetery of Ernzen.

Gerard (d. 1808) had only one son Christian (1775-1811) who had only one son Matthias (1807-1884) who had only one son Michael (1840-1912) who had a son Albert Peter (1878-1952) who had eight children between 1909-1928. These children have descendants with the Malambré name. Albert Peter also had a son who married in Saarbrücken where the name may also have been passed on.

Let me now bring the attention back to Susanna who was born and raised in Ernzen where she brought up her children from two marriages.

My Ancestor Susanna MALAMBRÉ

Susanna MALAMBRÉ was born on 7 November 1772 in Ernzen (present-day Germany) to Gerard MALAMBRÉ and Barbara BIESDORF. She was baptized the same day in the parish of Echternach. Her godparents were Susanna BIESDORF, her maternal aunt, and Hubertus VILLAR, both from Dickweiler.[1]

Susanna MALAMBRÉ’s First Marriage

Susanna married Bernard WEYMANN before 1796. A marriage record has not been found. In 1795 the Duchy of Luxembourg became the Département des Forêts following its surrender after a siege of over seven months by French Revolutionary troops. The anti-religious policy of the new government is one of the reasons a marriage record may not be found for Susanna and Bernard.

According to Rob Deltgen, President of Luxracines and owner of deltgen.com, the people rebelled against the new laws continuing to be married by their priest, even if it meant having the ceremony performed in the kitchen, and refusing to have a civil record of the marriage recorded. When the Napoleonic Code was introduced in 1804 all persons were required to be married in a civil ceremony. Couples who had only been wedded by a priest since the introduction of civil records had to be married in a civil ceremony to legitimize their children’s births. The children’s names were listed in the margin of the marriage record.

1763 Baptismal Record of Bernard Weyman[14]

Susanna’s first husband Bernard was born and baptized on 15 August 1763 in Ernzen.[14] The son of Nikolaus WEYMAN and Maria Katharina HUSS, Bernard was my 4th great-grandfather. In the 1766 Luxembourg census, he was seen in his maternal grandfather’s household with his father and siblings, an older sister and brother.[15] His mother, the daughter of Hubert HUSS, had died the previous year and his father would remarry in the census year.

1766 Luxembourg Census for the household of Bernard Huss with his widowed son-in-law Nicolas Weimann[15]

Susanna and Bernard had the following children:

Anna Maria WEYMANN was born and baptized on 28 January 1796 in Ernzen.[16] She married Bernard RAUSCH on 11 February 1823 in Sankt Markus Catholic Church in Ernzen. Bernard was born in 1797 in Geichlingen, Bitburg-Prüm, Germany. They were the parents of seven children. Anna Maria died on 8 July 1852 in Ernzen and was buried two days later. Her widower Bernard died on 28 March 1855 in Ernzen and was buried three days later.[17]

Before their next child was born, Susanna’s mother Barbara BIESDORF died in 1804 in Ernzen.[2]

Hubert WEIMANN was born and baptized on 13 July 1805 in Ernzen.[18] He married Elisabeth WELTER, daughter of Anton WELTER and Anne Catherine HENNES, on 11 February 1835 in Ernzen. Elisabeth was born and baptized on 31 January 1807 in Ernzen. Hubert and Elisabeth had seven children of whom only three lived to adulthood. Hubert died on 29 October 1872 in Ernzen and was buried two days later. Elisabeth died on 24 September 1877 in Ernzen and was buried three days later.[19] They were my 3rd great-grandparents and their story can be found here.

Elisabeth WEIMANN was born and baptized on 20 August 1807 in Ernzen.[20] It is not known if she lived to marry or when she died.

Bernard WEYMANN died on 2 January 1807 in Ernzen.[21] He left his wife Susanna with Anna Maria nearly 11 years old and Hubert a year and a half old. Bernard and Susanna may not have known they were expecting another child when he died. Nearly eight months later Susanna gave birth to their daughter Elisabeth.[20]

Susanna’s father was still living at the time of her husband Bernard’s death. Gerard MALAMBRÉ died 7 September 1808 in Ernzen.[2]

Susanna’s Second Marriage

Two years after the death of her first husband and five months after the death of her father, Susanna married Matthias WELTER, son of Johann WELTER and Magdalena MEYER, on 13 February 1809 in Ernzen.[22] Matthias was born and baptized on 3 May 1772 in Ernzen.[23] He was not only my 4th great-grandmother’s second husband, he was also my first cousin six times removed. His grandparents Mathias WELTER and Anna Margaretha Elisabetha HUSS were my 6th great-grandparents. Further, Susanna’s first and second husbands were second cousins through Peter and Catharina HUSS, my 7th great-grandparents.

Susanna and Matthias had the following children:

Nicolas WELTER was born and baptized on 20 November 1809 in Ernzen.[24]

Joannes WELTER was born and baptized on 4 May 1812 in Ernzen.[25] He died on 4 December 1812 in Ernzen at the age of seven months.[26]

Matthias WELTER was born on 4 November 1813 in Ernzen.[27] He was baptized the following day. He died on 29 May 1814 in Ernzen at the age of nearly seven months.[26]

Magdalena WELTER was born and baptized on 16 September 1815 in Ernzen.[28] She had a son Michael in 1848 whose father was unknown. Magdalena married Dominik FABER on 13 February 1861 in Ernzen. Dominik was born on 26 June 1797 in Consdorf (Luxembourg). He was previously married and had eight children with his first wife. Magdalena and Dominik had a son born the same year they were married. Dominik died on 11 December 1871 in Ernzen and was buried two days later. Magdalena died on 25 January 1879 in Ernzen.[29]

Matthias WELTER died on 3 April 1830 in Ernzen.[26] Susanna MALAMBRÉ likely had three to four of her children still at home. Her oldest daughter Anna Maria WEYMANN had married in 1823 but her son Hubert WEIMANN and daughter Magdalena WELTER were unmarried and likely living at home. Nothing is known of the life of her son Nicolas WELTER who would have been 20 years old at the time.

Susanna lived nearly two more decades, dying on 5 December 1848 in Ernzen. She was buried two days later.[26] She’d lived to see the births of 15 grandchildren but also the deaths of six of these. One more grandchild would be born a dozen years later.

The Problem Remains

This article’s focus should have been mostly on my 4th great-grandparents Susanna MALAMBRÉ and Bernard WEYMANN, however, the missing information on her father Gerard MALAMBRÉ compelled me to do more research on her paternal side of the family. By discussing the steps I took to search for Gerard in the 1766 census I hope someone will notice what I may have missed. Still, Gerard MALAMBRÉ will have to wait for someone, perhaps one of my readers, to find the key to open the door in his brick wall.

Sources:
[1] Luxembourg, registres paroissiaux, 1601-1948 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Echternach > Baptêmes 1761-1797 > image 60 of 131. 1772 Baptismal Record, right page, first entry. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32399-13007-31?cc=2037955 : accessed 12 November 2016).
[2] Richard Schaffner, compiler, Familienbuch 2 der Pfarrei St. Marcus Ernzen bei Irrel, Daten bis 1798 aus den Kirchenbüchern der Pfarrei Echternach (damals fur Ernzen zuständig); mit: Ernzen-Hof, Fölkenbach und teilweise auch Prümzurlay (Häuser der rechten Flußseite) 1680-1899 (compiled in 2000), p. 137, Family #453 . Malambré-Biesdorf.
[3] Luxembourg Church Records, Echternach > Baptêmes 1761-1797 > image 72 of 131. 1775 Baptismal Record (left page, 4th entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L971-1XJ8?cc=2037955&wc=STHC-PY3%3A1500937901%2C1501065634 : accessed 18 October 2017).
[4] Ibid., Echternach > Baptêmes 1761-1797 > image 83 of 131. 1777 Baptismal Record (right page, 3rd entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8971-1X4C?cc=2037955&wc=STHC-PY3%3A1500937901%2C1501065634 : accessed 18 October 2017).
[5] Ibid., Echternach > Baptêmes, mariages, décès 1779-1783 > image 24 of 177. 1779 Baptismal Record (left page, 1st entry for October). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WM-M6MR?cc=2037955&wc=STHC-YWT%3A1500937901%2C1500939202 : accessed 19 October 2017).
[6] Ibid., Echternach > Baptêmes, mariages, décès 1779-1783 > image 114 of 177. 1782 Baptismal Record (left page, 1st entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WM-MDHS?cc=2037955&wc=STHC-YWT%3A1500937901%2C1500939202 : accessed 18 October 2017).
[7] Ibid., Echternach > Baptêmes, mariages, décès 1784-1788 > image 21 of 172. 1784 Baptismal Record (left page, 2nd entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WM-MDMJ?cc=2037955&wc=STHC-Y4W%3A1500937901%2C1500960252 : accessed 18 October 2017).
[8] Ibid., Echternach > Baptêmes, mariages, décès 1784-1788 > image 155 of 172. 1788 Baptismal Record (left page, last entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WM-M6DG?cc=2037955&wc=STHC-Y4W%3A1500937901%2C1500960252 : accessed 18 October 2017).
[9] Ibid., Echternach > Baptêmes, mariages, décès 1788-1797 > image 150 of 331. 1792 Marriage Record (right page, 2nd entry).(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WM-9C2S?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-4W5%3A1500937901%2C1500937902 : accessed 20 October 2017).
[10] FB Ernzen, p. 214, family #764. Tossing-Adam.
[11] Luxembourg, Dénombrement, 1766 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Archives Générales du Royaume, Bruxelles), Film/DGS 1781975 > Film # 008198977 > Decanat de Bittbourg v. 1 A-K > Dicksweiler (paroisse de Rosport) > Image 587 of 753. Hubert Bisdorff household. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLL-M7XM-D?i=586&cat=1184675 : accessed 19 October 2017).
[12] Luxembourg Church Records, Rosport > Baptêmes 1740-1779, 1795-1796, confirmations 1740-1765, mariages 1778-1779, 1795-1796, sépultures 1779-1797 > image 6 of 79. 1744 Baptismal Record (right page, 2nd entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WM-SNH?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-HZ6%3A1501108227%2C1501108228 : accessed 19 October 2017).
[13] Kollmann, Cristian, Peter Gilles and Claire Muller. Luxemburger Familiennamenbuch. 2016. Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter Mouton. (http://www.degruyter.com.proxy.bnl.lu/view/product/449765 : Retrieved 26 April 2016)
[14] Luxembourg Church Records, Echternach > Baptêmes 1761-1797 > image 16 of 131. 1763 Baptismal Record, right page, 4th from bottom. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32399-13080-33?cc=2037955 : accessed 12 November 2016).
[15] Luxembourg 1766 Census, Film/DGS 1781975 > Film # 008198977 > Decanat de Bittbourg v. 1 A-K: > Feischveiler (paroisse d’Echternach) > Image 246 of 753. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLL-M7DL-T?i=245&cat=1184675 : accessed 14 October 2017).
[16] Luxembourg Church Records, Echternach > Baptêmes, mariages, décès 1788-1797 > image 286 of 331. 1796 Baptismal Record (left page). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WM-9CST?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-4W5%3A1500937901%2C1500937902 : accessed 15 October 2017).
[17] FB Ernzen, p. 171, family #590. Rausch-Weymann.
[18] Germany Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898 / Deutschland Geburten und Taufen, 1558-1898, (index), FamilySearch, FHL microfilm 462714. Hubertus Veiman, christened 13 Jul 1805 at Sankt Markus Katholisch, Ernzen, Rheinland, Prussia; father Bernardi Veiman; mother Susannae Malampre. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NFD4-PYH : accessed 15 October 2017).
[19] FB Ernzen, p. 232, Family #822. Weimann-Welter.
[20] Germany Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898. Elisabetha Weiman, christened 20 Aug 1807 in Sankt Markus Katholisch, Ernzen, Rheinland, Prussia; ftaher Bernardi Weiman; mother Susannae Malampre.
(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NTJ5-T78 : accessed 15 October 2017).
[21] FB Ernzen, p. 243, Family #858. Weymann-Malambre.
[22] Germany Marriages, 1558-1929 / Deutschland, Heiraten, 1558-1929, (index), FamilySearch, FHL microfilm 462,714. Mathias Welter md. Susanna Malampre on 13 Feb 1809 in Sankt Markus Katholisch, Ernzen, Rheinland, Prussia. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JH8P-DQL : accessed 15 October 2017).
[23] Luxembourg Church Records, Echternach > Baptêmes 1761-1797 > image 57 of 131. 1772 Baptismal Record (left page, 2nd to last entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-9971-1X61?cc=2037955&wc=STHC-PY3%3A1500937901%2C1501065634 : accessed 14 October 2017).
[24] Germany Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898, FHL microfilm 462714. Nicolaus Welter, christened 20 Nov 1809 in Sankt Markus Katholisch, Ernzen, Rheiland, Germany; father Mathiae Welter; mother Susannae Malampre. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NFD4-L2L : 28 November 2014).
[25] Ibid., FHL microfilm 462714. Joannes Welter, christened 04 May 1812 at Sankt Markus Katholisch, Ernzen, Rheinland, Prussia; father Mathiae Welter; mother Susannae Wayman. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N2CB-FBF : accessed 18 October 2017).
[26] FB Ernzen, p. 239, Family #844. Welter-Malambre.
[27] Germany Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898, FHL microfilm 462714. Mathias Welter, 05 Nov 1813 at Sankt Markus Katholisch, Ernzen, Rheinland, Prussia; father Mathiae Welter; mother Susannae Wayman. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NTJ5-5G9 : accessed 18 October 2017).
[28] Ibid., FHL microfilm 462714. Magdalena Welter, 16 Sep 1815 at Sankt Markus Kathalisch, Ernzen, Rheinland, Germany; father Mathiae Welter; mother Susannae Malampre(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N2CB-N1S : accessed 18 October 2017).
[29] FB Ernzen, pg. 238, family #841. Faber-Welter.

52 Ancestors: #43 The WEIMANN-WELTER Family of Ernzen

Week 43 (October 22-28) – Oops. An ancestor who made an “oops,” or one that you made while researching one of them. (We’ve all done it, believe me!)

Ernzen, Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany

Hubert WEIMANN of Ernzen

My third great-grandfather Hubert WEIMANN (1805-1872) was born on 13 July 1805 in Ernzen, Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany.[1], [2] His parents were Bernard WEYMANN (1763-1809) and Susanna MALAMBRE (1772-1848), both of Ernzen. Hubert had two sisters, Anna Maria born 28 January 1796[2] and Elisabeth born on 20 August 1807,[2] both in Ernzen. Elisabeth was born seven months after the death of her father Bernard WEYMANN who died on 2 January 1807[2] in Ernzen. His widow Susanna remarried on 13 February 1809[3] to Matthias WELTER (1772-1830). They had four children, only one lived to adulthood and married.[3]

Elisabeth WELTER of Ernzen

Elisabeth WELTER, my third great-grandmother, was born on 31 January 1807[1], [4] in Ernzen. She was the daughter of Anton WELTER (1773-1849) born on Ernzerhof near Ernzen and Anne Catherine HENNES (1779-1845) born in Holsthum. They were married on 23 March 1803[4] in Ernzen. This was just before the beginning of the Napoleonic Wars (18 May 1803- 13 Sep 1815) during which time their first four of six children were born (§ denotes end of line):

Child 1: Bernard WELTER (1805-1855) born in 1805. He married Katharina WEBER (1795-1875) on 2 April 1837 in Aach in the Eifel. Bernard died on 1 February 1855 in Ernzen.[4], [5]
Child 2: Elisabeth WELTER (1807-1877), my third great-grandmother
§ Child 3: Katharina WELTER (1810-1812) born 21 July 1810 in Ernzen. She died 5 December 1812 in Ernzen.[4]
§ Child 4: Peter WELTER (1814-1815) born 4 April 1814 in Ernzen. He died 6 February 1815 in Ernzen.[4]
§ Child 5: Peter WELTER (1817-1819) born 10 August 1817 in Ernzen. He died 12 May 1819 in Ernzen.[4]
Child 6: Anna Maria WELTER (1822-1861) born 3 April 1822 in Ernzen. She made her First Communion in 1834. Anna Maria married Peter STEIL 18 February 1846 in Ernzen. She died on 9 January 1861 in Ernzen where she was buried two days later.[4], [6]

A Marriage Takes Place in Sankt Markus Catholic Church

Hubert WEIMANN married Elisabeth WELTER on 11 February 1835[1] in Ernzen. A religious marriage ceremony took place the next day on 12 February 1835[1] in Sankt Markus Catholic Church in Ernzen. Peter LINKELS who was at Sankt Markus from 1806-1835 most likely performed the ceremony.

Sankt Markus Catholic Church in Ernzen

As mentioned earlier Hubert’s mother Susanna MALAMBRE was married(2) to Matthias WELTER. Susanna and Mathias’ children, Hubert’s half-siblings, were his wife Elisabeth’s second cousins. Matthias and Elisabeth were first cousins once removed. Confused? I love looking at the bigger picture!

A New Priest for Sankt Markus

Richard Schaffner’s Familienbuch der Pfarrei St. Marcus Ernzen bei Irrel as well as FamilySearch‘s Germany Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898 (index) have helped to add dates and places to this family’s story. Mr. Schaffner viewed the civil and religious records while compiling the information on all families of Ernzen however neither his book nor FamilySearch‘s database have images of the records. To make up for the missing records my photographer-husband and I visited Ernzen earlier this month to illustrate the stories with photos of the town today.

When I wrote this post a key figure in the lives of the family was missing (oops) but I did not know this until I took a very close look at the photos we took that day. On the side and behind the Sankt Markus church is the cemetery. Graves with the surnames WEIMANN, MALAMBRE, and WELTER were seen in the cemetery. Behind the church we found a plot reserved for the the priests who had served Sankt Markus.

On the left the parrish priests of Ernzen are listed with the years they served at Sankt Markus (1803-2001). The priests are included in Mr. Schaffner’s Family Book of Ernzen. They were an important part of families’ lives and I did not think to look for them in the compilation. Oops, a mistake I will have to remedy when I work on families in other towns with family books.

Philipp MEYER was born 9 November 1804 in Heispelt. He became a priest on 28 May 1831 in Trier, was chaplain in Daun before becoming the new pastor in Ernzen from 29 September 1835 until his death on 10 June 1868. He was buried in the church cemetery on 13 June 1868.[7] The grave is marked with this stone.

Here lie the bones of the deceased
Pastor MEYER
from Ernzen. Died on 10 June 1868 aged 64 years. Born in
Heispelt in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in 1804. He joined the
pastors of the parrish of Ernzen and tended his sheep for nearly 33 years.
He was a good shepherd and a good shepherd gives his life for his flock
which he did for that he will hopefully receive the crown of eternal life.
R I P

Father MEYER was the priest who performed baptisms, marriages, and burials for the WEIMANN-WELTER family from 1835 to 1868.

Hubert and Elisabeth’s Children

Hubert and Elisabeth’s first child came along a little over nine months after their marriage. Bernard was born and baptized on 30 November 1835[1], [8] in Sankt Markus. His godparents were his uncle Bernard RAUSCH, husband of the father’s sister, and his maternal grandmother Katharina HENNES, both of Ernzen.[1] Custom was for a male child to have the godfather’s name. I wonder if they may have chosen Bernard RAUSCH as the godfather in honor of the paternal grandfather. Baby Bernard died less than a month later, on the day after Christmas.

Their second child was born on 2 January 1837[1] and was baptized a day later in Sankt Markus.[9] His godparents were his uncle Bernard WELTER and Katharina CLASEN of Ernzen.[1] The child was given the name Bernard. Given the godfather’s name but did his parents want him to carry the name of his paternal grandfather and/or his deceased older brother?

Hubert and Elisabeth’s third child was a daughter, my 2nd great-grandmother. She was born on 18 June 1839[1], [10], [11] and was baptized the next day in Sankt Markus.[12] Her godparents were Maria WELTER and Anton PROMMENSCHENKEL of Ernzen.[1]

Johann the fourth child was born and baptized on 1 August 1841.[1], [13] The godparents who stood up for him in Sankt Markus were Johann HEINZ and Magdalena WELTER of Ernzen.[1]

Bernard, the oldest of the three living children died on 28 July 1842 and was buried two days later in Ernzen.[1]

Two years later Elisabeth gave birth to her 5th child Katharina on 28 June 1844[1] in Ernzen. Katharina was baptized the next day[14] in Sankt Markus in the presence of her godparents Katharina CLASSEN and Johann RAUSCH of Ernzen.[1]

Elizabeth’s mother Anne Catherine HENNES died on 9 March 1845 in Ernzen and was buried there two days later on 11 March 1845.[4]

Hubert and Elisabeth did not give up hope of having a son name Bernard. On 23 May 1847[1] their third son and sixth child was born in Ernzen. Two days later[15] he was baptized in Sankt Markus and was given the name Bernard. His godparents were Bernard and Katharina CLASSEN of Ernzen.

Five months later their two youngest children died. Katharina died on 31 October 1847 and was buried on 2 November.[1] Three days later baby Bernard died on 5 November and was buried on 7 November.[1]

Maria, 9 years old, and Johann, 7 years old, did not remain the only children as their mother Elisabeth gave birth to a seventh child. After losing three sons named Bernard they must have decided to choose another name for their son born on 29 October 1848[1] and baptized the next day[16] in Sankt Markus. His godparents were Peter STEIL and Elisabeth HENNES of Ernzen and he was given the name Peter.[1]

About a week later the family was back in church for a funeral. Hubert’s mother Susanna MALAMBRE died on 5 December 1848 and was buried two days later on 7 December 1848.[2], [3]

Two months later another funeral was being held in Sankt Markus. Elisabeth’s father Anton WELTER died on 26 January 1849 in Ernzen and was buried there two days later on 28 January 1849.[4]

The Grown Children Begin to Marry

Following the deaths of the grandparents the WEIMANN children, Maria, Johann and Peter continued to grow to adulthood. The oldest, Maria, was the first to marry on Thursday, 25 January 1866[10], [11] to Bernard WILDINGER. Isn’t it strange she would choose a man with the name her parents had given to three sons who died young? Maria and Bernard were married in a religious ceremony over a week later on Saturday, 3 February 1866 in Sankt Markus Catholic Church.[17]

Maria and Bernard gave Hubert and Elisabeth their first grandchild on 23 December 1866.[10], [11] He was baptized in Sankt Markus the day after Christmas. His godparents were his maternal grandfather Hubert WEIMANN of Ernzen and his paternal grandmother Catherine SCHRAMEN of Ferschweiler. Sadly Hubert died at the age of nine months on 20 September 1867.

The oldest son of Hubert and Elizabeth WEIMANN, Johann married Maria REUTER (1839-1907) on 27 November 1867[13] in a civil ceremony in Bollendorf. The marriage was also celebrated in a religious ceremony on 30 November 1867 in Sankt Markus Catholic Church in Ernzen.[18]

On 10 June 1868[7] Father MEYER who had served the WEIMANN family and the parrish of Ernzen died. He was replaced by Father Eduard WITTUS on 15 September 1868.

On 29 October 1872[1] Hubert WEIMANN died at the age of 67 years in Ernzen where he was born, grew up and raised his family. Father Eduard WITTUS who came to pastor at Sankt Markus after the death of Father MEYER may have been the priest who said mass for Hubert’s burial.

A year after Hubert’s death his youngest son Peter married Katharina HANSEN (1848-1914) on Tuesday, 23 September 1873[19] in a civil ceremony in Bollendorf. They were married in a religious ceremony in Sankt Markus on Monday, 29 September 1873.[20]

The mother of this family, Elisabeth WELTER died on Monday, 24 September 1877 in Ernzen and was buried there three days later on Thursday, 27 September 1877.[1]

Hubert and Elisabeth’s children raised their families in Ernzen. They witnessed the beginning of World War I. Peter, the youngest of the three, died on 27 November 1914[19] and was followed less than a year later by his sister Maria on 2 September 1915.[10], [11] Johann, the last living child, died a little over a year after the end of the Great War on 3 December 1919.[13]

Take a Walk Through Ernzen

Sources:
[1] Richard Schaffner, compiler, Familienbuch 2 der Pfarrei St. Marcus Ernzen bei Irrel, Daten bis 1798 aus den Kirchenbüchern der Pfarrei Echternach (damals fur Ernzen zuständig); mit: Ernzen-Hof, Fölkenbach und teilweise auch Prümzurlay (Häuser der rechten Flußseite) 1680-1899 (compiled in 2000), p. 232, Family #822. Weimann-Welter.
[2] Ibid., p. 243, Family #858. Weymann-Malambre.
[3] Ibid., p. 239, Family #844. Welter-Malambre.
[4] Ibid., p. 234, Family #830. Welter-Hennes.
[5] Ibid., p. 235, Family #832. Welter-Weber.
[6] Ibid., p. 203, Family #719. Steil-Welter.
[7] Ibid., p. 152, Person #510. Meyer (priest).
[8] Germany Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898 / Deutschland Geburten und Taufen, 1558-1898, (index), FamilySearch, FHL microfilm 462714. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NFD4-XNL : accessed 23 October 2015), Bernardus Weimann, 30 Nov 1835; citing Sankt Markus Katholisch, Ernzen, Rheinland, Prussia.
[9] Ibid., FHL microfilm 462714. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NFD4-XN5 : accessed 23 October 2015), Bernardus Weimann, 03 Jan 1837; citing Sankt Markus Katholisch, Ernzen, Rheinland, Prussia.
[10] Familienbuch Ernzen, p. 245-246, family #867. Wildinger-Weimann.
[11] Richard Schaffner, compiler, Familienbuch der Pfarrei Sancta Lucia Ferschweiler mit: Diesburgerhof (ab 1803) und L(a)eisenhof (ab1830) 1680-1899, PDF (Kordel, 1999), p. 349, family #1624. Wildinger-Weimann.
[12] Germany Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898 / Deutschland Geburten und Taufen, 1558-1898, (index), <FamilySearch, FHL microfilm 462,714. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NFD4-54C : accessed 23 February 2015), Maria Weiman, 19 Jun 1839; citing Sankt Lucia Katholisch, Ferschweiler, Rheinland, Prussia.
[13] Familienbuch Ernzen, p. 232-233, Family #823. Weimann-Reiter.
[14] Germany Births and Baptisms, FHL microfilm 462714. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NFD4-KMB : accessed 23 October 2015), Catharina Weimann, 29 Jun 1844; citing Sankt Markus Katholisch, Ernzen, Rheinland, Prussia.
[15] Ibid., (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N2CB-NBL : accessed 23 October 2015), Bernardus Weimann, 25 May 1847; citing Sankt Markus Katholisch, Ernzen, Rheinland, Prussia.
[16] Ibid., (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N2CB-2VM : accessed 23 October 2015), Petrus Weimann, 30 Oct 1848; citing Sankt Markus Katholisch, Ernzen, Rheinland, Prussia.
[17] Germany Marriages, 1558-1929 / Deutschland, Heiraten, 1558-1929, (index), FamilySearch, FHL microfilm 462714. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JH8P-DXT : accessed 23 February 2015), Bernardus Weldinger and Maria Weimann, 03 Feb 1866; citing Sankt Markus Katholisch, Ernzen, Rheinland, Prussia.
[18] Ibid., (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JH8P-DM5 : accessed 23 October 2015), Joannes Weimann and Maria Reuter, 30 Nov 1867; citing Sankt Markus Katholisch, Ernzen, Rheinland, Prussia.
[19] Familienbuch Ernzen., p. 233, Family #825. Weimann-Hansen.
[20] Germany Marriages, (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JH8P-DJT : accessed 23 October 2015), Petrus Weimann and Cath. Hansen, 29 Sep 1873; citing Sankt Markus Katholisch, Ernzen, Rheinland, Prussia.

Genealogy Sketch

Name: Hubert WEIMANN
Parents: Bernard WEYMANN and Susanna MALAMBRE
Spouse: Elisabeth WELTER
Parents of the Spouse: Anton WELTER and Anne Catherine HENNES
Whereabouts: Ernzen, Germany
Relationship to Cathy Meder-Dempsey: 3rd great-grandfather

1. Hubert WEIMANN
2. Maria WEIMANN
3. Johann “Jean” WILDINGER
4. Nicolas WILDINGER
5. Living WILDINGER
6. Cathy Meder-Dempsey

This is my weekly entry for Amy Johnson Crow’s challenge:
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – 2015 Edition. It was so successful in 2014 that genealogists wanted to continue or join in on the fun in 2015. Be sure to check out the other great posts by visiting Amy’s blog No Story Too Small where she’ll be posting the weekly recap on Thurdays and allowing all participants to leave a link to their post(s) in the comments.

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 *