“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” ~ Alexander Graham Bell
Name:Gangolf “Gangolphe” WILMES Parents: Michaelis WILMES and Barbara JACQUEMIN Spouse:Anne Marguerite SCHOOD Parents of spouse: Nicolai SCHEID (SCHOOD) and Anna Maria FETT Whereabouts: Diekirch, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Relationship to Cathy Meder-Dempsey: 4th great-grandfather of husband
All records for this family were found in the church and civil records of the town of Diekirch. Births, baptisms, marriages, and deaths mentioned below occurred in Diekirch unless otherwise stated.
Gangolphus WILMES, the son of Michaelis WILMES (1700-1783) and Barbara JACQUEMIN (1705-1751), was born and baptized on 5 April 1739. His godparents were Gangolphus Walbrüll and Margaretha Juttels. The church record shows the surname spelled WILLEMS.[1] He was the middle child of the nine documented children found for his parents.
1739 Baptismal Record of Gangolphus WILMES [1]His mother, Barbara, died on 25 October 1751.[2] On 5 March 1753, a little over sixteen months later, his father married his second wife, Marie THOBES (1727-1792).[3] They were the parents of four documented children.Further research (page by page viewing of the church records) needs to be performed to confirm the number of siblings and half-siblings Gangolf actually had.Anna Margaretha SCHOOD, daughter of Nicolai SCHEID (SCHOOD) and Anna Maria FETT, was born and baptized on 24 November 1741. Her godparents were Joannis Feth, Synodalis (a church counselor) and Anna Margaretha, frate olim (sibling of old) Feth.[4]1741 Anna Margaretha SCHOODT baptismal record [4]Anna Margaretha’s surname was seen as Schoodt, Schood, Schod, Schoed, and Schoedt in records found for her and her children. Different spellings of surnames was not unusual during this time period. To avoid confusion I have used the spelling found when her parents married: SCHOOD.When I started to look into the WILMES-SCHOOD couple I did not have Anna Margaretha’s parents, siblings, or her date of birth/baptism. I will share how I found the records in another post. For now, I would like to point out that FETT and FETH are very likely the same family name, only a different spelling. I will be able to confirm or refute this claim after I have done further research on Anna Margaretha’s mother’s FETT family.
Gangolphus and Anna Margaretha – The Marriage
My children’s 5th great-grandparents, Gangolphus WILMES and Anna Margaretha SCHOOD, were married on 29 October 1764.[5] No further information was included in the entry for the marriage in the church record. No parents of the bride and groom, no age for the bride and groom, and no witnesses. Other entries made on the same page, in a different handwriting, have a bit more information on the parents of the bride or groom. It looks like two persons were keeping the records. My children’s ancestors’ marriage was recorded by the one who wrote short entries with little more than the names and date.
Gangolphus and Anna Margaretha’s first child was born less than two weeks before their first wedding anniversary. Susanna WILMES was born and baptized on 18 October 1765. Her godparents were Joannes Preusen and Susanna Schodt.[6] The godmother was likely her 21 years old aunt Susanna, her mother’s sister.
1765 Baptismal Record for the child Susanna [6]Gangolphus and Anna Margaretha did not wait long for their second child who was born thirteen months later. Elisabetha was born and baptized on 23 November 1766. Her godparents were Christian Flick and Elisabetha Schoodt.[7] The godmother Elisabetha was likely a sister of the mother of the child, however I cannot say if she was Elisabetha age 27 or Maria Elisabetha age 20. Births of these two ladies have been found but marriages and/or deaths records have not been searched for.1766 Baptismal Record of the child Elisabetha [7]The third child of this couple was of my children’s 4th great-grandmother Apolonia WILMES. She was born and baptized on 27 February 1769. Her godparents were Nicolas Theys and Apolonia Scholtes.[8]1769 Baptismal Record of the child Apolonia [8]Gangolphus and Anna Margaretha finally had a son when their fourth child was born. Nicolaus WILMES was born and baptized on 19 February 1772. His godparents were Nicolaus Unden and Maria Barbara Clemang.[9]1772 Baptismal Record of the child Nicolaus [9]The fifth child was once again a girl. Anna Margaretha Wilmes was born and baptized on 5 July 1774. Her godparents were Michel Wilmes, a brother of the father, and Anna Margaretha Preuser.[10]1774 Baptismal Record of the child Anna Margaretha [10]On 16 February 1777, two and a half years later, the sixth child Margaretha WILMES was born and baptized. Her godparents were Nicolas Wilmes, a brother of the father, and Margaretha Frison.[11]1777 Baptismal Record of the child Margaretha [11]Four years later another daughter joined the family and was given the same name as the last child. Margaretha WILMES was born and baptized on 7 January 1781. Her godparents were Joes (Joannes) Schumacher of Hollenfels and Margaretha Preuser of Diekirch.[12]1781 Baptismal Record of the child Margaretha [12]The baptismal record of this child is the first record showing a signature for the father “Gangolff Wilmes” as he signed above, on the right side near the bottom. It is 1781 and Gangolphus would soon turn 42.
An Aside Concerning Godparents
As seen above, godparents included both the mother’s and the father’s siblings. What of the other godparents? Preusen and Preuser, names seen for three godparents of the children mentioned above, are likely the same surname. Were they also relatives?
Further research is planned as this is a name which is already in my children’s family tree. Thomas PREISEN (PREUSEN) and Anne Marie SCHRANTZ were the parents of their 4th great-grandmother Margaretha PREUSEN. It will be interesting to see if there is a connection.
The Children’s Mother Dies
1781 Death and burial record of Anna Margaretha SCHOOD [13]Gangolphus’ wife Anna Margaretha died on 12 January 1781, five days after giving birth to Margaretha.[13] Her age was given as 34 although she had turned 39 the previous November. Gangolphus was left with seven children to care for. The youngest was only 5 days old when her mother died and the oldest was 15 years old.1781 Marriage Record for Gangolphus Wilmes and his second wife [14]The widower waited six weeks to remarry. He married Maria Catharina Colman, daughter of Andreas Colman and Catharina Wevers, on 24 February 1781.[14] The fact that he was the widower of Anna Margaretha SCHOOD is included in the entry. His brother Damian WILMES was one of the witnesses. Once again we see the signature “Gangolff Wilmes” which would suggest that in day to day life he went by Gangolff while the church authorities concerned his name to be Gangolphus.
Further Deaths in the Family
Sadly, the death of Gangolphus’ wife and mother of his children was not the last during the year. His youngest, baby Margaretha died at the age of seven months on 14 August 1781. The death entry includes the name of her deceased mother.[15]
1781 Death entry for the youngest daughter Margaretha [15]She was followed two weeks later by her sister who was also baptized with the name Margaretha. The death record of the second child has the correct age at death but when she died on 31 August 1781 her name was given as Elisabetha. As with her baby sister, the name of her deceased mother was included in the entry.[16]1781 Death entry for the daughter Elisabetha baptized Margaretha [16]The five remaining WILMES children lost their paternal grandfather Michaelis WILMES on 21 November 1783 at the age of 80 years.[17]1781 Death record of Michael Wilmes, Gangolphus’ father [17]Three years later Gangolphus buried his only son Nicolaus Wilmes who died on 19 April 1786 at the age of fourteen.[18]1786 Death entry for son Nicolaus [18]
Four Remaining Daughters
Of the four remaining daughters, two have not been traced. The oldest Susanna and the youngest Anna Margaretha. It is not known if they married or even died young. They were not found in the index of marriages for Diekirch which could mean they died young, married in another town, or never married.
The first of Gangolphus and Anna Margaretha’s daughters to marry was Apolonia “Apolline” WILMES. She married Johann Nicolas “Jean Nicolas” MEDER (1766-1844) on 13 January 1794.[19]
Apolonia’s older sister Elisabetha married André KOENIG (1769- ) on 20 June 1796.[20]
Apolonia and Elisabetha gave Gangolphus ten grandchildren, three of whom predeceased him.
Gangolphus is Again Widowed
1811 Death record of Marguerithe Tholmang, wife of Gangolffe Wilmes [21]On 31 March 1811 “Gangolffe Wilmes,” a 77 years old day laborer was the informant for the death of his wife, Marguerithe THOLMANG who was 76 at the time of death.[21]This name does not match the name seen for the woman he married in 1781. The marriage record shows her name as Maria Catharina Colman, daughter of Andreas Colman and Catharina Wevers. Was this the same lady he married in 1781 or was he married three times? Hopefully further research will solve this question.Gangolphus WILMES outlived his last wife by fifteen years, long enough to see two of his grandsons marry in 1821[22] and 1822.[23]His daughter Apolonia, my children’s ancestor, died on 26 November 1824.[24]
Gangolf “Gangolphe” WILMES died on 22 January 1825 at the age of 85, outliving his father by five years.[25] His death was reported by his grandson, Jeangout KOENIG. Jeangout is the French version of the name Gangolf. Gangolphus’ name was given as Jeangout WILLMES and his age as 82 years. According to the death record, he was the widower of Marie TOLLMAN – similar to Marie Catherine Collman seen in 1781 but not a match. Could her maiden name on the marriage record have been transcribed incorrectly and did this influence my interpretation of the handwriting?
At the time of his death, the only known living child of the WILMES-SCHOOD couple was Elisabeth WILMES who died ten years later on 10 December 1835 at the age of 70.[26]
Next week, I will continue with another set of my children’s 5th great-grandparents, the parents of Elisabetha CLOS. The parents of her husband, Théodore REIFFER are at this time unknown and I am not expecting to find the key to a door in his brick wall in the near future.
Following the marriage of Johannes MEDER (1723-1784) and Susanna LAMBERT (1729-1803) on 27 December 1752[1] their first child was born eight months later. More children followed about every two years until the family included nine children in 1770. The baptisms of each child took place on the day of birth in Ettelbrück where the couple lived following their marriage in Mersch.
Ch 1: Margaretha on 30 August 1753. Her godparents were Nicolaus Flamman and Margaretha Eichorn, both of Ettelbrück.[2]
1753 Baptismal Record of Margaretha MEDER
Ch 2: Magdalena on 24 July 1755. Her godparents were Wilhelm Benderin and Magdalene Philips, both of Ettelbrück.[3]
Ch 8: Joannes Nicolaus on 26 October 1766. His godparents were Joannes Nicolaus Bequinet and Barbara Wagner of Ettelbrück.[9]
1766 Baptismal Record for Joannes Nicolaus MEDER [9]
Ch 9: Margaretha on 21 September 1770. Her godparents were Joannes Cames and Margaretha Flamand, both of Ettelbrück.[10]
1770 Baptismal Record for Margaretha MEDER [10]One of my readers last week wrote, “So great to have such a wealth of records, not to mention being able to read them!” I admit that being fluent in several languages I forget sometimes that my readers not only may have difficulties reading the handwriting but also knowing the language it is writing in. The text of each baptismal record above was in Latin and reads:
Natus et baptimus est [child’s name] filius/filia legitimus/legitima [father] et [mother] conjugum ex [town], Susceptores fuerunt [godfather] ex [town] et [godmother] ex [town]
Born and baptized [child] legitimate son/daughter of married [parents] of [town], godparents were [godfather] and [godmother] of [town]
The paternal grandfather of the children lived long enough see all of them born. Adami MEDER also known as “Juckes” died at the age of 77 years on 9 March 1774 in Ettelbrück.[11] To date, no record of death has been found for his wife Elisabetha ESCH. An exhaustive search, viewing every page of the church death register from December 1771 when she was last seen as living, has not been done.
The first of Johannes and Susanna’s children Pierre MEDER married Anne Marie FABER (1755-1812) on 11 January 1779 in Ettelbrück.[12] It was to be the only marriage of a child attended by Johannes as he died at the age of 61 years on 13 February 1784 in Ettelbrück.[13]
Johannes’ widow Susanna saw four of their children marry in three years:
Ch 4: Nicolas MEDER married Marguerite BRACHTENBACH (1764-1823) on 27 December 1793 Ettelbrück[14]
Ch 8: Johann Nicolas MEDER married Apolonia WILMES (1769-1824) on 13 January 1794 Diekirch[15]
Ch 7: Elisabeth MEDER married Jacques BROCHMAN (1757-1831) on 23 May 1796 Diekirch[16]
Ch 9: Margaretha MEDER married Martin SCHMIDT (1750- ) on 9 September 1796 Ettelbrück[17] Note: Only the index card with marriage information was found for this couple. The church records appear to be missing pages (or they may be out of order) for May to November 1796. Civil marriages were first registered in the Republican Year 5, a week after this marriage took place.
No marriages or death records have been found for the oldest daughters Margaretha and Magdalena or for the third son Joannes. Did they die young or marry and live in a town other than Ettelbrück? I suspect Margaretha (b. 1753) died before the younger Margaretha was born in 1770. A complete search of the church records is still in progress.
The mother of the family, Susanna LAMBERT, died at the age of 74 years on 8 September 1803 in Ettelbrück. Her death was reported by her second oldest son Nicolas.[18]
Two of Johannes and Susanna’s children moved to Diekirch to raise their families while four of their children remained in Ettelbrück. Their daughter Agnès never married. The MEDER name was carried on by Pierre and Nicolas in Ettelbrück and by Johann Nicolas in Diekirch.
Death records were found for the following children:
Ch 3: Pierre MEDER , the oldest son, died 28 March 1812 Ettelbrück[19]
Ch 4: Nicolas MEDER died 9 March 1823 Ettelbrück[20]
Ch 7: Elisabeth MEDER died 29 November 1844 Diekirch[21]
Ch 8: Johann Nicolas “Jean Nicolas” MEDER died 22 December 1844 Diekirch[22]
Ch 6: Agnès MEDER who never married died 23 December 1844 Ettelbrück[23]
Ch 9: Margaretha MEDER died 14 December 1859 Ettelbrück[24]
The winter of 1844 was not a good year for the family. Three siblings died within a month, two of them a day apart.
Finding all of the above records was child’s play compared to what I went through to find the baptismal records of their parents Johann MEDER and Susanna LAMBERT. While doing the research for this family group I found myself slipping down a rabbit hole. I was pulled back in time to an era where family names were not the surnames we know today. Join me next week to see how I fared while exploring the rabbit hole.
Week 15 (April 9-16) – How Do You Spell That?What ancestor do you imagine was frequently asked that? Which ancestor did you have a hard time finding because of an unusual name?
Jean FABER was born on 25 April 1813[1] in Diekirch, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Two days after the birth of his son, the father Jean FABER, age 25, went to the townhall to register the child born to his wife Marguerithe SCHENTEN. They wanted to name him after his father. The birth record was recorded in French as were the names. The father however signed his name Johann FABER, using the German version of his name.
1813 Birth Record No. 35 [1]When “Jean FABER” married the record was in German. Johann FABER married Maria LORENTZ, daughter of Mathias LORENTZ and Margaretha PREUSEN, on 28 July 1841[2] in Diekirch. Johann was 28 and Maria was 27. Of the four parents of the bridal couple only the father of the groom and the mother of the bride signed the marriage record. The groom’s mother could not write and the bride’s father was deceased. All of the witnesses were relatives of the bride – makes me wonder if the bride’s family was making sure that they went through with the marriage. Three of the witnesses were her uncles and the fourth was a brother-in-law.
1841 Marriage Record No. 13 [2]As with Jean FABER, his wife Maria’s birth record is in French. Marie LORENTZ was born at 7 in the morning on 1 April 1814[3] in Diekirch. Her father Mathias LORENTZ only waited until after the mid-day meal to go to the town hall at 3 in the afternoon to register the birth of his daughter born to his wife Marguerithe PREISEN. Mathias LORENTZ was literate as he signed his name on the birth record.
1814 Birth Record No. 30 [3]How do you spell that?
Here is where the theme for this week comes into the picture. How was the mother of the bride’s maiden name spelled? PREISEN or PREUSEN? It was interchangeable in the census records. I believe that this is mostly due to the fact that this family lived during a time that house names were often used instead of their surnames. In this case, PREISEN most likely was the house name. I checked the phone book for Luxembourg and both spellings of the name appear to have died out. There are a few people named PRUSEN in Luxembourg but none who spelled their name PREISEN or PREUSEN. It would be interesting to follow all the collateral lines of this family to see if all male lines of the family died out or if they changed the spelling of the name sometime during World War I or II as Preisen is an offensive term for Germans.
The Children of Jean and Maria FABER-LORENTZ
Jean FABER and Maria LORENTZ had the following children.
Johann “Jean” FABER was born on 1 January 1842[4] in Diekirch. He died on 20 May 1880[5] in Diekirch. Johann married Marguerite DAHLEM, daughter of Nicolas DAHLEM and Elisabeth BERINGER, on 6 December 1876[6] in Diekirch. Marguerite was born on 28 January 1848[7] in Diekirch. She died on 27 April 1922[8] in Diekirch. They did not have children.
Catharina “Cathérine” FABER was born on 8 January 1844[9] in Diekirch. She was not with her father in 1864 or 1871 when the census was taken. She was listed on the 1867 census in her father’s household but marked out with the notation that she married in Metz, France. No further trace has been found.
Marguerite FABER was born on 27 April 1848[15] in Diekirch. No trace of this child after 1871.
Peter “Pierre” FABER was born on 25 July 1850[16] in Diekirch. He died on 18 March 1851[17] in Diekirch.
1851 Death Record No. 12 [18]The mother of this family Maria “Marie” LORENTZ died on 11 February 1851[18] in Diekirch. Jean was left to raise his four living children under the age of 10 on his own. Less than a year after the death of his wife he found a new partner and step-mother for his children.
The Second Marriage of Jean FABER
Jean FABER married Cathérine GIVER, daughter of Conrad GIVER and Cathérine PROBST, on 4 February 1852[19] in Diekirch. Cathérine was born on 8 October 1823[20] in Medernach.
They had the following children.
Marie FABER was born on 18 August 1854[21] in Diekirch. She died on 10 May 1855[22] in Diekirch.
Pierre FABER was born on 30 January 1857[23] in Diekirch. He died on 1 February 1858[24] in Diekirch.
Marie FABER was born on 15 January 1859[25] in Diekirch. No further trance of this child was found after 1871.
Jean’s second wife Cathérine GIVER died on 19 February 1862[26] in Diekirch less than two weeks after their 10th wedding anniversary. She gave Jean FABER three children, only the youngest Marie, who was only 3 years old, lived.
Jean, once again widowed, had five children aged 3 to 20 years. His oldest daughter Catharina may have gone to Metz, France, to work soon after her step-mother’s death as she was not in her father’s household in 1864. By 1867 a note was made on the census that she had married in Metz. The Tables Décennales (10-year lists) for Metz is online however marriages are listed in alphabetical order by groom making it tedious to find a bride with such a common name. When I have some spare time I plan to run through the marriages in hopes of at least finding a date of marriage and a name for the groom.
Jean was counted in Diekirch on the Luxembourg census in the following years and households:
29 December 1843 in the Faber-Lorentz household.[27]
5 December 1846 in the Faber-Lorentz household.[28]
31 December 1847 in the Faber-Lorentz household.[29]
3 December 1849 in the Faber-Lorentz household.[3]
31 December 1851 in the household of the widower Jean Faber.[31]
1 December 1864 in the household of the widower Jean Faber.[36]
3 December 1867 in the household of the widower Jean Faber.[37]
1 December 1871 in the widower Jean Faber and Meder-Faber household (two families).[38]
1863 Death Record No. 27 [39]The father of this family Jean FABER, seen as Johann FABER, died on 26 April 1873[39] in Diekirch.His death was declared by his son Johann FABER who signed Jean FABER. The names of both of his wives are included on the death record.
His son married in 1876, died in 1880 and did not have children. His two youngest daughters, Marguerite and Marie, were single in 1873. They have not been located in the census after 1871, no marriage records or death records were found for them in Diekirch. Could they have followed their oldest sister Catharina to Metz, France?
This leaves only one child of Jean FABER and Marguerite LORENTZ, as far as records have been found to date, who had children to continue this line: his daughter Elise, my husband’s great-grandmother, who married Franz MEDER and had 11 children. Six of these children did not marry or have children. The other five children, all sons, married and continued the line.
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.
Week 13 (March 26 – April 1) – Different. What ancestor seems to be your polar opposite? What ancestor did something that seems completely different than what they “should” have done or what you would have done?
Moving on to the next generation, my children’s 16 sets of great-great-great-grandparents. A quarter of these were discussed last year when I did 8 individuals (4 sets in red on the chart) of my/their American lines. See links for 2014 52Ancestors #8 through #15.
Courtesy of TreeSeek.com
Théodore MEDER (1807-1898) is on the opposite side of the chart from Maria MAJERUS (1850-1931). My son inherited Théodore’s Y-DNA through his father and Maria’s mtDNA through me. I need to learn more about DNA, but this I get: Y-DNA and mtDNA are completely opposite.
The MEDER-REIFFER Family (1807-1930)
1807 Birth Record of Théodore MEDER[1]The father of this family group, Théodore MEDER (1807-1898) was born at four in the morning on Tuesday the 14th of July 1807 in Diekirch (Grand Duchy of Luxembourg) to Nicolas and Apolline. Nicolas MEDERT (sic, MEDER) was a 43 years old basket-maker (vannier). His wife Apolline WILMES’ age is not given but she would have been 38 at the time. Mathias KELLEN, a 33 years old farmer (laboureur) from Gilsdorf, and Philippe SCHAACK, a 36 years old tawer (mégissier), were the witnesses who signed the birth record. The father Nicolas declared not being able to sign his name.[1]
Please excuse my going off on a tangent here but I find old occupations quite fascinating and it is interesting to learn more about the crafts and trades of our ancestors, or as was the case here, of their neighbors or acquaintances.
I had a bit of difficulty finding a translation for the French word mégissier. Google Translate “knew” the French word but did not come up with the English equivalent. After a bit, I found that mégissier is a tawer. In search of the translation and definition I found this illustration (left). A tawer is a person who taws or makes leather out of hide without the use of tanning.
Let’s get back to the main subjects!
The mother of this family group, Susanna REIFFER (1808-1877) born Wednesday, 6 April 1808 in Wahlhausen, Clervaux, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, according to the extract of her baptismal record that was presented in Diekirch in 1833 when she married. The same date and place are also listed on the 1843 census. She was the daughter of Théodore REIFFER and Elisabethe CLOS whose dates of death were listed on her 1833 marriage record.[2]
Publication of Marriage in Diekirch[3]At eight o’clock the morning of Thursday the 31st of January 1833, Théodore MEDER, a 25 years old day laborer and Susanna REIFFER, a 24 years old house servant from Bastendorf, were joined in marriage in Diekirch. The bride’s parents were both deceased, her father in 1831 and her mother in 1829. Théodore’s father Nicolas was present and consenting to the marriage. His mother had died in 1824. Banns were published in Bastendorf and in Diekirch on the 20th and the 27th of January. As is normal with marriage records in Luxembourg, 4 witnesses were present and signed the record. Their relationships to the bride and groom are not listed. The bride, the groom and the father of the groom declared not being able to write and did not sign the marriage record.[2], [3]
Théodore and Susanna were the parents of a dozen children:
Child 1: Jean MEDER (1834-1901) was born 6 January 1834[4] in Diekirch, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. He married Barbara “Barbe” ADAM (1837-1906) on 10 January 1864[5] in Bettendorf where they raised a family of 4 children. Jean died on 26 October 1901[6] in Bettendorf. His wife Barbe died in the same town on 6 October 1906.[7]
Child 2: Mathias MEDER (1835-1912) was born 25 November 1835[8] in Diekirch. He married Maria “Marie” KAUFMANN (1833-1912) on 24 June 1863[9] in Bettendorf where they raised a family of 3 children. Mathias died 23 April 1912[10] in Bastendorf a little over a year after Marie who died on 2 April 1911[11] in Bettendorf.
Child 3: Maria MEDER (1837-1918) was born 21 November 1837[12] in Diekirch. Maria married Nicolas WEBER (1836-1918) on 14 November 1860[13] in Diekirch where they raised 5 children. Nicolas died 20 January 1881[14] in Diekirch. Maria died 37 years later on 11 October 1918[15] in Diekirch.
Child 4: Philippe MEDER (1839-1839) was born 29 October 1839[16] in Diekirch. Philippe was not quite two months old when he died on 23 December 1839[17] in Diekirch.
Child 5: Anna Maria MEDER (1841-1911) was born 21 January 1841[18] in Diekirch. She married Nicolas SCHOLTES (1847-1897) on 28 November 1867[19] in Diekirch where 10 children were born. Nicolas died on 16 January 1897[20] in Diekirch. Anna, as she was usually known, died 5 January 1911[21] in Diekirch.
Child 6: Maria “Elisa” MEDER (1842- ) was born 26 October 1842[22] in Diekirch. When she married Célestin RENAUT (1830- ) on 3 July 1865[23] in Diekirch Elisa was listed as the name that she normally used. This family moved around a bit and were last seen in the 1875 census in Diekirch. At that time they had two daughters, the first born in Esch-sur-Alzette and the second in Magneux, Marne, France, where Célestin was from. In 1876 another daughter was born in Diekirch.[24] The family disappears [has not been found] after this birth and it is not known when Elisa and her husband died.
Child 7: Elisabetha MEDER (1844- ) was born 23 February 1844[25] in Diekirch. In 1858 and later she was no longer found with her parents. It’s possible that as a 14 years old in 1858 she may have been living and/or working in another household. There is no trace of a death record for her in Diekirch.
Child 8: Margaretha MEDER (1845-1845) was born 8 June 1845[26] in Diekirch. She only lived 16 days, dying on 24 June 1845[27] in Diekirch.
Child 9: Franz “François” MEDER (1846-1930) was born 17 May 1846 in Diekirch. Franz married Elisabetha “Elisabeth” “Elise” FABER (1846-1915) on 20 September 1869 in Diekirch. More about this child in 52 Ancestors: #5 The MEDER-FABER Family of Diekirch 1846-1954
Child 10: Johann “Jean Pierre” MEDER (1847-1848) was born 16 September 1847[28] in Diekirch and died 29 May 1848[29] in Diekirch at the age of 8 months. Although his birth and death record show that his name was Johann, on the 1847 census he was seen as Jean Pierre, most likely to distinguish him from his oldest brother Jean.
Child 11: [–?–] MEDER, a female, (1849-1849) was stillborn on 19 August 1849[30].
Child 12: Catharina MEDER (1850-1879) was born 5 December 1850[31] in Diekirch. Catharina married André WILHELMY (1853-?) on 15 May 1878[32] in Diekirch. She died 26 February 1879[33] in Diekirch 8 days after giving birth to a stillborn son.[34] Her widower André remarried a year later in Alscheid.[35]
The Occupations of Théodore MEDER
Life may have been hard for Théodore, Susanna, and their many children. As seen in the following chart Théodore worked as a day laborer from the time of his marriage in 1833 until 1846 when he became a shepherd. He remained in this occupation for about 10 years. On one record it is clearly noted that he was a goat shepherd. By 1858 he was once again working as a day laborer. In 1880 at the age of 73 he seen on the census as a miner (Bergbauarbeiter). This seems to be a very hard job for a man of his age. Finally at the time of his death, at the age of 91, he was seen as having no occupation.
The MEDER-REIFFER family in the Luxembourg census
Previous posts on family groups in Luxembourg have concentrated on the birth and marriage records of the children. For this family, I’ve decided to do something different. Above I used a pink or blue box for each child, including footnote links to the very long source list found at the end of this post. Instead of discussing the birth and/or marriage records, I’ve chosen to focus on the census records of this family.
The census in Luxembourg was taken every three or so years. At FamilySearch there are presently 1,115,931 census images available for these years: 1843, 1846, 1847, 1849, 1851, 1852, 1855, 1858, 1861, 1864, 1867, 1871, 1875, 1880, 1885, 1887, 1890, 1895 and 1900.
1843 Luxembourg Census[36]On the 1843 census, earliest census available online at FamilySearch, birthdates of persons in the household were included. From experience I’ve found that they do not always match up with the birth records found. And that is the case with this family listing. The father, mother and oldest son’s dates match but the other 4 children are off. In the household are children Jean, Mathias, Marie, Anne, and Marie (who will later be known as Elisa). I was happy to find Jean Nicolas MEDER in his son Theodore’s household.[36] His date of birth is seen as 1 April 1763. This cannot be correct as his baptismal record* shows that he was born and baptized on 26 October 1766. *Note: the baptismal record was located after footnotes were completed for this post.
1846 Luxembourg Census[37]In 1846 Théodore and his brother Antoine’s families are listed together in one household. Children in Théodore and Susane’s household are Jean, Mathias, Marie, Marie, Marie, Elisabeth, and François. Three girls named Marie! From one census or civil record to the next these girls would use different variations of their names. The years of birth are off for the older children but the younger ones born in the 1840s are correct.[37]
1847 Luxembourg Census[38]In 1847 the family had grown to 10, parents and 8 children: Jean, Mathias, Marie, Anne Marie, Marie, Elisabeth, François, and Jean-Pierre.[38]
1849 Luxembourg Census[39]In 1849 the family has one less member as their youngest child Jean-Pierre passed away in May 1848. As in 1847 none of the children are listed with an occupation. Their father is a shepherd (pâtre) and one can imagine that his older sons Jean and Mathias may have helped their father while the four girls helped their mother care for little François.[39]
1851 Luxembourg Census[40]In 1851 young Catherine born in 1850 is now seen on the list of children. The mother is mistakenly listed as Marguerite however her maiden name and place of birth are correct. The ditto marks in the column for occupation make it appear as if the mother and the three sons are working as day laborers like the father. It seems very unlikely that 6 years old François would be working. All of the daughters are listed as having no occupation. An interesting addition to this census sheet is the column for the number of years each person has lived in the present community. The mother, who came to Diekirch at the time of her marriage, is seen as living in Diekirch for 18 years while for all other members of the family the time of residence is equal to their age.[40]
1852 Luxembourg Census[41]In 1852 the oldest son Jean is missing on the census. As I am concentrating on Théodore and Susanne’s family as a unit I have not taken the time to search further for their oldest son once he left the nest. I know that after his marriage in 1864 he lived in Bettendorf a village to the east of Diekirch. He “disappears” between 1852-1864 and depending on where he was working I will have to do a lot of browsing to find him.[41]
1855 Luxembourg Census[42]In 1855 the next two oldest children, Mathias and the eldest Marie have also flown the coop, most likely due to their living with their employer. Children still at home are Anna, Marie, Elisa, François, and Catherine.[42]
1858 Luxembourg Census[43]The 1858 census gave me a few problems. Marie seen here is Anna Marie and Elisa is the younger Marie. The reason that I know this is not Elisabeth is that when Marie marries in 1865 the marriage record has a note that she is known as Elisa and the date of birth matches Marie born in 1842. It is my belief that Elisabeth (1858 age 14) may be working in a nearby village. As long as the census is not indexed finding her will be a lot of work or I might get lucky and find her while checking on other families in the area. This means that I have to be careful to look at all persons listed in each household, especially at the end of the list where domestics’ names were listed.[43]
1861 Luxembourg Census[44]In 1861[44] (above) and in 1864[45] (below) the family group remains the same as in 1858.
1864 Luxembourg Census[45]In 1867, below, the family has become even smaller. Only the two youngest children are still at home, François and Catherine.[46] By this time all of the other children were married and had their own households. Marie in 1860, Mathias in 1863, Jean in 1864, Marie “Eisa” in 1865, and Anna Marie in 1867.
1867 Luxembourg Census[46]I went through the entire 1871 census collection for Diekirch and did not find Théodore, Susanna, and their youngest daughter Catherine. Are they living with one of their three married daughters? Their son François married in 1869 and was enumerated with his wife and children in the household of the in-laws. Jean and Mathias are in Bettendorf with their wives and children.
1875 Luxembourg Census[47]In 1875 Théodore and Susanna were found living alone in Diekirch. Their youngest daughter Catherine was not yet married and may be working and living with another family.[47]
1880 Luxembourg Census[48]By 1880 Théodore was widowed and seen living with his son Franz and his family.[48] Following the 1880 census Théodore no longer lived with Franz or any of his children who have been located in the 1885, 1887, 1890, 1895 censuses.
Théodore and Susanna were married nearly 45 years when Susanna died at 9 o’clock in the evening on 11 October 1877 in their home in Diekirch. Théodore who was the informant of her death declared that he could not write and did not sign the death record.[49] The place of birth of the deceased was seen as Merscheid instead of Wahlhausen as seen in her marriage record and on several census sheets. I hoped that this would lead to her birth record but was disappointed once again.
Théodore spent the next 22 years as a widower and may have spent some time in the local hospital before his death. He died at three o’clock in the morning on 29 July 1898 in the hospital (Spital) in Diekirch. His death was reported by Dominik ZENNER, the 64 years old overseer in the hospital (Aufseher im Spital).[50] It was interesting to see that Mathias WENGLER, age 72 was still the secretary of the civil hall in Diekirch and a witness on this death record. In 1877 at the age of 50 he had been the witness and secretary on Susanna’s death record.
If you have any connection to this family, please let me know. I look forward to reading your comments.
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.
Week 12 (March 19-25) – Same. What ancestor is a lot like you? What ancestor do you have a lot in common? Same name? Same home town?
To give me a little break from serious research and writing, I’m sharing documents my husband’s cousin re-discovered a few weeks ago while cleaning out their Rumpelkammer or débarras [one of those catch-all rooms].
In 52 Ancestors: #5 The MEDER-FABER Family of Diekirch 1846-1954 I wrote about my husband’s great-grandparents Franz MEDER (1846-1930) and Elisabeth FABER (1846-1915). They had three sons with the same name – Johann Peter MEDER. The middle one was born 14 October 1876 and died 29 September 1877, shortly before his first birthday. The two other sons, with the same name, lived to marry and have children so it was not the case of a child being named after a child who had died. The youngest of the two was my husband’s grandfather (left) Johann Peter MEDER (1888-1954) who I wrote about in 52 Ancestors: #2 The Brewery Worker and the Midwife. The other one was . . .
The One Who Went To Paris
Johann Peter, the elder, remained in Paris, married and had at least one child, a daughter Pierette who was born ca. 1920-1925. I suspected this but needed confirmation. I met Pierette and her husband in the late 1970s or early 1980s when they came from France to visit with my husband’s uncle Fritz and we saw them several times before Pierette’s death. At the time I knew that she was Fritz’s and my father-in-law’s cousin. By process of elimination I figured out that she had to be the daughter of the elder Johann Peter. My husband’s cousin confirmed that Pierette was the daughter of the brother who lived in Paris but she does not know when he died.
After talking to my husband’s cousin, she and her husband began cleaning out a room in their house and found documents that she share with me. What a find!!
As mentioned above, the elder Johann Peter MEDER, born 12 June 1873, lived and worked in Paris. He was known as Jean MEDER and worked as a Maître d’Hotel or butler for the family of the Marquis Gustave Lannes de Montebello (1838-1907), French Ambassador, like his father before him, to Russia in Saint Petersburg in 1891-1902. Following the death of the Marquis, Jean remained in the employ of the Marquise de Montebello and her family.
In Paris, France, on 27 September 1913 Jean MEDER married Dominica PEYRÉ. At the time she was without an occupation. Jean’s parents François MEDER and Elisabeth FABER gave their consent on 30 August 1913 in Diekirch, Luxembourg, in an Acte de Consentement à Mariage:
An extract of the original 1913 marriage record obtained on 31 May 1940 by Jean and Dominica for an unknown purpose.
On 16 August 1915, during World War I, Jean and Dominica obtained permission to travel in Switzerland, Italy, and France from the Consulate of the Netherlands in Geneva. The Consulate issued these papers.
They appear to have then travelled to Paris, France, where on 27 September 1915 they obtained a passport for travel in Switzerland for a one year period.
Reverse side of the passport with the stamps from Paris and Lausanne.
On 7 July 1920 Jean, maître d’hotel, and Dominica, femme de chambre or maid, became the parents of a daughter Marie Pierette MEDER born in Paris, France. This is an extract they obtained on 29 May 1940.
The extract of the 1913 marriage record, this extract of the 1920 birth record of the daughter, as well as Dominica’s extract of her 1878 birth record (below) were all obtained the end of May 1940. As this was during World War II it is very likely that the family was once again in need of passports to travel with their employer.
Following the war Pierette married René MEYER on 27 October 1947. It is very likely that they met in the diplomatic circles that her parents’ employers belonged to. René and Pierette lived in Russia while René served a tour of duty there.
I located Dominica’s original birth record in the Archives des Pyrénées-Atlantique in Biarritz > Naissances 1873-1882 > image 200 of 379. These records cannot be reproduced without permission. In the margin of the birth record her date of marriage to Jean MEDER as well as her date and place of death were recorded. Dominica died on 29 January 1952 in Kremlin-Bicêtre, Val-de-Marne, Île-de-France, France. It is not known when her husband Jean died.
Pierette, the only child of Jean and Dominica, and her husband René did not have children and this line ended with her death in October 1986.
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.
Week 5, Plowing through — We will likely be plowing through a lot of snow by this time. What ancestor had a lot of struggles to plow through? Or take it more literally… It’s up to you
It has always been said that my husband’s grandfather Jean-Pierre MEDER was the youngest of twelve and married the oldest of twelve, Ketty SCHWARTZ. I had to plow through census, birth, marriage, and death records to prove/disprove that the MEDER-FABER family, as tradition goes, had a dozen children.
Slow Down, You Move Too Fast
I’m following Thomas MacEntee’s Genealogy Do-Over and the discussions in the Facebook group of the same name. I’m not an “All-in” participant or even a modified participant. I’m willing to learn new things and have already slown down a bit.
My blogpost this week became a family group study. I went through every document and extracted as much information as possible. I cited the sources (one of the topics in Week 5) and attached the documents in my genealogy program. I did this slowly, and extractions of the information in the records is reflected in the account below for the family.
The MEDER-FABER Family of Diekirch 1846-1954
Records for the Meder-Faber family of Diekirch in the beautiful country of Luxembourg span the period from 1846, the year that both of my husband’s great-grandparents were born, until 1954 when their youngest and last living child, my husband’s grandfather, died.
Elizabetha
Elisabetha FABER was born on the 19th of February 1846 in Diekirch, Luxembourg. Her father Johann FABER, 33 years old stonemason (Steinhauer), reported her birth at 11 o’clock in the morning the following day. Elise, as she was later seen in some records, was born at 11 o’clock in the morning. Her mother Maria LORENTZ was 32 years old. Anton PREUSEN, 55, farmer, and Franz LORENTZ, 34, uncle of the child, were witnesses. Johann-Baptiste DIDIER was the civil officer who recorded the birth.[1]
Franz
Franz MEDER was born on the 17th of May 1846 in Diekirch, Luxembourg. His father Theodor MEDER, 37 years old day laborer (Taglöhner), reported his birth at at 11 o’clock in the morning the following day. Franz was born at 11 o’clock in the morning. His mother Susanna REIFFER (Reifer on birth record) was 37 years old. Nikolas FOOS and Damian WILLMES were witnesses. Johann-Baptiste DIDIER was the civil officer who recorded the birth.[2]
The Marriage of Franz MEDER and Elisabetha FABER
Meder-Faber marriage
Franz MEDER and Elisabetha FABER were married at 6 o’clock the evening of Monday, 20 September 1869 in Diekirch by the mayor Ernest FRANÇOIS. Franz was 23 and a day laborer (Taglöhner), Elisabetha was 23 and a seamstress (Näherin). Both of Franz’s parents and Elisabetha’s father were present and agreeable to the marriage. Elisabetha’s mother had died in 1851 a week before little Elise’s 5th birthday. Her date of death is seen in her daughter’s marriage record. Marriage banns had been read Sunday the 5th and the 12th of September. The four witnesses to the marriage were all known to the bridal couple: Franz KREMER, [illegible] WEBER, Mathias WENGLER, and Peter GOEBEL. All persons present, except for the parents of the bridal couple who could not write, signed the marriage record.[3]
A Family for Franz and Elisabetha
Johann
Child #1: Johann MEDER was born on 10 Mar 1870 at 10 o’clock in the morning in Diekirch. His father Franz, a day laborer (Taglöhner), was 23 and his mother Elisabetha was 24. Witnesses to the birth record, filled out the next day by Ernest FRANÇOIS, were Mathias WENGLER and Johan BETTENDORF. The three men were city hall employees.[4]
Anton
Child #2: Anton MEDER was born at 10 o’clock the evening of 14 October 1871 in Diekirch. The following morning at 11 o’clock his father Franz, 24, day laborer (Taglöhner), informed Nicolas MERGEN that his wife Elizabetha, 25, had given birth to a son who they wanted to name Anton. Mathias WENGLER and Johan BETTENDORF were witnesses.[5]
1871 Luxembourg Census
1871 Luxembourg Census for the FABER and MEDER-FABER families who lived in Diekirch.
In 1871 Franz (1847) and Elisabetha (1846) are seen for the first time on a census in the same household.[6] The census was enumerated for the night between the 30th of November and the 1st of December and shows two households in one home. Franz and Elisabetha and their two sons (bottom group) are living in the same home as Elisabeth’s parents and two of her sisters (top group). Franz is seen as a day laborer and Elisabetha has no occupation. The sons are listed as Jean (1870) and Joseph (1871). Jean is the French equivalent of Johann but Joseph is not the same as Anton. Joseph and Anton are the same child, Joseph possibly being a baptismal name.
It must be noted that Elisabetha was born in February 1846 and Franz in May 1846 making Elisabetha 3 months older than Franz. From May until February the couple would have the same age however in most records, as will be seen here, Elizabeth was seen as being one year older than Franz.
Johann Peter (the elder)
Child #3: Johann Peter MEDER was born at 10 o’clock the evening of 12 June 1873 in Diekirch. Two day later his father Franz, 26, day laborer (Taglöhner), went to the city hall at 11 o’clock in the morning to have the birth of his child by his wife Elizabeth, 27, registered by the mayor Johann JUTTEL. Mathias ZENNER, 30, carpenter (Schreiner), and Mathias WENGLER, 46, city hall secretary (Sekretär), were witnesses.[7]
Théodore
Child #4: Théodore MEDER was born at 5 o’clock the evening of 20 Apr 1875 in Diekirch. The following day his father Franz, 28, day laborer (Taglöhner), went to the city hall at 2 o’clock in the afternoon to have the birth of his child by his wife Elizabetha, 30, registered by the mayor Johann JUTTEL. Johann Baptiste KESSLER, 60, church officer (Köster) and Johann BETTENDORFF, 60, town crier/messenger (Gemeindebote), were witnesses.[8]
1875 Luxembourg Census
1875 Luxembourg Census: Meder-Faber household No. 80 in Diekirch
In 1875 Franz (1847) and Elisabetha (1846) are seen on the 1875 census with their four sons: Johann (1869), Joseph (1871), Joh. Peter (1872), and Théodore (1875). Franz’s occupation was listed as Gerbergesell or tanner. All members of the household were born in Diekirch, of Catholic faith, and Luxembourg nationals. The census was enumerated for the night between the 30th of November and the 1st of December. The years of birth do not all match the birth records found but are within a year of the true date.[9]
Johann Peter (birth)
Child #5: Johann Peter MEDER was born at 1 o’clock in the morning of 14 October 1876 in Diekirch. His father Franz, 30, day laborer (Taglöhner), went to the city hall at 11 o’clock the same day to declare his birth to Johann JUTTEL, mayor. The mother Elisabetha was 31. Witnesses were the city hall secretary Mathias WENGLER, 50, (Sekretär), and his brother Johann Baptiste WENGLER, 35, who appears to have been visiting as his residence was listed as Antwerp (Belgium).[10]
Johann Peter (death)
Eleven months later Franz, 30, once again made a visit to the city hall at 11 o’clock to declare the death of his second son named Johann Peter on 29 September 1877 in their home in Diekirch at 9 o’clock in the morning. Franz LEYDER, 59, forester (Förster), accompanied him, or was present in the city hall, and Johann JUTTEL was the person who filled in the death record. Elisabetha, the mother, was listed as 32.[11] Whent his child died Elisabetha was pregnant with her next child.
Elisabetha
Child #6: Elisabetha MEDER was born at 7 o’clock in the afternoon of 17 April 1878 in Diekirch. Her father Franz, 32, worker (Arbeiter), went the next day at 11 o’clock to the city hall to declare the birth to Johann JUTTEL. The mother Elisabetha was 33. Witnesses were Franz LEYDER, 54, forester (Förster), and Peter VAN KAUVENBERG, 37, coacher (Fuhrmann).[12] The next record in the birth register was for Peter Van Cauvenbergh’s son Peter which would explain his presence when Franz registered his daughter. It is interesting to view records recorded the same day as they can help to answer questions about the relationship of the witnesses to the claimant.
Philippe (birth)
Child #7: Philippe MEDER was born on 4 April 1880 at 10 o’clock in the evening in Diekirch. Franz, 34, worker (Arbeiter), gave the information to Johann JUTTEL two days later at 11 o’clock in the morning. The mother Elisabetha was 35. Witnesses were Mathias WENGLER, 54, secretary (Sekretär), (note: Mr. Merten signed, not Mr. Wengler) and Johann Peter DELOOS, 35.[13]
Philippe (death)
Philippe died at noon on 8 November 1880 in his parents’ home. His father Franz, 34, day laborer (Taglöhner), made the declaration on the 9th. Philippe was in his 8th month at the time of his death and his mother Elizabetha was 35. Witness was Mathias WENGLER, secretary (Sekretär), who was listed as age 30, most likely an error as the person of the same name who has been seen as city hall secretary was older and listed as 54 in the next death record. Johann JUTTEL was once again the person who took the information for the record.[14] Elisabetha may have already been pregnant with her next child.
1880 Luxembourg Census
1880 Luxembourg Census: Meder-Faber household No. 85 in Diekirch
In 1880 the census was again taken for the night of 30 November to 1 December 1880. Along with Franz, Elisabetha, and their five living children (Johann, Joseph, Johann Peter, Théodore, and Elise) we see Franz’s widowed father Théodore living in the household.[15]
Hélène
Child #8: Hélène MEDER was born at 11 o’clock in the evening on 1 June 1881 in Diekirch. Her father Franz, 35, worker (Arbeiter), went to the city hall two days later, on the 3rd at 11 o’clock in the morning and once again met with Johann JUTTEL to register the birth of the child born to his wife Elisabetha, 36. Witnesses were Mathias WENGLER, 54, secretary (Sekretär), and Johann Baptiste KESSLER, 68.[16]
Heinrich
Child #9: Heinrich MEDER was born the morning of 2 March 1883 at 5 o’clock in Diekirch. Johann JUTTEL was the civil servant who filled out his birth record the same afternoon at 2 o’clock with the information the father Franz, 36, tanner (Gerbergesell), gave for the child and the mother Elisabetha, 36. Witnesses were Mathias WENGLER, 56, secretary (Sekretär) and Johann KORT, 49, a police officer.[17]
Anna
Child #10: Anna MEDER was born at 10:30 in the evening of 12 July 1885 in Diekirch. Her father Franz, 39, tanner (Gerbergesell) met with Johann Peter SCHOLTES the next morning at 11 o’clock to register the birth of the daughter born to his wife Elisabetha, 40. Witnesses were Johann KORT, 51, a police officer, and Jacob MERTEN, 39, church officer (Köster).[18]
1885 Luxembourg Census
The quality of the census sheet for the 1885 Luxembourg census [19] is poor. Instead of including the image I choose to make a short transcription of the information listed (omitted below: all persons in household were born in Diekirch, were Catholic and of Luxembourg nationality; only the parents were married):
1885 Luxembourg Census: Meder-Faber household No. 8 in Diekirch
Verzeichniß aller in der Nacht vom 30. November zum 1. Dezember in der Wohnung anwesenden Personen.(List of all person present in the night of 30 Nov to 1 Dec in the home) Vorname-Familienname-Verwandschaft-Geschlecht-Geburtstag&Jahr-Beruf First name-Surname-Relationship-Gendwer-Birthdate-Occupation 1. Franz MEDER Vater männlich 24 März 1846 Gerbergeselle (tanner) 2. Elise FABER Mutter weiblich 20 März 1845 Haushälterin (housekeeper) 3. Jean MEDER Sohn männlich 10 März 1870 Zuckerbäcker (confectioner) 4. Joseph MEDER Sohn männlich 18 Februar 1872 Zuckerbäcker (confectioner) 5. Jean Pierre MEDER Sohn männlich 5 Juni 1873 ohne Stand (without occ.) 6. Théodore MEDER Sohn männlich 18 April 1875 ohne Stand 7. Elisabeth MEDER Tochter weiblich 10 April 1878 ohne Stand 8. Magdalena MEDER Tochter weiblich 15 März 1881 ohne Stand 9. Ignatus MEDER Sohn männlich 3 März 1883 ohne Stand 10. Anna MEDER Tochter weiblich 11 Juni 1885 ohne Stand
Key: Vater (Father), Mutter (mother), Sohn (son), Tochter (daughter), männlich (male), weiblich (female)
When compared to the birth records seen above all of the birthdates are off except for the oldest son Jean. Daughter Hélène is seen with the German variation of her name, Magdalena. Son Heinrich is now seen as “Ignatus” which may have been one of his baptismal names. As will be seen in later census records this son was only seen as Heinrich on his birth record and as Ignatius (or some form of this name) in all other records.
1887 Luxembourg Census
1887 Luxembourg Census: Meder-Faber household No. 66 in Diekirch
In 1887 the census was taken on the 1st of February instead of the usual 1st of December. The persons in the household did not change from 1885 to 1887 although some names had different spelling variations. Ignatus name was listed as Ignace.[20]
Johann Peter (the younger)
Child #11:Johann Peter MEDER was born at 1 o’clock the morning of 20 November 1888 in Diekirch. His father Franz, 42, tanner (Gerbergesell), went to the city hall the same morning at 10 o’clock to register his son with Johann Peter SCHOLTES. The mother Elizabetha was 43. Witnesses were Mathias WENGLER, 63, secretary, and Johann KORT, 55, a police officer.[21]
Note: This is the second living son with this name. In the census in 1890 and 1895 he is seen as Peter and then as Johann Peter in 1900 when his older brother Johann Peter was living and working in Paris, France.
On the 1890 census Franz and Elise, as Elisabetha was listed, had in their household their children Joseph, Joh. Peter, Elise, Hélène, Ignace, Anna, and Peter. Their oldest sons Johann and Théodore were not at home.[22]
The Luxembourg census has Control Lists with the names of the heads of household. These are helpful when finding families however when young persons were apprenticed they may have lived with the employer’s family. FamilySearch has nearly 1,700 images for the town of Diekirch for 1890. I have not gone through page by page for the missing sons as they show up once again in later years.
Meder-Zimmer Marriage
Franz and Elisabetha’s oldest son was the first to marry. Johann MEDER was 25 and a confectioner (Zuckerbäcker) when he married Cathérine ZIMMER, 21 and a maid (Dienstmagd) on 23 September 1895 at 7 o’clock in the evening. Both of Johann’s parents, Cathérine’s mother, four witnesses, and the alderman who performed the civil ceremony were present and all appear to have signed the marriage record (below) except for Johann’s mother Elisabetha FABER.[23]
1895 Luxembourg Census
1895 Luxembourg Census: Meder-Faber household No. 84 in Diekirch1895 Luxembourg Census: Meder-Faber household No. 84 in Diekirch. Page with persons who belonged in the household but were not living in it at the time of census.
On the 1895 census we see that the person who filled out the form had to marked out things and start over. Franz, now seen as François, and Elizabetha, seen as Eliza, have their children Joseph, Théodore, Elisa, Hélène, Ingnatz (sic), Anna, and Peter in the household. Their son Johann Peter (the elder) has been working in Paris, France, for a month.[24] Their oldest son Jean, married in September that year, was in his own household next door to his parents. Household No. 83
1900 Luxembourg Census
1900 Luxembourg Census: Meder-Faber household No. 82 in Diekirch.1900 Luxembourg Census: Meder-Faber household No. 82 in Diekirch. Page with persons who belonged in the household but were not living in it at the time of census.
By the time the 1900 census was enumerated the children of Franz and Elisa were older but still living in the parental home. Joseph, Théodore, and Ignace were workers. Anna and Johann Peter, the youngest, most likely were still in school as they did not have an occupation listed. Three of the children, although they belonged in the household, were now in Paris, France: Johann Peter (the elder) had been working there 3 years; Elise had been in service for a year and Hélène for 4 months.[25] Son Johann was living next door or perhaps in the same house in household No. 81 with his wife and three children.
Meder-Zimmer marriage(2)
Théodore MEDER, 29, a worker (Arbeiter) married Magdalena ZIMMER, 26, no occupation, on 28 May 1904 at 5 o’clock in the afternoon. Magdalena was the sister of Cathérine ZIMMER who married Théodore’s brother Johann in 1895. Théodore’s parents Franz and Elisabetha and Magdalena’s mother were present and consenting to the marriage. The four witnesses were not relatives of either the bride or groom.[26]
Ignatus (death)
On the morning of 23 March 1907 at 10 o’clock in the morning Franz MEDER, 60, tanner (Gerber), and his oldest son Johann MEDER, 37, confectioner (Zuckerbäcker), went to the Hotel de Ville (city hall) in Diekirch to declare the death of Ignatius who had died at 2:30 in the afternoon the previous day. Friedrich FRANÇOIS was the civil servant who took the information.[27]
Meder-Winter marriage
Anton MEDER, 34, a worker (Arbeiter) married Marguerite WINTER, 25, were married 29 August 1908 at 11 o’clock in the morning by Felix REDING, alderman (Schöffen) as the mayor was not available. Anton’s parents Franz and Elisabetha were both present and consenting to the marriage. Marguerite’s parents were both deceased and their dates of death were given on the marriage record. Two of the witnesses were not relatives and the other two were Anton’s brothers Johann, 38, and Théodore, 32.[28]
Note: As all persons present signed the marriage record, this document has the signatures of the parents, Franz and Elizabetha, and three of their sons.
Signatures on the marriage record of Anton and Marguerite
Elise (daughter) death
Elisabetha MEDER died at 4 o’clock in the afternoon of 21 February 1910 in her parents’ home in Diekirch. Her father Franz, 63, worker (Arbeiter), declared the death the next day at 9 o’clock in the morning to the mayor Peter PEMMERS of Diekirch. Johann BOEHM, civil servant (Apparitor) was a witness. The deceased was listed as Elise MEDER age 31 and without occupation. The mother was listed as Elise FABER age 64 and without an occupation.[29]
Elisabetha (Elise) FABER death
Five years later the mother of this family, Elisabetha FABER died at 12:30 in the early morning of 28 February 1915 in her home in Diekich. Her husband Franz MEDER, 68, street worker (Strassenarbeiter) and her youngest son Johann Peter MEDER, 26, brewery worker (Brauarbeiter), declared her death to Peter PEMMERS the same morning at 10 o’clock. She was listed as Elise FABER, 69, without occupation, daughter of the deceased Mr. and Mrs. (Eheleute) Johann FABER-LORENTZ and wife of Franz MEDER.[30]
Although the title is Luxembourg Civil Registration 1662-1941 for the FamilySearch database, most records are availabe only for up to 1923. I haven’t taken the time to visit the city halls for records after 1923 and have to rely on other sources. Rob Deltgen has compiled information for Diekirch for the time period 1796-1923 and has a website (access only with password) with information on persons who died beyond this period.
Franz’s oldest son Johann MEDER died 13 May 1928 in Eppeldorf.[32] He left six living children and his widow who remarried in 1936 and was widowed again in 1950.[33]
Seven years after he was present for his youngest son’s marriage Franz MEDER died 7 September 1930 at the age of 84 in Diekirch.[34]
Luxemburger Wort
The next death in the family was that of Miss Hélène MEDER who died on Thursday 17 April 1943. She was buried two days later in the cemetery in Diekirch. Her date of death was annotated on her birth record and an announcement was found in the Luxemburger Wort. She was 61 years old.[35]
Luxemburger Wort
Hélène’s sister Miss Anna MEDER died later the same year on Sunday, 7 November 1943 in Diekirch of a short, painful illness at the age of 58. She was buried two days later in the cemetery in Diekirch. [36]
Luxemburger Wort
Théodore MEDER died on Tuesday, 21 January 1947, at 9:30 in the evening after a long illness. He was in his 72nd year. He left a widow, five sons, and two grandchildren. At least 4 more grandchildren would be born.[37]
In the three death announcements the places that the families lived begin with Diekirch, were they lived, and is followed by Paris. As you will remember from the census records discussed earlier, three of the children went to Paris to work. The girls, Hélène and Anna, returned to Diekirch but until I made a phone call to my husband’s cousin I had no idea what happened to the elder son named Johann Peter b. in 1873.
Johann Peter, the elder, remained in Paris, married and had at least one child, a daughter Pierette who was born ca. 1920-1925. I suspected this but needed confirmation. I met Pierette and her husband in the late 1970s or early 1980s when they came from France to visit with my husband’s uncle Fritz and we saw them several times before Pierette’s death. At the time I knew that she was Fritz’s and my father-in-law’s cousin. By process of elimination, I figured out that she had to be the daughter of the elder Johann Peter. My husband’s cousin confirmed that Pierette was the daughter of the brother who lived in Paris but she does not know when he died.
While on the phone I asked her if she knew when Anton died. She offered to call his grandson for more information and get back to me. We both believe that Anton and the elder Johann Peter died before their youngest brother. [Note: About an hour after publishing this, Anton’s grandson confirmed that Anton was called Joseph by the family and that he died at the age of 82, i.e. about 1953.]
My husband’s grandfather Johann Peter (also known as Jean-Pierre) MEDER was the last of the 11 children. He died 23 February 1954 in Diekirch.[38]
What was that I said in the beginning about plowing through the records to prove there were a dozen children? Looks like there were only eleven!
As the years went by the son Anton was always seen as Joseph on the census with his parents. It is possible that Joseph was one of his baptismal names. Luxembourg, Church Records, 1601-1948 went online earlier this month however the time period for this family is not yet available. The Luxembourg census is not always very reliable when it comes to dates of birth as was seen above. The birth year of “Joseph” as he was seen on the census varied from 1871 to 1874. Later when he married and when his children were born he was seen as Anton.
The son who was registered as Heinrich was later seen as Ignatius on the census and this is the name which was used on his death record. I believe that family members who have said that the family had a dozen children may have counted Anton (Joseph) or Heinrich (Ignatus) twice. I know that at one time I had all of these names listed and the number of children was 13.
Finally, while I was talking to my husband’s cousin I asked her about the number of children. She said that she remembered tales of a child who died at birth. So back to the death records, I go to check if there may have been a stillbirth that I missed.
Sources: [1] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > Naissances 1823 > image 562 of 1507. “1846 Birth Record No. 13.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11681-35573-94?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2NV:n960823085 : accessed 01 Apr 2013). [2] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > Naissances 1823 > image 569 of 1507. “1846 Birth Record No. 39.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11681-27954-74?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2NV:n960823085 : accessed 01 Apr 2013). [3] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > Mariages 1843-1890 Décès 1797-1824 > image 562 of 1493. “1869 Marriage Record No. 12.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12052-48904-35?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2ND:n1913802954 : accessed 01 Apr 2013). [4] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > Naissances 1823 > image 1246 of 1507. “1870 Birth Record No. 16.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11681-32541-22?cc=1709358&wc=9RY4-BZ9:129628901,130131601 : accessed 18 March 2010). [5] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > Naissances 1823 > image 1287 of 1507. “1871 Birth Record No. 79.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11681-31930-97?cc=1709358&wc=9RY4-BZ9:129628901,130131601 : accessed 18 March 2010). [6] Luxembourg, Volkszählungen 1843-1900 (images), FamilySearch, (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > 1871 > image 1358 of 1420. “Faber-Lorentz and Meder-Faber households No. 18 & 19.” https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32382-18356-48?cc=2037957&wc=M5GS-ZNP:345999901,345869501 : accessed 7 January 2015). [7] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > Naissances 1823 > image 1333 of 1507. “1873 Birth Record No. 40.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11681-35167-8?cc=1709358&wc=9RY4-BZ9:129628901,130131601 : accessed 18 March 2010). [8] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), <i>FamilySearch</i> (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > Naissances 1823 > image 1389 of 1507. “1875 Birth Record No. 38.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11681-33342-21?cc=1709358&wc=9RY4-BZ9:129628901,130131601 : accessed 18 March 2010). [9] Luxembourg, Volkszählungen 1843-1900 (images), FamilySearch, (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > 1875 > image 305, 306, & 307 of 1488. “Meder-Faber household No. 80.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32379-21229-50?cc=2037957&wc=M5G9-SPK:345999901,345870501 : accessed 7 January 2015). [10] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), <i>FamilySearch</i> (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > Naissances 1823 > image 1439 of 1507. “1876 Birth Record No. 83.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11681-30199-20?cc=1709358&wc=9RY4-BZ9:129628901,130131601 : accessed 18 March 2010). [11] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), <i>FamilySearch</i> (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > Décès 1825-1890 > image 1065 of 1358. “1877 Death Record No. 55” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12147-169082-70?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-2NL:129628901,129628902 : accessed 5 January 2015). [12] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), <i>FamilySearch</i> (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > Naissances 1823 > image 1482 of 1507. “1878 Birth Record No. 30.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11681-29947-67?cc=1709358&wc=9RY4-BZ9:129628901,130131601 : accessed 18 March 2010). [13] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), <i>FamilySearch</i> (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > Naissances 1879-1890 Mariages 1796-1842 > image 43 of 1492. “1880 Birth Record No. 25.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11618-100350-77?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2N2:1627336735 : accessed 17 Feb 2013). [14] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), <i>FamilySearch</i> (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > Décès 1825-1890 > image 1130 of 1358. “1880 Death Record No. 67.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12147-165690-56?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2NH:n538876208 : accessed 17 Feb 2013). [15] Luxembourg, Volkszählungen 1843-1900 (images), FamilySearch, (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > 1880 > image 320, 321, & 322 of 1562. “Meder-Faber household No. 85.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32389-5849-2?cc=2037957&wc=M5GS-GPL:345999901,345872201 : accessed 7 January 2015). [16] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), <i>FamilySearch</i> (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > Naissances 1879-1890 Mariages 1796-1842 > image 73 of 1492. “1881 Birth Record No. 32; includes annotation of death.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11618-106519-76?cc=1709358&wc=9RY4-W38:129628901,130301801 : accessed 18 March 2010). [17] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), <i>FamilySearch</i> (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > Naissances 1879-1890 Mariages 1796-1842 > image 131 of 1492. “1883 Birth Record No. 21.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11618-105020-82?cc=1709358&wc=9RY4-W38:129628901,130301801 : accessed 18 March 2010. [18] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), <i>FamilySearch</i> (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > Naissances 1879-1890 Mariages 1796-1842 > image 200 of 1492. “1885 Birth Record No. 66.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11618-98266-73?cc=1709358&wc=9RY4-W38:129628901,130301801 : accessed 18 March 2010). [19] Luxembourg, Volkszählungen 1843-1900 (images), FamilySearch, (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > 1885 > image 916, 917 & 918 of 1613. “Meder-Faber household No. 8.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32390-14261-68?cc=2037957&wc=M5G7-W38:345999901,345873701 : accessed 2 January 2015). [20] Luxembourg, Volkszählungen 1843-1900 (images), FamilySearch, (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > 1887 > image 1197, 1198 & 1199 of 1594. “Meder-Faber household No. 66.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32391-13967-28?cc=2037957&wc=M5G4-3YM:345999901,345875201 : accessed 2 January 2015). [21] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), <i>FamilySearch</i> (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > Naissances 1879-1890 Mariages 1796-1842 > image 297 of 1492. “1888 Birth Record No. 100.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11618-105421-23?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2N2:1627336735 : accessed 01 Apr 2013). [22] Luxembourg, Volkszählungen 1843-1900 (images), FamilySearch, (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > 1890 > image 1560, 1561 & 1562 of 1663. “Meder-Faber household No. 78.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32392-7974-98?cc=2037957&wc=M5GZ-N36:345999901,345876401 : accessed 2 January 2015). [23] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > Mariages 1895-1923 Décès 1895-1902 > image 9 of 661. “1895 Marriage Record No. 12.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32038-1152-18?cc=1709358&wc=9RTB-92Q:129628901,130043302 : accessed 16 January 2015). [24] Luxembourg, Volkszählungen 1843-1900 (images), FamilySearch, (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > 1895 > image 378, 379 & 380 of 1738. “Meder-Faber household No. 84.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32395-3034-5?cc=2037957&wc=M5G8-W38:345999901,345878001 : accessed 2 January 2015). [25] Luxembourg, Volkszählungen 1843-1900 (images), FamilySearch, (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > 1900 > image 1177, 1178 & 1179 of 1812. “Meder-Faber household No. 82.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32397-6228-58?cc=2037957&wc=M9MV-MLX:709480180 : accessed 2 January 2015). [26] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), <i>FamilySearch</i> (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > Mariages 1895-1923 Décès 1895-1902 > image 133 of 661. “1904 Marriage Record No. 7.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32038-898-6?cc=1709358&wc=9RTB-92Q:129628901,130043302 : accessed 27 January 2015). [27] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), <i>FamilySearch</i> (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > Décès 1903-1912 > image 96 of 500. “1907 Death Record No. 17.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32027-18954-62?cc=1709358&wc=9RTY-J4Q:129628901,129787701 : accessed 5 January 2015). [28] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), <i>FamilySearch</i> (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > Mariages 1895-1923 Décès 1895-1902 > image 201 of 661. “1908 Marriage Record No. 21.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32038-427-64?cc=1709358&wc=9RTB-92Q:129628901,130043302 : accessed 7 January 2015). [29] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), <i>FamilySearch</i> (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > Décès 1903-1912 > image 180 of 500. “1910 Death Record No. 11.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32027-19615-86?cc=1709358&wc=9RTY-J4Q:129628901,129787701 : accessed 5 January 2015). [30] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), <i>FamilySearch</i> (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > Décès 1903-1912 > image 292 of 500. “1915 Death Record No. 12.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32027-19436-87?cc=1709358&wc=9RTY-J4Q:129628901,129787701 : accessed 11 January 2015). [31] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), <i>FamilySearch</i> (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Diekirch > Mariages 1895-1923 Décès 1895-1902 > image 461 of 661. “1923 Marriage Record No. 9.” (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32037-28712-77?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2NF:21518491 : accessed 01 Apr 2013). [32] Rob Deltgen, Diekirch : Komplettes Familienbuch der Gemeinde 1796-1923; Family book compiled from civil records. Covers the locality of Diekirch and, until 1823, also the localities of Bastendorf, Bleesmühle, Clairefontaine, Erpeldange, Gilsdorf, Ingeldorf et Tandel. Period: 1796-1923. [33] Escher Tageblatt; digitized by Bibliothèque nationale de Luxembourg; online http://www.eluxemburgensia.lu (Luxembourg); 6 March 1950. Death announcement of Mr. George Dillmann : accessed 1 Feb 2015 [34] Enders-Meder information [35] Luxemburger Wort, digitized by Bibliothèque nationale de Luxembourg; online http://www.eluxemburgensia.lu (Luxembourg), Friday, April 16, 1943. Death announcement of Fräulein Hélène Meder. [36] Luxembourger Wort, digitized by Bibliothèque nationale de Luxembourg; online http://www.eluxemburgensia.lu (Luxembourg), Monday, 8 Nov 1943. Death announcement of Fräulein Anna Meder. [37] Luxembourger Wort, digitized by Bibliothèque nationale de Luxembourg; online http://www.eluxemburgensia.lu (Luxembourg), Wednesday, 22 Jan 1947. Obituary of Théodore MEDER. [38] Commune de Diekirch Nr. 9/1923, Meder-Schwartz Family Book, page 1, full page. 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. Information on groom and bride; date of death of groom annotated on this page. Original in my possession.
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.
Gangolphus WILMES, the son of Michaelis WILMES (1700-1783) and Barbara JACQUEMIN (1705-1751), was born and baptized on 5 April 1739. His godparents were Gangolphus Walbrüll and Margaretha Juttels. The church record shows the surname spelled WILLEMS.[1] He was the middle child of the nine documented children found for his parents.
His daughter Apolonia, my children’s ancestor, died on 26 November 1824.[24]
Gangolf “Gangolphe” WILMES died on 22 January 1825 at the age of 85, outliving his father by five years.[25] His death was reported by his grandson, Jeangout KOENIG. Jeangout is the French version of the name Gangolf. Gangolphus’ name was given as Jeangout WILLMES and his age as 82 years. According to the death record, he was the widower of Marie TOLLMAN – similar to Marie Catherine Collman seen in 1781 but not a match. Could her maiden name on the marriage record have been transcribed incorrectly and did this influence my interpretation of the handwriting?
At the time of his death, the only known living child of the WILMES-SCHOOD couple was Elisabeth WILMES who died ten years later on 10 December 1835 at the age of 70.[26]
Sources:
I’m following Thomas MacEntee’s 
