Mertes – Opening Doors in Brick Walls

An Update on the MERTES-RUCKERT Family of Strassen

When I wrote about my children’s paternal 3rd great-grandparents Michel MERTES and Margaretha RUCKERT of Strassen, I hit a roadblock after finding them in the 1895 census.

No MERTES marriages were found in Strassen between 1895-1923. No death records were found for this family in Strassen between 1895-1923. The family appears to have disappeared from Strassen after the 1895 census, but where did they go?

I had no idea if they were alive and where they might be living.

Marriage Records in Luxembourg

The civil marriage records in Luxembourg and many other European countries are a treasure trove of information. When a person marries, his/her parents are listed on the form with their place of residence, occupation, and often their age. If they are deceased, the date and place of death are included.

Using the children to find the parents

Michel MERTES and Margaretha RUCKERT were both widowed when they married. From the first marriages, Michel had six children (three of whom died young) and Margaretha had one child. Together they had seven children with two of these dying in infancy.

To overcome this roadblock, the plan was to search for the children’s marriages. The records for Luxembourg are browse-only and include decennial tables (tables décennales) also known as 10-year lists and an index at the end of each year in the marriage register. Indexing on FamilySearch is still in progress and only a small percentage of the Luxembourgish records will appear in search results.

The difference between looking at and looking for

When I wrote the post in 2015, I only looked at the nearest towns. Since then, the civil marriages for Luxembourg have been indexed by members of my genealogy association Luxracines. The database went online in February 2018. The dedicated members of Luxracines didn’t stop there. They continued by indexing marriages of Luxembourgers abroad. Paris and Brussels were added by the end of 2018. The Belgian border municipalities of the province of Luxembourg and the province of Liège were added by the end of 2020. The Gerrman border municipalities as well as several other French towns where Luxembourgers went to work and eventually married were also included.

I confess that I found Michel’s death record nearly by accident while browsing the tables décennales of Dudelange in October 2021. This find pushed me to look for the MERTES children’s marriages. I was able to easily access the records using the indexed information. These marriage records led to the discovery of the date of death of Michel’s wife Margaretha.

As I analyzed the information in the records, details were added to the family’s timeline after the 1895 census.

Michel MERTES and Margaretha RUCKERT after 1895

In 1895 Michel and Margaretha were in Strassen. On their census record, five unmarried children were listed: daughters Catharina, Margaretha, and Susanna; Michel’s son Jacob from his first marriage; and Michel and Margaretha’s son Franz. The young men were not living at home at the time – this was indicated on the census.¹ Not at home were the married daughters. Michel’s daughters Margaretha (md. 1890) and Barbara (md. 1891) from his first marriage and Maria (md. 1894), his and Margaretha’s oldest daughter. Maria was my husband’s great-grandmother.

Jacob MERTES married Eugénie Mélanie FLAMBEAU (1880- ) on 30 May 1901 in Halanzy, Belgium. This record shows that both of his parents were living in Strassen at the time.²

Maria genannt (also called) Margaretha MERTES married Jean Nicolas MORBACH (1875- ) on 28 July 1902 in Dudelange, Luxembourg. Her father Michel was present at the marriage and residing in Dudelange. Her mother was listed as deceased with a date and place of death.³

This led to Margaretha RUCKERT’s death record. She died in Kleinbettingen, Luxembourg, on 18 June 1901. Her husband Michel, a village shepherd (Dorf Hirt) in Kleinbettingen, was the informant.⁴ This was the first and only time Michel’s occupation was something other than a manual or day laborer. Margaretha was buried in Strassen.⁵

On 17 January 1905, Catharina MERTES married Nicolas STEFFEN in Bous, Luxembourg. Her father Michel was living in Dudelange at the time.⁶

On 27 September 1907 Susanna MERTES married Henri August BEHRENS (1883- ) in Dudelange. Her father Michel was living in Strassen at the time.⁷

This accounts for all of Michel and Margaretha’s children except for their son Franz. It also shows that Michel was not living in one place during the years following his wife’s death.

Michel was last mentioned in a marriage record in 1907 and living in Strassen. In 2015 I’d searched the tables décennales of Strassen for a death record without result. At the time I thought this might mean he lived longer than 1922. This is the cut-off year for the civil records of Luxembourg on FamilySearch due to the restriction of 100 years from the date of the event.⁸

Since the children’s record didn’t help me find Michel’s death record, I turned to the grandchildren. As I mentioned earlier, I found the death record nearly by accident. I was searching the tables décennales for the birth and/or death records of MORBACH-MERTES children in Dudelange. I had already done the same for the STEFFEN-MERTES children in Bous.

Michel MERTES was living in Dudelange in August 1914, the month the German Empire began its occupation of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg during WWI. He didn’t have an occupation when he died at Tattenberg 116 on 22 August 1914 at the age of 76 years. The informants were a 51-year-old civil servant (Beamter) named Johann MOES and a 26-year-old civil servant named Albert PETIT.⁹ No relationship to Michel was listed. Both men were informants on several other death records before and after Michel’s.

Michel’s death was recorded in the parish records of Dudelange indicating he was buried in that town.¹⁰

Less than three years later, a grandson, the son of Maria genannt Margaretha MERTES and her absent husband Jean Nicolas MORBACH would die at the same address in Dudelange.¹¹ This could mean that Michel was living with his daughter and her children when he died.

More information was gleaned from the records

A marriage record wasn’t found for Michel and Margaretha’s son Franz. He was the only son to live to adulthood. Last seen on the back sheet of the 1895 census, he wasn’t at home and had been away for eight days working in Dudelange. A new search of the deaths in Dudelange turned up the death record of 25-year-old Franz. He was a Knecht or servant when he died on 14 February 1903. The informant on his death record was his father Michel age 66 and an ironworker or Hüttenarbeiter in Dudelange.¹²

As noted earlier, Michel’s occupation was mentioned in many records as being a manual laborer or day laborer. Until Franz’s death record was found, only one record gave a different occupation. At the time of his second wife’s death in 1901, he was working as the village shepherd. With the additional information found on Franz’s death record, an ironworker can be added to the list of occupations for Michel.

While reviewing the records more was revealed about the man, his wives, and his children.

Michel MERTES was illiterate per his first marriage record dated 10 January 1861.¹³ A year later, when his first child was born, he declared not being able to sign his name.¹⁴

From 1863 to 1872 when the next 5 children were born, he signed his name.¹⁵,¹⁶,¹⁷,¹⁸,¹⁹ In 1864 and 1867 his first wife Catharina Hein signed the census.²⁰,²¹ In 1871 and 1875 Michel signed the census.²²,²³ In later years the signature on the census was legible and different from earlier years. They were most likely not signed by him.

He continued to sign his name in 1874 when his first wife died and he remarried.²⁴,²⁵ He signed the birth records of their first 4 children born from 1875 to 1882.²⁶,²⁷,²⁸,²⁹ Then from 1885 on, he said he wasn’t being able to sign his name when he declared the births of three more children in 1885, 1887, and 1889.³⁰,³¹,³²

Michel’s not being able to sign his name was also noted in the marriage records of his children in 1890 (Margaretha), 1891 (Barbara), 1894 (Maria), 1901 (Jacob), 1902 (Maria genannt Margaretha), 1905 (Catharina), and 1907 (Susanna). All of these children signed their names on these records.

Like his children, both of his wives were literate and signed their names when they married. Apparently, Michel could not read and write and must have been taught to sign his name after the birth of his first child in 1862. By the time he’d reached the age of 47, he no longer made an effort to sign his name and declared not being able to do so.

Concerning the two daughters named Maria

I am often asked how the Luxembourg families dealt with children of the same name. Since writing the original post on the family, more records have become available. Matricula now has Luxembourg Catholic registers for the 17th to 20th century online. I accessed the baptismal and burial records available of the entire family. The baptismal records of the daughters named Maria brought clarity to the use of genannt in the 1902 marriage. Maria 1875 was named Maria in the civil record and Maria Anna in her baptismal record. Her godmother was Maria HAAS of Strassen.³² She was known as Maria in all other records. Her sister Maria 1882 was named Maria in the civil and baptismal records. Her godmother was Margaretha MERTES of Strassen and likely her older half-sister.³³ As there was already a daughter named Maria, the second girl went by the name of her godmother Margaretha.

This roadblock turned out to only be a bump in the road. By searching for and analyzing all records that might lead to the death records of Michel and Margaretha, I learned more than when and where they died. The literacy of the family, the occupations of the father, the death of their only adult son, and clarity concerning the two Marias.

Luxembourg, Volkszählungen 1843-1900 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Strassen > 1895 > images 334-336 of 648, Mertes household no. 145, (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32395-20554-24?cc=2037957&wc=M5GD-NQF:346409101,345878001 : accessed 24 May 2015). ↩
Belgique, Luxembourg, registres d’état civil, 1580-1920, (images), FamilySearch, België Nationaal Archief, Brussels / Belgium National Archives, Brussels, Halanzy > Naissances, publications de mariage, mariages, décès 1901-1904 (n° 3975-3978) > image 59 of 388. 1901 Marriage Record No. 7. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-897F-SBW?cc=2138510&wc=SRMH-SPP%3A367345301%2C367509701 : accessed 15 October 2021). ↩
Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941 (images), FamilySearch, original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg, Dudelange > Mariages 1895-1909 > image 269 of 590. 1902 Marriage Record No. 46. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-997V-PHZ?cc=1709358&wc=9RT1-HZW%3A129625901%2C129839801 : accessed 14 October 2021). ↩
Ibid., Steinfort > Décès 1895-1923 > image 54 of 267. 1901 Death Record No. 13. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G97V-S9NM?cc=1709358&wc=9RTB-DPF%3A130395201%2C129623802 : accessed 14 October 2021). ↩
Diözesanarchiv Luxemburg / Archives diocésaines Luxembourg (images), Matricula Online, http://data.matricula-online.eu/de/LU/luxemburg/, Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 (citing original records in the Luxembourg Diocesan Archives, Luxembourg City), GV.MF 315; GV.MF 350, Strassen, KB-04, Heiraten – Sterbefälle – 1845 – 1906, image 167 of 176, left page. 1901 Death/Burial Entry 13. (https://data.matricula-online.eu/de/LU/luxemburg/strassen/KB-04/?pg=167 : accessed 8 February 2023). ↩
Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941, Bous > Mariages 1895-1923 > image 58 of 164. 1905 Marriage Record No. 1. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-897J-BT6P?cc=1709358&wc=9RTB-92D%3A129624601%2C129649201 : accessed 15 October 2021). ↩
Ibid., Dudelange > Mariages 1895-1909 > image 489 of 590. 1907 Marriage Record No. 71. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G97V-GQNP?cc=1709358&wc=9RT1-HZW%3A129625901%2C129839801 : Accessed 14 October 2021). ↩
Luxembourg Civil Code, Title II, Chapter I, Article 45 (https://legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/leg/code/civil : accessed 18 February 2023) ↩
Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941, Dudelange > Décès 1906-1920 > image 503 of 814. 1914 Death Record No. 105. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L97V-P3W2?cc=1709358&wc=9RT1-4WG%3A129625901%2C129725701 : accessed 16 October 2021). ↩
Diözesanarchiv Luxemburg, GV.MF 172-285, Düdelingen, KB-17, Sterbefälle – 1910 – 1919, image 53 of 102, left page. 1914 Death/Burial Entry 98. (https://data.matricula-online.eu/de/LU/luxemburg/duedelingen/KB-17/?pg=53 : accessed 8 February 2023). ↩
Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941, Dudelange > Décès 1906-1920 > image 624 of 814. 1917 Death Record No. 7. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L97V-PSTS?cc=1709358&wc=9RT1-4WG%3A129625901%2C129725701 : accessed 20 February 2023),. ↩
Ibid., Dudelange > Mariages 1921-1923 Décès 1895-1905 > image 640 of 835. 1903 Death Record No. 17. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G97J-YN21?cc=1709358&wc=9RTY-YWL%3A129625901%2C129980901 : accessed 20 February 2023). ↩
Ibid., Strassen > Naissances, mariages 1796-1823, 1850-1890 > image 1221 of 1464. 1861 Marriage Record No. 1. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12588-59528-4?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-LNP:1592332876 : accessed 03 Apr 2013). ↩
Ibid., Strassen > Naissances, mariages 1796-1823, 1850-1890 > image 450 of 1464. 1862 Birth Record No. 5. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12588-61420-66?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-N38:130458601,130573201 : accessed 20 May 2015). ↩
Ibid., Strassen > Naissances, mariages 1796-1823, 1850-1890 > image 466 of 1464. 1863 Birth Record No. 19. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12588-57722-32?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-N38:130458601,130573201 : accessed 2 April 2010). ↩
Ibid., Strassen > Naissances, mariages 1796-1823, 1850-1890 > image 504 of 1464. 1865 Birth Record No. 39. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12588-57972-12?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-N38:130458601,130573201 : accessed 2 April 2010). ↩
Ibid., Strassen > Naissances, mariages 1796-1823, 1850-1890 > image 528 of 1464. 1867 Birth Record No. 39. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12588-61010-8?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-N38:130458601,130573201 : accessed 2 April 2010). ↩
Ibid., Strassen > Naissances, mariages 1796-1823, 1850-1890 > image 563 of 1464. 1870 Birth Record No. 1. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12588-60560-57?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-N38:130458601,130573201 : accessed 2 April 2010).
Note: mother is listed as Margaretha Hein instead of Catharina Hein. ↩
Ibid., Strassen > Naissances, mariages 1796-1823, 1850-1890 > image 594 of 1464. 1872 Birth Record No. 22. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12588-61213-69?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-N38:130458601,130573201 : accessed 2 April 2010),. ↩
Luxembourg, Volkszählungen 1843-1900, Strassen > 1864 > image 210 of 293. Mertes-Erpelding houshold no. 152. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32569-16533-34?cc=2037957&wc=M5G9-FMT:346409101,345868401 : accessed 21 May 2015). ↩
Ibid., Strassen > 1867 > image 31 of 312. Mertes household no. 15. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32380-28790-79?cc=2037957&wc=M5GS-SPL:346409101,345869101 : accessed 21 May 2015). ↩
Ibid., Strassen > 1871 > image 208 of 668. Mertes household no. 83. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32377-25201-84?cc=2037957&wc=M5LB-RMX:346409101,345869501 : accessed 21 May 2015). ↩
Ibid., Strassen > 1875 > image 516 of 629. Mertes household no. 25. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32379-31732-25?cc=2037957&wc=M5G9-DPT:346409101,345870501 : accessed 21 May 2015). ↩
Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941, Strassen > Décès 1850-1890 > image 251 of 446. 1874 Death Record No. 4. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11741-487-59?cc=1709358&wc=9RYH-6T5:130458601,129625702 : accessed 17 May 2015). ↩
Ibid., Strassen > Naissances, mariages 1796-1823, 1850-1890 > image 1336 of 1464. 1874 Marriage Record No. 5. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12588-60372-57?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-LNP:1592332876 : accessed 03 Apr 2013). ↩
Ibid., Strassen > Naissances, mariages 1796-1823, 1850-1890 > image 645 of 1464. 1875 Birth Record No. 11. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12588-58599-17?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-LNP:1592332876 : accessed 01 Apr 2010). ↩
Ibid., Strassen > Naissances, mariages 1796-1823, 1850-1890 > image 684 of 1464. 1877 Birth Record No. 10. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12588-58094-97?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-N38:130458601,130573201 : accessed 1 April 2010). ↩
Ibid., Strassen > Naissances, mariages 1796-1823, 1850-1890 > image 731 of 1464. 1880 Birth Record No. 2. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12588-60407-65?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-N38:130458601,130573201 : accessed 1 April 2010). ↩
Ibid., Strassen > Naissances, mariages 1796-1823, 1850-1890 > image 760 of 1464. 1882 Birth Record No. 10. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12588-60698-90?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-N38:130458601,130573201 : accessed 1 April 2010). ↩
Ibid., Strassen > Naissances, mariages 1796-1823, 1850-1890 > image 805 of 1464. 1885 Birth Record No. 36. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12588-57425-38?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-N38:130458601,130573201 : accessed 1 April 2010). ↩
Ibid., Strassen > Naissances, mariages 1796-1823, 1850-1890 > image 834 of 1464. 1887 Birth Record No. 46. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12588-57481-98?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-N38:130458601,130573201 : accessed 1 April 2010). ↩
Diözesanarchiv Luxemburg, GV.MF 315; GV.MF 350, Strassen, KB-05, Taufen – 1853 – 1893, image 81 of 135. 1875 Baptismal Record 8. (https://data.matricula-online.eu/de/LU/luxemburg/strassen/KB-05/?pg=81 : accessed 19 February 2023). ↩ ↩
Ibid., GV.MF 315; GV.MF 350, Strassen, KB-05, Taufen – 1853 – 1893, image 107 of 135. 1882 Baptismal Record 10. (https://data.matricula-online.eu/de/LU/luxemburg/strassen/KB-05/?pg=107 : accessed 19 February 2023). ↩

Photo Correction: What Happened to the Baby?

Last November I shared the last photo of a Luxembourg family before emigrating to America.

At the annual Genealogy and Local History day hosted by my genealogy society Luxracines last month, Nicole gave me two old photographs. They were found at the recycling park and passed on to her as she has an interest in genealogy. As I’ve worked with old photographs and have an interest in researching US families, Nicole thought I might be able to research the family and write a post.

In the post, I was able to identify the MAUER family of Koerich in Luxembourg. The brothers Valentin MAUER and Eugène MAUER had emigrated to America in 1906. Prior to their departure, they had their picture taken with their mother, their sister, and her family.

I wrote to several people who had trees on Ancestry® and heard back from three of them. They’ve received good quality digital scans of the photographs. The first two are descendants of Valentin MAUER and the third of his sister Catherine MAUER who married Andrew KUHNEN in California in 1897 the year after she emigrated. I haven’t looked into how she came to emigrate nearly a decade before her brothers.

I still have the originals and would like to send them to two of the descendants of Valentin MAUER if they are interested in owning the original(s).

The reason for this post is that I made a mistake in my write-up on photographs.

My mother inadvertently helped me figure out something about the photos which I didn’t catch when I wrote my post. The photos were on the dining room table when she stopped by a week after my post.

Three months later, I’m getting around to correcting my error.

I was showing Mom the photographs and explaining who I had gotten them from. I told her about the MAUER family and how three of the children went to America. With the photos side by side, I was pointing out who was who.

The photographs are nearly identical. The backdrop of the pictures is likely the family home. The same persons are in both photos except for a baby. The woman holding the baby in this photo was probably the mother.

Do you see the mistake I made when I wrote: “except for the baby?”

Here is a close-up of the first:

Back row left to right: Etienne GRETHEN, Catherine MERTES widow of Jean MAUER, Eugène MAUER, and Valentin MAUER. In the front left to right: Anna GRETHEN, her mother Marie-Anne MAUER holding baby Jean Baptiste GRETHEN, and Hélène GRETHEN.

And the second:

On the right in the seconded cropped image, the mother is clearly no longer holding the child. However, I noticed her dress wasn’t dark below the knees as in the first. There’s a blur in front of the mother and to the left of the little girl. This must be the baby I thought was missing in the photo.

Jean Baptiste GRETHEN, born 11 January 1905 in Koerich, was in both pictures with his parents, sisters, uncles, and maternal grandmother.

This may seem like a small thing to write a post about but it’s also a reminder to review previous research. You’ll likely turn up something you missed the first time around.

A Last Photo with the Family before Emigrating to America

At the annual Genealogy and Local History day hosted by my genealogy society Luxracines last month, Nicole gave me two old photographs. They were found at the recycling park and passed on to her as she has an interest in genealogy. As I’ve worked with old photographs and have an interest in researching US families, Nicole thought I might be able to research the family and write a post.

When you jump to conclusions…

On the back of one of the photographs was enough information to identify the family. At first glance, I thought the name of the family was MAMER. We were at the Luxracines event and, as members of the committee, we were both busy setting up and making sure things were running smoothly.

I was really excited to be able to work with these photographs as I have a connection to a MAMER family and know there are descendants of the line in America. These descendants are half-cousins as they descend from my 6th great-grandmother Anna Catharina RONAS who was first married to a MAMER and then to my 6th great-grandfather Nicolas HEITZ. Anna Catharina is one of my matrilineal ancestors.

However, once I got home and had time to sit down and study the photographs, I realized the family name on the back of the photo is MAUER and not MAMER.

About the photographs…

The photographs are nearly identical. The backdrop of the pictures is likely the family home. The same persons are in both photos except for a baby. The woman holding the baby in this photo was probably the mother.

The cardboard frame of the photo above had been cut away while the second one’s frame (below) is the original size making it too large to lay flat and scan completely on my flatbed scanner. It came out a bit blurry compared to the first.

Written on the back of the photo without the baby is the following information:

Etienne Grethen
Marie-Anne Mauer + Kinder Anna + Hélène
mit der Mütter v. M.-Anne Mauer +
Bruder Eugène Mauer
Bruder Valentin Mauer
wahrscheinlich vor der Abreise nach America v.
Eugène + Valentin Mauer
= écriture de Germaine Thill-Steichen de Koerich
décédée le 2 octobre 2008

Translation:
Etienne GRETHEN, Marie-Anne MAUER and her children Anna and Hélène with the mother of Marie-Anne and brother Eugène MAUER and Valentin MAUER probably before the departure for America of Eugène and Valentin.
= handwriting of Germaine THILL-STEICHEN of Koerich who died 2 October 2008.

Also on the back is the photographer’s stamp:

Marcel THILL
19, rue William Turner
LUXEMBOURG

Could Germaine have been the wife of the photographer? Did she include the information for the photographer’s archive? Did she know the family? Was she related to them?

Researching the family in Luxembourg

I started my research into this family with the possible marriage of the mother of the children, Marie-Anne MAUER. She married Etienne GRETHEN on 1 June 1897 in Koerich. Their marriage record included the names of her parents, Jean MAUER and Catherine MERTES.¹ Jean and Catherine were married in Hesperange on 21 December 1863.² As their daughter, Marie-Anne was born in Koerich I checked the Tables Décennales (10-year lists) for births of MAUER children in Koerich for the period 1863-1892. I found a son named Eugène born in 1880 but none named Valentin.

Researching the MAUER brothers who went to America

Before searching for further records for the families in Luxembourg, I checked on Ancestry to see if the two men, Eugène and Valentin, had actually gone to America as noted on the back of the photo.

1920 U.S. Federal Census, courtesy of Ancestry.com

I found Valentin MAUER in the 1920 census with his wife, a son, a daughter, and a boarder named Eugene MAUER. Both men were listed as born in France as were their parents and both immigrated in 1906. Valentin was a naturalized citizen since 1911 and Eugène was an alien. No mention was made of their being brothers or even related.³

Record hits for Valentin consistently showed he was born in France. The 1910 and 1930 census showed he immigrated in 1906 as seen in 1920. A 1921 US passport application gave his place of birth as Ourscanips, France. Obviously a typing error on the application.⁴ His US World War I Draft Registration Card had his place of birth as Ourscamp, l’Oise, France.⁵

At the Oise Archives, I located Valentin’s birth record. He was born on 1 August 1887 in Ourscamp, Chiry-Ourscamp. His parents were Jean MAUER age 52 and Catherine MERTES age 46.⁶

With confirmation that Valentin was born in France and the son of Jean and Catherine, I continued to search in the US records for the Eugène MAUER seen in the 1920 census listing.

Eugene MAUER also filled out a draft registration card in 1918 when he was living in Cottonwood, Idaho County, Idaho. He declared himself an alien from Luxembourg and named Catherine KUHNEN as his nearest relative.⁷ Per the 1900 census, Catherine immigrated in 1896. She married Andrew KUHNEN in 1897 in California.

Eugene was found on a manifest of alien passengers for the US. He had sailed on the SS Venezuela from San Francisco to Baltimore, Maryland, in June 1921. The information given confirms he was born in Koerich, Luxembourg. He gave Valentin MAUER of San Francisco as his nearest relative. As he was entering a US port he was asked if he had entered the country before, when, for how long, and where. He replied yes from 1906 to 1921 in various places. His purpose for visiting the US was that he was in transit.⁸ He was likely traveling home to Luxembourg as the next spring he was found marrying Margaretha CLAREN on 30 April 1922 in Folschette.⁹ They had at least one child, a daughter born in 1923. Birth records are not available after 1923.

Researching the younger generation in Luxembourg

With confirmation that Valentin MAUER and Eugène MAUER found living in San Francisco and Idaho were brothers and the sons of Jean MAUER and Catherine MERTES, I looked into the children of Etienne GRETHEN and his wife Marie-Anne MAUER, also a daughter of the MAUER-MERTES couple.

Etienne and Marie-Anne had a daughter Anna born 3 February 1899¹⁰, a daughter Hélène Marie-Anne born 30 December 1900¹¹, and a son Jean Baptiste born 11 January 1905.¹² With these names, I was able to confirm the identity of the persons in this cropped view of the family in the photo with the baby.

The baby is a blur in the photograph as he was likely not holding still and it’s impossible to tell his age. As he was born in January 1905 I would estimate the photo was taken later in the year. Valentin stated on his US passport application in 1921 that he sailed from Antwerp, Belgium, about 1906. Passenger lists for ships from Antwerp to America in 1905-1906 may show if Valentin emigrated with his brother Eugène.

Valentin’s 1921 application also includes a passport photo which can be compared with the 1905/1906 photo.

Valentin MAUER ca. 1905-1906 (left) and 1921 (right)

Obituaries were found for Marie-Anne MAUER in 1946¹³ and for her widower Etienne in 1950.¹⁴ The obituaries show the children Anna, Hélène, and Jean Baptiste all married and had children. The names of the grandchildren were not included in the death notices.

Is there more to the story of this family?

If the MAUER-MERTES family were one of my families I would have so many questions I’d want answered.

Jean MAUER died in 1892¹⁵ leaving Catherine MERTES with at least seven children between the ages of 5 and 26 years of age. An 8th child likely died young. A little curious, I checked for her household in the Luxembourg census for the years 1895 and 1900.

In 1895 she had Ann-Marie, Eugène, and Valentin living at home. Two daughters, Marie and Catherine, had been working in Paris for 5 years and son Johann had recently gone to unknown parts of France to work.¹⁶

In 1900 Valentin was still at home with his mother and his married sister Barbara had come home with her husband and three children. The children were born in California between 1892 and 1896 which would explain Barbara not being on the 1895 census. Daughter Marie was in her 9th year of service as a nurse in Paris. Son Johann was also working in France while Eugène had been working in Esch-sur-Alzette for a year.¹⁷ Marie-Anne was married and in her own household.

In both census listings, the mother Catherine was working to support the family as were all children except young Valentin in 1895.

I have not looked into when Barbara went to America and if, after her family returned to Luxembourg, they remained in Koerich. Nor have I checked if Marie who was working in Paris may have married or even returned to Luxembourg.

Catherine MERTES, the mother of the MAUER children, died in 1914 at the age of 72 years.¹⁸

Back to the beginning…

Anna GRETHEN married nine days after her uncle Eugène MAUER on 9 May 1922 in Koerich to Pierre STEICHEN.¹⁹ Germaine THILL-STEICHEN who wrote on the back of the photograph was their only (known) child.

I found trees maintained on Ancestry by several descendants of Valentin MAUER and Catherine MAUER. I’ll be getting in touch with them to see if any are interested in receiving digital copies of the photographs or the originals which were saved from the recycling park.

Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Koerich > Mariages 1895-1923 > image 21 of 222. 1897 Marriage Record No. 7. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L97V-Q466?cc=1709358&wc=9RTB-2NR%3A129989801%2C129649201 : accessed 31 October 2019). ↩
Ibid., Hesperange > Naissances 1869-1890 Mariages 1797-1823, 1796-1868 > image 1432 of 1492. 1863 Marriage Record No. 15. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DKRX-VL?cc=1709358&wc=9RYW-7M9%3A129747201%2C130056301 : accessed 2 November 2019). ↩
1920 U.S. Federal Census, (index and images), Ancestry, citing Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920 population schedule, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C., NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls, Roll: T625_141, California, San Francisco County, San Francisco District 28, Enumeration District 3000, Page 2B, Lines 54-58, HH #483-35, Valentine Mauer household. (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 31 October 2019). ↩
“U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925” (index and images), Ancestry, citing Selected Passports at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C., Roll #: 1693; Volume #: Roll 1693 – Certificates: 66376-66749, 18 Jul 1921-19 Jul 1921. Passport application of Valentine Mauer issued 19 Jul 1921. ↩
“U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” (index and images), Ancestry, citing original data: United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C., FHL microfilm M1509, 4,582 rolls, Registration State: California, Registration County: San Francisco, Roll: 1544256, Draft Board: 08, Valentine Mauer. (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 November 2019). ↩
Archives départementales de l’Oise (60), browsable images of microfilm collection of parish and civil records (online http://archives.oise.fr/archives-en-ligne/), Chiry-Ourscamp, Etat Civil naissances, mariages, divorces, décès 1887-1888, 3E150/23, image 66 of 155. 1887 Birth Record No. 75. (http://ressources.archives.oise.fr/ark:/44803/9b4f7a420970afc4142b20a70bf130c3 : accessed 1 November 2019). ↩
World War I Draft Registration Cards, Registration State: Idaho, Registration County: Idaho, Roll: 1452216, Eugene Mauer. (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 31 October 2019). ↩
Baltimore, Passenger Lists, 1820-1964, Ancestry citing The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C., Records of the US Customs Service, RG36; NAI Number: 2655153; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85, Roll Number: 119. (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 November 2019). ↩
Luxembourg Civil Records, Folschette > Mariages 1851-1923 Décès 1894-1902 > image 560 of 659. 1922 Marriage Record No. 4. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G97J-Y6YY?cc=1709358&wc=9RTY-T3D%3A129624801%2C129674001 : accessed 2 November 2019). ↩
Ibid., Koerich > Naissances 1895-1923 > image 52 of 222. 1899 Birth Record No. 8. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G97V-WF8Q?cc=1709358&wc=9RTB-RMD%3A129989801%2C129648901 : accessed 31 October 2019). ↩
Ibid., Koerich > Naissances 1895-1923 > image 74 of 222. 1900 Birth Record No. 46. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-897V-WXVS?cc=1709358&wc=9RTB-RMD%3A129989801%2C129648901 : accessed 31 October 2019). ↩
Ibid., Koerich > Naissances 1895-1923 > image 133 of 222. 1905 Birth Record No. 1. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L97V-WFHG?cc=1709358&wc=9RTB-RMD%3A129989801%2C129648901 : accessed 31 October 2019). ↩
Luxemburger Wort, digitized by the Bibliothèque nationale de Luxembourg, http://www.eluxemburgensia.lu (Verlage der St-Paulus-Druckerei, Luxembourg), 18 November 1946, p. 5, col. 3. Madame Etienne Grethen née Marie-Anne Mauer Avis Mortuaire. (http://www.eluxemburgensia.lu/webclient/DeliveryManager?application=DIRECTLINK&custom_att_2=simple_viewer&pid=802390&search_terms=etienne%20grethen#panel:pp|issue:802390|article:DTL636|query:etienne%20grethen : accessed 1 November 2019). ↩
Ibid., 3 May 1950, p. 7, col. 3. Monsieur Etienne Grethen veuf de Marianne Mauer Avis Mortuaire. (http://www.eluxemburgensia.lu/webclient/DeliveryManager?application=DIRECTLINK&custom_att_2=simple_viewer&pid=829556&search_terms=etienne%20grethen#panel:pp|issue:829556|article:DTL969|query:etienne%20grethen : accessed 1 November 2019). ↩
Luxembourg Civil Records, Koerich > Naissances, mariages, décès 1891-1894 > image 87 of 122. 1892 Death Record No. 12. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-61W9-VTM?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-C6R%3A129989801%2C129717601 : accessed 2 November 2019). ↩
Luxembourg, Volkszählungen 1843-1900 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Koerich > 1895 > image 447 of 628. Mauer-Mertes household. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-9971-RNZV?cc=2037957&wc=M5G6-T3D%3A345861701%2C345878001 : accessed 1 November 2019). ↩
Ibid., Koerich > 1900 > image 55 of 632. Mauer-Mertes household. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L971-Y35Z?cc=2037957&wc=M5GF-7MZ%3A345861701%2C345873901 : accessed 1 November 2019). ↩
Luxembourg Civil Records, Koerich > Décès 1895-1923 > image 183 of 267. 1914 Death Record No. 15. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-897V-QHDK?cc=1709358&wc=9RTB-2J9%3A129989801%2C129623802 : accessed 2 November 2019). ↩
Ibid., Koerich > Mariages 1895-1923 > image 208 of 222. 1922 Marriage Record No. 2. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-897V-QCWT?cc=1709358&wc=9RTB-2NR%3A129989801%2C129649201 : accessed 31 October 2019). ↩

52 Ancestors: #39 The Last of the German Fourth Great-Grandparents

The last set of fourth great-grandparents who lived in what is now Germany were Mathias KERSCHT and Anna EWEN. Mathias’ surname was spelled differently in several family books (Familienbücher=FB). As KIRSTEN in the FB Meckel¹; KIRST, KIERSCH, and KIERSTEN in the FB Messerich²; and as KERSCH and KIRSCH in the FB Mettendorf³. For Anna’s maiden name EWEN, no variations were found.

Genealogy Sketch

Name: Mathias KERSCHT
Parents: Peter KERSCHT and Eva SCHMIDS
Spouse: Anna EWEN
Parents of Spouse: Gerhard EWEN and Barbara THIELEN
Whereabouts: Meckel, Messerich, Mettendorf (Germany)
Relationship to Cathy Meder-Dempsey: 4th great-grandfather

1. Mathias KERSCHT
2. Anna Maria KERSCHT
3. Magdalena WAGNER
4. Katharina “Catherine” PÖPPELREITER
5. Nicolas WILDINGER
6. Living WILDINGER
7. Cathy Meder-Dempsey

Mathias KERSCHT, the son of Peter KERSCHT and Eva SCHMIDS, was born on 28 March 1759 in Meckel, Eifel, Rheinland, Germany, and baptized the same day. His godparents were Matthias BERENS and Anna Maria SCHUL, both of Meckel. His godfather was likely a brother or relative of his mother Eva. Matthias BERENS went by his wife’s maiden name and was known as Matthias SCHMITZ before his marriage. Mathias KERSCHT had only one known sister Luzia who was two years older. It is not known if she married and had descendants.

Mathias married Anna EWEN, daughter of Gerhard EWEN and Barbara THIELEN, on 26 November 1785 in Messerich. Anna was born on 6 June 1766 in Messerich. She was the fourth of ten children.

Mathias worked as a sheepherder (Schäfer) in Messerich until about 1795 and then moved to Mettendorf where he continued to work in the same occupation.

Mathias and Anna had the following children.

1. Margaretha was born on 9 September 1786 in Messerich. She was baptized the same day. Her godparents were Peter KIRST of Meckel and Margaretha BAUER of Messerich. Was the godfather also the child’s grandfather? The FB Meckel in which Mathias’ father was found as Peter KIRSTEN does not include a date of death.

2. Anna was born on 4 October 1788 in Messerich and was baptized the same day. Her godfather was Theodore EWEN, single, from Messerich, likely her maternal uncle who was 27 years old at the time. Her godmother was likely her paternal grandmother Eva. The entry in the FB Messerich shows Evan KIERSTEN of Meckel. The godmother’s first name may be a typo in the book and the child was not given the name Eva or Evan but Anna. She married Heinrich LUDEWIG on 23 January 1809 in Mettendorf. They were the parents of eleven children. Anna died on 8 January 1843 in Mettendorf.

3. An unnamed child was born on 19 December 1790 in Messerich and died the same day.

4. Catharina was born on 14 December 1791 in Messerich and was baptized the same day. Her godparents were Jakob WEILER, a sheepherder (Schäfer) and Katharina LOCH of Spangdahlem. Catharina married Joannes Friedericus LOCHEMES on 19 September 1811 in Mettendorf. Joannes Friedericus was born about 1784 in Dahlem. From the time of their second child’s birth, her husband was given as Theodore LOCHEMES on all births thereafter. They were the parents of seven children. Catharina died on 9 December 1851 in Mettendorf. Her husband died on 16 January 1864 in Mettendorf.

5. Matthias was born on 19 April 1794 in Messerich and was baptized the same day. His godparents were Mathias SCHMITZ, a pig herder (Sauhirt) of KIRCHWEILER and Luzia BICHELER of Messerich. Matthias married Angela ACHEN on 21 January 1818 in Mettendorf. Angela was born on 11 December 1793 in Mettendorf. She died on 21 December 1870 in Mettendorf and Matthias died on 16 November 1876 in Mettendorf. They were the parents of seven children, two of whom died young. Their three youngest children went to America in the 1850s and settled in Wright County, Minnesota. Two were sons and their descendants spelled the surname KIRSCHT.

The towns where this family lived. Cropped from a larger map from 1789. Courtesy of http://wiki-commons.genealogy.net/Datei:Rheinprovinz-1789-00-Uebersicht-kl.djvu

6. Anna Maria, my third great-grandmother, was born between 1795-1798 in Mettendorf. She is not included in the FB Messerich listing for her parents which suggests she must have been born after her brother Mathias. His birth in Messerich and her birth in Mettendorf places the relocation of the family from Messerich to Mettendorf during this time period. Anna Maria married Johann WAGNER, son of Matthias WAGNER and Maria Katharina HARTERT, on 22 February 1830 in Mettendorf. Johann, my third great-grandfather, was born on 19 June 1804 in Fließem and was baptized the same day. Johann worked as a shepherd. He died on 15 June 1858 in Mettendorf and was buried two days later. Anna Maria died on 21 July 1876 in Mettendorf.

7. Christoph was born on 19 June 1799 in Mettendorf. He married Elisabetha MERTES on 23 February 1824 in Sülm, also in the Eifel. Elisabetha was born in 1804 in Röhl. Christoph died on 30 September 1871 in Mettendorf. They were the parents of seven children, two of whom died young.

8. Anna Catharina was born about 1806 in Mettendorf. She died on 22 May 1824 in Mettendorf at the age of about 18 years and was buried the following day.

9. Heinrich was born on 8 August 1809 in Mettendorf and was baptized the same day. His godparents were Heinrich LUDEWIG, a sheepherder (Schäfer) of Mettendorf, and Margaretha ROCK, a servant (Magd) of Hisel. The godfather was his brother-in-law, newlywed husband of his second oldest sister Anna. He died 10 days later on 18 August 1809 in Mettendorf and was buried the following day.

10. Johann was born on 18 February 1811 in Mettendorf and was baptized the same day. His godparents were Johann WEYERS and Margaretha THEISEN, both of Mettendorf. Johann married Elisabeth ROTH on 7 January 1841 in Nusbaum. The family lived in Sinspelt, part of the Mettendorf parish. They were the parents of two known children, one of whom died young. No entry for his death was given in the FB Mettendorf which may mean he died after 1899.

The mother of these children, Anna EWEN died on 15 November 1828 in Mettendorf and was buried on the same day. Her widower Mathias KERSCHT died on 9 February 1841 in Mettendorf. He was buried on 11 February 1841 in Mettendorf.

As mentioned at the beginning, this is the last of my fourth great-grandparents who lived in the Eifel area of Germany. Next up will be the eight sets of fourth great-grandparents who lived in Rodange, Wiltz, Vianden, Echternach, Mamer, Capellen, and Strassen in Luxembourg. With only five weeks to the end of the year, it looks like I may not be able to get them done on schedule.

Werner Naumann, compiler, Familienbuch der Pfarrei Meckel Dekanat Bitburg 1632-1900, (including Meckel, Eßlingen, Hof Badenborn, Kaschenbach) (1992). ↩
Werner Naumann, compiler, Familienbuch der Pfarrei Messerich Dekanat Bitburg 1720-1900 (1992). ↩
Werner Naumann, compiler, Familienbuch der Pfarrei Mettendorf Dekanat Neuerburg, Band 1 A-M Band 2 N-Z, (including Mettendorf, Bierendorf, Burg, Halsdorf, Hisel, Lahr, Hüttingen, Nasingen, Niederraden, Niehl, Ober- und Niedergeckler, Sinspelt) (1992). ↩

52 Ancestors: #30 Three Times a Wife – Angelique MICHELS of Bertrange

I have days when I’m ready to finish up researching a family and begin to write their story then something distracts me enough to set them aside for a day or two. When I come back to the research and begin or continue writing about them, I usually find something I’ve missed or was unable to find. Are there angels watching over our genealogy work?

The genealogies of the families of Bertrange in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg have been well researched by René KIRSCH who shares his work La Généalogie de BERTRANGE on his website. Using it as a guide, I was able to quickly find the records for Angelique’s family. However using other people’s work as a guide, even if you are able to confirm the research, may result in your not finding all records. I usually do the research first and then compare with research done by others. This works well for me. I should stick with this modus operandi as I ended up going through the parish records a second time to search for records I needed to prove relationships which were missed in La Généalogie de BERTRANGE.

Angelique MICHELS (1750-1825)

On 15 April 1825 at eight o’clock in the morning Rosa WESTER, 47 years old, was at the records office in Bertrange declaring the death of her mother Angelique MICHELS, the widow of Johann RUCKERT, who had died only an hour earlier at the age of 77 years.[1] Angelique had led a long and interesting life. During her lifetime her first name was also seen as Angelica and Angela. The mother of nine children and grandmother of at least 38 grandchildren was one of my children’s many fifth great-grandmothers.

Angelique’s Parents and Siblings

Over a hundred years earlier her father Petrus MICHELS (1726-1776) was born in Bertrange on 12 September 1726.[2] He married her mother Susanna MARTIN (1727-1775) on 21 January 1750 in Bertrange.[3] Susanna’s maiden name would later be seen as MERTES in records produced when her children were born and when she died. Susanna’s father was living in Buschdorf at the time of the marriage in 1750. At this time, a connection to The Mertes-Donnen Family of Bertrange featured in What’s the secret of “maison dite” or house names in Luxembourg records? has not been found.

Nearly ten months to the day after Petrus and Susanna married they had their first child, Angelique, seen here as Angelica, born on 23 November 1750 in Bertrange.[4] The godparents chosen for this child were Jean MERTES (alias MARTIN) of Buschdorf and Angelica MICHELS of Bertrange. The godfather was her maternal grandfather and the godmother was her paternal grandmother.

Angelique would not grow up as an only child nor would she be the only child with this name. In 1753 when she was nearly 3 years old her sister Rosa was born[5] followed by Nicolas in 1756[6], Angelica in 1759[7], Joannatha in 1762[8], and Susanna in 1768[9].

Angelique’s First Marriage

1770 Marriage Index Card for Hansen-Michels marriage [10]

Angelique MICHELS married Petrus HANSEN on 5 February 1770 in Bertrange.[10] Petrus, the son of Jean HANSEN and Marie CLAUDT, was born on 21 December 1745 in Bertrange.[11] On the marriage record, her name was listed as Angela MERTES alias MICHELS. The marriage lasted only seven months as Petrus died on 15 September 1770 in Bertrange.[12]

Angelique was expecting her first child when her husband died. Anna Catharina HANSEN was born on 9 November 1770 in Bertrange.[13] Her godfather was her maternal grandfather Petrus MERTES alias MICHELS and her godmother was likely a sister of her deceased father, Anna Catharina HANSEN of Beauforterhof between Bertrange and Dippach.

This daughter gained a playmate and uncle a year later when Joannes MICHELS was born on 30 October 1771 to Angelique’s parents Petrus and Susanna.[14]

Angelique’s Second Husband

1774 Marriage Index Card for Wester-Michels marriage [15]

Angelique was a widow for a little over three years. On 11 January 1774, she married her second husband Willibrordus WESTER.[15] Willibrordus, the son of Willibrord VESTER (also seen as WESTER) and Marie BRIMMEYER, was born on 12 November 1747 in Strassen.[16]

Willibrordus and Angelique’s first child Antonetta was born eleven months later on 4 December 1774.[17] The child was two months old when her maternal grandmother Susanna MARTIN aka MERTES died on 15 February 1775.[18] Her maternal grandfather, Petrus MICHELS, died nearly a year later on 1 February 1776.[19]

Angelique, widowed once, married for the second time, and mother of two young daughters was only 25 years old when her father died and she became the head of household in domo Michels.

Willibrordus and Angelique’s family grew with the birth of Rosa on 1 January 1777[20] and Joanna on 3 August 1779.[21]

1781 Baptismal Record for Barbara Wester [22]

On 6 August 1781, daughter Barbara was born in the Michels house, in domo Michels, in Bertrange.[22] This is the first reference to the home Angelique grew up in and, as the oldest child, now owned. Sadly, the next time the home was mentioned was when baby Barbara died six months later on 12 February 1782.[23]

Willibrordus WESTER was 35 years old when he died on 30 December 1782 in Bertrange.[24] Angelique was 32 years old, widowed twice, mother of four daughters, and expecting another child when her husband died. I found a possible error pertaining to his date of death. The parish records are in chronological order. The death entry is the first for December although he died on the 30th. I believe he may have died in November and the month was written incorrectly in the parish book.

Three to four months later, Willibrordus and Angelique’s son Peter was born on 11 April 1783 in domo Michels in Bertange.[25]

Angelique now had five little children: a newborn son and four daughters between the ages of 12 and nearly 2 years. She was still young. Both her parents had died before they were 50. Did she consider all of these things when she married for the third time?

Angelique’s Third Husband

1785 Marriage Record of Johann RUCKERT and Angelique MICHELS [26]

Angelique MICHELS married Johann RUCKERT on 7 February 1785 in Bertrange.[26] The marriage proclamations were made in Sandweiler and Bertrange. The groom signed his name to the marriage record while the bride declared not being able to write and left her mark.

Before continuing with Angelique and Johann’s life together, let’s take a look at Johann RUCKERT’s parents and childhood as he was my children’s fifth great-grandfather.

Johann, the son of Petrus RUCKERT (1715-1790) and Anna Catharina SPEYER (1718-1793), was born on 10 April 1754 in Sandweiler.[27] He was the seventh of nine children and was honored by having his uncle, Joannes RUCKERT, a Catholic priest, as his godfather.

Johann’s father Petrus was born and baptized on 15 June 1715 in Sandweiler.[28] He married Johann’s mother Anna Catharina on 29 November 1739 in Sandweiler.[29] She was born about 1718 in Burange (Dudelange). Petrus and Anna Catharina had nine children born from 1740-1759.

After going through the parish books of Sandweiler, I was able to deduct that Anna Catharina, who was having children with Petrus RUCKERT, was always the same wife. Some records show only her given name while others indicate her maiden name was SPEYER or KNEPPESCH, KNEPCHEN, KNEPGEN. In 1759 her daughter Maria’s godmother’s name was Maria SPEIER dicta KNEITGEN which shows the SPEYER family was also called KNEPPESCH (and several other spellings).

Johann and Angelique became the parents of three children in four years. Their births all took place in domo Michels, the house known as Michels, in Bertrange.

1785 Baptismal Record of Anna Catharina RUCKERT [30]

Their first child, Anna Catharina, born and baptized on 30 October 1785, was named after her paternal grandmother who was also her godmother. The godmother was not present at the baptism. The procuratrix Agnèse KIELL widow of Jean SCHINY represented the godmother Anna Catharina RUCKER alias KNEBGEN of Sandweiler per procurationem. The father and the godfather signed the record while the substitute godmother could not write and left her mark.[30]

1787 Baptismal Record of Jacob RUCKERT [31]

The second child Jacob was born and baptized on 23 July 1787. The godfather was Jacob RUCKERT, a farmer from Sandweiler and his paternal uncle, and the godmother was Margaretha RUCKERT alias KING from Hoën (Hagen) in the parish of Sterpenich.[31] Her relationship is unknown, however, I suspect she may be a grand-aunt, sister of Petrus RUCKERT. The father and the godfather signed the record and the godmother declared not being able to write and left her mark. The child Jacob was my children’s 4th great-grandfather.

1789 Baptismal Record of Johann RUCKERT [32]

Angelique and Johann’s third and last child was Johann born and baptized on 11 September 1789. His father was a farmer or agricola and, as with his other children, signed the baptismal record.[32]

Following the births of these three children, their paternal grandparents passed away. Their grandfather Petrus RUCKERT died on 13 June 1790 at the age of 74 and was buried the following day in Sandweiler.[33] Their grandmother Anna Catharina SPEYER died on 14 April 1793 at the age of 75 and was buried the following day in Sandweiler.[34]

Angelique’s Children Begin to Marry

Two of Angelique’s daughters from her second marriage married in 1800 and 1801. I stumbled on the marriage records while searching for birth records of the daughters’ children. The marriage records were mixed in with the birth records and out of order. They were included in one of three little notebooks kept by the priest during 1800-1801. Joanna WESTER married Michel KRIER (1778-1851) on 3 May 1800[35] and Rosa WESTER married Leonard WAGENER (1773-1823) on 3 January 1801[36], both in Bertrange.

1803 Death and Burial Record of “Joannes” RUCKERT [37]

Angelique’s third husband Johann RUCKERT died on 15 February 1803 in domo Michels, Bertrange, at the age of 48.[37] Widowed a third time at the age of 52, Angelique was left with three teenagers and two married daughters. No trace has been found of the daughter from her first marriage or the oldest daughter and the only son from her second marriage. A more thorough search of the parish books for marriages and/or death records is on my to-do list.

The daughter Anna Catharina RUCKERT who was born in 1785 was still living in 1803. She was the godmother of her half-sister Rosa’s daughter Anna WAGENER born on 27 November 1803[38] as well as for her half-sister Joanna’s daughter Anna KRIER born on 9 May 1801.[39] In both records, she was seen as Anna RUCKERT é domo Michels placing her in the household of Angelique. In future research, I will take into account the fact that her name may have been shortened to Anna.

Angelique’s youngest son Johann RUCKERT married Anna Catharina SCHUHMANN (1794-1862) on 18 December 1817 in Sandweiler.[40] Did he meet her while visiting RUCKERT relatives in Sandweiler? Although the bride was from Sandweiler the couple made their home in Bertrange.

1825 Death Record of Angelique MICHELS veuve RUCKERT [1]

As mentioned at the beginning of this post, Angelique MICHELS died on 15 April 1825 in Bertrange and her daughter Rosa was the informant.[1] Rosa who had been widowed nearly two years declared she could not write and another witness had to sign for her.

Three years after Angelique’s death, her son Jacob RUCKERT married Margaretha SCHOLER (1802-1842) on 19 February 1828 in Bertrange.[41] The marriage produced eight children, five of whom were living when Jacob was widowed in 1842 shortly after the 14th wedding anniversary.[42] His wife died in childbirth and he likely needed a woman to care for his children as he married within eight months. His bride Magdalena SCHMIT (1811-1870) was 24 years younger and the single mother of a seven-year-old daughter. They were married on 26 November 1842 in Bertrange.[43] Magdalena was my children’s 4th great-grandmother. You can read their story here: How Jacob RUCKERT’s Brother-in-law Peter SCHMIT Became his Father-in-law.

Of the nine children Angelique gave birth to, one died young, four have not been traced, leaving four who married and had children. Joanna WESTER died at the age of 71 on 12 December 1850[44], Rosa WESTER died at the age of 78 on 6 January 1855[45], Jacob RUCKERT died at the age of 68 on 24 June 1856[46], and Johann RUCKERT died at the age of 72 on 27 May 1862[47]. All of these deaths took place in Bertrange.

I would love to hear from Angelique’s descendants. Are there any readers who descend from the children I have not been able to follow or who know more about them?

Sources:
[1] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 673 of 1416. 1825 Death Record No. 17. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-56264-53?cc=1709358 : accessed 2 April 2010).
[2] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 9 of 200. 1726 Baptismale Record (right page, last entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L971-1ZZS?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 9 September 2017).
[3] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 133 of 200. 1750 Marriage Record No. 7 (left page, last entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L971-1C57?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 9 September 2017).
[4] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 48 of 200. 1750 Baptismal Record No. 47. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G971-1C5K?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 7 September 2017).
[5] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 53 of 200. 1753 Baptismal Record No. 136. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8971-1CRW?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 9 September 2017).
[6] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 59 of 200. 1756 Baptismal Record No. 244. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G971-1CGD?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 9 September 2017).
[7] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 64 of 200. 1759 Baptismal Record No. 330. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-9971-1Z39?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 9 September 2017.
[8] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 69 of 200. 1762 Baptismal Record No. 419. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-9971-1ZSM?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 9 September 2017).
[9] Ibid., -1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 84 of 200. 1768 Baptismal Record No. 647. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L971-1ZMG?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 9 September 2017).
[10] Ibid., Bertrange > Tables des mariages 1720-1796 (index organisée par l’époux) > image 199 of 572. 1770 Marriage Card. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32461-19970-46?cc=2037955 : accessed 10 October 2015).
[11] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 37 of 200. 1745 Baptismal Record No. 570. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-9971-1Z7F?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 8 September 2017).
[12] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 190 of 200. 1770 Death Record No. 611. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L971-1CK7?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 8 September 2017).
[13] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 88 of 200. 1770 Baptismal Record No. 713. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G971-1C2M?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 8 September 2017).
[14] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 90 of 200. 1771 Baptismal Record No. 745. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G971-1CR8?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 9 September 2017).
[15] Ibid., Bertrange > Tables des mariages 1720-1796 Hassel-Z (index organisée par l’épouse) > image 174 of 376. 1774 Marriage Card. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32462-2184-12?cc=2037955 : accessed 10 October 2015).
[16] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 41 of 200. 1747 Baptismal Record No. 634. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G971-1C1W?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 8 September 2017).
[17] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 96 of 200. 1774 Baptismal Record No. 840. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8971-1C2S?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 8 September 2017).
[18] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptême 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 193 of 200. 1776 Death Record No. 765. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G971-1CWD?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 9 September 2017).
[19] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 192 of 200. 1775 Death Record No. 726. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8971-1C8Y?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 9 September 2017).
[20] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 99 of 200. 1777 Baptismal Record No. 903. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G971-1CJV?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 8 September 2017).
[21] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 107 of 200. 1779 Baptismal Record No. 32. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-9971-1CPD?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 8 September 2017).
[22] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1781-1797, confirmations 1791, mariages 1781-1797, sépultures 1781-1797 > image 9 of 254. 1781 Baptismal Record No. 24. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-SZWL?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-3T1%3A1500936901%2C1500936942 : accessed 8 September 2017).
[23] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1781-1797, confirmations 1791, mariages 1781-1797, sépultures 1781-1797 > image 9 of 254. 1781 Baptismal Record No. 24. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-SZWL?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-3T1%3A1500936901%2C1500936942 : accessed 8 September 2017).
[24] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1781-1797, confirmations 1791, mariages 1781-1797, sépultures 1781-1797 > image 200 of 254. 1782 Death Record No. 22. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-SZTH?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-3T1%3A1500936901%2C1500936942 : accessed 8 September 2017).
[25] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1781-1797, confirmations 1791, mariages 1781-1797, sépultures 1781-1797 > image 24 of 254. 1783 Baptismal Record No. 46. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WS-SH1F?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-3T1%3A1500936901%2C1500936942 : accessed 8 September 2017).
[26] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1781-1797, confirmations 1791, mariages 1781-1797, sépultures 1781-1797 > image 158 of 254. 1785 Marriage Record. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32462-10044-69?cc=2037955 : accessed 10 October 2015).
[27] Ibid., Sandweiler > Baptêmes 1705-1778, confirmations 1750-1762, mariages 1726-1774, sépultures 1710-1740, 1748-1778 > image 57 of 133. 1754 Baptismal Record (left page, 1st entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WM-S8?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-C6J%3A1501109439%2C1501109440 : accessed 9 September 2017).
[28] Ibid., Sandweiler > Baptêmes 1705-1778, confirmations 1750-1762, mariages 1726-1774, sépultures 1710-1740, 1748-1778 > image 17 of 133. 1715 Baptismal Record (left page, 2nd entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WM-SHM?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-C6J%3A1501109439%2C1501109440 : accessed 9 September 2017).
[29] Ibid., Sandweiler > Baptêmes 1705-1778, confirmations 1750-1762, mariages 1726-1774, sépultures 1710-1740, 1748-1778 > image 111 of 133. 1739 Marriage Record (right page, last entry for 1739). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WM-S9VL?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-C6J%3A1501109439%2C1501109440 : accessed 9 September 2017).
[30] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1781-1797, confirmations 1791, mariages 1781-1797, sépultures 1781-1797 > image 48 of 254. 1785 Baptismal Record No. 148. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WS-SHGF?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-3T1%3A1500936901%2C1500936942 : accessed 6 September 2017).
[31] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1781-1797, confirmations 1791, mariages 1781-1797, sépultures 1781-1797 > image 64 of 254. 1787 Baptismal Record No. 215. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32462-8679-85?cc=2037955 : accessed 6 October 2015).
[32] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1781-1797, confirmations 1791, mariages 1781-1797, sépultures 1781-1797 > image 80 of 254. 1789 Baptismal Record No. 298 (first part). (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32462-8481-82?cc=2037955 : accessed 11 October 2015). Second part on image 81.
[33] Ibid., Sandweiler > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 95 of 119. 1790 Death Record (right page, last entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WM-S99X?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-HZQ%3A1501109439%2C1500913302 : accessed 9 September 2017).
[34] Ibid., Sandweiler > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 116 of 119. 1793 Death Record (right page, 2nd entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WM-S1Z?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-HZQ%3A1501109439%2C1500913302 : accessed 9 September 2017).
[35] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1800-1807, mariages 1800-1807, sépultures 1802-1807, communions 1796, membres 1734-1816 > image 36 of 108. 1800 Marriage Record. “Luxembourg registres paroissiaux, 1601-1948,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WS-SC86?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-W3D%3A1500936901%2C1501012750 : accessed 12 September 2017).
[36] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1800-1807, mariages 1800-1807, sépultures 1802-1807, communions 1796, membres 1734-1816 > image 52 of 108. 1800 Marriage Record (right page, first entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WS-SCXG?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-W3D%3A1500936901%2C1501012750 : 9 January 2015).
[37] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1800-1807, mariages 1800-1807, sépultures 1802-1807, communions 1796, membres 1734-1816 > image 91 of 108. 1803 Death Record (right page, last entry). (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32462-8929-70?cc=2037955 : accessed 6 October 2015).
[38] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1800-1807, mariages 1800-1807, sépultures 1802-1807, communions 1796, membres 1734-1816 > image 48 of 108. 1801 Baptismal Record (right page, bottom).(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WS-SZ3V?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-W3D%3A1500936901%2C1501012750 : accessed 8 September 2017)).
[39] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1800-1807, mariages 1800-1807, sépultures 1802-1807, communions 1796, membres 1734-1816 > image 77 of 108. 1803 Baptismal Record. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WS-SC8N?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-W3D%3A1500936901%2C1501012750 : accessed 12 September 2017).
[40] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Sandweiler > Naissances 1865-1890 Mariages 1797-1890 Décès 1797-1822 > image 796 of 1493. 1817 Marriage Record No. 5. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-X46X-4B?cc=1709358&wc=9RYD-MNL%3A130336601%2C130552301 : accessed 9 September 2017).
[41] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 10 of 1416. 1828 Marriage Record No. 8. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-54990-54?cc=1709358 : accessed 6 October 2015).
[42] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 907 of 1416. 1842 Death Record No. 10. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-51891-68?cc=1709358 : accessed 6 October 2015).
[43] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 156 of 1416. 1842 Marriage Record No. 21. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-57204-95?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2DC:725853054 : accessed 10 Apr 2013).
[44] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 1032 of 1416. 1850 Death Record No. 25. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6X89-B91?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-829%3A129622901%2C129640401 : accessed 8 September 2017).
[45] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 1069 of 1416. 1855 Death Record No. 1. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6X8S-MVX?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-829%3A129622901%2C129640401 : accessed 8 September 2017).
[46] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 1084 of 1416. 1856 Death Record No. 10. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-55634-51?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2DC:725853054 : accessed 10 Apr 2013).
[47] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 1144 of 1416. 1862 Death Record No. 18. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-57342-52?cc=1709358 : accessed 7 October 2015).

52 Ancestors: #29 The Erpelding-Conradt Family of Kackerterhaff

A decade before America declared its independence Maria Theresa of Austria implemented the first modern cadastre and census in a large part of the territories under the rule of the House of Habsburg, including the Netherlands which encompassed present-day Belgium and Luxembourg.

Extra! Extra! Read All About It! The 1766 Luxembourg Census is Online!

The 1766 census was grouped by villages and towns with each of these belonging to a paroisse or parish. Parishes were classified in a decanat or deanship (diocese). In a village or town, the names of all persons in a household were classified into four groups by age: men were listed as 16 or older and under 16 while women were seen as 14 or older and under 14 years. A column for occupations was only available for men 16 and older. On the last page of each village was a list of occupations of the inhabitants divided into several categories: public service jobs, merchants, laborers (including servants), craftsmen (masters and journeymen), and clergy.

ERPELDING of Kackerd

1766 Census page for the village of Oetrange in the parish of the same name[1]

The ERPELDING family lived and worked on Kackerterhaff near the village of Oetrange in the parish of Oetrange in the decanat of Remich.

1766 Census for a place called Kackerd in the Paroisse of Oettringen (Parish of Oetrange)
Household #20
Caspar Erpeldingen male over 16 yrs occupation laboureur or farmer
Jean Erpeldingen male over 16 yrs
Gertrude Erpeldingen female over 14 yrs
Jean Erpeldingen male under 16 yrs
Nicolas Erpeldingen male under 16 yrs
Barbe Erpeldingen female under 14 yrs
Maria Erpeldingen female under 14 yrs
1 married couple in household[1]

CONRADT of Uebersyren

1766 Census page for the village of Uebersyren in the parish of Hostert[2]

The CONRADT family (written CONRADE on the sheet) lived in Uebersyren in the parish of Hostert not far from the parish of Oetrange.

1766 Census for the Village of Ubersyren in the Paroisse of Hostert
Household #8
Pierre Conrade 16 yrs or older occupation tisserand or weaver
Ann Catherine Conrad 16 yrs or older
no males under 16 yrs
Elizabeth Conrad female under 14 yrs
Madlene Conrad female under 14 yrs
Marie Conrad female under 14 yrs
Catherine Conrad female under 14 yrs
1 married couple in household[2]

Twenty-two years later…

1788 Marriage Record of Nicolas ERPELDING and Magdalena CONRADT

Nicolas ERPELDING, 22 years old, married Madelaine “Magdalena” CONRADT, 29 years old, on 7 July 1788 in Schuttrange.[3] Nicolas, the youngest son of Caspar ERPELDING (d. 1779) and Gertrude JEHNEN (d. 1774), was born 7 November 1765 in Villa Kackert near Oetrange.[4] Magdalena, the second oldest daughter of Peter CONRADT (d. 1789) and Anna Catharina ROEDER (1736-1791), was born 2 June 1759 in Uebersyren.[5]

The young couple made their home in Uebersyren during the first years of their marriage and this is where their first child Mathias was born on 27 March 1791.[6]

1791 Baptismal Record of Mathias ERPELDING[6]

Following the birth of Matthias and before their next child was born they left Uebersyren and made their home auf dem Kackert, in the home Nicolas had been born and raised in. The move may have followed the death of Magdalena’s mother in Uebersyren six months after the birth of Mathias.[7]

1793 Baptismal Record of Catharina ERPELDING[8]

When daughter Catharina was born on 15 October 1793, Nicolas and Magdalena were seen as a legally married couple and operariorum commorantuim in Kackert – workers residing at Kackert.[8] Nicolas’ parents had died in 1774[9] and 1779[10] and the farm likely went to their oldest son Jean ERPELDING. Catharina’s baptismal record lists Jean as her godfather and agricola habitans in Villa Kackert – a farmer who lives on the Kackert farm. Villa in Latin has several definitions including villa or country house, village, farm, or premises. As later documents refer to Kackerterhaff, and it is still known as such, the translation would be a farm.

*Kackerterhaff* near Oetrange, Luxembourg (courtesy of Egon Meder)

At this point in the family timeline, there is a discrepancy which I have not been able to resolve. From marriage records found, it appears that there were two daughters named Catharina. No baptismal record has been found for the second daughter named Catharina. Her marriage record is a religious marriage record which names her parents but does not include her date of birth. No civil marriage record, which normally includes the date and place of birth, has been found. All birth records of her children and her death record place her birth at about 1793, the same as the first daughter named Catharina. Due to records found, they cannot be the same person.

1795 Baptismal Record of Margaretha ERPELDING[11]

Nicolas and Magdalena’s fourth child Margaretha was born and baptized on 15 December 1795. Her parents were seen as operariorum in Kackert – operators of Kackert.[11]

1797 Baptismal Record of Pierre ERPELDING[12]

Pierre, the next child, was born on 15 January 1797 and the entry in the parish records was the first for the new year. No godparents were listed. The parents were seen as a legally married couple living in Kackert.[12]

The sixth child of Nicolas and Magdalena was another daughter named Margaretha. Her sister who had the same name had not died. She would later marry and live in the same place as this Margaretha, my children’s 4th great-grandmother.

1800 Baptismal Record of Margaretha ERPELDING[13]

The second daughter named Margaretha was baptized on 16 November 1800[13] and born on 1 January 1801.[14] That is not a typo. The records show she was baptized six weeks before her birth! While the church records continued to be kept using the Gregorian calendar, the civil records at the time used the French Republican calendar. A difference of a day or two could be explained but six weeks cannot be an error in calculation. The discrepancy in the church record vis-a-vis the civil record was brought to my attention by Cyndi Speltz Gipp 14 years ago. Cyndi is my husband’s 7th cousin through Gertrude JEHNEN’s parents.

1804 Baptismal Record of Barbara ERPELDING[15]

The last child of Nicolas and Magdalena was Barbara born on 25 February 1804.[15] As with all of her siblings, except for her oldest brother Mathias, she was born on the Kackert farm.

The Middle Years

All of the children Magdalena gave birth to survived to adulthood. The seven children remained on Kackerterhaff until they began to marry.

In the meantime, Nicolas’ brother Jean ERPELDING (his second brother named Jean) died on 20 May 1806 on Kréintgeshaff, a farm near Kackerterhaff.[16] His place of death has helped to differentiate between the two brothers named Jean.

On 15 December 1814, the first of Nicolas and Magdalena’s children married. Catharina married Nicolas GLODT (1793-1858) on 15 December 1814 in Oetrange.[17]

1814 Religious Marriage Record of Nicolas GLODT and Catharina ERPELDING[17]

Madelaine “Magdalena” CONRADT did not live long enough to see any of her other children marry. She died on 28 January 1818 on Kackerterhaff.[18]

Six years later the oldest son of the ERPELDING-CONRADT couple, Mathias, married Margaritha GROSS (1796-1872) on 25 February 1824 in Oetrange.[19] Mathias, being the oldest, remained on the farm.

A little more than a year later, the younger son Pierre married Margaretha KRUCHTEN (1797-1859) on 21 March 1825 in Contern.[20] They would make their home in Oetrange in the commune of Contern.

Four years later Nicolas ERPELDING died on 10 May 1829 at Kackerterhaff.[21] He left two married sons, a married daughter, and four unmarried daughters. His youngest daughter Barbara was 25 years old and expecting a child. The male child was born and died on 28 December 1829.[22] No father was listed on the birth record.

The oldest daughter Catharina married Johann BOUR (1772-1855) on 26 February 1831 in Bertrange.[23] She was 37 years old and he was 58 and had been a widower for two years. Catharina was living on Kackerterhaff up until the time of the marriage. It would be interesting to learn how she met her husband as two of her three sisters would also marry in Bertrange and live in Strassen, at that time part of the commune of Bertrange. What brought these women to Strassen and Bertrange which both lie on the other side of Luxembourg City from Kackerterhaff?

Nicolas ERPELDING’s oldest brother Jean died before 1833 as his widow Catharina EVEN’s death was declared by her nephew Mathias ERPELDING on 13 December 1833.[24] She died on Kackerterhaff. To date, no children have been found for this couple which may be the reason the farm was now seen in the hands of Mathias.

The younger Margaretha, my children’s ancestress, married François “Franz” MERTES (1806-1864) on 25 February 1834 in Bertrange. Both of her brothers, Mathias and Pierre, were present and signed as witnesses to her marriage.[25]

Five years later, the older Margaretha who was still living on the home farm married Johann SCHMIT (1780-1856) on 10 April 1839 in Bertrange. Margaretha was 44 and Johann, widowed only four months earlier, was 58 years old. None of the witnesses were relatives of the bride, however, Michel BRIMEYER, one of the witnesses, was listed as her acquaintance.[26]

Finally, on 11 February 1846, the youngest child of Nicolas and Magdalena married. Barbara married Peter ENTRINGER (1801-1867) on 11 February 1846 in Sandweiler.[27] Barbara’s son Mathias ERPELDING, born illegitimately on 29 May 1835,[28] was 10 years old. The marriage legitimized his birth as Peter ENTRINGER recognized him as his son. Between the time of Mathias’ birth and the marriage, the groom had been married to another woman and widowed.

The Later Years

Catharina ERPELDING who married Nicolas GLODT died on 6 January 1848 at the age of 55 in Oetrange.[29] She had given birth to at least eight children.

Margaretha ERPELDING who married Johann SCHMIT was widowed on 29 December 1856.[30] It is unknown when or where she died. She remained childless.

Catharina ERPELDING who married Johann BOUR was last seen in the census in December 1861 in Strassen. She was widowed in 1855[31] and also remained childless. No death record has been found.

Pierre ERPELDING died on 23 December 1865 in Oetrange.[32] He outlived his wife, who had given him seven children, by six years. Two of these children died as infants. His oldest son Theodore, after being widowed twice, would emigrate to America in 1884 with his sons John and Nicholas and his daughter Angelique to join his older son Peter who had emigrated the previous year. The line would continue in Nebraska.

The youngest daughter Barbara ERPELDING was widowed on 10 Sep 1867.[33] She was not found between the time of her marriage in 1846 and her husband’s death in 1867. It is unknown if they had other children and what happened to the son Mathias who was legitimized at the time of the marriage.

My children’s 4th great-grandmother Margaretha ERPELDING died on 1 November 1868 in Strassen.[34] Widowed in 1864,[35] she left only one child, a son Michel who fathered thirteen children.

Following Margaretha’s death, the only known living child of Nicolas and Magdalena was their oldest son Mathias ERPELDING. He died on 31 December 1871 on Kackerterhaff.[36] His wife followed him four months later.[37] They were the parents of eight children. Sons Peter and Mathias never married but worked the farm until their deaths on Kackerterhaff in 1897[38] and 1916.[39] They are the last known ERPELDINGs to have lived on the home place.

Although I have spent the past two weeks attaching (and citing sources for) birth, marriage, census, and death records to all individuals in this family (several generations), the largest part of the research was done by my husband’s 7th cousin Cyndi. She ordered the FamilySearch microfilms and viewed them at her local Family History Center fourteen years ago. Not only did she research her line down from Gertrude JEHNEN’s parents Christophori “Stofel” JEHNEN and Maria SCHINGEN but also this ERPELDING family and shared all with me. In 2015 I got in touch with her again when I wrote 52 Ancestors: #40 Happy Birthday to Michel of the MERTES-ERPELDING Family and now we keep up via Facebook. Thank you, Cyndi, for all the work you’ve done on this branch of the family.

P.S. Kackerterhaff is Luxembourgish for the German Kackerterhof. So for those of you who noticed, I made the featured image first. While writing the post I decided to be consistent by using Kackerterhaff throughout and forgot I’d used the German version in the image.

Sources:
[1]1. 1766 Census of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, FamilySearch (Digitial copy of the microfilm of originals in the Archives Générales du Royaume, Bruxelles, includes localities now in Luxembourg and Liège, Belgium), Film #008198979 > Decanat de Remich > Oetringen (paroisse d’Oetringen) > Image 249 of 438. p. 248, Kackerd, household no. 20. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLL-9Q65-V?i=248&cat=1184675 : accessed 2 September 2017).
[2] Ibid., Obersirn (paroisse d’Hostert) > Image 124 of 438. page 114, household no. 8. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLL-9QDP-C?i=123&cat=1184675 : accessed 2 September 2017).
[3] Luxembourg, registres paroissiaux, 1601-1948 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Schuttrange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 99 of 153. 1788 Marriage Record (left). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WS-78KC?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-N3F%3A1501181201%2C1500913302 : accessed 26 August 2017).
[4] Ibid., Oetrange > Baptêmes 1684-1701, 1719-1799, confirmations 1738 > image 20 of 90. 1765 Baptismal Record (left page, 5th entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WS-9HDH?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-448%3A1500972093%2C1500972094 : accessed 26 August 2017).
[5] Ibid., Schuttrange > Baptêmes 1713-1778, 1782-1792, sépultures 1718-1733 > image 52 of 100. 1759 Baptismal Record (right, last entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-7ZM5?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-N3K%3A1501181201%2C1501244146 : accessed 26 August 2017).
[6] Ibid., Schuttrange > Baptêmes 1713-1778, 1782-1792, sépultures 1718-1733 > image 96 of 100. 1791 Baptismal Record (right page, 3rd entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WS-7DK4?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-N3K%3A1501181201%2C1501244146 : accessed 26 August 2017).
[7] Ibid., Schuttrange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 135 of 153. 1791 Death Record (right page, 1st full entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-78P2?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-N3F%3A1501181201%2C1500913302 : accessed 2 September 2017).
[8] Ibid., Oetrange > Baptêmes 1684-1701, 1719-1799, confirmations 1738 > image 53 of 90. 1793 Baptismal Record (left page, 2nd entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WS-9H42?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-448%3A1500972093%2C1500972094 : accessed 26 August 2017).
[9] Ibid., Oetrange > Mariages 1718-1755, 1761-1763, 1767-1785, sépultures 1719-1781 > image 83 of 90. 1774 Death Record (right, 2nd entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-9C65?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-44D%3A1500972093%2C1500972096 : accessed 31 August 2017).
[10] Ibid., Oetrange > Mariages 1718-1755, 1761-1763, 1767-1785, sépultures 1719-1781 > image 84 of 90. 1779 Death Record (right page, bottom entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WS-9CBD?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-44D%3A1500972093%2C1500972096 : accessed 31 August 2017).
[11] Ibid., Oetrange > Baptêmes 1684-1701, 1719-1799, confirmations 1738 > image 52 of 90. 1795 Baptismal Record (left page, 3rd entry). ((https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WS-9HWH?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-448%3A1500972093%2C1500972094 : accessed 26 August 2017).
[12] Ibid., Oetrange > Baptêmes 1797-1836, 1741-1761, mariages 1797-1836, sépultures 1797-1835 > image 3 of 91. 1797 Baptismal Record (right, first entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WS-9CDJ?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-44C%3A1500972093%2C1501048046 : accessed 26 August 2017).
[13] Ibid., Oetrange > Baptêmes 1797-1836, 1741-1761, mariages 1797-1836, sépultures 1797-1835 > image 4 of 91. Baptismal Record (left page, 2nd to last entry for 1800). (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32461-8208-27?cc=2037955 : accessed 2 October 2015).
[14] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Contern > Naissances 1796-1835 > image 49 of 484. 1800 Birth Record (10 Nivose IX). (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12325-25034-93?cc=1709358 : accessed 2 October 2015).
[15] Luxembourg Parish Records, Oetrange > Baptêmes 1797-1836, 1741-1761, mariages 1797-1836, sépultures 1797-1835 > image 5 of 91. 1804 Baptismal Record (left, 5th entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-9C75?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-44C%3A1500972093%2C1501048046 : accessed 26 August 2017).
[16] Luxembourg Civil Records, Contern > Naissances 1836-1890 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1821 > image 1338 of 1476. 1806 Death Record (left, bottom). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-D1P7-BL2?cc=1709358&wc=9RYH-4WL%3A129626701%2C129799901 : accessed 29 August 2017).
[17] Luxembourg Parish Records, Oetrange > Baptêmes 1797-1836, 1741-1761, mariages 1797-1836, sépultures 1797-1835 > image 89 of 91. 1814 Marriage Record (religious). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WS-9H5L?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-44C%3A1500972093%2C1501048046 : accessed 27 Augst 2017).
[18] Luxembourg Civil Records, Contern > Naissances 1836-1890 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1821 > image 1433 of 1476. 1818 Death Record No. 5. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11693-157266-45?cc=1709358 : accessed 4 October 2015). Note: 20th is missing in the date on the record, i.e. record reads the death was reported on the 9th and should be on the 29th.
[19] Ibid., Contern > Naissances 1836-1890 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1821 > image 824 of 1476. 1824 Marriage Record No. 4. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-D1P7-2KR?cc=1709358&wc=9RYH-4WL%3A129626701%2C129799901 : accessed 29 August 2017).
[20] Ibid., Contern > Naissances 1836-1890 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1821 > image 830 of 1476. 1825 Marriage Record No. 4. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-D1PW-SMJ?cc=1709358&wc=9RYH-4WL%3A129626701%2C129799901 : accessed 29 August 2017).
[21] Ibid., Contern > Décès 1822-1890 > image 50 of 568. 1829 Death Record No. 14. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11556-63378-89?cc=1709358 : accessed 4 October 2015).
[22] Ibid., Contern > Naissances 1796-1835 > image 408 of 484. 1829 Birth Record No. 44. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-62R9-9NB?cc=1709358&wc=9RYQ-W3X%3A129626701%2C129744001 : accessed 29 August 2017).
[23] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 33 of 1416. 1831 Marriage Record No. 5. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-52218-77?cc=1709358 : accessed 4 October 2015).
[24] Ibid., Contern > Décès 1822-1890 > image 78 of 568. 1833 Death Record No. 18. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DRWS-8JR?cc=1709358&wc=9RYM-JWL%3A129626701%2C129626702 : accessed 30 August 2017).
[25] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 63 of 1416. 1834 Marriage Record No. 9. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-55620-99?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2DC:725853054 : accessed 10 Apr 2013).
[26] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 119 of 1416. 1839 Marriage Record No. 9. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-51841-94?cc=1709358 : accessed 4 October 2015).
[27] Ibid., Sandweiler > Naissances 1865-1890 Mariages 1797-1890 Décès 1797-1822 > image 995 of 1493. 1846 Marriage Record No. 4. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-X46G-P9?cc=1709358&wc=9RYD-MNL%3A130336601%2C130552301 : accessed 30 August 2017).
[28] Ibid., Contern > Naissances 1796-1835 > image 474 of 484. 1835 Birth Record No. 13. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-62R9-MHJ?cc=1709358&wc=9RYQ-W3X%3A129626701%2C129744001 : accessed 29 August 2017).
[29] Ibid., Contern > Décès 1822-1890 > image 195 of 568. 1848 Death Record No. 1. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DRWS-ZSN?cc=1709358&wc=9RYM-JWL%3A129626701%2C129626702 : accessed 27 August 2017).
[30] Ibid., Strassen > Décès 1850-1890 > image 65 of 446. 1856 Death Record No. 20. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-698Q-X5?cc=1709358&wc=9RYH-6T5%3A130458601%2C129625702 : accessed 27 August 2017).
[31] Ibid., Strassen > Décès 1850-1890 > image 52 of 446. 1855 Death Record No. 6. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-69ZW-Q15?cc=1709358&wc=9RYH-6T5%3A130458601%2C129625702 : accessed 27 August 2017).
[32] Ibid., Contern > Décès 1822-1890 > image 348 of 568. 1865 Death Record No. 38. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DRWS-84C?cc=1709358&wc=9RYM-JWL%3A129626701%2C129626702 : accessed 29 August 2017).
[33] Ibid., Sandweiler > Décès 1833-1890 > image 394 of 604. 1867 Death Record No. 21. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DRKS-9MT?cc=1709358&wc=9RY9-929%3A130336601%2C130345701 : accessed 30 August 2017).
[34] Ibid., Strassen > Décès 1850-1890 > image 189 of 446. 1868 Death Record No. 26. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11740-165726-80?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-LNG:528766680 : accessed 10 Apr 2013)
[35] Ibid., Strassen > Décès 1850-1890 > image 140 of 446. 1864 Death Record No. 11. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11740-166420-69?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-LNG:528766680 : accessed 10 Apr 2013).
[36] Ibid., Contern > Décès 1822-1890 > image 419 of 568. 1871 Death Record No. 41. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DRWS-8JK?cc=1709358&wc=9RYM-JWL%3A129626701%2C129626702 : accessed 27 August 2017).
[37] Ibid., Contern > Décès 1822-1890 > image 423 of 568. 1872 Death Record No. 7. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DRWS-8HQ?cc=1709358&wc=9RYM-JWL%3A129626701%2C129626702 : accessed 5 September 2017).
[38] Ibid., Contern > Décès 1895-1912 > image 12 of 131. 1897 Death Record No. 1. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L97J-Y7XS?cc=1709358&wc=9RTY-16P%3A129626701%2C129657201 : accessed 27 August 1897).
[39] Ibid., Contern > Décès 1913-1923 > image 22 of 84. 1916 Death Record No. 3. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-897V-HTCJ?cc=1709358&wc=9RT1-92X%3A129626701%2C129622902 : accessed 27 August 2017).

What’s the secret of “maison dite” or house names in Luxembourg records?

For some reason, the subject of maison dite or house names kept coming up while I was researching the MERTES-DONNEN family. Not only in my research but in several Facebook groups and pages I follow. Maybe the ancestors were trying to tell me something. Or maybe it’s time to discuss what I learned while researching this family – something I left out in my last post.

Before I share my discovery, let me give you an overview of the history of house names and surnames in Luxembourg.

This past June I attended a conference by Paul ZIMMER, Latein in den Kirchenbüchern korrekt lesen (Reading Latin Correctly in Church Records). His presentation included an explanation of the peculiarities of names found in church records. After the presentation, he kindly sent digital copies to all participants of a dozen articles published under his pseudonym, Victor Racine. I used his introduction to genealogy research adapted to the Luxembourg situation: Petite introduction à la recherche généalogique avec des conseils pratiques adaptés à la situation luxembourgeoise (Victor Racine) as a guide.

House Names and Surnames

Until around 1500 the first name of a person was sufficient enough to identify ordinary people. When pleading someone’s case, it was done orally and normally in the presence of the person eliminating the confusion of identities.

The appearance of the first written documents however required additional distinction. Nicolas, therefore, became known as Nicolas de Steinfort (by his residence), Nicolas le Meunier (by his occupation, i.e. miller), or Nicolas le Petit (by a trait, i.e. small person).

When these extensions to the first names finally became family names transmitted from one generation to the next, they were not, for a long time, patronymic. In about half the cases, the children’s names came from the mother, as the rules of family succession in Luxembourg were based on primogeniture – the right of the oldest child inheriting the parental home without any distinction between males and females.

Luxembourg researchers are confronted with the phenomenon of “house names” shared by all people living under one roof, regardless of their initial name received at birth. At the time of the marriage, the spouse always acquired, whatever his sex, the name of the house into which he entered. Thus, each couple had only one and the same surname which was transmitted to all their children.

In the course of the eighteenth century when Luxembourg was under Austrian rule, the civil authorities imposed a contrary law, that each individual should keep his birth name – it could no longer be changed during the course of his life, notably at the time of marriage. Each legitimate child inherited his father’s surname.

During the long transition, the coexistence of the two rules and practices, totally opposite, constituted a complication which was the source of errors. The children of one and the same couple sometimes obtained different surnames. The second spouse of a widow or widower may have been known by the surname his spouse had previously taken from his first conjugal partner.

Priests were aware of the problem of the double and triple surnames of their parishioners. Some were careful to note more than one name. The different surnames of one and the same person were juxtaposed and linked together by Latin words: alias (otherwise called), vulgo (commonly called), modo (otherwise), sive and aut (or), dicta (said). Sometimes the correct connection with previous generations can be determined by useful references such as ex domo … (from the house) or in domo … (in the house). House names were also mentioned in the parish records using the term in aedibus (Latin for in house) followed by the name.

Our genealogical research may suffer from the rivalry of these two incompatible rules but in the following case, I profited from them.

Researching the MERTES-DONNEN Family

It took me longer than usual to research the MERTES-DONNEN family before I wrote about them in my last post. I couldn’t seem to get to the point I wanted to be before beginning to write. I wanted to know as much as possible about both Nicolas MERTES’ family and Maria Catharina DONNEN’s family so their timelines would be as complete as possible.

This led me down a rabbit hole as I also looked into their grandparents. When I finally thought I had the timeline ready, I began writing using information from the documents for each of the events.

As I was composing the post I went off on a tangent taking a new look at the death record of Margaretha BIVER, the mother of Nicolas MERTES. I ended up cutting out a large portion of what I wrote about the death record and my findings as I realized I had gotten sidetracked from the subject of the piece.

However, I saw an opportunity to use the information I had found to help other Luxembourg researchers.

The MERTES Family’s House Name

Screenshot of the family view of Margaretha BIVER and Peter MERTES as seen in my genealogy software Ancestral Quest 15.

Marguerite BIVER died on 20 December 1820 at nine in the evening in house number 69 in the Opperter road in Bertrange. The informant for the death was her son-in-law Jean KETTENMEYER. The record (below, top entry) did not indicate the address was also that of the informant.

1820 death records of Margareta Biver (top) and Maria Christophory (bottom). Source: Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941 (images), *FamilySearch* (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 640 of 1416. 1820 Death Record No. 20+21. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6X8S-322?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-829%3A129622901%2C129640401 : accessed 8 August 2017).

The next entry in the register (above, bottom entry) was for a baby with the surname CHRISTOPHORY who died in house number 73 of the same street.

The importance of the deaths taking place in the same street, likely only two houses away from each other, can be seen in the pedigree of Franz MERTES, the son of the MERTES-DONNEN couple and grandson of Marguerite BIVER.

I haven’t followed through to see how the baby’s family was related to Barbe CHRISTOPHORY, Maria Catharina’s mother. But it had me wondering if the DONNEN-CHRISTOPHORY and the MERTES-BIVER couples had been neighbors when their daughter and son married. I tried to locate the address in present-day Bertrange but the list of street names on the Luxembourg post office’s site did not turn up any matches.

My next step was to check if perhaps the KETTENMEYER family’s street name may have been mentioned on the census or in a vital record. Jean KETTENMEYER died before the first available census. The two listings I found for his widow Anne MERTES did not include the street name.

Jean’s death record revealed an interesting fact. He died in la maison dite Karpen, an Oppert or a house named Karpen in Oppert.

Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941 (images), *FamilySearch* (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 830 of 1416. 1837 Death Record No. 4. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6X8S-32F?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-829%3A129622901%2C129640401 : accessed 23 August 2017).

This was an amazing discovery. When I read maison dite Karpen on the record I knew right away the KETTENMEYER family was living in the home of the MERTES family.

The significance of “la maison dite Karpen”

Peter, the father of Nicolas MERTES and Jean KETTENMEYER’s wife Anne MERTES, was the son of Mathias MERTES and Maria HOLTZEMER of Steinsel. At this time I do not have a baptismal record for Peter. His death record indicates he was born about 1733. I suspect his age was over-estimated at the time of death.

Luxembourg, registres paroissiaux, 1601-1948 (images), *FamilySearch* (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Bertrange > Tables des mariages 1720-1796 (index organisée par l’époux) > image 350 of 572. 1771 Marriage Index Card. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-92B3?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-L2S%3A1500936901%2C1501112974 : accessed 17 August 2017).

The parents of the groom were married in 1726 at which time their names were given as Mathias MERTENS and Maria HOLTZEMER. The family name had evolved from MERTENS to MERTES by the time Peter married.

Mathias and Maria had six children born in Müllendorf and baptized in Steinsel from 1729 to 1741. The baptismal records have been found. The priest gave the following names for the parents on the children’s records:

Theodore b. 1729: Mathias MARTINI and Maria HOLTZEMER
Magdalena b. 1731: Mathias MARTINI and Maria CARPEN dicta HOLTZEMER
Johann b. 1733: Mathias MARTINI alias CARPEN and Maria HOLTZEMER
Mathias b. 1736: Mathias MARTINI alias CARPEN and Maria HOLTZEMER
Anna Maria b. 1737: Mathias MERTENS alias CARPEN and Maria HOLTZEMER
Johann Peter b. 1741: Mathias MERTENS alias CARPEN and Maria HOLTZEMER

As mentioned in the explanation of surnames in Luxembourg, the priest gave a Latin twist to the surname and added an alias to Mathias’ surname as well as dicta (said) to Maria’s.

Although I know that Peter MERTES was the son of Mathias MERTES (MERTENS) and Maria HOLZTEMER as these were the names given at the time of his marriage, I still do not know for sure when he was born and baptized. I believe he may have been the youngest son, Johann Peter born in 1741. Further research will have to be done to prove or disprove this assumption.

The alias CARPEN was found to go back further through Maria HOLTZEMER’s line. She was born in 1704 when her parents were listed as Nicolas HOLZEM and Angela PEIFFERS. When Maria’s her sister Angela was born in 1707 the parents’ names were given as Nicolas HOLZEM dicti KARP and his wife Angela.

Digging a bit deeper I learned Angela’s family did not use a surname until their fourth child was born. It would have been very unlikely that I would figure this out on my own. Claude Bettendroffer, vice-president of Luxracines, made the connection and shared it in his database on our society’s website. When the first two children were born the parents were seen Godefridus (also seen as Godfroid and Godart), a sutor or cobbler, and Dorothée. When Angela was born her father was seen with the same occupation, only written in German, Schuhmacher. The father’s occupation was used to distinguish him from other men with the same first name in Steinsel. By the time their fourth child was born the family was using the surname or house name PEIFFERS. The oldest child, a daughter, inherited the home and passed the name on to the children of both of her marriages as her husbands took on her house name PEIFFERS.

It was astonishing to have followed a family line back using surnames, to using a house name, to only being identified by the father’s occupation during a documented period from 1666 back to 1659.

The house name KARPEN was not used by the PEIFFERS family as far as I can tell at this time. It was used by the HOLTZEM family in Müllendorf as early as 1707, by the MERTENS-HOLTZEMER family in 1731-1741 in Müllendorf, and finally by the MERTES family in Bertrange as late as 1837 when the son-in-law died. It appears the house name followed the son when he married and made his home in Bertrange.

Karpen house in Oppert. Where was Oppert?

When I searched for Oppert as seen in the 1837 death record instead of Opperter as seen in the 1820 death record, I found it is now a street in Bertrange called rue des Champs. I know this street. We’ve ridden our bikes on this road which runs from the center of town out of Bertrange into the fields to the west of town where bike paths link it to Mamer in the northwest and Dippach in the southwest.

Zooming in on Google maps street view I found the street sign, a bit above and to the left of the shutter on the left side of the house, for rue des Champs includes the Luxembourgish name Oppert.

What’s the secret?

I don’t believe there is a secret to the maison dite or house names in Luxembourg records. As long as we know how surnames evolved and how house names were used to identify people, we can use the rules to benefit our research.

Even today the older generations can be heard referring to a person by their house name instead of their surname in Luxembourg. But it is a custom which is quickly disappearing.

52 Ancestors: #28 The Mertes-Donnen Family of Bertrange

The Donnen-Christophory Family

Johann DONNEN of Ellingen (Canton Remich) married Barbe CHRISTOPHORY of Bertrange about 1772 or earlier. No marriage record has been found for the couple who were having legitimate children from 1772. Johann was born about 1747, per the age found on his death record, and his wife Barbe was born in 1743.[1] They were the parents of four known children all born in Bertrange. A daughter Barbara was born in 1772[2], twins Nicolas Johann and Catharina in 1775[3], and Maria Catharina in 1783.[4]

Bertrange Water Tank Tower (no longer in use) with its new look including the commune logo, a lion.

The Mertes-Biver Family

During the same time period, another couple was also raising a family in Bertrange. Peter MERTES and Marguerite BIVER were married on 3 December 1771 in Bertrange.[5] They were the parents of Margaretha born in 1772[6], Willibrod 1774[7], Anna Marguerite est. 1775[8], Anna 1776[9], Barbara 1779[10], Nicolas 1781[11], Magdalena 1783[12], and Anna 1786. [Update: Baptismal record of Anna b. 1786 was found on 17 Sep 2017.]

The MERTES-DONNEN Family

The daughter of the DONNEN-CHRISTOPHORY couple, Maria Catharina DONNEN, married the son of the MERTES-BIVER couple, Nicolas MERTES, on 21 February 1803 in Bertrange.[13] Nicolas’ occupation was given on the marriage record as Akersmann or plowman. During the years that followed he was always seen as a day laborer: when his children were born, when they married, and when the census was taken.

From the 2nd to the 26th of August 2017 the Belle Etoile mall in Bertrange and De Lederwon offered the public a time capsule of the countryside of Luxembourg through with exhibition of old tractors.

Two weeks after the marriage the newlyweds were attending the funeral of Johann DONNEN, the bride’s father, who died 9 March 1803.[14] Nicolas, only six days short of his twenty-second birthday, was one of the informants on the death record.

After the torments of the French Revolution (1789-1799), poverty and misery did not disappear. Many left Bertrange for southern Hungary and Transylvania in the years 1723-1726 and for North America from 1853 onward. This was not the case for the MERTES-DONNEN family.

Children’s births and grandparents’ deaths

Following their marriage, Nicolas and Maria Catharina had seven children, all born in Bertrange, during a period of seventeen years. Their first two children were sons, Michel born on 5 May 1804 at 9 in the morning[15] and François, better known as Franz, on 5 April 1806 at 11 in the morning.[16]

Maria Catharina’s mother Barbe CHRISTOPHORY died on 17 December 1807. Her son-in-law Nicolas, the informant, gave her place of death as his home. The occupation of her deceased husband Johann DONNEN was given as charron or wheelright.[17]

A wagon with wooden wheels and a manure pile in the background.

The family increased with the birth of Anne on 24 August 1808 at 8 in the evening[18] and Catherine on 3 March 1811 at 11 in the evening.[19]

Nicolas’ father Peter MERTES died on 15 December 1811 around 8 in the evening at the home of his son-in-law Jean KETTENMEYER, husband of Anne, the only sibling of Nicolas to have married.[20]

Following the death, the pattern of two births and a death continued in the family. Sons, Nicolas, born on 24 August 1814 at 11 in the evening[21], and Jean, born on 24 November 1817 at 4 in the morning[22], brought the number of children up to six.

Marguerite BIVER, the last living grandparent of the MERTES-DONNEN children, died on 20 December 1820 at 9 in the evening in house number 69 in the Oppertergasse. The informant was her son-in-law Jean KETTENMEYER.[23]

Maria Catharina gave birth to her last child a month later on 28 January 1821.[24] They named the child Nicolas although they already had a 6 and a half years old son with this name. Little did they know that three years later the elder son named Nicolas would die on 12 January 1824 at the age of 9 years and 8 months.[25]

Marriages of the children

The next ten years are not documented. No children were born or died. The decade fell before the census of 1843 which is available online. The children grew and by 1834 the first marriage was being celebrated in the MERTES family.

The second son François “Franz” MERTES married on 25 February 1834 to Margaretha ERPELDING.[26] He and his wife, my children’s 4th great-grandparents, had two children before the next marriage took place in the family.

Catherine MERTES married Johann Wilhelm FEDERSPIEL (1801-1865) on 18 April 1839.[27] Catherine had given birth to a son the previous month[28] and he was legitimized with the marriage.

No trace has been found of the oldest son Michel or the oldest daughter Anne following their births in 1804 and 1808. Their deaths were not recorded in Bertrange. Did they leave Bertrange to find work or marry?

In December of 1843[29], 1846[30], 1847[31], 1849[32], and 1851[33] Nicolas and Maria Catharina were enumerated on the census with their two youngest children, already grown men, Jean and Nicolas. In 1851, Jean (34) and Nicolas (31) were both still single.

Only two of Nicolas MERTES’ six siblings were known to be living at this time. Anne who married Jean KETTENMEYER died on 9 February 1852.[34]

On the December 1852[35] census Nicolas and Maria Catharina had in their household son Jean but the youngest son Nicolas had disappeared. I have not made any effort to locate him as this was a time many were emigrating to North America. Hopefully, if he had descendants, one of them will read this and get in touch.

A little over a year later Nicolas was the informant on the death of his wife Maria Catharina DONNEN. She died on 24 January 1854.[36]

Nicolas and his son Jean were now alone. At the age of 37, Jean married a woman three years his senior, Magdalena WAGENER (1816-1883), on 2 May 1855.[37]

Had he seen his father’s health declining and decided it was time to marry? Or did the men need a woman to care for them? Five months after the marriage the father of the groom, Nicolas MERTES died. His son-in-law Johann Wilhelm FEDERSPIEL reported the death which took place on 19 October 1855. Peter CHRISTNACH, a shoemaker and Nicolas’ neighbor, also witnessed the death record.[38]

As far as I know, Nicolas left three children, eight grandchildren, and a sister, Anne Marguerite who never married. Her death followed a little over six months later on 5 May 1856.[39] It was reported by her nephew Dominique FERDERSPIEL and her niece Catherine MERTES’ husband Johann Wilhelm FEDERSPIEL. The record includes the names of her parents. Her baptismal record has not been found and the death record was the first mention I found for her.

Close up of the water tank tower of the commune of Bertrange

Around 1850 Bertrange was a village of about 200 houses and exceeding 1,000 inhabitants. A poor commune with an economy based on agriculture and small crafts, it underwent economic restructuring in 1859 when the first railway was inaugurated. People took on work as miners and railway workers. Times were changing for the MERTES-DONNEN children who remained.

Nicolas and Maria Catharina’s living children

Franz, my children’s 4th great-grandfather, had spent his entire married life in the neighboring town of Strassen. He died at the age of 57 on 15 March 1864.[40] Catherine and Jean both remained in Bertrange. Catherine died at the age of 69 on 11 March 1880[41] and Jean on 1 September 1888[42] at the age of 70.

It took me longer than usual to research this family. For some reason the subject of maison dite or house names kept coming up everywhere I turned. Maybe the ancestors were trying to tell me something. Or maybe it is time to discuss what I learned while researching this family – something I left out above.

I’ll be at Luxracines’ archives in Walferdange on Wednesday with Rob Deltgen and, hopefully, I’ll learn enough to fill in the spaces in the draft I’ve prepared for my upcoming post.

Sources:
[1] Luxembourg, registres paroissiaux, 1601-1948 (images), FamilySearch< (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Bertrange > Baptêmes 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 33 of 200. 1743 Baptismal Record No. 562. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8971-1C12?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 16 August 2017).
[2] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 92 of 200. 1772 Baptismal Record No. 777. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G971-1C27?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 16 August 2017).
[3] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 97 of 200. 1775 Baptismal Records No. 866 and 867. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G971-1C2P?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : 9 January 2015).
[4] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1781-1797, confirmations 1791, mariages 1781-1797, sépultures 1781-1797 > image 29 of 254. 1783 Baptismal Record (bottom left). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WS-SHYQ?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-3T1%3A1500936901%2C1500936942 : accessed 8 August 2017).
[5] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 147 of 200. 1771 Marriage Record No. 248. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L971-1CL8?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 10 August 2017).
[6] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 91 of 200. 1772 Baptismal Record No. 767. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G971-1CL2?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 10 August 2017).
[7] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 95 of 200. 1774 Baptismal Reocord No. 831. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-9971-1ZM4?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 10 August 2017).
[8] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 1083 of 1416. 1856 Death Record No. 6. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6X89-BMN?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-829%3A129622901%2C129640401 : accessed 10 August 2017).
[9] Luxembourg Parish Records, Bertrange > Baptêmes 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 99 of 200. 1776 Baptismal Record No. 898. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G971-1CJV?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 10 August 2017).
[10] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 106 of 200. 1779 Baptismal Record No. 18. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L971-1CTL?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 10 August 2017).
[11] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1781-1797, confirmations 1791, mariages 1781-1797, sépultures 1781-1797 > image 6 of 254. 1781 Baptismal Record No. 10 (right page, first entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-SZHN?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-3T1%3A1500936901%2C1500936942 : accessed 8 August 2017).
[12] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1781-1797, confirmations 1791, mariages 1781-1797, sépultures 1781-1797 > image 26 of 254. 1783 Baptismal Record No. 63. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WS-SCTD?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-3T1%3A1500936901%2C1500936942 : accessed 10 Augut 2017).
[13] Luxembourg Civil Records, Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 1329 of 1480. 1803 Marriage Record (right page). (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12703-107050-84?cc=1709358 : accessed 5 October 2015).
[14] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 511 of 1416. 1803 Death Record (left, top). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6X8S-37S?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-829%3A129622901%2C129640401 : accessed 8 August 2017).
[15] Luxembourg Church Records, Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 25 of 1480. 1804 (15 Florial an 12) Birth Record (part 1, part 2 on next image). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-X363-56W?cc=1709358&wc=9RY8-YWL%3A129622901%2C129854201 : accessed 11 August 2017).
[16] Luxembourg Civil Records, Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 61 of 1480. 1806 Birth Record (left page). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-X36Q-97R?cc=1709358&wc=9RY8-YWL%3A129622901%2C129854201 : accessed 10 Apr 2013).
[17] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 521 of 1416. 1807 Death Record (right page, bottom). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6X8S-3SH?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-829%3A129622901%2C129640401 : accessed 8 August 2017).
[18] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 94 of 1480. 1808 Birth Record (left, middle). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-X363-1J4?cc=1709358&wc=9RY8-YWL%3A129622901%2C129854201 : accessed 15 August 2017).
[19] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 127 of 1480. 1811 Birth Record (left, middle). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-X363-TY4?cc=1709358&wc=9RY8-YWL%3A129622901%2C129854201 : accessed 15 August 2017).
[20] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 558 of 1416. 1811 Death Record (bottom left and top right). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6X8S-SB6?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-829%3A129622901%2C129640401 : accessed 8 August 2017).
[21] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 162 of 1480. 1814 Birth Record No. 19. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-X363-52M?cc=1709358&wc=9RY8-YWL%3A129622901%2C129854201 : accessed 15 August 2017).
[22] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 195 of 1480. 1817 Birth Record No. 34. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12703-109265-65?cc=1709358 : accessed 4 March 2016).
[23] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 640 of 1416. 1820 Death Record No. 20. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6X8S-322?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-829%3A129622901%2C129640401 : accessed 8 August 2017).
[24] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 230 of 1480. 1821 Birth Record No. 1. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-X36Q-9DJ?cc=1709358&wc=9RY8-YWL%3A129622901%2C129854201 : accessed 15 August 2017).
[25] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 662 of 1416. 1824 Death Record No. 3. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6X89-BQK?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-829%3A129622901%2C129640401 : accessed 18 August 2017).
[26] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 63 of 1416. 1834 Marriage Record No. 9. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-55620-99?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2DC:725853054 : accessed 10 Apr 2013).
[27] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 120 of 1416. 1839 Marriage Record No. 10. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6X89-1YH?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-829%3A129622901%2C129640401 : accessed 8 August 2017).
[28] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 555 of 1480. 1839 Birth Record. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-X363-TKY?cc=1709358&wc=9RY8-YWL%3A129622901%2C129854201 : accessed 20 August 2017).
[29] Luxembourg, Volkszählungen 1843-1900 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Bertrange > 1843 > image 142 of 407. Mertes-Donnen household. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32355-17053-91?cc=2037957 : accessed 4 October 2015).
[30] Ibid., Bertrange > 1846 > image 211 of 431. Nicolas Mertes-Donnen household. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G97B-V69B?cc=2037957&wc=M5LT-ZJF%3A346116301%2C345858602 : accessed 15 August 2017).
[31] Ibid., Bertrange > 1847 > image 387 of 448. Mertes-Donnen household. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-997B-CY2G?cc=2037957&wc=M5LR-MJG%3A346116301%2C345864101 : accessed 15 August 2017).
[32] Ibid., Bertrange > 1849 > image 78 of 474. Nicolas Mertes-Donnen household. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G97B-Z423?cc=2037957&wc=M5LR-7MY%3A346116301%2C345864801 : accessed 15 August 2017).
[33] Ibid., Bertrange > 1851 > image 11 of 215. Mertes-Donnen household No. 23. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32358-23034-28?cc=2037957 : accessed 8 August 2017).
[34] Luxembourg Civil Records, Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 1047 of 1416. 1852 Death Record No. 5. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6X89-YZV?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-829%3A129622901%2C129640401 : acccessed 10 August 2017).
[35] Luxembourg Census Records, Bertrange > 1852 > image 136 of 205. Nicolas Mertes-Donnen household. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32381-15410-15?cc=2037957 : accessed 8 August 2017).
[36] Luxembourg Civil Records, Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 1062 of 1416. 1854 Death Record No. 6. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-56882-33?cc=1709358 : accessed 3 April 2010).
[37] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 265 of 1416. 1855 Marriage Record No. 4. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-52019-88?cc=1709358 : accessed 4 March 2016).
[38] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 1077 of 1416. 1855 Death Record No. 32. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-54541-99?cc=1709358 : accessed 3 April 2010).
[39] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 1083 of 1416. 1856 Death Record No. 6. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6X89-BMN?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-829%3A129622901%2C129640401 : accessed 10 August 2017).
[40] Ibid., Strassen > Décès 1850-1890 > image 140 of 446. 1864 Death Record No. 11. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11740-166420-69?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-LNG:528766680 : accessed 10 Apr 2013).
[41] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 1305 of 1416. 1880 Death Record No. 8. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6X89-18Q?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-829%3A129622901%2C129640401 : accessed 11 August 2017).
[42] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 1384 of 1416. 1888 Death Record No. 14. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6X8S-9NG?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-829%3A129622901%2C129640401 : accessed 11 August 2017).

52 Ancestors: #45 The WAGNER-KERSCHT Family

Week 45 (November 5-11) – Free. (Pick your own theme!)

I picked “nur nicht verzweifeln” or don’t despair: I had a rough time getting this written with correct source citations. I came to realize there are still avenues open to me for researching the German families. This is the last German family group in this generation. The next four sets of 3rd great-grandparents will take me back to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Whew!

The WAGNER-KERSCHT family lived in Mettendorf, Germany, and included father Johann “Joannes” WAGNER, mother Anna Maria KERSCHT, and four children, two of whom were known to have continued the line.

1789map — The towns this family lived in relation to Echternach, where I live.
Cropped from a larger map from 1789. Courtesy of
http://wiki-commons.genealogy.net/Datei:Rheinprovinz-1789-00-Uebersicht-kl.djvu

Johann “Joannes” WAGNER

Johann “Joannes” WAGNER, my third great-grandfather, was born about 1804[1] in Fließem, north of Bitburg in the Eifel (Germany). He was the son of Mathias WAGNER and Anna Katharina SCHACMOTTE. The names of his parents were found on the indexed 1830 marriage record (no images).[16] The 1858 burial record found in the FamilySearch database included his age at death which was used to compute his estimated year of birth. Thomas A. Pick, compiler, Homepage for Eifel Birth and Marriage Data lists Johann’s mother’s name as Maria Catharina SCHUMACHER. Johann’s parents and siblings are at this time a brick wall.

Anna Maria KERSCHT

messerich

My third great-grandmother Anna Maria KERSCHT was the daughter of Mathias KERSCHT (1759-1841), a sheep herder, Schäfer, and Anna EVEN (1766-1828) who were married 26 November 1785 in Messerich in the Eifel.[2] Anna Maria was the second child of eight children born to Mathias and Anna according to information given in the OFB Mettendorf (Ortsfamilienbuch – Family Book Mettendorf). I suspect she was more likely their fifth child. Note: When I took the photo, below, it was the first time I was actually seeing a family book and did not know how to go from one family group to the next. I should have gone to families M1493, M3013, and M15 35 to get more information on the daughters in the family. I did not miss getting a photo of the sons under M1160, M1161, S1162 as these were on the same and next page.

Werner Naumann, compiler, *Familienbuch der Pfarrei Mettendorf Dekanat Neuerburg*, Band 1 A-M Band 2 N-Z (compiled in 1992), p. 291, Family # M1158. [Pages of book photographed in Archiv Peter Daus (Wittlich) on 4 May 2013]. Kerscht-Even.

From information found in the sources cited below this is how I see the order of the births of the children of Mathias and Anna:

Child 1: Anne KERSCHT (1788-1843) was born on 4 October 1788 in Messerich.[2], [3]
Child 2: Catharina KERSCHT (1791-1851) born 14 December 1791 in Messerich.[2], [3]
Child 3: Matthias KERSCHT (1794-1876) was born on 19 April 1794 in Messerich.[2], [3], [4]
Child 4: Christophorus KERSCHT (1799- ) born 19 June 1799 in Mettendorf.[2], [5]
Child 5: Anna Maria KERSCHT born in Mettendorf. My line.
Child 6: Anna Catharina KERSCHT (1806-1824) born abt. 1806 in Mettendorf.[2], [6]
Child 7: Heinrich “Henricus” KERSCHT (1809-1809) was born on 8 August 1809. He lived only 10 days dying on 18 August 1809 in Mettendorf and was buried the next day.[2], [7]
Child 8: Joannes KERSCHT (1811- ) born 18 February 1811 in Mettendorf.[2], [8]

You will notice the first three children born between 1788 and 1794 were born in Messerich per Pick’s Data.[3] Anna Maria was born in Mettendorf.[2] The family must have moved from Messerich to Mettendorf after the birth of their son Mathias in 1794. Anna Maria’s year of birth is estimated at about 1793 in the OFB Mettendorf under the information for her parents.[2] I did not get the M3013 entry for Anna Maria and her husband from the book and will have to rectify this as soon as it is possible to access the OFB. As you will see later her last child was born in 1842. She would have been nearly 50 years old if she was born abt. 1793 and 11 years older than her husband. I find this quite hard to believe.

mettendorftiny

When Mathias and Anna were expecting their seventh child their oldest daughter Anne married Henricus LUDWIG on 23 January 1809 in Mettendorf.[9]

In the year their eighth child was born their second daughter Catharina married Joannes Friedericus LOCHEMES on 19 September 1811 in Mettendorf.[10] Two months later she had a daughter, who lived only two weeks.[11] Catharina also married Theodore LOCHEMES. This would have been in 1818 or earlier. What happened to her first husband and was he a brother of her second husband? These are questions I cannot answer at this time.

Six years after Catharina’s first marriage her brother Mathias, the oldest son of Mathias and Anna, married Angela ACHEN on 21 January 1818 in Mettendorf.[12]

Another six years later the second oldest son Christophorus married Elisabetha MERTES on 23 February 1824 in Sülm near Bitburg.[13]

Three months later their 18 years old daughter Anna Catharina died on 22 May 1824 in Mettendorf and was buried the next day.[14]

Four years later the mother of this family, Anna EVEN died and was buried on 15 November 1828 in Mettendorf.[15]

Johann and Anna Maria Marry

Johann “Joannes” WAGNER married Anna Maria KERSCHT on 22 February 1830 in Mettendorf.[16] The bride’s father Mathias was very likely present at the marriage. As nothing is known of the groom’s parents, whether they were living or deceased, I cannot say they were present or not. At the time of the marriage the bride may have already been expecting her first child.

Let us consider what her age may have been at the time of marriage. If she was born about 1793 she would have been about 37 while her husband Johann was only about 26. Could there have been a 10 years difference in their ages?

On 20 August 1830 Anna Maria gave birth to her first child, a daughter Margaret. She was baptized the same day.[17] On 12 February 1832 Margaret was about 18 months and became the sister of a brother Friedericus who was baptized the same day.[18] The next child of Johann and Anna Maria was born a little more than 3 years later on 6 July 1835. This daughter, Catharina, was baptized the next day.[19]

Six years later Anna Maria’s youngest brother Joannes KERSCHT (also spelled the surname KIRSCHT) married Elisabetha ROTH on 7 January 1841 in Nusbaum in the Eifel.

A little over a month after the marriage of her youngest brother, Anna Maria’s father Mathias KERSCHT died in Mettendorf on 11 February 1841.[20]

Johann and Anna Maria’s fourth and last child Magdalena was born on 21 March 1842 and baptized the next day.[21] If Anna Maria was born about 1793 she would have been about 49 years old when my great-great-grandmother Magdalena WAGNER was born. Could this be correct? I think a trip to the Standesamt Körperich, where the civil records for Mettendorf are held, may give me the answer to this question.

Anna Maria’s two oldest sisters died. Anne on 8 January 1843[22] and Catharina on 9 December 1851.[23] Catharina’s burial record shows her age as 65 which calculates to her birth being abt. 1786. This is five years older than she actually was and shows the burial records index is not always reliable. Does this mean Anna Maria’s age at death on her burial record (below) may also have been incorrect?

Johann and Anna Maria’s only son Friedericus WAGNER married Catherine SCHMITZ on 9 March 1857 in Mettendorf.[24] The young couple named their first child born on 17 May 1858 in Mettendorf, Joannes,[11] after Friedericus’ father. Johann “Joannes” WAGNER, the grandfather, died less than a month later on 15 June 1858 and was buried on 17 June 1858 in Mettendorf.¨[25]

Johann and Anna Maria’s youngest daughter, my 2nd great-grandmother, Magdalena WAGNER married my 2nd great-grandfather Mathias PÖPPELREITER (1843-1891) on 18 November 1868 in Mettendorf.[26]

The oldest daughter Margaret WAGNER died on 19 July 1871 in Mettendorf.[27] She never married and did not have any known children.

Johann and Anna Maria’s only son Friedericus was widowed between 1871-1873 and remarried on 11 January 1873 to Marie THELEN.[27] She gave him three children in three years.

Friedericus’ second wife was pregnant with their third child when his mother Anna Maria KERSCHT died on 21 July 1876 in Mettendorf.[27] Anna Maria left two children, Magdalena, my 2nd great-grandmother who died nearly eight years later on 20 March 1884[26] and Friedericus who died after 1899.[27] It is not know if her daughter Catharina born in 1835 lived to marry.

Sources:
[1] Germany Deaths and Burials, 1582-1958 / Deutschland Tote und Beerdigungen, 1582-1958, (index), FamilySearch, FHL microfilm 469172. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J4Z3-P8Q : accessed 5 November 2015), Joannes Wagner, birth 1804, burial 17 Jun 1858, spouse’s name Anna Maria Kirscht; citing v.3 p.264, reference v.3 p.264;.
[2] Werner Naumann, compiler, Familienbuch der Pfarrei Mettendorf Dekanat Neuerburg, Band 1 A-M Band 2 N-Z (compiled in 1992), p. 291, Family # M1158. [Pages of book photographed in Archiv Peter Daus (Wittlich) on 4 May 2013]. Kerscht-Even.
[3] Thomas A. Pick, compiler; Homepage for Eifel Birth and Marriage Data; (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pick/ : accessed 5 November 2015) citing Messerich.
[4] Family Book Mettendorf, p. 291-292, Family # M1160. [Pages of book photographed in Archiv Peter Daus (Wittlich) on 4 May 2013]. Kerst-Achen
[5] Ibid., p. 292, Family # M1161. [Pages of book photographed in Archiv Peter Daus (Wittlich) on 4 May 2013]. Kerscht-Mertes.
[6] Germany Deaths and Burials, (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J4Z3-KHW : accessed 5 November 2015), Anna Catharina, age 18, burial 23 May 1824, parents Mathias Kerst and Anna Even; citing v.2 p.210, reference v.2 p.210.
[7] Ibid., (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J4Z3-JLY : accessed 5 November 2015), Henricus, age 0, burial 19 Aug 1809, parents Mathias Kerscht and Anna Even; citing v.1 p.56, reference v.1 p.56.
[8] Familienbuch Mettendorf, p. 292, Family # M1162. [Pages of book photographed in Archiv Peter Daus (Wittlich) on 4 May 2013]. Kerscht-Roth.
[9] Germany Marriages, 1558-1929 / Deutschland, Heiraten, 1558-1929, (index), FamilySearch, FHL microfilm 469172. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J4LQ-SZ6 : accessed 8 November 2015), Henricus Ludewig and Anna Kerscht, 23 Jan 1809, parents of groom Nicolaus Ludewig and Elisabetha Thyves, parents of bride Mathias Kerscht and Anna Even; citing Mettendorf, Rheinland, Preußen, Germany.
[10] Germany Marriages, FHL microfilm 469172. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J4LQ-SYW : accessed 6 November 2015), Joannes Fridericus Lochemes and Catharina Kerscht, 19 Sep 1811, parents of groom Leonardus Lochemes and Maria Elisabetha Mueller, parents of bride Mathias Kerscht and Anna Even; citing Mettendorf, Rheinland, Preußen, Germany.
[11] Thomas A. Pick, compiler; Homepage for Eifel Birth and Marriage Data; (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pick/ : accessed 5 November 2015) citing Mettendorf.
[12] Germany Marriages, FHL microfilm 469172. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J4LQ-3LV : accessed 8 November 2015), Mathias Kerst and Angela Achen, 21 Jan 1818, parents of groom Mathias Kerst and Anna Even, parents of bride Michaelis Achen and Anna Maria Kaufmann; citing Mettendorf, Rheinland, Preußen, Germany.
[13] Germany Marriages, FHL microfilm 556878. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J4JW-JQW : accessed 8 November 2015), Christophorus Kirst and Elisabetha Mertes, 23 Feb 1824, parents of groom Mathiae Kirst and Annae Even, parents of bride Nicolai Mertes and Elisabethae Kruetten; citing Suelm, Rheinland, Preussen, Germany.
[14] Germany Deaths and Burials, (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J4Z3-KHW : accessed 5 November 2015), Anna Catharina, age 18, burial 23 May 1824, parents Mathias Kerst and Anna Even; citing v.2 p.210, reference v.2 p.210.
[15] Ibid., (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J4Z3-KT1 : accessed 5 November 2015), Anna Even, age 60, burial 15 Nov 1828, spouse Mathias Kirsch; citing v.2 p.234, reference v.2 p.234.
[16] Germany Marriages, (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J4LQ-7MQ : accessed 5 November 2015), Joannes Wagner and Anna Maria Kirsch, married 22 Feb 1830, parents of groom Mathias Wagner and Maria Catharina Schaemotte, parents of bride Mathias Kirsch and Anna Even; citing Mettendorf, Rheinland, Preußen, Germany.
[17] Germany Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898 / Deutschland Geburten und Taufen, 1558-1898, (index), FamilySearch, FHL microfilm 469172. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NC1K-YJH : accessed 5 November 2015), Margaretha Wagner, 20 Aug 1830, parents Joannis Wagner and Maria Kirscht; citing Mettendorf, Rheinland, Preußen, Germany.
[18] Ibid., FHL microfilm 469172. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NC1K-BZQ : accessed 5 June 2015), Fridericus Wagner, 12 Feb 1832; citing Mettendorf, Rheinland, Preußen, Germany.
[19] Ibid., FHL microfilm 469,172. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NJ74-3X7 : accessed 5 June 2015), Catharina Wagner, 07 Jul 1835; citing Mettendorf, Rheinland, Preußen, Germany.
[20] Germany Deaths and Burials, FHL microfilm 469172. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J4Z3-L6K : accessed 5 November 2015), Mathias Kerscht, age 88, burial 11 Feb 1841, spouse Anna Even; citing v.3 p.185, reference v.3 p.185.
[21] Germany Births and Baptisms, FHL microfilm 469172. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NC12-SQ1 : accessed 5 June 2015), Magdalena Wagner, 22 Mar 1842; citing Mettendorf, Rheinland, Preußen, Germany.
[22] Germany Deaths and Burials, FHL microfilm 469172. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J4Z3-LL5 : accessed 5 November 2015), Anna Kerscht, age 54, burial 08 Jan 1843, spouse Henricus Ludwigh; citing v.3 p.197, reference v.3 p.197.
[23] Ibid., FHL microfilm 469172. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J4Z3-G5T : accessed 6 November 2015), Catharina Kirscht, age 65, 09 Dec 1851, spouse Theodorus Lochemes; citing v.3 p.244, reference v.3 p.244.
[24] Germany Marriages, FHL microfilm 469172. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J4LQ-CVD : accessed 5 November 2015), Fridericus Wagner and Catharina Schmitt, 09 Mar 1857; citing Mettendorf, Rheinland, Preußen, Germany.
[25] Germany Deaths and Burials, FHL microfilm 469172. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J4Z3-P8Q : accessed 5 November 2015), Joannes Wagner, birth 1804, burial 17 Jun 1858, spouse’s name Anna Maria Kirscht; citing v.3 p.264, reference v.3 p.264;.
[26] Familienbuch Mettendorf, p. 39, Family # M1962. [Pages of book photographed in Archiv Peter Daus (Wittlich) on 4 May 2013]. Pöppelreiter-Wagner.
[27] Alwin Banz, compiler, Stammbaum: Familie Banz, obsolete password-protected site : accessed 5 November 2015).

Genealogy Sketch

Name: Johann “Joannes” WAGNER
Parents: Mathias WAGNER and Anna Katharina SCHACMOTTE
Spouse: Anna Maria KERSCHT
Parents of Spouse: Mathias KERSCHT and Anna EVEN
Whereabouts: Fließem, Messerich, Mettendorf (Germany)
Relationship to Cathy Meder-Dempsey: 3rd great-grandfather

1. Johann “Joannes” WAGNER
2. Magdalena WAGNER
3. Katharina “Catherine” PÖPPELREITER
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.

52 Ancestors: #41 How Jacob RUCKERT’s Brother-in-law Peter SCHMIT Became his Father-in-law

Week 41 (October 8-14) – Colorful. Everyone has at least one “colorful” ancestor. Share the story of one of yours. 🙂

I didn’t expect this story to fit the “colorful” ancestor theme until I discovered an illegitimate child (and then another) in the family. I was not surprised and wondered if this would be colorful enough to fit the theme. Since I’m writing about an ancestral couple two people are involved, six when I add their parents, and the number increases when children (and most families had quite a few) and their spouses are added. What I’m getting at is – when researching a person or a family you need to look at all persons involved. And that is how I discovered my husband’s 3rd great-grandfather Jacob RUCKERT’s brother-in-law became his father-in-law. Colorful enough?

Jacob RUCKERT

Jacob RUCKERT was born and baptized on 23 July 1787 in Bertrange. His parents were Johann RUCKERT, a farmer, and Angelique MICHELS. Present at his baptism were Jacob RUCKERT, a farmer, from Sandweiler and Margaretha RUCKERT alias KING from Hagen in the parish of Sterpenich (Province of Luxembourg in Belgium).[1] Today Hagen is part of the commune of Schuttrange in the Grand Duché of Luxembourg.

1787baptismruckert — 1787 Baptismal Record (bottom left page) of Jacobus RUCKERT [1]

1787baptismruckert2 — 1787 Baptismal Record (top right page) of Jacobus RUCKERT [1]

Angelique (1748-1825) of Bertrange and Johann (?-1803) of Sandweiler married two years before Jacob’s birth on 7 February 1785 in Bertrange.[2] This was Angelique’s third marriage. I found the marriages on marriage index cards and need to locate the actual documents in the parish records which are online at FamilySearch. As the first two marriages are new to me I haven’t had time to work through possible siblings of Jacob RUCKERT. While searching through the census I found his brother Johann RUCKERT (1789-1862) who was born 2 years, 1 month, and 18 days after him. Jacob and his brother Johann may have had full siblings and half-siblings with different surnames as their mother was married to Petrus HANSEN on 5 February 1770[3] and to Willibrordus WESTER on 11 January 1774.[4]

1770michelmarriage — Marriage #1 for Angela Mertes aka Angela Michels [3]

1774michelsmarriage — Marriage #2 for Angelica Michels, a widow [4]

1785michelsmarriage — Marriage #3 for Angelica Michels, a widow [2]

These index cards are a treasure trove of information. By following the names of the parents listed for Angelique MICHELS I discovered the names of her paternal grandparents and great-grandparents giving me three new generations to research. Also I see an unexpected MERTES connection which needs to be looked into.

Jacob’s father Johann died on 15 February 1803[5] and his mother Angelique died 15 April 1825[6], both in Bartringen. It was only after the death of his mother that Jacob at the age of 40 years married Margaretha SCHOLER (1802-1842) on 19 February 1828 in Bertrange.[7] Margaretha was born on 15 September 1802 in Obersyren in the commune of Schuttrange per the marriage record.

Margaretha’s sister Anne Marie SCHOLER married a month after Jacob and Margaretha on 22 March 1828 in Bertrange to Peter SCHMIT.[8] Peter had become a widower in 1826. This is when Jacob RUCKERT and Peter SCHMIT became brothers-in-law.

Jacob and Margaretha were the parents of at least eight children:

Ch 1: Heinricus “Henri” RUCKERT (1830-1863) born 8 February 1830 in Bertrange.[9] He died on 15 March 1863 in Luxembourg City.[10]
Ch 2: Johann RUCKERT (1832-1835) born 9 January 1832 in Bertrange.[11] He died 20 September 1835 in Bertrange.[12]
Ch 3: Elisabeth RUCKERT (1833-?) born 12 August 1833 in Bertrange.[13]
Ch 4: [–?–] RUCKERT (1835-1835) born 5 December 1835 in Bertrange.[14] He died 5 December 1835 in Bertrange.[15]
Ch 5: Jean RUCKERT (1836-?) born 9 December 1836 in Bertrange.[16] He may have died in Luxembourg City in 1865.
Ch 6: Catherine RUCKERT (1839-?) born 12 May 1839 in Bertrange.[17]
Ch 7: Franciscus RUCKERT (1840-1842) born 5 October 1840 in Bertrange.[18] He died 10 August 1842 in Bertrange.[19]
Ch 8: Catharina RUCKERT (1842-?) born 20 March 1842 in Bertrange.[20]

Margaretha SCHOLER died giving birth to her eighth child on 20 March 1842 in Bertrange.[21] Jacob was left with Henri, Elisabeth, Jean, Catherine and newborn baby Catharina.

Magdalena SCHMITT

As mentioned earlier Peter SCHMIT,a widower, married Jacob RUCKERT’s sister-in-law. Peter had first married Anne Marguerithe WEICKER (date and place unknown at this time) and they had one known child, Magdalena SCHMIT born 10 February 1811 in Bertrange.[22] Her birth record, being in French, has Madelaine as her name.

1811madelainebirth — 1811 Birth Record for “Madelaine” SCHMIT [22]

Her mother Anne Marguerithe died shortly before Magdalena’s 15th birthday, on 17 January 1826 in Bertrange.[23] Two years later Peter SCHMIT remarried and became the brother-in-law of Jacob RUCKERT.[9]

At the age of 24 Magdalena SCHMIT had a daughter born out of wedlock. Anne SCHMIT was born on 7 November 1835 in Bertrange. A midwife reported her birth and only gave the name of the mother. There was no mention of the father, known or unknown.[24]

When Magdalena was 31 years old she married the widowed Jacob RUCKERT. The wedding took place on 26 November 1842 in Bertrange, eight months after the death of Jacob’s first wife. None of the four witnesses present were related to the bride and groom. The bride’s father Peter SCHMIT was present at the marriage and became his brother-in-law Jacob’s father-in-law.[25]

Jacob and Magdalena had four children:

Ch 9: Franciscus “François” RUCKERT (1843-?) born 10 July 1843 in Bertrange.[26]
Ch 10: Catharina RUCKERT (1845-1845) born 7 September 1845 in Bertrange.[27] She died 25 December 1845 in Bertrange.[28]
Ch 11: Margaretha RUCKERT (1847-1895) born 4 May 1847 in Bertrange.[29]
Ch 12: Maria RUCKERT (1850-?) born 17 February 1850 in Bertrange.[30]

Although I was able to find the birth records of the children of Jacob RUCKERT and his two wives, I had a difficult time with the census. Browsing the images at FamilySearch is tedious and time consuming. I didn’t have the time to go through the 1843, 1846, 1847, and 1849 census images especially after viewing ALL images for 1852 and not finding the family in Bertrange. I did find them in the 1851 and 1855 census. The 1851 was surprising and brought to light one “family secret” I may not have found otherwise.

As SCHMIT is such a commmon surname I have not even begun to look at the SCHMIT births, marriages, and deaths in Bertrange. But the 1851 census had a 16 years old girl Anne SCHMIT listed in the household of Jacob RUCKERT and Magdalena SCHMIT. The relationship was not listed so I checked for her birth record and found she was the daughter of Magdalena.[31]

By 1855 Jacob and Magdalena’s three children Franciscus, Margaretha and Maria were still at home as well as both of Jacob’s two daughters, both named Catherine from his first marriage.[33]

Jacob RUCKERT died on 24 June 1856 in Bertrange. A neighbor reported his death.[34]

Marriages for two of Jacob’s children from his first marriage were found. Elisabeth married on 26 November 1857 in Bertrange[35] and Henri married on 6 May 1859 in Luxembourg City.[36]

Jacob’s widow Magdalena raised their children as well as Jacob’s two youngest daughters at least until the end of 1858 when they were with her on the census.[37] By 1861[38], 1864[39], and 1867[40] only Magdalena’s two youngest daughters were at home.

Magdalena and Jacob’s son François was mentioned on the 1864 census as being in Leudelange and I was able to locate him with a family in Leudelange and working as as servant (domestique).[41]

Marie, the youngest daughter, had an illegitimate son Mathias two months before the 1867 census on 2 October 1867 in Bertrange.[42]

Events in the life of Jacob and Magdalena’s daughter Margaretha, my husband’s 2nd great-grandmother and the only child I found marriage records for, took a fast pace before and after the death of Magdalena SCHMIT.[43]

Margaretha married Jacob ANTON (1822-1871) on 22 September 1870 in Bertrange.[44] Eight days later her mother Magdalena died on 30 September 1870 in Bertrange.[43] Margaretha’s husband Jacob died on 2 April 1871[45] and she gave birth to their daughter Susanne ANTON nearly four months later on 28 July 1871 in Bertrange.[46]

On 22 April 1874, three years after the death of her first husband, Margaretha SCHMIT married Michel MERTES in Strassen.[47] She would give him seven children as seen in their story 52 Ancestors: #21 The MERTES-RUCKERT Family of Strassen.

Sources:
[1] Luxembourg, registres paroissiaux, 1601-1948 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Bertrange > Baptêmes 1781-1797, confirmations 1791, mariages 1781-1797, sépultures 1781-1797 > image 64 of 254. 1787 Baptismal Record No. 215. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32462-8679-85?cc=2037955 : accessed 6 October 2015).
[2] Ibid., Bertrange > Tables des mariages 1720-1796 (index organisée par l’époux) > image 417 of 572. 1785 Marriage Card. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32461-18359-79?cc=2037955 : accessed 6 October 2015).
[3] Ibid., Bertrange > Tables des mariages 1720-1796 (index organisée par l’époux) > image 199 of 572. 1770 Marriage Card. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32461-19970-46?cc=2037955 : accessed 10 October 2015).
[4] Ibid., Bertrange > Tables des mariages 1720-1796 Hassel-Z (index organisée par l’épouse) > image 174 of 376. 1774 Marriage Card. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32462-2184-12?cc=2037955 : accessed 10 October 2015).
[5] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1800-1807, mariages 1800-1807, sépultures 1802-1807, communions 1796, membres 1734-1816 > image 91 of 108. 1803 Death Record. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32462-8929-70?cc=2037955 : accessed 6 October 2015).
[6] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 673 of 1416. 1825 Death Record No. 17. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-56264-53?cc=1709358 : accessed 2 April 2010).
[7] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 10 of 1416. 1828 Marriage Record No. 8. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-54990-54?cc=1709358 : accessed 6 October 2015).
[8] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 11 of 1416. 1828 Marriage Record No. 9. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-54927-45?cc=1709358 : accessed 8 October 2015).
[9] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 370 of 1480. 1830 Birth Record No. 7. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12703-106857-63?cc=1709358 : accessed 6 October 2015).
[10] Ibid., Luxembourg > Décès 1856 > image 785 of 1516. 1863 Death Record No. 86. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11662-166376-78?cc=1709358 : accessed 10 October 2015).
[11] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 405 of 1480. 1832 Birth Record No. 2. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12703-109195-60?cc=1709358 : accessed 6 October 2015).
[12] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 805 of 1416. 1835 Death Record No. 40. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-58440-51?cc=1709358 : accessed 7 October 2015).
[13] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 435 of 1480. 1833 Birth Record No. 50. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12703-102982-17?cc=1709358 : accessed 6 October 2015).
[14] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 808 of 1416. 1835 Death Record No. 50. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-53339-95?cc=1709358 : accessed 7 October 2015).
[15] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 808 of 1416. 1835 Death Record No. 50. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-53339-95?cc=1709358 : accessed 7 October 2015).
[16] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 503 of 1480. 1836 Birth Record No. 77. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12703-103346-89?cc=1709358 : accessed 6 October 2015).
[17] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 559 of 1480. 1839 Birth Record No. 23. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12703-103970-17?cc=1709358 : accessed 6 October 2015).
[18] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 593 of 1480. 1840 Birth Record No. 67. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12703-105897-85?cc=1709358 : accessed 6 October 2015).
[19] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 914 of 1416. 1842 Death Record No. 41. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-55046-3?cc=1709358 : accessed 7 October 2015).
[20] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 633 of 1480. 1842 Birth Record No. 24. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12703-105568-17?cc=1709358 : accessed 6 October 2015).
[21] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 907 of 1416. 1842 Death Record No. 10. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-51891-68?cc=1709358 : accessed 6 October 2015).
[22] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 125 of 1480. 1811 Birth Record (left page). (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12703-105176-7?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2DX:1319414221 : accessed 10 Apr 2013).
[23] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 684 of 1416. 1826 Death Record No. 6. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-52047-76?cc=1709358 : accessed 2 April 2010).
[24] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 479 of 1480. 1835 Birth Record No. 69. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12703-109235-17?cc=1709358 : accessed 7 October 2015).
[25] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 156 of 1416. 1842 Marriage Record No. 21. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-57204-95?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2DC:725853054 : accessed 10 Apr 2013).
[26] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 670 of 1480. 1843 Birth Record No. 51. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12703-102051-57?cc=1709358 : accessed 2 April 2010).
[27] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 725 of 1480. 1845 Birth Record No. 63. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12703-105231-33?cc=1709358 : accessed 2 April 2010).
[28] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 965 of 1416. 1845 Death Record No. 41. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-56392-74?cc=1709358 : accessed 7 October 2015).
[29] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 770 of 1480. 1847 Birth Record No. 25. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12703-104061-29?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2DX:1319414221 : accessed 04 Apr 2013).
[30] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 834 of 1480. 1850 Birth Record No. 5. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12703-104996-65?cc=1709358 : accessed 6 October 2015).
[31] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 479 of 1480. 1835 Birth Record No. 69. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12703-109235-17?cc=1709358 : accessed 7 October 2015).
[32] Luxembourg, Volkszählungen 1843-1900 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Bertrange > 1851 > image 211 of 215. Ruckert-Schmit household. “Luxembourg Volkszählungen 1843-1900,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32358-27390-47?cc=2037957 : accessed 7 October 2015).
[33] Ibid., Bertrange > 1855 > image 12 of 207. Ruckert-Schmit household. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32378-10504-67?cc=2037957 : accessed 7 October 2015).
[34] Luxembourg Civil Records, Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 1084 of 1416. 1856 Death Record No. 10. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-55634-51?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2DC:725853054 : accessed 10 Apr 2013).
[35] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 279 of 1416. 1857 Marriage Record No. 7. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-52834-59?cc=1709358 : accessed 8 October 2015).
[36] Ibid., Luxembourg > Mariages 1847-1868 > image 808 of 1501. 1859 Marriage Record No. 32. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12576-91871-46?cc=1709358 : accessed 10 October 2015).
[37] Luxembourg Census, Bertrange > 1858 > image 91 of 215. Ruckert-Schmit household No. 86. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32359-27766-22?cc=2037957 : accessed 10 October 2015).
[38] Ibid., Bertrange > 1861 > image 125 of 220. Ruckert-Schmit household No. 88. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32369-15777-10?cc=2037957 : accessed 10 October 2015).
[39] Ibid., Bertrange > 1864 > image 214 of 258. Ruckert-Schmit household No. 196. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32379-36631-51?cc=2037957 : accessed 10 October 2015).
[40] Ibid., Bertrange > 1867 > image 143 of 252. Ruckert-Schmit household No. 122. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32383-24540-26?cc=2037957 : accessed 10 October 2015).
[41] Ibid., Leudelange > 1864 > image 24 of 123. Wester household No. 16. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32372-18449-52?cc=2037957 : accessed 10 October 2015).
[42] Luxembourg Civil Records, Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 1050 of 1480. 1867 Birth Record No. 30. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12703-107323-82?cc=1709358 : accessed 9 October 2015).
[43] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 1215 of 1416. 1870 Death Record No. 17. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-58375-57?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2DC:725853054 : accessed 11 Apr 2013).
[44] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 372 of 1416. 1870 Marriage Record No. 7. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-56851-48?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-829:129622901,129640401 : accessed 20 May 2015).
[45] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 1223 of 1416. 1871 Death Record No. 16. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-56358-72?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-829:129622901,129640401 : accessed 25 May 2015).
[46] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 1091 of 1480. 1871 Birth Record No. 17. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12703-103996-63?cc=1709358&wc=9RY8-YWL:129622901,129854201 : accessed 20 May 2015).
[47] Ibid., Strassen > Naissances, mariages 1796-1823, 1850-1890 > image 1336 of 1464. 1874 Marriage Record No. 5. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12588-60372-57?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-LNP:1592332876 : accessed 03 Apr 2013).

Genealogy Sketch

Name: Jacob RUCKERT
Parents: Johann RUCKERT and Angelique MICHELS
Spouse: Margaretha SCHOLER and Magdalena SCHMIT(*)
Parents of Spouse(*): Peter SCHMIT and Anne Marguerite WEICKER
Whereabouts: Bertrange, Grand Duché de Luxembourg
Relationship to Cathy Meder-Dempsey: husband’s 3rd great-grandfather