The Ancestors: Pierre Fournelle of Rodange, Luxembourg, and Jeanne Neu of Athus, Belgium

On 14 February 1743 my sixth great-grandfather Henri NEU died in Athus, today a part of the Province of Luxembourg in Belgium. He left a widow, my sixth great-grandmother, Madeleine (Magdelaine) BACLESSE and six known daughters. Three of the daughters were already married and the other three would marry by the next decade.

One marriage documented in four countries

Eleven days later, on 25 February 1743, in Herserange, today a part of the départment Meurthe-et-Moselle in France, lettres de mariage or permission of marriage was given to Pierre FOURNEL (later seen as FOURNELLE), son of Jean FOURNEL, a farmer domiciled in Rodange, and Jeanne BERQUIN, to be married in Aubange to Jeanne NEU, daughter of Henri NEU of Athus and Magdelaine BACLESSE.¹:

In the church register of Aubange, the parish to which Athus was attached, we find the death/burial entry for Henri NEU.², ³ Here is a rough translation of the French record:

The year 1743 on the fourteenth of February died in Athus Henry Neu aged around sixty he was married to Magdalaine Baclesse His body was buried in the cemetery of the place with the ordinary ceremonies. D. Lambinet, parish priest

The marriage entry for Henri’s daughter Jeanne to Pierre FURNEL (a variation of FOURNEL and FOURNELLE) is recorded below the death entry.

The year 1743 the twenty-fifth of February Pierre Furnel son of Jean Furnel and Jeanne Berquin his father and mother of Rodange parish of Herserange and Jeanne Neu daughter of defunct Henry Neu and Magdalaine Baclesse of Athus after the publication of a bann made in the church of Herserange and that of Aubange at the time that they were obtained in the court of Trier, the exemption from the three banns on the date of February 23 before me, not finding any impediment, given the letter of intent of the governor of the said Herserange was solemnized in public in front of the church in the presence of the witnesses who signed or marked with the spouses.

Pierre Fournelle, the groom, signed his name
Jeanne Neu, the bride, left her mark
Jean Fournelle, the father of the groom, left his mark
Nicolas Berquin, the maternal uncle of the groom, left his mark
Henri Reuter, the brother-in-law of the bride, signed his name
Jean Henrion, the brother-in-law of the bride, signed his name
Philippe Seylen signed his name
D. Lambinet, curé or parish priest, signed his name

Usually, banns were read on three Sundays in the parish churches of the bride and groom before the marriage. When Pierre and Jeanne married an exception was made and the banns were read only once, two days before the marriage. This dispense was granted by the diocese of Trier. The records for this marriage are located in places in four different countries: Trier, Germany; Rodange, Luxembourg; Herserange, France; and Aubange, Belgium.

Why the special treatment?

What might be the reason for the accelerated procedure for the marriage of Pierre FOURNELLE and Jeanne NEU? Could it be the death of Jeanne’s father? Pierre’s father Jean FOURNEL was an elder synodal or member of the church council (ancien sinodal). Did he use his position to hasten the marriage procedure? The bride and groom were likely already well known to each other as Rodange and Athus are today separated only by the border between Luxembourg and Belgium and are a few kilometers from each other. The marriage may have been rushed due to pregnancy but this doesn’t seem too likely as a child was born eleven months into the marriage.

The FOURNELLE family in Rodange

Pierre and Jeanne made their home in Rodange where they earned their livings by farming. They had seven sons and a daughter born between 1744 and 1763, all in Rodange, Luxembourg. The children were baptized in the parish of Herserange, today in France.

After reading the history of the church of Rodange, I believe it’s likely that the children were baptized in the chapel of Rodange by the chaplain of Saulnes who was responsible for both branch villages in the parish of Herserange. The chapel of Rodange was built in 1677, had a consecrated altar in 1714, and was in good condition in 1737. Rodange received their own chaplain by decree in 1766.⁴

Jacques FOURNELLE (1744-1817)

The first child of Pierre and Jeanne was a son they named Jacques. He was born and baptized on 26 January 1744. His godparents were his paternal uncle Jacques FOURNELLE of Rodange and his maternal aunt Barbe NEU of Athus.⁵ Jacques married Marguerite SCHMIT (bef. 1747-1797) on 20 February 1770 in Rodange.⁶ They were the parents of eleven children. Eight of these died as infants between the ages of 0-6 years. Two more may have also died at a young age as no marriage or death records have been found. Only one child, their son Jacques, married and continued the line. Jacques died on 29 January 1817 in an unknown place. He was buried in Rodange the following day.⁷ He had been a widower for 20 years.

Jean FOURNELLE (1746-1818)

The second child of Pierre and Jeanne was born on 6 January 1746. The child was baptized on 8 January 1746 and named Jean. His godparents were Jean TOQUES and his maternal aunt Catherine NEU, both of Athus.⁸ At the age of 40, Jean married Agnès ALZIN (abt. 1758-1836) on 5 October 1786 in Rodange.⁹ They were the parents of 10 children. Five died in infancy, three have not been traced, and two continued the line. Jean died at the age of 72 years in Rodange on 12 April 1818.¹⁰ His wife outlived him by 18 years.

Pierre FOURNELLE (1748-1816)

Pierre and Jeanne’s third child was my 4th great-grandfather Pierre. He was born on 12 December 1748 and baptized the following day. His godparents were Pierre FRANCQ and his maternal aunt Elisabeth NEU, both of Athus.¹¹ Pierre was 34 years old when he married Marianne SCHMIT (1760-1824) on 1 April 1783 in Rodange.¹² She was a dozen years younger than Pierre. They were the parents of 10 children. Their firstborn died at the age of 16 months. One son has not been traced after his birth. Eight children married and seven continued the line. Pierre died suddenly in Soleuvre about a dozen kilometers from his home in Rodange on 17 October 1816 at the age of 67.¹³ He was buried on the 19th.¹⁴ His wife was the informant on his civil death record. Marianne died nearly eight years later.

Pierre and Marianne’s story can be read here: 52 Ancestors: #40 The Fournelle-Schmit Family of Rodange

Henri FOURNELLE (1751-1837)

The fourth child of Pierre and Jeanne was born on 10 September 1751. He was baptized the following day and named Henri. His godparents were his maternal uncle by marriage, Henri DE CHEVE of Rodange and Jeanne BOULANGER, wife of Joseph KEMP, of Sonne.¹⁵ Henri married Catherine GLOUTIN (1757-1923) on 25 November 1779 in Rodange.¹⁶ They were the parents of eleven children. No information has been found on three of the children after their baptism. Three children died young. The remaining five children married and four of them continued the line. Henri had been a widower for fourteen years when he died on 8 November 1837 in Rodange.¹⁷

Philippe FOURNELLE (1754-1827)

Philippe, the 5th son of Pierre and Jeanne, was born in Rodange and baptized on 22 July 1754. His godparents were his maternal uncle by marriage, Philippe MICHEL, husband of Barbe NEU, and Catherine GRANRY, wife of Dominique FELTEN.¹⁸ Philippe married Marie Julienne MATHIEU on 27 December 1787 in Halanzy, Province de Luxembourg, Belgium.¹⁹ They were the parents of nine children. Four of these married and continued the line. A son died at the age of one month. Four daughters have not been traced after their baptisms and may have also died young. Philippe died at the age of 73 years on 24 December 1827 in Rodange.²⁰ His widow was still living four years later when their youngest child married.²¹

Marie Jeanne FOURNELLE (1757-1813)

The sixth child and only daughter of Pierre and Jeanne was Marie Jeanne baptized on 7 March 1757. Her godfather was Pierre FONTAINE of Rodange; her godmother was Jeanne LADURELLE of Rodange.²² Marie Jeanne married Laurent THIRION (1752-1817) in Rodange on 10 February 1782.²³ Their first child was born in Rodange and died two and a half months later.²⁴ They lived in Laurent’s birthplace, Mont-Saint-Martin, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France, from before 1792 until their deaths in 1813 and 1817. Three children born between 1792 and 1799 were found. Gaps between the births of all known children suggest several still need to be found. Marie Jeanne died on 15 April 1813 in Mont-Saint-Martin.²⁵

Michel FOURNELLE (1760-aft. 1788)

Michel the second to last child of Pierre and Jeanne was baptized on 13 October 1760. His godparents were Michel GERVAIS and Marie DOMANGE.²⁶ Michel was the godfather of three of his siblings’ children. On 9 October 1788, a few days before his 28th birthday, Michel signed his name to the baptismal record of Marie, the daughter of his brother Jean.²⁷ No marriage or death record has been found for him after this date.

Philippe Christophe FOURNELLE (1763-aft. 1792)

The youngest child of Pierre and Jeanne was their son Philippe Christophe born and baptized on 21 October 1763. His godfather was a priest named Philippe Christophe SCHMIT and his godmother was Susanne SCHMIT, wife of Nicolas ETTINGER.²⁸ Philippe Christophe was the godfather of two of his siblings’ children. On 20 February 1792 became the godfather of a PHILIPPART child.²⁹ He was 28 years old. No marriage or death record has been found for him after this date.

The death of Pierre Fournelle

Pierre FOURNELLE died less than two years after the birth of his youngest child. Pierre was 45 years old when he died on 23 July 1765. This is not consistent with the age calculated from his 1713 baptismal record. Pierre was nearly 52 years old, 7 years older than stated in his death/burial entry in the church register. A farmer, he died in Rodange and was buried the next day in the Rodange cemetery.³⁰

Jeanne was left with eight children between the ages of 19 months and 21 years. For the next five years, her older sons likely helped her with the farm.

A farmer for Baron d’HUART

In the records of the census of hearths found in dwellings in the Duchy of Luxembourg for taxation purposes, Jeanne NEU, the widow of Pierre FOURNELLE, was enumerated as a farmer in Rodange in 1770.³¹ The family lived in a house on the farm and cultivated nearly five and a half acres of land.

Our ancestors did not use the same weights and measures as we do today. The measurement on the cadastre for land was 160 verges de 16 pieds de Saint-Lambert or 1 jour. Information on old surface measurements was found online.³² I used them to calculate the amount of land Jeanne farmed in acres.

1 Jour = 160 Verges de 16 pieds de Saint-Lambert (measurement of reference on the cadastre)
1 Verge carrée de 16 pieds de Saint-Lambert=21,80 m²
160 Verges = 3,488 m²
6.25 jour = 21,800 m² = 5.39 acres

The cadastre or land register sheet with the different categories of land and their use. The declarants on the land register were not necessarily the owners.

Jeanne cultivated 5 and a half jour = 19.184 m² = 4.74 acres of arable land planting in three cycles. The first season she planted rye, the second oats, and the third the field lay fallow to allow it to become more fertile. She tended a garden of half a jour = 1,744 m² = 0.43 acres. A meadow of a quarter jour = 872 m² = 0.22 acres produced 750 bales of hay. She also had the use of a communal pasture.

The death of Jeanne NEU

Jeanne died on 9 March 1783 less than a month before her son Pierre married. She was buried the following day in the cemetery of Rodange in the presence of witnesses including her son Henri FOURNELLE and her son-in-law Laurent THIRION who signed her burial record. Per this record, she was 60 years old. This cannot be confirmed as her baptismal record has not been found. The record included interesting information about her occupation. Jeanne was a fermière (farmer) for the Baron d’HUART.³³

1783 Death and Burial Record for Jeanne Neu, widow of Pierre Fournelle. Image courtesy of FamilySearch

Baron Jean-François-Henri-Gérard d’HUART, known as Baron Henri d’HUART, died 1 January 1781 two years before Jeanne.³⁴ His son Charles-Elisabeth-François, known as Charles, inherited the forges of Lasauvage and Herserange and was likely the owner of the land in Rodange that was farmed by Jeanne NEU at the time of her death.

My 5th great-grandmother Jeanne NEU worked the land for eighteen years following the death of her husband Pierre FOURNELLE, raising her family of eight to become fine members of the community.

In 1795 at the beginning of the French rule in Luxembourg, the church of Rodange was desecrated and closed. An upright man stood up to save what could be saved. Jeanne’s oldest son, Jacques FOURNELLE, bought the church furniture for 6 francs in a public auction on 23 January 1800. He later gave back the altar, communion bench, and pews to the church.³⁵

This article completes the series on the FOURNELLE family from the 1600s to 2005 when my maternal grandmother Marie Marcelle FOURNELLE died. The complete list of FOURNELLE articles can be found in The FOURNELLE Book.

Genealogy Sketch

Name: Pierre FOURNELLE
Parents: Jean FOURNEL and Jeanne BERKIN
Spouse: Jeanne NEU
Parents of spouse: Henri NEU and Madeleine BACLESSE
Whereabouts: Rodange and Athus
Relationship to Cathy Meder-Dempsey: 5th great-grandparents

1. Pierre FOURNELLE and Jeanne NEU
2. Pierre FOURNELLE and Marianne SCHMIT
3. André FOURNELLE and Marie Catherine PHILIPPART
4. André FOURNELLE and Odile Lucie SCHLOESSER
5. Jean Joseph FOURNELLE and Catharina FRANTZ
6. Marie Marcelle FOURNELLE and Nicolas WILDINGER
7. Living WILDINGER and Fred Roosevelt DEMPSEY
8. Catherine Ann “Cathy” DEMPSEY and Living MEDER
9. Our children

A change of plans

With this post, I’ve completed half of my maternal fifth great-grandparents. Next week, I’d like to talk to you about why the second half are being put on hold.

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

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1. Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle (54), browsable images of microfilm collection of parish and civil records (online http://www.archives.cg54.fr/), Herserange > 1743-1791 > 5 Mi 259/R 3 > image 200 of 328. New terms of use: En application du règlement sur la réutilisation des données publiques adopté par le conseil départemental de Meurthe-et-Moselle (délibération de sa commission permanente n°17, en date du 16 janvier 2017), je m’engage à mentionner la source du document téléchargé (Arch. dép. de Meurthe-et-Moselle, [suivi de la cote complète]), en cas de réutilisation. 1743 Pierre Fournelle and Jeanne Neu marriage record (left page, 2nd entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea3ebca/54b536f070323 : accessed 8 July 2020). ↩
2. Belgique, Luxembourg, Registres paroissiaux, 1618-1868, (images), FamilySearch (original records at België Nationaal Archief, Brussels / Belgium National Archives, Brussels), Paroisse d’Aubange (Luxembourg) > Film #619924 DGS #007944121 > Baptêmes 1729-1783 Mariages 1729-1776 Sépultures 1729-1776 > Image 342 of 605. 1743 Death Record – age about 60 years (right, middle). (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSZV-FS5T-F?i=341&cat=74664 : accessed 26 November 2017). ↩
3. Ibid., Paroisse d’Aubange (Luxembourg) > Film #619924 DGS #007944121 > Baptêmes 1729-1783 Mariages 1729-1776 Sépultures 1729-1776 > Image 342+343 of 605. 1743 Marriage Record, part 1 (right, bottom). (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSZV-FS5T-F?i=341&cat=74664 : accessed 26 November 2017) and Marriage Record, part 2 (left, top). (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSZV-FS55-K?i=342&cat=74664 : accessed 26 November 2017). ↩
4. Geschichte. In: T’Hémecht. Die kirchlichen Kunstdenkmäler des Dekanats Esch, 1 April 1957, p. 124. [Digitised by the National Library of Luxembourg, https://persist.lu/ark:70795/cm0nrp2xp/pages/126/articles/DTL1191%5D ↩
5. Archives Meurthe-et-Moselle, Herserange > 1743-1791 > 5 Mi 259/R 3 > image 187 of 328. 1744 Baptismal Record (left page, 1st full entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea3ebca/54b536f067fe6 : accessed 8 July 2020). ↩
6. Luxembourg, registres paroissiaux, 1601-1948 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Rodange > Baptêmes 1767-1777, 1779-1796, confirmations 1791, mariages 1767-1777, 1779-1795, sépultures 1767-1777, 1779-1797 > image 6 of 102. 1770 Marriage Record (page 4, bottom entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-3NZG?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-W32%3A1501084779%2C1501084780 : accessed 25 December 2019). ↩
7. Diözesanarchiv Luxemburg / Archives diocésaines Luxembourg (images), Matricula Online, http://data.matricula-online.eu/de/LU/luxemburg/, Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 (citing original records in the Luxembourg Diocesan Archives, Luxembourg City), GV.MF 122; GV.MF 166, Rodange, KB 10, image 61 of 63 . 1817 Death/Burial Entry. (https://data.matricula-online.eu/de/LU/luxemburg/rodingen/KB-02-10/?pg=61 : accessed 2 November 2021). ↩
8. Archives Meurthe-et-Moselle (54), Herserange > 1668-1773 > 5 Mi 259/R 1 > image 491 of 529. 1746 Baptismal Record (left page, 1st entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea3e74c/54b53808b424f : accessed 3 September 2020). ↩
9. Luxembourg Church Records, Rodange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 58 of 108. 1786 Marriage Record. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WS-3FYM?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-W3G%3A1501084779%2C1500913302 : accessed 26 November 2017). ↩
10. Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 1199 of 1497. 1818 Death Record No. 67. Note: His wife was the informant but her name and age were omitted. She did not sign and a remark was included about her not being able to write. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12304-174226-37?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-BMX:n289380544 : accessed 22 August 2013). ↩
11. Archives Meurthe-et-Moselle, Herserange > 1743-1791 > 5 Mi 259/R 3 > image 179 of 328. 1748 Baptismal Record (top, right). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea3ebca/54b536f063157 : accessed 24 November 2017). ↩
12. Luxembourg Church Records, Rodange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 35 of 108. 1783 Marriage Record. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32463-14058-91?cc=2037955 : accessed 13 November 2015). ↩
13. Luxembourg Civil Records, Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 1190 of 1497. 1816 Death Record No. 13. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12305-1045-93?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-LZB:n289380544 : accessed 23 March 2010). ↩
14. Diözesanarchiv Luxemburg, GV.MF 122; GV.MF 166, Rodange, KB 10, image 61 of 63. 1816 Death/Burial Entry. (https://data.matricula-online.eu/de/LU/luxemburg/rodingen/KB-02-10/?pg=61 : accessed 2 November 2021). ↩
15. Archives Meurthe-et-Moselle, Herserange > 1743-1791 > 5 Mi 259/R 3 > image 154 of 328. 1751 Baptismal Record (left page, 2nd entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea3ebca/54b536f050c9d : accessed 3 September 2020). ↩
16. Luxembourg Church Records, Rodange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 6 of 108. 1779 Marriage Record (right). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WS-3F56?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-W3G%3A1501084779%2C1500913302 : accessed 26 November 2017). ↩
17. Luxembourg Civil Records, Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 1343 of 1497. 1837 Death Record No. 24. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12305-3304-1?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-BMX:n289380544 : accessed 30 March 2010). ↩
18. Archives Meurthe-et-Moselle, Herserange > 1743-1791 > 5 Mi 259/R 3 > image 138 of 328. 1754 Baptismal Record (right page, 1st entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea3ebca/54b536f048b6b : accessed 3 September 2020). ↩
19. Belgique, Luxembourg, Church Records, Paroisse de Halanzy (Luxembourg) > Baptêmes 1658-1803 Mariages 1682-1803 Sépultures 1674-1803 > image 317 of 615. “.” 1787 Marriage Record (right page, top).(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLF-KH5B?i=316&cat=80875 : accessed 14 November 2021). ↩
20. Luxembourg Civil Records, Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 1268 of 1497. 1827 Death Record No. 20. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12304-173693-14?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-BMX:n289380544 : accessed 30 March 2010). ↩
21. Ibid., Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 558 of 1497. 1831 Marriage Record No. 3; online https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12305-3-52?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-BMX:n289380544 : accessed ‎29 Mar ‎2010. ↩
22. Archives Meurthe-et-Moselle, Herserange > 1743-1791 > 5 Mi 259/R 3 > image 115 of 328. 1757 Baptismal Record (right page, 2nd entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea3ebca/54b536f03be8d : accessed 5 September 2020). ↩
23. Luxembourg Church Records, Rodange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 29 of 108. 1782 Marriage Record (left, bottom). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WS-3NMF?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-W3G%3A1501084779%2C1500913302 : 9 January 2015). ↩
24. Ibid., Rodange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 37 of 108. 1783 Death Record (4th entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WS-3F1J?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-W3G%3A1501084779%2C1500913302 : accessed 26 November 2017). ↩
25. Archives Meurthe-et-Moselle, Mont-Saint-Martin > 1793-1832 > 5 Mi 382/R 3 > image 250 of 695. 1813 Death Record (right page, 2nd entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10eb9defa/54aebba08fc0f : accessed 4 November 2020). ↩
26. Archives Meurthe-et-Moselle, Herserange > 1743-1791 > 5 Mi 259/R 3 > image 92 of 328. 1760 Baptismal Record (right page, 2nd entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea3ebca/54b536f03087c : accessed 5 September 2020). ↩
27. Luxembourg Church Records, Rodange > Baptêmes 1767-1777, 1779-1796, confirmations 1791, mariages 1767-1777, 1779-1795, sépultures 1767-1777, 1779-1797 > image 54 of 102. 1788 Baptismal Record (left page, 2nd entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WS-3FGV?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-W32%3A1501084779%2C1501084780 : accessed 5 Novembr 2020). ↩
28. Archives Meurthe-et-Moselle, Herserange > 1743-1791 > 5 Mi 259/R 3 > image 74 of 328. 1763 Baptismal Record (left page, bottom entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea3ebca/54b536f0278ad : accessed 5 September 2020). ↩
29. Luxembourg Church Records, Rodange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 95 of 108. 1792 Baptismal Record (right, bottom). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WS-3F68?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-W3G%3A1501084779%2C1500913302 : acessed 26 November 2017). ↩
30. Archives Meurthe-et-Moselle, Herserange 1668-1773 > 5 Mi 259/R 1 > image 416 of 529. 1765 Death Record (left page, 1st complete entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea3e74c/54b538087141a : accessed 8 July 2020). ↩
31. Dénombrements des feux, aides et subsides 1473-1806, FamilySearch (Digitial copy of the microfilm of originals in Archives de l’Etat, Luxembourg. Censuses of hearths found in dwellings in the Duchy of Luxembourg for taxation purposes), Regime A, section 14: cadastre de Marie-Thérèse 1767, Film 2271568, DGS 8014687, liasse 60 (Rodange, La Madeleine), images 273 and 274 of 689. No. 17 Janne Neye veuve de Pierre Fournelle laboureuse demeurante à Rodange.(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSX4-K96W-9?i=273&cat=1152016 : accessed 25 February 2019). ↩
32. Ernest Gravy, Comment comptaient nos ancêtres, published in 1989. (http://www.patrimoinepreslois.be/ernest-gravy-et-le-patrimoine-preslois-asbl/dossiers/comment-comptaient-nos-ancetres : accessed 15 November 2021) ↩
33. Luxembourg Church Records, Rodange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 37 of 108. 1783 Death Record (right page, first entry). Note: age at death 60 years. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WS-3F1J?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-W3G%3A1501084779%2C1500913302 : accessed 14 November 2015). ↩
34. Jules Mersch, Biographie nationale du pays de Luxembourg Les barons d’Huart, (Biographie nationale du pays de Luxembourg ; vol. 9, fasc. 17), p. 232, 247. ↩
35. Gremling, Ferd. “Pfarrei Rodange Im Werden Und Wachsen.” Fête Du 150e Anniversaire De La Paroisse: 1808-1958 / Paroisse Rodange, published 1958, p. 31. ↩

The Ancestors: Jean Schmit of Hautcharage and Eva Ducker of Differdange

On 6 November 1756 Joannes SCHMIT of Oberkerschen (also known as Hautcharage) married Eva DUCKER of Differdingen (also known as Differdange).¹ No other information was given in the three short lines written in the Obercorn parish register. Differdange at the time belonged to the Obercorn parish.

1756 Marriage Entry in the Obercorn parish register. Courtesy of FamilySearch.

Time for a little Latin lesson

The word Octobris (or October) was marked out and corrected with 9bris in the marriage entry above. Nine does not designate the number of the month, but rather the name of the month in Latin when September, October, November, and December were the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th months. Nine was novem in Latin, making 9bris the month November, and not September the 9th month as we know it today. The suffix -bris or -ber indicates the number is to be spoken and pronounced as the standard names.

While searching for records, if you are using dates abstracted by someone who unknowingly assumed the number referred to the month as we number them today, this is likely what may be tripping you up. If you cannot find a record abstracted as July, it may be dated 7ber or September.

The children of Jean and Eva

Jean and Eva, my 5th great-grandparents, made their home in Niedercorn, a village in the parish of Obercorn. Their seven known children were born in Niedercorn and baptized in Obercorn.

Nicolaus SCHMIT (1756-?)

Jean and Eva cut it close when they married. Their first child, a son, was born less than a month after their marriage. Nicolaus was born and baptized on 1 December 1756. His godparents were Rdus (Reverendus or reverend) Dominicus SCHMIT of Oberkerschen and Catherine DÜCKER of Rodange, formerly of Differdange.² No further record was found for this child.

Franciscus SCHMIT (1758-1814)

The second child of Jean and Eva was baptized on 27 September 1758. His godparents were Franciscus SCHMIT and Maria SCHMIT, both of Niedercorn.³ Franciscus was married twice. He married(1) Elisabeth KETTENMEYERS on 8 January 1788.⁴ Elisabeth gave birth to two children⁵,⁶ before dying on New Year’s Eve in 1792.⁷ Franciscus married(2) Magdalena NOEL on 20 November 1793.⁸ They had at least two sons, one born in 1795⁹ and a second in 1804.¹⁰ Franciscus died on 7 April 1814 at the age of 55.¹¹ Magdalena died on 8 November 1820 at the age of 63.¹²

Marianne SCHMIT (1760-1824)

The first daughter and third child of Jean and Eva was my 4th great-grandmother Marianne SCHMIT. She was born and baptized on 21 December 1760. Her godparents were Frederico SCHAUS of Niederkorn and Maria DECKEN (a variation of DUCKER) of Differdange. Her baptismal name was Maria.¹³ Later, when she married, had children, and died her name was seen as Marianne. She married Pierre FOURNELLE (1748-1816) on 1 April 1783.¹⁴ Marianne was 22 and Pierre was 34. They were the parents of ten children. Their oldest lived only a little more than a year. Eight of the nine children married. One son has not been traced after his baptism in 1791. Marianne’s husband Pierre died on 17 October 1816 at the age of 67.¹⁵ Marianne died on 14 Jun 1824 at the age of 63.¹⁶ More about this family can be read here: 52 Ancestors: #40 The Fournelle-Schmit Family of Rodange.

Jean SCHMIT (1762-aft. 1821)

The fourth child of Jean and Eva, Jean was born and baptized on 19 Sep 1762. His godparents were Jean REDING from Reding and Margaritha THILTGES from Niedercorn.¹⁷ He married Françoise MARTIN on 6 February 1792 in Rodange.¹⁸ Jean was 29 and Françoise, a widow, was 50. Witnesses to the marriage were the bride Françoise’s father Jean TONNELIER (he was her step-father) and her son Pierre VAUDOIS, and the groom Jean’s brother François SCHMIT, and his brother-in-law Pierre FOURNELLE. Jean TONNELIER had married Françoise’s mother Angélique MUSQUIN following the death of his wife Catherine DUCKER. Catherine was the sister of Jean’s mother Eva. Therefore Jean TONNELIER was Jean’s uncle by marriage and became his step-father-in-law. Jean and Françoise likely didn’t have children due to her age at the time of the marriage. Françoise was 79 years old when she died in Thil, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France, on 29 October 1821 at the home of her husband Jean SCHMIT.¹⁹ A death record after 29 October 1821 was not found in Thil for Jean.

Marie SCHMIT (1765-aft. 29 Nov 1803)

Jean and Eva’s 2nd daughter and 5th child, Marie was born and baptized on 30 March 1765. Her godparents were Peter LIPPERT and Maria SAMPSON, both of Niedercorn.²⁰ Marie married Antoine MAUER on 10 February 1789 in Obercorn.²¹ They were the parents of five children born between 1789-1803. No trace of this couple or their children was found after the birth of their last known child and only daughter Maria on 29 November 1803.²²

Magdalena SCHMIT (1766-1785)

The third daughter and 6th child, Magdalena was born and baptized on 14 October 1766. Her godparents were Michael LORANG and Magdalena DECKES (a variation of DUCKER), both of Niedercorn.²³ Magdalena never married. She died on 17 May 1785 at the age of 18 while visiting or living with her sister Marianne in Rodange. Her brother-in-law Pierre FOURNELLE was present at her funeral and signed the burial notice.²⁴

Susanne SCHMIT (1769-1819)

Jean and Eva’s youngest child was a daughter Susanne born and baptized on 5 March 1769. Her godparents were Michael GRUND and Susanna BASSENDORF.²⁵ Susanne was likely the mother of a natural child born and baptized on 22 October 1789 in Rodange. The child was named Angelique SCHMIT. Her godparents were her uncle Pierre FOURNELLE and Angélique MUSQUIN, wife of Jean TONNELIER (her mother Eva’s brother-in-law).²⁶ By elimination, only Susanne could have been the mother. Angelique died at the age of two months on 2 January 1790. The entry in the parish records for her death and burial does not name her parents. The death was witnessed by her godfather/uncle.²⁷ Five years later, Susanne married Joseph PHILIPPART on 23 January 1795 in Rodange.²⁸ Joseph was the brother of my 5th great-grandfather Jacques PHILIPPART. Susanne and Joseph were 25 and 30 when they married. They were the parents of six children born between 1796-1809. Susanne died on 17 September 1819 at the age of 50.²⁹ Her husband Joseph died at the age of 63 on 19 January 1828.³⁰

Death on Wedding Anniversary

The marriage of Jean SCHMIT and Eva DUCKER lasted exactly 21 years. Jean died on their anniversary, 6 November 1777 in Niedercorn. He was buried the following day in the cemetery of Obercorn.³¹ He was a sexagenarian at the time of his death, i.e. born before 1717.

Eva, 50 years old, was left with two sons and four daughters aged between 9 and 19 years.

Eva died fourteen years later on 18 March 1792 in Niedercorn. She was buried the following day in the cemetery of Niedercorn. Her oldest son Franciscus was a witness who signed the death/burial record. Her funeral was said by J. B. NEUERS of the parish of Obercorn, the same priest who had celebrated her husband’s funeral.³² Eva had lived to see four of her children marry. Two children predeceased her.

Research Manager

Jean SCHMIT and Eva DUCKER’s names were found in the 1783 marriage record of my 4th great-grandparents Marianne SCHMIT and Pierre FOURNELLE. When I wrote about Marianne and Pierre in December 2017, I mentioned the family book for the village of Obercorn.³³

Eva’s parents were Peter DUCKER, formerly of Mamer, and Maria SCHMIT of Niedercorn, They raised their family of eight children in Differdange. While Eva’s parents and siblings were found and documented with the help of information found in the family book of Obercorn, a few questions remain.

As Eva’s mother and husband shared the SCHMIT surname, were they related? Who were the parents of Jean SCHMIT from Oberkerschen or Hautcharage?

SCHMIT is the number one most common family name in Luxembourg. Without any finding aids, it’s nearly impossible to research a person named Jean SCHMIT or John SMITH.

Baptismal records for Hautcharage are available from 1713-1793 on FamilySearch and Matricula. Marriages and burials are not available until 1779. Marriages before 1779 can be inferred from the baptismal records of the children of married couples.

Jean SCHMIT died in 1777 and was a sexagenarian, i.e. born before 1717. There were two SCHMITT men in Hautcharage having children with their wives around the time Jean SCHMIT was born: Henricus and Jacobus. A third man Joannes who used the surnames MERCIENIUS, SCHMITT, and MORITZ at the time of three daughters’ baptisms is also a candidate.³⁴ More records than the baptismal entries of the children of these three SCHMITT men will be needed to prove if any of them were the father of Jean SCHMIT of Oberkerschen.

This research will be saved for another day. The subjects of my next post will be Marianne SCHMIT’s parents-in-law Pierre FOURNELLE and Jeanne NEU.

Genealogy Sketch

Name: Jean SCHMIT of Hautcharage
Parents: Unknown at this time
Spouse: Eva DUCKER of Differdange
Parents of spouse: Peter DUCKER and Marie SCHMIT
Whereabouts: Niedercorn, Luxembourg
Relationship to Cathy Meder-Dempsey: 5th great-grandparents

1. Jean SCHMIT and Eva DUCKER
2. Marianne SCHMIT and Pierre FOURNELLE
3. André FOURNELLE and Marie Catherine PHILIPPART
4. André FOURNELLE and Odile Lucie SCHLOESSER
5. Jean Joseph FOURNELLE and Catharina FRANTZ
6. Marie Marcelle FOURNELLE and Nicolas WILDINGER
7. Living WILDINGER and Fred Roosevelt DEMPSEY
8. Catherine Ann “Cathy” DEMPSEY and Living MEDER
9. Our children

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

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1. Luxembourg, registres paroissiaux, 1601-1948 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Obercorn > Mariages 1727-1770, sépultures 1727-1737, 1740-1778 > image 68 of 96. 1756 Marriage Record (left page, 7th entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WS-9T2?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-44M%3A1500974001%2C1501083590 : accessed 9 July 2021). ↩
2. Ibid., Obercorn > Baptêmes 1728-1778 > image 45 of 103. 1756 Baptismal Record (left page, 4th entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-9ZCS?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-HZW%3A1500974001%2C1501099482 : accessed 18 June 2020). ↩
3. Ibid., Obercorn > Baptêmes 1728-1778 > image 48 of 103. 1758 Baptismal Record (left page, 9th entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WS-9ZRD?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-HZW%3A1500974001%2C1501099482 : accessed 18 June 2020). ↩
4. Ibid., Obercorn > Baptêmes 1779-1793, 1797, mariages 1790-1793, 1796-1797, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 240 of 407. 1788 Marriage Record (left page). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WS-9HYH?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-4W1%3A1500974001%2C1500974002 : accessed 4 November 2021). ↩
5. Ibid., Obercorn > Baptêmes 1779-1793, 1797, mariages 1790-1793, 1796-1797, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 257 of 407. 1789 Baptismal Record (left page, first entry).(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WS-9HR1?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-4W1%3A1500974001%2C1500974002 : accessed 4 November 2021). ↩
6. Ibid., Obercorn > Baptêmes 1779-1793, 1797, mariages 1790-1793, 1796-1797, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 324 of 407. 1791 Baptismal Record (left page, entry).(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-9H2Z?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-4W1%3A1500974001%2C1500974002 : accessed 4 November 2021). ↩
7. Ibid., Obercorn > Baptêmes 1779-1793, 1797, mariages 1790-1793, 1796-1797, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 371 of 407. 1792 Death Record (left page, first entry).(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-9ZFG?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-4W1%3A1500974001%2C1500974002 : accessed 4 November 2021). ↩
8. Ibid., Obercorn > Baptêmes 1779-1793, 1797, mariages 1790-1793, 1796-1797, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 385 of 407. 1793 Marriage Record (left page and top right). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WS-9894?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-4W1%3A1500974001%2C1500974002 : accessed 4 November 2021). ↩
9. Ibid., Obercorn > Baptêmes 1704-1727, 1746, 1794-1797, 1800-1805, mariages 1795-1797, 1800-1807, sépultures 1794-1797, 1802-1807 > image 110 of 296. 1795 Baptismal Record (right page, 2nd entry).(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WS-9SCB?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-N3T%3A1500974001%2C1500974302 : accessed 4 November 2021). ↩
10. Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Differdange > Naissances 1796-1806 > image 37 of 166. 1804 (12 Prairial An XII) Birth Record (right page).
    (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6LVQ-XRG?cc=1709358&wc=9RYQ-JWG%3A129627401%2C130102702 : accessed 5 November 2021). ↩
11. Ibid., Differdange > Décès 1813-1858 > image 29 of 591. 1814 Death Record No. 46. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6X1T-D6?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-GP6%3A129627401%2C129627402 : accessed 5 November 2021). ↩
12. Ibid., Differdange > Décès 1813-1858 > image 103 of 591. 1820 Death Record No. 31. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6X19-9PY?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-GP6%3A129627401%2C129627402 : accessed 5 November 2021). ↩
13. Luxembourg Parish Records, Obercorn > Baptêmes 1728-1778 > image 51 of 103. 1760 Baptismal Record (right page, 2nd to last entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-9Z4Y?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-HZW%3A1500974001%2C1501099482 : accessed 18 June 2020). ↩
14. Ibid., Rodange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 35 of 108. 1783 Marriage Record. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32463-14058-91?cc=2037955 : accessed 13 November 2015). ↩
15. Luxembourg Civil Records, Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 1190 of 1497. 1816 Death Record No. 13. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12305-1045-93?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-LZB:n289380544 : accessed 23 March 2010). ↩
16. Ibid., Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 1246 of 1497. 1824 Death Record No. 14. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12305-1419-81?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-LZB:n289380544 : accessed 23 Mar 2010). ↩
17. Luxembourg Parish Records, Obercorn > Baptêmes 1728-1778 > image 57 of 103. 1762 Baptismal Record (left page, first entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WS-9ZPG?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-HZW%3A1500974001%2C1501099482 : accessed 18 June 2020). ↩
18. Ibid., Rodange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 98 of 108. 1792 Marriage Record (top, left page). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WS-3FF3?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-W3G%3A1501084779%2C1500913302 : accessed 5 November 2021). ↩
19. Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle (54), browsable images of microfilm collection of parish and civil records (online http://www.archives.cg54.fr/), Villerupt 1799-18475 > Mi 579/R 2 > image 310 of 935. New terms of use: En application du règlement sur la réutilisation des données publiques adopté par le conseil départemental de Meurthe-et-Moselle (délibération de sa commission permanente n°17, en date du 16 janvier 2017), je m’engage à mentionner la source du document téléchargé (Arch. dép. de Meurthe-et-Moselle, [suivi de la cote complète]), en cas de réutilisation. 1821 Death Record (bottom left, and middle right page).
    http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ede2e95/54aeac3faff03 : accessed 12 November 2021). ↩
20. Luxembourg Parish Records, Obercorn > Baptêmes 1728-1778 > image 61 of 103. 1765 Baptismal Record (right page, 6th entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-9ZZJ?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-HZW%3A1500974001%2C1501099482 : accessed 18 June 2020). ↩
21. Ibid., Obercorn > Baptêmes 1779-1793, 1797, mariages 1790-1793, 1796-1797, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 267 of 407. 1789 Marriage Record (right page). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WS-9HFM?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-4W1%3A1500974001%2C1500974002 : accessed 4 November 2021). ↩
22. Ibid., Obercorn > Baptêmes 1704-1727, 1746, 1794-1797, 1800-1805, mariages 1795-1797, 1800-1807, sépultures 1794-1797, 1802-1807 > image 179 of 296. 1803 Baptismal Record (right page, last entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WS-9S7Y?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-N3T%3A1500974001%2C1500974302 : accessed 4 November 2021). ↩
23. Ibid., Obercorn > Baptêmes 1728-1778 > image 64 of 103. 1766 Baptismal Record (right page, 4th entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WS-9CKY?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-HZW%3A1500974001%2C1501099482 : accessed 18 June 2020). ↩
24. Ibid., Rodange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 55 of 108. 1785 Death Record (left page, 1st entry). (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32463-14223-8?cc=2037955 : accessed 18 June 2020). ↩
25. Ibid., Obercorn > Baptêmes 1728-1778 > image 69 of 103. 1769 Baptismal Record (left page, 4th entry).(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WS-9CK4?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-HZW%3A1500974001%2C1501099482 : accessed 18 June 2020). ↩
26. Ibid., Rodange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 78 of 108. 1789 Baptismal Record (left page, first entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WS-3FB3?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-W3G%3A1501084779%2C1500913302 : accessed 7 November 2021). ↩
27. Ibid., Rodange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 75 of 108. 1790 Death Record (right page, 3rd entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-3N6S?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-W3G%3A1501084779%2C1500913302 : accessed 7 November 2021). ↩
28. Ibid., Rodange > Baptêmes 1767-1777, 1779-1796, confirmations 1791, mariages 1767-1777, 1779-1795, sépultures 1767-1777, 1779-1797 > image 83 of 102. 1795 Marriage Record (left, bottom and right, top). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-3NFN?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-W32%3A1501084779%2C1501084780 : 9 January 2015). ↩
29. Luxembourg Civil Records, Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 1210 of 1497. 1819 Death Record No. 13. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-62QW-J5N?cc=1709358&wc=9RY3-168%3A130201201%2C130563401 : accessed 30 June 2011). ↩
30. Ibid., Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 1270 of 1497. 1828 Death Record No. 1. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12305-6384-83?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-BMX:n289380544 : accessed 30 Jun 2011). ↩
31. Luxembourg Parish Records, Obercorn > Mariages 1727-1770, sépultures 1727-1737, 1740-1778 > image 55 of 96. 1777 Death Record (right page, first entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WS-99S9?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-44M%3A1500974001%2C1501083590 : accessed 3 November 2021). ↩
32. Ibid., Obercorn > Baptêmes 1779-1793, 1797, mariages 1790-1793, 1796-1797, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 367 of 407
    . 1792 Death Record, part 2 (left page, first entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-9Z8P?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-4W1%3A1500974001%2C1500974002 : accessed 3 November 2021). ↩
33. Armand Logelin-Simon, Livre de famille de Obercorn, Tables familiales manuscrites de la localité de Obercorn d’après les registres paroissiaux. Période: 1637-1804 – Pages: 278 – Langue: Français/Latin (Digitized by Luxracines asbl), page 201, family 81. ↩
34. Robert Wagner, Dépouillement de Hautcharage, Dépouillement des naissances, mariages et décès à partir des registres de la paroisse de Hautcharage. Inclut la filiale de Linger. Période: 1713-1797 – Pages: 48 – Langue: Français (Digitized by Luxracines asbl). ↩

Henri Fournel (1688-1753) and Anne Launois (1692-1758)

This is the 7th in a series of posts on my earliest FOURNELLE ancestors. After setting up the stage, introducing the main characters and supporting cast, I am now discussing each of the children of my 7th great-grandparents Jean FOURNEL (1655-1721) and Catherine SETON (1657-1702). All posts written to date are listed at the end of this post.

1766 Baptismal Record of “Henry Fournier.” Image courtesy of Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle (54), 5 Mi 259/R 1 vue 55 de 529.

Henri FOURNEL (1688-1753), the fourth child and third son of Jean and Catherine, was born 2 June 1688 in Saulnes (Meurthe-et-Moselle, France). His godparents were Henry LOUIS and Barbe DROUET. His father’s name was written as Jean FOURNIER and his mother’s name was blank followed by sa mère, or his mother.¹ At home were his oldest sister Françoise (10 yo) and his brothers, Nicolas (5 yo) and Jean (2 yo).

Following Henri’s birth, four more children were born to Jean and Catherine: Jeanne (bef. 1691), Sébastienne (abt. 1692), Marie (1696), and Jacques (abt. 1699). As mentioned in previous posts, Marie may have gone by Marie Catherine or there was another sister (born before 21 September 1702) whose birth/baptismal record has not been found. No marriage or record of death has been found for Marie or Marie Catherine.

Henri was fourteen years old when his mother Catherine SETON died on 21 September 1702.²

Henri’s older siblings married in 1708, 1710, and 1713. A marriage record for Henri has not been found. He was not married when he served as the godfather of Barbe COURTOIS, daughter of his sister Françoise FOURNEL and Jean COURTOIS, on 20 June 1715. He was described as un jeune garçon or young boy indicating he was not married.³ Interesting is that the godmother of the child was a young girl named Barbe DROUET, the same name but not the same person as Henri’s godmother in 1688.

Henri Fournel marries Anne Launois

It is known that Henri FOURNEL and Anne LAUNOIS were a married couple. They had three known sons who married after Henri’s death. These marriage records confirm the parents to be Henri FOURNEL and Anne LAUNOIS. Birth records for the sons have not been found and their years of birth have had to be estimated from their age at death.

• Henri was born about 1716 and died 27 Aug 1782 at the age of 66 years.
• Mathias was born about 1733 and died 22 Feb 1793 at the age of 66 years.
• Dominique was born about 1735 and died 25 Jun 1785 at the age of 50.

The estimated years of birth for the sons would suggest Henri and Anne were married about 1716. They may have had more children between 1716-1733. One more son has been found as will be discussed at the end of this post.

Henri’s father Jean FOURNEL died 3 September 1721 in Saulnes.⁴

The next three decades are unaccounted for – no birth, marriage, or death records.

Marriages of the sons of Henri and Anne

1753 Death Record of “Henry Fournelle.” Image courtesy of Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle (54), 5 Mi 259/R 1 vue 455 de 529.

Henri died at the age of 65 (the record notes 60 years) on 6 August 1753. He is identified as the husband of Anne LAUNOIS. His son Henri and his brother Jacques were the informants on the record.⁵

1756 Marriage Record. Image courtesy of Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle (54), 5 Mi 259/R 3 vue 123 de 328.

Three years after the death of Henri, the first of his sons was seen marrying in Herserange. Henri FOURNEL married Marie Claire BOULANGER (1737-1810) on 26 February 1756.⁶ The groom signed his name in block letters. They were the parents of 12 children born between 1757 and 1781. Five did not survive to adulthood. Five of the daughters are known to have married. No further records were found for a son and a daughter.

Henri and Marie Claire’s first-born Marie Joseph was the only grandchild Anne LAUNOIS would know. The elder Henri’s widow Anne died at the age of 66 on 14 February 1758. Philippe BAILLIEU, a priest, and Dominique FOURNEL, her son, were the informants on her death record.⁷

Five years after the death of his mother, Dominique FOURNEL married Marie COMES (1734-1764) on 8 February 1763 in Herserange.⁸ Marie died on 13 January 1764 following the birth of their son Mathias.⁹

1765 Marriage Record. Image courtesy of Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle (54), 5 Mi 259/R 3 vue 60 de 328.

Dominique married again on 28 December 1765 in Herserange to Barbe SCHMIT (1744-1812).¹⁰ She gave him six children, two of whom are known to have married and continued the line.

1766 Marriage Record. Image courtesy of Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle (54), 5 Mi 259/R 3 vue 49 de 328.

About 4 months after Dominique’s second marriage, his wife’s sister Magdelaine SCHMIT (1736-1786) married his brother Mathias FOURNEL on 1 May 1766 in Herserange.¹¹ Magdelaine was Barbe’s older sister. Mathias and Magdelaine had five children, only two reached adulthood and married.

The deaths of the sons of Henri and Anne

Henri, the son of Henri and Anne, died on 27 August 1782 at the age of 66 in Saulnes.¹² His widow, Marie Claire BOULANGER outlived him dying on 9 December 1810 in Messancy (Belgium) at the age of 73 years.¹³

Dominique died on 25 June 1785 at the age of 50.¹⁴ His widow Barbe SCHMIT died 7 April 1812 at the age of 68.¹⁵ Both died in Saulnes.

Mathias’ wife Magdelaine SCHMIT predeceased him on 24 August 1786 at the age of 50.¹⁶ Mathias died on 22 February 1793 at the age of 66 years.¹⁷ Both died in Saulnes.

The discovery of a fourth son

An examination of the relationships of persons mentioned in the baptismal records of all of Henri FOURNEL and Anne LAUNOIS’ grandchildren brought to light another son of the FOURNEL-LAUNOIS couple.

Pierre FOURNEL was the godfather of Marie Catherine, the daughter of Mathias FOURNEL and Magdalaine SCHMIT, baptized on 16 April 1767.¹⁸ His relationship to the child and/or parents was not given.

On 18 August 1771, Pierre was the godfather of Pierre, a son of Henri FOURNEL and Marie Claire BOULANGER. The godfather’s relationship was noted as the uncle of the child.¹⁹

Pierre was also the godfather of Marie Joseph, daughter of Dominique FOURNEL and Barbe SCHMIT. She was baptized on 18 June 1774 and her godfather was her uncle.²⁰

As Pierre FOURNEL was identified as an uncle of two of the three children, does this mean he was a brother of the children’s fathers?

Aimé Tarnus, compiled Histoires des Familles, Hussigny-Godbrange de 1550 à 1900, a family book for the town of Hussigny that is lacking church records for the years between 1716-1765 with only 1753-1756 and 1758 being available. To get around the lack of records for the town, Mr. Tarnus consulted records of the Archives Départementales de Moselle, the Archives Départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, the National Library in Paris, and the Luxembourg National Archives. A good part of the work in the departmental archives, other than the church and civil records, was done using the judicial archives and the notary deeds.

In Mr. Tarnus’ family book of Hussigny, I found the following abstract of a  notarial record he attributed to Henry FOURNELLE, a laborer from Hussigny, born about 1713, married to Anne ADAM. Henry died 6 January 1793²¹ and his wife Anne died 17 August 1783.²² This individual has not been researched other than locating the death records. It is, at this time, unknown if he is related and how.

M. et M. 23 E 114 : le 18/12/1765, CM. entre Dominique FOURNEL, man. à Sosne la basse, assisté de Henry et Pierre FOURNEL ses frères, Jacques FOURNELLE de H., leur oncle, et Barbe FELMIN(?) fa. de Mathieu, marchal ferrant à Tiffer., et de Cath. GODFRIN etc…²³

The abstract mentions Dominique FOURNEL, a laborer from Saulnes, assisted by Henry and Pierre FOURNEL, his brothers, and Jacques FOURNELLE of Hussigny, their uncle. STOP. I suspect a transcription error in the second half. The transcriber was not sure about the surname of the lady Barbe FELMIN(?) and included the question mark.

This abstract is referring to a marriage contract (see the abbreviation: CM.) drawn up by a notary between Dominique FOURNEL and Barbe SCHMIT before their marriage. The record is dated 18 December 1765 while the marriage took place on 28 December 1765.  Barbe SCHMIT was the daughter of Mathias SCHMIT and Catherine GODFRIN of Differdange (seen as Tifferdange in early records).

The places of residence of Henry, Pierre, and Jacques are not noted. However, Dominique was the only person of this name in Saulnes around 1765. He has been proven to be the son of Henri FOURNEL and Anne LAUNOIS as were his brothers Henri and Mathias through their marriage records. In turn, the elder Henri FOURNEL and Jacques FOURNELLE were both sons of Jean FOURNEL and Catherine SETON. Jacques witnessed his brother Henri’s death record in 1753 and is referred to as his brother.

The Henry FOURNEL mentioned in the abstract is not the Henry FOURNELLE (b. abt. 1713 and died 1793) that Mr. Tarnus attached this abstract to in his book. Although the compiler attributed the record to the incorrect person, his inclusion of this information in his book helped to prove Pierre FOURNEL was the son of Henri FOURNEL and his wife Anne LAUNOIS. Pierre’s life has been documented for the years 1765 when he assisted his brother when a marriage contract was drawn up and in 1767, 1771, and 1774 when he was the godfather of his nieces and nephew. It is, however, not known when he was born, if he married, or when he died.

In the next two posts, I will be writing about Jeanne and Sébastienne, daughters of Jean FOURNEL and Catherine SETON, before I get to their youngest son Jacques who was mentioned several times in connection to his brother Henri of this post.

Going Back to the Earliest Fournelle Ancestor (Part 1)

Going Back to the Earliest Fournelle Ancestor (Part 2)

Going Back to the Earliest Fournelle Ancestor (Part 3)

Françoise FOURNEL (1678-1729) and Jean COURTOIS (1684-1745)

Nicolas FOURNEL (1683-abt.1748) and Barbe AGARANT (abt.1678-1758)

Jean FOURNEL (1686-1749) and Jeanne BERKIN (1683-1759)

Henri FOURNEL (1688-1753) and Anne LAUNOIS (1692-1758)

Jeanne FOURNEL (~1691-aft. 1756) and Jérôme PÉTRISOT (~1680-1761)

Sébastienne FOURNEL (~1692-1752) and Jean FRANÇOIS (~1681-1741)

Jacques FOURNELLE (~1699-1774) and Marie JACOB (1695-1758)

© 2020, copyright Cathy Meder-Dempsey. All rights reserved.

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1. Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle (54), browsable images of microfilm collection of parish and civil records (online http://www.archives.cg54.fr/), Herserange > 1668-1773 > 5 Mi 259/R 1 > image 55 of 529. New terms of use: En application du règlement sur la réutilisation des données publiques adopté par le conseil départemental de Meurthe-et-Moselle (délibération de sa commission permanente n°17, en date du 16 janvier 2017), je m’engage à mentionner la source du document téléchargé (Arch. dép. de Meurthe-et-Moselle, [suivi de la cote complète]), en cas de réutilisation. 1688 Baptismal Record (right page, last entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea3e74c/54b538076c2be : accessed 2 July 2020). ↩
2. Ibid., Herserange > 1668-1773 > 5 Mi 259/R 1 > image 333 of 529. 1702 Death Record (right page, last entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea3e74c/54b538082e2f7 : accessed 7 July 2020). ↩
3. Ibid., Herserange 1668-1773 > 5 Mi 259/R 1 > image 253 of 529. 1715 Baptismal Record (right page, 1st entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea3e74c/54b53807dfa71 : accessed 16 August 2020). ↩
4. Ibid., Herserange > 1668-1773 > 5 Mi 259/R 1 > image 183 of 529. 1721 Death Record (left page, first entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea3e74c/54b53807b3cf3 : accessed 7 July 2020). ↩
5. Ibid., Herserange > 1668-1773 > 5 Mi 259/R 1 > image 455 of 529 . 1753 Death Record (right page, 1st entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea3e74c/54b53808948e4 : accessed 8 July 2020). ↩
6. Ibid., Herserange > 1743-1791 > 5 Mi 259/R 3> image 123 of 328. 1756 Marriage Record (right page, top entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea3ebca/54b536f040929 : accessed 8 August 2020). ↩
7. Ibid., Herserange > 1668-1773 > 5 Mi 259/R 1 > image 438 of 529. 1758 Death Record (age at death 66 years) (left page bottom and right page top). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea3e74c/54b538088633f : accessed 8 July 2020). ↩
8. Ibid., Herserange > 1743-1791 > 5 Mi 259/R 3 > image 69 of 328. 1763 Marriage Record (right page, last entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea3ebca/54b536f0253fe : accessed 8 August 2020). ↩
9. Ibid., Herserange > 1668-1773 > 5 Mi 259/R 1 > image 417 and 418 of 529. 1764 Death Record, part 1 (right page, bottom entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea3e74c/54b538087212c : accessed 14 September 2020) and 1764 Death Record, part 2 (left page, top entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea3e74c/54b5380872e64 : accessed 14 September 2020). ↩
10. Ibid., Herserange > 1743-1791 > 5 Mi 259/R 3 > image 60 of 328. 1765 Marriage Record (left page, last entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea3ebca/54b536f021335 : accessed 8 August 2020). ↩
11. Ibid., Herserange > 1743-1791 > 5 Mi 259/R 3 > image 49 of 328. 1766 Marriage Record (left, first entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea3ebca/54b536f01bd40 : accessed 10 September 2020). ↩
12. Ibid., Saulnes > 1782-1822 > 5 Mi 492/R 1 > image 9 of 376. 782 Death Record (age at death 66 years) (left page, first entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ed0f349/54ae6cf63e59f : accessed 10 September 2020). ↩
13. Belgique, Luxembourg, registres d’état civil, 1580-1920, (images), FamilySearch (België Nationaal Archief, Brussels / Belgium National Archives, Brussels), Messancy > Actes 1810-1817 > image 63 of 368. 1810 Death Record No. 34 (age at death 77). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRXG-NM7?cc=2138510&wc=S51W-N3F%3A367348201%2C367562201 : accessed 10 September 2020). ↩
14. Archives Meurthe-et-Moselle (54), Saulnes > 1782-1822 > 5 Mi 492/R 1 > image 22 of 376. 1785 Death Record (age at death 50) (right page, 2nd entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ed0f349/54ae6cf642ad3 : accessed 14 September 2020). ↩
15. Ibid., Saulnes > 1782-1822 > 5 Mi 492/R 1 > image 262 of 376. 1812 Death Record (age at death 68) (right page, 1st entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ed0f349/54ae6cf6c4d95 : accessed 14 September 2020). ↩
16. Ibid., Saulnes > 1782-1822 > 5 Mi 492/R 1 > image 29 of 376. 1786 Death Record (left page, 2nd entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ed0f349/54ae6cf645095 : accessed 10 September 2020). ↩
17. Ibid., Saulnes > 1782-1822 > 5 Mi 492/R 1 > image 152 of 376. 1793 Death Record (age at death about 60) (left page, first full entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ed0f349/54ae6cf67ece0 : accessed 10 September 2020). ↩
18. Ibid., Herserange > 1743-1791 > 5 Mi 259/R 3 > image 42 of 328. 1767 Baptismal Record (left page, bottom and right page, top). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea3ebca/54b536f018da6 : accessed 16 September 2020). ↩
19. Ibid., Herserange > 1743-1791 > 5 Mi 259/R 3 > image 18 of 328. 1771 Baptismal Record (left page, bottom entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea3ebca/54b536f00ab31 : accessed 16 September 2020). ↩
20. Ibid., Herserange > 1743-1791 > 5 Mi 259/R 3 > image 221 of 328. 1774 Baptismal Record (left page, 1st entry). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea3ebca/54b536f07d615 : accessed 14 September 2020). ↩
21. Ibid., Hussigny-Godbrange > 1714-1809 > 5 Mi 268/R 1 > image 559 of 677. 1793 Death Record of Henry Fournel
    (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea53d8a/54b01054a7deb : accessed 23 September 2020) ↩
22. Ibid., Hussigny-Godbrange > 1714-1809 > 5 Mi 268/R 1 > image 167 of 677. 1783 Death Record of Anne Adam. (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea53d8a/54b010535bdd6 : accessed 23 September 2020) ↩
23. Aimé Tarnus, Histoires des Familles, Hussigny-Godbrange de 1550 à 1900, Tome 2 (2002-Fortier à 4096-Mohy), page 529, family 2015 Fournelle Henry husband of Anne Adam. “M. et M. 23 E 114 : le 18/12/1765, CM. entre Dominique FOURNEL, man. à Sosne la basse, assisté de Henry et Pierre FOURNEL ses frères, Jacques FOURNELLE de H., leur oncle, et Barbe FELMIN(?) fa. de Mathieu, marchal ferrant à Tiffer., et de Cath. GODFRIN etc…”] ↩

Part II: Why was Theresia BRAUN also seen as Theresia COLLING?

As seen in my previous post, my fifth great-grandparents Remacle TRAUSCH (1761-1804) and Theresia BRAUN (1766-1798) were married in the church of Bissen in Luxembourg on 4 July 1787. They had six children before Theresia died in 1798 at the age of 31 years. The youngest of the six motherless children was only 8 days old and the oldest 10 years old.

When Remacle and Theresia married, Theresia’s parents were seen as Martin BRAUNERS and Magdalena SCHMIDT, both deceased and from Colmar.

When her children were baptized her name was listed as Theresia COLLING (or variations of this name) on four of the church records. One child’s record had BRONGERS, a variation of BRAUNERS, and another had BRAUN. At the time of death, her name was given as Theresia BRAUN.

Part II: Why was Theresia BRAUN also known as Theresia COLLING?

To answer this question I paid close attention to all names mentioned in birth, marriage, and death records of persons associated with Theresia and her family. For easier reading, I’ve used the COLLING spelling throughout this post except for one instance in which it was spelled COLLIN.

A thread woven through the records

A guardian, Franz BIWER, had signed the 1787 marriage record of Remacle and Theresia as discussed in the previous post. Franz was the godfather of Theresia and Remacle’s first child François TRAUSCH.  Franz was also described as her brother-in-law when her death was reported by him, her husband Remacle, and a neighbor in 1798.

Who was Franz BIWER?

1786 Marriage Index Card with parish register number and pages the record can be found.

A marriage was found for Franz BIWER and Catharina BRAUN, daughter of Martin BRAUN and Magdalena SCHMIDT.¹ They were married on 11 December 1786 in Bissen about seven months before Remacle and Theresia were married. Philippe SCHMIT a married man from Colmar was the guardian of Catharina BRAUN and gave his consent to the marriage. Witnesses to the marriage were Clemens TRAUSCH and Peter COLLING, both married. Clemens TRAUSCH, the brother of Remacle, was married to Catharina SCHMIT of Colmar. Philippe SCHMIT was likely a relative of the deceased mother of the bride. This will be discussed further in my next post.

Catharina and Theresia were sisters as Franz BIWER had been named as the brother-in-law of Theresia BRAUN when she died and the names of the parents of both girls on their marriage records were the same.

The parents of Catharina and Theresia

A marriage record was found for the widower Martin BRAUN of Berg and Magdalena SCHNEIDISCH of Colmar. They married 19 April 1761 in the Berg chapel in the parish of Bissen. Witnesses were Nicolas SCHNEIDISCH of Colmar and Joannes CONRATH of Berg.² The possibility of Nicolas SCHNEIDISCH being the father of the bride will be discussed in a later post.

1761 Marriage Index Card with parish register number and pages the record can be found.

Baptismal records of the parish of Bissen were searched. Only two children were found to have a father named Martin BRAUN after the marriage date in 1761. Catharina was born 11 April 1765³ and Theresia was born 3 August 1766⁴, both in Colmar. The mother on both records was listed as Magdalena SCHMIDT (spelled SCHMIT on the records).

As no other children were found, the death entries were searched. Martin BRAUN of Colmar died 17 February 1766.⁵ This was six months before the birth of Theresia.

Magdalena SCHMIDT, the widow remarries

A death record for Magdalena SCHMIDT of Colmar, a married woman about 40 years old, was found. She died on 22 January 1782 and was buried the following day.⁶ If this lady was the widow of Martin BRAUN, she must have married again.

No marriage was found for Magdalena SCHMIDT or Magdalena SCHNEIDERS in the marriage records of Bissen between 1766 and 1782.

1766 Marriage Index Card with parish register number and pages the record can be found.

A marriage was found on 19 March 1766, only a month after the death of Martin BRAUN, for Magdalena BRAUN and Michel COLLIN(G).  Witnesses to the marriage were Philippe SCHMIDT of Colmar and Franz FRISCH of Leydenbach.⁷ Could the witness Philippe SCHMIDT likely be the same person as the guardian seen at the time of Catharina’s marriage?

The children from the second marriage

Baptismal records were found for four children born to Michel COLLING and Magdalena SCHMIDT – not Magdalena BRAUN. A son Michel was born 15 February 1768⁸, a son Nicolas on 5 November 1769⁹, a daughter Catharina on 18 June 1772¹⁰, and a daughter Elisabetha on 20 January 1775.¹¹ The mother’s surname was spelled SCHMIT, SCHMITT, and SCHMIDT on these records.

Michel COLLING died on 8 October 1782 in Colmar.¹² This was nine months after Magdalena SCHMIDT. He was in his fifties. Baptismal records are missing in Bissen for the years 1721 to 1733. His parents are at this time unknown.

Records were found for three of the four children of Michel COLLING and Magdalena SCHMIDT after their baptisms. Michel their first child died at the age of 23 years in 1792. His parents were listed as Michel COLLING and Magdalena SCHMIDT.¹³

Their second son Nicolas was living in the Franz BIWER home on 25 February 1807 when Franz and Catharina’s youngest child was born. Nicolas witnessed her birth record. His age was given as 33 years although he would have been 37 at the time.¹⁴ A few months earlier he had been named as a 37 years old witness and the uncle of the bride when Catharina TRAUSCH married on 29 November 1806.¹⁵ The bride was the daughter of Theresia BRAUN and Remacle TRAUSCH. No further record has been found for Nicolas.

Their daughter Catharina who was born in 1772 produced a few more records. She had an illegitimate daughter named Maria in 1797. Maria’s birth took place in the family home and was reported by the midwife as well as Franz BIWER and a neighbor. Catharina, the mother of the child, was described as being the daughter of Michel COLLING and Magdalena SCHMIDT of Colmar, a deceased married couple who had resided in a house called Braumes.¹⁶

Five years later Catharina married. There are discrepancies in the marriage record. Marie Catherine COLLING, daughter of Michel COLLING and Catherine SCHMITT, born on 18 June 1772 in Colmar married Nicolas DIDESCH, son of Philippe DIDESCH and Marie WEBER. The date of birth is a match for Catharina COLLING but this is the first time she was seen as Marie Catherine. Another error is her mother’s name which should have been Magdalena and not Catherine. Franz BIWER was one of the four witnesses on the marriage record.¹⁷ No known children were born to this marriage.

Franz BIWER, the husband of Catharina BRAUN, died in 1808 in Colmar in his residence, a house called Braumes.¹⁸ This confirms the family home was passed on to Catharina BRAUN, the oldest child of Martin BRAUN and Magdalena SCHMIDT.

Catharina COLLING’s illegitimate daughter Maria died at the age of 19 on 14 June 1817 in Colmar. The informant for her death was Nicolas DIDESCH, described as the father of the deceased. The deceased’s name was listed only as Maria, without a surname. Infant naturel (child born out of wedlock) was written just above her name.¹⁹

Nicolas DIDESCH died in 1844 and was identified as the husband of Catharina COLLING.²⁰ Catharina died in 1853. Her death was reported by Mathias BIWER, the youngest son of FRANZ BIWER and Catharina BRAUN.²¹

Reviewing the findings

The noticeable reoccurrence of Franz BIWER‘s name, a thread woven through the records, led me to a hypothesis of why Theresia BRAUN was also known as Theresia COLLING.

• Magdalena SCHMIDT (also known as SCHNEIDISCH) was a young girl, barely 18 years old when she married the older widowed Martin BRAUN in 1761.
• She gave him a daughter Catharina in 1765 and was pregnant with Theresia when he died in 1766.
• She then married Michel COLLING a month later. Catharina was only 11 months old and Theresia was born five months after her mother remarried. Michel was their step-father and only father they knew.
• Magdalena had four children with Michel between 1768 and 1775.
• Both Magdalena and Michel died in 1782 leaving these orphans: Catharina BRAUN (16), Theresa BRAUN (15), and their half-siblings Michel (13), Nicolas (12), and Catharina COLLING (9). No trace of the youngest half-sibling Elisabeth COLLING (7) has been found and it is possible she died before her parents.
• The guardian of the orphans was likely Philippe SCHMIDT of Colmar who was seen as the tutor or guardian of Catharina BRAUN in 1786 when she married.
• After Catharina married, her husband Franz BIWER became the head of the family and guardian of his wife’s sister and half-siblings.
• As the oldest child of Magdalena SCHMIDT and Martin BRAUN, Catharina and her husband lived in the house known as Braumes.
• Nicolas COLLING, the second son of Michel COLLING and Magdalena SCHMIDT, was named in the 1806 marriage record of Catharina TRAUSCH as her uncle, i.e. brother of her mother Theresia BRAUN.

At this point, I was convinced Theresia BRAUN was also known as Theresia COLLING as she was the step-daughter of Michel COLLING and raised by him and her mother from birth.

The pieces of the puzzle fit and Franz BIWER‘s presence in the records is the glue which holds it together. Missing is a record which would prove Magdalena SCHNEIDISCH who married Martin BRAUN is the same person as Magdalena BRAUN who married Michel COLLING. Or a record showing the BRAUN girls were raised by Michel COLLING.

Proof for the hypothesis

Michel and Magdalena chose the perfect time in the history of Luxembourg to marry. In 1766 Maria Theresa of Austria implemented the first modern cadastre and census in a large part of the territories under the rule of the House of Habsburg including Luxembourg, Belgium, and part of the Netherlands.

1766 Census of the Village of Colmar in the Parish of Bissen with the household of Michel Colling

Michel COLLING was found in the village of Colmar in the Parish of Bissen as the head of household #7. He was a farmer. A total of eight persons were in his household including his wife Magdalena seen here with his surname COLLING and two young girls named Catherine and Therese BRAUN.²² It must be noted that on this census the married women, for the most part, were enumerated with their husband’s surname.

This 1766 census listing and the records previously mentioned are proof the daughters Magdalena SCHMIDT (also seen as SCHNEIDISCH) had with Martin BRAUN were raised by her and Michel COLLING and could explain Theresia’s using both surnames: BRAUN and COLLING.

A final piece of evidence

1811 Marriage Record of Pierre Matter and Suzanne Biwer

Theresia’s sister Catharina BRAUN was also seen with the COLLING surname when several of her children were born. As I cast the net out further, I found the 1811 marriage record²³ of Catharina’s second daughter Susanna (b. 1789) which includes this statement: “le nom de Collin ayant été changé et rectifié en celui de Braun par jugement du tribunal de premier instance de l’arrondisement de Luxembourg en date du 31 January 1809“.

( the name of Collin having been changed and rectified in that of Braun by judgment of the court of first instance of the district of Luxembourg on January 31, 1809 )

Either after the death of Catharina’s husband Franz BIWER in 1808 or when their oldest daughter Marie gathered supporting documentation for her marriage in March 1809, the discrepancy in the name of the mother was noticed and had to be rectified by court order. When Susanna married in 1811 this was mentioned in the marriage record (above).

Any more questions?

At this point, I’d like to answer a question I’m sure many of you had while reading this post. Why would a widow who was three months pregnant marry so soon after the death of her husband?

When a man with small children was widowed he would usually have a relative come into the home to help with the children. If there were no relatives available he would need to have a woman live in the home. As this would not be proper, a marriage took place soon after the man was widowed.

I have always thought women did not remarry in the first year of widowhood to avoid any paternity issues in case the widow was pregnant at the time of her husband’s death. In Magdalena’s case, I believe her first husband farmed leased land of the lord of Berg in the village of Colmar. To keep the family income she married Michel COLLING who took over this lease. Evidence of this was found in the 1766 Cadastre of Marie-Thérèse and will be discussed in a later post.

In the next post, I will explain why Theresia’s mother Magdalena was also using two surnames, SCHNEIDISCH and SCHMIDT, and how this helped me to determine who her parents and grandparents were.

Posts in this series:

Part I: Remacle Trausch (1761-1804) and Theresia Braun (1766-1798) of Colmar

Part II: Why was Theresia BRAUN also seen as Theresia COLLING?

Part III: “Maison dite” Leads to Parents and Grandparents of Magdalena SCHMIDT (1743-1782)

Part IV: The Parents and Siblings of Remacle TRAUSCH (1761-1804)

Part V: A Horrific Crime in the Fortress City of Luxembourg

Part VI: Tying up the loose ends

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

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1. Luxembourg, registres paroissiaux, 1601-1948 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Bissen > Mariages 1779-1791, sépultures 1779-1791 > image 61 of 91. 1786 Marriage Record (bottom left and top right). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-Q7SM?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-DPJ%3A1500938201%2C1501129408 : accessed 16 July 2019). ↩
2. Ibid., Bissen > Mariages 1750-1757, 1760-1778, sépultures 1751-1754, 1760-1778 > image 13 of 34. 1761 Marriage Record (left, middle). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WS-QQ7D?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-DPX%3A1500938201%2C1501112182 : accessed 15 January 2018). ↩
3. Ibid., Bissen > Baptêmes 1756-1778, confirmations 1767, 1789 > image 42 of 79. 1765 Baptismal Record (right, bottom). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WS-Q3K8?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-DP6%3A1500938201%2C1501120050 : accessed 15 January 2018). ↩
4. Ibid., Bissen > Baptêmes 1756-1778, confirmations 1767, 1789 > image 44 of 79. 1766 Baptismal Record (right, 4th entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-QQ3G?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-DP6%3A1500938201%2C1501120050 : accessed 15 January 2018). ↩
5. Ibid., Bissen > Mariages 1750-1757, 1760-1778, sépultures 1751-1754, 1760-1778 > image 29 of 34. 1766 Death Record (right page, 7th entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WS-QQ4S?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-DPX%3A1500938201%2C1501112182 : accessed 14 July 2019). ↩
6. Ibid., Bissen > Baptêmes 1779-1784, mariages 1779-1784, sépultures 1779-1784 > image 43 of 68. 1782 Death Record (right page, 3rd entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-QQJ6?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-DPN%3A1500938201%2C1500938202 : 9 January 2015),. ↩
7. Ibid., Bissen > Mariages 1750-1757, 1760-1778, sépultures 1751-1754, 1760-1778 > image 15 of 34. 1766 Marriage Record (right page, last entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WS-QQ9S?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-DPX%3A1500938201%2C1501112182 : accessed 14 July 2019). ↩
8. Ibid., Bissen > Baptêmes 1756-1778, confirmations 1767, 1789 > image 48 of 79; paroisses, Luxembourg (parishes, Luxembourg).
   . 1768 Baptismal Record. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WS-QQ97?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-DP6%3A1500938201%2C1501120050 : accessed 14 July 2019). ↩
9. Ibid., Bissen > Baptêmes 1756-1778, confirmations 1767, 1789 > image 51 of 79. 1769 Baptismal Record (left page, 5th entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-Q323?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-DP6%3A1500938201%2C1501120050 : accessed 14 July 2019). ↩
10. Ibid., Bissen > Baptêmes 1756-1778, confirmations 1767, 1789 > image 58 of 79. 1772 Baptismal Record. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WS-Q35S?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-DP6%3A1500938201%2C1501120050 : accessed 14 July 2019). ↩
11. Ibid., Bissen > Baptêmes 1756-1778, confirmations 1767, 1789 > image 63 of 79. 1775 Baptismal Record. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-Q3BH?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-DP6%3A1500938201%2C1501120050 : accessed 14 July 2019). ↩
12. Ibid., Bissen > Baptêmes 1779-1784, mariages 1779-1784, sépultures 1779-1784 > image 44 of 68. 1782 Death Record (right page, 5th entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WS-Q79W?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-DPN%3A1500938201%2C1500938202 : 9 January 2015). ↩
13. Ibid., Bissen > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1785-1793 > image 159 of 186. 1792 Death Record (right page, 1st entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WM-9457?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-FMS%3A1500938201%2C1500938228 : accessed 20 July 2019). ↩
14. Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Berg > Naissances 1796-1814 > image 92 of 140. 1807 Birth Record (lower left and upper right). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2S-V5Y?cc=1709358&wc=9RYQ-K68%3A129623401%2C129773501 : accessed 26 July 2019). ↩
15. Ibid., Berg > Mariages 1796-1858 > image 28 of 270. 1806 Marriage Record (lower right and next page upper left). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-62YQ-L1X?cc=1709358&wc=9RYQ-C6J%3A129623401%2C129709001 : accessed 16 January 2018). ↩
16. Ibid., Berg > Naissances 1796-1814 > image 9+10 of 140. 1797 Birth Record (3 brumaire an VI). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2S-JCQ?cc=1709358&wc=9RYQ-K68%3A129623401%2C129773501 : accessed 14 July 2019). ↩
17. Ibid., Berg > Mariages 1796-1858 > image 20 of 270. 1803 (19 nivôse an XI) Marriage Record. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-62YQ-5L8?cc=1709358&wc=9RYQ-C6J%3A129623401%2C129709001 : accessed 14 July 2019). ↩
18. Ibid., Berg > Décès 1796-1830 > image 54 of 167. 1808 Death Record No. 5. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-62YQ-XHD?cc=1709358&wc=9RYQ-C6X%3A129623401%2C129623402 : accessed 18 July 2019). ↩
19. Ibid., Berg > Décès 1796-1830 > image 105 of 167. 1817 Death Record No. 5. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-62YQ-5J6?cc=1709358&wc=9RYQ-C6X%3A129623401%2C129623402 : accessed 14 July 2019). ↩
20. Ibid., Berg > Décès 1831-1858 > image 73 of 160. 1844 Death Record No. 12. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-62YQ-X23?cc=1709358&wc=9RYQ-C6F%3A129623401%2C129651101 : accessed 18 July 2019). ↩
21. Ibid., Berg > Décès 1831-1858 > image 112 of 160. 1851 Death Record No. 10. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-62YQ-XG8?cc=1709358&wc=9RYQ-C6F%3A129623401%2C129651101 : accessed 18 July 2019). ↩
22. Luxembourg, 1766 Dénombrement (census), (images), FamilySearch (Digitial copy of the microfilm of originals in the Archives Générales du Royaume, Bruxelles, includes localities now in Luxembourg and Liège, Belgium), Film #008198978 > Decanat de Mersch > Colmar > Image 153 of 618, page 144, household no. 7. Michel Colling household. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLL-993P-7?i=152&cat=1184675 : accessed 15 July 2019). ↩
23. Luxembourg Civil Records, Bourscheid > Naissances 1872-1890 Mariages 1797-1890 > image 523 of 1447. 1811 Marriage Record No. 1 (part 1) and (part 2). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DR89-YH7?cc=1709358&wc=9RYW-C68%3A129628601%2C129997101 and https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DR8S-M5Y?cc=1709358&wc=9RYW-C68%3A129628601%2C129997101 : accessed 28 July 2019) ↩

Part I: Remacle Trausch (1761-1804) and Theresia Braun (1766-1798) of Colmar

Remacle TRAUSCH (1761-1804) and Theresia BRAUN (1766-1798) were a challenge to research. When I wrote about their son Michel in 52 Ancestors: #47 Michel Trausch and Catharina Hames of Mamer, I didn’t know anything about Michel and Catharina’s parents other than the names found in their 1787 marriage record.

Remacle and Theresia, my fifth great-grandparents and my children’s sixth, were ancestors who lived in Luxembourg. As I reviewed the records I’d found prior to writing about their son, I thought this would be straightforward. However, inconsistencies were found in the story I was seeing in their records and timeline. This led to further research. With each new record, I found myself asking more questions.

I believe I am now at a point where I can tell their story – in several parts.

Part I: The marriage of Remacle TRAUSCH and Theresia BRAUN

On  23 July 1787 the banns were published in Colmar and Mersch for the marriage between Remacle TRAUSCH, son of Peter TRAUSCH and Elisabeth CARMES, both deceased and from Mersch, and Theresia BRAUNERS, daughter of Martin BRAUNERS and Magdalena SCHMIDT, both deceased and from Colmar.

1787 Marriage Publication and Record of Remacle TRAUSCH and Theresia BRAUNERS

The following day Remacle and Theresia were married in Bissen. Present as witnesses were Johann SCHILTZ and Remacle’s brother Nicolas TRAUSCH. The marriage record was signed by the groom, the two witnesses, and Franz BIWER tutor. The bride could not write and left her mark.¹

I would like to make four points concerning the information found in this marriage record:

1. The name of the mother of the groom was not correct. A record will be presented to prove this in part IV.
2. The surname of the bride and her father was a variation of the name BRAUN.
3. Franz BIWER was not mentioned in the record, however, he signed as a guardian. He was the brother-in-law of the bride, Theresia.
4. The groom signed his name. This will be important in later years.

The children of Remacle and Theresia

Remacle was 26 years old when he married Theresia who was only 20. She was with child when they married. Less than six months later, on 3 January 1788 around noon, Theresia gave birth to their son Franz TRAUSCH. He was baptized the same day in the church of Bissen with Franz BIWER of Colmar and Susanna KLEIN of Hollenfels as his godparents. His mother’s name on the record was Theresia COLLING.²

On 29 May 1790 at ten in the evening, Catharina TRAUSCH was born in Colmar. She was baptized the following day in Bissen. Her godparents were Catharina SCHMIT, wife of Clemens TRAUSCH of Mersch, and Nicolas SCHMIT of Colmar. Once again the mother of the child was recorded as Theresia COLLING.³

My fourth great-grandfather Michel TRAUSCH was born on 9 May 1792 at ten in the evening in Colmar. He was baptized the following day in the church in Bissen with godparents being Michel WALZING of Hollenfels and Anna Maria STOLZ, wife of Nicolas TRAUSCH of Mersch. His mother’s name was written, Theresia COLLIN.⁴

In May 1794 Nicolas TRAUSCH was born to Remacle and Theresia in Colmar. He was baptized in Bissen. His godparents were Nicolas MORBUS and Catharina COLLIN, both single and from Colmar. The corners of the register may have been eaten by mice and parts of the entry for this child are missing.⁵ In 1813-1814 when Nicolas later served in Napoleon’s army⁶ and in 1819 when he married his date of birth would be seen as 11 May 1794.⁷ The mother’s name was seen as Theresa BRONGERS. Braun is German for brown and in Luxembourgish this is brong. As the surname BRAUN was also seen as BRAUNERS, BRONGERS is likely another variation of the name.

1794 Baptismal Record of Nicolas Trausch with partly missing text.

Susanna TRAUSCH was born on 13 April 1796 at six in the evening. She was baptized the following day in the church of Bissen. Her godparents were Susanna SINNER of Berg and Matthias SCHMIT of Colmar, both single. The mother’s name was seen as Theresia CHOLLINGE.⁸

On 8 February 1798 at one in the afternoon the last child of Remacle TRAUSCH and Theresia BRAUN was born in Colmar. Their daughter Maria was baptized in Bissen the following day. Her godparents were Maria NEU and Dominique MEDER were both from Ettelbrück. The mother’s name was seen as Theresia BRAUN.⁹

The death of Theresia BRAUN

On 16 February 1798, eight days after the birth of Maria, Theresia died at ten in the evening. Her husband Remacle TRAUSCH, her brother-in-law Franz BIWER, and a neighbor named Mathieu NICKELS reported the death of Theresia BRAUN. Remacle and Theresia were living in Colmar in a house called Laplume, la maison de Laplume, were she died. The civil servant went with the three witnesses to the home to confirm the death of the deceased. The witnesses and the civil servant signed the death record.¹⁰

On all of the above mentioned baptismal records, Remacle TRAUSCH signed his name. The same signature as seen on his marriage record and the death record of Theresia BRAUN, further evidence his wife Theresia was known as BRAUN as well as COLLING.

I will discuss the mystery of Remacle TRAUSCH’s wife Theresia’s use of the COLLING name in my next post.

Posts in this series:

Part I: Remacle Trausch (1761-1804) and Theresia Braun (1766-1798) of Colmar

Part II: Why was Theresia BRAUN also seen as Theresia COLLING?

Part III: “Maison dite” Leads to Parents and Grandparents of Magdalena SCHMIDT (1743-1782)

Part IV: The Parents and Siblings of Remacle TRAUSCH (1761-1804)

Part V: A Horrific Crime in the Fortress City of Luxembourg

Part VI: Tying up the loose ends

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

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1. Luxembourg, registres paroissiaux, 1601-1948 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Bissen > Mariages 1779-1791, sépultures 1779-1791 > image 65 of 91. 1787 Marriage Record (p.120+121). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WS-Q784?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-DPJ%3A1500938201%2C1501129408 : accessed 15 January 2018). ↩
2. Ibid., Bissen > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1785-1793 > image 60 of 186. 1788 Baptismal Record (right, 1st entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WM-9WZ9?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-FMS%3A1500938201%2C1500938228 : accessed 15 January 2018). ↩
3. Ibid., Bissen > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1785-1793 > image 105 of 186. 1790 Baptismal Record (left, 2nd entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WM-9W9Z?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-FMS%3A1500938201%2C1500938228 : accessed 15 January 2018). ↩
4. Ibid., Bissen > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1785-1793 > image 146 of 186. 1792 Baptismal Record part 1 (right, bottom). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WM-94K3?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-FMS%3A1500938201%2C1500938228 : accessed 15 January 2018). ↩
5. Ibid., Bissen > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1794-1805, confirmations 1803 > image 6 of 219. 1794 Baptismal Record (lower left and upper right). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WM-94PN?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-FMQ%3A1500938201%2C1500969294 : accessed 15 January 2018). ↩
6. Matricules Napoléoniens 1802-1815 (index and images), Mémoire des hommes, Registres de matricules de l’armée Napoléonienne (garde impériale et de l’infanterie de ligne) pour la période 1802-1815. (Entry point for database https://fr.geneawiki.com/index.php/Matricules_Napol%C3%A9oniens_1802-1815/Mode_op%C3%A9ratoire), Number/Source: GR 21 YC 755, 103e regiment d’infanterie de ligne,28 juillet 1813-8 janvier 1814 (matricules 9594 à 11388), Page: 128, Matricule: 10341. (https://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/fr/ark:/40699/e0052ab334d79f0f/52ab334f4505b : accessed 2019). ↩
7. Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Tuntange > Naissances 1858-1890 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1872 > image 467 of 1488. 1819 Marriage Record No. 3. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-68K3-PXQ?cc=1709358&wc=9RYH-168%3A130493401%2C130649501 : accessed 10 July 2019). ↩
8. Luxembourg Church Records, Bissen > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1794-1805, confirmations 1803 > image 43 of 219. 1796 Baptismal Record (right bottom). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WM-94ZM?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-FMQ%3A1500938201%2C1500969294 : 15 January 2018). ↩
9. Ibid., Bissen > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1794-1805, confirmations 1803 > image 90 of 219. 1798 Baptismal Record (lower left and top right). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WM-9WRS?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-FMQ%3A1500938201%2C1500969294 : accessed 15 January 2018). ↩
10. Luxembourg Civil Records, Berg > Décès 1796-1830 > image 4+5 of 167. 1798 Death Record part 1 (bottom left page and all of right page) and 1798 Death Record part 2 (top left page). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-62YQ-KYG?cc=1709358&wc=9RYQ-C6X%3A129623401%2C129623402 : accessed 14 January 2018). ↩

52 Ancestors: #46 Jean Baptiste Majerus and Catharina Cornely of Strassen

My second great-grandmother Marie MAJERUS (1850-1931) is like a knothole in a fence. She was the only child of her parents Jean MAJERUS (1817-1887) and Maria TRAUSCH (1820-1875). On one side of the fence, she was the mother of ten children, eight of whom married and continued the line. On the other side of the fence, are her parents, grandparents, and other ancestors. Marie is a mitochondrial ancestress whose direct line goes back to my 6th great-grandmother Anna Catharina RONAS (b. abt. 1710).

When I re-visited my research this week for Marie’s paternal grandparents, Jean Baptiste MAJERUS (1797-1868) and  Catharina CORNELY (1794-1871), I realized how much information was hidden behind the fence. She had many aunts and uncles and cousins.

Nearly all of my maternal fourth great-grandparents were born in the 1760s or 1770s. Jean Baptiste and Catharina were much younger being born in the 1790s.  In turn, their children were born after civil records became required in Luxembourg. They lived long lives and were found on eleven censuses taken between 1843 and 1867.

Jean Baptiste MAJERUS

Faubourg de Grund, Luxembourg City

Jean Baptiste, son of Jean MAJERUS and Margretha BREGER, was born on 9 Germinal in the year V or 29 March 1797 in the Faubourg de Grund, a suburb located on the banks of the Alzette River in the valley below the center of Luxembourg City. In Luxembourgish, it is known as Gronn.

At the time of his birth, his parents were a legally married couple. The informants who accompanied the father to report the birth were Jean Baptiste BRETER, age 64 years, and Michel BRETER’s wife Anne Catherine GRASBERGER, age 36 years.

A marriage record for the couple has not yet been located. I suspect Jean Baptiste was their first child and the informants who accompanied the father were the child’s maternal grandfather and maternal uncle’s wife.

Faubourg de Grund, Luxembourg City

Jean and Margaretha had two more children born in the Gronn in 1799 and 1801 before moving their family to Strassen where their last known child was born in 1806. Jean MAJERUS was a draper in 1797, a wool spinner or fileur de laine in 1799 and 1801 as well as in 1823 and 1830 when two children married. He was no longer working by 1843 when the census was taken.

Catharina CORNELY

Catharina, daughter of Hubert CORNELY  and Margaretha EVEN, was born on 24 April 1794 in Wickrange in the commune of Reckange-sur-Mess. She was baptized on 25 June 1794 in Reckange-sur-Mess. It is unusual, for this time period, for a baptism to take place two months after the birth. Normally the rite was performed the same or following day. Other baptismal entries on the same page of the register show delays. The priest may have had more than one parish under his jurisdiction and did not travel on a daily or weekly basis.

Catharina was the second youngest of nine known children. Her parents were married in 1779. When their first child was born on 17 June 1780 they chose a maternal uncle by marriage to be the godfather. Joannes ERPELDING of Kackerterhof, the husband of Catherine EVEN.

Kackerterhof was the ancestral home of my husband’s 5th great-grandparents Caspar ERPELDING (d. 1779) and Gertrudes JEHNEN (1724-1774). Joannes, the godfather mentioned above, was an older brother of my husband’s 4th great-grandfather Nicolas ERPELDING. When I worked on the ERPELDING line I wondered if the EVEN lady who married into the family could be related to my Margaretha EVEN. The marriage records of both EVEN ladies show their parents were Léonard EVEN and Marie IRY, my 6th great-grandparents.

Hubert CORNELY died on 29 August 1816 in Wickrange. Of his nine children, only his oldest son Jean and his two youngest daughters Catharina and Catherine have been researched. It is not known, at this time, if the six children born between 1782 and 1793 survived, married, or had lines which continue.

Jean Baptiste and Catharina’s Marry Young

My fourth great-grandparents, Catharina, 22 years old, and Jean Baptiste, 20 years old, were married on Friday, 25 April 1817. The bride and groom could not write but the father of the groom, Jean MAJERUS signed his name to the marriage record. The record officialized just in the nick of time as a month later their first child Jean, my third great-grandfather, was born on 24 May 1817 in Strassen.

The newlywed father Jean Baptiste complicated things a bit when he reported the birth of his first son. He may have been a bit nervous when he went to the city hall at four in the afternoon. The mother of the child on the birth record was seen as Maria CORNELY instead of Catharina – was it the father’s nervousness or an error made by the clerk? Jean Baptiste and Catharina’s son Jean was born at 11 o’clock in the morning. His father could not read and write and did not sign the record which was witnessed by two other persons who were present.

These were the children born to Catharina and Jean Baptiste:

• Ch 1: Jean MAJERUS (1817-1887) born 24 May 1817
• Ch 2: Mathias MAJERUS (1819-1895) born 29 Jan 1819
• Ch 3: Jean MAJERUS (1821-1880) born 6 Aug 1821
• Ch 4: Maria Catharina MAJERUS (1823-1823) born 27 Sep 1823. She died at the age of two months on 6 December 1823.
• Ch 5: Jacques MAJERUS (1825-1900) born 12 Apr 1825
• Ch 6: Jean Baptiste MAJERUS (1827-1893) born 8 Aug 1827
• Ch 7: Marie MAJERUS (1830-?) born 12 May 1830
• Ch 8: Peter MAJERUS (1832-1884) born 25 Dec 1832
• Ch 9: Nicolas MAJERUS (1835-?) born 27 May 1835
• Ch 10: Jean Pierre  MAJERUS (1837- ) born 25 Sep 1837
• Ch 11: Michel MAJERUS (1840-1906) born 14 Dec 1840

The maternal grandmother of the children, Margaretha EVEN died on 14 September 1839 in Wickrange before the youngest grandchild was born. Her death was reported by her oldest son who lived in the village. Her youngest daughter Catherine had married in 1824 and was raising a small family in Bertrange. Sadly, six of Catherine’s known eight children died infancy, unlike Catharina’s children who were strong and lived to adulthood. All except for one daughter who died at the age of two months.

A little over a half a dozen years later Catharina and Jean Baptiste’s nine sons and a daughter began to marry.

• Ch 2: Mathias married Barbara SCHMIT (1819- ) on 6 May 1846 in Strassen.
• Ch 1: Jean married Maria TRAUSCH (1820-1875) on 31 May 1849 in Mamer. They were my third great-grandparents and the only couple to not raise a family in Strassen.
• Ch 3: Jean married Anna Maria HENGEN (1819-1881) on 24 Apr 1850 in Strassen.

Jean Baptiste’s parents died before the rest of the children married. His mother Margretha BREGER died on 1 April 1851 and his father Jean MAJERUS died on 5 July 1852, both in Strassen where they had lived since 1802. This census listing for 1847 shows they had been living in the commune for 45 years.

• 

This census record, as well as the preceding and following ones, give Jean MAJERUS’s place of birth as France while the last he was seen on indicates he was born in Larochette (Felz). This same place was seen on his death record. Was he born in Boulay-Moselle in France (the only place I could find which sounded like Boulé seen on the 1846 and 1849 census) or in Larochette? Will this lead to his parents?

The children continued to marry:

• Ch 7: Marie married Théodore JOST (1834- ) on 6 November 1855 in Strassen.
• Ch 5: Jacques married Catharina GOFFINET (1826-1898) on 18 February 1857 in Luxembourg City.
• Ch 8: Peter married Madelaine HOFFMANN (1827-1884) on 30 November 1857 in Strassen.
• Ch 6: Jean Baptiste married Elisabeth HUBERT (1832- ) on 28 December  1858 in Strassen.
• Ch 10: Jean Pierre married Anne KLEIN (1840- ) on 28 May 1862 in Strassen.

In 1865 Michel, the youngest of the children went to America. All of his living siblings [except perhaps Nicolas who has not been traced after the 1855 census] were now married and raising families. Birth records for 40 grandchildren of Jean Baptiste and Catharina were found – all except for one, my Maria MAJERUS, were born in Strassen. During some years there were between three to five MAJERUS grandchildren born within months of each other.

Due to the amount of time it took to look up, download, and correctly cite the birth records,  I have not even begun to look for the death records of the spouses and children of the MAJERUS children of Jean Baptiste and Catharina. [Note: RootsWeb WorldConnect where I keep my GEDCOM is supposed to be back online within the next few weeks.]

Jean Baptiste MAJERUS died on 7 July 1868 in Strassen at the age of 71 years. His two youngest sons Peter and Jean Pierre were the informants on his death record.

Michel, the youngest of the bunch who had gone to America in 1865, married Mary MAUS about 1870 in Minnesota. Did he write to his mother, letting her know he was doing well, married, and living in St. Cloud, Stearns County, Minnesota?

Catharina CORNELY was 77 years old when she died on 10 June 1871 in Strassen. Her oldest and youngest sons who lived in Strassen, Jean and Jean Pierre were the informants for her death.

All of Jean Baptiste and Catharina’s children who married had children except for their youngest son Michel. He and his wife raised two of her MAUS nieces. Michel died in 1906 and his widow Mary died in 1923. She was a very religious woman who left bequeaths in her will for masses to be read for the soul of her husband, herself, and other poor souls. She also left bequeaths to a Catholic church, for an orphanage to be built ($5000), to a nephew who was studying for the priesthood, to the children of several of her deceased siblings as well as two godchildren. To her niece Mary A. MAJERUS (a MAUS niece she raised who took the MAJERUS name) she left $10,000, all real estate, and the residue and remainder of all property. Mary A. MAJERUS never married and died in 1960.

Until next week, when I will be writing about the last set of 4th great-grandparents, Michel TRAUSCH and Catharina HAMES of Mamer.

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

52 Ancestors: #40 The Fournelle-Schmit Family of Rodange

The FOURNELLE family is one of my favorites to research. I spent nearly a year working exclusively on finding the records for every tiny branch of the descendants of my 7th great-grandparents Jean FOURNEL and Catherine SETON in 2013.

This set of fourth great-grandparents, Pierre FOURNELLE and Marianne SCHMIT take me back to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

For the time period this couple, their parents, and their children lived, the status and borders of Luxembourg changed. Pierre’s father was born in 1713 when the country was “only” a duchy. Pierre’s last living child died in 1870, fifty-five years after Luxembourg became a grand duchy and lost territory to France, Germany, and Belgium.

A genealogist’s work is never finished

The family group lived in Rodange in Luxembourg on the border to France. For the period before 1767 the parish of Rodange, where this family lived, was attached to Herserange which today lies in France. The baptismal, marriage, and death records for the years up to 1766 were found in the Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle in the collection for the parish of Herserange. Images from the French archives’ sites are not allowed to be used on the internet or for commercial purposes without permission. When I did the research in 2013 the image viewer or visionneuse did not have an option to save the link to the image. My source citations have enough information to quickly locate the record again on the Archives’ site to obtain the permalink which is now available on the visionneuse but the task is huge. I have over 500 citations for records found in the Meurthe-et-Moselle area which need to be re-visited to obtain the links.

Pierre FOURNELLE

My fourth great-grandfather Pierre FOURNELLE was born on 12 December 1748 in Rodange and was christened the following day.[1] He was the third child of Pierre FOURNEL (1713-1765) and Jeanne NEU (1823-1783). They were married in 1743[2] in Aubange, Belgium, where Jeanne lived with her widowed mother.

1743 Marriage Record of Pierre Fournelle and Jeanne Neu[2]

Pierre and Jeanne had eight children from 1744-1763, all born in Rodange. All of their children lived to adulthood. Six are known to have married and had children while the two youngest sons have not been traced. They were last seen as godfathers of two children of their brother Pierre when they were still single and in their twenties.

Pierre’s mother died 9 March 1783[3] less than a month before her son Pierre married. Her death record included interesting information about her occupation.

1783 Death Record of Jeanne NEU, widow of Pierre FOURNELLE[3]

Jeanne NEW was a fermière (farmer) for the Baron d’HUART. Baron Jean-François-Henri-Gérard d’HUART, known as Baron Henri d’HUART, died 1 January 1781 two years before Jeanne.[4] His son Charles-Elisabeth-François, known as Charles, inherited the forges of Lasauvage and Herserange and was likely the owner of the land in Rodange which were farmed by Pierre’s mother Jeanne NEU.

Marianne SCHMIT

Young Pierre’s wife was Marianne SCHMIT, daughter of Jean SCHMIT and Eve DECKERS of Niederkorn. The SCHMIT-DECKERS couple has had not been researched. They were seen living in 1783 when Pierre and Marianne married and had died by 1795 when another daughter married – according to index cards with information on the marriages. A brother and a sister of Marianne turned up as godparents for two of Pierre and Marianne’s children. Pierre was the godfather of an illegitimate child born to one of Marianne’s sisters. These are all individuals I hoped would help to open the door in Marianne’s brick wall.

How I opened the door

Pierre FOURNELLE married Marianne SCHMIT on 1 April 1783 in Rodange.[5] For years I have had her birth listed as 1 January 1763 in Rodange. I had found this date in a GEDCOM on Geneanet owned by a descendant of Pierre FOURNEL and Jeanne NEU. However, no sources were given. Over the years I’ve used it as a guide but have found errors which were corrected using the online records for Luxembourg at FamilySearch.

In all this time I never was able to find a record to support the date and place of birth for Marianne SCHMIT. While writing this and reviewing the records I realized there was information in the 1783 marriage record I had overlooked due to the almost impossible handwriting.

Parish marriage records for Luxembourg have been indexed on cards which were microfilmed and accessible on FamilySearch. Two copies are available for the marriage of Pierre FOURNELLE and Marianne SCHMIT. One is for the marriage record I found in Rodange.

1783 Marriage Index Card for the marriage of Pierre FOURNELLE and Marianne SCHMIT in Rodange[6]

The other was for a marriage record which appears to have been included in the Herserange parish records.

1783 Marriage Index Card pointing to a record in Herserange, France[7]

I have gone over and over the Herserange collection and cannot find the record on the second index card.

1783 Marriage Record of Pierre and Marianne in Rodange[8]

I took yet another look at the marriage record[8] (above) and realized Marianne was 22 years old at the time of marriage. This would place her birth at 1760-1761. Her father is referred to as deceased but not named while her mother is named Eve DECQUESSES. Both of her parents were from Niederkorn in the parish of Oberkorn. If they lived in Niederkorn, could it be that Marianne was born there and not in Rodange?

Armand Logelin-Simon’s family book of Oberkorn compiled from the parish records for the years 1637-1804,[9] a popular publication in the online library of Luxracines, is available as a free pdf download to members of the society. The compilation is handwritten and includes a family which appears to be that of Marianne SCHMIT.

Joes (Joannes) SCHMIT and Eva DICKEN (Dücker, Ducker, Dick) had seven children born between 1756 and 1769 including a daughter Maria born 20 December 1760. There was a second daughter named Maria born in 1765. I am certain this is the right family and the older daughter named Marie is Marianne. I found the baptismal records of the seven children born in Niederkorn in the parish records of Oberkorn. Also included in the entry for the family are the dates of death for the father and mother as well as their date of marriage. Joannes died in 1777 and Eva in 1792. The records of death and marriage need to be looked up.

The children of Pierre and Marianne

With this research problem out of the way, I will give a brief run-down of the children of Pierre and Marianne.

i. Michael FOURNELLE was born on 27 April 1783 in Rodange. Michael was baptized the same day and his godparents were Michael FOURNELLE, his uncle (one of the brothers of Pierre who has not been found after this date), and Marianne NICOLAY.[10] He died on 30 August 1784 in Rodange.[11]

ii. Jean Baptiste FOURNELLE was born on 13 November 1784 in Rodange. Jean was baptized on 13 November 1784 in Rodange; the godparents were Jean Baptiste SCHMITZ, uncle (this brother of Marianne is seen only as Jean in the Oberkorn compilation), and Jeanne FELTEN.[12] He died on 17 January 1864 in Niederkorn.[13]

Jean married Marie Anne HEINRICH on 30 January 1825 in Differdange.[14] Marie was born on 30 September 1795 in Niederkorn.[15] She died on 23 November 1855 in Niederkorn.[16] They were the parents of three children.

iii. Susanne FOURNELLE was born on 14 March 1786 in Rodange. Susanne was baptized on 14 March 1786 in Rodange; the godparents were Christophel FOURNELLE, her uncle (the other brother of Pierre who has not been found after 1792), and Susanne SCHMIT, her aunt.[17] She died on 20 June 1845 in Rodange.[18]

Susanne married Jean Pierre LUCAS, son of Théodore LUCAS and Margueritte MEUNIER, on 27 December 1804 in Pétange.[19] Jean was born about 1773 in Rodange. He died on 18 June 1852 in Rodange.[20] They were the parents of at least six children.

iv. Pierre FOURNELLE was born on 5 May 1787 in Rodange. He was baptized the same day. His godparents were Pierre FOURNELLE, his cousin, and Jeanne LADURELLE.[21] He worked as a stone mason, bricklayer (maçon, Steinmetz). He died on 12 August 1856 in Rodange.[22]

Pierre married Appoline WESTER, daughter of Jean Baptiste WESTER and Anne Catherine HANSEN, on 18 August 1812 in Pétange.[23] Appoline was born on 14 November 1781 on Bouferterhaff (Beaufort farm) near Bertrange.[24] She died on 13 February 1827 in Rodange.[25] They were the parents of five children.

Pierre also married Marie ARENDT, daughter of François ARENDT and Claire SCHILTZ, on 5 December 1827 in Pétange.[26] Marie was born on 23 September 1783 in Pétange.[27] She died on 29 November 1843 in Rodange.[28] They did not have children.

v. Henri FOURNELLE was born on 12 November 1788 in Rodange. Henri was baptized the same day; the godparents were Henri LUCAS and Marie SCHMITZ, his aunt.[29] He worked as day laborer (journalier). He died on 8 October 1861 in Rodange.[30]

Henri married Anna Catherine FEYEREISEN on 22 February 1819 in Pétange.[31] Anna was born on 21 October 1789 in Nobressart (present-day Commune d’Attert, Province de Luxembourg, Belgium). She died on 11 September 1828 in Rodange.[32] They were the parents of five children. She brought a son into the marriage who used the FOURNELLE name when he was in the militia.

Henri also married Marie Jeanne DOMMANGE on 25 February 1829 in Pétange.[33] Marie was born on 10 October 1801 in Sepfontaines. She died on 3 September 1866 in Rodange.[34] They were the parents of four children, two of whom went to America, one before 1885 and the other in 1890.

vi. Jean Baptiste Fournelle was born on 8 November 1791 in Rodange. He was baptized the same day with his godparents being Jean Baptiste FOURNELLE, his uncle, and Marie Julienne MATTHIEU, his aunt.[35] A record of marriage or death has not been located for this child.

vii. Marie FOURNELLE was born on 2 January 1793 in Rodange. She was baptized the same day; the godparents were Nicolas MEUNIER and Marie FREDERIQUE.[36] She died on 15 November 1860 in Sélange, Messancy, Belgium.[37]

Marie married Pierre Joseph MONNET on 2 June 1824 in Villers devant Orval, Belgium.[38] Pierre was born about 1780 in Bastogne, Belgium. He died on 28 December 1854 in Sélange, Messancy, Belgium.[39] They were the parents of one known son.

viii. Philippe FOURNELLE was born on 8 November 1795 in Rodange.[40] Philippe worked as a stone cutter (tailleur de pierres). He died on 17 January 1840 in Rodange, Grand Duché de Luxembourg.[41]

Philippe married Anne-Marie JUNGERS, daughter of Pierre JUNGERS and Gertrude CUIR, on 10 October 1834 in Pétange.[42] Anne-Marie was born on 23 April 1791 in Belvaux, Commune de Sanem. She died on 13 April 1874 in Rodange.[43] Their marriage lasted only a little more than five years ending with the death of Philippe. They had no children.

ix. Jacques FOURNELLE was born on 26 September 1797 in Rodange.[44] Jacques worked as day laborer (journalier). He died on 5 July 1870 in Rodange.[45]

Jacques married Catherine PHILIPPART, daughter of Jacques PHILIPPART and Catherine SINGER, on 9 December 1822 in Pétange.[46] Catherine was born on 23 April 1789 in Rodange.[47] She died on 24 December 1856 in Rodange.[48] They were the parents of two sons.

x. André FOURNELLE, my third great-grandfather, was born on 21 August 1799 in Rodange.[49] He died on 2 August 1866 in Rodange.[50]

André married my third great-grandmother Marie Catherine PHILIPPART, daughter of Michel PHILIPPART and Catherine MEUNIER, on 23 April 1823 in Pétange.[51] Marie Catherine was born on 8 November 1801 in Rodange.[52] She died on 20 July 1843 in Rodange.[53] They were the parents of eleven children.

Note: Marie Catherine PHILIPPART’s aunt Catherine PHILIPPART was the wife of Jacques FOURNELLE.

They raised their children farming

Both of Pierre FOURNELLE’s parents and his paternal grandfather were farmers. Did Pierre own the land he farmed or did he take over the farming job his mother Jeanne NEU held with the Baron of HUART before her death? Pierre was seen as laboureur (plow man) in the baptismal/birth records of nine of his children, as a cultivateur (farmer) when his son André was born in 1799 and as an Ackersmann (tiller of the soil) when he died in 1816. André, the youngest of the FOURNELLE sons, was the only one to follow in his father’s footsteps. André worked as a farmer while his brothers were laborers, stone mason, and stone cutter.

Marianne SCHMIT was an informant for the death of her husband Pierre FOURNELLE on 17 October 1816 in Rodange.[54] As mentioned above, Pierre and Marianne’s daughter Marie married Pierre Joseph MONNET on 2 June 1824 in Villers devant Orval in Belgium. Marianne may not have been well enough to attend the marriage. She gave permission for her daughter Marie to marry via a document drawn up by a notary. She died twelve days later on 14 June 1824 in Rodange.[55]

Marianne left eight living children and was the grandmother of 37 grandchildren many of whom were born years after her death.

Sources:
[1] Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle (54), browsable images of microfilm collection of parish and civil records (online http://www.archives.cg54.fr/archives/DefautBureau.aspx?Onglet_ID=888), Herserange B. M. (1743-1744, 1747-1791), S. (1743-1744, 1774-1791) image 179 of 328. Images from this site are not allowed to be shared with others, used on the internet, or for commercial purposes without permission. 1748 Baptismal Record (top, right). (http://archivesenligne.archives.cg54.fr/ark:/33175/s0054ad10ea3ebca/54b536f063157 : accessed 24 November 2017).
[2] Belgique, Luxembourg, Registres paroissiaux, (images),FamilySearch (original records at België Nationaal Archief, Brussels / Belgium National Archives, Brussels), Paroisse d’Aubange (Luxembourg) > Film #619924 DGS #007944121 > Baptêmes 1729-1783 Mariages 1729-1776 Sépultures 1729-1776 > Images 342-343 of 605. 1743 Marriage Record (image 342 right, bottom and image 343 left, top). (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSZV-FS5T-F?i=341&cat=74664 : accessed 26 November 2017).
[3] Luxembourg, registres paroissiaux, 1601-1948 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Rodange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 37 of 108. 1783 Death Record (right page, first entry). Note: age at death 60 years. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WS-3F1J?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-W3G%3A1501084779%2C1500913302 : accessed 14 November 2015).
[4] Jules Mersch, Biographie nationale du pays de Luxembourg Les barons d’Huart, (Biographie nationale du pays de Luxembourg ; vol. 9, fasc. 17), pg. 232, 247.
[5] Luxembourg parish registers, Rodange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 35 of 108. 1783 Marriage Record. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32463-14058-91?cc=2037955 : accessed 13 November 2015).
[6] Ibid., Rodange > Tables des mariages 1768-1795 (index organisée par l’époux) > image 75 of 225. 1783 Marriage Card. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32462-18217-86?cc=2037955 : accessed 15 November 2015).
[7] Ibid., Rodange > Tables des mariages 1768-1795 (index organisée par l’époux) > image 78 of 225. 1783 Marriage Card. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32462-17906-80?cc=2037955 : accessed 15 November 2015).
[8] Ibid., Rodange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 35 of 108. 1783 Marriage Record. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32463-14058-91?cc=2037955 : accessed 13 November 2015).
[9] Armand Logelin-Simon, Familienbuch Oberkorn 1637-1804
[10] Luxembourg parish registers, Rodange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 37 of 108. 1783 Baptismal Record (right, last entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WS-3F1J?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-W3G%3A1501084779%2C1500913302 : accessed 25 November 2017).
[11] Ibid., Rodange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 43 of 108. 1784 Death Record (right, 3rd entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-3NFJ?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-W3G%3A1501084779%2C1500913302 : accessed 25 November 2017).
[12] Ibid., Rodange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 48 of 108. 1784 Baptismal Record (right, top). (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32463-14121-19?cc=2037955 : accessed 13 November 2015).
[13] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Differdange > Décès 1859-1890 > image 67 of 661. 1864 Death Record No. 2; (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12149-28172-3?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-T18:n1764423525 : accessed 6 Feb 2013).
[14] Ibid., Differdange > Naissances 1881-1890 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1812 > image 619 of 1487. 1825 Marriage Record No. 1. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12396-50641-91?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-T11:n1015262261 : accessed 1 Feb 2013).
[15] Ibid., (marriage record; need to search for baptismal record)
[16] Ibid., Differdange > Décès 1813-1858 > image 533 of 591. 1855 Death Record No. 53. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12149-19753-95?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-T1C:n1883018391 : accessed 6 Feb 2013).
[17] Luxembourg parish registers, Rodange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 57 of 108. 1786 Baptismal Record. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32463-14718-57?cc=2037955 : accessed 14 November 2015).
[18] Luxembourg Civil Records, Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 1402 of 1497. 1845 Death Record No. 7. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12305-4627-67?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-BMX:n289380544 : accessed 28 Mar 2010).
[19] Ibid., Pétange > Naissances 1796-1803 Naissances, mariages, décès 1803-1805 Naissances 1805-1815 Mariages 1796-1798, 1800-1803, 1805-1815 Décès 1796-1803, 1806-1815 Publications de mariage 1796-1800, 1802-1805, 1807-1808, 1810-1812 > image 86 of 455. “.” 1804 Marriage Record No. 9; online https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32022-6659-47?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-BM8:n1914806713 : accessed 02 Jan 2014.
[20] Ibid., Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 1448 of 1497. 1852 Death Record No. 11. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-62QW-F7D?cc=1709358&wc=9RY3-168%3A130201201%2C130563401 : accessed 25 November 2017).
[21] Luxembourg parish registers, Rodange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 64 of 108. 1787 Baptismal Record. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32463-15076-79?cc=2037955 : accessed 14 November 2015).
[22] Luxembourg Civil Records, Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 1480 of 1497. 1856 Death Record 21. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12305-409-40?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-BMX:n289380544 ; accessed 28 March 2010).
[23] Ibid., Pétange > Naissances 1796-1803 Naissances, mariages, décès 1803-1805 Naissances 1805-1815 Mariages 1796-1798, 1800-1803, 1805-1815 Décès 1796-1803, 1806-1815 Publications de mariage 1796-1800, 1802-1805, 1807-1808, 1810-1812 > image 271 of 455. 1812 Marriage Record No. 3 (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32022-6358-69?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-BM8:n1914806713 : accessed 10 December 2013).
[24] Luxembourg parish records, Bertrange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 47 of 286. 1781 Baptismal Record of twins. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G971-1CSF?cc=2037955&wc=STHC-T3Y%3A1500936901%2C1500913302 : accessed 4 December 2017).
[25] Luxembourg Civil Records, Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 1264 of 1497. 1827 Death Record No. 3. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12304-174805-96?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-BMX:n289380544 : accessed 30 March 2010).
[26] Ibid., Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 533 of 1497. 1827 Marriage Record No. 5. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12304-174282-93?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-BMX:n289380544 : accessed 29 March 2010).
[27] Ibid., (marriage record; need to search for baptismal record)
[28] Luxembourg Civil Records, Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 1390 of 1497. 1843 Death Record No. 21. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-62QW-8D5?cc=1709358&wc=9RY3-168%3A130201201%2C130563401 : accessed 30 November 2017).
[29] Luxembourg parish registers, Rodange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 73 of 108. 1788 Baptismal Record. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32463-15164-64?cc=2037955 : accessed 14 November 2015).
[30] Luxembourg Civil Records, Pétange > Décès 1859-1890 > image 21 of 496. 1861 Death Record No. 16. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12349-4437-97?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-BMH:n1939652258 : accessed 18 June 2011).
[31] Ibid., Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 483 of 1497. 1819 Marriage Record No. 1. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12305-494-51?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-BMX:n289380544 : accessed 29 March 2010).
[32] Ibid., Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 1273 of 1497. 1828 Death Record No. 12. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12305-5067-75?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-BMX:n289380544 : accessed 19 July 2011).
[33] Ibid., Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 543 of 1497. 1829 Marriage Record No. 1. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12305-728-44?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-BMX:n289380544 : accessed 29 March 2010).
[34] Ibid., Pétange > Décès 1859-1890 > image 74 of 496. 1866 Death Record No. 67 (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12349-5871-97?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-BMH:n1939652258 : accessed 10 Jul 2011).
[35] Luxembourg parish registers, Rodange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 88 of 108. 1791 Baptismal Record (right, first entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WS-3NKW?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-W3G%3A1501084779%2C1500913302 : accessed 25 November 2017).
[36] Ibid., Rodange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 97 of 108. 1793 Baptismal Record. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32463-14278-37?cc=2037955 : accessed 14 November 2015).
[37] Belgique, Luxembourg, registres d’état civil, 1580-1920, (images), FamilySearch (België Nationaal Archief, Brussels / Belgium National Archives, Brussels), Messancy > Actes 1858-1860 > image 129 of 453. 1860 Death Record No. 29. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RX2-3LS?cc=2138510&wc=S517-168%3A367348201%2C367773901 : accessed 25 November 2017).
[38] Ibid., Villers-devant-Orval > Actes 1797-1842 > image 623 of 1363. 1824 Marriage Record (right page). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRJG-JWB?cc=2138510&wc=S512-JWG%3A367751101%2C367794701 : accessed 25 November 2017).
[39] Ibid., Messancy > Actes 1852-1856 > image 436 of 792. 1854 Death Record No. 49. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRV3-763?cc=2138510&wc=S51P-923%3A367348201%2C367699401 : accessed 25 November 2017).
[40] Luxembourg Civil Records, Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 578 of 1497. 1834 Marriage Record No. 2. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12305-2838-62?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-BMX:n289380544 : accessed 29 March 2010).
[41] Ibid., Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 1365 of 1497. 1840 Death Record No. 3. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12304-176688-71?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-BMX:n289380544 : accessed: 28 March 2010).
[42] Ibid., Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 578 of 1497. 1834 Marriage Record No. 2. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12305-2838-62?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-BMX:n289380544 : accessed 29 March 2010).
[43] Ibid., Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 578 of 1497. 1834 Marriage Record No. 2. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12305-2838-62?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-BMX:n289380544 : accessed 29 March 2010).
[44] Ibid., Pétange > Naissances 1796-1877 > image 8 of 944. 1797 Birth Record (5 vendémiaire an VI). (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12404-56395-32?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-BM6:1617650175 : accessed 23 December 2013).
[45] Ibid., Pétange > Décès 1859-1890 > image 109 of 496. 1870 Death Record No. 14. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12349-6237-99?cc=1709358 : accessed 12 November 2015).
[46] Ibid., Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 508 of 1497. 1822 Marriage Record. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12304-172549-93?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-BMX:n289380544 : accessed 29 March 2010).
[47] Ibid., (marriage record; need to search for baptismal record)
[48] Ibid., Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 1482 of 1497. 1856 Death Record No. 28. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12304-176533-3?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-BMX:n289380544 : accessed 1 July 2011).
[49] Ibid., Pétange > Naissances 1796-1803 Naissances, mariages, décès 1803-1805 Naissances 1805-1815 Mariages 1796-1798, 1800-1803, 1805-1815 Décès 1796-1803, 1806-1815 Publications de mariage 1796-1800, 1802-1805, 1807-1808, 1810-1812 > image 26 of 455. 1799 Birth Record (4 Fructidor VII). (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32022-7390-48?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-BM8:n1914806713 : accessed 22 Aug 2013).
[50] Ibid., Pétange > Décès 1859-1890 > image 63 of 496. 1866 Death Record No. 29. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12349-4831-7?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-LZP:n1939652258 : accessed 01 Feb 2013).
[51] Luxembourg parish registers, Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 501 of 1497. 1823 Marriage Record No. 7. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12304-173729-5?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-LZB:n289380544 : accessed 01 Feb 2013). Note: Lists his date of birth as 24 April 1799.
[52] Luxembourg Civil Records, Pétange > Naissances 1796-1877 > image 58 of 944. 1801 Birth Record (17 brumaire an X). (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12404-59444-28?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-LZT:1617650175 : accessed 27 Mar 2013).
[53] Ibid., Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 1389 of 1497. 1843 Death Record No. 16. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12305-635-56?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-LZB:n289380544 : accessed 27 Mar 2013).
[54] Ibid., Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 1190 of 1497. 1816 Death Record No. 13. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12305-1045-93?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-LZB:n289380544 : accessed 23 March 2010).
[55] Ibid., Pétange > Naissances 1878-1886 Mariages 1796-1890 Décès 1796-1858 > image 1246 of 1497. 1824 Death Record No. 14. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12305-1419-81?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-LZB:n289380544 : accessed 23 Mar 2010).

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

Update on the Still Not Quite Done Schmit-Weicker Family of Bertrange

The rewards of blogging are awesome, astounding, astonishing, amazing… those are only the A’s and I could go on and on.

The Missing Marriage Record of the
SCHMIT-WEICKER Couple

Yesterday, less than an hour after I posted the link to 52 Ancestors: #31 The Still Not Quite Done Schmit-Weicker Family of Bertrange on Facebook, my friend Linda* wrote this comment:

I found a marriage that could match in Clemency, 28/08/1810, but I can’t access Family Search, it’s probably too busy. You could check yourself later.

I didn’t wait until later and was able to pull up the record she believed was the marriage of Peter SCHMIT and Margaretha WEICKER.

1810 Marriage Record No. 2 (left page, bottom entry)[1]

In 1810 on the 28th of August at 8 in the morning Pierre SCHMITT age 31 born in Bertrange the 3 April 1779, a domestic living in the commune of Fingig, the of age son of Pierre SCHMITT and Rose CLEMMENT, a married couple living in the commune of Bertrange…. and a young woman Anne Margaretha WEICKER age 25 born in Hagen the 7 September 1785, a servant living in the same commune of Fingig, the of age daughter of Nicolas WEICKER and Anne Margaretha HARTMANN, a married couple living in the commune of Hagen… all were present and consenting to the marriage for which banns had been read before the entrance of the Clemency civil office.

1810 Marriage Record No. 2 (right page, top entry)[1]

The paperwork of the bride and groom was presented according to the legal requirements of the time. The bride and groom were declared husband and wife after affirming this was their choice. Four witnesses were present and signed along with the civil officer, the mayor of Clemency. The bride and groom declared not being able to write. The fathers of the bride and groom signed first as seen above.

Five and a half months later, Peter and Margaretha became the parents of their first child Magdalena, my children’s 4th great-grandmother.

One Record Leads to the Next

The marriage record led to the 1785 baptismal record of Anna WEICKERS [sic, Margaretha was not included on this record], daughter of Nicolai WEICKERS and Anna Margaretha HARTMAN.[2] Why didn’t I notice abt. 1795 could not have been her year of birth? She would have been only 16 when her first child was born.

With the names of the parents, I was able to add three generations to the WEICKER line. I had suspected Nicolas WEICKER and Anne Margarethe HARTMANN were the bride’s parents because….

The godmother of Peter SCHMIT and Margaretha WEICKER’s first child Magdalena was Magdalena KÜNSCH from Hohen (or Hagen) in the parish of Sterpenich. Anna Margaretha HARTMANN was the widow of Peter KÜNSCH when she married Nicolas WEICKER. Was Magdalena KÜNSCH an older half-sister of Margaretha WEICKER? Further research may tell.

With the names of three new couples in the family tree, I will be busy finding the records to document them and may even be able to add more ancestral names.

Special thanks to my friend Linda for taking the time to read my posts, give me advice, and for telling me where to find the marriage record of Peter SCHMIT and Anne Margaretha WEICKER. *Linda has helped me out several times already. A Latin Rule You May Not Have Known was the result of one of her tips.

Happy Family History Month to all. Wishing you lots of keys to open the doors in your brick walls.

Sources:
[1] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1662-1941 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Clemency > Naissances, mariages, décès 1804-1805 Naissances 1805-1890 Mariages 1796-1885 > image 1034 of 1491. 1810 Marriage Record (bottom left, top right). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-XHPS-511?cc=1709358&wc=9RYD-SP8%3A129628001%2C129815201 : accessed 30 September 2017).
[2] Belgique, Luxembourg, Registres paroissiaux, (images), FamilySearch (original records at België Nationaal Archief, Brussels / Belgium National Archives, Brussels), Paroisse de Sterpenich (Luxembourg) now part of Autelbas, Luxembourg, Belgium > Baptêmes, mariages, sepultures 1779-1793 > Film/DGS 1658890 > Film # 008126375 > Item 8 > image 1106 of 1430. 1785 Baptismal Record (left page, last entry > right page, first entry). (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVK-Y8VF-9?i=1105&cat=203740 : accessed 1 October 2017).

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

52 Ancestors: #31 The Still Not Quite Done Schmit-Weicker Family of Bertrange

Peter SCHMITT’s Parents

In 1756 two children were born in Bertrange, in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, one on September 20th[1] and the other on October 2nd.[2] Their baptismal records are on the same page in the parish register, the second right below the first. The twelve days between no children were born in Bertrange.

1756 Baptismal Record No. 242 for Petrus Schmid[1] and No. 243 for Rosa Clemens[2]

A little over twenty years later, on 10 February 1777, the two children were once again seen in the parish register, this time getting married – to each other.[3]

1777 Marriage Record No. 318 for Petrus Schmid and Rosa Clemens.[3]

Peter SCHMIT (1756-1816) and Rosa CLEMENS (1756-1815), the children who were baptized in 1756 and the couple who married in 1777, had ten children born between 1778 and 1799. Their second son Peter SCHMIT, my children’s 5th great-grandfather, was born and baptized on 3 April 1779 in Bertrange.[4] His godparents were Petrus KREMER and Catharina SCHMIT. His father was present and signed the record in longhand.

1779 Baptismal Record of Petrus Schmit with father’s signature [pater].[4]

Peter SCHMIT married Margaretha WEICKER before 1811. Their marriage took place before their first child was born however a marriage record has not been found. The couple was always referred to as legally married when their children were born. The marriage record was not found in Bertrange parish records from 1802-1811 or in the tables décennales (10-year lists) for the years 1802-1812 for Bertrange and Steinfort. Records were usually very well kept and I believe one day Peter and Margaretha’s marriage will turn up. Perhaps sooner than later as my genealogy society Luxracines has dedicated members working on a marriage project –  indexing all marriages in Luxembourg from 1802 to 1923.

Why is Margaretha WEICKER’s Parentage Unknown?

Margaretha, my children’s 5th great-grandmother, was born about 1795 in Hoën (Hagen), Sterpenich, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The year of birth was estimated from her age at the time of death.[5] Records for Hagen, a village in the Steinfort area, are not in the FamilySearch collection for Luxembourg for this period.

The Grand Duchy was under a double administration for about eight years before the Treaty of London was passed in 1839 when the present borders of Luxembourg were defined. Repatriation of the records (return to the country of origin) was not simple. Records for Steinfort for the period before the borders were changed can be found in Autelbas in the Province of Luxembourg in Belgium. Civil records beginning in 1796 for Autelbas are online at FamilySearch.

As Margaretha’s birth may have been earlier I checked the parish records for Sterpenich in the FamilySearch catalog. The parish records of Sterpenich for the years 1779-1793 are conformed copies made from the originals by the Luxembourg authorities and given to the Belgium government in December 1844 per the convention of Utrecht signed in 1843, i.e. repatriation. I have no idea where the records for the years 1794-1795 may be found and am at a standstill on my research for Margaretha, her birth, and parentage.

Not only are the records missing, Margaretha’s name has been found with several variations. Her family name was spelled WEIKER or WEICKER and also seen as WIKERT. Her first name was Margaretha in early documents and Anne Marguerite in later years. These are all things which need to be considered when future research is done on her parentage.

Peter and Margaretha’s Children

Peter and Margaretha were the parents of seven children. Two died before their 2nd birthdays while the five others grew to adulthood, married, and had their own children. These are the SCHMIT children:

Magdalena SCHMIT was born on 10 February 1811 in domo Donnen in Bertrange.[6] She was baptized the same day.[7] Her godfather was Joannes SCHMIDT from Bertrange and her godmother was Magdalena KÜNSCH from Hohen (or Hagen) in the parish of Sterpenich. Was her godmother her grandmother, an aunt, or cousin? This may be a clue to solving the question of her mother’s parentage.

1811 Baptismal Record for Magdalena Schmit[7]

Rosa SCHMIT was born on 7 Feb 1815 in domo Bour in Bertrange[8] and baptized the same day.[9] Her godmother was her paternal grandmother Rosa CLEMENS. Her godfather was Nicolaus WEICKER of Hohen. Could he have been her maternal grandfather or an uncle?

Rosa’s godmother and paternal grandmother Rosa CLEMENS died only a few months later on 22 May 1815. Her paternal grandfather Peter SCHMIT died on 11 February 1816.

1815 Baptismal Record of Rosa Schmit[9]

Rosa died two weeks later on 26 February 1816 in domo Donnen in Bertrange shortly after her first birthday.[10] She was buried the following day. Her religious death and burial record has her mother’s name as Anna Margaretha Hinnicker instead of Weicker.[11]

1816 Death and Burial Record of Rosa Schmit[11]

Nicolas SCHMIT was born at seven in the morning on 8 April 1817 in Bertrange. His father reported the birth two hours later.[12] As baptismal records for Bertrange are only available online up to 1816 the godparents of Nicolas and his younger siblings were not found as they were for Magdalena and Rosa.

Michel SCHMIT was born at two in the morning on 10 February 1819 in Bertrange. His father reported the birth eight hours later.[13]

Following their youngest child Michel’s first birthday, Peter and Margaretha lost their second child, son Nicolas. He died on 21 February 1820 in Bertrange at the age of nearly three years.[14]

Jean SCHMIT* was born at three in the afternoon on 12 July 1820. His father reported the birth two days later at eight in the morning on the 14th.[40] This child’s birth record was only found after this post was ready to be published. While reading through the final draft I realized something was wrong and checked again on SCHMIT children born in Bertrange.

Maria Catharina SCHMIT was born at two in the morning on 25 February 1822 in Bertrange. Her father reported the birth the same day at nine in the morning.[15]

Jean SCHMIT was born at 9:30 in the morning on 3 September 1825 in Bertrange. His father reported the birth the same day at eleven in the morning.[16] As was the case with all of his children’s births, Peter declared not being able to write. I found this strange, his being the second born of a father who was able to write as seen above at the time of his own baptism in 1779.[4]

Margaretha WEICKER’s Death in 1826

The mother of the five living children, Margaretha WEICKER, died on 17 January 1826 in Bartringen. She was 31 years old at the time of her death.[5] Her youngest child was only four months old and her oldest would shortly be turning fifteen. Her name on the record was Anne Marguerithe WEICKER. The addition of Anne to her name was also seen on the birth records of her two youngest children.

Widowed Peter Remarries

Following the death of his wife, Peter waited two years before taking a second wife. This seems unusual as he had been left with five children, one still a baby. Magdalena, his oldest child, likely took on the responsibilities of a little mother, helping care for her younger siblings.

Peter married Anne Marie SCHOLER, daughter of Jean SCHOLER and Susanne BOURENS, on 22 March 1828 in Bertrange.[17] Anne Marie was born on 4 June 1792 in Obersyren (Schuttrange).

Peter and his second wife Anne Marie had only one child, a daughter, Madelaine born four years into the marriage on 16 July 1832 in Bertrange.[18] Her half-siblings were by this time 7, 10, 12, 13, and 21 years old. She did not, however, grow up without a playmate.

Peter’s oldest daughter Magdalena gave birth to a natural daughter on 7 November 1835.[19] Anne’s father’s name was not on the birth record. Natural was the term used for children born out of wedlock. Anne appears to have been raised in her maternal grandfather’s household as she was listed with Peter and Anne Marie on the 1843[20] and 1846 census.[21]

Changing Relationships

Peter’s second wife Anne Marie had a sister Margaretha SCHOLER (1802-1842) who was married to Jacob RUCKERT (1787-1856). Margaretha gave Jacob eight children, six of whom were living when she died after giving birth to the last on 20 March 1842.[22]. Peter’s brother-in-law Jacob became his son-in-law eight months later.

Peter and Margaretha’s oldest daughter Magdalena married Jacob RUCKERT, son of Johann RUCKERT and Angelique MICHELS, on 26 November 1842 in Bartringen.[23] Jacob was born on 23 July 1787 in domo Michels in Bertrange and baptized the same day.[24] The marriage would last fourteen years ending with Jacob’s death on 24 June 1856 in Bertrange.[25] Magdalena and Jacob were my children’s 4th great-grandparents. This is their story: 52 Ancestors: #41 How Jacob RUCKERT’s Brother-in-law Peter SCHMIT Became his Father-in-law.

Peter SCHMIT’s Death in 1847

At eleven in the morning of 27 March 1847 Peter SCHMIT age 22 reported the death of his father Peter SCHMIT who had died only two hours earlier at his home in the neighborhood called Eichels in Bertrange.[26]

1847 Death Record No. 15 for Peter Schmit[26]

I have a small problem with this death record as Peter did not have a son named Peter. Both of Peter’s wives are correctly named on the death record. Is the signature of the informant that of Jean SCHMIT the youngest son who was 22 years old at the time? The younger Jean was the only child to remain in his father’s household in 1843 and 1846 and was seen with his step-mother in 1847. Due to the fact that I found another son named Jean born in 1820, I believe the younger son may have been known as Johann Peter (Jean Pierre) to distinguish him from his older brother Jean.

Widow Anne SCHOLER last seen in 1847 census

1847 Luxembourg Census. Household of Anne Scholer, widow of Peter Schmit, with her step-children and daughter.[27]

In the 1847 census, Peter’s widow Anne SCHOLER was the head of household with her stepsons Michel, Jean (26), Jean (22) and stepdaughter Maria Catharina (children from Peter’s first marriage) and her only child, daughter Madelaine from her marriage to Peter.[27] This entry in the census led me to search once again for children of Peter and Margaretha but only after I had finished the research and written this post.

Michel, the elder Jean, and Maria Catharina were not in their father’s household in 1843 or 1846. This was not unusual as they were of an age to be working outside of the home. I had wrongly assumed the elder Jean found in the 1847 census was an error or relative other than child.

Peter’s widow Anne Marie SCHOLER and their daughter Madelaine have not found after the 1847 census.

The SCHMIT children lived in the three districts of Luxembourg

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is divided into three districts: Luxembourg, Diekirch, and Grevenmacher (dark gray areas in the maps below). Each district is divided into cantons (red areas in the maps below) and each canton is divided into communes. Several towns and villages may be part of a commune.

The District of Luxembourg

The darker gray area is the District of Luxembourg

Peter SCHMIT and Margaretha WEICKER’s children grew up in the town of Bertrange. Peter had deep roots in the town as his parents and grandparents all came from the town.

Their oldest daughter Magdalena SCHMIT raised her family in Bertrange. She was likely the first of the siblings to pass away.* She died on 30 September 1870 in Bertrange.[28] Other than her natural daughter Anne, she had a son and three daughters with Jacob RUCKERT. The son has not been found after he turned 21 in 1864. One daughter died as an infant. The youngest daughter had a natural son (1867-1868) and it is not known if she ever married or where she lived after her mother’s death. The older daughter Margaretha, my children’s 3rd great-grandmother, married but there is still the mystery of what happened to her and of her family after 1895. It is only through the marriage of her daughter Maria MERTES in 1894 and the census of 1895 that I know that Margaretha and her husband Michel MERTES were still living in 1895.

Peter and Margaretha’s youngest son Jean SCHMIT (b. 1825) also spent his married life in Bertrange. But before this, he was living and working in other places. One residence was Mondercange where he was in May 1852 when his brother Michel married. He was one of the four witnesses and signed “Jang Schmit.” Six years later he was living and working in Noertzange (Bettembourg) when he made plans to marry. Jean married Maria RISCHARD on 20 January 1858 in Schuttrange.[29] Maria was born on 16 March 1827 in Uebersyren (Schuttrange), the same place Jean’s step-mother was born.[30] They lived in Bertrange their entire married life. They were the parents of 6 children, three of whom died at a young age. Of the three living children, a daughter married and had children. The two sons were working in Lothringen (France) in the late 1890s – they have not been traced.

Jean SCHMIT died on 28 November 1892 in Bertrange.[31] His death record has the right wife but the wrong parents. The information was given by his son-in-law Mathias HANSEN. Jean’s wife died six years later on 30 April 1898 in Bertrange.[32]

The District of Diekirch

The second daughter of Peter and Margaretha, Maria Catharina married Joseph POECKER on 20 February 1852 in Bettendorf.[33] Joseph was born on 25 February 1819 in Bettendorf.[34]

The darker gray area is the District of Diekirch

How Maria Catharina came to marry in Bettendorf is unknown at this time. She and her husband raised their family on Fooshof. They had seven children, four of whom died in infancy. A daughter who never married died at the age of 38 years. The youngest living son born in 1864 was unmarried at the time of the 1900 census. He was living with his brother Nicolas who had married in 1893 and continued the line.

Maria Catharina died on 1 September 1879 on the family farm, Fooshof in Bettendorf.[35] Her husband Joseph died on 19 January 1895 on Fooshof.[36]

The District of Grevenmacher

The darker gray area is the District of Grevenmacher

Peter and Margaretha’s oldest son Michel married Anna Margretha BRAUN on 5 May 1852 in Waldbillig.[37] Anna was born on 12 May 1826 in Bettange-sur-Mess (Dippach). Michel and Anna Margretha started their family when they were working on the Wolperhof in the commune of Consdorf. Three of their children were born here.

The District of Diekirch

The darker grey area is the District of Diekirch

 

The third child’s birth at Wolper was followed by a move to the western part of Luxembourg in the commune of Bettborn. Three more children were born in Pratz, part of the commune of Bettborn.

Michel and Anna Margretha lived in Horaz from 1885. Not far from Pratz, Horaz, which is also spelled Horass, only had two households.

Michel SCHMIT was the oldest son and last living child of Peter and Margaretha. He died on 26 December 1898 in Horaz.[38] His wife Anna Margretha predeceased him on 12 November 1890 in Horaz.[39]

Still Not Quite Done

* Due to my only learning of the existence of the elder son Jean born in 1820 after writing this post, I have not had the time to research where he may have lived and worked, if he ever married and had children, and when and where he died. Considering his name Jean SCHMIT – just another John Smith – the search may take a while.

There is an update to this post!

Coming Next…

This is the last post on my children’s paternal 5th great-grandparents. I already wrote about half of their maternal 5th great-grandparents (my paternal 4th great-grandparents) in 2014 when I did the first round of Amy Johnson Crow‘s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge.

Next up will be 16 sets of my maternal 4th great-grandparents. The first eight being from small towns and villages which are now part of Germany near the Luxembourg border. The last eight will be from Luxembourg. I hope to finish up this series by the end of the year even though there are only 13 weeks left. Wish me luck and lots of free time.

Maps used are in the Public domain (Wikimedia Commons) and were annotated using Evernote.

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 59 of 200. 1756 Baptismal Record No. 242. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G971-1CGD?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 15 September 2017).
[2] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 59 of 200. 1756 Baptismal Record No. 243. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G971-1CGD?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 15 September 2017).
[3] Ibid., Bertrange > Baptêmes 1723-1780, confirmations 1755-1767, mariages 1723-1780, sépultures 1723-1780 > image 150 of 200. 1777 Marriage Record No. 318 (right page, 2nd entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G971-1C6Q?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 15 September 2017).
[4] Luxembourg, Volkszählungen 1843-1900 (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 106 of 200. 1779 Baptismal Record No. 19. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L971-1CTL?cc=2037955&wc=STH6-92Q%3A1500936901%2C1501072268 : accessed 13 September 2017).
[5] 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 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).
[6] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 125 of 1480. 1811 Birth Record (left page). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-X363-TRT?cc=1709358&wc=9RY8-YWL%3A129622901%2C129854201 : accessed 10 Apr 2013).
[7] Luxembourg Church Records, Bertrange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1808-1816 > image 32 of 86. 1811 Baptismal Record. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-SZWW?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-3YW%3A1500936901%2C1500942502 : accessed 14 September 2017).
[8] Luxembourg Civil Records, Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 168 of 1480. 1815 Birth Record (right, top). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-X363-RLJ?cc=1709358&wc=9RY8-YWL%3A129622901%2C129854201 : accessed 14 September 2017).
[9] Luxembourg Church Records, Bertrange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1808-1816 > image 69 of 86. 1815 Baptismal Record (left). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WS-SCF7?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-3YW%3A1500936901%2C1500942502 : accessed 15 September 2017).
[10] Luxembourg Civil Records, Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 595 of 1416. 1816 Death Record No. 5. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6X89-1WQ?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-829%3A129622901%2C129640401 : accessed 15 September 2017).
[11] Luxembourg Church Records, Bertrange > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1808-1816 > image 84 of 86. 1816 Death Record (right page, last entry). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99WS-SCHD?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-3YW%3A1500936901%2C1500942502 : accessed 15 September 2017).
[12] Luxembourg Civil Records, Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 191 of 1480. 1817 Birth Record No. 16. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-X36Q-SWY?cc=1709358&wc=9RY8-YWL%3A129622901%2C129854201 : accessed 14 September 2017).
[13] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 210 of 1480. 1819 Birth Record No. 4. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-X363-RCS?cc=1709358&wc=9RY8-YWL%3A129622901%2C129854201 : acccessed 14 September 2017).
[14] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 637 of 1416. 1820 Death Record No. 7. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6X8S-39Q?cc=1709358&wc=9RYC-829%3A129622901%2C129640401 : accessed 14 September 2017).
[15] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 242 of 1480. 1822 Birth Record No. 5. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-X36Q-SHK?cc=1709358&wc=9RY8-YWL%3A129622901%2C129854201 : accessed 14 September 2017).
[16] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 288 of 1480. 1825 Birth Record No. 36. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-X363-TST?cc=1709358&wc=9RY8-YWL%3A129622901%2C129854201 : accessed 14 September 2017).
[17] 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).
[18] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 411 of 1480. 1832 Birth Record No. 28. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-X363-RKD?cc=1709358&wc=9RY8-YWL%3A129622901%2C129854201 : acccessed 14 September 2017).
[19] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 479 of 1480. 1835 Birth Record No. 69. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-X36Q-987?cc=1709358&wc=9RY8-YWL%3A129622901%2C129854201 : accessed 7 October 2015).
[20] Luxembourg Census Records, Bertrange > 1843 > image 144 of 407. Schmit-Scholer household. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-897B-FJ1T?cc=2037957&wc=M5LR-NQ9%3A346116301%2C345863501 : accessed 14 September 2017).
[21] Ibid., Bertrange > 1846 > image 206 of 431. Schmit-Scholer household. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-997B-VDT6?cc=2037957&wc=M5LT-ZJF%3A346116301%2C345858602 : accessed 14 September 2017).
[22] Luxembourg Civil Records, 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).
[23] 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).
[24] Luxembourg Church Record, 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).
[25] 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).
[26] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1828-1890 Décès 1796-1890 > image 988 of 1416. 1847 Death Record No. 15. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12131-51852-95?cc=1709358 : accessed 8 October 2015).
[27] Luxembourg Census Records, Bertrange > 1847 > image 386 of 448. Schmit-Scholer household. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-997B-CYTF?cc=2037957&wc=M5LR-MJG%3A346116301%2C345864101 : accessed 16 September 2017).
[28] Luxembourg Civil Records, 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).
[29] Ibid., Schuttrange > Naissances 1826-1890 Mariages 1797-1890 Décès 1797-1843 > image 996 of 1488. 1858 Marriage Record No. 2. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6F8K-J9?cc=1709358&wc=9RY3-T38%3A130363201%2C130466501 : accessed 14 September 2017).
[30] Ibid., Schuttrange > Naissances 1826-1890 Mariages 1797-1890 Décès 1797-1843 > image 22 of 1488. 1827 Birth Record No. 12. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6F8K-RN?cc=1709358&wc=9RY3-T38%3A130363201%2C130466501 : accessed 29 September 2017).
[31] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances, mariages, décès 1891-1894 > image 82 of 99. 1892 Death Record No. 21. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DRHS-CY5?cc=1709358&wc=9RYM-L2V%3A129622901%2C129717601 : accessed 19 September 2017).
[32] Ibid., Bertrange > Mariages 1895-1923 Décès 1895-1912 > image 252 of 370. 1898 Death Record No. 11. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L97J-JZWQ?cc=1709358&wc=9RTY-J4C%3A129622901%2C129807601 : accessed 15 September 2017).
[33] Ibid., Bettendorf > Mariages 1817-1890 Décès 1800-1859 > image 444 of 1494. 1852 Marriage Record No. 1. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6RW9-8PB?cc=1709358&wc=9RY8-SP8%3A129626601%2C129729901 : accessed 14 September 2017).
[34] Ibid., Bettendorf > Naissances 1800-1827 > image 177 of 306. 1819 Birth Record (left, top). (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DRLL-2Y?cc=1709358&wc=9RYW-DPD%3A129626601%2C129760501 : accessed 19 September 2019).
[35] Ibid., Bettendorf > Décès 1860-1890 > image 305 of 465. 1879 Death Record No. 26. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6M8S-HJV?cc=1709358&wc=9RYH-82S%3A129626601%2C129626602 : accessed 14 September 2017).
[36] Ibid., Bettendorf > Décès 1895-1923 > image 2 of 389. 1895 Death Record No. 3. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L97V-HR8J?cc=1709358&wc=9RT1-926%3A129626601%2C129623802 : accessed 14 September 2017).
[37] Ibid., Waldbillig > Naissances 1871-1890 Mariages 1796-1798, 1800-1803, 1805-1890 Décès 1796-1803, 1805-1838 > image 863 of 1486. 1852 Marriage Record No. 5. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DR53-L8K?cc=1709358&wc=9RYW-N38%3A130535001%2C130636701 : accessed 14 September 2017).
[38] Ibid., Bettborn > Décès 1895-1923 > image 34 of 217. 1898 Death Record No. 20. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-897V-9X2K?cc=1709358&wc=9RTB-C6L%3A129627501%2C129623802 : accessed 14 September 2017).
[39] Ibid., Bettborn > Décès 1813-1891 > image 691 of 695. 1890 Death Record No. 20. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DRL2-1J?cc=1709358&wc=9RYW-DP6%3A129627501%2C129627502 : accessed 14 September 2017).
[40] Ibid., Bertrange > Naissances 1796-1890 Mariages 1796-1827 > image 224 of 1480. 1820 Birth Record No. 16. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-X36Q-948?cc=1709358&wc=9RY8-YWL%3A129622901%2C129854201 : accessed 29 September 2017).

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

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.

1750 Baptismal Record [4]

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).

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