Amanuensis Monday: Nicolas STROESSER’s birth certificate

Again we return to the growing family of my great-grandparents, Peter STROESSER and Barbara THINES, residing in Heispelt, Wahl, Redange, Luxembourg. Time has passed since the last time we visited them, and it is now January of the year 1880. Their four children have grown a bit: Michel is six years old, Baltasar is four, Anna is three, and little Johann—who will much later become my great-grandfather Harry—is fourteen months.

On January 9^th, the family grows by one more member: Johann Nicolas arrives.

This image has been trimmed from the original at FamilySearch.

Transcription (the italicized parts were handwritten on the record):

Im Jahre tausend acht hundert achtzig, den zehnten

des Monats Januar um vier Uhr Nach mittags ist vor Uns

Theodore Welbes Bürgermeister Beamten des Civilstandes

der Gemeinde Wahl, im Kanton Redingen, Gross=

herzogthum Luxemburg, erschienen Peter Stroesser Eisenhändeler

alt vierzig sechs Jahre

wohnhaft zu Heispelt, welcher Uns ein Kind männlichen

Geschlechts vorgestellt hat, geboren zu Heispelt Gestern

um zwei Uhr Nach mittags, im Hause Nr. ----- Gasse,

erzeugt von seiner Ehefrau Barbara Thinnes ohne Gewerb

Alt dreißig fünf Jahre wohnhaft zu Heispelt

und welchem er den Vornamen Johann Nicolas

geben zu wollen erklärt hat.

Diese Erklärung und Vorstellung sind geschehen in Gegenwart des Philippe

Hendel Ackerer, alt dreißig neun Jahre

wohnhaft zu Kuborn und des Peter Simon

Pächter, alt fünfzig vier Jahre

wohnhaft zu Kuborn und haben die Comparenten diese

Urkunde, nachdem sie ihnen vorgelesen worden, mit Uns unterschrieben.

Line by line Translation:

In the Year one thousand eight hundred and eighty, the tenth

of the Month of January at four o'clock After noon is before Us

Theodore Welbes Burgermeister Officials of the Civil State

of the Commune of Wahl, in the Canton Redange, Grand-

duchy of Luxembourg, appeared Peter Stroesser Iron Merchant

aged forty-six Years

residing in Heispelt, which to us a child of the male

Gender has presented, born in Heispelt Yesterday

at two O’clock After noon, in House No. ----- Street,

begat by his wife Barbara Thinnes without Occupation

Aged twenty-five Years residing in Heispelt

and which he the First Name Johann Nicolas

has declared to want to give.

This Statement and Presentation are done in the Presence of Philippe

Hendel Farmer, aged twenty-nine Years,

residing in Kuborn and Peter Simon

Leaser, aged fifty-four Years

residing in Kuborn and the Appearing Parties have this

Deed, having been read to them, with us signed.

Nick, as he was later called among my family, though I rather doubt if any of them (apart from his brother, of course) had ever met him. He traveled to to U.S. aboard the S.S. Finland, which left Antwerp on 13 July 1907. He seems to have traveled alone on that long voyage; no other STROESSERs appear in that ship’s manifest. He lists his brother H STROESSER (my great-grandfather Harry) as the relative he will be joining. Interestingly, this is the only document I have yet seen that records Harry’s residence as Estherville, Iowa. This may be a clue for where to find some of those records for which I still seek. Even more interestingly, this manifest records that Nick has been in the U.S. before, in 1905. Apparently Nick was doing well enough to travel back and forth across the Atlantic.

By U.S. Navy [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

He waited until he reached U.S. before marrying, therefore his birth certificate is the only Luxembourgish record I have regarding Nick STROESSER. His children were born in the U.S., and he probably also died in the U.S.

Sources:

Wahl, Redange, Luxembourg, birth certificate no. 3 (1880), Johann Nicolas Stroesser; digital image #166 of 1475, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, “Naissances 1867-1890 Mariages 1796-1797, 1800-1804, 1805-1823, 1796-1803, 1805-1890 Décès 1797-1803, 1805-1828,” FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 30 May 2010).

“New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957,” online images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 Feb 2010), manifest, S.S. Finland, 24 July 1907, Nicholas Stroesser, line 21, pages 102-103. Citing Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957. Microfilm Publication T715, Microfilm Roll: Roll 0950. Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; National Archives at Washington, D.C.

Amanuensis Monday: Joseph HEYMANNS’ birth certificate

My great-grandfather Harry STROESSER’s sister Anna STROESSER married Peter HEYMANS in 1898, and ten months later their first daughter Susanna arrived. This is the ordinary course of events in the STROESSER family, according to my research: A couple marries, and has their first child within about a year. To continue in this ordinary, and probably socially expected, routine, Anna should have delivered another child every year and a half or so. However, according to my records, it was eight years before she and her husband received another visit from the stork.

I have no explanation for this surprising circumstance, unless they moved out of the commune of Folschette for a period of time, having their other children there, and then moved back in time for the birth of Joseph. The other likely theory, though much gloomier, is a series of miscarriages. Of course there are numerous other possibilities, but I consider the two I mentioned as the most probable.

In Folschette during that period of time, other HEYMANS (or the alternate spelling HEYMANNS) families did have some children; their fathers were named Stephan and Jean. Perhaps they were brothers or cousins of Peter, but I haven’t done the research to connect them.

At any rate, on 7 Feb 1907 Anna STROESSER presented her husband Peter HEYMANNS (that is the spelling recorded on this certificate) with a son, and the following day Peter went to the proper authority to have the birth recorded.

This image has been trimmed from the original at FamilySearch.

Transcription (the italicized parts were handwritten on the record):

Im Jahre tausend neun hundert sieben, den achten

des Monats Februar um ein Uhr vor mittags ist vor Uns

André Miller, Bürgermeister Beamten des Civilstandes

der Gemeinde Folscheid , im Kanton Redingen , Großher=

zogthum Luxemburg, erschienen Heymanns Peter

alt drei Zig zwei Jahre Maurer

wohnhaft zu Rambruch , welcher Uns ein Kind männlichen

Geschlechts vorgestellt hat, geboren zu Rambruch, gestern

um vier Uhr vor mittags, im Hause Nr. -- Gasse,

erzeugt von ihm Comparenten und seiner Ehegattin

Anna Stroesser, ohne Stand alt dreizig

Jahre, wohnhaft zu selben Rambruch

und welchem er den Vornamen Joseph

geben zu wollen erklärt hat.

Diese Erklärung und Vorstellung sind geschehen in Gegenwart des Alphonse

Schnachtgen , alt zwanzig neun Jahre Lehrer

wohnhaft zu Folscheid und des Nicolas

Berg , alt vierzig sechs Jahre Wagner

wohnhaft zu Hostert und haben die Comparenten diese

Urkunde, nachdem sie ihnen vorgelesen worden, mit uns unterschrieben.

Line by line Translation:

In the Year one thousand nine hundred and seven, the eighth

of the Month of February at one o'clock before noon is before Us

André Miller, Burgermeister Officials of the Civil State

of the Commune of Folschette , in the Canton Redange , Grand-

duchy of Luxembourg, appeared Heymanns Peter

aged Thirty two Years Mason

residing in Rambrouch , which to us a child of the male

Gender has presented, born in Rambrouch, yesterday

at four O’clock before noon, in House No. -- Street,

begat by the Appearing Party and his Wife

Anna Stroesser, without Occupation aged thirty

Years, residing in the same Rambrouch

and which he the First Name Joseph

has declared to want to give.

This Statement and Presentation are done in the Presence of Alphonse

Schnachtgen , aged twenty nine Years, Teacher

residing in Folschette and Nicolas

Berg , aged forty six Years Coach-builder [or wheelwright]

residing in Hostert and the Appearing Parties have this

Deed, having been read to them, with us signed.

Source:

Folschette, Luxembourg, birth certificate no. 5 (1907), Joseph Heymanns; digital image #350 of 699, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, “Naissances 1882-1923 Mariages 1831-1850,” FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 22 Nov 2014).

Amanuensis Monday: Susanna HEYMANS’ birth certificate

Ten months after the 1898 wedding of (my great-grandfather Harry STROESSER’s eldest sister) Anna STROESSER and Peter HEYMANS, their first daughter Susanna arrived. 

This image has been trimmed from the original at FamilySearch.

 

Transcription (the italicized parts were handwritten on the record):

[Following four lines are stamped in corner]

Décédé le 19.3.1983

à Luxembourg

No. 382

Commune

Im Jahre tausend acht hundert neun und neunzig, den siebenzehnten

des Monats Februar um zwei Uhr nach mittags ist vor Uns

Glesener Michel, Bürgermeister, Beamten des Civilstandes

der Gemeinde Folscheid , im Kanton Redingen , Großher=

zogthum Luxemburg, erschienen Heymans Peter, Maurer,

alt zwanzig vier Jahre Vater des Kindes,

wohnhaft zu Koetschette , welcher Uns ein Kind weiblichen

Geschlechts vorgestellt hat, geboren zu Koetschette, gestern

um elf Uhr nach mittags, im Hause Nr. -- Gasse,

erzeugt von ihm, Comparenten und von seiner Ehefrau

Anna Stroesser, ohne Stand, alt zwanzig zwei

Jahre, wohnhaft zu Koetschette,

und welchem er den Vornamen Susanna

geben zu wollen erklärt hat.

Diese Erklärung und Vorstellung sind geschehen in Gegenwart des Mores

Peter , alt fünfzig ein Jahre , Taglõhner,

wohnhaft zu Koetschette und des Nauert

Michel , alt fünfzig sechs Jahre , Sekretär,

wohnhaft zu Folscheid, und haben die Comparenten diese

Urkunde, nachdem sie ihnen vorgelesen worden, mit Uns unterschrieben.

Line by line Translation:

[Following four lines are stamped in corner]

Died on 19.3.1983

in Luxembourg

No. 382

Commune

In the Year one thousand eight hundred and ninety nine, the seventeenth

of the Month of February at ten o'clock after noon is before Us

Glesener Michel, Burgermeister, Officials of the Civil State

of the Commune of Folschette , in the Canton Redange , Grand-

duchy of Luxembourg, appeared Heymans Peter, Mason,

aged twenty four Years Father of the Child,

residing in Koetschette , which to us a child of the female

Gender has presented, born in Koetschette, yesterday

at eleven O’clock after noon, in House No. -- Street,

begat by he, the Appearing Party and by his Wife

Anna Stroesser, without Occupation, aged twenty two

Years, residing in Koetschette,

and which he the First Name Susanna

has declared to want to give.

This Statement and Presentation are done in the Presence of Mores

Peter , aged fifty one Years , Day laborer,

residing in Koetschette and Nauert

Michel , aged fifty six Years , Secretary [or clerk]

residing in Folschette, and the Appearing Parties have this

Deed, having been read to them, with us signed.

Conveniently, a stamp in the upper left-hand corner of the document denotes the date and place of her death. The “No. 382” probably refers to the number of her death certificate. Currently it is not possible to view death certificates from 1983, so this is valuable information that might otherwise be impossible to ascertain.

There is also a familiar name as a witness on Susanna’s birth certificate. Michel NAUERT, the secretary or clerk, also appeared as a witness on Susanna’s cousin Johann-Peter STROESSER’s birth certificate the following year in 1900. It would seem that he was a friend of the family. He does not seem to be a relative; his name appears nowhere in my family tree.

Source:

Folschette, Luxembourg, birth certificate no. 5 (1899), Susanna Heymans; digital image #238 of 699, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, “Naissances 1882-1923 Mariages 1831-1850,” FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 21 Nov 2014).

Amanuensis Monday: Anna STROESSER’s death

This was trimmed from the original at Bibliothèque nationale de Luxembourg.

Transcription:

Il a plu au Tout-Puissant d’appeler à une meilleure vie notre bien-aimée et regrettée épouse, mère, belle-mère, belle-soeur, tante et cousine

Madame Pierre HEYMANNS

née Anne Stroesser

décédée à Rambrouch, le 28 octobre 1946, à l’âge de 70 ans, après une longue et pénible maladie, munie des Secours de notre Mère la sainte Eglise. – L’enterrement suivi du service funèbre, aura lieu à Rambrouch, le jeudi, 31 octobre, à 10,30 heures du matin. --De la part de M. Pierre Heymanns, M. et Mme Jules Ries-Heymanns, M. et Mme Marcel Stroesser-Kieffer et des familles apparentées. – Rambrouch, Esch-Alz. Et Amérique, le 28 octobre 1946.

Translation:

It has pleased the Almighty to call to a better life our late beloved wife, mother, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, aunt and cousin

Mrs. Pierre HEYMANNS

née Anne Stroesser

who died in Rambrouch, Oct 28, 1946, at the age of 70, after a long and painful illness, equipped with the help of our mother the Holy Church – The burial followed by the funeral service will be held at Rambrouch will be held at Rambrouch on Thursday, Oct 31, at 10:00 A.M. – On behalf of Mr. Pierre Heymanns, Mr. and Mrs. Jules Ries-Heymanns, Mr. and Mrs. Marcel Stroesser-Kieffer and related families – Rambrouch, Esch-Alz. and America, Oct 28, 1946.

As you can see, my great-grandfather Harry STROESSER’s sister Anne or Anna died in Rambrouch, Redange, Luxembourg. She was survived by her husband Pierre HEYMANNS, or Peter HEYMANS as he appeared on the marriage certificate. Of her other survivors, Mr. and Mrs. Marcel STROESSER-KIEFFER are readily identified as her nephew Marcel and his wife, but Mr. and Mrs. Jules RIES-HEYMANNS are still, as yet, a mystery. I suspect that the Mrs. may be Anna’s daughter Susanna (whose birth record we shall see next week), but have found no evidence to support that idea. My attempts to find a marriage announcement in a newspaper have thus far been in vain.

There is also one phrase in this obituary that vexes me. I translated “L’enterrement suivi du service funèbre” as “The burial followed by the funeral service,” but in my experience the funeral service usually comes first. Perhaps it should be translated as “The burial that will follow the funeral service,” but my miniscule amount of French grammar could not make it read that way. Fortunately it is a slight point that does not affect the genealogical points of the article.

Source:

“In Pace: Madame Pierre HEYMANNS,” Luxemburger Wort, 29 Oct 1946, p. 5, col. 2; digital images, Bibliothèque nationale de Luxembourg (www.eluxemburgesia.lu : accessed 15 Nov 2014), Digitized by the National Library of Luxembourg, www.eluxemburgensia.lu.