A Recent Discovery or Two

Perhaps you have noticed that I have been doing very little blogging lately. That does not mean that I have been neglecting genealogy. Well, perhaps I did neglect it a little (only a little) during the summer, but that is the time for less sedentary pursuits. But with the close of summer I have again been busily digging through records and revisiting sources. My lunch breaks are again devoted to poring over faded scrawls courtesy of FamilySearch, and only this week I had occasion to exclaim to every passing coworker “I just learned the names of two sets of my great-great-great-great-great-great-grandparents!” counting the greats on my fingers.

The aforesaid 6great-grandparents were found on the 2 Feb 1779 marriage record of, naturally, my 5great-grandparents. They are, in fact, the grandparents of Heinrich Mertz, whose own marriage record to Catharina Odrimong revealed so much information in my post “Luxembourg Records: A Little Practical Advice.” Their names, incidentally, are Nicolai Mertens and Theresia Hoffman of Keispelt, and Michael Trausch and Margaretha Niles of Dondelange. And on Halloween day I located the death record of Michael Trausch. It seems somehow appropriate to find a death record on Halloween.
 
These records will eventually be transcribed and translated in my Luxembourgish record project; for now this simple announcement of the discovery will suffice.

Sources:

Parochia de Kehlen (Kehlen, Luxembourg), Luxembourg registres paroissiaux, 1601-1948, “Sépultures 1760-1797,” Michael Trausch's death record; digital image #111 of 129, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 31 Oct 2015).

Parochia de Kehlen (Kehlen, Luxembourg), Luxembourg registres paroissiaux, 1601-1948, “Tables des mariages, mariages 1756-1793,” marriage record of Theodorus Mertens and Susanna Trausch; digital image #27 of 88, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 28 Oct 2015).

Amanuensis Monday: Peter STROESSER’s (Harry’s dad’s) death certificate

It had been only three years since the death of their mother, and in 1893 the STROESSER children, Michel, Baltasar, Anna, Harry, Nicolas, and Clara, found themselves truly orphans. Their father, Peter, passed away on 11 June, only four days before his son Baltasar’s eighteenth birthday.

Their neighbor Johann PENSCH, who had also been in attendance on the report of their mother’s death, was kind enough to take care of the detail of reporting the death to the Burgermeister, accompanied by another neighbor, Johann SALENTINY.

This image has been trimmed from the original at FamilySearch.

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

Im Jahre tausend acht hundert drei und neunzig den zwölften

des Monats Juni um fünf Uhr vor mittags sind vor Uns

Glesener Michel, Burgermeister, Beamten des Civilstandes

der Gemeinde Folscheid, im Kanton Redingen, Großherzog=

thum Luxemburg, erschienen Pensch Johann, Taglöhner,

alt vierzig acht Jahre, Nachber des Verstorbenen

wohnhaft zu Schwiedelbruch,

und Salentiny Johann, alt sechzig zwei Jahre,

Maurer wohnhaft zu Schwiedel=

bruch, Nachber des Verstorbenen.

Diese haben uns erklärt, daß Stroesser Peter,

alt f ünfzig sieben Jahre, Eisenhändler,

geboren zu Ettelbrück, wohnhaft zu Schwiedel=

bruch, Witterer der zu selbigem Schwiedelbruch

verstorbenen Thinnes Barbara

verschieden ist gestern um acht Uhr nach mittags,

zu Schwiedelbruch , im Hause Nr. -- Gasse,

und haben beide Anzeiger gegenwärtige Urkunde, nachdem sie ihnen vorgelesen worden, mit Uns

unterschrieben.

Line by line Translation:

In the Year one thousand eight hundred ninety-three, the twelfth

of the Month of June at five o’clock before noon before Us

Glesener Michel, Mayor Officials of the Civil State

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

duchy of Luxembourg, appeared Pensch Johann, Day laborer,

aged forty eight Years, Neighbor of the Deceased

residing in Schwiedelbrouch,

and Salentiny Johann, aged sixty two Years,

Mason residing in Schwiedel-

brouch, Neighbor of the Deceased..

This has been declared to us, that Stroesser Peter,

aged fifty seven Years, Ironmonger,

born in Ettelbruck, residing in Schwiedel-

brouch, Widower of the selfsame Schwiedelbrouch

deceased Thinnes Barbara

deceased is yesterday at eight o’clock after noon,

in Schwiedelbrouch , in House No. -- Street

and have both Informants the present deed, having been read to them, with Us

signed.

It is not known at this time exactly how the children formed their residences upon the death of their father; whether they stayed together or split into separate households, or whether some of them became wards of their extended family. The elder children were old enough that they may have taken care of their younger siblings; Michel was nearly twenty, Baltasar eighteen. They would have needed the aid of an older advocate in legal matters, but for most practical purposes they may have been quite old enough. Even Anna, though probably not old enough to take full responsibility, at sixteen would have been able to do much.

Harry would have required more help at fourteen, as would thirteen-year-old Nicolas and eight-year-old Clara. I am inclined to believe that those youngest three, at least, remained together. In later years the records show that they emigrated to the United States around the same time, and even lived in the same town for a while. It is slim evidence, I admit, but it does seem to indicate a certain amount of closeness between the three. The other STROESSER child who emigrated, Michel (or Michael, as he was known by then), went to Canada, quite far from his siblings.

Source:

Folschette, Redange, Luxembourg, death certificate no. 11 (1893), Peter Stroesser; digital image #111 of 125, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, “Tables décennales 1891-1894,” FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 19 Oct 2014). Note: This image set is actually death records, mismarked as Tables décennales.

Amanuensis Monday: Barbara THINES’ death certificate

On 9 June 1890, Peter STROESSER, accompanied by his neighbor Johann PUNSCH, appeared before the Burgermeister for the sad task of reporting the death of his wife. Barbara THINES had passed away the previous evening, leaving Peter alone to raise their six children, ranging in age from five to sixteen.

This image has been trimmed from the original at FamilySearch.

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

Im Jahre tausend acht hundert neunzig den neunten

des Monats Juni um fünf Uhr vor mittags sind vor Uns

Glesener Michel, Bürgermeister, Beamten des Civilstandes

der Gemeinde Folscheid , im Kanton Redingen , Großherzog=

thum Luxemburg, erschienen Stroesser Peter, Eisenhändler,

alt fünfzig fünf Jahre, Ehemann der Verstorbenen,

wohnhaft zu Schwiedelbruch

und Punsch Johann, , alt vierzig fünf Jahre,

Handarbeiter, wohnhaft zu Schwiedelbruch,

Nachbar der Verstorbenen.

Diese haben Uns erklärt, daß Thinnes Barbara

alt vierzig fünf Jahre, Haushälterin,

geboren zu Helzingen , wohnhaft zu Schwiedel=

bruch; Ehefrau des Erst=deklaranten Stroesser

Peter;

verschieden ist gestern um acht Uhr nach mittags,

zu Schwiedelbruch,

und haben beide Anzeiger gegenwärtige Urkunde, nachdem sie ihnen vorgelesen worden,

mit Uns unterschrieben.

Line by line Translation:

In the Year one thousand eight hundred ninety, the ninth

of the Month of June at five o’clock before noon have before Us

Glesener Michel, Burgermeister, Officials of the Civil State

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

duchy of Luxembourg, appeared Stroesser Peter, Ironmonger,

aged fifty five Years, Husband of the Deceased,

residing in Schwiedelbrouch

and Punsch Johann, , aged forty five Years,

Manual Laborer residing in Schwiedelbrouch,

Neighbor of the Deceased.

This has been declared to Us, that Thinnes Barbara

aged forty five Years, Housekeeper,

born in Hachiville , residing in Schwiedel-

brouch; Wife of the First-declarer Stroesser

Peter;

deceased is yesterday at eight o’clock after noon,

in Schwiedelbrouch,

and have both Informants the present deed, having been read to them,

with Us signed.

Source:

Folschette, Redange, Luxembourg, death certificate no. 28 (1890), Barbara Thinnes; digital image #135 of 142, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, "Décès 1879-1889," FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 21 Nov 2014).

Amanuensis Monday: Peter STROESSER and Barbara THINES’ marriage certificate

Helzerklaus, the hermitage chapel
Johnny Chicago at lb.wikipedia [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons

Not far outside the village of Hachiville stands a little hermitage chapel dedicated to St. Thomas. The ancient whitewashed building, known to the locals as Helzer Klaus, is tucked snugly among the trees, and a mineral spring ripples narby. Since the Middle Ages it has stood in its grove and witnessed pilgrimages, processions, and a few less pious rituals. For through the years curious young people surely have attempted to divine the identity of their future mates by following the dictates of tradition: thrice circling the hermitage unseen, twice beating their heads against a birch, then jumping barefoot into the stream. Following this interesting formula, popular belief claims the young person could hear the name of their spouse in the bubbling of the brook.

If during her young maidenhood Barbara THINES ever slipped away to that lonely grove and performed the magic rites, and if they were successful, the name she would have heard the creek whisper was “Peter.”

She and Peter STROESSER, a blacksmith living in Heispelt, were married on 4 Aug 1871, when Peter was 37 and Barbara was 27.

This image has been trimmed from the original at FamilySearch.

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

Im Jahre tausend achthundert ein und siebenzig, den neunten des Monats August

um Drei Uhr Nach mittags, sind vor Uns Wilhelm Jacques

Bürgermeister Beamten des Civilstandes der Gemeinde Wahl

im Kanton Redingen im Großherzogthum Luxemburg, erschienen Stroesser

Peter Huffschmied, alt dreißig sieben Jahre, geboren zu

Ettelbruck, den vierten Juni achtzehn hundert

vier und dreißig wohnhaft zu Heispelt im Dieser

Gemeinde. groß jähriger Sohn des zu gesagten Heispelt am

zehnten April, achtzehn hundart sechzig, verschiedenen Peter Stroesser und

der hier gegenwärtig und in diese Heirath einwilligenden Anna Maria

Mertz Haushalterin wohnhaft zu Heispelt einer=Vorstehendes erhellt

aus beiliegendem Aus zug aus dem Civilregister der Gemeinde Ettelbruck

und aus dem Civil=Register dieser Gemeinde

und Barbara Thines, ohne Stand, alt zwanzig sieben Jahre

geboren zu Heltzingen den

fünften Mai achtzehn hundert vier und vierzig wohnhaft

– groß jährige Zochter

der hier gegenwartigen und in diese Heirath einwilligenden

Michel Thines und Anna Maria Schmidt, Ehe= und Ackersleute

wohnhaft zu Heltzingen andrerseits. Vorstehendes Geburts=Daten

erhellt aus beiliegendem Aus zug aus dem Civil=Register Per Geburts=

Urkunden der Gemeinde Heltzingen

Welche uns ersucht haben, zu der unter ihnen übereingekommenen Vollziehung ihrer Heirath zu schreiten und dere Verkündigungen vor

den Gemein den Häusern von Wahl und Heltzingen ein den

Sonntagen neunten und sechzehnten des verflossenen Monats

Juli um die Mittagsstunde

Statt gehabt haben.

Da und kein Widerspruch gegen gedachte Heirath verkündet worden ist, so lassen wir ihrem Begehren Recht widerfahren; und nachdem wir alle

obenerwähnten Akten und das 6. Kapitel des Civil=Gesetzbuches, von der Heirath betitelt, vorgelesen, haben wir den Bräutigam und die Braut

gefragt, ob sie sich zum Mann und zur Frau nehmen wollen; de beide, jedes besonders und bejahend, geantwortet haben, so erklären wir im Namen

des Gesetzes, daß Peter Stroesser und Barbara Thines

durch die Heirath vereinigt sind

Von allem diesem haben wir diese Urkunde errichtet, und zwar in Gegenwart des Jacques

Nicolas Ackerer alt zwanzig sieben Jahre,

wohnhaft zu Wahl, nicht verwandt,

Des Jacques Franz, Ackerer alt sechzig ein Jahre,

wohnhaft zu Arsdorff, nicht verwandt

Des Jacques Falentin Ackerer alt sechzig Jahre,

wohnhaft zu Wahl, nicht verwandt,

Und des Becker Leonard, Schuster alt dreißig zwei Jahre,

wohnhaft zu Wahl, nicht verwandt

Welche, nachdem sie ihnen vorgelesen worden ist, dieselbe mit uns unterschrieben haben. Mit—

Aus nich ein der Mutter der Braut und der, des Bräutigams

die sich ein Schreiben (erklärt) lese, unerfahren erklärt haben.

Line by line Translation:

In the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy one, the ninth of the Month of August

at Three O’Clock After noon, before Us Wilhelm Jacques

Burgermeister Officials of the Civil State of the Commune of Wahl

in the Canton of Redange in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, appeared Stroesser

Peter Blacksmith, age thirty seven Years, born in

Ettelbruck, on the fourth of June eighteen hundred

thirty four residing in Heispelt in This

Commune of age Son of the aforesaid Heispelt on the

tenth of April, eighteen hundred sixty, distinct Peter Stroesser and

the currently present and in this Marriage consenting Anna Maria

Mertz Housekeeper residing in Heispelt single-Above evident

from enclosed extract from the Civil Registry of the Commune of Ettelbruck

and of the Civil-Register of this Commune

and Barbara Thines, without Occupation, age twenty seven Years

born in Hachiville on the

fifth of May eighteen hundred forty four residing

– of age Daughter

the currently present and in this Marriage consenting

Michel Thines and Anna Maria Schmidt, Married- and Farmer couple

residing in Hachiville on the other hand. The foregoing Birth-Dates

evident from the enclosed extract of the Civil-Register By Birth-

Deeds of the Commune of Hachiville

Which have requested us, to proceed to the Completion of their Marriage and particular Announcements as agreed among them before

the Common Houses of Wahl and Hachiville on the

Sundays the ninth and sixteenth of the past Month

July at Noon

Have been held.

Since no contradiction to the intended marriage has been announced, we can honor their desire; and after we all

the above document and the 6^th chapter of the Civil Code, of the Marriage titled, read, we have the Groom and the Bride

questioned, whether it be that they want to take one another for Man and Wife; because both, each particularly and affirming, have responded, as we explained in the Name

of the Law, that Peter Stroesser and Barbara Thines

are united in Marriage.

From all this we have made this Certificate, and in the Presence of Jacques

Nicolas Farmer age twenty seven Years,

residing in Wahl, not related,

Of Jacques Franz, Farmer age sixty one Years,

residing in Arsdorf, not related

Of Jacques Falentin Farmer age sixty Years,

residing in Wahl, not related,

And of Becker Leonard, Cobbler age thirty two Years,

residing in Wahl, not related

Who, after having it read to them, have undersigned. With—

Not from the Mother of the Bride and which, the Groom

which a letter (declared) reading, have declared inexperienced.

(Those last couple of handwritten lines have proved confusing to me; the clumsy translation above is the best I have been able to manage. If you have a better understanding of what is being said, please enlighten me!)

This marriage produced eight children, whose vital records—or at least the ones produced in Luxembourg—have already been presented:

1. Michel “Mike” STROESSER (1873-1937)

m. Regina STOMP (1898)

2. Baltasar STROESSER (1875-1939)

m. Anna KAYSER (1907)

3. Anna STROESSER (1876-1946)

m. Peter HEYMANS (1898)

4. Johann “Harry” STROESSER (1878-1964)

m. Mary Josephine CRAIG (1915)

5. Johann-Nicolas “Nick” STROESSER (1880-?)

m. Rosa FRANKS (1915)

6. Johann STROESSER (1881-1882)

7. Catharina STROESSER (1883-1884)

8. Clara STROESSER (1885-1921)

m. Nicholas FANCK (1905)

Sources:

“Hachiville, Paroisse Et Ancienne Commune.” Luxroots. Web. Accessed 29 Oct 2012. (In French.)

“Luxemburg: Volksglauben International.” Wandermagazin. W&A Marketing & Verlag GmbH, Mar.-Apr. 2008. Web. Accessed 29 Oct 2012. (In German.)

Wahl, Redange, Luxembourg marriage certificate (1871), Stroesser-Thines; digital image #1145 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 14 Apr 2011).

Amanuensis Monday: Barbara THINES’ birth certificate

Since there are still so many records to present in my Luxembourg record project, I think it good policy to post two at a time whenever possible. Therefore, today will see the birth of both my great-great-grandparents, Peter STROESSER and Barbara THINES.

I have already summarized the life of my great-great grandmother Barbara THINES, but as this project is intended more as a presentation of my sources, here is her birth certificate.

This image has been trimmed from the original at FamilySearch.

 

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

Im Jahre tausend achthundert vier und vierzig, den sechsten Tag des

Monats Maÿ , um zwei Uhr des Nachtmittags ist,

vor uns Jean francois Laporte Burgemeister , Beamter des Civilstandes des Gemeinde

von Heltzingen , Kanton von Clerff , im Groß=Herzogthum

Lutzemburg, erschienen Michel Thines oder Theines Ackerer wohnhaft zu Heltzingen

alt dreyßig sieben Jahre, vater des Kindes

wohnhaft in dieser Gemeinde, welcher uns erklart hat dass seine ehfrau anne marie

Schmidt ohnegewerb alt dreyßig sechs Jahre wohnhaft zu Heltzingen, gestern

um eilf Uhr des vormittags ein Kind gebohren hat vom weiblichen

geschlecht und welches er uns vengezeigt hat.

und welchem er des Vornamen Barbara

geben zu wollen erklärt hat.

Welche Erklärung und Vorstellung in Gegenwart des Phillippe schmitz Ackerer,

alt vierzig drei Jahre, vun Weiler

und des Peter Thull feldhuter, alt vierzig vier

Jahre, von Hoffelt die in dieser Gemeinde wohnhaft sind, Statt gehabt haben;

und haben zeugen mit dem vater und mit mir

den gegenwärtigen Geburts=Akt, nachdem er ihnen vorher vorgelesen worden ist, mit uns unterschrieben.

Line by line Translation:

In the Year one thousand eight hundred and forty-four, the sixth Day of the

Month of May at two o'clock in the Afternoon is

before us Jean francois Laporte Mayor Officials of the Civil State of the Commune

of Hachiville , Canton of Clervaux , in the Grand-Duchy

Luxembourg, appeared Michel Thines otherwise Theines Farmer residing in Hachiville

aged thirty-seven Years, father of the Child

residing in this Commune, which to us has declared that his wife anne marie

Schmidt without occupation aged thirty-six Years residing in Hachiville, yesterday

at eleven O’clock in the before-noon had a Child of the female

gender and which he has shown before us.

and which he the First Name Barbara

has declared to want to give.

Which Statement and Presentation in the Presence of Phillippe schmitz Farmer,

aged forty three Years, of Weiler

and Peter Thull field watchman, aged forty-four

Years, of Hoffelt residing in this Commune, Instead have had;

and have testified to the father and to me

the current Birth-Deed, after having been previously read to them, with us signed.

Source:

Hachiville, Clervaux, Luxembourg, birth certificate no. 8 (1844), Barbara Thines; digital image #131, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, “Naissances 1828-1844,” FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 27 Jun 2010).