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.

Amanuensis Monday: Anna STROESSER's marriage certificate

Last week we saw the birth of my great-grandfather Harry STROESSER’s eldest sister, Anna. Today we leap forward a little more than 21 years to the day of her wedding. Both of her parents have passed on, and she has been an orphan since the age of 16. She is still residing in the tiny village of Schwiedelbrouch, where both her parents had died. (They had probably moved there from Heispelt in 1880.)

She is marrying a certain Peter HEYMANS, a mason who lives in the nearby village of Koetschette.

This image has been trimmed from the original at FamilySearch.

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

Im Jahre tausend acht hundert acht und neunzig, den zwölften des Monats April

um fünf Uhr nach mittags, sind vor Uns Glesener Michel,

Bürgermeister, Beamter des Civilstandes der Gemeinde Folscheid,

im Kanton Redingen im GroßHerzogthum Luxemburg eschienen Heymans

Peter, Maurer , alt zwanzig drei Jahre, geboren zu

Koetschette, Gemeinde Folscheid , den zwanzigsten Juni tausend acht

hundert siebenzig vier, wohnhaft zu genanntem Koetschette,

groß jähriger Sohn der hier anwesenden und in

diese Heirath einwilligen den Ehe=und Ackersleute Heymans Nicolas,

alt sechzig ein Jahre und Susanna Marnach, alt sechzig Jahre,

beide wohnhaft zu gemeltem Koetschette.

Das Geburts datum des Brüutigams ist laut den

hiesigen Civilstandsregistern bestätigt, einerseits.

Und Stroesser Anna, ohne Stand , alt zwanzig ein Jahre

geboren zu Keispelt, Gemeinde Wahl, den

zwanzig fünften Dezember tausend achthundert siebenzig sechs, rechtlich wohnhaft

zu Schwiedelbruch, ehedem dienstmagd zu Luxemburg, groß jährige Zochter

des zu Schwiedelbruch am elften Juni tausend acht hundert neunzig

drei vorstorbenen Peter Stroesser, und der zu selbigem Schwiedel=

bruch am achten Juni tausend acht hundert neunzig vestorbenen

Barbara Thines.

Das Geburtsdatum der Braut ist laut Beilage bestätigt; die

Sterbedaten ihrer Eltern sind laut den hiesigen Civilstandsre=

ristern bestätigt, anderseits.

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

in der Stadt Luxemburg und in der Gemeinde Folscheid an den

Sonntagen zwanzig siebenten März und dritten April des

laufenden Jahres dem Gesetzegemäß

Statt gehabt haben.

Da uns kein Widerspruch genen gedachte Heirath verkündet worden ist, so lassen wir ihrem Begehren Recht wiedersahren; und nachdem wir alle

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

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

des Gesetzes, daß Peter Heymans und Anna Stroesser

durch die Heirath vereinigt sind.

Und vor Abschluß der gegenwärtigen Urkunde richteten wir sowohl an die Brautleute als an die obbenannten Erscheinenden,

welche zu dieser Ehe ihre Einwilligung ertheilten, die Aufforderung zu erklären, ob ein notarieller Ehevertrag die Civilbestim=

mungen selber Ehe geregelt hätte und, im bejahenden Falle, wann und vor welchem Notar, worauf die Gefragten uns erklärten

ein solcher Ehevertrag sei nicht

beurkundet worden.

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

Wilhelm, Schuster, alt fünfzig ein Jahre,

wohnhaft zu Folscheid, nicht verwandt;

Des Thill Peter, Arbeiter, alt zwanzig neun Jahre,

wohnhaft zu Folscheid, nicht verwandt;

Des Schmit Charles, Arbeiter, alt zwanzig drei Jahre,

wohnhaft zu Folscheid, nicht verwandt;

Und des Nauert Michel, Gemeindesekretär, alt fünfzig fünf Jahre,

wohnhaft zu Folscheid, nicht verwandt;

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

Line by line Translation:

In the Year one thousand eight hundred ninety-eight, the twelfth of the Month of April

at five O’clock after noon, before Us Glesener Michel,

Burgermeister, Officials of the Civil State of the Commune Folschette,

in the Canton of Redingen in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, appeared Heymans

Peter, Mason , age twenty three Years, born in

Koetschette, Commune of Folschette , on the twentieth of June one thousand eight

hundred seventy four, residing in stated Koetschette,

of age Son of the here present and in

this Marriage consenting to the Marriage= and Husbandman Heymans Nicolas,

aged sixty one Years and Susanna Marnach, aged sixty Years,

both residing in said Koetschette.

The Birth date of the Bridegroom is according to the

local Civil registers confirmed, on the one hand.

And Stroesser Anna, without Occupation , age twenty one Years

born in Keispelt, Commune of Wahl, on the

twenty fifth of December one thousand eight hundred seventy six, legally residing

in Schwiedelbrouch, formerly a servant of Luxembourg, of age Daughter

of the Schwiedelbrouch on the eleventh of June one thousand eight hundred ninety

three late Peter Stroesser, and of the same Schwiedel-

brouch on the eighth of June one thousand eight hundred ninety late

Barbara Thines.

The Birthdate of the Bride is according to the Enclosure confirmed; the

Death dates of her Parents are according to the local Civil reg-

isters confirmed, on the other hand.

Who have asked us, to proceed with the mutually agreed upon Execution of their Marriage, and their Pronouncements

in the City of Luxembourg and in the Commune of Folschette on the

Sundays twenty seventh of March and the third of April of the

current Year in Accordance with the Law

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 Heymans and Anna Stroesser

are united in Marriage.

And before Entering into the current Act we addressed both the Bride and Groom as to the above distinct Presenters,

which to this marriage their Consent give, the Request to declare, if a notarized Marriage Settlement the Civil

Provisions themselves the Marriage would have settled and, in the affirmative Case, when and before which Notary, whereupon the Requested to us declared

such a Marriage Settlement was not

has been certified.

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

Wilhelm, Cobbler, age fifty one Years,

residing in Folschette, not related;

Of Thill Peter, Laborer, age twenty nine Years,

residing in Folschette, not related;

Of Schmit Charles, Laborer, age twenty three Years,

residing in Folschette, not related;

And of Nauert Michel, Municipal Clerk, age fifty five Years,

residing in Folschette, not related;

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

Source:

Folschette, Luxembourg marriage certificate 7 (1898), Heymans-Stroesser; digital image #366 of 659, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, “Mariages 1851-1923 Décès 1894-1902,” FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 10 Nov 2014).