Monday, January 19, 2015

Amanuensis Monday: Anna STROESSER’s birth certificate

This week in my Luxembourg record transcription project, we return again to the locality of Heispelt, in the household of my great-great grandparents Peter STROESSER and Barbara THINES. We have already traced the lives and families of their two eldest sons, Michel and Baltasar; now it is time to embark on the line originating in their third child—their eldest daughter—Anna.

The year was 1876. St. Nicholas, called “Kleeschen” in Luxembourg, would have already visited three-year-old Michel and 16-month-old Baltasar on his feast day of December 6th, leaving sweets or gifts in their shoes or on their plates. They might have been threatened into good behavior by the prospect of being beaten by Kleeschen’s frightening companion Houseker.


Fortunately for the two young boys, Christmas Day was not a day typically designated for the giving of gifts as it is today in the U.S. Perhaps the Christ Child left something for them, but the main gift-giving had already been done on St. Nicholas Day. However, the family did receive a most wonderful gift on that Christmas Day: Barbara gave birth to her first daughter, Anna.

This image has been trimmed from the original at FamilySearch.


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


Im Jahre tausend acht hundert sechs und siebenzig, den fünfundzwanzigsten
des Monats Dezember um acht Uhr Nach mittags ist vor Uns
Theodore Welbes Bürgermeister Beamten des Civilstandes
der Gemeinde Wahl, im Kanton Redingen, Grossher=
zogthum Luxemburg, erschienen Stroesser Peter Eisenhändeler
alt vierzig zwei Jahre
wohnhaft zu Heispelt, welche Uns ein Kind weiblichen
Geschlechts vorgestellt, hat geboren zu Heispelt heuts uns
funf Uhr Nachmittags von ihn Deklarenten
und seiner Ehefrau Barbara Thines ohne Gewerb
alt dreißig zwei Jahre Eheleute wohnhaft zu Heispelt
und welchem sie den Vornamen Anna
geben zu wollen erklärt hat.
Diese Erklärung und Vorstellung sind geschehen in Gegenwart des Flammang
Martin Taglöhner, alt vierzig fünf Jahre
wohnhaft zu Heispelt und des Biver Peter Ackerer
alt fünfzig Jahre
wohnhaft zu Kuborn und haben diese Urkunde
nachdem sie ihnen vorgelesen worden, mit Uns unterschrieben.


Line by line Translation:


In the Year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, the twenty-fifth
of the Month of December at eight 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 Stroesser Peter Iron Merchant
aged forty-two Years
residing in Heispelt, which to us a child of the female
Gender presented, born in Heispelt today to us
five O’clock Afternoon by his Declaration
and his Wife Barbara Thines without Occupation
aged thirty-two Years Married couple residing in Heispelt
and which she the First Name Anna
has declared to want to give.
This Statement and Presentation are done in the Presence of Flammang
Martin Day-laborer, aged forty-five Years,
residing in Heispelt and Biver Peter Farmer
aged fifty Years
residing in Kuborn and have this Deed
having been read to them, with us signed.


As usual, I have added the applicable template (1876 birth certificate) to my online collection of Luxembourg transcription and translation templates. If you would like to try transcribing and translating a Luxembourgish 1876 birth record of your own, perhaps it will help you.

Source:


Wahl, Redange, Luxembourg, birth certificate no. 32 (1876), Anna Stroesser; digital image #133, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, “Naissances 1867-1890-- RINDSCHLEIDEN: Mariages 1796-1797, 1800-1804, 1805-1823 -- WAHL: Mariages 1796-1803, 1805-1890 -,” FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 30 May 2010).

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Scipio WADE’s wife

One of my favorite characters to research in the WADE family is Scipio WADE, not because he was particularly interesting, but because of his name. In a family with a common name like WADE, what a boon it is to find someone with an unusual first name like Scipio!

Scipio WADE was the oldest child of Joseph S. WADE—the younger brother of my great-great grandfather Allen C. WADE, whom I have so often mentioned, and about whom I have promised to write a post. That is a promise I have yet to make good, but I still hope to at some point.

This weekend I decided to again take a look at Scipio and see if I could find anything new. After a few relatively unexciting discoveries (mostly city directories), I took another look at my gedcom file. Although he spent most of his life in California with his sister Carrie, he had been married at one time.

For his wife, Margaret McADAMS, I had only and birth date and a death date, in addition to the marriage date. I wondered if I could find a little information if I were to search the newspapers around the time of her death. According to my information, which had come from Findagrave and an old Rootsweb board, she had died in Kincaid, Anderson, Kansas on 29 Apr 1896. So I went to GenealogyBank and typed in “Wade” in the surname field, “1896” in the date field, and checked “Kansas” for the state to search. It wasn’t long before I found an intriguing article.



Trimmed from the original at GenealogyBank


Mrs. Wade, Mrs. Cloyes and her son Joe went down in the Cherokee nation below Bartlesville to pick black berries. As they started back Sunday they drove into the river that was up and it was too deep for them. They started to float down stream and Mrs. Wade was drowned. Mrs. Cloyes got hold of one of the horses and got out all right. Joe also swam out all right. The last seen of Mrs. Wade she was holding to one of the wheels of the hack. The body had not been found at the last report.
The “Mrs. Wade” of this article is not mentioned by full name, so it is uncertain whether she is Mrs. Scipio WADE or another WADE. Her companions give no assistance, as the name “Cloyes” is new to me. The date of this newspaper is 2 July 1896, a Thursday. Assuming that the “Sunday” mentioned in the article is the most recent Sunday, the date of the drowning would have been 28 June 1896, almost fully two months after the death date I had recorded for Scipio’s wife. The 29 Apr 1896 I had recorded would have been a Wednesday. However, both of my sources for her death date were secondary at best; it is possible they were mistaken. Also, newspapers are not always entirely accurate, and the “Sunday” referred to is not clear. The location is also problematic. However, it can easily be explained by the fact that she is buried in Kincaid, Anderson, Kansas. Perhaps the person recording her death simply assumed she died where she was buried. With all these uncertainties, I can neither confirm or disprove that this Mrs. WADE is Margaret.

Another article continued the story.



Trimmed from the original at GenealogyBank



Mrs. Wade who was drowned in Big Caney in the Territory was found three days after. Her body was found nearly a mile from where she was drowned.
If she had drowned on 28 June 1896, her body would have been found 1 July 1896, a day before the previous article had been published. The news simply did not reach the newpaper in time for publication. Unfortunately, this second article gives no further information useful toward the identification of this Mrs. WADE. Perhaps Scipio WADE’s wife drowned on her way home from picking blackberries in Oklahoma, or perhaps it was another unfortunate Mrs. WADE. Only more research will tell.



Sources:

Alohawahine75@aol.com. “[IOWA] McAdams's Family.” IOWA-L Archives. Rootsweb, 18 Mar. 2003. Web.

“Chautauqua Local Items,” Sedan Lance, 2 July 1896, p. 3, col. 5; digital images, America’s GenealogyBank (http://www.genealogybank.com : accessed 10 Jan 2015), Historical Newspapers. 
 
“Chautauqua Local Items,” Sedan Lance, 9 July 1896, p. 2, col. 5; digital images, America’s GenealogyBank (http://www.genealogybank.com : accessed 10 Jan 2015), Historical Newspapers.

Find A Grave, “Find A Grave,” database and images, Find A Grave (www.findagrave.com : accessed 10 Jan 2015); Margaret McAdams Wade (Memorial #86839890); Record added 15 Mar 2012 by N. Dale Talkington.

Amanuensis Monday: Michel STROESSER’s birth certificate

I can’t help but wonder what happened between 1900 and 1903 in the family of my great-grandfather Harry STROESSER’s brother Michel. Michel had married in 1898, and since then had children like clockwork: first a daughter Catherina in 1899, then a son Johann-Peter in 1900, but then there seems to have been a break until 1903. Was there a miscarriage? Had Michel been away from his wife for an extended period? The records—or at least the ones I have accessed—are silent on the point.

At any rate, they had another child in June of 1903. This one they named Michel, perhaps after his father, but more likely after his godfather. Without seeing his baptismal record we cannot be sure who that godfather was, but he may have been Michel KRIEBS, who appeared as the first witness on the child’s birth certificate.

This image has been trimmed from the original at FamilySearch.


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


Im Jahre tausend neun hundert drei, den fünfzehnten
des Monats Juni um drei Uhr nach mittags ist vor Uns
Andreas Miller, Bürgermeister Beamten des Civilstandes
der Gemeinde Folscheid , im Kanton Redingen , Großher=
zogthum Luxemburg, erschienen Stroesser Michel
alt zwanzig neun Jahre , Schreiner,
wohnhaft zu Rambruch , welcher Uns ein Kind männlichen
Geschlechts vorgestellt hat, geboren zu Rambruch, vorgestern
um zehn Uhr vor mittags, im Hause Nr. -- Gasse,
erzeugt von ihm Comparenten und von seiner Ehefrau Stomp
Regina, ohne Stand, alt zwanzig fünf Jahre, wohn-
haft zu Rambruch,
und welchem er den Vornamen Michel
geben zu wollen erklärt hat.
Diese Erklärung und Vorstellung sind geschehen in Gegenwart des Kriebs
Michel , alt vierzig drei Jahre , Tagner,
wohnhaft zu Schwiedelbruch und des Gaspard
Nicolas , alt vierzig zwei Jahre , Schreiner,
wohnhaft zu Folscheid 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 three, the fifteenth
of the Month of June at three o'clock after noon is before Us
Andreas Miller, Burgermeister Officials of the Civil State
of the Commune of Folschette , in the Canton Redange , Grand-
duchy of Luxembourg, appeared Stroesser Michel
aged twenty nine Years , Carpenter,
residing in Rambrouch , which to us a child of the male
Gender has presented, born in Rambrouch, the day before yesterday
at ten O’clock before noon, in House No. -- Street,
begat by the Appearing Party and by his Wife Stomp
Regina, without Occupation, aged twenty five Years, res-
iding in Rambrouch
and which he the First Name Michel
has declared to want to give.
This Statement and Presentation are done in the Presence of Kriebs
Michel , aged forty three Years , Day Laborer,
residing in Schwiedelbrouch and Gaspard
Nicolas , aged forty two Years , Carpenter,
residing in Folschette and the Appearing Parties have this
Deed, having been read to them, with us signed.




Source:


Folschette, Luxembourg, birth certificate no. 28 (1903), Michel Stroesser; digital image #302 of 699, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, “Naissances 1882-1923 Mariages 1831-1850,” FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 22 Nov 2014).

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Amanuensis Monday: Johann Peter STROESSER’s birth certificate

In what was technically the last year of the nineteenth century, though many people intuitively think of it as the twentieth century, the family of Michel STROESSER still resided in Luxembourg. As it had been for at least a couple years, their home was in the town of Rambrouch, at the time in the commune of Folschette. In 1979 the commune was reorganized and renamed after the town of Rambrouch, so it can now be said that although Rambrouch used to be a town in the commune of Folschette, Folschette is now a town in the commune of Rambrouch.

However, that diverting reversal would not occur for another 79 years. It was still the year 1900, and Michel STROESSER and his wife Regina STOMP, the brother and sister-in-law of my great-grandfather Harry STROESSER, were expecting their second child. He arrived on the 22nd of July, and they named him Johann-Peter.

This image has been trimmed from the original at FamilySearch.

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


Im Jahre tausend neun hundert, den zwanzig zweiten
des Monats Juli, um zwei Uhr nach mittags ist vor Uns
Meyer Peter, Bürgermeister Beamten des Civilstandes
der Gemeinde Folscheid , im Kanton Redingen , Großher=
zogthum Luxemburg, erschienen Stroesser Michel, Schreiner,
alt zwanzig sechs Jahre , Vater des Kindes,
wohnhaft zu Rambruch , welcher Uns ein Kind männlichen
Geschlechts vorgestellt hat, geboren zu Rambruch, heute
um sechs Uhr vor mittags, im Hause Nr. -- Gasse,
erzeugt von ihm Comparenten und von seiner Ehefrau Stomp
Regina, ohne Stand, alt zwanzig zwei Jahre, wohnhaft
zu Rambruch,
und welchem er die Vornamen Johann-Peter
geben zu wollen erklärt hat.
Diese Erklärung und Vorstellung sind geschehen in Gegenwart des Reichling
Johann-Peter , alt zwanzig sieben Jahre , Taglöhner,
wohnhaft zu Rambruch und des Nauert
Michel , alt fünfzig acht Jahre , Sekretär
wohnhaft zu Folscheid, 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, the twenty second
of the Month of July, at two o'clock after noon is before Us
Meyer Peter, Burgermeister Officials of the Civil State
of the Commune of Folschette , in the Canton Redange , Grand-
duchy of Luxembourg, appeared Stroesser Michel, Carpenter,
aged twenty six Years , Father of the Child,
residing in Rambrouch , which to us a child of the male
Gender has presented, born in Rambrouch, today
at six O’clock before noon, in House No. -- Street,
begat by the Appearing Party and by his Wife Stomp
Regina, without Occupation, aged twenty two Years, residing
in Rambrouch,
and which he the First Name Johann-Peter
has declared to want to give.
This Statement and Presentation are done in the Presence of Reichling
Johann-Peter , aged twenty seven Years , Day Laborer,
residing in Rambrouch and Nauert
Michel , aged fifty eight Years , Secretary [or clerk]
residing in Folschette, and the Appearing Parties have this
Deed, having been read to them, with us signed.



Source:


Folschette, Luxembourg, birth certificate no. 26 (1900), Johann-Peter Stroesser; digital image #256 of 699, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, “Naissances 1882-1923 Mariages 1831-1850,” FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 21 Nov 2014).

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Amanuensis Monday: Catharina STROESSER’s birth certificate

Here we are, back in Luxembourg. It is just nine months before the dawn of the twentieth century, and just one day before Marconi demonstrated his wireless machine by transmitting a signal across the English Channel. But our minds are far from the excitement of modern technology; we have another kind of excitement much closer to home. Michel STROESSER and Regina STOMP have just had their firstborn child.


You may recall that Michel STROESSER was the eldest brother of my great-grandfather, Harry STROESSER. Michel and his wife had been married just over nine months, so clearly they lost no time in starting their family.

This image has been trimmed from the original at FamilySearch.




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

Im Jahre tausend acht hundert neun und neunzig, den zwanzig sechsten
des Monats März, um fünf Uhr nach mittags ist vor Uns
Glesener Michel, Bürgermeister, Beamten des Civilstandes
der Gemeinde Folscheid , im Kanton Redingen , Großher=
zogthum Luxemburg, erschienen Stroesser Michel, Schreiner,
alt zwanzig fünf Jahre , Vater des Kindes,
wohnhaft zu Rambruch , welcher Uns ein Kind weiblichen
Geschlechts vorgestellt hat, geboren zu Rambruch, heute
um sieben Uhr vor mittags, im Hause Nr. -- Gasse,
erzeugt von ihm Comparenten und von seiner Ehefrau
Regina Stomp, alt zwanzig ein Jahre, ohne Stand,
wohnhaft zu Rambruch
und welchem er den Vornamen Catharina
geben zu wollen erklärt hat.
Diese Erklärung und Vorstellung sind geschehen in Gegenwart des Becker
Johann Baptiste , alt zwanzig sieben Jahre , Taglöhner,
wohnhaft zu Rambruch und des Glesener
Johann , alt zwanzig vier Jahre , Ackerer,
wohnhaft zu Folscheid 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 ninety nine, the twenty sixth
of the Month of March, at five 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 Stroesser Michel, Carpenter,
aged twenty five Years , Father of the Child,
residing in Rambrouch , which to us a child of the female
Gender has presented, born in Rambrouch, today
at seven O’clock before noon, in House No. -- Street,
begat by the Appearing Party and by his Wife
Regina Stomp, aged twenty one Years, without Occupation,
residing in Rambrouch
and which he the First Name Catharina
has declared to want to give.
This Statement and Presentation are done in the Presence of Becker
Johann Baptiste , aged twenty seven Years , Day Laborer,
residing in Rambrouch and Glesener
Johann , aged twenty four Years , Farmer,
residing in Folschette and the Appearing Parties have this
Deed, having been read to them, with us signed.

As usual, if you would like to try your hand at transcribing and translating a similar certificate, you can check out my templates here.




Source:


Folschette, Luxembourg, birth certificate no. 8 (1899), Catharina Stroesser; digital image #239 of 699, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, “Naissances 1882-1923 Mariages 1831-1850,” FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 21 Nov 2014).


Sunday, December 21, 2014

Amanuensis Monday: Michel STROESSER’s marriage certificate

I am going to pause at this point in my Luxembourg record transcription project and back up a bit. You may recall that in the post recording the birth certificate of my great-grandfather’s eldest brother, “Mike” STROESSER, I claimed it was the only Luxembourgish civil registration document for him. I was wrong. Recently, while browsing through the Tables décennales for Folschette, I stumbled across a marriage for Michel STROESSER. Naturally, I hastened to find the certificate and see who this Michel STROESSER was. Lo and behold, it was my great-grandfather’s brother!

A little more browsing through the Tables décennales and tracing the records showed that not only was Michel married in Luxembourg, but had at least three children there before his emigration. Incidentally, all this information turned out to be the key to proving that the Michael STROESSER of Manitoba, Canada was indeed my Michel STROESSER—and led me into communication with a new cousin! This post will present Michel’s marriage record.


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 sechsten des Monats Juni
um acht Uhr nach mittags, sind vor Uns Michel Glesener
Bürgermeister, Beamter des Civilstandes der Gemeinde Folscheid,
Burgermeister Officials of the Civil State of the Commune Folschette
im Kanton Redingen, im GroßHerzogthum Luxemburg eschienen Stroesser
Michel, Schreiner, alt zwanzig vier Jahre, geboren zu
Heispelt, Gemeinde Wahl , den dritten Dezember tausend acht
hundert siebenzig drei, wohnhaft zu Rambruch
groß jähriger Sohn des zu Schwiedelbruch am
elften Juni tausend acht hundert drei und neunzig verstorbenen Peter
Stroesser und der zu selbigem Schwiedelbruch am achten Juni
tausend acht hundert neunzig verstorbenen Barbara Thines.
Das Geburtsdatum des Brautigams ist laut Beilage bestätigt,
die Sterbedaten seiner eltern sind laut den hiesigen Civilstands-
registern bestätigt einerseits.
Und Stomp Regina, ohne Stand , alt zwanzig Jahre
geboren zu Ospern, den
zwanzig siebenten April achtzehnhundert siebenzig acht, wohnhaft
zu Eltz, Sektion Ospern, minder jährige Zochter
des zu Ospern (Eltz) am acht und zwanzigsten April tausend acht
hundert acht und neunzig verstorbenen Heinrich Stomp, zeit-
lebens Kalkbrenner, und der hier anwesenden und in diese
Heirath einwilligenden Catharina Charpentier, alt ein und
fünfzig Jahre ohne Stand, wohnhaft zu genanntem Eltz.
Das Geburtsdatum der Braut und der Sterbetag ihres
Vaters sind laut Beilagen bestätigt anderseits.
Welche uns ersucht haben, zu der unter ihnen übereingekommenen Vollziehung ihrer Heirath zu schreiten, und deren Verkündigungen
in den Gemeinden Folscheid und Redingen an den Sonntagen
zwanzig zweiten und zwanzig neunten Mai des laufenden
twenty second and twenty ninth of May of the current
Jahres dem Gesetze gemäß
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 Stroesser Michel und Stomp Regina
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 Reuter
Peter, Wegewärter, alt fünfzig ein Jahre,
wohnhaft zu Schwiedelbruch, Oheim der Braut;
Des Charpentier Johann, Schneider alt fünfzig sechs Jahre,
wohnhaft zu Rambruch, Vetter der Braut;
Des Heiderscheid Peter, Förster, alt fünfzig vier Jahre,
wohnhaft zu Folscheid, nicht verwandt;
Und des Glesener Johann, Ackerer, alt zwanzig vier Jahre,
wohnhaft zu Foldscheid, nicht verwandt.
Welche, nachdem sie ihnen vorgelesen worden ist, dieselbe mit uns unterschrieben haben. die Mutter
der Braut hat jedoch erklärt, nicht schreiben zu wissen.

Line by line Translation:


In the Year one thousand eight hundred ninety-eight, the sixth of the Month of June
at eight O’clock after noon, before Us Michel Glesener
Burgermeister Officials of the Civil State of the Commune Folschette
in the Canton of Redange in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, appeared Stroesser
Michel, Carpenter, age twenty four Years, born in
Heispelt, Commune Wahl , on the third of December one thousand eight
hundred seventy three, residing in Rambrouch
of age Sohn of at Schwiedelbrouch on
the eleventh of June one thousand eight hundred ninety three died Peter
Stroesser and of the selfsame Schwiedelbrouch on the eighth of June
One thousand eight hundred ninety died Barbara Thines.
The Birthdate of the Bridegroom is according to Enclosure confirmed,
the Death Dates of his parents are according to the local Civil
registers confirmed on the one hand.
And Stomp Regina, without Occupation , age twenty Years
born in Ospern on the
twenty seventh of April eighteen hundred seventy eight residing
in Eltz, Section Ospern, minor Daughter
to the Ospern (Eltz) on the twenty eighth of April one thousand eight
hundred ninety eight the late Heinrich Stomp, in
life Lime Burner, and the here present and in this
Marriage consenting Catharina Charpentier, aged one and
fifty Years without Occupation, residing in so-called Eltz.
The Birthdate of the Bride and the Death Date of her
Father are according to Enclosures 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 Communes of Folschette and Redange on the Sundays
twenty second and twenty ninth of May 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 6th 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 Stroesser Michel and Stomp Regina
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 Reuter
Peter, Road Watchman, age fifty one Years,
residing in Schwiedelbrouch, Uncle of the Bride;
Of Charpentier Johann, Tailor age fifty six Years,
residing in Rambrouch, Cousin of the Bride;
Of Heiderscheid Peter, Forester, age fifty four Years,
residing in Folschette, not related;
And of Glesener Johann, Farmer, age twenty four Years,
residing in Folschette, not related;
Who, after having it read to them, have undersigned. the Mother
of the Bride has however declared, to not know how to write.

Looking carefully over this record, we learn that Michel STROESSER was a carpenter. For some reason, his birth date is given as 3 Dec 1873, when, according to his birth certificate, he was born on the second. At first, I thought perhaps it was a mistake in which the marriage registrar wrote the date of the birth certificate itself rather than the date of birth, but the certificate was recorded on the fourth, not the third.

However, if the mistake of one day was enough to raise some doubt as to the identity of this Michel STROESSER, the identification of his parents immediately removes that doubt. The names and death dates of both his parents are given. Had I not already been in possession of their death dates, this would have been very convenient information. As it is, it only confirms Michel’s identity.

We also learn that Michel’s bride was Regina STOMP, along with her birth date and birthplace, and the names of her parents. Her father has died, but her mother is still alive and approves the marriage. This is important because Regina is still a minor, and parental consent is required for her to marry.

The marriage had been pronounced in both Folschette and Redange on the two previous Sundays, which, I assume, would have been the publication of banns. In Luxembourg, civil banns must be published for at least ten days before the marriage takes place. (That is the current law; I have not yet uncovered the history of the marriage laws, but it was likely similar in 1898.) If, on the other hand, this refers to church banns, there is a slight problem. The Catholic Church required three weeks of banns prior to a marriage.

There was not a marriage settlement. It would take much more research to delve into all the implications of that statement, but for now it will suffice to say that they did not make out a contract regarding property.

The witnesses included two relatives of the bride: Peter REUTER, her uncle, and Johann CHARPENTIER, her cousin, as well as two men said not to be related to either party: Peter HEIDERSCHEID and Johann GLESENER. Lastly, we learn that Catharina CHARPENTIER, the mother of the bride, did not know how to write.

This being the first 1898 marriage license I have had occasion to transcribe and translate, I created a new template for myself. You can view it here
 

Source:


Folschette, Luxembourg marriage certificate 11 (1898), Stroesser-Stomp; digital image #368 of 659, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, “Mariages 1851-1923 Décès 1894-1902,” FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 21 Nov 2014).