Française Adam

Française Adam is my 6th great-grandmother. So far the only evidence I have of her existence is one sentence in her son Claude Schmitt's death record:

The reference to Française in Claude's 1814 record is "fils de Jean Schmitt et de Françoise Adam décédés à Boulay" which (paraphrased) means Claude's parents Jean Schmitt and Françoise Adam who died in Boulay, France.

Wish # 1: I hope to learn more about this ancestor in the near future and

Wish # 2: a reader recognizes Française from their own tree and contacts me.

Do we have any shared ancestors? Please contact me at find.an.ancestor [at] gmail [dot] com.

Transcription Thursday ~ Marie Catherine Gury

Marie Catherine is one of at least eight children born to my 5th great-grandparents, Joseph François Gury and Barbe Richard. Below the image of her 1809 birth record is my attempt to transcribe and translate it.

I transcribed in green and translated in black. The words I couldn't quite figure out are red:

While I was working on this post, a kind gentleman from the Alsace-Lorraine list shared his thoughts:

"Today the 11th day of January, eighteen hundred and nine, at eight in the morning at the townhall of Altroff, in the arrondisement of Chateau Julline, in the department of Muerthe. Appeared before Peter Bocage, the Mayor and civil officer of the commune of Altroff,  Mr. Joseph Francois Gury, an artist residing in said Altroff, age forty-five years accompanied by Nicolas Geurolt, a farmer with forty eight years, and Peter Fuhrmann, a forty-two-year old teacher residing in the same commune. They presented us with a female child, born between midnight and one o'clock in the morning at the home of Pierre Gury and Barbe Richard, the thirty-one year old legitimately married wife of the declarant. They have given the child the first name of Marie Catherine

The last line is a little unclear but, it basically says that the record was read aloud to the Father and witnesses and that they have signed their names in agreement."

It was nice to see someone else felt the last line was unclear, I was stumped by that. Thanks also to Stephan for desciphering "teacher" as Pierre Fuhrmann's occupation.

That makes one record down, a hundred or so more to go!

French Birth Record from 1795

My 5th-great grandparents Joseph François GURY and Barbe RICHARD had at least nine children. Typical of their time, they had a baby nearly every year. Transcribing and translating their children's vital records gives me a better sense of their family dynamics. Here is one the records I recently located:

Jean Louis GUERY's 1795 birth:

Birth record transcription: left column ----- ?  ----?   1795 / department de la Meurthe / Guery / Jean Louis / mort?

Lepoerres du et ferrirt o

Àujourd'hui huitième jour du Mois de Fructidor l'an troisième de la Republic Française mil et -- divisible quatre un had apres Midy par devant Mois Nicolas Karpp membre du Conseil general de la commune d’Altroff et a le premier V-H-N? d-? pour dresser les actes destines a constater les naissance mariages et deces des citoyens, est comparu en la falle pirblique de la Maison Commune Josephe Guery age de trente ans châtreur resident ans la commune d’Altroff, lequel après ete de Jean ---- Geury châtreur age de trente deux ans department de la Moselle  district de fanckmons municipalite de Bassoncones et Catherine Schmitt age de vingt huit ans resident d’ans la commune de Vírming department de la Meurthe district de Dréuze a declare a Mois Nicolas Karpp, que Barbe Richart Mon epouse en legitime mariage et accouché hier --- jour du present Mois de Fructidor a quatre un heur du soire d’ans la maison d'un enfant male quil ma presenté et auquel il a donné le prenom Jean Louis, d’apres cette declaration que le citoyens Joseph Guery Jean hary et Catherine Schmitt ont certificat a la Herite, et la representation qui ma ete fait de l enfant de nommi, par Redige en herta des pouvoire que me fout de lequis le present acte que Josephe Geury, pere de l’enfant et le deux temoins Jean Hary Geury et Catherine Schmitt, ont signe avec mois fait en la maison commune d'Altroff les jour Mois et an ci-dessous.

[Signed by] Catherine Schmitt, H Gury, J F Gury

Birth record translation: ----- left column? ----? 1795 / department of Meurthe / Guery / Jean Louis / death?

Lepoerres and the ferrirt o

Today the eighth day of Fructidor third year of the French Republic and millet - a divided four HAD Midy after the front month Nicolas Karppe member of the General Council of the joint and the first Altroff VHN? d-? to prepare the documents to ascertain the birth marriages and deaths of citizens, appeared in the hall of the common house Josephe Guery, 30 year old gelder, resident of the town Altroff, after which Jean Hary Geury gelder 32 years of age of the Moselle department fanckmons district municipality of Bassoncones and Catherine Schmitt age of 28 and a resident of the town of Virming, department of Meurthe, district Dréuze said to Mr. Nicolas Karppe that Barbe Richard, my wife of a legitimate marriage, gave birth yesterday --- Month Fructidor four o'clock one year of the house of a male child quil my presentation and to which he gave the first name Jean Louis, after this statement that the citizens Jean Joseph Guery and Catherine Schmitt a certificate is prepared, and that the representation was made of my child to the appointed by Herta Written in the powers I care about the present act Lequis Joseph Geury, father of the child and the two witnesses Jean Hary Geury and Catherine Schmitt, have been signed with months in the common house of the day Altroff Month and year below.

[Signed by] Catherine Schmitt, H Gury, J F Gury

This is one of the worst translations I've done. I'm more rusty than I thought; the 1795 handwriting/words have me stumped! I'll ask for help and update this post shortly.

Genealogy Success Team Update

I've made more progress on my family tree since Jenny and I started our Success Team than I'd made in the six preceding months combined. It has to do with accountability. I don't want to waste Jenny's time by telling her I couldn't finish the goals I set during our last meeting, so I get them done. Thanks Jenny, and go team!

Working toward accomplishing my 2011 New Year's Resolutions, I have a five-pronged approach to each week. This week my list consists of:

BLOG: Follow Lisa Alzo's 15-minutes a day plan. I missed Lisa's program at FGS 2011, but read about it on Diana's blog post. Like Diana, I'm pretty busy. But as Diana mentioned, I'm sure we can all squeeze in 15 minutes a day to do something more important than reading Facebook status updates.

LEARN: In a never-ending quest to add to my overall genealogical education, this week I'm going to finish reading one of the books I bought at FGS 2011; "Finding Your Chicago Ancestors; A Beginner's Guide to Family History in the City and Cook County" by Grace DuMelle. I'm not a beginner to research in this area, but the book has more than beginner information. I've already found several new resources.

ORGANIZE: What genealogist doesn't need to be better organized? I recently created an "at-a-glance record inventory" in Excel. This week I will add comments to the Mueller page.

You probably know about the yearbook collection on Ancestry. I'm interested in Englewood High School. The oldest yearbook on Ancestry for that school is 1940, far later than I need. A Google search shows records for EHS at the Harold Washington Library in Chicago. Time to start a list for a road trip.

PRESERVE: I'm a huge fan of Find A Grave. This week I want to make 15 new contributions. I also need to upload another CD of family photos for my scrapbook project.

RESEARCH: Ah yes, the real reason I play the genealogy game! This week I hope to locate the church my Mueller/Schmitt family attended in Chicago and request records from them. I'd like to answer several questions:

• In which Swiss village was Jacob Mueller born?
• When did he immigrate to the United States?
• Did Elise have four children with Jacob or only two?
• Is there a record of (Elise's son) Otto's divorce? Of his suicide?
• Where did (Jacob/Elise's daughter) Alma live after Jacob died?
• What happened to Alma after (her stepbrother) Otto' death?

My French translation comfort level is decreasing. I've been away from the records for too long. So my last task for this week is to transcribe and translate at least one French vital record for an ancestor in Moselle.

This should be a fun (and productive!) week for genealogy. What's in your wallet on your genealogy to-do list?

Transcription Thursday ~ Elizabeth Grosse

Elizabeth Grosse was born 07 Aug 1781 in Virming, Moselle, Lorraine, France. She married François Schmitt when she was twenty-three. The couple had at least six children (I haven't found them all yet) before Elizabeth died in 1826:

Hopefully my transcription and translation below are fairly accurate:

Death Record of Elizabeth Grosse

Transcription No. 44 Décès d’ Elizabeth Grosse ages’ du 45 ans

L' an mil huit cent vingt six le trente un mai, a midy par devant nous Joseph Pinet, Maire et officier de l' état civil de la commune d' Hellimer et Diffenbach, canton de Grostenquin, département de la Moselle, sont comparu François Schmitt, tanneur âgé de xxx cinquante quatre ans et M. Hubert Bienfait avocat âgé de quatre vingt un ans tous deux domiciliés a Hellimer lesquels nous ont déclaré que, hier à Sept heure après midi Elizabeth Grosse, agé d’ quarante cinq ans, femme du premier declarant, fille de defunt Christophe Grosse, et d’ Elizabeth Houpert san vocation domicile à Virming et décédés enfant avril nous a Hellimer et ont les déclarants signé avec nous le présent acte de décès, après lecture faite.

[signed] Bienfait         Franz Schmitt         Pinet

Translation No. 44 Death of Elizabeth Grosse age 45 years

The year eighteen hundred and twenty six, the thirty-first of May at noon in front of us Joseph Pinet, Mayor and Officer of the vital statistics of the town of Hellimer and Diffenbach, Grostenquin Township, department of Moselle, appeared François Schmitt, tanner age of fifty four years and Mr. Hubert Bienfait lawyer the age of 81 years, both residents of Hellimer which we have stated that yesterday at 7pm, Elizabeth Grosse, age of 45 years, wife of the first registrant, and daughter of the late Christophe Grosse et d’ Elizabeth Houpert , without occupation residing in Virming, and the infant who died in April in Hellimer, and registrants have signed with us the present death act, after reading done.

[signed] Bienfait         François Schmitt         Pinet

Translation Tuesday ~ Pierre Schmitt

In case you've been waiting with baited breath since Thursday for the real version of Pierre's death record, here it is (with a thank you to Charles for his invaluable help):

Transcription: L'an mil huit quarante huit, le quatre du mois d’août à dix heures du matin par devant nous Nicolas Schram chevalier de la légion d’honneur, Maire et officier de l’état civil de la commune d' Hellimer canton de Grostenquin, arrondissement de Sarreguemines Département de la Moselle ont comparu Pierre Schmitt âgé de trente-sept ans propriétaire, domicilié à Hellimer et Nicolas Schmitt âgé de trente deux ans serrurier domicilié au même lieu tous deux fils du défunt plus bas nommé lesquels nous ont déclaré qui Pierre Schmitt âgée de soixante neuf ans serrurier domicilié au dit Hellimer époux de Madeleine Bouche age de soixante un ans sans profession domiciliée au même lieu, fils du défunt Claude Schmitt en son vivant propriétaire et d’Anne Marie Schmitt en son vivant sans profession, tous deux domicilés au sur dit Hellimer né á Hellimer est décédé en cette commune le quatre du présent mois, à six heures du matin dans son domicile. De quoi nous avons aussitôt dressé le présent acte et après quoi nous leur en avons donné lecture, les comparants l’ont signé avec nous.

Translation No. 54 Death of Peter Schmitt died on the 4th of August

The year eighteen forty eight, four of the month of August at ten in the morning before us Nicolas Schram, Officer of the Legion of Honour and Registrant of the town of Hellimer, Canton of Grostenquin, district of Sarreguemines, department of Moselle, appeared Pierre Schmitt age of thirty-seven years a (land)owner, who lives in Hellimer and Nicolas Schmitt age of thirty two years locksmith domiciled in the same place both sons of the here after named, who told us that Pierre Schmitt age of sixty nine years locksmith domiciled in said Hellimer husband of Madeleine Bouche age of sixty one years with no profession, son of defunct Claude Schmitt, owner in his lifetime and of Anne Marie Schmitt in his lifetime without profession, both domiciled in said Hellimer, born in Hellimer, died in this town, the forth of present month at six in the morning. On that we have immediately composed this act, than after reading, the comparants have signed with us.

Transcription Thursday ~ Pierre Schmitt

Pierre's parents are Claude and Anne Marie Schmitt, but some of the other information contained in this death record is hard to make out. My attempt at transcription and translation are below:

Transcription No. 54 Pierre Schmitt décédé le' 4 août

L ‘an mil huit quarante huit, le quatre du xxx d’ août â dix heures du matin par devant nous Nicolas Schrau chevalier de la l’qui d’ ho mum Maire et officier de l’etat civil de la commune d' Hellimer canton d' Grostenquin, arrondissement d' Sarreguemines Departement de la Moselle ont comparu Pierre Schmitt age de trente-sept ans propriétaire, domicilé à Hellimer et Nicolas Schmitt age de trente deux ans serrurier domicilé au même lieu tous deux fils du défunt plus bas nom né lequels nous ont déclaré qui Pierre Schmitt age de soixante neuf ans serrurier domicilé au dit Hellimer epouse de Madeline Bouche age de soixante un ans sans profession domicilé au même xxx fils du défunt Claude Schmitt en son vivant proprietaire et d’ Anne Marie Schmitt en son vivant sans profession, tous deux domicilé au sur dit Hellimer né á Hellimer et décédé an cette commune le quatre du present mois a dix heures du matin d' ans son domicilé le quoi nous avous xxx etat du pé le xxx ont acte et après que nous lier en avous donné lecture, son comparante l’ont signe avec nous.

Translation No. 54 Death of Peter Schmitt died on the 4th of August
The year eighteen forty eight, four of the xxx of August at ten in the morning before us Nicolas Schrau the knight who to ho mum Mayor and Officer of the of the town of Hellimer, Canton of Grostenquin, district of Sarreguemines, department of Moselle, appeared Pierre Schmitt age of thirty-seven years a landowner, who lives in Hellimer and Nicolas Schmitt age of thirty two years locksmith domiciled in the same place both sons of the late low birth name who told us that Pierre Schmitt age of sixty nine years locksmith domiciled in said Hellimer wife Madeline Bouche age of sixty years xxx with no profession xxx son of the late Claude Schmitt in his lifetime and owner of Anne Marie Schmitt in his lifetime without profession, both domiciled in the words of Hellimer born and died Hellimer the year this town four months of the present ten in the morning for years his home on what we AYou xxx xxx state of the pe act and have after we bind AYou read his appearing have signed with us.

Obviously, some of the words are incorrect. More eyes are definately needed...

Translation Tuesday ~ Claude Schmitt

I created a rough draft transcription and translation of my 5th great-grandfather's death record. Then I asked fellow members of the Alsace-Lorraine list to review my efforts and share comments or corrections. What a lively discussion ensued!

Did the death occur the day the record was created or the day before? (At 2am the same day.) Is "de Françoise" a surname or a woman's given name? (Françoise is Claude's mother's first name.) Did both Claude's parents die in Boulay or just his father? (Both parents.)

Having many pairs of eyes look at the same document gave me greater confidence about the correctness of our final draft. I found the discussion fascinating because it demonstrated the intricacies of the French language as it was used in 1814. One letter made all the difference when determining my sixth great-grandparents' place of death!

Updated Transcription - Deces d’ Claude Schmitt
L’ an mil huit cent quatorze le douze Novembre à huit heures du matin par devant nous maire officier de l’ etat Civil de la commune d' Hellimer et Diffenbach sont comparus François Schmitt tanneur agé de quarante ans et Jacob Sadler instituteur agé de trente sept ans tous deux domiciliés à Hellimer lesquels nous ont déclaré que Claude Schmitt, agé de soixante et quatorze ans veuf de défunte Anne Schmitt, fils de Jean Schmitt et de Françoise Adam décédés à Boulay, est décédé aujourd'hui à deux heures du matin dans sa maison à Hellimer, de quoi avons dressé acte que les déclarants ont signés avec nous après lecture faite.

Updated Translation - Death of Claude Schmitt
The year one thousand eight hundred and fourteen November 12 at eight in the morning appeared before us Mayor officer of the civil status of the municipality of Hellimer and Diffenbach, François Schmitt, tanner, aged of forty years and Jacob Sadler, teacher, 37 year old, both domiciled in Hellimer, who declared to me that Claude Schmitt, aged seventy-four years widower of deceased Anne Schmitt, son of Jean Schmitt and Françoise Adam (who both died at Boulay), died today at two in the morning at his home in Hellimer, which we have registered, and declarants have signed with us after reading done.

Many thanks to all those on the A-L list who helped with this record!

Transcription Thursday ~ Claude Schmitt

The day before yesterday, I shared a death notice from the 1876 Cincinnati Volksfreund for Nicolas Schmitt, my third great-grandfather.

My latest trip to the Family History Center was really exciting. To the left is the death record of Nicolas' grandfather, Claude Schmitt.

(Note to the grandkids - Claude is your seventh great-grandfather. Read on to see the names of your eighth great-grandparents!)

My attempt to transcribe and translate Claude's record is below. Any and all comments that may refine my rough draft are welcome and appreciated:

Deces d’ Claude Schmitt

L’ an mil huit cent quatorze le douze Novembre à huit heures du matin par devant nous maire officier de l’ etat Civil de la commune d' Hellimer et Diffenbach est comparu François Schmitt tanneur age de quarante and et Jacob XXX XXX age de trente sept ans tous deux domicile à Hellimer les quel nous ont déclaré xxx Claude Schmitt, fils de Jean Schmitt et en d' Française xxx A Boulay, et décédé avous hui a deux heures du matin sans la maison a hellimer de quire avous dresse acte aque les decarant ont signes avec nous après lecture faite.

Death of Claude Schmitt
The year one thousand eight hundred and fourteen November 12 at eight in the morning before us Mayor officer of the civil status of the municipality of Hellimer and Diffenbach has appeared François Schmitt tanner age of forty years and Jacob XXX XXX age of 37 years both living in Hellimer xxx said Claude Schmitt, son of Jean Schmitt and of French xxx a Boulay, and died at two in the morning at home in Hellimer quire AYou presents the act Aque declares signed with us after reading done.

Translation Tuesday ~ Death Notice in Fraktur

Awhile back I shared my attempts to learn to read French. While I am still far from fluent, I can muddle through enough of a document to get the gist.

And now I have another language to learn! Of course I turned to my Rootsweb friends when I received this copy of my 3rd great-grandfather's obituary. Color me embarrassed, I referred to the font as "German script". I quickly learned this artful style of writing is called Fraktur.

My French Schmitts hail from Moselle in Lorraine, a region of France that shares a border with Germany. They spoke Moselle Franconian, kind of a mix of German and French that was unique to their birthplace. It makes sense that they would read a German-language newspaper when they relocated to Cincinnati Ohio.

Three Cincinnati courthouses (and the documents therein) were destroyed by fire, so this clipping from the February 23, 1876 issue of the Cincinnati Volksfreund may be the only source of Nicolas' date of death:

In German it says, "Todes-Anzeige. Starb am Montag, den 21. Februar 1876, Abends um 11 Uhr, unser innigst geliebter Vater: Nikolaus Schmitt, im Alter von 64 Jahren, geboren in Hellimer, Lothringen. Die Beerdigung findet statt am Donnerstag Morgen um 8 Uhr, vom Trauerhause aus, No. 637 Race Straße, und wird ein feierliches Todtenamt in der St. Johannes Kirche abgehalten werden. Freunde und Verwandte sind ohne besondere Notiz dazu freundlichst eingeladen von den trauernden Hinterbliebenen."

And in English, "Death notice. Died on Monday February 21st 1876, in the evening at 11 o’clock, our beloved father Nikolaus Schmitt, at the age of 64 years, born in Hellimer, Lorraine. The entombment will take place on Thursday in the morning at 8 o’clock, starting at [the] house of mourning, 637 Race Street, and there will be solemn obsequies at St. John’s Church. Friends and relatives are invited to this without special note by the mourning bereaved."

Transcription Thursday ~ Pierre Victor Schmitt

I thought my second great-grandmother Elisabeth Schmitt was one of 12 children. But last week I found a 13th child born to Nicolas Schmitt and his wife Marie-Anne Gury on the microfilm "Naissances, mariages, décès 1811-1861 - FHL INTL Film #1898553" at my local Family History Center:

Pierre Victor appears first on a birth record, and one day later a death record.

This is my (hopefully accurate) transcription of the birth record:

Naissance de Pierre Victor Schmitt No 41
L’an mil huit cent quarante le deux juin a cinq heures de xx par devant moi Jean Scherer, Maire officier de la etat civil de la commune de Hellimer, canton de Grossequin département de la Moselle est comparu Nicolas Schmitt tanneur age de vingt Sept ans domicile à Hellimer, lequel nous a présenté un enfant du sexe masculin aujourd hui a dix heures du est accouchée dans sa maison a Hellimer de lui déclarant et de Marie Anne Gurie son épouse sans profession age de vingt deux ans et auquel il a declaré donné le prénom de Pierre Victor laditte a declaration et presentation faite en presence xxx Pierre George Dubach age de quarante trios ans et Jean Dubach age de xxx neuf xxx deux xxx domicile et Hellimer et tous les père et témoins signe avec nous le present acte de naissance après que lecture leur en a été faite.
[signed] George du Bois, Nicolas Schmitt, Jean du Bois, Scherer

If my translation is correct, the birth record says:

Birth of Pierre Victor Schmitt No. 41
The year 1840 on June 2nd at five hours xx, before me Jean Scherer, Mayor officer of the civil status of the town of Hellimer, Canton Grossequin department of Moselle has appeared Nicolas Schmitt tanner age of twenty seven years of Hellimer, which gave us a male child today, Mary Anne Gurie, his wife age of twenty two years gave birth in her home in Hellimer and which he claimed gave the first name of Pierre Victor xx the statement and presentation xxx made in the presence of Pierre George Dubach age of forty three years old and Jean Dubach age of nine xxx xxx xxx home. Both the father and all witnesses signed this birth certificate with us after the reading was done.
[signed] George du Bois, Nicolas Schmitt, Jean du Bois, Scherer

This is my (slightly incomplete) transcription of the death record:

Deces de Pierre Victor Schmitt age d un jour No 42
L ‘an mil huit cent quarante de trois juin de un heure de XX par devant moi Jean Scherer Maire Officier de l’etat Civil de la commune de Hellimer canton de Grostenquin départment de la Moselle de est comparu Nicolas Schmitt tanneur age de vingt Sept ans et Jean Dubach xxx age de trente neuf ans tous deux domicilié d Hellimer lesquels nous est declare que aujourd'hui décédé Pierre Victor Schmitt age d un jour fils de presxx declarant et de Marie Anne Gurie son épouse sans profession age de vingt deux ans est décédé au domicile xxx xxx ses père est xxx a Hellimer avil staib et lui déclarant ont signe avec nous le présent acte après que lecture leur en a été faite.
[signed] Nicolas Schmitt, Jean Dubach, Scherer

and my attempt at translation:

Death of Pierre Victor Schmitt age of one day No. 42
In the year one thousand eight hundred and forty one hours of June 3 XX before me by John Scherer Mayor Officer of Civil Status of the town of Canton Hellimer Grostenquin department of the Moselle is appearing Nicolas Schmitt tanner age of twenty seven years and Jean Dubach xxx age of thirty nine years both domiciled Hellimer of which we are now deceased said that Pierre Victor Schmitt age of one day declaring presxx son of Anne and Mary his wife housewife Gurie age of twenty-two years died home xxx xxx xxx his father has Hellimer avil Staib and declaring him signing with us this note after reading them was made.
[signed] Nicolas Schmitt, Jean Dubach, Scherer

There are some words I simply can't make out and others I cannot translate. If you are able to do either, I hope you'll share your thoughts with me.

17 Jun 2011 Update:

A special thank you to Charles on the Rootsweb Alsace-Lorraine mailing list for the following corrections (in red):

Naissance de Pierre Victor Schmitt No 41
L’an mil huit cent quarante le deux juin a cinq heures de relevé par devant moi Jean Scherer, Maire officier de la etat civil de la commune de Hellimer, canton de Grostenquin département de la Moselle est comparu Nicolas Schmitt tanneur age de vingt Sept ans domicile à Hellimer, lequel nous a présenté un enfant du sexe masculin né ce jour d'hui a dix heures du matin est accouchée dans sa maison a Hellimer de lui déclarant et de Marie Anne Gurie son épouse sans profession age de vingt deux ans et auquel il a declaré vouloir donner les prénoms de Pierre Victor. Les d[ites] declaration et presentation faites en presence des sieurs George Dubach age de quarante trois ans et Jean Dubach age de trente neuf tous deux menuisiers, domiciles à Hellimer et tous les père et témoins signe avec nous le present acte de naissance après que lecture leur en a été faite.

and

Deces de Pierre Victor Schmitt age d un jour No 42
L ‘an mil huit cent quarante de trois juin à une heure de relevé par devant moi Jean Scherer Maire Officier de l’etat Civil de la commune de Hellimer canton de Grostenquin département de la Moselle sont comparus Nicolas Schmitt tanneur age de vingt Sept ans et Jean Dubach menuisier age de trente neuf ans tous deux domiciliés à Hellimer lesquels nous ont declare que cejourd'hui à midi Pierre Victor Schmitt age d'un jour fils de premier declarant et de Marie Anne Gurie son épouse sans profession age de vingt deux ans est décédé au domicile des dits ses père et mère a Hellimer où il était et les déclarants ont signe avec nous le présent acte après que lecture leur en a été faite.

Seeking Schmitts

A weekly trip to the local Family History Center has become part of my routine. Old-fashioned as the microfilm may be, it is nice to play in the sandbox with other researchers during my visits.

The French records with which I'm working are wonderfully organized. Each volume starts with a cover page that shows the when (in this case 1840) and the where (Hellimer, Moselle, France) of the records to follow. After locating the year I want, I scroll ahead to the index.

Every year the Maire (mayor) alphabetically listed all the births, marriages, and deaths for the year ended. Then the books were copied by hand and the copies were forwarded to a governmental agency at the county level.

The indices tell me whether or not I need to look more closely at the individual records. The 1840 index for the town of Hellimer looks like this:

The title on the right page of the left image is Naissance or births. Births continue on the left page of the right image, followed by Marriages. The index on the far right are Décès or deaths.

I'm looking for members of my Schmitt family, specifically my 2nd and 3rd great grandparents' siblings. There is only one Schmitt on the list of births; #39 Pierre Victor, who appears near the top left of the image on the right.

There's also a Schmitt marriage (2nd from the last) and two deaths; Pierre Victor (which explains the X next to his name on the birth index) and Caroline. I write down the numbers near the names and the dates of the events, then scroll back to check the records, starting with Pierre Victor:

His birth and death entries are on the left page. I search for names in each record and see my 3rd great grandparents, Nicolas Schmitt and Marie Anne Gury. That makes Pierre Victor my second great-grandmother's brother. Next I check Caroline's death record. Her father's name is Jean Michael. Not a Schmitt I know at this time. The last Schmitt record in 1840 is the marriage record:

Marriage records tend to be fairly long and include names, ages and occupations of the bride and groom and their parents. What genealogical treasures they are! This bride's parents are François Schmitt and Elisabeth Grosse, my 4th great-grandparents.

This trip to the FHC was very productive! Transcribing and translating these newest additions to my collection ought to keep me busy until my visit.

Genealogist or Family History Researcher?

What do each of these terms mean to you? Which term do you use when describing yourself?

To me, a genealogist is a little more devoted to the system and the rules, perhaps a tad better organized, maybe less likely to bark up the wrong family tree.

A family history researcher may or may not do all of the above, but also spends a fair amount of time exploring paths that, to the casual observer, may seem unrelated to documenting one's lineage.

Because of my diverse ethnic background, I find myself meandering back and forth between both worlds.

My Swedish Tolfs are unique in their homeland. If you're a Tolf, we are definately related. My interest in this line includes causes of death ~ they repeat themselves every two or three generations all the way to the present. I've gotten fairly good at deciphering medical records.

There is alot of emotional baggage in the Mueller line. Deaths, divorces, remarriages, and stubborn personalities are forever simmering over a low heat. Who can answer this question or that without causing the pot to boil over? There are many mysteries to solve in the US before I can cross the ocean to Switzerland and begin the Swiss records learning curve.

Clarkes and Littrells require a history lesson with every record; what Revolutionary or Civil War battle took place where? When did the city/county/state boundaries change? Which reformed church had a pastor during this or that timeframe? What on earth is a Dunkard? And will I ever find the answer to the #1 burning question ~ what is their country of origin?

The Schmitts are from France and their surname is hardly unique. I require three forms of ID when working with their records. It would be easy to follow the wrong Schmitt, especially one named Jean, Jules, or Nicolas as they appear in every sibling's family. Then there is the Alsace-Lorraine issue, a region that changed hands many times. I use research logs liberally with this branch and backtrack to double-check my work with each new discovery.

My Manx ancestors had a preference for a limited number of given names. There is a William and a John, sometimes two or three in every family. The Isle of Man has it's own government, but is culturally influenced by Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the UK. Records are well kept, but can be challenging to locate. The only other known family member researching this line recently passed away. Playing alone in dusty libraries isn't nearly as much fun.

I enjoy discovering the story that unfolds with each new record. Storytelling helps engage disinterested family members. The charts are wonderful for placing people visually, but the stories make the names on the chart memorable. Making my ancestors memorable for future generations is one of my top ten reasons for being a genealogist. And a family history researcher.

Creative Sailing to the Right Passenger List

My 3rd great-grandfather traveled from France to the US in 1854. Niçolas Schmitt and his oldest son Jules François arrived at the port of New Orleans in April of that year.

Based on the ages of the two American-born children who appear in the 1860 Cincinnati Ohio census, Nicolas' wife and French-born children joined him before 1855. Daughter Elizabeth is my direct line ancestor and it was she on whom I focused many fruitless passenger list searches.

Today instead I looked for each of Elizabeth's siblings. Within 10 minutes I located Marie-Anne with nine of the Schmitt children on the passenger list of the Ocean Home's May 1854 journey from Le Havre France to New Orleans. (See pg 6 left.)

Although Marianne 35, Jean Nicolas 11, Pierre Ferdinand 9, Anne-Marie 8, Sophia 7, Elisabeth 6, Christina 5, Pauline 4, Emilie 9/12, and François 5/12 are listed as Suisse (Swiss), this is clearly my French family.

This means the family was separated for only a short time - just a few weeks. But oh, how difficult it must have been for Marie-Anne to care for seven small children and two infants while crossing the ocean to their new life in America!

And while finding this passenger list was wonderfully exciting, it does raise a few questions. For starters, how can Emilie (9 months old) and François (5 months old) have the same mother?

Rather than focus on that just yet, I think I'll spend May Day enjoying this precious new genealogical treasure. And thanking Pauline, my 2nd great-grand aunt, who guided a search engine to the right page.

New Year's Resolution Update

The "eat less, exercise more" part of my New Year's Resolutions aside, here's where I am on Week 8 of my genealogy goals for 2011:

My current focus is on my Clarke, Gury, Littrell, and Schmitt lines. Still haven't found the country of origin for the Clarkes or Littrells and progress on both has been painfully slow. 17th and 18th century French Gury and Schmitt records are keeping me busy though so I am still somewhat productive.

Received disappointingly little information from St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Funkstown Maryland, but I am so appreciative of their efforts on my behalf! The pastor and his wife offered wonderful suggestions for further research.
Time to focus on the coroner's report that slipped through the cracks last year.

My first cemetery road trip of 2011 is scheduled for May. Hope all the snow melts before then! Oakwoods is at the top of the list.

Shared a Grandma story or two during my last visit. More incentive to jot down my memories before my memory fails me.

The local genealogy society isn't working for me. Need more idea generation and fewer lectures. Where are my peeps?

Chose this year's conference; FGS in Springfield Illinois in September. Husband will join me making the trip even more fun. Hope to meet some of the bloggers I follow and make a new gen-bud or two!

Photo sorting continues, but grudgingly. Must sprinkle in some creativity to retain my interest. Chose six topics about which I can cut and paste. This week I'll start arranging pictures. That oughta inspire me!

Cleaning and organizing computer files to save space (and sanity).

Back on track at Find A Grave - whew! Contributing during my lunch hour works great (until it's warm enough to walk outside).

And from now until then I'll be Living in the Past Lane.

Motivation Monday ~ Create an Assembly Line



Image Courtesy of The Graphics Fairy

Super Simple tip # 4: Henry Ford was right.

Hunting seems to be every genealogist's favorite sport. We'll look in every nook and cranny for elusive clues that may lead us to the catch of the day - a document mentioning our ancestor. Those documents can add up quickly however and soon we're faced with a pile of paper that feels more like a chore than a treasure.

I recently copied 27 French records that referred to my ancestors. Twenty-seven records to transcribe, translate, review, and add to my tree. A task that seemed overwhelming. One day I separated the Gury records from the Schmitt's. More organized, but still daunting. I put the records in chronological order. Then I filed them in the left side sleeves of two old photo albums. Ah ha! Now the project felt managable.

Transcribing the records in French was next. Then I ran each through Google language. My translated transcriptions went into the right side sleeves, next to the appropriate photocopy. I tweaked the records with help from a few French friends, and voilà! I can copy and paste the results into my family tree.

By the second transcription, the handwriting seemed more legible. Translating the records all in a row helped fine-tune many of the "old" words used by the Maire. Posing all my questions at one time prevented my helpers from tiring of me. Hopefully. :o)

At each stage of the project, I felt a sense of accomplishment. By the end, I had twenty-seven new French family members and a long list of new clues. Now I just have to tackle those...

Wordless Wednesday ~ France before 1789

Researching Gury and Schmitt in Moselle, Lorraine, France

Surname Saturday - Gury

My third great-grandmother was Marie Anne Gury, born April 1818 in Francaltroff, Moselle, France. After marrying Nicolas Schmitt, Marie moved to Hellimer and had 10 children before immigrating to the United States in the early to mid 1850s. The family settled in Cincinnati.

Another Gury descendant shared a photograph of a woman who may have been Marie's sister Christina. There are women named Christina in nearly every generation of the Gury family, so the possibility of a connection is strong. The Christina in question was the Mother Superior in a convent in France. This makes me cautiously optimistic; there may be some interesting records available.

Surname Saturday ~ Grosse, Gury, Schmitt

Fashionable women ~ 1850

I'm enamored with my paternal French line; learning to speak French while driving, reading French history books, translating birth records during my lunch hour, ordering films from the Family History Library every Tuesday evening. Some might say I've become addicted, but that's not true. I've been addicted all along.

New clues show themselves frequently, but most often they come accompanied by more questions. 

The knowns:

• My 3rd great-grandfather, Nicolas Schmitt, was born in 1813 in Hellimer, Moselle, Lorraine, France.
• His parents were Francois Schmitt and Elisabeth Grosse.
• His wife was Marie-Anne Gury, born in 1818 in Francaltroff, Hellimer, Lorraine, France.
• Nicolas had at least two siblings, younger sisters Elisabeth and Barbe.
• He traveled to America with his eldest son Jules in April 1854.
• Nicolas and his family settled in Cincinnati Ohio.
• Several children, including my 2nd great-grandmother emmigrated to Chicago where they raised their children.

The unknowns:

• When did the remaining family members arrive in America?
• What happened to Francois, the last child born in France?
• What happened to Joseph, the first child born in Ohio?
• Did Jules really die in Ohio, or did he relocate to Chicago leaving his wife and children behind?
• Was Nicolas the first, one of several, or the only Schmitt that left France?
• Where is the elusive marriage record of Nicolas and Marie-Anne?
• and so many more unknowns; far too many to list.

The next steps:

• Order microfilm for 1792-1810 birth, marriage, death records for Hellimer.
• Continue checking the mailbox for the will that will tell if the French-born Ohio-residing Emile Schmitt who married Mary Kauffman is "my" Emile.
• Translate Barbe's birth record; it includes her parents' ages.
• Search passenger lists for my 2nd great-grandmother and her siblings.
• Determine whether the brother mentioned as co-owner of John Schmitt's restaurant in Chicago is Jules.

And so, as we French say, la recherche se poursuit!

A Course in French

"It is obviously the date of the document." Obvious to whom? It was anything BUT obvious to me.

The woman to whom the date was obvious is French, a transplant to the United States. She has graciously designed a course for BYU to teach non-French-speaking genealogists enough of the language that we can read those oh-so-vital records.

Because of the instructor's clearly written directions, the dates on my ancestors' records really did become obvious. Although fluent in French I am not, I was able to make out a good portion of my 3rd great-grandfather's birth record:

"Naissance de (Birth of) Nicolas Schmitt:
Line 1.) L’ an dix-huit cent treize le neuf mois
Line 1.) The year eighteen hundred thirteen the nine month
Line 2.) à huit heure du matin par devant word8 maire
Line 2.) at eight hour of the morning in front of word8 mayor
Line 3.) officier de l’ Etat civil de helimer et word9 word10
Line 3.) officer of the state civil of Hellimer and word9 word10
Line 4.) et comparu Francois Schmitt word5 domiciliée
Line 4.) has appeared Francois Schmitt word5 residing
Line 5.) au dit helimer lequel nous áprésenté un enfant
Line 5.) in the said Hellimer who to us has presented a child
Line 6.) du sexe masculin né aujourd’hui word7
Line 6.) of the male sex born today word7
Line 7.) minuit et un heure de lui déclarant word8
Line 7.) midnight and one hour of to him informant word8
Line 8.) d’ Elisabethe Grosse son épouse et auquel il
Line 8.) of Elisabethe Grosse his wife and to whom
Line 9.) a declaré le prénom de Nicolas ladite
Line 9.) he declared the given name of Nicolas the said
Line 10.) présentation et déclaration faite en presence
Line 10.) presentation and declaration made in presence
Line 11.) d’ Jean Nicolas word4 word5 de word7
Line 11.) of Jean Nicolas word4 word5 of word7
Line 12.) word1 âgé de vingt deux an et L’orent Sadler
Line 12.) word1 age of twenty two years and L’orent Sadler
Line 13.) word1 âgé de trente neuf an tous deux
Line 13.) word1 age of thirty nine years both
Line 14.) domiciliés a helimer de que nous
Line 14.) residing at Hellimer of which we
Line 15.) nous ai word3 word4 acte que le pére
Line 15.) we have word3 word4 record of the father
Line 16.) word1 word2 déclarant ont signé avec nous
Line 16.) word1 word2 declarant have signed with us
Line 17.) aprés lecture faite
Line 17.) after reading done

Whew! Translating these records will certainly get easier as I become better acquainted with them. But this precious record was my first. And at the moment, it's my préféré.