Anne Marie Schmitt nee Schmitt

The Thursday before Thanksgiving I visited the Family History Center to view film #2083956.

I found my 5th great grandmother Anne Marie Schmitt in the 1791 records of burials for the Roman Catholic Church of Hellimer, Moselle, France. The record (last on the page) was a bit challenging to transcribe and translate because part of the text is written in Latin. (Many thanks to the French and German gentlemen who shared their knowledge of the Latin language.)

Burial record transcription: L’an mille sept cent quatre vingt onze, le neuf août vers les cinq heures du matin décéda subitement Anne Marie Schmitt, âgée de quarante sept ans, épouse de Claude Schmitt, tanneur à Hellimer, son corps fut inhumé le lendemain dans le cimetière de cette paroisse en présence des témoins soussignés avec les cérémonies ordinaires. [signed by the] curé de Grossetanquin [and the] curé de Hellimer.

Burial record translation: On August 9th in the year 1791, about 5 am, suddenly died Anne Marie Schmitt, 47 years old, wife of Claude Schmitt, tanner in Hellimer; her body was buried on the next day in the cemetery of this parish, in the presence of the undersigned witnesses, with the ordinary ceremonies. [signed by the] priests of Grossetanquin and Hellimer and [Anne Marie's husband] Claude Schmitt.

The record does not include Anne Marie's date of birth or her parents' names. At the time of her death, she had at least six children.

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...

Transcription Thursday ~ Nicolas Schmitt x 2

Nicolas is a popular name among my Schmitt ancestors, given to several grandfathers and both my third and fourth great-granduncles. I've attempted to transcribe and translate the great-uncles' death records below.

UPDATE July 5th - The words in green are the ones I received help translating.

Transcription Décès d' Nicolas Schmitt
L ‘an mil huit cent onze le six Avril à dix héures du matin, par devant nous Maire de Hellimer sous comparu François Schmitt tanneur et Jean Doubach meunier tous deux domicilié audit lieu, lesquel nous ont déclaré que que Nicolas Schmitt age de quatre mois douze jours fils du presence et d' Elisabeth Grosse son épouse est décèdé le jour d' hier à onze heures du soir dans la maison paternelle, de quoi nous, avon dressé acte que huitiéme les comparu nous ont signé avec nous après lecture faite.

[signed] Franz Schmitt Jean duBach Chibauer

Translation Death of Nicolas Schmitt
The year one thousand eight hundred and eleven on April 6 at ten in the morning, before us Mayor of Hellimer appeared François Schmitt tanner and Jean Doubach miller both domiciled at that place, which ones said us that Nicolas Schmitt age of four months twelve days son of the first and of his wife Elisabeth Grosse died on the day of yesterday at eleven o'clock at night in his father's house, what we have compiled the note that the declarants have signed with us after reading done
[signed] Franz Schmitt Jean Dubach Chibauer

The 2nd Nicolas Schmitt died in 1826:

His death record starts on the page above and ends on the page below.

Transcription No. 37 deces de Nicolas Schmitt aged d’ 49 ans
L' an mil huit cent vingt six la vingt-sept avril a midi par devant nous Joseph Pinet, Maire et officier de l' etat civil de la commune d' Hellimer et Diffenbach canton de Grostenquin, département de la Moselle, sous comparu le sieur Jean Pierre Schmitt, serrurier age de quarante sept ans et M. Hubert Bienfait avocat agé de quatre vingt un ans tous deux domicilié a Hellimer lequel nous ont déclaré qu' aujourd huÿ a dix heures du matin, Nicolas Schmitt célibataire, age de quarante neuf ans frere du premier déclarant, et fils de Claude Schmitt et Anna Marie Schmitt son epouse tous deux defunt, et décédé an son domicile á Hellimer et ont les déclarant ti qué avec nous d' present acte décédés, après lecture faite.

[signed] Bienfait xxx Schmitt Pinet

Translation No. 37 death of Nicolas Schmitt aged 49 years
The year eighteen hundred and twenty six of April 27 at noon in front of us by Joseph Pinet, Mayor and Officer of the vital statistics of the town of Hellifield and Diffenbach Grostenquin Township, department of Moselle, appeared in the Mr. Jean Pierre Schmitt, locksmith age of forty seven years and Hubert M. Bienfait old lawyer eighty years a resident of both Hellimer which we have stated that today at ten in the morning, Nicolas Schmitt single, age forty-nine years brother of the first registrant, and son of Anna Marie Claude Schmitt and Schmitt's wife, both deceased, and died a year and his home in Hellifield oiot declaring ti us to present act dead, after reading done.

[signed] Bienfait xxx Schmitt Pinet

As always, I owe many thanks to my friends at Rootsweb!

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.

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.

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.