Johannes (Jean Gerack) Schrag

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Worked a the mill of Bischval near Bistroff. Cultivator.
• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

Lived at the Moulin de Bischwald at the time of his marriage to Anna Engel.
Lived at the cense called Ville in Marsal, Moselle, at the time of his marriage to Anna Farni.

Birth:
At Belgrade/Bellegarde. Perhaps at Bischwald Mill?. At his birth, Jean’s father was 29 years old.

Died:
His death entry described him as cultivator Jean Gerack, 66, born at Belgrade, Canton de St. Avold; the widower of Anne Engel, who had died at Marsal, and husband of Anne Farny, 51, a resident of Vic-sur-Seille. It was witnessed by son André Gerack, 27, a cultivator. (At the village of Vic-sur-Seille was the ruins of the Castle of Bishops of Metz, built in the 12th century. Two large towers and moat remain.)

Johannes married Anna Barbe Engel on 4 Feb 1797 in Bistroff, Moselle, FR. Anna (daughter of Christian Engel and Magdelaine Schertz (Chertz)) was born on 28 Feb 1772 in Kerprich-Aux-Bois, Moselle, FR; died on 8 Aug 1810 in Marsal, Moselle, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Jean was age 22 at marriage. Married at a Bistroff house. Anna was 24.
Jean was living and working at the mill named Bischwald when he wed.

Witnesses:
Jean Chertz, age 38 (born 1759), master of the mill at Bishvals, brother-in-law of future bride (“by virtue of his marriage to Barbara Engel (?1752-1823”).
Nickolas Blank, farmer, age 50 (born 1744/1748), of la Capelle Bistroff.
Jean Klein, Lieutenant in First Regiment of hussards (soldier on a horse) in Bistroff.
Jacob Leck, age 46 (born 1751), forester in des Bois nationaux (national forest?), and has a station at said mill of Bishvals.
Maire: Muller Laurent, Greffier

Married:
Witnesses included miller Jean Chertz [Schertz], 33, a brother-in-law of the bride living at Bischwald; farmer Nicolas Blanck, 50, a farmer at La Capelle, Bistroff (he was married to Madeleine Hirschi and resided on La Capelle farm at Linstroff); and Jean Klein, a lieutenant in a regiment of Hussars posted at Bistroff.
The groom signed 'Hans Shrag,' and the bride signed with an 'x,' indicating she was illiterate.

1. Marie Schrag (Gerard) was born on 15 Nov 1801 in Marsal, Moselle, FR; died on 13 May 1843 in Vouthon-Bas, Gondrecourt-Le-Château, FR.
2. Jean Schrag (Gerach) was born on 15 Nov 1803 in Marsal, Moselle, FR; died on 30 Apr 1809 in Marsal, Moselle, FR.
3. Barbe Schrag (Schraque) (Gerach) was born on 14 Dec 1805 in Marsal, Moselle, FR; died on 26 Oct 1852 in Woodford Co., IL.
4. Anne Schrag (Gerach) was born on 7 Jul 1807 in Marsal, Moselle, FR; died on 10 Sep 1807 in Marsal, Moselle, FR.
5. Jean Schrag (Gerach) was born on 4 Aug 1809 in Marsal, Moselle, FR; died on 26 Aug 1828 in Vic-sur-Seille, Moselle, FR.

Johannes married Anne Madeleine Farni on 27 Dec 1810 in Rhodes, Moselle, FR. Anne (daughter of Joseph Jean Farni and Anne Schertz (Chertz)) was born on 30 Nov 1785 in Bisping, Moselle, Lorraine, FR; died after 1856 in Vic-sur-Seille, Moselle, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Jean was 37 years of age when he married a second time. (Anne was 25.) His marriage document lists him as a farmer/cultivator, living in Ville, Commune of Marsal, Canton of Vic, Dept. of Meurthe, born in Bistroff 24 May 1773, widower of deceased Anna Engel who died on 8 Aug 1810 in Marsal.

There was a second declaration of marriage in Marsal in the presence of:
Jean Rouvenac, farmer, (born 1789) living in Rhodes
Jean Rouvenac, Jr., farmer, age 21, living in Rhodes

Jean Suisse, laborer, age 50 (born 1802 at Rhodes), living in Rhodes at Gosselming, (cousin of the bride by marriage)
(married to ____Risser, b. 1760 and d. 1871(?), daughter of Nicolas Risser b 1764 at Alzing,
died 1814 at age 50 years, married at age 34 to Barbe Engel (Ringle) on 23 Jul 1798 in
Gosselming.)
Jacob Abresol, farmer, age 29 (born 1781), living in Rhodes (cousin of the bride by marriage)
( b. 12 Nov 1781, sixth son of Joseph Abresol and Barbe Vercler. Married Marie Farney, b.
1788. One son, Joseph Abresol, b. 30 Nov 1820 in Rhodes, d. 18 Oct 1883 in France at age
of 62. Married Barbe Nafziger.)

The first two witnesses are paternal German cousins to the groom and the last two are cousins of the bride by marriage, who after signed the document.

“On Dec. 27, 1810, in Rhodes, Moselle, Jean Gerack, widower of Anna Engle (d. Aug. 8, year omitted in the record), deceased at a leasable agricultural estate under the jurisdiction of Marsal, Moselle, m. Anna Farny (b. Nov 30, 1785), a native of the mill named Nolweiher in Bisping, Moselle, daughter of Joseph Farny (d. bef. 1810), once miller at Nolweiher, and Anna Schertz. Johannes Schrag d. on June 19, 1838, at Vic (-sur-Seille), Moselle.”

Translation by NASL:
“On Dec. 27, 1810, in Rhodes, Jean Gerack, 37, farmer living at the cense called Ville in Marsal, Moselle, b. on May 24, 1773, in Bistroff, Moselle, widower of Anna Engel, married Anna Farny, 25, b. on Nov. 30, 1785, at the mill called Nolweiher [Bisping, Moselle], daughter of the late Joseph Farny, who had been a miller at Nolweiher, and Anna Schertz.”

Married:
Canton of Vic, Dept Meurthe

1. André Farny was born on 27 May 1811 in Marsal, Moselle, FR.
2. Catherine Schrag (Gerack) was born on 5 May 1813 in Marsal, Moselle, FR; died before 1851.
3. Joseph Schrag was born on 20 Jun 1814 in Vic-sur-Seille, Moselle, FR.
4. Christian Schrag was born on 20 May 1816 in Marsal, Moselle, FR; died on 25 Mar 1827 in Vic-sur-Seille, Moselle, FR.
5. Nicolas Schrag (Gerach) was born in 1818 in Raon l’Etape, Vosges, FR; died on 2 Jun 1878 in Saint-Ouen-Lès-Parey, Vosges, FR.
6. Jean Schrag (Gerach) was born on 23 Sep 1818 in Chateau-Salins, Moselle, FR.
7. Anne Schrag (Gerach) was born in 1820 in Marsal, Moselle, FR.
8. Madeleine Schrag (Gerack) was born in 1823; died on 17 Apr 1899 in Dieuze, Moselle, FR.
9. Pierre Schrag (Gerach) was born on 22 Aug 1825 in Vic-sur-Seille, Moselle, FR; died on 3 Jun 1832 in Vic-sur-Seille, Moselle, FR.
10. Marguerite Schrag (Gerach) was born on 9 May 1828 in Vic-sur-Seille, Moselle, FR.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: A Mennonite tailor
• Occupation: Miller And Tailor Of Clothes In Rhodes
• Religion: Amish
• Residence: 1771, St. Avold, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1772, Bistroff, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1773, Bistroff, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1775, Bistroff, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1783, St. Avold, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1787, Rhodes, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1788, Rhodes, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1794, Rhodes, Moselle, FR

Notes:

Andréas has been included as a child of Caspar by several researchers. However, his birth date seems not to fit with being Caspar’s son, but perhaps Andréas’ birth date is incorrect. It could also be that Caspar’s birthdate is incorrect or that he had a wife before Barbe Rouvenac.

Gondrexange is situated at the edge of a lake with the same name, between Rechicourt le Chateau and Heming. Eight km from Rechicourt le Chateau, twelve km from Sarrebourg and 72 km from Nancy. In 1836 there were 1027 people living in the village. By 2001 that number had dwindled to 464. A farm 2 km away called Ketzing had 18 inhabitants in 1836.

“At the edge of the village (Gondrexange), next to a large recreational lake, a narrow lane named ‘rue de la vieux moulin,’ or ‘old mill street,’ winds down below the edge of the main highway. Here can be seen the trace of a small mill stream and the ruins of a small stone mill structure, overgrown with weeds. Though not conclusively documented, this site seems a likely candidate for the Schrag residence and site of Joseph Oyer’s marriage (to Catherine Schrag, daughter of second wife, Marie Blazer).”


(also found on French documents as 'Caspard' and 'Gaspard'), was born circa 1744 and died on Sommerhof at Neuviller, Lower Alsace March 15, 1794. He was a miller at Bischwald Mill and a cultivator on Belgrade farm at Bistroff after 1772, and at the time of his death was a tailor at Rhodes. His civil death entry from Neuviller described him as a 50-year-old Anabaptist living at Rhodes (it is likely that he was visiting the Sommers on Sommerhof at the time of his death). Witnesses were tenant farmer Jean Sommer, 63, and day laborer Jean Müller, 59 (Jean Sommer, born circa 1731, was the father of Joseph Sommer, and grandfather to the Sommers who came to Tazewell County in 1834). “ }




  

Birth:
Ingweilerhof

Residence:
Cultivator at Belgrade farm, and miller at Bischwald Mill.

Residence:
Son Joseph was born at Bellegrade Ferme near Bistroff

Residence:
At time of Catherine’s birth

Residence:
At time of Anne’s birth

Residence:
Domiciled at Bachats at the time of his death.

Died:
On Sommerhof. 25 Ventose 2. Caspar Schraag, 50 year old Anabaptist living at Rhodes. Witnesses: Tenant farmer Jean Sommer of Sommerhof, 63, and day laborer Jean Muller.
The witnesses may not have known the exact date of Caspar’s birth, and gave a nice round number as what they thought was a probable age. Witnesses were Jean Sommer, 63 (tenant farmer) and Jean Muller, 59 (day laborer). Jean, b. abt. 1731 was the father of Joseph Sommer and grandfather to the Sommers who arrived in Tazewell Co., IL in 1834.

Buried:
There are remains of a Sommers cemetery at Sommerhof, so Caspar could have been buried there, or the body removed back to Rhodes. There are no identifiable stones at either place.

Caspar married Marie Blaser (Blaiser) about 1774. Marie was born in 1749; died on 27 Nov 1792 in Rhodes, Moselle, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

Once lived at Belgrade/Bellegarde.

Birth:
Calculated from death date

Died:
At age 43. Civil death entry: 43-year-old wife of ‘citizen’ Gaspard Girack, a 48-year-old Anabaptist tailor living at Rhodes. Witnessed by ‘citizen laborer’ Jean Ruvenach, 27, and signed ‘Caspar Schrag’ and ‘Hans R?venacht.’

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Anabaptist/Amish
• Residence: Abt 1733
• Residence: 1744, Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR
• Residence: 1750, Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR
• Residence: 1761, Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR

Notes:

On the Ernstweilerhof.

Named on the Ingweilerhof near Zweibrücken in 1761.The Schrags were part of the Amish “Haftler” (those who believed buttons were a luxury and instead wore hooks and eyes), along with families Stalter, Hauter, Oesch, Eyer, Gut, Nafziger, Gungerich, etc. This group formed their own congregation at Ixheim where they built their own “praying house.” This was separate from the Mennonite congregation who were following “Knopfler” (those who wore buttons); Bachmann, Lehmann, Steinmann, etc.

Birth:
or Jebsheim, Alsace

Residence:
Ingweilerhof, according to LDS info

Residence:
Ingweilerhof

Caspar married Elisabeth Weiss in 1730. Elisabeth was born in 1708 in Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish

Notes:

Birth:
Ingweilerhof

Other Events and Attributes:

• HIST: "Schrag-Schrocks came to America at various times and by a number of routes--before 1800 via northern Alsace and the Palatinate, and after 1870 via Volhynia, Russia. The Schrags were one of only three prominent Amish names that originate in the Emmental (along with Troyer and Schwarzentruber)." (This couple may have had a daughter Elisabeth (b. 1722) who is now linked to Caspar Schrag who married Elisabeth Weiss. () It is possible that the Johann Schrag family of “The Children’s Blizzard” was a descendant of Caspar and Elisabeth Leyenberger.
• Religion: Anabaptist
• Baptism: 13 Dec 1685, Wynigen, Bern, SW
• EMPL: 1711, Jebsheim, Haut-Rhin, Alsace, FR
• Residence: 1712, Jebsheim, Haut-Rhin, Alsace, FR
• Residence: Aft 1712, Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR
• Residence: 1713, Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR
• Residence: 1714, Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR
• Residence: 1733, Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR
• Residence: Aft 1733, Somerset Co., PA

Notes:

The Schrag surname is interpreted as a nickname for a carpenter or a cabinetmaker. "Schrage" in German means a holder or frame from crossed woods used for framework building. The spelling of the surname changed to Schrack, or Chraque in France--Schrock in America. "Schrag/Schrock comes from Schrage (an old name for a special wood combination.)"

In Southern Alsace along the Rhine River, south and east of Colmar, refugees came directly to these towns from Switzerland. Among the refugees listed at Jebsheim after 1700 were: 1700-Ulrich Birky, Steffisburg, worker; 1712-Gaspard (Casper) Schrag and Elisabeth Leyenberger of Wynigen.

!!This individual, Caspar b. 1685, who married Elsbeth Leyenberger, can be traced back to Switzerland, and through him all of the other Anabaptist Schrag branches. 

Virgil Miller, in his book "Both Sides of the Ocean" lists the refugees at Jebsheim, Alsace after 1700 and includes the fact that Gaspard (Caspar) Schrag and Elisabeth Leyenberg of Wynigen were married in 1712 (evidently in Jebsheim). Virgil Miller's research is probably correct.  This means son Caspar was born no later than September/October of 1711 (in Wynigen?), since Anne was born in June of 1712. 

Caspar, as well as other Schrag families moved into the Palatinate area around Zweibrücken. They lived in various places in the Palatinate, including Heckenaschbacherhof, Kaplaneyhof and Ingeweilerhof before leaving for America or going to Lorraine.


Schrag-Schrocks came to America at various times and by a number of routes--before 1800 via northern Alsace and the Palatinate, and after 1870 via Volhynia, Russia. The Schrags were one of three prominent Amish names that originate in the Emmental (along with Troyer and Schwarzentruber).

"In a list of Anabaptists in the Staatsarchiv in Bern, Switzerland, two brothers, Christian and Bendicht Schrag, sons of Ulrich Schrag, are named in 1765. They move from Wynigen-Leumberg in Switzerland to the Munstertal. About this time Schrags of Zweibrücken were already living here. Ulrich Schrag, who is leaseholder (Bestander) on the Ernstweilerhof in 1735, was a son of Caspar Schrag. A Casper Schrag is on the Ingeweilerhof in 1761. It is not clear whether these two individuals were father and son or brothers; the author assumes the latter. In that case, they would both be sons of Caspar Schrag, the father of Ulrich Schrag, who does not otherwise appear in the Palatinate. The following arrangement of descendants of the two brothers has not been proven and is based in part on assumptions."

Birth:
Leumberg farm

Baptism:
Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche (Reformed Church)

EMPL:
Transient farm workers

Residence:
Ingweilerhof

Residence:
Ernstweiler

Caspar married Elsbeth Leyenberger on 9 Aug 1711 in Jebsheim, Haut-Rhin, Alsace, FR. Elsbeth (daughter of Ulrich Leyenberger and Anni Zougg (Zaug, Zaugg, Zook)) was born in 1690 in Jebsheim, Haut-Rhin, Alsace, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Anabaptist

Notes:

Married:
They were given a Catholic marriage ceremony, even though they were Anabaptists.