Christian Schertz

Notes:

“So, 169 years later, Christian and Catherine’s great-great-great-grandson remains on the land that they were no-doubt enthusiastic to have purchased in 1851. Eleven years earlier, in 1840, Christian had arrived in Peoria [IL] with a total financial portfolio of fifty cents.

“…their eight children …had a total of 43 children of their own. Those 43 had 134 children and they were the fourth generation. Now we have the tenth and possibly eleventh generation and have lost track of the names and numbers. Christian and Catherine Schertz would no doubt be astounded.”

Birth:
FAG gives Novemeber as the month

Buried:
Union Cemetery

Christian married Katharina Engel on 29 Jul 1841. Katharina (daughter of Jean George Engel and Magdalena Frei) was born on 15 Mar 1820 in Alsace, FR; died on 12 Jun 1896 in IL; was buried in Washington, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. John Schertz was born on 18 Oct 1842; died in 1923.
2. Magdalena Schertz was born on 2 Feb 1844 in Peoria, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 16 Apr 1911; was buried in Roanoke Twp., Woodford Co., IL.
3. Joseph Schertz was born on 3 Feb 1846; died on 24 Oct 1915; was buried in Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL.
4. Catherine Schertz was born on 29 Oct 1848 in Peoria, Peoria Co., IL; died on 7 Apr 1924 in Woodford Co., IL.
5. Christian S. Schertz was born on 16 Nov 1851; died in 1937.
6. Andrew Schertz was born on 25 Feb 1854; died in 1928.
7. Peter Schertz was born on 16 Jan 1857 in Washington, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 3 Apr 1932 in Washington, Tazewell Co., IL.
8. Anna Schertz was born on 16 Jun 1863 in Tazewell Co., IL; died on 23 Sep 1947 in Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL.
9. David Schertz was born in 1860; died on 24 Feb 1864; was buried in Washington, Tazewell Co., IL.
10. Henry Schertz

Notes:

Birth:
near Sarrebourg

Christian married Catherine Schertz on 17 Sep 1811. Catherine (daughter of Christian Schertz and Barbe Schertz) was born on 9 Oct 1793 in Gosselming, Moselle, Lorraine, FR; died in 1853. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Miller At Bischwald
• Religion: Anabaptist
• Residence: 1786, Bistroff, Moselle, FR

Notes:

Of the mill at Bischwald, near Belgrade Farm. Also lived at Little Mill, Morhange, Moselle near Metz.

Residence:
Bischwald Mill

Jean + Barbe Engel. Barbe (daughter of Peter Engel and Anna Zehr) was born in 1751; died before 1835. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Cultivator
• Residence: Oberstinzel, Fenetrange, Moselle, FR

Notes:

1812: AN INTERESTING CASE OF MILITARY REPLACEMENT

For young male Anabaptists living in France after the Revolution, the usual means to avoid being drafted was to leave the country - in most cases to cross the Atlantic - before the age of 20.

In the present case, the young Christian Schertz, son of the farmer Christian Schertz, had not left and on January 27, 1812, drew lots in Sarrebourg. Having drawn a small number (53), he was due to be incorporated, a few months before Napoleon's Great Army attacked Russia (June 25).

So on 4th February, Christian's father passed an agreement with a young laborer who was to replace his son against payment of the sum of 1,440 francs.
This way was commonly used by well-to-do people because they had enough money to pay. A boy who was lucky at the tirage with a large number could sell himself and earn enough to pay for the support of his family for several years.
In the present case, Christian Schertz had to pay 1,440 francs: 150 francs when Jung was accepted by the recruiting council, 1,290 francs two years and a half later, with a 5 interest. A not so high cost at that time of the Napoleonic wars.
Of course, all the money paid was to be returned if Jung was refused by the recruiting councilor couldn't justify his presence at his regiment by producing a certificate.

Both Schertz and Jung lived in the German-speaking part of the departement de la Meurthe. This is the reason why one of the notaries (Henriet) translated the act from the French into German and vise versa.

Christian Schertz, the father, like a majority of Anabaptists, used the deutsche Schrift to sign his name. Jung was illiterate.

Young Schertz, aged 20, lived and worked in a farm on the river Sarre (Sarreck); Jung was from a neighboring village (Dolving), he was 25 years old.

(Story told from a translation of the original document)

Birth:
Sarrelfing

Residence:
Ferme Sarreck

Christian + Barbe Schertz. Barbe (daughter of Joseph Schertz and Barbara Nafziger) was born in 1768 in Keskastel, Bas-Rhin, FR; died on 17 Jan 1832 in Graviere, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

+ Barbe Rouvenac. Barbe died on 13 Apr 1797. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1792, Gosselming, Moselle, Lorraine, FR

Notes:

Residence:
Alzing. Widow of Jean Brounner

Died:
Witnesses were Jean Schraque, 22, son-in-law, and Jean Chertz, 37.

Notes:

Possibly four or more children. Peter’s connection to Christian has not been proved.
Peter’s 1725 marriage to Anna Zehr is listed in Source.

Maurice Hebert has Anna Brenner(?) as a second wife. He has listed children as follows:
Christian, 1729
Jean, 1725
Nicolas (?), no date
Michel, 1735

Peter married Anna Zehr in 1725 in FR. Anna was born in 1700; died on 10 Sep 1746 in Hombourg Haut Bachmüle, St. Avold, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Bachmulhe

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Religion: Anabaptist
• Residence: 1761, 1766, Haute-Clocher, Moselle, FR

Notes:

Neither David or his wife spoke French.

Source gives parents of David as Christian Schertz (1740-1788, Meunier au moulin domanial du vieux Lixheim anna baptiste) and Barbara Blanck.

Residence:
On the farm Sarrelfing.

Died:
Perhaps in Gosselming?

David + Catherine Rogy. Catherine died between 1814-1818. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Miller

Notes:

This couple had four children between 1806 and 1812. The core of the family left Sarralbe after 1812 to go to Keskastel.

———————————————————————

Birth:
Kupfermuhle

Joseph + Barbara Nafziger. Barbara (daughter of Johannes (Hans) Nafziger and Anna Güngerich) was born in 1744 in Bistroff, Moselle, FR; died in 1812 in Keskastel, Bas-Rhin, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Untersulzbach