Notes |
- Translation of marriage record by Neil Ann Stucky Levine:
Here's what the marriage record says, with a few comments added. I've used German spellings. On Aug. 25, 1827, Peter Schrag, apprentice miller (compagnon meunier), 25, b. at Gondrexange, Meurthe [Moselle today], June 15, 1802, living in Robert-Espagne, son of majority age of Joseph Schrag, unskilled laborer (manoeuvre) and Maria Neuhauser, living at Rhodes, who did not attend the civil ceremony in Robert-Espagne but instead forwarded official notice of their consent via a royal notary at Sarrebourg in a document dated Aug. 22, 1827, married Maria Zimmermann, a day worker, 26, b. in Emmendingen, [Grand] Duchy of Baden, Apr. 17, 1801, daughter of majority age
of Jacob Zimmermann, unskilled laborer, and Elisabeth Becher [?Bächer or perhaps ?Baechler], his wife, both living in Robert-Espapgne, both of whom attended the civil ceremony.
Banns at Robert-Espagne on Sundays, Aug. 12 and 19, at noon, and at Rhodes and Blâmont [?why here] on the same dates. All being in order, Peter Schrag and Maria Zimmermann are man and wife. The four mandatory witnesses [the first two customarily for the groom, the second two for the bride]:
1) Joseph Engel, miller, 50, living in Robert-Espagne, friend of the couple;
2) Jean Pierre Olivier, locksmith (serrurier), 31, living in Robert-Espagne,
friend of the couple;
3) Jean Baptiste Hirat, tobacco retailer (débitant de tabac), 32, living in Robert-Espagne, friend of the couple; and
4) Hilaire Joseph Remy, operator of a boarding house (maître de pension), 29, living in
Robert Espagne.
Comments: No one of the four witnesses was a relative of either the bride or the groom, which indicates that there were likely no other relatives or fellow believers in town. You will know the first witness, Joseph Engel, from my work on the Lange letters. The other three men just happened to be available in Robert-Espagne, and they were probably paid something to perform this civic duty.
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