Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

Johann Friedelin Stocker

Male 1652 - 1708  (~ 56 years)


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  • Name Johann Friedelin Stocker 
    Born Gennenbach, Müllheim, Müllheim, Lörrach, Baden, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Christened 22 Jul 1652  Feldberg, Müllheim, Lörrach, Baden, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 24 Nov 1708  Goersdorf, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried 26 Nov 1708  Preuschdorf, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I2805  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Father Christian Stocker,   b. Abt 1605, of Gennenbach, Müllheim, Müllheim, Lörrach, Baden, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 Apr 1669, Gennenbach, Müllheim, Müllheim, Lörrach, Baden, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 64 years) 
    Mother Margretha Wecker or Wackerin 
    Married Bef 1650  of Feldberg, Müllheim, Lörrach, Baden, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F1511  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Anna Barbara,   b. From 1644 to 1646, , Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 18 Apr 1695, Goersdorf, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 51 years) 
    Married 4 May 1680  Woerth, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Johann Friedrich Stocker,   b. 24 Mar 1681, Goersdorf, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 20 Aug 1736  (Age 55 years)
     2. Hans Georg Stocker,   c. 9 Jun 1682, Preuschdorf, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 9 Aug 1743  (Age ~ 61 years)
     3. Hans Michael Stocker,   c. 10 Jan 1684, Preuschdorf, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 Feb 1756, Goersdorf, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 72 years)
     4. Catharina Barbara Stocker,   c. 4 Mar 1686, Preuschdorf, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France Find all individuals with events at this location
     5. Stocker,   b. Abt 25 Nov 1687, Goersdorf, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abt 25 Nov 1687, Goersdorf, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 0 years)
     6. Maria Barbara Stocker,   c. 2 Nov 1688, Preuschdorf, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France Find all individuals with events at this location
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F189  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Ursula Maria Jacob,   b. Bef 1677, of Preuschdorf, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married 6 Mar 1696  Preuschdorf, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Maria Catharina Stocker,   b. 20 Mar 1697, Goersdorf, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France Find all individuals with events at this location
     2. Hans Jacob Stocker,   b. 19 Jul 1699, Goersdorf, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 15 Jan 1750, Goersdorf, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 50 years)
     3. Margaretha Christina Stocker,   b. 30 Jan 1703, Goersdorf, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France Find all individuals with events at this location
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F1495  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. FHL book 944.3835 W2g "L'immigration Suiss dans les paroisses du Comté de Nassau-Sarrewerden après la Guerre de Trente Ans (Swiss Immigration to the Nassau-Sarrewerden area after the 30-Year War)," by Robert Greib (Société d'Histoire et d'Archéologie de Saverne et Enviorns, 1971) provides a study of the mass migration of the Swiss to Northern Alsace (Strasbourg and north thereof) after the Thirty Years War. This area lost up to 95% of its residents with many localities basically vacant. This study shows that the Swiss moved here in mass with 90% of the Swiss being from Canton Berne. Another FHL book on film 1071428 "Swiss Immigration Patterns," by Walter Bodmer also confirms the same findings. This latter book also includes maps showing the various percentages of Swiss origins to "Le Comté de Hanau-Lichtenberg." As opposed to Swiss from the Zurich or Bale regions, the Preuschdorf surrounding area was more than 85% Bernois; it also singles the Preuschdorf parish as being particularly favored by the immigrants coming from the "Bernois Oberland."
      The Thirty Years' War was a series of wars in Central Europe between 1618 and 1648 lasting for thirty years. It was one of the longest, most destructive conflicts in European history. Initially a war between Protestant and Catholic states in the fragmenting Holy Roman Empire, it gradually developed into a more general conflict involving most of the great powers of Europe, becoming less about religion and more a continuation of the France–Habsburg rivalry for European political pre-eminence. The Thirty Years' War saw the devastation of entire regions, with famine and disease significantly decreasing the population of the German and Italian states, the Kingdom of Bohemia, and the Low Countries. The war also bankrupted most of the combatant powers. Both mercenaries and soldiers in armies were expected to fund themselves by looting or extorting tribute, which imposed severe hardships on the inhabitants of occupied territories. The Thirty Years' War ended with the treaties of Osnabrück and Münster, part of the wider Peace of Westphalia.

      2. Modern DNA testing results provided by family researcher Noel Stoker suggest a 75% chance of relationship between the ia Johann Michael Stocker of Maryland and Hans Michael Stocker of Pennsylvania at the 9-generation level and 95% at the 12-generation level. The ancestry of the Pennsylvania Stockers was already partialy known and so these DNA res were able to lead Noel to search Preuschdorf, Alsace, France (previously Germany), where the christening of Michael (the Maryland immigrant) was finally found occurring in 1730. The following explanation shows current generational ancestral research as of 19 Mar 2015 of the two parallel lines going back in the search for the common ancestor. The records lead back from the Preuschdorf area to about 110 miles south to the hamlet Gennenbach in the Feldberg parish in Baden and then finally to perhaps Kottwill in the Bern Canton of Switzerland. (In German a "G" and "H" were often interchangeable, hence we see "Gennenbach" sometimes rendered as "Hennenbach.") The earliest Feldberg Stockers seemed to have all been carpenters in Gennenbach. (Note also that Feldberg was anciently also rendered as Veldberg or Veldtberg.) The LDS Family History Library in Lucerne recently confirmed to Noel that there are 9 or 11 locations in Canton Lucerne alone where Stockers are known to have lived anciently. Other sources indicate Stockers are also found in Zurich and throughout Switzerland. Current research is bumping up against the earliest entries of existing church records; however, research is ongoing:
      A. The ancestral line of our Johann Michael Stocker, immigrant circa 1752-1755 to Frederick, Maryland is as follows:
      1. Johann Michael Stocker, b. 15 Apr 1730 in Goersdorf, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France; chr. 16 Apr 1730 in Preuschdorf, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France. He married three times in Maryland.
      2. His father is Hans Michael Stocker, b. in Goersdorf and chr. 10 Jan 1684 in Preuschdorf; d. 16 Feb 1756 in Goersdorf and bur. 18 Feb 1756 in Preuschdorf. He married 4 Jan 1721 in Preuschdorf Eva Staehli, chr. 12 Nov. 1693 at Sulz unterm Wald (Soultz-sous-Forêts), Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France; d. 28 Apr 1746 at Goersdorf and bur. 30 Apr 1746 at Preuschdorf. Hans Michael first married Nov 1712 at Preuschdorf Anna Fischer, b. 9 Jun 1691 and d. 26 Dec 1719 both at Goersdorf. The marriage records give his father's name as Johann Friedrich Stocker, carpenter, of Goersdorf.
      3. His grandfather is Johann Friedrich Stocker, b. in Gennenbach village and chr. 22 Jul 1652 in the parish of Feldberg, Baden, Germany; d. 24 Nov 1708 at Goersdorf and bur. 26 Nov 1708 at Preuschdorf. He married 4 May 1680 at Wörth an der Sauer, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France, Anna Barbara ___, widow of Hans Friedrich Bartl; she d. 18 Apr 1695 at Goersdorf and bur. 20 Apr 1695 at Preuschdorf. Johann Friedrich married second 6 Mar 1696 at Preuschdorf Ursula Maria ___, widow of Jacob Dirzon(sp.?) The marriage record gives Johann Friedrich's origins as "a carpenter of Feldberg in der Oberman Grafschaft" and his father as the "Deceased Christian Stocker of Feldberg." Friedrich's christening record calls him Johan Fridelin with parents "Caspar Stocker of Gennenbach, [a] carpenter, [and] Margaretha." The name Casper occurs no where else in the parish records and is a probably clerical error for Christian in the context of Feldberg church records. Fridelin is variant form of Friedrich.
      4. His great-grandparents are Christian Stocker and Margretha Wackerin (which may be the feminine version of Wacker). Christian was reported deceased in Feldberg prior to his son's 1680 marriage. His death at age 64 is recorded in Feldberg on 16 Apr 1669 calling him a "citizen and carpenter in Gennenbach." His birth calculates as about 1605. Besides his son Friedrich's 1652 christening in Feldberg, there are four other children of Christian Stocker "a carpenter of Gennenbach" and his wife Margaretha christened in Feldberg from 1650 to 1655. It is in one of these other christenings that we learn of Margretha's maiden surname. Christian most likely had some relationship with Hans Stocker, also a carpenter in Gennenbach, who d. 25 Jan 1649 per Feldberg records (see C-1 below); the relationship may be as siblings or even as father and son, but it has not yet be determined for sure one way or another. (Also see C-2 below for a discussion of a possible second Christian Stocker in early Feldberg.)
      B. The ancestral line of Hans Michael Stocker, 1731 immigrant to Pennsylvania is as follows:
      1. Hans Michael Stocker, b. 24 Nov 1701 at Mitschdorf, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France and chr. 27 Nov 1701 at Preuschdorf, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France. He married 30 Jan 1725 at Preuschdorf to Anna Margretha Stephan, chr. 30 May 1708 in Preuschdorf. The marriage record gives the name of groom's father as Hans Michael Stocker.
      2. His father is Hans Michael Stocker, chr. 28 Mar 1669 at Feldberg, Baden, Germany, d. 27 Mar 1739 at Mitschdorf and bur. 28 Mar 1739 at Preuschdorf. He married 25 Nov 1692 at Mitschdorf, Maria Remp, b. 21 Mar 1669 at Preuschdorf. There are no birth or christening records for Hans Michael in Preuschdorf and the age reported at the time of death would give a birth date of circa 1667. The marriage record indicates the father of the groom was Jacob Stocker residing at Goersdorf.
      3. His grandfather is Hans Jacob Stocker, b. abt. 1630 of Kottwill, Bern, Switzerland, d. 31 Mar 1690 at Goersdorf, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France; bur. 2 Apr 1690 in Preuschdorf. He married 21 Jan 1661 at Feldberg to Margaretha Schinbein, chr. 17 Sep 1643 at Feldberg, "dau. of the late Fridlin Schinbein, judge" of Feldberg. In the marriage record, the pastor recorded that the groom was the son of Jacob Stocker who is a citizen of Kottwill near Bern, Switzerland. His first appearance in Goersdorf is in 1682 when as a widower he married Magdalena Linder, who was a widow. (He may also be the same "Jacob Stockert" who with his wife Maria, residents of the hamlet Hermersweiler, had a son Hans Philipp chr. 28 May 1681 in the parish Sulz unterm Wald (Soultz-sous-Forêts), Alsace, France, which is nearby to Goersdorf. The christening record says that Philipp's parents were of the Pontif religion (Catholic). If this is the same Jacob, then Maria may have died in childbirth in 1681 and Margaretha would be the first wife, Maria the second, and Magdalena the third. This may also mean that he was Catholic and Jacob married an Evangelical, then a Catholic, and then finally an Evangelical wife.)
      4. His great-grandfather is Jacob Stocker of "Kottwill, Switzerland near Bern" (penmanship difficult but could alternately Rottwill). (The exact location of Rottwill is undetermined; however, searching ancient Switzerland, Noel Stoker discovered a Rotwill which he believes is the current Rottweil in Baden, Germany. Noel indicates that in the 1600s and for several centuries before and after, it was part of Switzerland. When Napoleon conquered the area in 1803, the alignment changed and it was ceded to Germany. It is about 50 miles from Baden and borders the Black Forest. Further professionally-hired research shows no Stockers in Rottweil..)
      C. Loose ends:
      1. Hans Stocker: The first recording of a Stocker in the Feldberg parish records which begin in 1639 is in 1649 for a Hans Stocker, a carpenter, who lives in the village of Gennenbach and dies 25 Jan 1649 with no age stated. The Feldberg record provides specific names of some of Hans children as follows -- a son Heinrich who marries Ursula Müller in 1656 and a daughter Verona who has an illegitimate daughter named Elizabeth chr. in 1656 (with Peter Hertzogen). Another son, even though not so identified in the record, may be Hans Stockher at Gennenbach who was married 4 Nov 1661 to Elisabeth, dau. of Baltzer Dinger. Being these three children of Hans are marrying or producing children starting in 1656, it may indicate that Hans may have died in 1649 relatively young.
      2. Zacharias Stocker: Zacharias first shows in Goersdorf where he is named a new citizen in 1674. He along with Hans Jacob Stocker, grandfather of the Pennsylvania immigrant, were the only two Stockers in the earliest Preuschdorf parish records. Zacharias is reported having died in 1692 at Goersdorf. In Feldberg, we find his two first marriages: Zacharias and Maria Keller on 27 Jun 1659; Zacharias and Katherine Schum on 4 Apr 1667. In the 1659 marriage record, he is identified as the son of Christian; in the 1667 marriage record he is identified as a widower and carpenter; and in both records "of Gennenbach." This information shows that he was possibly the son of Christian Stocker and Margretha Wackerin (see A-4 above). Based on Zacharias being first married in 1659, his birth would probably be no later than about 1634 assuming being age 25 or older at the marriage. Five of Christian and Margretha's children are documented being born from 1650 to 1655, which is a large gap from Zacharias' assumed birth date. This may mean that Christian (1605-1669) was married twice with Zacharias being of the earlier marriage. Another problem may be the age difference between Christian and Margretha -- Christian would have been 45 in 1650 and Margretha 10 to 20 years younger to be in her child-bearing years. Such large gaps in years between spouses in this era is a bit unusual but perhaps not impossible. There is also the possiblity that there may have been an earlier generation Christian for which no mention has yet been found in the records. (Price and Associate's report of 17 Feb 2014, p. 4, discusses another Hans Michael Stocker who died in the Preuschdorf in 1762, at age 73, making a birth of 1689. There were then three Hans Michael Stockers in the Preuschdorf area at the same time. The youngest, the Pennsylvania immigrant born in 1701, the younger born in 1689, and the "older" born in 1684 who was father of the Maryland immigrant. Noel Stoker has indicated the one born in 1689 was the son of Zacharias (who married Anna Catharina Naegelin on 21 June 1681 in Preuschdorf); this Zacharias is probably the same Zacharias who was the son of Christian.)

      3. Price and Associates, Inc., (c) Research Report, prepared for Noel Stoker and used by his permission. Report dated 17 Feb 2014. File name: Stocker2014JanNE. Price and Associates also prepared a PAF file for Noel, which I have. A transcript of the report:
      "OBJECTIVE
      • Research baptismal, marriage, and death entries for the years past 1736, to determine if Hanss Michel Stocker (born 1730) lived to adulthood and possibly emigrated
      • Search the family members of the older Stocker generation who was born before 1715
      RESULTS
      • Two additional children of Hanss Michel Stocker (Sr.) and Eva Staehli were found
      • Children of the first marriage of Hanss Michel Stocker (Sr.) were found
      • The Hanss Michel Stocker (Jr.) found in the last research session qualifies to be the one who emigrated since no marriage or death record was found for him in the parish records of Preuschdorf
      • One additional generation on the Stocker line was established
      • Prepared all new-found individuals for temple work (as far as it was not already done)
      RECOMMENDATIONS
      • An area search in several Lutheran parishes around Preuschdorf is needed to find the marriage of Friedrich Stocker with Anna Barbara [no maiden name known] - this finding would very likely establish the names of the next generation in the Stocker line
      • Also a search needs to be performed in the Sulz Lutheran parish records for the Staehli line
      HEADING
      The research on the Stocker line had several tasks. First, any children of Michael Stocker and Eva Staehli born after 1736, if any, needed to be found.
      Second, the death and marriage entries past 1736 needed to be checked whether the Hanss Michel Stocker who was born in 1730 qualifies as the ancestor.
      Third, all the records prior to 1715 needed to be checked to deepen the ancestral tree.
      The research was performed in the microfilmed Lutheran parish records of Preuschdorf, which is available at the Family History Library (FHL) in Salt Lake City back to the year 1660. These early records include a name index for births, marriages, and deaths.
      REPORT
      As mentioned in the introduction the first task was to find any additional children born after 1736 to Michael Stocker ,(Sr.) of Goersdorf and his wife Eva Staehli. One more child was found. Following is his entry [Kirchenbuch Preuschdorf, Taufen 1736-1754; FHL INTL Film 769168 item 6].
      Birth Register. Source: Lutheran Church Records of Preuschdorf, Bas-Rhin Alsace, France:
      - B. [about] 9 Dec. 1736, chr. 12 Dec. 1736: Hanss Georg Stocker; father: Hanss Michel Stocker, the older, of Goersdorf; mother: Eva [no maiden name]. Page 6, entry #1.
      The exact date of birth could not be recognized because it was in the fold of two pages and therefore blackened out.
      The next task was to check the marriage entries whether the potential ancestor Hanss Michel Stocker (Jr., born 1730) married in this parish. If he did, he would disqualify as being the direct ancestor. Even though several Stocker marriages were found, no such entry was found for Hanss Michel / Johann Michael Stocker [Kirchenbuch Preuschdorf, Heiraten 1736-1780; FHL INTL Film 770569].
      The third verification was to search the death records. All the death entries up to 1788 were checked, but no Hanss Michel / Johann Michael Stocker died [Kirchenbuch Preuschdorf, Tote 1736-1758, 1758-1783; FHL INTL Film 770569]. All the parish records past 1788 are not microfilmed and are available only at the parish in France.
      While in the death records, two related entries were found. These are those of the parents of Hanss Michel / Johann Michael Stocker. Following are their entries.
      Death Register. Source: Lutheran Church Records of Preuschdorf, Bas-Rhin Alsace, France:
      - D. 28 Apr. 1746, bur. 30 Apr. 1746: Eva Stocker, nee Staehlin of Goersdorf, origin of Sulz; age 53 years, 24 weeks; Wife of Michael Stocker. Page 116, entry #2. (Doc. 01)
      - D. 16 Feb. 1756, bur. 18 Feb. 1756: Hanss Michael Stocker of Goersdorf, age 72 years, 1 month, 6 days; Son is Johann Georg Stocker. Page 244, entry #1. (Doc. 02)
      There was a second Hanss Michael Stocker who died in 1762, being 73 years of age. In theory he would also qualify to be the ancestor, but three facts were found that disqualified him. One fact was that the ancestral Hanss Michel Stocker (Sr.) had a son Johann Georg (=Hanss Georg). The second fact was found later when searching for the ancestral baptismal entry. There was recorded in a different handwriting that his death entry is found on page 244, which coincides with the entry found above. The third fact was that the Hanss Michael Stocker (Sr.) who died in 1762 had a daughter with the name Maria Catharina, who was recorded in his death entry as a witness. The ancestral Hanss Michel Stocker (Sr.) did not have a daughter by that name.
      Before moving to the older entries, another marriage needed to be mentioned. The marriage record of Hanss Michael Stocker with Eva Staehli was already found during the last research session, but it was not evaluated because at that time it was not sure that they are indeed the ancestral line. This proof was now delivered based on the records available. The marriage mentions that Hanss Michael Stocker was a widower when he married Eva Staehli. Both marriage entries of Hanss Michael Stocker were found in the Preuschdorf Lutheran records [Kirchenbuch Preuschdorf, Heiraten 1661-1715 and 1715-1736; FHL INTL Films 769168 item 4 and 5].
      Marriage Register. Source: Lutheran Church Records of Preuschdorf, Bas-Rhin Alsace, France:
      - M. Nov. 1712: Johann Michael Stocker of Goersdorf and Anna Fischer of Goersdorf; father of the groom: Johann Friedrich Stocker of Goersdorf; father of the bride: Hannss Georg Fischer of Goersdorf. Page 220, entry #5. (Doc. 03)
      - M. 4 Jan. 1721: Widower Hanss Michel Stocker of Goersdorf, married Eva Staehli of Sultz; father of the groom [not mentioned]; father of the bride: Deceased salter Johannes Staehli of Sultz. Page 9, entry #3. (Doc. 04)
      While in the marriage records, an additional entry for a child of Hanss/Johann Michael Stocker was found, a child not found in the baptismal entries. His name was Hanss Leonhard Stocker. Following is his marriage entry [Kirchenbuch Preuschdorf, Heiraten 1736-1780; FHL INTL Films 770569].
      Marriage Register. Source: Lutheran Church Records of Preuschdorf, Bas-Rhin Alsace, France:
      M. 19 Jan. 1745: Hanss Leonhard Stocker of Goersdorf, married Maria Barbara Jacob of Preuschdorf; parents of the groom: Hanss Michel Stocker of Goersdorf, married Eva Staehli; father of the bride: Hanss Heinrich Jacob of Preuschdorf. [Forgot to record page #.]
      Other children of Hanss / Johann Michael Stocker also married. Their names are already known, but their marriage data and the names of spouses were recorded into the PAF-file of the client.
      Two additional children of Hanss / Johann Michael Stocker were found who were born into this first marriage Kirchenbuch Preuschdorf, Taufen 1660-1715; FHL INTL Film 769168 item 4] before 1715. Three additional children were already found during the last research session. These are now also connected into the ancestral tree.
      Birth Register. Source: Lutheran Church Records of Preuschdorf, Bas-Rhin Alsace, France:
      - B. Aug. 1713, chr. Aug. 1713: Johann Theobaldt Stocker; father: Joh. Michael Stocker of Goersdorf; mother: Anna Fischer. Page 172, entry #6.
      - B. 7 May 1715, chr. 9 May 1715 [died 1717]: Hannss Michael Stocker; father: Michael Stocker of Goersdorf; mother: Anna [no maiden name]. Page 179, entry #6.
      - B. 18 Oct. 1717, chr. 18 Oct. 1717: Johann Georg Stocker; father: Hanss Michael Stocker of Goersdof; mother: Anna Fischer. Page 18, entry #4.
      - B. 25 Dec. 1719, chr. 26 Dec. 1719: Christina Stocker; father: Hanss Michael Stocker of Goersdorf; mother: Anna Fischer. Page 34, entry #4.
      - B. 1 Oct. 1721, chr. 3 Oct. 1721: Maria Salome Stocker; father: Hanss Michael Stocker of Goersdorf; mother: Fischer. Page 55, entry #1.
      For the last child in this table the name of the mother was recorded incorrectly. Anna, nee Fischer had already died one day after her child Christina was born because of complications during birth. Her death entry was found. Therefore the last child has to be connected to the second marriage because it was born 9 month after the second marriage of Hanss Michael Stocker was performed.
      Following is the death entry of the first wife [Kirchenbuch Preuschdorf, Tote 1715-1736; FHL INTL Film 769168 item 5].
      Death Register. Source: Lutheran Church Records of Preuschdorf, Bas-Rhin Alsace, France:
      - D. 26 Dec. 1719, bur. Dec. 1719: Anna Stocker of Goersdorf; age 28 years, 6 months, 2 weeks, 3 days; Wife of Hanss Michael Stocker; died because of complications during birth. Page 9, entry #4.
      With this completion the research moved to the older parts of the Lutheran records of Preuschdorf. All the baptismal entries prior to 1715 were checked. Since the birth could be calculated on the age stated in the death entry of Hams Michel Stocker (Sr.), the task to find this entry was an easy one. If the parish priest calculated correctly, he was born on 10 January 1684. His baptismal entry was found at this very day, but his birth date was not recorded there. Also two siblings were found [Kirchenbuch Preuschdorf, Taufen 1660-1715; FHL INTL Film 769168 item 4].
      Birth Register. Source: Lutheran Church Records of Preuschdorf, Bas-Rhin Alsace, France:
      - B. [not recorded], chr. 10 Jan. 1684: Hanss Michel Stocker [direct ancestor]; father: Friedrich Stocker, a carpenter in Goersdorf; mother: Anna Barbel [no maiden name]. Page 46, entry #6. Annotation in record: death on page 244. (Doc. 05)
      - B. [not recorded], chr. 4 Mar. 1686: Catharina Barbara Stocker; father: Friedrich Stocker of Goersdorf; mother: Anna Barbel [no maiden name]. Page 60, entry #2.
      - B. [not recorded], chr. 2 Nov. 1688: Maria Barbara Stocker; father: Friedrich Stocker of Goersdorf; mother: Anna Barbel [no maiden name]. Page 70, entry #4.
      The marriage of Johann Friedrich Stocker to Anna Barbara (Barbel is the pet name for Barbara) was not found in Preuschdorf [Kirchenbuch Preuschdorf, Heiraten 1661-1715; FHL INTL Film 769168 item 4]. Very likely she was from another parish. There is the chance that this couple had older children born and baptized in the parish the mother was from. As it will be proven shortly, she was born in the year 1645 +/- 1 year. It is rather unusual starting having children at the age of 39 years. Only an area search for the marriage entry between Friedrich Stocker and Anna Barbara would produce more certain information on this. There is even the chance that Anna Barbara was a widow when she married Friedrich Stocker because, as will be shown shortly, she was nine years older than him.
      The death entry of Anna Barbara was found and with it the information about her birth year. Also the death entry of the father, Johann Friedrich Stocker, was found. Based on these records the age difference can be seen. Also found was an additional child of this couple, a stillborn son. Because he was stillborn, he was not recorded in the baptismal entries. Following the three entries [Kirchenbuch Preuschdorf, Tote 1659-1715; FHL INTL Film 769168 item 4].
      Death Register. Source: Lutheran Church Records of Preuschdorf, Bas-Rhin Alsace, France:
      - D. 18 Apr. 1695, bur. 20 Apr. 1695: Anna Barbara Stocker of Goersdorf, age 50 years; Wife of Friedrich Stocker. Page 261, entry #2. (Doc. 06)
      - D. 24 Nov. 1708, bur. 26 Nov. 1708: Friedrich Stocker, a carpenter in Goersdorf, age 54 years; relationships [not mentioned]. Page 290, entry #1. (Doc. 07)
      - D. [not mentioned], bur. 25 Nov. 1687: Stillborn son; Son of Friedrich Stocker of Goersdorf. Page 247, entry #6.
      After the first wife of Friedrich Stocker died in 1695, he remarried one year later. Following entry was found [Kirchenbuch Preuschdorf, Heiraten 1661-1715; FHL INTL Film 769168 item 4].
      Marriage Register. Source: Lutheran Church Records of Preuschdorf, Bas-Rhin Alsace, France:
      - M. 6 Mar. 1696: The widower Friedrich Stocker, a carpenter in Goersdorf, married Ursula Maria, widow of Jacob Dirzon [his family name is hard to read], who was a shepherd in Preuschdorf; parents of the groom: [not stated]; parents of the bride: [not stated]. Page 201, entry #1.
      Hanss/Johann Friedrich Stocker and his second wife Maria Ursula had two more children [Kirchenbuch Preuschdorf, Taufen 1660-1715; FHL INTL Film 769168 item 4].
      Birth Register. Source: Lutheran Church Records of Preuschdorf, Bas Rhin Alsace, France:
      - B. 19 Jul. 1699, chr. 21 Jul. 1699: Hanss Jacob Stocker; father: Friedrich Stocker, a carpenter in Goersdorf; mother: Maria Ursula [no maiden name]. Page 109, entry #4.
      - B. 30 Jan 1703, chr. 2 Feb. 1703: Margaretha Christina Stocker; father: Friedrich Stocker, a carpenter in Goersdorf; mother: Maria Ursula [no maiden name]. Page 125, entry #5.
      The death entry of the second wife of Johann Friedrich Stocker, Maria Ursula [no maiden name known], was not found in the Preuschdorf records.
      The question about the names of the next generation is impossible to answer at this time. Since the first marriage record of Johann Friedrich Stocker was not found in Preuschdorf, and there are no baptismal entries available before 1660 (Johann Friedrich Stocker was born in 1654), no final proof is possible yet. The available information suggests either Jacob Stocker or Zacharias Stocker to be the father of Friedrich. Both had children that married in the 1690s. Both were from Goersdorf. For both were found death records. Based on these they were born just two years apart. There is even the chance that they are siblings.
      Only an area search for the first marriage entry of Friedrich Stocker to Anna Barbara [maiden name not known] could possibly clarify this next generation. This area search was not performed during this research project. The following Lutheran parishes border the Preuschdorf parish: Diefenbach (no LDS microfilms before 1793), Worth an der Sauer (microfilms from 1572 to 1792), Langensulzbach (microfilms from 1689 to 1787), Lembach (microfilms 1603 from to 1792), Wingen (microfilms from 1648 to 1792), Rott (no LDS microfilms before 1701), Birlenbach (microfilms from 1614 to 1822), Sulz unterm Wald (microfilms from 1595 to 1793), and Niederkutzenhausen (no LDS microfilms before 1714). As can be seen from this list, only a few parishes do not have the older records. The reason might be that the parishes were established later.
      Also seen in this list is the parish Sulz, which was mentioned as the town of origin of the ancestral Staehli family line. The research in the parishes listed as well as the research for the Staehli family could be the research topic in the next research project.
      The individuals who could be connected to the ancestral tree were entered into the PAF-file. Among those were also several individuals not mentioned in this report (such as nieces, nephews, cousins, and a few in-laws). All those where no relationship to the direct ancestry could be proven at this time were grouped together into separate family units. These individuals were entered into a separate PAF-file. Both PAF-files were prepared for temple work (as far this work was not done yet).
      CONCLUSION
      During this research session one more child was found of Michael Stocker (Sr.) and Eva Staehli of Goersdorf. Also, the first marriage of Hanss Michel Stocker (Sr.), as well as the children of this first marriage was found.
      It was shown that the potential ancestor Hanss Michel Stocker (Jr.) found in the last research session qualifies to be the one who emigrated since no marriage or death record was found for him in the parish records of Preuschdorf.
      For the father of Hanss Michel Stocker (Sr.) the baptismal entry as well as those for his siblings and half-siblings was found. Several death records were found for the direct ancestry as well as one marriage record. The marriage entry for Johann Friedrich Stocker with Anna Barbara [no maiden name known - parents of Hanss Michel Stocker, Sr.] was not found in Preuschdorf. An area search needs to be performed to find it.
      RECOMMENDATIONS
      It is recommended to perform an area search in several Lutheran parishes around Preuschdorf for the marriage of Friedrich Stocker with Anna Barbara [no maiden name known]. This document will hopefully clarify which of the two candidates is the father of Friedrich Stocker. Most of these parishes are available on LDS-microfilm at the FHL in Salt Lake City.
      Also a search needs to be performed in the Sulz Lutheran parish records for the Staehli line. The Sulz parish records are available on LDS-microfilm.
      It was a pleasure to research the ancestral lines of the client and we look forward to continuing according to the directions of the client."

      4. Price and Associates, Inc., (c) Research Report, prepared for Noel Stoker and used by his permission. Report dated 19 Apr 2014. File name: Stocker2014Mar/1333. A transcript of the report:
      "OBJECTIVES
      • Continue from the previous project by researching the Stocker ancestry.
      • Research the Staehli ancestry.
      RESULTS
      • Found the marriage for Friedrich Stocker and Anna Barbara [no maiden name known].
      • Identified four siblings of Friedrich Stocker.
      • Located the death entry of Christian Stocker, the oldest ancestor in this line at this point.
      • Found the baptismal entry of Eva Staehli.
      RECOMMENDATIONS
      • Determine whether pre-1639 records exist for Feldberg.
      • Conduct an area search around Wörth for the first marriage between the ancestor Anna Barbara [no maiden name known] and Hans Heinrich Bartl.
      • Continue research on the Staehli line for about 100 additional years back to 1595.
      [BACKGROUND]
      This research started where the previous project ended by following the Stocker line of Goersdorf, Alsace. This area was for a long time German territory, but since the end of World War II it has belonged to France. The ancestral Stockers spoke German, and the Lutheran parish books are recorded in German.
      Several extractions were made in 1993. The family group sheets created based on the extractions were provided by the client.
      Before the research started, a few questions from the client needed to be answered.
      Question 1: Does the marriage record of Hanss Michael Stocker to Anna Margaretha Stephan on 30 Jan 1725 at Preuschdorf specifically list his age or his father/parents as Hans Michael Stocker and Maria Remp? If not, how do we know the correct parents of the Hans Michael who married in 1725?
      Answer: The marriage record of Hanss Michael Stocker to Anna Margaretha Stephan lists the day of marriage, the names of groom and bride, and the parents of the bride and the father of the groom (being Hans Michael Stocker). It does not list the name of the mother.
      Question 2: How do we know the Hanss Michael Stocker who married Maria Remp in 1692 at Mitschdorf was born in Oct 1669 at Mitschdorf? Did the 1692 marriage entry provide Hanss Michael's parents or his place of residence?
      Answer: The 1692 marriage entry for Hanss Michael Stocker and Maria Remp states that the groom was the son of Jacob Stocker, [the father] residing in Goersdorf; and the father of the bride was listed as Jacob Remp, the mother as Maria Stephan, both of Mitschdorf. This record does not state whether the groom was born in Mitschdorf or Goersdorf or anywhere else. Since this was not a direct line, his information was not double verified during the previous project. The Preuschdorf parish entries were checked this time, which include Mitschdorf and Goersdorf. The birth entry for him was not found in these parish records. At this point, it is not sure where the birth in October 1669 came from. It definitely needs to be removed. His death entry states his age, but according to this he was born in 1667 (+/- 1 year). If all the Stocker families did move from Feldberg to Goersdorf and Mitschdorf, as suggested by the researcher who worked on these lines in 1993, the data found back then for him could be correct. The only conflicting information that would stay in that case is the given name of the mother. Her name was either Magretha or Magdalena. There is a chance that either the parish priest recorded it wrong or she had indeed two given names.
      STOCKER LINE
      The researcher who performed the research in 1993 came to the conclusion that the Stocker ancestry moved from the town Feldberg, Grand Duchy of Baden, to Goesdorf, Alsace, but did not deliver any solid proof for it. The distance between these two towns is between 110 and 120 miles in a straight line. For the late 1600s, this was quite a distance to move. On the other hand, between the 1650s (a few years after the end of the Thirty Years War) and the 1680s, many people moved wider distances because the black plague wiped out one-third of Europe; in some areas whole villages were left completely empty. Especially children that did not inherit the family farm took advantage of this and moved to other areas. Also the local nobility often made promises of a lower tax to new settlers.
      There were two possible ways to perform the next research steps. One would be to conduct an area search in parishes nearby to find the marriage entry of the direct ancestor, Johann Friedrich Stocker, and Anna Barbara [no maiden name known]. The other possibility would be to verify the Feldberg parish records and retrace the steps performed in 1993. It was decided to analyze the research report from 1993 and the family group sheets based on this. The researcher found a marriage for Friedrich Stocker and Anna Barbara listed as 4 May 1680, married in Goersdorf. This marriage was not recorded in the Preuschdorf parish records (Goersdorf belonged to Preuschdorf). [Kirchenbuch Preuschdorf, Heiraten 1661-1715; FHL INTL Film 769168 item 4.] In fact, no marriages at all were recorded there between 1674 and November 1683. None of the other entries in these previously mentioned family group sheets gave any other clue than the connection to the town Feldberg. Therefore, the Feldberg marriages were checked. Even though many Stockers married there, the desired marriage entry was not found. [Kirchenbuch Preuschdorf, Heiraten 1639-1793; FHL INTL Film 1189398 item 5.]
      If the wife, Anna Barbara, was not from Feldberg, the couple could have married somewhere near Goersdorf/Preuschdorf. Therefore, an area search was begun. The first place to check was the neighboring Lutheran parish of Lembach. The marriage entry was not found there. [Kirchenbuch Lembach, Heiraten 1651-1684; FHL INTL Film 717154, item 6; and Heiraten 1656-1689; FHL INTL Film 717154, item 7 (two different records with overlapping years).] Also the baptisms did not list a Johann Friedrich Stocker born in or about 1654 (calculated based on his death entry). [Kirchenbuch Lembach, Taufen 1649-1674; FHL INTL Film 717154, item 6.]
      The neighboring Langensulzbach Parish was ignored since their marriage records do not begin until 1689; baptisms begin in 1674.
      The third neighboring parish was in Wörth an der Sauer. Finally, the correct marriage was found. [Kirchenbuch Wörth (an der Sauer), Heiraten 1572-1635, 1641-1694; FHL INTL Film 1069776.] The date is the very same as found in 1993, just the town name was recorded wrong. The entry states Goersdorf on the left and could be an indicator to where the marriage might have been performed, but it could also be understood as an annotation to the place of residence of bride and groom. This was very likely where the mistake came in. Following is the record.
      Marriage Register. Source: Lutheran Church Records of Wörth, Bas-Rhin Alsace, France:
      - M. 4 May 1680: Friedrich Stocker, a carpenter, of Feldberg in der Oberman Grafschaft, married Anna Barbel of Görsdorf; parents of the groom: Deceased Christian Stocker of Feldberg; parents of the bride: [Parents not stated, but the following information was stated:] Widow of the deceased Hanss Friedrich Bartl, a former tailor in Goersdorf. Page 224, entry 4/1680. (Doc.1)
      The first marriage between Hanss Friedrich Bartl and Anna Barbel (=Barbara) was sought in this parish, but not found. This record would provide her maiden name. Very likely she was again from another parish and the couple married there. Only an area search might produce this record.
      The marriage entry above gives the town of origin as "Feldberg in der Oberman Grafschaft." A "Grafschaft" is a countship. In the 1600s and 1700s, Baden was a countship. It did not become a Grand Duchy until 1806. No reference was found in printed or online sources to the Oberman entry related to the Baden countship. There are at least five different Feldbergs in the former German Empire, but none of them relates to Oberman. The Feldberg in Baden is closest to Goersdorf in spite of its 110 to 120 miles linear distance. This is not absolute proof that the Stocker ancestry came from there, but the evidence pointing into this direction can't be denied.
      While analyzing the early parish records of Wörth, it was realized that this parish must have been responsible for the people who belonged since 1660 to the parish Preuschdorf. Since the calculated birth year for Anna Barbel/Anna Barbara was known from her death entry, the baptisms were searched in spite of the possibility that she might have been from another parish. She was born in or about 1645. The baptisms produced three Anna Barbaras born in 1644, but none in 1645 or 1646. Any or none of them could have been the ancestor.
      The children of (Johann) Friedrich Stocker and Anna Barbara were found during the last research project. Therefore, the research turned back to the Feldberg parish records. In 1993, the researcher found four children, with an additional one born 18 years before the rest. The four children previously found could be confirmed; the oldest one was not confirmed since his birth took place before Wörth Parish kept records. The direct ancestor (Johann/Hans) Friedrich Stocker was not among those found. If this is the correct ancestral line - and this is the only family where Christian Stocker was the father - then the direct ancestor must have been baptized in another parish or his baptism was not recorded. Following are the four children mentioned (note two sets of twins). [Kirchenbuch Feldberg, Taufen 1639-1793; FHL INTL Film 1189398, item 5.]
      Birth Register. Source: Lutheran Church Records of Feldberg, Baden, Germany:
      - Chr. 6 Jan 1650: Hans Stocker (twin); father: Christn. Stocker of Hennenbach; mother: Margretha [no maiden name]. No page #, entry 139. (Doc. 2)
      - Chr. 6 Jan 1650, died 15 Apr 1725: Maria Stocker (twin); father: Christn. Stocker of Hennenbach; mother: Margretha [no maiden name]. No page #, entry 140. (Doc. 2)
      - Chr. 6th of Trinitatis 1655 [= 22 Jul. 1655]: Adam Stocker (twin); father: Christian Stocker, a carpenter in Hennenbach; mother: Margaretha [no maiden name]. No page #, entry 12. (Doc. 3)
      - Chr. 6th of Trinitatis 1655 [= 22 Jul. 1655]: Eva Stocker (twin); father: Christian Stocker, a carpenter in Hennenbach; mother: Margaretha [no maiden name]. No page #, entry 12. (Doc. 3)
      The marriage entry of the parents, Christian Stocker and Margaretha, was not found in Feldberg. There is a chance that they married before 1639, the year the parish records start. Only a search in neighboring parishes would produce this document - if the neighboring parishes have such old records.
      The researcher from 1993 also found the death entry of a Christian Stocker. It cannot be proven that this pertains to the direct ancestor, but the name and profession fit. Also this Christian Stocker died before 1680, which would be confirmed in the marriage entry of the son. If he was the correct ancestor, his wife Margaretha must have been his second wife, because she would not have had all her children in her mid- to late 40s and none in her 30s. Following is the death entry. [Kirchenbuch Feldberg, Tote 1639-1793; FHL INTL Film 1189398, item 5.]
      Death Register. Source: Lutheran Church Records of Feldberg, Baden, Germany:
      - D. 16 Apr. 1669: Christian Stokher [note different spelling], citizen and carpenter in Hennenbach; age 64 years; relationships [not stated]. No page #, entry 75. (Doc. 4)
      An area search around Feldberg was not done. A first look at the records available revealed that only one of the parishes in the wider vicinity had older records, but these records are only a name index of adults living in this parish. Another church closer to Feldberg was already established 1620, but their baptisms do not start until 1639 - the same year as Feldberg's. Therefore, the chance to continue the Stocker line is very low.
      STAEHLI LINE
      Before wrapping up this research project, a quick look was made into the Lutheran Sulz parish records. According to the marriage entry between Hanss Michael Stocker and Eva Staehli in 1721 (found in a previous research project), she was from Sultz. There is a "Sulz unterm Wald" nearby, today called Soultz-sous-Forêts. The baptismal entries of this parish records were analyzed, and her entry was found. Since her date of birth could be calculated based on her entry in the death record, this was a quick task. [Kirchenbuch Sulz unterm Wald, Taufen 1684-1747; FHL INTL Film 796891.] Following is the entry.
      Birth Register. Source: Lutheran Church Records of Sulz unterm Wald, Bas-Rhin Alsace, France:
      - Chr. 12 Nov. 1693: Eva Steley; father: Johannes Steley; mother: Eva [no maiden name]. Page 89 a+b, no entry #. (Doc. 05)
      The family name of the father is spelled Steley, but the signature under the record spells it Stehl. In another record where he and his wife are mentioned as godparents, his name is spelled Stelly.
      No further research was done on this Staehli/Steley/Stehl line. The next project should seek the siblings and the marriage record of the parents.
      The individuals who could be connected to the ancestral tree were entered into the client database. None of the other non-related family members were extracted at this time.
      Conclusion
      An area search produced the marriage of Friedrich Stocker and Anna Barbara [no maiden name known] and proved that the Stocker ancestry was indeed from Feldberg. Four siblings of Friedrich Stocker were found, but concrete proof that these were indeed his siblings could not be produced. A death entry of one of the ancestors (Christian Stoker) makes it possible to calculate the year of his birth, but this ancestor was born about a quarter century before record keeping began in this parish. The oldest parish nearby has only a few records back to 1620, but even that is several years after the calculated birth of Christian Stoker.
      For the Staehli line, the baptismal entry of Eva Staehli (in her record spelled Steley) was found. No time was left to extract the rest of the family.
      Recommendations
      A gazetteer should be checked to see whether records are available for Feldberg prior to 1639. An older parish nearby that was responsible for Feldberg prior to that year might contain the early Stocker ancestry, but the chance to find such older records is rather small. An area search around Wörth might produce the first marriage between the ancestor Anna Barbara [no maiden name known] and Hans Heinrich Bartl.
      Research in the Sulz Lutheran parish records for the Staehli line should continue. The Sulz parish records are available on microfilm at the Family History Library back to 1595 - a potential of almost 100 years of records.
      It was a pleasure to research your ancestry, and we look forward to continuing, according to your instructions."

      CHRISTENING:
      1. The following are three emails dated 17 and 18 Mar 2015 from Noel Stoker :
      A. Noel remarks: "I asked Trudy to return to the original Feldberg records and confirm Jacob's citizenship, that being Kottwill, Switzerland. I felt stymied in that we have been unable to connect Jacob to Kottwill ... I wanted a photocopy and translation of the parish entry for the marriage of Hans Jacob Stocker and Margaretha Schinbein. She did this and more. She said I believe it was an R and not a K, making it Rotwill instead of Kotwill. Milan was asked to give his opinion and he was equivocal but granted that it could be an R. Searching ancient Switzerland I discovered a Rotwill which I believe is the current Rottweil in Baden Germany. In the 1600's and for several centuries, before and after, it was part of Switzerland. When Napoleon conquered the area in 1803 the alignment changed and it was ceded to Germany. It is about 50 miles from Baden and borders the Black Forest. The other note is that Trudy included the priest's notation of Rotwill being in the Canton of Bern. Milan said the priest's note said it was near Bern. Trudy has suggested the Swiss census records of the time might reveal where Jacob Stocker and Hans Stocker, as well as Christian came from. I have asked her to do that. This is a work in progress."
      B. This email are the results of his above-referenced request to the German researcher Trudy Schenk to re-review and translate in detail the various earliest Stocker entries for Feldberg, Baden, Germany: Trudy's translation work: "This is the translation of 9 entries from the early Feldberg church records on microfilm # 1189398 the items # 5-9. You will see that spelling was not always the same.
      1. 1649: on 25 Jan. was buried Hans Stockher, the carpenter at Gennenbach, he was ill 9 days.
      2. 1656: on Sunday Sexagesimo was married Heinrich Stocker from Gennenbach a son of the late Hans Stocker who was a citizen and Carpenter with Ursula a daughter of the late Hans Müller formerly a citizen and cabinet maker at Veldtberg. Because of poverty they held the wedding feast without invited guests at home.
      3. 1650 birth of twins: On the date as shown above were christened Hans and Maria, children of Christen Stocker at Gennenbach and of Margretha Wackerin.
      Godparents were: for the boy Wilhelm Rosskopf mayor, Friedlin Schinbein, Hans Stäuber and Catharin Dattlerin the wife of Claus Schuemacher,
      Godparents were: for the girl Hans Klucker, Hans Stifel, Claus Blöchlin and Anna Hollsteinin the wife of Hans Wiber all are from Veldtberg.
      4. 1652 a birth: On the feast day Maria Magdalena which is the 22nd. of July was christened Johan Fridelin.
      The parents: Caspar Stocker from Gennenbach a carpenter & Margaretha
      Godparents: Fridlin Schinbein, Hans Glucker town official, Catharina the wife of Clauss Schuemacher, Anna wife of the old Hans Weyler.
      5. 1656: on Dom: Reminiscere was christened Elisabeth an illig. child, the mother is Verona a daughter of Hans Stocker who is the late citizen and carpenter at Gennenbach. She gave the name of Peter Hertzogen a former soldier from Glanschi. ?not sure on this spelling as the father of the child.
      Godparents: Hans Jacob Häflin at Gennenbach. Matthias Nüssiglich at Veldtberg, the young Hans Hächner a soldier who is at Lippurg, Elisabeth single dau. of Georg Stiffel.
      6. 1656 # 12 & 13 on 6 past. trinity was christened Adam and Eva twins. Parents: Christen Stockher carpenter at Gennenbach and Margaretha.
      Godparents: Adams godmother and godfather were Eustasius Wollenweber the pastor, Herr Wilhelm Rosskopf mayor, Uhlin Holenwayer a court councilor, and Anna Hans Wibers wife.
      Godparents: Eva's godmother and godfather were Hand Glücker the judge, Claus Glöckler, Hans Jacob Hälfflin and Anna Georg Stiffels wife at Gennenbach.
      7. 1657 # 21, Johannes a child of Hanss Heinrich Stockher in the village Gennenbach and of Ursula Müller. Born on the 6th of August chr. on the 10th.
      Godparents: Hanss Hächler a solder in Lipperg, Hanss, son in law of Jerg Stiffel the strawroofer, Jacob, Gregory Keyser the weavers son and Magdalena Hans Gluckhers daughter the midwife.
      8. 1661 # 1 on 21 January were married Hans Jacob, legit. son of Jacob Stockher a citizen at Rotwill the district of Bern and Margretha the dau of the late Fridlin Schinbein who had been a citizen and judge in Veldberg.
      9. 1661 # 4 On 4 November was married Hans Stockher at Gennenbach and Elisabeth dau. of Baltzer Dinger."
      C. The email is from Price and Associates with their researcher Milan's response to Trudy's work. Price and Associates posed the requests and Milan responded as follows:
      "1) Check marriage on 21 Jan 1661 for complete marriage entry of Hans Jacob Stockher and Margretha Shinbein. The marriage record was looked up. The entry translates as follows (as close to the original as possible to avoid misinterpretation):
      "1661, [entry] 1 On the 21st January Hanns Jacob, of Jacob Stockher, citizen of Kotwill [or Rotwill] of the Bern area, [his] legitimate son, and Margreht, [of] Fridlin Schinbein, deceased citizen and judge in Veldberg, [his] left-behind daughter.
      While Veldberg is the old spelling of Feldberg, the town where the parish is located, the case is not as clear with the Swiss town of origin. As already known from previous research, there is a Kottwil (in the record spelled Kotwill or maybe Rotwill), located in the Canton of Luzern. Kottwil is located about 8 miles east from the borders of the Canton Bern, where the ancestral town of the Stocker/Stockher family is located according to the entry. Luzern was never part of the Canton Bern. If Rotwill is a close spelling for the desired town of origin, then there is a problem. In the whole of Switzerland there is no Rotwill nor a Rottwil, or any similar spelling. The three closest spellings are Rottenswil (Canton Aargau, Lutherans in Lunkhofen), Rottetswil (Canton Luzern, Lutherans in Emmen), and Rutzenwil (Canton St. Gallen, no Lutheran parish nearby, but Catholics in Bernhardszell). There is no such town in the Canton of Bern. Since the parish priests states "Berner Gebiet" (Bern area), it must not be always refer to the Canton Bern, but could also refer to the area near the large city of Bern. Kottwil is actually closer to the city Luzern (16 miles) than to Bern (34 miles), but Bern is a much bigger city than Luzern. One way to come closer to an answer about this problem is to research all parish records for of the Bern and Luzern areas that have a town in its borders that start with a K or an R, and end with -wil or -will.
      2. Check 1652 birth on 22 July (Maria Magdalena feast day?) for Johan Friedelin, parents Caspar Stocker and Margaretha. Is it possible this is the birth for Johan Friedrich, son of Christian Stocker and Margaretha? Johan Friedrich's birth/christening has never been found although we know he was the son of Christian of Feldberg and born about 1653/4. Are there other entries for a Caspar and Margaretha Stocker as a separate couple in this parish or could the clerk have misrecorded the father's given name and it should have been Christian? Is Friedelin interchangeable with Friedrich?
      The baptismal entry of Johan Fridelin Stocker was searched for. It translates as follows:
      "[Entry] 12 On the feast day of Maria Magdalene, on 22 July [1652] Was baptized Johan Fridelin; Parents are Caspar Stocker of Gennenbach, [a] carpenter, [and] Margaretha; Witnesses are Fridlin Schinbein; Hans Glucker, a senator [= lay judge]; Catharina, wife of Claus Schumacher; Anna, wife of Hans Wejber.
      The baptismal entries between 1645 and 1657 were checked for any Stocker and Stockher. There were two entries found for children of a Christen Stocker, a twin couple in 1650 (Hans and Maria) and a twin couple in 1655 (Adam and Eva). There was no other entry for a child of Caspar Stocker/Stockher. By comparing the godparents/witnesses between these two entries mentioned and the translated entry above, several names appear again and again: Fridlin Schinbein, Hans Glucker, Anna, wife of Hans Wejber [also spelled Weiber]. Afterward the marriage records were checked. There was no Caspar Stocker found in the Feldberg parish records that married, but also no Christen Stocker. Only in 1659 shows up a Zacharias, son of Christen Stockher.
      According to the Omnastik-Lexicon (http://www.onomastik.com/Vornamen- Lexikon/name_255_Friedel.html) the spelling Friedel (no Fridelin found there) is the short form of Friedrich. Because of this it is possible that the Johan Fridelin found in 1652 could be the ancestor searched for. A copy of the entry is attached (Doc.02). 3)
      3. Check the following marriages of Zacharias Stocker to see if his father is listed as Christian (alive or deceased?): Zacharias and Maria Keller on 27 Jun 1659; Zacharias and Katherine Schum on 4 Feb 1667.
      The two marriage entries translate as follows:
      "[Year] 1659 On 27th June, Zachar. [of] Christi Stockher of Gennenbach, [his] legitimate son, and Maria [of] Hanns Keller, a former butcher in Ober Eggenheim [today Obereggenen], his left-behind daughter."
      "[Year 1667], [entry] 21 Zacharias Stockher, a carpenter and widower of the local Gennenbach, and Katharina Schum from Switzerland, of the Weil Olchamer [?] area, was a maid servant at the squire and bailiff of Badenweiler; [married on] the same day and hour as the preceding entry [= 4 April, last part written in Latin]."
      It looks like that the groom in both entries are the very same individuals. The 2nd marriage does not list a father for the groom since he was a widower, which corresponds with the recording rule established by the Lutheran and Catholic Churches."

      MARRIAGE:
      1. Sources of information: Kirchenbuch Wörth (an der Sauer), Heiraten 1572-1635, 1641-1694; FHL INTL Film 1069776.