| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. There is much discussion in the notes below concerning the parallel line of Stockers that ended up in Pennsylvania from Preuschdorf and which are related to us at about 12 generations or so. The earliest ancestor of the parallel line is shown to have been from Kottweil and so I infer that our earliest ancestor on our line is probably of the same origin. The discussions below talk about an alternate reading of the old German script for Kottwill as perhaps Rottwill depending on how one reads the old script for the first letter. Professional researchers were engaged for looking at the Rottweil records in southwest Germany and no Stockers whatsoever were found, which eliminates this town as the source. It leaves us with Kottweil for the parallel line. Kottweil is in Canton Zurich in Switzerland. Our earliest ancestor, Christian, is indicated as having come from Canton Berne. Perhaps there is a Kottweil in Canton Berne as well, but so far one hasn't been found. Perhaps the clerk was generalizing when he said Canton Berne for Christian. Many people from Switzerland came to southern Germany after the 30 Year War.
Also in regards to places, in the original Feldberg records our people were noted to be from Hennenbach (aka Gennenbach since H and G are interchangeable in old German) -- a small hamlet adjacent to Feldberg. Today it is identified as Gennenbach. There is also a Gennenbach just east of Mulheim due west of Feldberg and about an hour's drive from Feldberg -- it is the wrong one. Gennenbach near Feldberg is difficult to find except when one looks at a map of Feldberg, there is a lane name Gennenbach that leads just a very short distance to a grouping of about a half a dozen houses; evidently my term "hamlet" overly enlarges the actual place -- it is more like a neighborhood.
2. Modern DNA testing results provided by family researcher Noel Stoker suggest a 75% chance of relationship between the immigrants 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 partially known and so these DNA results 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. 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 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."
4. Price and Associates, Inc., (c) Research Report, prepared for Noel Stoker and used by his permission. Report dated 8 Sep 2014. File name: Stocker2014Jun/1333. A transcript of the report:
OBJECTIVES
• Answer questions pertaining to previous research.
• Continue the Stocker line if records are available.
RESULTS
• Answered as many of the client's questions as possible. Some answers were not found due to the non-availability of records for the early 1600s and late 1500s.
• Found a possible lead on the Stocker ancestry in Willisau, Switzerland, but there was not enough time left to finish the research.
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Continue research in the Willisau, Switzerland, records for any trace of the ancestral Stocker family.
• Search for the marriage record of Hans Jacob Stocker in or near Hermersweiler prior to 1681.
• Search the Sulz Lutheran parish records for the Staehli line.
• Search for the marriage record of the ancestor Anna Barbara [no maiden name known] and Hans Heinrich Bartl.
[QUESTIONS & ANSWERS]
The objectives of this research project were to answer the client's questions pertaining to previous research and then continue the Stocker line if records are available.
Question 1: Client noted that the research for individuals born into earlier (older) generations of the Stocker line was not finished yet.
Answer: The client is correct. The research on the Stocker line is not completely finished yet. This part of research is partially addressed in questions 2 through 6.
Question 2: Identify the most recent common ancestor of Johann Michael Stocker of Frederick (RIN 273) and Hans Michael Stocker of Mitschdorf (RIN 29).
Answer: Currently this question is impossible to answer. It seems they must have been related; the question is how. The Stocker surname (in various spellings) is not very common in Alsace-Lorraine. The parish records of Preuschdorf are too late to answer this question. ["Preuschdorf, Marriges Protestants Lutheriens 1660-1792," includes Goersdorf, Kutzenhausen, Lampertsloch, and Mitschdorf; Evangelishe Kirche Preuschdorf, Taufen 1660-1715, Tote 1661-1715, FHL INTL Film 769168 item 4.] An area search around Feldberg (see also the answer to question 3) did not produce any results. The origin of the Stocker family name points to Germany, according to the German Geneanet database, [Geneanet (http://de.geneanet.org/familiennamen/STOCKER: accessed 6 Sep. 2014)] but in the 1500s Switzerland is also listed. GenWiki [GenWiki (http://wiki-de.genealogy.net/Stocker_%28Familienname%29: accessed 6 Sep. 2014] lists only sources for southern Germany and Austria, but has no references prior to 1724.
To investigate the possibility that the Stocker ancestry originated in Kottwil, these records were investigated. In the 1600s there were only Catholic parishes in that area, but the later generations of the Stocker line were Lutheran. This could have been why the Stocker families emigrated from the religiously conservative Switzerland to Baden and Alsace-Lorraine.
The Catholic Ettiswil parish records were examined since Kottwil belonged to Ettiswil. [Katholishe Kirche Ettiswil, Taufen 1585-1649, FHL INTL Film 999710] The baptisms between 1590 and 1649 produced three different Stocker families, but strangely each had only one child per family and none was Hans/Johann Michael Stocker. But the baptismal entries between 1621 and 1634 are missing from the parish books. These years are permanently lost, as confirmed by a note in the parish records themselves. There were several entries with the spelling Stöckli, but no connection could be found between the Stöckli and the Stocker lines.
Question 3: What is the relationship between Christian Stocker (died 1669, age 64) and Hans Stocker (died 1649, no age listed)?
Answer: Hans Stocker was not listed in the client database. Therefore his death record was looked up to obtain information about him. [Kirchenbuch Feldberg, Tote 1639-1793, FHL INTL Film 1189398 items 5-9] This entry was then compared with the death record found previously for Christian Stocker. The comparison produced the following result.
Christian Stocker. Carpenter. Of Gennenbach. 64 years old.
Hans Stocker. Carpenter. Of Gennenbach. No age stated.
Both were adults, both were carpenters, and both were of the same town Gennenbach. [The family group sheets prepared by Trudy Schenk in 1993 mistakenly spelled this localith Hennenbach.] Often a profession was passed from father to son. Unfortunately the death records of the 1640s and 1650 did not list the ages of the deceased. Marriage records of Feldberg Parish were searched but did not deliver any clue either. There is a chance Christian was the son of Hans Stocker, but this cannot be proven with Feldberg parish records since they do not go back far enough. [Kirchenbuch Feldberg, Taufen, Heiraten, Tote 1639-1793, FHL INTL Film 1189398 items 5-9] Therefore the older parish records of the neighboring parishes were checked. These include Niedereggenen, Obereggenen, Badenweiler, Müllheim, and Auggen. Prior to 1556, Niedereggenen belonged to Obereggenen. [Evangelische Kirche Niedereggenen, Heiraten 1697-1740, FHL INTL Film 1189419 items 11-12.] For Obereggenen no Stocker entry prior to 1650 was found. [Evangelische Kirche Oberreggenen, Heiraten 1638-1739, FHL INTL Film 1189415 items 11-13.] A marriage was found in Badenweiler, but it was dated 1725. ["Ortssippenbuch der ehemaligen Vogtei Badenweiler," FFHL 943.46/B13 D2h.] Müllheim parish records start in 1679. [Evangelische Kirche Müllheim, Heiraten 1679-1788, FHL INTL Film 1189577.] For Auggen, no Stocker entry prior to 1650 was found. [Evangelische Kirche Auggen, Heiraten 1639-1651, FHL INTL Film 1189424.] The parishes Feuerbach, Vogelbach, Hügelheim, and Britzingen do not border Feldberg but are close enough to be worth researching. However, Feuerbach records do not start until 1657. [Evangelische Kirche Feuerbach, Heiraten 1660-1817, FHL INTL Film 1189402 items 5-8.] In Vogelbach, Stocker entries were found, but only children of a Martin Stocker. [Evangelische Kirche Vogelbach, Heiraten 1625-1692, FHL INTL Film 1189427.] No Stocker entry was found in Hügelheim. [Evangelische Kirche Hügelheim, Heiraten 1643-1725, FHL INTL Film 1189499 items 1-7.] In Britzingen, there is a gap for all ordinances between 1638 and 1643, but in the rest no Stocker was found. [Evangelische Kirche Britzingen, Heiraten 1635-1720, FHL INTL Film 1189490 items 1-2.] Based on this small area search, no definitive answer of relationship can be given.
Question 4: The family group sheets provided by Trudy Schenk in 1993 might contain a mistake regarding Zacharias Stocker being the son of Christian Stocker and Margaretha.
Answer: By comparing the existing family group sheets, there are two theories: (1) Zacharias Stocker (born about 1632, possibly in or near Feldberg) was born into the first marriage of Christian Stocker (because of an 18-year gap between the children of Christian Stocker), or (2) two different Christian Stockers had children in Feldberg about 20 years apart.
The pre-1650 marriage and death records of Feldberg were examined in hopes of finding a definitive answer. [Evangelische Kirche Feldberg, Taufen, Heiraten, Tote 1639-1793, FHL INTL Film 1189398 items 5-9.] The result of this search was negative, meaning no further light could be shed on this problem.
If Christian Stocker was married twice and the first wife was from a neighboring parish, the couple might have married there. As already mentioned, the following parishes border Feldberg: Niedereggenen, Obereggenen, Badenweiler, Müllheim, and Auggen. These parishes were researched as far as records were available for the desired time frame. [Evangelische Kirche Niedereggenen, Heiraten 1697-1740, FHL INTL Film 1189419 items 11-12.] [Evangelische Kirche Oberreggenen, Heiraten 1638-1739, FHL INTL Film 1189415 items 11-13.] ["Ortssippenbuch der ehemaligen Vogtei Badenweiler," FFHL 943.46/B13 D2h.] [Evangelische Kirche Müllheim, Heiraten 1679-1788, FHL INTL Film 1189577.] [Evangelische Kirche Auggen, Heiraten 1639-1651, FHL INTL Film 1189424.] To make a long story short, no Christian Stocker was found in the marriage records. Also the indirect neighboring parishes of Feuerbach, Vogelbach, Hügelheim, and Britzingen were checked. No marriage for Christian Stocker was found. [Evangelische Kirche Feuerbach, Heiraten 1660-1817, FHL INTL Film 1189402 items 5-8.] [Evangelische Kirche Vogelbach, Heiraten 1625-1692, FHL INTL Film 1189427.] [Evangelische Kirche Hügelheim, Heiraten 1643-1725, FHL INTL Film 1189499 items 1-7.] [Evangelische Kirche Britzingen, Heiraten 1635-1720, FHL INTL Film 1189490 items 1-2.]
Question 5: Were Christian Stocker (RIN 302) and Jacob Stocker (RIN 224) of Kottwil, Switzerland, and if yes, were they brothers?
Answer: As already mentioned under question 2, the parish records of Ettiswil were examined where the people of Kottwil worshipped, with the objective of finding entries that point to these two individuals. [Katholische Kirche Ettiswil, Taufen 1585-1649, Heiraten 1589-1650, Tote 1590-1650, FHL INTL Film 999710.] One baptismal entry for a Jacob Stocker, son of Johannes Stocker and Anna, nee Graber, was found in 1621. Whether this is the same Jacob Stocker (RIN 224) could not be proven with the records available. In theory it is possible that Magdalena, the wife of Jacob Stocker, was born in or about 1624. Since Jacob and Magdalena married about 1664 in Alsace-Lorraine, it was likely a second marriage for both that established the direct ancestry. Final proof of the validity of the family connection between Jacob Stocker (RIN 224) and the Jacob Stocker born in 1621 cannot be given. Nothing was found for Christian Stocker (RIN 302).
The neighboring parishes to Ettiswil were also checked. The Catholic parish Grosswangen was checked first. [Katholische Kirche Grosswangen, Taufen 1584-1654, Heiraten 1593-1654, Tote 1593-1654, FHL INTL Film 999474 item 1.] These records had very bad handwriting, and no information on any Stocker families was found. The Catholic Willisau parish was checked next. [Katholische Kirche Willisau, Taufen 1595-1651, Heiraten, Tote 1598-1655, FHL INTL Film 999481.] There was only enough time to check the baptisms between 1598 and 1610. Children of Peter Stockher, Johannes Stuck (or Stucker - hard to read), and Beatus Stocker were noted. More research in this parish will be necessary to find possible connecting points to the rest of the Stocker posterity.
Question 6: Were Jacob and Zacharias Stocker, who both had children in the 1690s, siblings or cousins?
Answer: Hans Jacob Stocker was born about 1634 probably near Kottwil and Zacharias Stocker was born about 1632 either in Kottwil, Goersdorf, or Feldberg. There are no baptismal records early enough to mention these individuals in Feldberg [Evangelische Kirche Feldberg, Taufen, Heiraten, Tote 1639-1793, FHL INTL Film 1189398 items 5-9] or Preuschdorf ["Preuschdorf, Marriges Protestants Lutheriens 1660-1792," includes Goersdorf, Kutzenhausen, Lampertsloch, and Mitschdorf; Evangelishe Kirche Preuschdorf, Taufen 1660-1715, Tote 1661-1715, FHL INTL Film 769168 item 4] (where Goersdorf belongs). For Kottwil (parish Ettiswil [Katholische Kirche Ettiswil, Taufen 1585-1649, Heiraten 1589-1650, Tote 1590-1650, FHL INTL Film 999710]) only Catholic records are available. From previous research it is known that Zacharias Stocker was the son of Christian Stocker (by the marriage record found previously). According to Trudy Schenk's 1993 research, Hans Jacob Stocker was the son of Jacob Stocker, but no proof was provided for this. The only way to prove this would be to find either the marriage record of Hans Jacob Stocker in or near Hermersweiler (prior to 1681) or the baptismal entries for both in the Catholic records of Kottwil. [Katholische Kirche Ettiswil, Taufen 1585-1649, Heiraten 1589-1650, Tote 1590-1650, FHL INTL Film 999710.] If neither set of records produces a result, this question is impossible to answer. There was no time left to work on this task. The research in the later Kottwil baptisms and the Hermersweiler marriages has to wait until the next research project is approved.
The client asked for a pedigree showing the relationships of those we know. This task was not done yet since many of these relationships are not confirmed.
Following are all findings made during this research session. As already mentioned, for none of the entries could proof be found linking them to the ancestral family tree. Therefore these entries were entered into a separate database and prepared for temple work.
Marriage Register. Source: Ortssippenbuch Badenweiler, Baden, Germany:
- M. 27 Nov. 1725 Johann Stocker, born 23 Feb. 1702 in Feldberg, and Anna Schuhmacher, born 12 May 1704 in Zunzingen; father of the groom: Michael Stocker of Feldberg; father of the bride: [Not stated]. No page #, entry 8852.
Marriage Register. Source: Evangelische Kirche Vogelbach, Baden, Germany:
- M. 6 Jul. 1628: Ulrich Stocker and Anna Meyer; father of the groom: Martin Stocker; father of the bride: Deceased Jacob Meyer. Page 28, entry #55.
- M. 10 May 1629: Ulrich Stocker [same as above] and Sophia, Grizman[?] of Friburg [possibly Freiburg]; father of the groom: [Not stated]; father of the bride: Deceased Conradt Grizman[?]. Page 29, entry #3.
Birth Register (the mothers of these children all had the very same name). Source: Lutheran Church Records of Ettiswil, Luzern, Switzerland:
- Chr. 12 Feb. 1620: Peter Stocker; father: Peter Stocker; mother: Anna, nee Graber. Page 254.
- Chr. 6 Dec. 1621: Jacob Stocker; father: Johannes Stocker; mother: Anna, nee Graber. Page 262.
- Chr. 15 Feb. 1634: Caspar Stocker; father: Steffan Stocker; mother: Anna, nee Graber. Page 269.
Birth Register. Source: Lutheran Church Records of Willisau, Luzern, Switzerland:
- Chr. 18 Dec. 1600: Maria Stockher; father: Peter Stockher; mother: Barbara, nee Rogger. No page #, no entry #.
- Chr. 28 Oct. 1601: Maria Stuck; father: Johannes Stuck; mother: Verena, nee Zipt. No page #, no entry #.
- Chr. 21 Nov. 1602: Apolonia Stocker; father: Beatus Stocker; mother: Barbara, nee Bauwart. No page #, no entry #.
- Chr. 24 Feb. 1605: Henrich Stocker; father: Beatus Stocker; mother: Barbara, nee Bauwarth. No page #, no entry #.
- Chr. 22 Oct. 1609: Elisabeth Stocker; father: Jacob Stocker; mother: Maria, nee am Rein. No page #, no entry #.
Altogether 31 individuals were entered into the database and prepared for temple work.
CONCLUSION
One of the tasks of this project was to answer several questions posed by the client. No definitive answer could be given to identify the most recent common ancestor of Johann Michael Stocker of Frederick and Hans Michael Stocker of Mitschdorf. Also, no definitive answer can be given regarding the question about the relationship between Christian Stocker and Hans Stocker, due to missing older parish records. The question regarding whether Zacharias Stocker was the son of Christian Stocker and Margaretha could not be answered, again because of missing older parish records. To answer the question about the relationship between Christian Stocker and Jacob Stocker, not enough time was left. The answer has to wait until the next research project. Also for the question as to whether Jacob and Zacharias Stocker, who both had children in the 1690s, were siblings or cousins, no time was left to find the answer. All findings were entered into a separate database and prepared for temple work.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The older parish records of Willisau might contain the answers to questions 5 and 6. The marriage record of Hans Jacob Stocker should be sought in or near Hermersweiler prior to 1681.
It was previously recommended to continue searching the Sulz Lutheran parish records for the Staehli line. The Sulz parish records are available on microfilm back to 1595 - a potential of almost 100 years of records. Also an area search around Wörth for the first marriage between the ancestor Anna Barbara [no maiden name known] and Hans Heinrich Bartl [typo: should be Hans Friedrich Bartl] continues as a recommendation for a follow-up project.
It has been a pleasure to research your ancestry. We look forward to continuing, according to your instructions."
5. 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."
6. The following are emails from Rose Green, a descendant and expert German researcher concerning the question of Rottweil vs. Kottweil as discussed elsewhere in a separate note:
29 Apr 2015: "I've had a look at your questions and the relevant scans, and here are my thoughts.
1. The location that Jacob Stockher came from in the marriage record of Hanns Jacob Stockher and Margreht Schinbein in 1661. It really looks like an R to me. I ran it past my husband [a Professor of German], who reads a lot of early handwriting, and it looked like an R to him, too. It looks like Rottweil, which is about 78 km from Feldberg, in Germany. I don't know if that's too far or not. It's of course NOT in Bern. However, I googled "Rottweil, Switzerland" and found this in the wiki entry of this place: "In 1463 the city joined the Swiss Confederacy, with which it was closely aligned for several centuries. Both its status as free city and its alliance with the Swiss Confederacy were eventually lost with the conquest of the region by Napoleon in 1803." So...maybe because it was geographically near Bern (er, relatively--it's in the middle of Wuerttemberg today), that's why the Bern reference. Anyway, I kept googling. I found a really interesting web site about doing genealogy in Rottweil (the territory; apparently it was a territory and not just a city?). One of the things on it is several military inspections lists (Musterungrollen). The one in 1675 lists a Melchior Stochker in the village of Deisslingen. It looks like the records for Rottweil (city) and Rottweil (city, Altstadt, or old city) start as follows:
Rottweil: b: 1564ff; m: 1744ff; d: 1626ff.
Rottweil Altstadt: b: 1601ff; m: 1601ff; d: 1601ff.
So, if this is the case, it could be possible to go a little before the 30 Years War (though not with marriages, it seems.) The whole site (in English) is at http://www.reichsstadt-rottweil.de/index.htm.
2. Christian vs. Casspar Stocker. This is a much harder one. Thus far you have found:
- Casspar and Margaretha Stocker
1. Johann Friedlin (godparents Friedlin Schinbein, Hans Gluecker, Catharina wife of Claus Schumacher, and Anna, wife of Hans Wejber
- Christen Stocker and ?? (Maria dau of Hanns Keller?)
1. Hans (1650)
2. Maria (1650)
3. Adam (1655)
4. Eva (1655)
5. Zacharias (md 1659 and 1667)
I am not sure what the practice with names is in this area. I know that in Czech records, you see Maria/Magdalena/Margaretha used somewhat interchangeably. But those records are also in a mix between German/Czech/Latin, so you expect some name variations to occur. I am not sure if that happens in this area, though. Casspar and Christian are two very different (and in my opinion, NOT interchangeable) names. I think that either a) it's really the same person, but the difference is due to a clerical error, or b) they are different but closely related individuals, perhaps brothers, hence the same godparents every time. It's hard to say without a larger sample of data, which I admit is difficult when you are talking 1660s.
3. Yes, I would assume that the Zacharias Stockers in both of these marriages are one and the same person. I would also assume that in the case of the first marriage, his father was still living. I don't know that it's a written rule anywhere, but in practice, the default is that no mention = living, and specific mention of death = dead."
29 Apr 2015 email from myself: "One additional thing. The Feldberg records are IGI extracted and fully available by with a batch search. A search therein seems to indicate that the entity Casper only showed up in that one instance with no other records. I believe this adds support to a possible clerical problem."
30 Apr 2015 email from Rose: "Well, I can certainly see it being possible. I'm completely okay with Friedrich = Friedlin. If nothing else turns up, you could always record the father as Christian or Casspar? You could also check the daughters of Hanns Keller to see if he has a Maria and a Margaretha, or just one (or I suppose it could be a second marriage as well, though). Also interesting would be if you found the birth of Casspar and Christian Stocker -- but therein lies the problem, that you haven't been able to find them--right? [KP Note: Yes, that is correct as of this date.]
30 Apr 2015 email from Noel Stoker:
" I felt impressed several weeks ago to have Trudy return to the Feldberg Parish records and revisit "Kottwil", obtain photo copies, and make english translations that I could view. She returned with the pronouncement that she believed strongly now that K was R. I then asked Milan to confirm her findings. He elucidated on a number of her findings but was equivocal about the R vs K. (He had already extracted Stockers from Kottwil, Ettiswill, and Sursee in Canton Lucern.) He indicated that the priest's note regarding Bern was "near", not district of.
I searched the web and found the history of Rottweil as you indicated. Because it was part of the ancient Swiss Confederacy before Napoleon I thought we had discovered Jacob's residence, and perhaps we have. Trudy attempted to dissuade me from the thought, however, opining that it was a Catholic domain and our people were Lutherans. She felt we should search for Stocker in villages nearer Bern. She discovered a number of Stocker families in that time frame in these villages.
I also asked a dear friend who married a Swiss girl if they would view the images and render an opinion. They felt it was an R but encouraged me to search in areas nearer Bern. He even submitted it to their German researcher in SLC who was somewhat equivocal. I had made contact with a Rene' Dirzon at the FHC in Lucerne and asked her as to her opinion. She indicated that we were stuck with Kottwill and tired of my subsequent request.
So I am pleased that you and your husband, both expert in early German script, both think it is an R. This gives validation to my impressions to revisit the 1661 entry of Hans Jacob Stockher. I am also pleased that you found the web site you referenced. I am not sure how to use it. How do I access individual parish records? What does ff mean. Elementary questions I am certain.
I have had a DNA genealogist tell me that I should find that common ancestor in the 12th or 13th generation. Christian is the 11th, so we are close and hence my drive to find his father. Hans Stocker the first to appear in the Feldberg records died in 1649. Several of his children are identified in those records. What is the link between Hans and Jacob? Or between Christian and Jacob?"
30 Apr 2015 email from Rose: "I don't think you can actually view the parish records on that web site but at least we know when they start. I didn't look to see if they'd been microfilmed or not. The one thing I did see was the Musterungrollen that someone had copied out, confirming that there was at least one Stocker living there in 1675. But it sounds like there were Stockers in quite a few locations in that area."
1 May 2015 email from Rose following up on the previous email: "That web site doesn't have them; it just says for which years they exist. But they are available on microfilm ... Yes, as you said, they are Catholic, which does make you wonder, since the Stokers seemed to be specifically not. The Catholic records start in 1564, the Evangelical Lutheran not until 1806, and there are no Reformed records at all.
1 May 2015 email from Noel:
"Joh Michael Stocker [the American immigrant] is said to be of German Protestant descent. (Our Stoker Family Histories, 1731-1881, Volume 11, pg. 131.) The records we have extracted from Preuschdorf, Alsace-Lorraine were designated as Lutheran. Once they arrived here they identified with Evangelical and Reformed depending on the availability of pastors, who were often itinerant. In Frederick the earliest church records are listed under the name "Monocasie Church" (Monocracy). Apparently this was a combination of three groups, German Reformed, Lutheran, and "the Brethren, a Moravian sect. Joh Michael rented a 100 acres in Carollton Manor and was listed under Moravian families. The records we have of his children were from the Evangelical Lutheran Church founded in 1738.
Religious affiliation of our family anciently was fluid but primarily Lutheran. Prior to Martin Luther they were all Catholic, as you know, and then for a hundred years there seemed to be movement in and out of the two religions. It is not inconceivable to me that Jacob in Rottweil was Catholic and his son Hans Jacob identified with the Lutherans in Feldberg. The Stockers we have found prior to Feldberg are primarily Lutheran and may have migrated to Alsace-Lorraine for persecution reasons in part. Most of the Stockers seemed to have left the areas by the late 1600's.
Stockers were prominent in Switzerland from the 1300's. A prominent patrician family settled in the city of Schaffhausen in 1442-3. From there they migrated to Lucerne, Berne, and Zurich and elsewhere. (This information comes from a document held by the Library of Congress, entitled Historisch-Biographesches Leukonder Scheig, Vol. 6, pp 561-2-3, dated April 1931. I have poor, translated copies."
1 May 2015:
"Well, I do think that all Protestants have more in common with each other than they do Catholics. I've seen them even share a church book, carefully noting which ones are Reformed. But at some point, I suppose all of the Protestants no matter what their stripe had to convert from Catholicism.
Also, there were some laws that said that people had to follow the religion of the local lord, regardless of their personal convictions. So that could be one influencing factor. Here is what Wikipedia has to say on it with regards to Germany: "The Peace of Augsburg in 1555 changed the legal situation from a uniform Roman Catholic area to the Cuius regio, eius religio principle, which defined freedom of religion for territorial princes, while their subjects had to follow them. Individuals had at best the possibility to move into an area where their confession was practiced. Depending on the reigning prince, there could exist a certain tolerance towards other denominations, but not as a common law." Also to consider is the fact that the religion of your local ruling prince or whatever could change. If he had no issue and the title went to a distant relative, he might be a different religion. The people could go to bed Lutheran one night and wake up Catholic. Or vice versa.
I admit the Rottweil angle appeals to be greatly, EXCEPT the religion part does feel like a point of concern. Still, it can't hurt to have a look?"
4 June 2015:
"I was able to look at the Rottweil film last night. It starts in 1601 and goes late into the 1700s at least. Figuring that a marriage record of 1661 would mean a birth around 1640, I started from the beginning (1601) and scanned every page for any mention of Stocker in any spelling. I went up to about 1665, and found zero mention in any of the birth entries. I checked the confirmations in the 1600s as well as the marriages to about 1665 and deaths as well. I did not find one single reference to any Stockers. (Although it did look like there were people there who were originally from Switzerland.) My best guess is that if this Ja
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
Abt 1605 - 1669 (~ 64 years)