A few years ago, I found an immigration record showing that a family of eight, headed by Mathias Stephany, a 40-year old farmer, immigrated in 1843 from Konfeld, which is about 20 miles from Trier, Prussia. I thought this might be my great-great-great-grandfather, who emigrated in 1843 and went by "Mathias Stephens" in the U.S.
The Confeld Catholic Parish Registers showed that the Mathias Stephany who lived in Confeld is the same as the one who emmigrated to America and settled in New Berlin, Wisconsin.
Here is what I found in the registers:
On February 2, 1826, Mathias Stephani, son of Joannis Stephani and Catharina Ruhl, and Eva Schuh, daughter of Nicolas Schuh and Eva Huorst, were married in Confeld.
Joannes, son of Mathias Stephani and Eva Schuh was born and baptized January 25, 1827. Godparents were Joanne Schuh and Susanna Stephani.
Petrus, son of Mathias Stephani and Eva Schuh was born and baptized February 25, 1829. Godparents were Peter Schutz and Maria Katz(?).
Nicolaus, son of Math. Stephani and Eva Schuh was born and baptized November 26, 1831. Godparents were Nicol. Shuh and Magd. Stephani of Confeld.
Joan. Petrus Stephani, parents Mathias Stephani and Eva Schuh, was born and baptized December 24, 1933. Godparents Joan. Petrus Schuh and Eva Sritz(?). I believe this child is my great-great-grandfather, Henry Stephens, based on the birthdate, and the death of his mother about one week later, which matches the family story passed down about the sad circumstances of Henry's birth.
Eva Schu, wife of Matthias Stephani of Confeld, age 27, died January 2, 1834 and was buried January 4, 1834.
On December 16, 1834, Mathias Stephani, widower of Eva Schu of Confeld, married Barbara Hubschen, widow of Joannis Schmitt of Thailen.
Barbara Stephany, daughter of Math. Stephany and Barbara Hubschen was born and baptized August 24, 1835. Godparents Joan. Kohr of Thailen and Barbara Lernhoffe of Confeld.
Mathias Stephany, son of Mathias Stephany and Barbara Hubschen was born February 10, 1837, baptized February 11, 1837. Godparents Mathias Besker? of Confeld and Margaretha Haas of Thailen. 
Joannes Stephany, son of Mathias Stephany and Barbara Hubschen was born September 22, 1838, baptized September 23, 1838. Godparents Joannes Lauer of Thailen and Susanna Stephani of Confeld.
Matthias Stephany, son of Mathias Stephany and Barbara Hubschen was born March 3, 1840, and baptized March 4, 1840. Godparents Mathias Spanier and Theresa Becker of Confeld.
SOURCES
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| Confeld, Merzig, Trier, Rheinland, Preussen |
The Confeld Catholic Parish Registers showed that the Mathias Stephany who lived in Confeld is the same as the one who emmigrated to America and settled in New Berlin, Wisconsin.
Here is what I found in the registers:
On February 2, 1826, Mathias Stephani, son of Joannis Stephani and Catharina Ruhl, and Eva Schuh, daughter of Nicolas Schuh and Eva Huorst, were married in Confeld.
Joannes, son of Mathias Stephani and Eva Schuh was born and baptized January 25, 1827. Godparents were Joanne Schuh and Susanna Stephani.
Petrus, son of Mathias Stephani and Eva Schuh was born and baptized February 25, 1829. Godparents were Peter Schutz and Maria Katz(?).
Nicolaus, son of Math. Stephani and Eva Schuh was born and baptized November 26, 1831. Godparents were Nicol. Shuh and Magd. Stephani of Confeld.
Joan. Petrus Stephani, parents Mathias Stephani and Eva Schuh, was born and baptized December 24, 1933. Godparents Joan. Petrus Schuh and Eva Sritz(?). I believe this child is my great-great-grandfather, Henry Stephens, based on the birthdate, and the death of his mother about one week later, which matches the family story passed down about the sad circumstances of Henry's birth.
Eva Schu, wife of Matthias Stephani of Confeld, age 27, died January 2, 1834 and was buried January 4, 1834.
On December 16, 1834, Mathias Stephani, widower of Eva Schu of Confeld, married Barbara Hubschen, widow of Joannis Schmitt of Thailen.
Barbara Stephany, daughter of Math. Stephany and Barbara Hubschen was born and baptized August 24, 1835. Godparents Joan. Kohr of Thailen and Barbara Lernhoffe of Confeld.
Mathias Stephany, son of Mathias Stephany and Barbara Hubschen was born February 10, 1837, baptized February 11, 1837. Godparents Mathias Besker? of Confeld and Margaretha Haas of Thailen. 
Joannes Stephany, son of Mathias Stephany and Barbara Hubschen was born September 22, 1838, baptized September 23, 1838. Godparents Joannes Lauer of Thailen and Susanna Stephani of Confeld.
Matthias Stephany, son of Mathias Stephany and Barbara Hubschen was born March 3, 1840, and baptized March 4, 1840. Godparents Mathias Spanier and Theresa Becker of Confeld.
SOURCES
Kirchenbuch, Katholische Kirche Confeld (Kr. Merzig): Heiraten [Marriages] 1801-1903 items 11-12.: Tote [Deaths] 1810-1876. FHL Microfilm # 466486 (International Film Collection), Family History Library, Salt Lake City.
Kirchenbuch, Katholische Kirche Confeld (Kr. Merzig): Taufen [Baptisms] 1798-1895. FHL Microfilm # 466485 (International Film Collection), Family History Library, Salt Lake City.
Note: If you are related to any of these people, I'd be happy to share images of the parish register pages with you.
Kirchenbuch, Katholische Kirche Confeld (Kr. Merzig): Taufen [Baptisms] 1798-1895. FHL Microfilm # 466485 (International Film Collection), Family History Library, Salt Lake City.
Note: If you are related to any of these people, I'd be happy to share images of the parish register pages with you.
Henry Stephens...father of Ellis Stephens? Would have been my Great Grandfather?
ReplyDeleteYes, Linda!
ReplyDeleteCathy: Thanks much for all of your research! This is really excellent material. I'm the grandson of Raymond Cecil Stephens (1906-2001), great grandson of Alfred Stephens, and great-great of Henry Stephens. I've seen your comments on the latter on the Find a Grave Site. I also saw the photo of Alfred from your pictures. Anyhow, just wanted to say much appreciated. Though I'm from Kansas, I now live in northern England where I'm a history professor.
ReplyDeleteThanks to your research, I just discovered the connection between the Stephany/Stephens family of Waukesha Co. and the Schuh families of Milwaukee that I am researching. It seems that Mathias Stephany's first wife Eva (Schuh) Stephany was an older sister of Nic Schuh (both children of Nic & Eva (Knorst) Schuh) who came from Confeld to Milwaukee 1843 (the same year that Mathias Stephany immigrated).
ReplyDeleteI am confused about Mathias’ second wife. Most of the information I have found says Barbara Hein/Heinen, but the marriage date (1832) doesn’t add up because it’s before Eva died (1834). Other information says Barbara Hibschen; married in 1834. When I search for information about Barbara Hibschen, I get results for Barbara Hein - including that B. Hibschen’s father’s last name was Hein/Heinen/etc. Plus, Find A Grave indicates that Mathias and Barbara died in 1876 or 1878 - but they are both on the 1880 census, living with a daughter and her family. I just can’t make sense of any of it. Can you help me with any of this? I am related to Georg/George Frank and his first wife, Barbara Stevens/Stephens/Stephanÿ (Mathias’ daughter). Thanks.
ReplyDelete