In this post I’ll continue to reveal Lawrence Huber’s ancestry in Butschbach and surrounding areas. At least for now, I will follow Lawrence’s paternal ancestry. The records of the Catholic church in Oberkirch, which was attended by residents of Butschbach and Giedensbach, go back to 1647. Given that Lawrence was born in 1817, it might be possible to trace his ancestry about five generations back. That is based on an average of about thirty years from the birth of one generation to the next.
Lawrence Huber’s father was Joseph. The records that I’ve shown so far have no approximate birth date for Joseph. From his 1809 marriage record, I do know his parents were Joseph Huber and Maria Anna Heizmann.[1] That information will be helpful for knowing when I have found his baptism record. He died 24 May 1853 and his death record says he was seventy-eight years old.[2] This suggests he was born about 1775.
I easily find his baptism record. Written in Latin, it shows he was baptized 25 March 1775 and born the previous day. His baptismal name was Francis Joseph and his call name was Joseph, judging by the other records found for him. His parents were Joseph Huber and Anna Maria Heizmann. The fact that his mother’s given names were reversed compared to Joseph’s marriage record is not unusual. Joseph’s father was a citizen of Giedensbach in this year. His godparents were Andreas Vogt, citizen in Otspach [Ödsbach] and Barbara Haas, wife of Johann Haas, citizen in Gimmerspach [Grimmersbach]. The father and the godparents all signed with their mark at the bottom of the record.[3]
Here is a map showing the locations of Giedensbach, Ödsbach, and Grimmersbach. You can see they are all very close to each other.
Joseph and Anna Maria Heizmann married 2 May 1774. This was the first marriage for both of them. Joseph was the son of Laurenz Hueber, deceased, and his surviving widow, Catharina Hepptich. The bride’s parents were Laurenz Haitzmann and Catharina Hueber.[4]
You can see how names are reused a lot. Both fathers were named Laurenz and the bride’s mother’s maiden name was Huber. This shows how easy it might be to get people confused!
Joseph and Anna Maria had several more children:
- Francis Michael, born 17 September 1776[5]
- Francis Michael, born 8 October 1777[6]
- Ambrose, born about 8 December 1781[7]
- Anton, born 25 April 1784[8]
- Franciska, born 17 December 1788[9]
- Laurenz, born 24 July 1791[10]
- Andreas, born 6 December 1793[11]
The sister Franciska born in 1788 might have been the godparent for my Lawrence Huber born in 1817. Proving that is for another day. We have a good framework now for working back another generation. Stay tuned!
[1] Katholische Kirche (Oberkirch, Offenburg, Baden), Heiraten [Marriages], 1647–1815, p. 420, May 1809, Huber-Kuder; FamilySearch, FSL 995,509.
[2] Katholische Kirche (Oberkirch, Offenburg, Baden), Tote [Deaths], 1726–1756, p. 248, nr. 59, Joseph Huber; FamilySearch, FSL 995,792.
[3] Katholische Kirche (Oberkirch, Offenburg, Baden), Taufen [Baptisms], 1739–1777, p. 405 [also p. 299] (1775), Franciscus Josephus Huber; FamilySearch, FSL 995,506.
[4] Katholische Kirche (Oberkirch, Offenburg, Baden), Heiraten [Marriages], 1647–1815, p. 465, 2 May 1774, Huber-Haitzmann; FamilySearch, FSL 995,509.
[5] Katholische Kirche (Oberkirch, Offenburg, Baden), Taufen [Baptisms], 1739–1777, p. 478 (1776), Franciscus Micheal Huber.
[6] Katholische Kirche (Oberkirch, Offenburg, Baden), Taufen [Baptisms], 1739–1777, p. 530 (1777), Franciscus Micheal Huber.
[7] Katholische Kirche (Oberkirch, Offenburg, Baden), Taufen [Baptisms], 1778–1840, p. 168 (1781), Ambrosius Huber; FamilySearch, FSL 995,507.
[8] Katholische Kirche (Oberkirch, Offenburg, Baden), Taufen [Baptisms], 1778–1840, p. 268 (1784), Anton Huber.
[9] Katholische Kirche (Oberkirch, Offenburg, Baden), Taufen [Baptisms], 1778–1840, p. 470 (1788), Franciska Huber.
[10] Katholische Kirche (Oberkirch, Offenburg, Baden), Taufen [Baptisms], 1778–1840, p. 587 (1791), Laurentz Huber.
[11] Katholische Kirche (Oberkirch, Offenburg, Baden), Taufen [Baptisms], 1778–1840, p. 706 (1793), Andreas Huber.
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