The Wedding of Johann Bintz and Margaretha Rovin
My maternal 2nd great grandparents were married in Luxembourg, the land of their births, before immigrating to the United States of America in the 1850s. Locating and transcribing a marriage record could provide new valuable information.
After years of searching, a civil marriage record was located on FamilySearch…yea!
(click on images to enlarge)
But what additional information is in the record and oh, yea, it’s in German.
This record was
also sent off to the Luxembourg American Cultural Society (LACS) where I requested a
translation to determine what additional information there was. (See post Birth of Jacob Hamman for translation information for
Luxembourg records)
Translation:
In the
year 1855, on November 20th, at 11 a.m., before us Johann (John) Berens, mayor,
registrar of the civil status records of the municipality of Weiler-la-Tour, in
the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, appeared before us Johann (John) Bintz, linen
weaver, aged 27 years, born in said Weiler-la-Tour, February 14, 1828, residing
in Weiler-la-Tour, municipality of this name, major son of Wilhelm (William)
Bintz, here present and consenting to this marriage, linen weaver, aged 57
years, and of Maria Petesch, aged 58 years, married couple residing here in
Weiler-la-Tour, afore mentioned birth is recorded in the civil status registers
of this municipality, one side, And the spinster Margaretha Rovin, without
profession, aged 19 years, born in Remich, in this Grand Duchy, on August 8,
1836, residing in Weiler-la-Tour, illegitimate (1) and minor daughter of Anne
Marie Rovin, here present and consenting to the marriage, aged 48 years,
midwife, residing in Weiler-la-Tour; said birth documented by attached
certificate, on the other side. Who requested us to proceed to the wedding
agreed amongst them, and the publications of which were done in this
municipality on the Sundays 4th and 11th of this month, as this comes forth
from the register of marriage announcements of this municipality.
As we
have not been notified any opposition to the intended marriage, we do right to
their request; and after having read out all the above mentioned records and
chapter 6 of the Civil Code, bearing the title “Of Marriage”, we have asked the
groom and the bride, whether they take each other as husband and wife, as both
have answered, each one separately and affirmatively, we declare in the name of
the law that Johann Bintz and Margaretha Rovin are united by the bonds of
marriage. Of all this we have set up this present record , and this in the
presence of Nicolas Diedier, farmer, aged 42 years, residing in Dippach,
municipality of this name Of Johann Kayl, farmer, aged 70 years, residing in
Abweiler, municipality of Bettembourg, Of Johann Kayl, farmer, aged 74 years,
residing in Weiler-la-Tour, And of Nicolas Goerges, farmer, aged 70 years,
residing in Filsdorf, none of the witnesses related to the bride and groom.
Who, after been given lecture thereof, signed it with us, except mentioned
Maria Petesch, mother of the groom, who, when requested, declared to be
ignorant of writing. [signatures].
- Translator’s note-(1) The original text speaks about » natural daughter ». In Luxembourg, and French law (and some other European , as well), this legal term designates a child born out of wedlock. In order, to avoid any ambiguity in regard to American legislation, where « natural born citizen » (Constitution art. II, section 1) means born in the country, in America, the translator opted for « illegitimate ».
- Johann’s profession was that of a ‘linen weaver’.
- Johann’s mother, Maria Petesch, was unable to write/sign her name. Margaretha and Johann were able to write their names.
- Margaretha was considered a ‘minor child’ at the age of 19.
- Previously, I have been unable to locate a birth record for Margaretha Rovin. Now I have her birthdate, the town she was born in as well as her mother’s name. If the translator is correct then the possible reason there is not a father listed for her is because she was illegitimate. I wonder if I will be able to locate a birth record for Margaretha?
- The Banns of Marriage for Johann and Margaretha were published on February 4th and 11th
- Anne Marie Rovin’s profession was that of a ‘midwife’
- The witnesses for the marriage of Johann and Margaretha were Nicolas Diedier, Johann Kayl, Johann Kayl, and Nicolas Goerges and that none of them were related to the bride or groom
This is a very
valuable piece of information to add to the life stories of my ancestors. Having the translation added so much
additional information.
Johann and
Margaretha would immigrate and live in Iowa.
The surname would change in the United States to Bentz. Johann would be referred to as John and
Margaretha would be referred to as Marie, Mary or Margaret in records over her
lifetime. Margaretha’s Surname would
also at times be listed as Robin.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby
Other posts you may be interested in: An Unusual Find for Sunday Obituary-Mary Robin Bentz, Who Was Mary (Margaret) Robin Bentz, The Luxembourger Statue, St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Remsen, Iowa
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