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German Documents

Possibly a mere amusement if you don't read German, and even if you do, the script is often very difficult to make out. Marcellin Adams indicated in writings I have that he was getting some of these translated, however, I have found only one translation which is included below (George Gerber to George Anshutz, Sr., 1832). If I find additional translations, I will, of course post them. There are about 2 dozen documents in all, which sort into:

1. Personal 2. Business

Personal documents that may clearly have useful genealogic information. This is a loose category containing both letters and other documents. Since it is written in German, I am moving the 1869 letter from Peter Anshutz to Jacob Anshutz to this page. There are 4 letters from the "old country", the Gerber one, two from a person whose name is very difficult to make out, but who may be the 4th brother who stayed behind... It begins with "Andr...". Andreas? Andrew? Andre? I will let more sophisticated cousins decide. The fourth is from a person I cannot place, a Mr. Glasen, and while it is addressed to an Anshutz, I am unable to make out the intended recipient.

1791 Accounting of some of George Ludwig Anshutz expenses in getting over here. From a photostatic copy. I do not have the original.

George Sr. recorded his families births. I believe I have seen a similar document by one of the other brothers in Craig's big Anschüetz to Anshutz magnum opus! These were some pretty thoughtful ancestors we have, speaking purely from a genealogic perspective! One page is a summary of births and deaths in a different hand.

Documentation of Johann Peter Anshutz' birth records in preparation for his journey to America.

Scans of old photocopy. I do not have the originals. Transcript of translation prepared by Marcellin C. Adams, mid-1930's. It seems to me that there is a minor date discrepancy as to JP's birthday?

Jean Pierre Anshütz

born the 7th Nivose, year 7 or the 27th of December, 1798

Extract

from the Register of Birth Certificates of the Town of Niederbronn, principal town of the canton, district ofWissemburg, Department of Lower Rhine, of the year 7 of the Republic, corresponding to the period from the 22^nd of September 1798 to the 22nd of September 1799. Folio 9, Number 16 of the document.

Today the 8th of Nivose in the seventh year of the French Republic, about nine o ‘clock in the morning, appeared before me Jacob Arbogast, provisory agent of the town of Niederbronn, Department of Lower Rhein, who am entrusted with the recording of documents, whereby the birth, marriage and death of citizens may be confirmed, Johann Peter Anschutz, blacksmith in Jägertha1, towrnship of Niederbronn, who with the witness of Johann Philipp Schauer, smelter 50 years of age living in the township of Zinsweiler, and Niklaus Anschütz, joistmaker thirty years of age living in Jägerthal, township of Niederbrorm, declares that Margaretha E1issabetha Schauerin his lawful wedded wife yesterday morning at nine o’clock in his dwelling in Jägersthal gave birth to a boy, whom he showed to me and to whom he has given the name Johann Peter. This declaration, which was attested of their own free will by citizens Johann Philipp Schauer and Niklaus Anschütz, I have set down in the present document, by virtue of the authority delegated to me, which Johann Peter Anshütz, father of the child, and the two witnesses, Johann Philipp Schauer and Niklaus Anschütz have signed with me.

Done in the Townhall at Niederbronn on the day, month, and year above mentioned. In the register are the signatures of Johann Peter Anschütz, father, Johann Philipp Schauer, Niklaus Anschütz, and Arbogast, Agent.

Delivered at the Townhall of Niederbronn the 7th of March 1818.

Certified true copy

The Assistant of the Mayor of the Town of Niederbronn, temporarily fulfilling the functions of Mayor of said Town

N. Bayermüller

Letter of Recommendation for Peter Anshutz from Mayor of Zinsweiler.

Scan of old photocopies in French and German. I do not have the originals. Transcripts of the translations were prepared by Marcellin C. Adams, mid-1930's.

Department of Lower Rhine

District of Wissemburg

Canton of Niederbronn

Town of Zinsweiler

We the undersigned Mayor of the Town of Zinsweiler certify to whom it may concern that Mr. Peter Anschütz, bellows operator employed at the iron works of Lower Rhine until now, having lived in this community for about sixteen years, departing with his family to settle in the United States of America, by virtue of a decision of the government, has during his abode in this place distinguished himself constantly by peaceable, regular and irreproachable conduct, scrupulously fulfilling all the duties imposed on a worthy and loyal citizen, having always merited the good-will and esteem of his superiors and the attachment and friendship of his fellow citizens, who, like ourselves, could not refuse him the most favorable testimony about his love of justice, his honesty, and his devotion that he has manifested in all circumstances. So that we could not better make known the regret that we feel on seeing him depart from among us with his respectable family than by expressing the most sincere wishes for their safety and their prosperity.

In witness whereof we have signed and sealed the present certificate for whatever proper purpose it may serve.

At the townhall of Zinsweiler the twenty-eighth of April, year of grace eighteen hundred eighteen.

Braun

Mayor

(This document is the same in both French and German)

A fascinating letter from George Gerber, who presumably is either brother or cousin to Catherina Elizabeth Gerber Anshutz, George's wife. He refers to them as "cousins at law". This one was translated in 1910 by a Mr. Henry Stavring.

Niederbronn March 20, 1832

George Gerber and his wife Elizabeth Gerber.

To their beloved cousin (George Anshütz) and her cousin at law, Elizabeth Gerber in Pittsburg.

Beloved and valued friends collectively:

Several years have passed without us having heard the least of you, so that we today doubt very much that you are living and existing, but should the Allwise have been so good as to have sustained you until this time and permitted you to enjoy good health, it will be the source of great satisfaction andendless joy for us.

Dear friends, we wish to inform you how matters are with us, and in France generally.

It no doubt is known to you that we, after many years of war, are almost completely exhausted, and twice in the history of these wars the enemies of entire Europe have, by levying tribute during the years of 1814 and 1815, almost completely ruined us. One government following the other. Since 1815 we have one Emperor and three kings. Notwithstanding this, we can hope for no peace but are awaiting another war, and anticipate further demand for tribute. We expect to be finally and completely ruined. In addition to this, there is no business or work for the craftsman and the necessities of life are very high priced.

Now dear friends, we would declare our wish: I, my family consisting of my wife and two sons, would like to be with you in America. My oldest son George, twenty years old, must, in the next year enter the service as a soldier. If he does not serve, we must furnish a substitute, which will necessitate the expenditure of 2000 francs because he is of large stature. My other and younger son who is not 17 ½ years old, and in three years will be drafted into the same service, will cost as much as his older brother, which amounts to about 400 dollars. Could we emigrate to America this year, we could do so before the time for drafting them into the service should arrive.

I and my whole family would earnestly request you to write to us as soon as possible, if we could, either in your immediate neighborhood or that vicinity buy a farm of good land. I believe that we could gather up about 12,000 francs or 2,400 Dollars, cash, with which, according to our way of thinking, should purchase a good and prolific farm. I do not wish an unproductive farm, but a good one, should it cost somewhat more. We would therefore request your friendly advice, and will act thereon, but would be pleased to start our journey after the coming harvest.

Further, we would inform you that in the 3 years past, we have had very bad weather, nothing but misgrowths. And in this last year 1831 we have had no winter fruits, very few potatoes, no wine and in the whole country no fruits, so that we are in misery and the poor are suffering with hunger. A quarter measure of wheat costs 30 Groschen. A sixth measure of potatoes costs 2 Groshcen, and other foodstuffs proportionately. A cord of wood costs from 29 to 30 Groschen, as almost all the woodlands are denuded. A pound of beef costs 8 to 9 sous, a pound of pork 11 to 12 sous, in short, we do not know what to do, so you will not wonder why we wish to leave here.

Further we wish to inform you that we have a true and loved friend living with us in our house, who has a wife and three children, who would like very much to go with us to the United States. He himself is not an artisan, but is proficient in the German and French languages, both in writing and reading. His wife, however, in the fashions of women in the making of city clothes, laces, and needlework. His son, 17 years old, has studied piano music and the German and French languages, both in reading and writing, as well as in drawing, and has adopted school teaching, and is proficient, and could, if an opportunity presented itself, accept such a situation.

If you believe that this family with its zeal and about 2 or 3000 francs, could strive in America, they would depart with us which would please us greatly.

We therefore implore you to answer this writing as soon as possible, inform us of everything you can and we will act accordingly, for, dear friends, there is no opportunity for progression here, but a daily dwindling of our possessions as well as of business.

In conclusion we would respectfully request you to inform us what and how all your beloved children and the whole family, and Peter Anshütz and his family are doing – to whom severally and collectively we would send hearty greetings.

Therefore, dear friends, do not delay in answering this appeal but take time to investigate and to think the matter over, as we have not a great while to delay, on account of our oldest son George. There would not be so much cause for haste in the case of the younger son Henry, but as soon as they are in the soldiers class we cannot claim them as our own and cannot take them with us.

We all kiss and greet you, one and all many thousand times and await an early answer.

Gerber

P.S. Write to us at the following address:

Monsieur Georges Gerber

pres de l’Eglise

a Niederbronn, Arrondiss d. Wissenbourg

(Bad. Uim) a Niederbronn

France, en Europe

Letters from the mystery person who may be Andrew to George, Sr.

1833

1835

1836 Mr. Glasen to Anshutz (George, Sr. I think... if the address reads "Monsieur George Anshutz"... hard to tell)

In 1938 & 1939, Amos M. Anshutz of Louisville, KY responded to MCA's request for genealogic information on his incompletely studied branch of the family. In addition to some good leads in his first letter, he loaned MCA 6 letters that his grandfather Peter Anshutz, Jr. had written to his son Jacob. MCA made a photostat copy of at least the earliest of these, and translated all six. The copy and the 6 translations are attached below. MCA also apparently visited an archive and made notes on Peter, Jr's will (no photocopy that I have found). The transcripts of all these documents are linked below.

Letter from Peter Anshutz, Jr. to son Jacob Anshutz. 16 Feb 1869

This is an inverted positive image of an old negative photostat. I do not have the original document.

Transcripts

16 Feb 1869 1 Sep 1869 15 Mar 1870 4 Jan 1871 5 Jun 1871 14 Apr 1872

Peter Anshutz, Jr. Will Abstract

Business and various business related ones from John Gloninger to George, Sr., George Senior to Christian and the Anshutz and Rahm firm in Pittsburgh. Some of these relate to George Jr's. Salt Works which I plan to do a little highlight on sometime down the road.

The Gloninger Letters

1807 Letter from John Gloninger to George L. Anshutz