About This Site
This site developed from an interest in family history to an interest in the ancestral village of Soufflenheim, culminating in a website devoted to the subject, created to share interesting, unusual, and hard to find Soufflenheim genealogical and historical information, including over 2,000 inventories, contracts, marriage contracts, and wills from 1368 to 1791, many completely translated.
If you would like to receive updates when new information is found, send your name, email, and the name(s) you are researching to: rswideen@gmail.com
Translations by Marie-Odile Peres
Painting: The Cattle Tender, Gustave Brion, 1857
Home Page: View of Soufflenheim From the Bridge Over the Fallgraben, Jacques Gachot, 1953, Courtesy of Marc Elchinger
Acknowledgements
A number of people and organizations have provided records, historical information, and other assistance.
A special thanks to my researcher Marie-Odile Peres, whose skills made many of the most important records possible; to Mark Drexler, enormously talented and helpful in innumerable ways, whose substantial contributions include the Soufflenheim Birth Index 1792-1862 and the Soufflenheim 1836 Census; to Michael J. Nuwer, a remarkable researcher and prodigious writer who has generously shared many of his essays; to Todd Farmerie for indefatigable work locating records outside of Soufflenheim, outstanding soldier research, and much more; and to Celine Kieffer-Ikhelif for providing numerous archaeological reports, books, and other assistance.
Other important contributors include Chris Bowman, Kelly Cooper, Marc Elchinger, Phil Hauser, Kathleen O'Farrell, Rosa Raiman, Mark Reinhart, Brian J. Smith, Rhoda Spencer, Diane Strickler, and Jann Wojcik.
Additional contributions by Robert Behra, Annette Cook, Vince Falter, Chantal Geyer, Lynda Goldman, Ken Hanson, Rhonda Berst Hastings, Michael Heschung, Mary Ing, Jerry Kieffer, John Leppert, Paul McEwen, Antoine Merkel, Brad Middleton, John Rogalewski, and Bill Uhrich.
Also Héloïse Hervieux, genealogist and paleographer at Profils Généalogie, the Maryhill Historical Society, Christine and Laure Mestre at Généalogie Alsace, Pierre Perny and the Societe D’Histoire et D’Archeologie du Reid Nord, SRA Alsace, Pôle d’Archeologie Interdépartmental Rhėnan, Robert Muller and the Cercle de Généalogie de Schirrhein-Schirrhoffen, and the Soufflenheim Town Hall and Tourist Office.
My thanks to everyone for their help and support.
Robert Wideen
New York City : 2025
Records Contributed to this Site
Inventories
- Annette Cook: Valentin Eisenkirch.
- Mark Drexler: Veronica Messner, Martin Schmuck, Wilhelm Trexler.
- Marlene Messner: Michel Mössner.
- Michael Nuwer: Andreas Muller, Jacob Hasser, Franz Nuber, Anna Muller, Anton Schitt, Margaretha Geiger, Niclaus Nuber, Catharina Albrecht, Martin Nuber, Richardis Uhrig, Catherine Messner.
- Kathleen O'Farrell: Andreas Goetz, Marzolff Voltz, Niclaus Träher, Anna Götz, Peter Wilhelm, Maria Göltzer, Conrad Beck, Catharina Wölf, Maria Träher, Mathis Beckh, Peter Strack, Hans Georg Metzler, Salome Metzler, Johannes Beck, Barbara Stäbler, Otillia Metzler, Margaretha Wilhelm, Anna Pauli, Joseph Lengert.
- Rosa Raiman: Bastian Sigel, Anna Maria Christmann, Catharina Anger, Jacob Mössner, Heinrich Schwartz.
- Mark Reinhart: Simon Oesterreiche, Lorentz Estreicher.
- Jan Wojcik: Margaretha Balbierer, Joseph Wilhelm, Hans Georg Biff, Stephan Zettwooch.
Inventory Introductions
- Annette Cook: Valentin Eisenkirch.
- Mark Drexler: Anna Maÿ, Lorentz Lehmann, Anna Maria Gut, Ursula Uhrich, Margaretha Daul, Anna Schnürr, Michel Uhrich, Maria Träher, Maria Salchner, Veronica Messner, Adam Renck, Hans Georg Fridmann, Anna Dräher, Jacob Daul, Margaretha Haasser, Ottilia Träher, Andreas Müller, Lorentz Mosser, Margaretha Kientz, Joseph Daul, Johannes Eisen, Hans Carl Daul, Dominic Sensenbrenner, Martin Schmuck, Catharina Herbrecht, Catharina Daul, Anna Maria Schmuck, Maria Anna Vögele, Mathis Lehemann, Johannes Müller, Heinrich Knöpfler, Magdalena Dangel, Margaretha Müller, Anton Dreyer, Joseph Mary, Odilia Durr, Maria Anna Löffler, Barbara Hörtel, Anna Maria Schmidt, Dominic Lehman, Johann Roth, Catharina Klein, Odilia Zinger, Elisabeth Buffler, Catharina Wagner, Lorenz Sensenbrenner, Catharina Kempf, Maria Elisabetha Matter, Anton Schefter, Johannes Daul, Anton Sifrid, Francisca Seiler, Jacob Lehman, Maria Anna Schäffter, Wilhelm Trexler.
- Mary Ing: Andres Thomann, Catharina Brucker, Barbara Vögelen, Magdalena Sensenbrenner.
- Michael Nuwer: Andreas Muller, Franz Nuber, Anna Muller, Anton Schitt, Margaretha Geiger. Niclaus Nuber, Martin Nuber, Richardis Uhrig, Catherine Messner.
- Kathleen O'Farrell: Andreas Goetz, Niclaus Träher, Anna Götz, Peter Wilhelm, Anna Maria Göltzer, Conrad Beck, Catharina Wölf, Mathis Beck, Peter Strack, Hans Georg Metzler, Salome Metzler, Johannes Beckh, Barbara Stäblerin, Otillia Metzler, Margaretha Wilhelm, Anna Pauli, Joseph Lengert.
- Rosa Raiman: Anna Maria Christmann, Maria Hoen, Joseph Höhn, Adam Köhlhoffner, Dorothea Köhlhoffner, Lorentz Jaeckh, Michel Köhlhoffner, Margaretha Jäck, Marie Anne Siegler, Ester Klein, Adam Köhlhoffner, Anton Jaeck, Anne Marie Lehmann, Heinrich Jaeck, Catherine Messner, Marguerite Burckert, Christine Halmer, Barbe Messner, Barbara Wolff, Marguerite Strack, Wendel Zinger, Maria Eva Schwartz, Hans Zinger, Heinrich Schwartz, Michel Messner, Andres Renck, Jacob Mössner, Anne Maria Mössner, Martin Jud, Erasmus Bitschy, Margaretha Strack, Antoine Messner, Heinrich Schwartz, Lorentz Jäg, Catherine Broschi, Margaretha Wagner, Gertrude Schoppf, Maria Anna Köhlhofner, Maria Messner, Magdalena Wilhammer, Eva Westermeier, Hans Thomen, Adam Elchinger, Anna Maria Jaeck, Magdalena Bildstein, Johannes Renck, Michel Schaefter, Michel Buchmüller, Catharina Wilhelm, Eva Köhlhofner, Peter Burgert, Magdalena Hohenadel, Gertrud Meyer, Anna Guthman, Ignace Jaeck, Joseph Endres, Marianna Höhn, Catharina Moser, Margaretha Roth.
- Mark Reinhart: Simon Oesterreicher.
- Brian Smith: Hans Georg Voëgele, André Müller, Magdalena Vögele, Andres Vögele, Ignatius Vögele, Hans Georg Vögele, Frantz Nuber, Margaretha Fritz, Martin Nuber, Antoni Voegele, Anna Müller, Joseph Goetz, Hans Vögele, Margaretha Thomen, André Müller, Margaretha Goetz, Elisabeth Siegler, Anton Schitt, Bernarde Lehmann, Mathias Voegele, Marianna Irr.
- Jan Wojcik: Margaretha Balbierer, Adam May, Dominic Harter, Maria Anna Götz, Barbara Grenier, Anne Harter, Catharina Seebold, Jacob Haasser, Jacob Zettwoog, Catharina Albrecht, Barbara Kientz, Jacob May, Anna Harter, Michel Mäy, Joseph Wilhelm, Bartholome Mey, Jacob Haasser, Hans Georg Biff, Margaretha Sensenbrenner, Jacob Marÿ, Johannes Mäy, Michel Schäffter, Joseph Harter, Johannes Mäy Senior, Barbara Zettwoch, Johannes Zettwoch, Barbara Haasser, Johann Adam May, Stephan Zettwoch.
Marriage Contracts
- Mark Drexler: Joseph Schmuck & Catharina Bitschi, André Renck & Maria Barbara Schmuckh, Wilhelm Drechsler & Maria Anna Geiger, Wilhelm Drechsler & Catharina Schmidt.
- Michael Nuwer: Jacob Wilhelm & Maria Anna Nuber, Joseph Adam & Anna Maria Hasser, Joseph Scheffter & Magdalena Nuber, Anton Mössner & Magdalena Nuber, Antoni Nuwer & Marguerite Ludwig, Jean Kieffer & Catherine Messner.
- Kathleen O'Farrell: Hans Michel Buchmüller & Margaretha Wilhelm, Michel Messmer & Maria Salome Metzler, Michel Messmer & Barbara Stäbler, Johannes Götz & Catharina Becker, Anton Albrecht & Maria Anna Langert, Laurent Schmitt & Catherine Kirchdörffer.
- Rosa Raiman: Johannes Wallion & Maria Eva Schwartz, Anton Schiedt & Margaretha Geiger, Heinrich Schwartz & Barbara Schmuck, Jean Renck & Catherine Messner, Erasmus Bitschi & Theresia Voegele, Jacob Messner & Theresia Bitschi, Andres Eisen & Anna Maria Schwartz, Michel Köhlhoffner & Maria Anna Trager, Joseph Burger & Brigitte Kleitz, Joseph Köhlhoffner & Margaretha Roth, Andre Eisen & Maria Anna Schwartz, Joseph Messner & Magdalena Mey, Frantz Joseph Endres & Magdalena Schwartz, Ignatius Jäckh & Margaretha Hoffart, Peter Zinger & Margaretha Wass, Heinrich Jäck & Magdalena Schwartz, Michel Kieffer & Catharina Meÿ.
- Mark Reinhart: Hans Georg Fridmann & Catharina Uhrich, Anton Ernwein & Maria Anna Oestreicher, Mathias Schenck & Catharina Friedman.
- Brian Smith: Joseph Vögele & Margaretha Götz.
- Rhoda Spencer: Johannes Voegele & Catharina Meyer, Ignatius Voegele & Barbara Hertler, Jacob Kieffer & Barbara Götz, Jean Michel Trometer & Catherine Eissen, Pierre Wernert & Catherine Vogelsbach, Michel May & Marguerite Götz, Anton Kieffer & Catharina Renck, Antoine Götz & Margaretha Mosser, Joseph Schmuck & Maria Anna Lehmann, Joseph Peter Mlchel Martin & Margaretha Lehmann, Joseph Messmer & Margaretha Buchmuller, Johann Georg Hördt & Maria Anna Buchmüller, Michel Martin & Margaretha Lehmann.
- Jann Wojcik: Johannes May & Francisca Freiss, Joseph Haasser & Maria Anna Maÿ, Stephan Zettwoch & Maria Anna Breuss, Johannes Zettwoch & Eva Köhlhoffner, Joseph Willhelm & Maria Anna Mey.
Marriage Records
- Kelley Cooper: Augustin Zettwuch & Amelia Strack, Camille Claus & Caroline Lehman.
- Mark Drexler: Michael Kieffer & Maria Anna Jäck, Joseph Halter & Maria Anna Kieffer, Joseph Wagner & Maria Anna Kieffer, Joseph Götz & Margritha Kieffer.
- Michael Heschung: Joseph Daul & Marie Anne Kohlhoffner, Andre Mulhausser & Marie Anne Kieffer.
- Jerry Kieffer: Charles Kneplfer & Adelaide Halter, Joseph Kieffer & Madeleine Stutter.
- John Leppert: Johann Jacob Gell & Magdalena Burger.
- Michael Nuwer: Frantz Nuwer & Anna Müller, Martin Nuwer & Dorothea Willhammer, Niclaus Nuwer & Marianna Hasser, Johannes Helmer and Barbara Messner.
Contracts and Wills
Numerous contracts and wills were contributed by Kelly Cooper, Mark Drexler, Mary Ing, Brad Middleton, Kathleen O'Farrell, Rosa Raiman, Mark Reinhart, Brian Smith, Rhoda Spencer, and Jan Wojcik.
Michael Nuwer:
- Will: Laurent Kieffer.
- Contracts: Antoine Nuwer and Marguerithe Ludwig with Philippe Georges Rettig, Jean Uhry, Laurent Burger, Chrétien Elchinger, André Becht, Ignace Friedmann, and Georges Uhry.
Bas-Rhin Inventory Indexes
Rosa Raiman: Gunstett 1621-1724, Eschbach 1662-1745 and 1746-1775, Walbourg 1738-1790.
Records Outside of Soufflenheim
Mark Drexler and Todd Farmerie.