Introduction
The city of Mulhouse looks back on an eventful history. It was first mentioned in 803. The construction of a mill gave the village its name. A mill wheel therefore also adorns the city coat of arms. Due to its status as a Free Imperial City in the Holy Roman Empire and an alliance with the Swiss cantons and the French Kingdom, Mulhouse remained almost independent. The city officially introduced the Reformation in 1529, following the Zwinglian model.
A few years earlier in 1515, Mulhouse had become a close ally of Switzerland, or rather the 13 cantons that formed the confederacy. Their flags adorn the great council room in the splendid city hall to this day.
On account of its close connection to Switzerland, Mulhouse remained Protestant, the only city in the increasingly Lutheran Alsace. After revolutionary unrest and under pressure, Mulhouse asked for integration into the French Republic, which took place in January 1798.
Immigration
During the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) Alsace was devastated. Half of the population died as a result of the war, and some areas were depopulated. In the process of the new settlement numerous Swiss also participated. In this post we examine how two Swiss emigrated from Canton Aargau and thrived in their new home.
In the State Archives of Aarau we find the Effingen and Bözen court records for the period from 1668 to 1797, a collection of about 15 volumes documenting sales contracts, loans, auctions, appeals etc. (source: documents #1350-1362 Gericht Effingen I – XV 1668-1785, and #1363-1364 Gericht Bözen and Effingen 1785-1797). In the first volume, I happened to come across a property sale in Effingen, dated 1673. The extensive property list comprises 2 pages, only the first paragraph is shown here.
Vertig(ung): Uli Amsler dismal zu Mühlhaussen sich ufhaltend, verkaufft Heinrich Spengler dem Maurer zu Effingen. Ein Haus und Baumgarten darhinder ein halb vierling gross, stosst fürhin an die Landstras hindern an Jogli Amssler, zwüschend Daniel Nägeli und Heinrich Bracken garten…
The above is a Sales Contract between Uli Amsler and Heinrich Spengler. Amsler sells his house and land in Effingen.
The parents of Ulrich Amsler get married in 1642
The origin of Ulrich Amsler is well documented. He was baptized 1643 in Bözen. His parents, Uli Amsler and Klyn Anni Trinckler marry (Image to the left) on October 3rd, 1642.
The baptism of Ulrich Amsler from Bözen in 1643
At the bottom of page 101 of the 2nd baptism registry for 1643, we find the baptism of Ulrich Amsler, on February 12th, 1643, his parents were Uli Amsler and Anni Trinckler, witnesses were Uli Müller and Catri Zimmerman. Uli Amsler and Anni Trinckler baptized 8 children from 1640 to 1655. Ulrich Amsler, who emigrated to Mulhouse, is the eldest son.
On November 13th, 1668 the father Uli Amsler died in Effingen of the plague, together with about 40 other villagers from the parish (Elfingen, Bözen and Effingen).
Five years after the death of his father, Ulrich Amsler, who has now settled in Mulhouse, decided to sell the family home in Effingen. What happened to his other siblings remains unclear, however the plague claimed many victims in 1668. Also the origin of his father Uli Amsler cannot be clarified, his birth is not recorded in the baptism records of Boezen.
The Amsler in Mulhouse
On the occasion of the GHGRB annual event in Mulhouse on September 1, 2019, we were warmly received by members of the Cercle Généalogique de Mulhouse for a reception and guided tour. Among their publications are three volumes with the transcribed baptism entries of Mulhouse from 1578 to 1798. These are the work of the Swiss genealogist Sébastien Langlois-Berthelot. The transcription of the marriage entries is also complete and will soon be published.
After a short browse in search of “Amsler” I found what I was looking for in the index. The numbers behind the names lead us to the baptismal entries, Ulrich Amsler is listed several times as a father. He was married to Barbara Kingler.
This is the first of 3 baptism entries for the couple Ulrich Amsler and Barbara Kingler. The oldest son is Hans Jacob Amsler, he was born on March 3, 1667
Thanks to this transcription, it is now much easier to explore the families of Mulhouse.
Of interest are the diverging indications of Ulrich Amsler’s origin. Together with Barbara Kingler he had three children baptized. At first his origin is „von Effingen bei Bruckh. Bernergeb.“ then „von Bötzen bey Bruckh“ and finally „von Bruck, ein Hindersäss“.
The explanation for the different origins of Ulrich Amsler from the Bernese Aargau for these 3 baptisms is simply geographical. Ulrich Amsler had been recorded in the parish records of Bözen. However, his parents home and the property which he sold in 1673, was in Effingen, the neighbouring village of Bözen. These two villages, together with Elfingen, belong to the same parish. And all three villages, Bözen, Effingen and Elfingen belong to the district of Brugg (Bruckh).
After his first wife Barbara Kingler had passed away, Ulrich married Margreth Grossclaus, and together with his second wife baptized four more children.
Upon request, I received from Mr Sébastien Langlois-Berthelot a detailed list of the Amslers in Mulhouse (until 1798), which is reproduced here. Besides Ulrich Amsler from Bözen, there is another Amsler immigrant from Densbüren, Canton Aargau, who is also documented:
Descendants list Ulrich Amsler from Bözen
1. Amsler, Ulrich, * 12.2.1643 Bözen, + 16.1.1721 Mulhouse
oo I. 18.06.1666 Mulhouse Kingler, Barbara, * Berngebiet, + 1675
oo II. 3.7.1676 Mulhouse Grossclaus, Margreth, * 6.2.1653 Burgdorf
7 children of No. 1
2. Amsler, Hans-Jacob, * 20.3.1667 Mulhouse
3. Amsler, Catharina, * 13.2.1670 Mulhouse, + 15.5.1704
oo 21.11.1698 Johannes, Weiss, * Suberg Bern
4. Amsler, Elisabeth, * 18.1.1674 Mulhouse
oo 14.05.1708 Jacob, Fiechter, * Mulhouse
5. Amsler, Josua, * 17.2.1678 Mulhouse, + 9.5.1756
oo I. 11.1700 Kappeler, Anna, * 12.4.1679, + 1.7.1712
oo II. 12.12.1712 Rubli, Margreth, * 11.1.1685, + 18.10.1761
6. Amsler, Philipp, * 15.10.1682 Mulhouse, + 24.6.1743
oo 1.12.1704 Maria, Peter
7. Amsler, Anna, * 02.08.1685 Mulhouse, + 18.03.1689
8. Amsler, Heinrich, carpenter, * 29.4.1688 Mulhouse, + 19.11.1756
oo 25.11.1715 Rubli, Catharina, * 14.4.1689, + 22.4.1758
4 children of No. 5
9. Amsler, Elisabeth, * 25.9.1701 Mulhouse, + 28.12.1701
10. Amsler, Hans-Ulrich, * 4.6.1705 Mulhouse, + 27.1.1707
11. Amsler, Hans-Ulrich, * 12.7.1708 Mulhouse, + 21.5.1786
oo I. 13.2.1730 Salome, Wild
oo II. Scheidecker, Anna Magdalena, * 24.10.1723, + 3.5.1795
12. Amsler, Margreth, * 10.6.1714 Mulhouse, + 8.5.1794 Mulhouse
oo 08.05.1794 Peter, Steinbach, * Illzach
3 children of No. 8
13. Amsler, Anna-Magdalena, * 14.01.1717 Mulhouse, + 11.10.1723
14. Amsler, Anna-Catharina, * 25.12.1724 Mulhouse, + 9.12.1742
15. Amsler, Heinrich, * 24.08.1727 Mulhouse, + 27.3.1795
2 children of No. 11
16. Amsler, Hans Ulrich, * 27.5.1753, + 13.10.1761
17. Amsler, Hans Jacob, Indienne Printer, * 1.5.1757, + 18.4.1800
oo 19.7.1775 Junghaen, Rosina, * 20.11.1755, + 16.11.1817
9 children of No. 17
18. Amsler, Hans Ulrich, Model Engraver, * 14.4.1776, + 11.3.1829
oo 09.04.1799 Kuntz, Elisabeth
19. Amsler, Adam, * 26.4.1778, + 30.6.1778
20. Amsler, Salome, * 12.8.1779, + 10.9.1779
21. Amsler, Maria Magdalena, * 21.11.1780, + 16.12.1846
oo 19.10.1801 Steinbach, Conrad
22. Amsler, Rosina, * 16.11.1782, + 26.1.1832
oo 25.03.1805 Mathis, Peter, Model Engraver
23. Amsler, Jacob, Tischler, * 9.6.1785, + 4.6.1867 Paris (11th A.)
oo I. 28.06.1813 Zippelius, Maria Salome, * Neustadt D
oo II. 18.10.1821 Strübin, Anna Barbara, * Liestal
24. Amsler, Josua, Screen Maker, * 4.11.1787, + 4.12.1849
oo 23.10.1809 Fasnacht, Elisabeth, * 01.07.1779 Alpirsbach D
25. Amsler, Peter, * 26.1.1792
26. Amsler, Adam, Carpenter, * 7.4.1796, + 22.12.1873 Paris (12th A.)
oo I. 05.03.1823 Kübler, Anna Catharina, * Colmar
oo II. 2.7.1834 Layer, Charlotte Catherine, * Colmar
Descendants list Jacob Amsler from Densbüren
1. Amsler, Jacob, “Gross Jacob”, * Densbüren, + 9.3.1776
oo 1.2.1740 Redmond, Catharina, * 8.1.1713, + 16.8.1775
6 children of No. 1
2. Amsler, Johannes, * 27.11.1740 Mulhouse, + 11.10.1778
oo 2.3.1761 Jelensperger, Elisabeth, * 6.10.1743
3. Amsler, Jacob, Factory Worker, * 16.09.1742 Mulhouse, + 1816
oo I. 25.11.1765 Jenner, Anna Catharina, * 12.1.1744, + 5.10.1767
oo II. 17.2.1768 Stumm, Elisabeth, * 24.11.1743, + 6.4.1816
4. Amsler, Elisabeth, * 07.06.1744 Mulhouse, + 22.2.1788
5. Amsler, Peter, Factory Worker, * 30.01.1746 Mulhouse
oo Huber, Anna Barbara, * 3.8.1738, + 6.10.1819
6. Amsler, Hans Heinrich, * 25.12.1750 Mulhouse
7. Amsler, Hans Ulrich, * 24.8.1752 Mulhouse, + 26.8.1752
7 children of No. 2
8. Amsler, Johannes, * 30.8.1761 Mulhouse, + 22.4.1765
9. Amsler, Anna Elisabeth, * 11.12.1763
oo 22.11.1784 Abdorf, Hans Ulrich, * Mulhouse
10. Amsler, Daniel, * 31.5.1768, + 7.7.1768
11. Amsler, Anna Catharina, * 14.3.1771, + 8.3.1787
12. Amsler, Philipp Jacob, * 1.5.1774, + 21.6.1774
13. Amsler, Peter, * 1.5.1774, + 11.7.1774
14. Amsler, Rosina, * 8.2.1778
oo 13.11.1797 Goetz, Johannes
6 children of No. 3
15. Amsler, Hans Jacob, * 2.4.1767, + 1.9.1768
16. Amsler, Hans Georg, * 27.11.1768
17. Amsler, Jacob, Model Engraver, * 14.8.1770 Mulhouse
oo 1.10.1792 Jelensperger, Maria Magdalena, * 15.7.1770, + 20.8.1793
18. Amsler, Johannes, * 2.3.1773, + 14.11.1775
19. Amsler, Peter, * 8.9.1776, + 2.1.1777
20. Amsler, Elisabeth, * 24.2.1778
3 children of No. 5
21. Amsler, Jacob, Indienne Printer, * 24.9.1767 Mulhouse, + 7.12.1834
oo I. 11.06.1792 Keller, Elisabeth, * 1765, + 14.7.1793
oo II. 15.07.1798 Weber, Elisabeth, * 1761 Gossau ZH, + 16.12.1834
22. Amsler, Anna Barbara, * 4.3.1770, + 13.10.1770
23. Amsler, Barbara, * 27.2.1776, + 11.5.1777
1 child of No. 17
24. Amsler, Magdalena, * 30.4.1793, + 6.8.1794
1 child of No. 21
25. Amsler, Hans Jacob, * 11.12.1792, + 31.12.1796
Quotations for the sources of the baptism and marriage records in the parish of Boezen follow to convention used in “Archivverzeichnis der Kirchen- und Jahrzeitbücher des Kantons Aargau 1200-1900” where Bözen KI01=1562-1602, Bözen KI02=1604-1685, Bözen KI03=1675-1757 etc.
2 thoughts on “Amsler in Mulhouse until 1798”
Hola! Mi nombre es María Florencia.
Con mi madre estamos intentando armar el árbol genealógico de su familia, ella es Amsler Marcela.
Nos gustaría poder ponernos en contacto para ver si podemos intercambiar información. Somos de Argentina, Santa Fe.
Saludos coordiales!
muchas gracias por su comentario, le responderé por correo electrónico