Subject: Meier of Schwandorf
Date: Friday 05 December 2003 08:38 am
From: "Gary Schlager" <pes@mt-vernon.com>
To: <tomcw@adelphia.net>
Cc: "Gary Schlager" <pes@mt-vernon.com>

Hi Tom,

Good to hear from you. I did correspond several times with Tracy and she did
some research for me, finding an article about one of my Schlagers from the
Buffalo newspaper in 1930.

We came to the conclusion that the Kunicundas were not the same person, but I
do think we are related. Shortly after being contacted by Tracy, I made a
trip to Germany and at the Bischofliches Zentralarchiv ( Diocesan Archive)
in Regensberg was able to find the records of the birth and baptism of both
your great-grandmother Elizabeth Meier and my great-grandfather Mathias
Meier. They were half-sister and brother, both born illegitimate to Marie
Meier of Schwandorf.

Elizabeth's record is from the Schwandorf parish register and indicates that
she was born in Pappitdorf ( probably a small village adjacent to Schwandorf
). It reads:

"On 28 October 1860 at 0730 was baptized Elizabeth, illegitimate daughter of
Marie Meier. The mother said that the name of the father was Caspar Lang
of Aichohau. Godparent was Elisabeth Meier."

Mathias record reads:

"On 12 July 1854 in Schwandorf at noon was baptized Mathias, illegitimate son
of Marie Meier, illegitimate daughter of Anna Metz of Steinberg. The mother
said that the name of the father was Johann Weiss of Gutenech. Patron was
Mathias Metz, sexton of Steinberg."

Together, these two records tell us that Marie Meier was the daughter of
Marie Metz. In all likelihood, Mathias Metz was Marie Metz's father, i.e,
the grandfather of our Mathias and Elisabeth. The Elisabeth Meier named as
your Elisabeth's godparent was probably Marie Meier's mother or sister.

I do not know how familiar you are with the customs of 19th century Bavaria.
Don't be taken aback by the fact that all of these births are reported as
illegitimate. At that time, persons had to be 25 years of age to marry and
were required to go through a quite lengthy process of obtaining documents
and permission from the royal authorities. Also, the church records, at
least in translation, are quite formal. Thus the "the mother says that the
name of the father was...." Indeed, these couples may have been living
together as husband and wife.

 

I would appreciate knowing about any information that you may have about the
Meiers, in Germany or the US. By the way, Tracy told me about your
Grandfather owning a bowling alley on Broadway in Buffalo. My father,
George Schlager worked as a young boy in this same alley, which I think was
operated by his father Karl, perhaps subsequent to the Weichmann ownership.

Please feel free to contact me.

Gary Schlager
353 County Road NE2050
Mount Vernon, TX 75457

(903) 537 2787