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MICHEL1 LEHMANN2 [Sr.]3, son of Johannes / Jean / Johan / John LEHMANN of Schirrhein4, Bas-Rhin (Alsace), France (aka Schirrheim, Elsas, Germany5) and Catharina HALTER, was born about 17616 in probably Schirrhein, France. Michel married circa 1785 to (1) CATHARINE SCHOTT, whose parents are unknown. The LEHMANN family were probably members of St. Nicolas Catholic Church in Schirrhein at an early time.
The photos below show the reconstructed church after the old church was destroyed during the liberation of France during World War II in 1945. The village of Schirrhein was a Catholic community.7
St. Nicolas Catholic Church in Schirrhein; An extract of Volume I, The Falter-Scharf Family Fron About 1585 by Vincent Falter
Schirrhein, Bas-Rhin (Alsace), France
Erected 1752.
Crest date of 1752 is found below the crucifix.
Descendant of Nicolas Lehmann, brother of Michel, the subject of this biography
Descendant of Nicolas Lehmann, brother of Michel, the subject of this biography
[Note: Lisa is a descendant of Nicolas Lehmann, brother of Michel Lehmann [Sr.], the subject of this biography. Nicolas Lehmann married Marie Ann Biam. Michel Lehmann [Sr.], Nicolas' brother, married Marie Madeleine Biam. Their BIAM wives were sisters. ASH]
St. Nicolas Catholic Church crest indicates that the old church was originally built in Schirrhein in 1752, but the Catholic community and congregation was probably established before that. It was the church where most of the village inhabitants were baptized, confirmed, and attended services. Based upon records found at St. Nicolas, we can probably safely assume that our LEHMANN ancestors were Catholic and worshipped regularly at this church, except perhaps during those early and late warring times, when many families left the Alsace area in fear.
Descendant of Nicolas Lehmann, brother of Michel, the subject of this biography
Left: Main Altar Right: Side Altar
Schirrhein, Bas-Rhin (Alsace), France
"On October 19, 1792, Michel Lehmann addressed a complaint to the Director of Haguenau. He and his servant could not ensure order in Schirrhein any longer because they were obliged to assemble the army guard being formed at the same time. The Director gave him orders that the guard be maintained so that there is always somebody securing the homes in Schirrhein."8
Catharine (nee SCHOTT) LEHMANN died before May 1807 probably in Schirrhein, Bas-Rhin (Alsace), France.
There were six known children born to Michel LEHMANN [Sr.] and his first wife Catharine nee SCHOTT.
Believed Children of Michel Lehmann (Sr.) and (1) Catherine Schott There may have been and probably were more children born to this couple, but these are the ones presently identified from church records of Schirrhein, Bas-Rhin, France and correspondence with others.
[Source: 1997, Communication with Ret. Gen. Vincent Falter, researcher]
[NOTE: At this time it is difficult to prove which brother, Nicolas or Michel, was the eldest, so the prediction is based upon probability that Nicolas was the eldest because he married first.]
- Nicolas (aka Nicholas) Lehmann, born 1789 Schirrhein, France; married 18 August 1812 at Schirrhein, Bas-Rhin (Alsace), France to Marie Anne/Anna Biam (aka Piam). Nicolas immigrated probably ca 1845 to America with wife, Marie Ann and three children. Marie Ann (born 1788 Schirrhein, France; died 1860 Seneca County, Ohio) was daughter of Ignace Biam (aka Piam) and Catherina Vetter. Nicolas was 22 years of age at marriage. Marie Ann was sister of Marie Madeleine (nee Biam/Piam) Lehmann, wife of Michel/Michael Lehmann [Jr.]. This family and descendants appear in Stark County, Ohio, Wyandot County, Ohio, and Seneca County, Ohio and beyond.
[Source: Church Marriage Record; French Immigration Record (Passport Papers); United States Federal Censuses and Records]
- Michel (aka Michael) Lehmann [Jr.9], was the emigrant ancestor of the LEHMANNs in Stark County, Ohio; Shelby County, Ohio; Miami County, Ohio; Montgomery County, Ohio and beyond; born 1790/1791 in Schirrhein, France; married 26 Jan 1818 Schirrhein, Bas-Rhin (Alsace), France to Marie Madeleine Biam (aka Piam); died 1853 in Montgomery County, Ohio. Marie Madeleine was sister of Marie Ann/Anna (nee Biam) Lehmann, wife of Nicolas Lehmann, brother of Michel/Michael Lehmann [Jr.]. This family immigrated to America with four of their known five children (one being deceased in France) in 1828 and settled in Stark County, OHio for about five years before removing to Shelby County, Ohio. Marie Madeleine, daughter of Ignace Biam (aka Piam) and Catherina Vetter, was born 1790/1791. Near the end of life, Michel/Michael and Marie Madeleine moved from Shelby County, Ohio to Montgomery County, Ohio to be near some of their children. Here they died and were buried in the now defunct St. Henry's Cemetery and later reburied in Calvary Cemetery.
[Source: Church Marriage Record; French Immigration Record (Passport Papers); French Civil Birth Records of children give parents' names & ages; United States Federal Censuses and Records]
- Andre Lehmann (25 Nov 1793-????) married 9 March 1820 [Church Record] or 3 September 1820 [Family Record] Schirrhein, Bas-Rhin (Alsace), France to Maria Eva (aka Marie Eve) Lohr. Maria was daughter of Louis Lohr & Maria Anna Halter. Nothing more is known about this couple at this time.
[Source: Church Marriage Record]
- Mary Magdelena Lehmann was born ca 1794; married 9 February 1828 Schirrhein, Bas Rhin (Alsace), France to Ignace/Ignatz/Ignatius Zircher. Ignace, son of Louis Zircher (also seen as Zurcher) and Marie Eva Schneider, was granted U.S.A. citizenship #6-457 from Shelby County, Ohio Clerk of Courts on 9 April 1847 being from France. This Zircher/Zurcher family resided in Shelby County, Ohio near her brother, Michel/Michael Lehmann [Jr.] Ignatz and Mary M. are buried at St. Michael's Catholic Church Old Cemetery, Ft. Loramie, Shelby County, Ohio.
[Source: Church Marriage Record, Schirrhein (Alsace), France; St. Michael's Catholic Church Obituary Record for Mary says: "3 Maii 1863, Obit. Magdalena, uxer, I. Zircher, nata Lehmann regoida, morte 69 annos agens"; St. Michael's Catholic Church Cemetery Gravestone Inscriptions, Ft. Loramie, Shelby Co., OH for Mary & Ignatz.]
[NOTE: Ignatz ZIRCHER may be related to Nicholas Zircher who immigrated to America during the same time period as the LEHMANNs. A Nikolas Zircher, a day laborer, of Schirrhein is shown on immigration passport papers on 1 Jan 1828 for America.]
[NOTE: August 1997 communication: Ignatz and Mary are ancestors of Betty RUSSELL of Clyde, Ohio]
- Rufina Lehmann of which nothing more is known.
- Jacques / Jacob Lehmann born ca 1802; married 7 Oct 1835 Schirrhein, Bas-Rhin (Alsace), France to Madeleine / Magdeline Hahn. Magdeline was daughter of Ignace Hahn & Barbe / Barbara Schmietter / Schmitter. Barbe (nee Schmietter) Hahn 1779-????) was sister of Catherina (nee Schmietter) Lehmann (1775-????), 2nd wife of Michel Lehmann [Sr.] (1761-1823). Jacques and Madeleine had six known children and apparently remained in France.
[Source: Church Marriage Record]
Of the above, three are known to have immigrated across the seas to the United States of America, namely, Nicolas, Michel [Jr.], and Marie Madeleine.9
After Catharine (nee SCHOTT) LEHMANN's death, Michel [Sr.] married again on 18 May 1807 in St. Nicolas Catholic Church in Schirrhein to (2) CATHARINA SCHMIETTER (b 1775), the "32 year old" daughter of George SCHMIETTER / SCHMITTER and Magdalena GLOESS. At the time of the second marriage, the marriage record at St. Nicolas Catholic Church indicated that he was the son of Jean LEHMANN and Catharina HALTER.10
It is not known if there were issue of this second marriage, but that would be a strong possibility since Michel [Sr.] lived about 30 years following his 2nd marriage. If there were issue, they are unknown to this writer.
In Schirrhein and across France, many burial sites are recycled every so many years, so old gravestones are not usually seen in cemeteries. This is a recycled burial site.
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SOURCES & ENDNOTES
1. Michel is the given name frequently found in French/German records. Michael is the English form of Michel.
2. The original spelling of the surname was LEHMANN as found in the early records. Upon emigration to the U.S.A. the surname was spelled many ways: LEHMAN, LAYMAN, LAYMON, LEEMAN, LAMAN, LAMON, and perhaps other ways.
3. [Sr.} is not an official designation, but merely a way to distinguish father from son by this writer.
4. Schirrhein is a commune of the Bas-Rhin Département in France in the said Alsace region near Strasbourg. It is a small village not far from the Rhine River and near the German town of Baden-Baden. Originally a part of Germany, then a part of France, reverted back to Germany, and then finally back to France in 1872 as a result of the various wars in that region.
5. Schirrheim was the original German name given to the commune of Schirrhein when under German control in the Elsas (Alsace) region.
Click on the link to learn more from the article by Vincent Falter.
6. In 1807 when Michel Lehmann [Sr.] married his 2nd wife, Michel's age was given as 46 years and his parents were named.
7. 1995, Information provided by researcher, Vincent Falter, and also found on his website: St. Nicolas Church in Schirrhein, Alsace, France
8. This excerpt was shared with this writer by Vincent Halter
SCHIRRHEIN PERSONALITIES DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY TERROR
(Extracted, translated & shared by Vincent Falter from À La Lisière De La Forêt, Schirrhein-Schirrhoffen; 1995)
9. Emigration of children are found in records:
1992, Nina Ross Montgomery: Schirrhein, France Civil Records; St. Nicolas Catholic Church Records of Schirrhein; French Passport Permission to Immigrate; & Ship Manifest Records
1997, Vincent Falter)
10. Internet, 2005, St. Nicholas Catholic Church, Schirrhein, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France: Marriage Records as transcribed by Vincent Falter.
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Audrey (Lehmann-Shields) Hancock
of Portage, Michigan