Peter Joneli I (1699-1784) and Maria Loertscher (1750-1831)
The parents of Peter Joneli II (1782-1856)
In June 2012, Paul-Anthon Nielson (kupan@bluwin.ch) informed me of an error concerning the parentage of Peter Joneli II (1782-1856), my 4th great grandfather. My daughter Chrystal and I were visiting Paul for the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the baptism of our ancestor John Kunz I (1803-1871). Paul identified that Peter's mother was Maria Loertscher. All instances of Peter's mother in familysearch.org referred to her as Margaretha Loertscher. We investigated late into the evening on Wednesday, June 20, 2012; Paul searching the original parish christening registries and me examining entries made in familysearch.org.
The next morning, Paul was excited to tell me about the rest of his findings. Because of information we had found in familysearch.org concerning the location of the birth of an additional child to Maria Loertscher and Peter Joneli I, Paul was able to locate that christening record and then also the christening record of my ancestor, Peter Joneli II (1782-1856) which included the telling description of Peter Joneli I as "the old man." Up until locating this record, in spite of all the previous sources, it was hard to believe that Maria Loertscher could have been married to a man 50 years older than herself. When the pastor wrote that description of Peter Joneli as "the old man," we finally were able to accept that this puzzle was solved correctly.
Our plans for the day were to show Chrystal the Diemtigen Valley family sites: the homes of John Kunz I, John Kunz II, John Kunz III, the Schweingruber sisters and the birth places of Robert Kunz, John Kunz IV, the Diemtigen church and then go up the Simmental Valley to view the beautiful and elaborate home of Michael Knutti. I was excited to do these visits, but I also had a new desire. I wanted to find the home called Hinter den Fluehn in the top of Boltigen in upper Simmental which was the home of my ancestors Peter Joneli I (1699-1784) and Maria Loertscher (1750-1831) who Paul had so recently been able to correctly identify. Paul mentioned that it was far up the Simmental Valley and it would be late in the afternoon before we could even get there and the forecast was for rain in the afternoon. The main problem with rain is that there probably wouldn't be anyone outside to ask for directions.
We had a wonderful time in the Diemtigen Valley, seeing our ancestors' homes and climbing the hills and taking photos. It was lovely. We ate at the restaurant right next to the church in the Diemtigen village. Finally it was time to try to find Hinter den Fluehn. As predicted, it started to rain as we approached Boltigen. Luckily, we were able to ask directions from one lady who ventured out in the rain to get vegetables for dinner from her garden. Also we stopped at a store that was closing and Paul was able to get some good directions and some wonderful chocolate which we enjoyed.
We drove up and up and the rain and lightning and thunder increased. It was a serious rain storm but we found the little sign where Paul had been instructed to turn left. At the first little barn, there was a car in front and Paul said, "There is probably an old farmer in that barn who might know the location of Hinter den Fluehn. He is probably milking his cow." I opened the little barn door and called, "Hello, hello" but there was no response. As we started to drive away, I looked back at the barn and saw a man in a yellow slicker going around the opposite side of the barn. I was so excited. The old man came around to the front of the barn as Paul backed his car up the hill. We got out in the rain and went to talk to him. We stood under the eave of the barn to avoid some of the rain while they talked. Paul learned that the wife of this man was actually born in Hinter den Fluehn. The old man said he didn't have time to take us to the home but Paul pleaded with him and he finally agreed. We followed him just the short way back to the main road, then down the hill and to the first driveway on the right. This was the man's son's home and it provided the best access to Hinter den Fluehn. I was so appreciative. I took him some Swiss francs and the last chocolate bar to show my thanks. At first he didn't want to take the money, but then I said "Benzin" - which means "gasoline" and he smiled and thanked me.
Hinter den Fluehn
Paul had two umbrellas for which I was grateful. The man's son's family offered us boots to wear because there was no road nor even a path to the Hinter den Fluehn home, only a beautiful wet field. Paul declined the boot offer and we headed on our quarter mile hike to Hinter den Fluehn.
As we hiked, it rained and lightninged and thundered. Paul was so funny. He said, "If we get struck by lightning, there would be nobody to come and help us and so we'd rot and die." I had my voice memos recording the entire event. A transcription of Paul describing the event to Chrystal who had waited in the car follows:
"It rained cats and dogs like this the whole time until just 14 steps before we got there. It was raining like crazy and we were walking and then it started to slow up a bit and then it fully stopped. It really did. I just couldn't believe it because she said that it would and it did. But only for five minutes while she took pictures and then it started up again and we had to walk back in the pouring rain. The minute she got through taking the pictures it started raining again. It was unbelievable."
We were actually there with no rain for 15 minutes. I looked up at the sky and there was a little circular break in the clouds just over us. It was the sweetest experience I could ever imagine. It was a highlight in my life.
So Maria is not Margaretha. I know she is Maria. And I do believe she was with us all the way, helping us to finally correct her identity and to find her home.
And that's the truth.
The findings of Paul-Anthon Nielson - kupan@bluewin.ch
Maria Loertscher (1750-1831) was christened on 19 July 1750 in Wimmis, Bern, Switzerland as found in the Wimmis Christening Register [1724-84, outside of the parish 1709-83], K Wimmis 5, volume V, page 55. Her parents, Jakob Loertscher, son of a Wimmis Consistory Court judge, living "near the bridge" (German: "beye der Bruegg"), and his wife Susanna Loertscher, daughter of the former Lower Simmental Bailiwick court usher, chose the following godparents for their daughter Maria: Niklaus Loertscher; Anna Vogel Spring, a citizen of the community of Reutigen; and Barbara Wallen Loertscher.
The first marriage of Maria Loertscher (1750-1831) was to the old man Peter Joneli (1699-1784) on 30 Jan 1772 in Zweisimmen, Bern, Switzerland. The marriage was solemnized in the local Swiss Reformed parish church in the village of Zweisimmen. At the time of their marriage, the groom was living in the so-called "upper" hamlet (German: "Ober-Baeuert") in the community of Boltigen.
The original marriage record of Peter Joneli I and Maria Loertscher is found in the Zweisimmen Marriage Register (1752-1820), K Zweisimmen 14, volume I, page 65, in the Bern State Archives in Switzerland. The actual wording used by the pastor in this marriage record is quite unusual. He refers to Peter Joneli I as "our" citizen, inasmuch as Peter Joneli held rights of citizenship inherited through birth in the community of Zweisimmen but was living in the community of Boltigen at the time of his marriage. Peter Joneli emphasized his ties to his so-called "community of heritage" by returning there to marry. Inasmuch as Peter Joneli I was substantially older than his wife, the fact that he is noted in this marriage record as living in the "upper" hamlet of the community of Boltigen becomes extremely important.
Original Marriage Record of Peter Joneli I (1699-1784) and Maria Loertscher (1750-1831)
Januari
Den 30ten Copulierte Unserem
Peter Joneli, der sich
in der Oberen Boueert
von Boltigen aufhaltet,
mit Maria Loertscher
von Wimmis.
Our Zweisimmen citizen Peter Joneli, who presently lives in the "upper" hamlet of the community of Boltigen, was married to Maria Loertscher, a citizen of the community of Wimmis, on the 30th of January in the year 1772.
The first child born to Maria Loertscher (1750-1831) and Peter Joneli (1699-1784) was Susanna Joneli (1779-1848) christened 11 June 1779. Susanna Joneli was born on the farm "hinter den Fluehn" in the so-called "upper" hamlet (German: "Ober-Baeuert") of the political/geographical community of Boltigen. Susanna Joneli's specific date of birth was not noted in the record of her christening found in the Boltigen Christening Register [1761-1807, in other parishes 1751-1822], K Boltigen 3, volume V, page 122, entry number 14.
Original Christening Record of Susanna Joneli [Mueller] (1779-1848)
d[en] 11. Dito [Juni] Eine Ehl[iche] Susanna getauft
[Nummer] 14 Elt[ern] Peter Jonelj hinter den Fluhen
Maria Loetscher von Wimmis
Zeug[en] Michel Lehnherr von Wimmis
Barbara Witwer Dito [von Wimmis]
Susanna Spring Dito [von Wimmis]
On the 11th of June 1779, a legitimately born child named Susanna was christened, her parents being Peter Joneli, living on the farm "hinter den Fluehn" in the so-called "upper" hamlet of the political/geographical community of Boltigen, and Maria Loertscher, a citizen of the community of Wimmis. The godparents who witnessed the infant's christening in the local Swiss Reformed parish church in the village of Boltigen were Michael Lehnherr, a citizen of the community of Wimmis; Barbara Wittwer also a citizen of the community of Wimmis; and Susanna Spring also a citizen of the community of Wimmis.
The second child born to Maria Loertscher (1750-1831) and Peter Joneli (1699-1784) was Peter Joneli II born August 1782 on the farm "hinter den Fluehn" in the so-called upper hamlet (Swiss-German: "Ober-Baeuert") at Boltigen. His specific date of birth was not recorded in the record of his christening. The reproduction of Peter Joneli II's original record of christening is taken from the Boltigen Christening Register (1761-1807, in other parishes 1751-1822), volume V, page 150, entry number 25, in the Bern State Archives in Switzerland.
It is significant that the name of Peter Joneli II's mother appears in his christening record as "Maria Loertscher, a citizen of the community of Wimmis," which does not agree with numerous family records in the United States where her name erroneously appears as "Margaretha Loertscher." Not only the complete genealogical identification of Maria Loertscher and her three husbands but also the identification of Peter Joneli I makes it certain that, although Maria Loertscher's first husband maintained rights of citizenship inherited by birth in the community of Zweisimmen, he was living in the so-called "upper" hamlet of the political/geographical community of Boltigen at the time he married Maria Loertscher. At the time their two children were christened in the Swiss Reformed parish church in the village of Boltigen, Reverend Johannes Baeckli noted in both christening records that Peter Joneli was living on the farm "hinter den Fluehn," which is one of several located in the "upper" hamlet of Boltigen. In the christening record of Peter Joneli II in 1782, Reverend Baeckli even went so far as to exceptionally write "Peter Jonelj der alte hinter den Fluehen," which very literally translated reads: "Peter Joneli, the old man living on the farm named "hinter den Fluehn."
Original Christening Record of Peter Joneli II (1782-1856)
[Nummer] 25
D[en] 25 Augst Ein Ehlicher Peter getauft
Elt[ern]: Peter Jonelj der alte hinter den Fluehn
Maria Loetscher von Wimmis
Zeueg[en] Peter Jonelj Feldfendrich auf dem Heimersberg
Hans Zeller, Wayesenvogt von Zweisimmen
Magdalena Zeller, Hans Buchs Ehweib
von Grubenwald.
On the 25th of August 1782, a legitimately born child named Peter was christened, his parents being Peter Joneli, the old man, living on the farm "hinter den Fluehn" in the so-called "upper" hamlet of Boltigen and Maria Loertscher, a citizen of the community of Wimmis; the godparents who witnessed the infant's christening in the local Swiss Reformed parish church in the village of Boltigen were field standard bearer (Swiss-German: "Feldfendrich"-a military office) Peter Joneli, living "auf dem Heimersberg" in the community of Zweisimmen; orphans' administrator Johannes Zeller, a citizen of the community of Zweisimmen; and Magdalena Zeller, a citizen of Grubenwald near Zweisimmen, the wife of Johannes Buchs.
Combined with the other records pertaining to the immediate family of Peter Joneli I and Maria Loertscher, the genealogical identification of Peter Joneli I is surprisingly proven by his death and burial record, wherein the pastor noted that Peter Joneli, 85 years of age, died on 23 March 1784 in the tiny hamlet of Littisbach -- which is indeed located in the aforementioned so-called "upper hamlet" (i.e. "Ober-Baeuert") of the community of Boltigen. Boltigen Death Register [1728-1816] K Boltigen 11, volume I, page 127, entry number 33
The second marriage of Maria Loertscher Joneli (1750-1831) was to Peter Greber Sr. (1764-1801).
Original Marriage Record of Maria Loertscher Joneli (1750-1831)
and Peter Greber Sr. (1764-1801)
[1785]
Den 15t[en] Aprill hier eingeseegnet;
Peter Greber von Scharnachthal
Maria Loertscher, Peter Jonelj sel. Witib
von Zweisimmen
On 15th April 1785, Peter Greber Sr., a citizen of the hamlet Scharnachthal in the community of Reichenbach im Kandertal and Maria Loertscher, widow of the late Peter Joneli, a citizen of the community of Zweisimmen, were married here in the Swiss Reformed parish church at Reichenbach im Kandertal.
Maria Loertscher Joneli (1750-1831) and Peter Greber (1764-1801) had one son, Christian Greber. He was christened on 15 January 1786. The image of Christian Greber's original christening record is found in the Reichenbach im Kandertal Christening Register [1746-87, in other parishes 1762-87], volume VI, page 400, in the Bern State Archives in Switzerland (call number K Reichenbach 6). Both the year and the actual date of christening appear at the top of page 400 which is not visible in the attached image.
Original Christening Record of Christian Greber (b. 1786)
Den 15.t[en] Jen[n]er ...
Eod[em] ein Ehelich Kind
Christen
Par[entes] Peter Greber, v[on] Scharnachthal
Maria Loertscher, Peter Jonelj sel[ig]
Witib
Test[es] Jakob Buehler v[on] Aesche
Gilgen Zur Bruegg im Embthal
Catharina Rubin v[on] Reichenbach
On the same day, [15 January 1786] a legitimate child was christened: Christian, whose parents are: Peter Greber, a citizen of the hamlet Scharnachthal in the municipality of Reichenbach im Kandertal, and Maria Loertscher, widow of the late Peter Joneli. The witnessing godparents are: Jakob Buehler, a citizen of the municipality of Aeschi near Spiez; Gilgian Zurbruegg, living in Emdthal valley above the community of Aeschi; and Katharina Rubin, a citizen of the municipality of Reichenbach im Kandertal.
The divorce of Maria Loertscher Joneli Greber (1750-1831) from her second husband, Peter Greber Sr., is noted in the marriage record to her third husband, Joseph Jutzeler (1729-1804), in the Daerstetten Marriage Register [1752-1825], volume C, page 24, entry number 2, in the Bern State Archives in Switzerland (call number K Daerstetten 7). This marriage record is particularly noteworthy inasmuch as the Reverend Johannes Buri recorded the names of the two previous spouses of both the bride and groom, something extremely unusual. This record also proves that Maria Loertscher Joneli Greber's marriage to her second husband, Peter Greber, ended in divorce.
Original Marriage Record of Maria Loertscher Joneli Greber (1750-1831)
and Joseph Jutzeler Sr. (1729-1804)
Verkuendet [Sonntag] 18 und 25 May und 1 Jun[i]
Eingesegnet [Freitag] 13 Jun[i]
Joseph Juzeler Niklausen von hier
der durch den Tod seiner Ehefrauen Anna Raeber
und Susanna Bergmann Zum 2ten mal Witwer worden
Maria Loertscher, Jacobs von Wim[m]is, Peter Jo=
nelis Witwe von Zweisimmen, und Peter Grebers
von Reichenbach abgeschiedene Ehefrau
Banns proclaimed on Sunday, 18 and 25 May and 1 June 1800; marriage solemnized on Friday, 13 June 1800. Joseph Jutzeler, Niklaus' son, and a citizen of here [i.e., the municipality of Daerstetten], who through the death of his wives, Anna Reber and Susanna Bergmann, has been a widower two times; and Maria Loertscher, Jakob's daughter, and a citizen of the municipality of Wimmis, the widow of Peter Joneli, a citizen of Zweisimmen, and the divorced wife of Peter Greber, a citizen of Reichenbach im Kandertal.
The death of Maria Loertscher Joneli Greber Jutzeler occurred on 17 March 1831 and is recorded in the Boltigen Death Register [1817-71] K Boltigen 12, volume II, page 38, entry number 5. In her death and burial record, Maria Loertscher, about 80 years of age, is noted as being the widow of Peter Joneli. No reference is made to her having been married to Joseph Jutzeler Sr.
An interesting side note to this experience is that all of the photos I took while visiting Hinter den Fluehn were lost when my phone's camera completely failed in Paris a few days later. Luckily we were able to return to Switzerland to take more photos, but by then the weather was clear and beautiful. So I have no parting of the clouds photos nor any cloudy day photos of Hinter den Fluehn but I do have bright clear beautiful day Hinter den Fluehn photos. Also I don't have any of the photos from our hike to the baptismal place of John Kunz I on that commemorative day but I do have the audio recordings of both events because I was using my other device to make those recordings. More important than anything, I have the pictures in my heart and the treasured memories in my soul.
