DECEMBER 1993 NEWSLETTER
I have some remarkable news concerning the second wife of Charles GEISSINGER. I believe we have located very strong evidence, but not conclusive, that the second wife of Charles was Sarah PLANK, and she was the mother of Elizabeth, Michael, and Philip GEISSINGER among others. Nelson EDDY of Terre Haute, Indiana has sent me about 300 pages of research notes and material that I have spent the last few weeks reading each evening. I have been able to combine his information with mine and piece together a multitude of information items he has received from other GEISSINGER researchers over the years and the results are very interesting.
Virginia MOSELEY of Michigan is a key link in this research. She is 83 years old and a grand daughter of Lamach GUISINGER. We don't even know if she is presently living, but I am writing to find out. Lamach GUISINGER was a grandson of Charles GEISSINGER Sr. through Charles' son, Philip. Mrs. MOSELEY has in her possession a very old ledger which belonged to Philip GUISINGER. Philip was a shoemaker-- we know that from census records-- and this is his shoemaker's account ledger. It is a very frail and old document dating to the early 1800's. In this ledger Philip names his mother, Sarah PLANK, and his brother and sister (Michael and Elizabeth). We have the evidence that gave us the names of his brother and sister, but the news that his mother was not Catherine is the evidence we have been seeking.
You will remember that I speculated some months back that it appeared the evidence suggested that Charles may have had two wives. This has been on my mind a lot during the last few months. We speculated that Catherine may have been too old to be having children in the 1790's. We do know that Catherine is the mother of our Catherine GEISSINGER who married Michael MOWER because of Nauvoo Baptismal records done by Henry MOWER in 1842. Jim PETTY speculated that Charles Sr. may have apprenticed his sons in the 1790's because of the death of a spouse and an inability to care for those children. This was often done he said because of the death of a spouse. Nelson said he found in his notes a notation that Charles GEISSINGER had 6 sons and 6 daughters. We only have 11 children found to date--- 5 girls and 6 boys. I need to see where he found that reference.
Now, for another very interesting find. As I studied the material received from Nelson, I found an extremely interesting entry about our Charles GEISSINGER Sr. found in the obituary for his grandson, Lamach GUISINGER. This obituary was found in the Holdren Missouri Press in 1929: Lamach GUISINGER was born 26 Mar 1836 near the town of Thornville, Perry, Ohio. His parents were Philip and Sarah GUISINGER. He had four brothers and one sister, and he was the youngest of the family. His grandfather [THIS WOULD BE OUR CHARLES GEISSINGER SR.] served 7 years in the army during the Revolutionary War. He was a member of Anthony Wayne's command, took part in the capture of Stony Point, and spent the winter at Valley Forge. Now, that is interesting information about Charles Sr. and had evidently been passed down through the family history and ended up in Lamach GUISINGER's obituary.
This is more evidence that we have the right Charles GEISSINGER because we know our's fought in the Revolutionary War and was in the same theater of action as Anthony WAYNE. We did not know that he spent the winter with George WASHINGTON at Valley Forge. What a great piece of information! I am getting so much information about Charles I could write a small book about his life. Our Grandpa Charles was quite a man--- soldier of fortune in Portugal, prisoner of war sold to America, indentured servant in New Jersey, runaway, captured, runaway again, joined the American Revolution, fought for 7 years, Valley Forge, captured by the British in Battle of Three Rivers, freed, joined up again, settled in Maryland, lived in Bedford, Pa. I would have to weave in some historical fiction based on accounts of the times but this would make an interesting story based on the facts with a little creativity to fill in the details. I just might do that if I can get a little better organized.
I received another batch of Goetzis extractions from Trudy SCHENK. She is going like mad on these names and has completely finished the first of three microfilms of the Goetzis records. She reports that more films are now available from the churches in towns in the Vorarlberg area around Goetzis. When she finishes the Goetzis records she can now search nearby villages where ancestors were likely to have lived. Some ancestors are referenced in the Goetzis records as to living in other towns, but their children are not listed in Goetzis. We can hopefully find some of them in those other records. I will enclose with this newsletter much of her extracted information on ancestors of ours that she has extracted.
I recently drove to Utah where I put together 3 days of research at the FHL. I met with Trudy and we discussed the status of the Goetzis work. She reports to me that she probably will not be able to identify the parents of Maria WALSER, mother of Charles GEISSINGER. The reason being that there are seven who fit the description (according to dates) and she was only able to eliminate three. Of the four remaining families that could be ours one stands out like a sore thumb. In that family the WALSER man married a GISINGER woman and their child was named Maria WALSER. She could be the mother of Charles.
Often families inter-married and it is likely that this is the right family. However, with no proof, we just can not assume this is the correct line. I have decided to do the temple work for all of the WALSERs. That way we won't go wrong and even though we can't prove the pedigree on the WALSER line, we will have done all that we can do. All of these WALSERs are related and that makes them our distant cousins. Work is proceeding on the BUSCHAUER and GEIGER lines as well as the GISINGER extractions because of your donations.
My trip to the FHL was particularly productive in tracing more descendants of Charles GEISSINGER. I studied his son, Jacob, and found nearly 100 descendants living in Ohio. We found several family histories that included entire family sketches which led us to other records and information. This alone made the trip worthwhile. Coupled with information received from Nelson EDDY on this line we have identified 87 families with a total of 269 descendants. All of whom are descendants of Charles GEISSINGER Sr.
While in Salt Lake I visited the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and went to the Ancestral File floor where I gave them an updated submission on Charles Sr. with the Goetzis information and some of his newly found descendants--- including 467 descendants of Michael GEISSINGER, his son. The next issue of the AF should include these changes.
I also received a phone call from Winston EWING of Plains, Missouri before our trip to the library. He is a descendant of Harrison HALL and is studying the EAST family. (This is the Elizabeth HALL line--- she married Henry MOWER Jr.) He asked if I would spend some time on the scheduled FHL trip looking up some EAST information. I scheduled about 6 hours for that on this trip and was able to gather information that when put with recent research of Jack and Mary RASMUSSEN, extended Elizabeth HALL's pedigree two generations.
For those family members who descend through this line we learned that William EAST Sr. was the son of Edward EAST. Edward EAST was the son of Thomas EAST. These families lived in Henry and in Henrico Counties in Virginia. Thomas EAST was born about 1640 we believe. I was also able to identify other EAST children in these families and some of their descendants. We're getting pretty close to the immigrant ancestor of the EAST line, who most likely came from England. I sent the research learned to Winston and to Jack and Mary. They are doing most of the work on this line and spending a lot of time with it I might add.
Thus we wrapped up a great weekend researching and visiting relatives and Sunday evening we loaded the family into the old blue bomb (which lived up to it's nickname) and headed for home in Wyoming. We made it nearly to the top of Parley's Canyon before the engine exploded and we glided to a discreet stop in a haze of blue smoke and steam! A very kind couple eventually gave us a lift to Bountiful where another relative kindly gave us a lift to Willard, where my fine father let me borrow his vehicle for a trip home to Wyoming. We did eventually make it home with grateful hearts that things weren't worse. Our usual 4 hour trip home from Salt Lake took 9 hours but we made it just fine!
I have spent many evenings since putting information learned onto the computer, linking families and assessing where our next research efforts need to be directed. I am anxious to get back to Salt Lake and pursue the many leads we have. To date, Trudy has sent us about 1300 names from Goetzis records.
Deaths in Goetzis, Austria FHL #1729781
24 Nov 1734 Young girl Martha Walser fr. Bauern 30 Jan 1735 Widower Michael Buschauer 8 Apr 1735 Maria, wife of Conrad Gisinger 24 May 1735 Maria Walser, wife of Bartholomai Kilga 21 Jun 1735 Widow Magdalena Walser fr. Altach 21 Jun 1735 Widower Georg Gisinger fr. Altach 25 Nov 1735 Johann Georg Geiger 11 Jul 1736 Widow, Anna Buschauer fr. Bauern 18 Jul 1736 Maria Buschauer wife of Bartholomaei Seter 4 Sep 1736 Young girl Catharina Walser fr. Altach 26 Nov 1736 Thomas Walser, husb. of Maria Gisinger in Altach 4 Dec 1736 Maria Gisinger, widow in Altach 9 Feb 1737 Widower Conrad Gisinger in Buch 11 Oct 1737 Widow Margaretha Gisinger fr. Altach 4 Jan 1738 Udalricus Walser, husb. of Maria Vaplon 25 Feb 1738 Widower Johann Walser fr. Altach 26 Aug 1738 Anton Walser husb. of Anna Maria Walser 3 Jun 1739 Leonhard Walser, husb. of Cath. Gisinger fr. Tobl 17 Jul 1739 Florian Gisinger husb. of Maria Zipper fr. Altach 20 May 1740 Young girl Catharina Buschauer 3 Dec 1740 Young girl Anna Walser of Goetzis 1 Nov 1741 Joannes Loacker, husb. of Anna Gisinger in Loacker 31 Dec 1741 Catharina Loacker, wife of Jacob Gisinger 19 Feb 1742 Young man Joseph Gisinger fr. Buoch 25 Aug 1742 Maria Elenson, wife of Anton Walser 29 Nov 1742 Thomas Walser husb. of Elisabetha Meyer 23 Feb 1743 Young girl Anna Gisinger fr. Altach 14 May 1743 Joseph Fleisch husb. of Ursula Gisinger fr. Altach 15 Apr 1744 Young man Joannes Gisinger fr. Altach 15 Apr 1744 Barbara Marti, wife of Petri Gisinger in Altach 18 Apr 1745 Magdalena Gisinger wife of Ulricus Walser, in Altach 3 Jul 1745 Young girl Catharina Gisinger fr. Altach Aug 1746 Young girl Agatha Gisinger fr. Altach 2 Mar 1747 Young girl Anna Walser fr. Bauren 8 Jul 1747 Maria Gisinger, widow in Altach 14 Jul 1747 Andreas Walser, husb. of Anna Maria Peter 3 Jan 1748 Jacobus Gisinger widower in Altach 16 Jan 1748 Antonius Gisinger husb. of Catharina in Buech Haeltin 29 Apr 1748 Widow Catharina Gisinger in Tobel 11 Jul 1748 Widower Joannes Walser in Altach 15 Aug 1748 Young man Joannes Gisinger in Altach 1 Sep 1748 Young girl Catharina Gisinger in Altach 3 Dec 1748 Young man Josephus Walser in Altach Dec 1748 Jacob Walser husb. of Francisca Lind 18 Feb 1749 Maria Walser young girl in Altach 24 Mar 1749 Maria Straub wife of Joannes Walser in Altach 6 Jul 1749 Young man Udalricus Walser in Altach 9 Jul 1749 George Walser Widower in Altach 19 Mar 1750 Anna Nesensohn wife of Anton Gisinger in Goetzis, shoemaker. 30 May 1750 Anna Walser wife of Thoma Walser in Tobl Jul 1750 Widow Anna Walser in Altach Oct 1750 Widow Maria Gisinger in Altach 16 Dec 1750 Young girl Anna Walser in Goetzis 3 Jan 1751 Anna Gechter wife of Joannes Gisinger in Altach 15 Jan 1752 Young Andreas Walser from Tobl 11 Feb 1753 Young boy Michael Gisinger fr. Altach 29 May 1753 Young girl Agatha Gisinger fr. Altach 8 Jun 1753 Young girl Anna Maria Gisinger in Goetzis 30 Oct 1753 Joseph Walser hub. of Anna Kreutler fr. Bauern Apr 1754 Francisca Egle wife of Johann Walser fr. Altach 6 Jul 1754 Young girl Anna Maria Walser fr. Altach 13 Nov 1754 Young girl Christina Gisinger fr. Altach 22 Nov 1754 Young girl Maria Walser fr. Altach 14 Jan 1755 Maria Fend wife of Anton Walser in Goetzis 16 Feb 1755 Widower Jacob Gisinger fr. Goetzis 15 Oct 1755 Anna Walser fr. Goetzis received the Holy Sacrament 19 Dec 1755 Widow Maria Walser fr. Goetzis 17 Jan 1756 Anna Gisinger, wife of Mathias Hemmerle, the miller 21 Mar 1756 Joannes Walser, husb. of Anna Maria Zipper 29 May 1756 The widow Anna Walser in Altach Aug 1756 Young girl Catharina GISINGER in Loackel 29 Nov 1756 Young girl Maria Bueschauer 29 May 1757 Georg Walser died in the military fr. Altach 30 Aug 1757 Petrus Gisinger died in Feldberg, husband of Catharina Geser. 26 Sep 1757 Joannes Gisinger husb. of Maria Lenglin in Goetzis 28 Sep 1757 Widow Anna Gisinger fr. Loacker 25 Mar 1758 Catharina Nachbaur, widow fr. Altach 12 Oct 1758 Young man Joannes Gisinger fr. Goetzis 24 Jan 1759 Young man Anon Buschauer fr. Bauern Feb 1759 Michael Buschauer, husband of Anna Roesch, bauern in Altach. Mar 1759 Johann Walser husb. of Anna Maria Ender 27 Sep 1759 Regina Walser, wife of Johann Walser in Altach 6 Jun 1760 Miss Margaretha Buschauer fr. Bauern 3 Jan 1760 Anton Walser fr. Altach, a soldier in Italy Feb 1761 Widower Thomas Walser fr. Altach Apr 1761 Johann Gisinger husband of Magdalena Gechter 10 Feb 1762 Peter Gisinger husb. of Magd. Ender in Altach 11 Mar 1762 Young man Laurentuis Walser in Goetzis 31 Mar 1762 Johann Gisinger husb. of Maria Lampert 15 May 1762 Johann Gisinger husb. of Anna Fend in Altach 24 Jun 1762 Anton Walser husb. of Francisca Buschauer 13 Jul 1762 Johann Elsasohn husb. of Catharina Gisinger 24 Aug 1762 Johann Buschauer husb. of Anna Jeger fr. Bauern 18 Oct 1762 Catharina Walser young girl fr. Goetzis 15 Nov 1762 Widower Johann Walser, a mason in Goetzis 27 Jan 1763 Young girl Anna Walser, husb. of Anna Maria Weizenmann in Bauern. 3 Sep 1763 Widower Johann Walser in Altach Feb 1764 Anton Gisinger, husb. of Theresia Starck in Loacker 15 Jan 1765 Young girl Anna Buschauer fr. Goetzis 28 Nov 1765 Anna Maria Walser, wife of Johann Walser in Goetzis 6 Dec 1765 Anna Maria Walser, young girl in Goetzis 20 Dec 1765 Johann Walser, weaver, husb. of Agatha Roesch in Bauern 31 Dec 1765 Anna Maria Gisinger, wf. of Joseph Fend in Altach 4 Feb 1766 Andreas Walser, husb. of Ursula Fleisch in Altach 7 Feb 1766 Margaretha Gechter, wf. of Anton Walser in Altach 15 Feb 1766 Anna Maria Starck, wf. of the schoolteacher Jacob Buschauer in Goetzis. 22 Feb 1766 Wid. Johann Walser in Altach Mar 1766 Wid. Fidelis Walser in Altach
Marriages in Goetzis, Austria FHL #1729781
16 Nov 1696 Jacob BUSCHAUER and Salomea EBENHOEH 4 May 1694 George WALSER and Barbara HEUWER 4 Jun 1696 Joseph WALSER and Magdalena RITTER fr. Strass, parents fr. Hobloch 29 Apr 1697 Georg WALSER and Agatha KOCH 12 Nov 1697 Jacob WALSER and Maria GISINGER, 2 Mar 1698 Fidelis WALSER (W) and Magdalena ENDER (S) 23 Nov 1699 Johann WALSER (W) and Catharina CATANIN (S) fr. Roetti 22 Nov 1700 Jacob WALSER (S) and Anna GAMBSIN(S) 24 Jan 1701 Johann WALSER (W) fr. Roetti and Anna FRICK (S) 14 Apr 1704 Fidel WALSER (S) fr. Altachand Catharina NACHBUERIN (S) fr. Vera__ 27 Feb 1718 Thomas FLEISCH (W) and Maria GEISINGER fr. Altach 28 Apr 1720 Jacob WALSER (W) and Catharina ZIPPER (W) 8 Nov 1725 Anton GISINGER (W) and Agatha BINKHER 6 May 1726 Georg WALSER and Ursula KELIN (W) 2 Dec 1726 Fidelis WALSER and Elisabetha KREUTLER 28 Jan 1727 Anton GISINGER (W) and Anna Maria HAIDEGGER (W) 2 Feb 1729 Joseph WALSER and Anna KREUTLER 2 May 1747 Ferdinandus Walser from Weiler and Ursula Martin fr. Schwende 2 Oct 1747 Michael Buesl fr. Schwende and Magdalena Gisinger fr. Komingen. She died 29 Jan 1757 18 Jul 1748 Anton Walser fr. Tobl and Maria Fend fr. Goetzis 9 Jan 1749 Joannes Boeckle fr. Meder and Magdalena Gisinger fr. Altach 30 Jan 1749 Thomas Walser fr. Tobl and Anna Walser fr. Altach 16 Jun 1749 Josephus Walser fr. Tobl and Anna Fend 28 Jul 1750 Thomas Walser, widower fr. Tobl and Magdalena Fleisch 3 May 1752 Johann Ellensohn and Catharina Gisinger fr. Goetzis 8 May 1752 Widower Bartholomaeus Gisinger and Anna Fleisch fr. Komingen 11 Jun 1752 Young man Jacob Buschauer fr. Bauern and Susanna Mathis fr. Ebnit 9 Jun 1754 Young man Thomas Gisinger fr. Meder and Anna Maria Henzlin fr. Altach 24 Apr1755 Widower Anton Walser and widow Catharina Gechter fr. Goetzis 3 Feb 1756 Joseph Brendle and Maria Gisinger fr. Altach 2 May 1757 Widower Joseph Fend fr. Altach and Anna Maria Gisinger fr. Goetzis 24 Jan 1758 Young man Caspar Walser and Barbara Fend fr. Altach. Witness: Joseph Walser and Joseph Ellensohn 12 Oct 1758 Johann Gisinger fr. Altach and Anna Fend fr. Altach 9 Jan 1759 Anton Lengle fr. Goetzis and Anna Gisinger fr. Komingen