Thomas Schembs of Brazil

Thomas Schembs of Brazil

CLICK to trace the ancestors of Thomas Schembs

The First Emigrant to the Amerikas

The first Schömbs to emigrate from Deutschland to the Amerikas did not go to the (present day) United States. The first was Thomas Schembs (*08.02.1770 Gundheim) who left Germany with his wife Margaretha (*1790) and children in 1825 on a boat to Brazil. This preceded the beginning of the decades-long migration of millions from Germany to the United States by about 15 years. We know that Thomas and his family emigrated from the village of Dittelsheim. Prior to 2021 it was believed they had lived in the nearby village of Heßloch. Click to read in Reinhold Schembs's book the discussion of this point. In the Dittelsheim churchbook baptismal register of their last child Anna Elisabetha (*1825 Dittelsheim) it is noted that the family emigrated to Brazil. As can be seen below, all of the children of Thomas, with the possible exception of Catharina (*1804), were born in Dittelsheim. Dittelsheikm today is combined with its neighboring town Heßloch and known as Dittelsheim/Heßloch. There is an interesting story explaining Brasil in the early 19th Century.

Brazil was a colony of Portugal from the landing of Pedro Álvares Cabral in 1500 until 1815, when it was elevated to the rank of kingdom and the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves was formed. The colonial bond was in fact broken in 1808, when the capital of the Portuguese colonial empire was transferred from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro, after Napoleon invaded Portugal. Independence from Portugal was achieved in 1822 with the formation of the Empire of Brazil, a unitary state governed under a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary system.[1]

But Brazil was/is an immense country and its few European citizens in 1822 knew they needed more skilled people to develop a viable/successful country. They went on a marketing campaign in Europe, offering free land and opportunity to skilled tradesmen and farmers in a few countries of Europe, encouraging them to emigrate to Brazil. Germany was one of those countries. And in 1824 a migration began of Germans to Brazil.

Thomas Schembs (*08.02.1770 Gundheim, +24.05.1856 Gravatai RS Brazil) was one of those who signed up, leaving Germany with his family in October, 1825 on the ship Kranich from Hamburg. His wife Anna Maria and seven of his children were with him.

It should be pointed out that the birth documentation for Thomas Schembs (*1770 Gundheim) used the family spelling "Schembs." But Schömbs and Schems were probably the more common spellings for his family in Germany. We know of his son Heinrich (*1801 Dittelsheim), who remained in Germany, as Heinrich Schömbs. The documentation relating to Thomas's emigration and life in Brazil uses the family spelling "Schömbs" as well as other variations. The various spellings are interchangeable. Ultimately, for at least many of his descendants, the spelling is today "Schemes."

First Contact with the Brazilians - 2005

Reinhold and Jim Schembs had known since 1995 that at least one Schömbs/Schembs had emigrated to Brazil. But attempts to find descendants today in Brazil had been unproductive. There does not exist in Brazil a national telephone directory resource such as in Germany and the United States. In 2005 Fernando Gusmão, husband of Adriana Schemes, was researching the history of their Schemes family in Brazil. An internet search produced an interesting finding, the Zacharias Schömbs Worldsite (this site) with spelling variations incuding Schoembs and Schembs. Fernando replied on the Contact Link, suggesting that the Schemes family was descended from Thomas Schembs (*1770). He said he would continue with his research which would hopefully confirm this belief. As shown below his research was successful. For the next three years there were numerous email and video-conference (over internet) contacts between the Gusmãos and Jim Schembs. In 2008 the Brazilians came to the Schömbs Familientreffen in Herrnsheim, Germany. This was the first meeting of the Schemes family and their Schömbs cousins in 183 years! Then in 2011 Pamela and Jim Schembs visited the Schemes family in Brazil, the first time family had come to Brazil to visit in 186 years! Both reunions were unbelievably wonderful. Fifteen years later four more Schemes descendants came to Schömbs 2023 in Herrnsheim. These four were from two different branches of the Thomas Schembs/Schemes descendants from the 2008 cousins. In 2023 they were warmly welcomed by the town leaders of Dittelsheim, the town from which Thomas and his family had emigrated. The leaders led them on a walking tour of their town, pointing out all the historic places. Unfortunately they had not been able to identify the location of the Schembs home in 1825 Dittelsheim. The story of Thomas Schembs and his descendants is told by Fernando Gusmão.

Schemes x Schömbs

Most difficult was looking for an immigrant with the Schemes name and never finding one. After researching I concluded that, over time, the Schemes name was a variation of the Schömbs name. This is clearly proven through marriage certificates and baptismal records, as shown below. The local Catholic priests during the 19th Century were mostly Portuguese or Italian. They did not speak the German language. German names were strange to them. Researcher Gesmar Borges in Torres Marcas do Tempo 175 anos explains that "the writing of names and germanic last names was not familiar, was not routine to the notaries or substitutes in the North Coast in century XIX and beginnings of century XX." Hilda Agnes Hübner Flores in História da Imigração Alemã no Rio Grande do Sul says that "the 184 catholics had been in São Pedro das Torres, attended by the local Portuguese priest, who did not speak the German language, but performed marriages and gave collective absolution." Hunsche in O Ano 1826 da Imigração e Colonização Alemã no Rio Grande do Sul mentions "the consequences of this assimilation alleged for the P. Amstad relating to the writing of the names, was so significant that many of these names are today unrecognizable. As we read the mentioned Livro de Receitas e Despesas (Source n.o 10) of the Colony of São Pedro de Alcântara, we had the chance to observe this unfortunate development, favored, of course, for the parish priest recorded history, not knowing the language of his faithfuls." In our present day research of those old documents we find the following variations of the Schemes name: Schems, Schömbs, Schaemes, Schaems, Schembs, Schumbs, Chems, Chemse and Chemez.

Who Came to Brazil?

In the Passenger List from the ship Kranich (on its 2nd voyage to Brazil), we found the family of Thomas Schömbs. The Kranich was commanded by Captain Klaus Frederico Becker, arriving in Rio de Janeiro on the 19 of January, 1826, with 40 families (216 people) on board destined to the Colony of São Leopoldo, State of Rio Grande do Sul (RS). The original list resides in the National Archive (Rio de Janeiro/RJ). If you zoom in on the passenger list above for Thomas on line 1, it clearly appears there is an umlaut (¨) over the center of his family name, i.e. "Schömbs" If you enlarge the passenger list above to Thomas in line 1, it becomes clear that there is an umlaut (¨) in the middle of his surname, i.e., “Schömbs.”

27th Family
Nr - Name - age - relationship status - profession - religion - origin - observations

146 - SCHÖMBS, Tomás, 55, married, farmhand, catholic, Hessen/Darmstadt
147 - Margarida, 2nd wife, 35, married, catholic
148 - Catarina, daughter (from 1st wife), 22, "obtained a license to be married with Jorge Spohr on Rio, 1st February 1826"
149 - Ana Maria, daughter (1st wife) 18, single, catholic
150 - Catarina Bárbara, daughter (1st wife), 14, single, catholic
151 - Margarida, daughter (2nd wife), 9, died on the high seas on 11 Nov 1825
152 - Jacob Antônio, son, 6, single, catholic
153 - João, son, 4, single, catholic
154 - Elisabeta, daughter, 9 months, single, catholic

Thomas Schembs was married twice. In about 1800 he married Theresia Conradi (*1777 Heßloch, +02.01.1814 Dittelsheim). Theresia died in Dittelsheim 02 Jan 1814. Thomas and Theresia had five children. The oldest, Heinrich Schömbs (*06.02.1801), was 12 at the time of his mothers death and 24 at the time Thomas (*1770) emigrated. Heinrich remained in Germany. The other four children of Thomas and Theresia, all daughters, emigrated with Thomas to Brazil. They were as shown above ages 22, 18 and 14 years. In about 1814 Thomas then married Anna Margaretha Seipp (*1790 , +09.07.1855). They had a total of six children. Two of their children died before the emigration. The other four children of Thomas and Margaretha emigrated. As an aside, Heinrich Schömbs (*1801) who remained behind married and had one child, Heinrich Schömbs (*1829 Monzernheim). Heinrich Schömbs (*1829) later emigrated to the United States in 1852 and founded one of two branches of Schombs in the U.S. Click to read the story of Heinrich Schömbs (*1829), grandson of Thomas Schembs.

The Itinerary

The following is the itinerary of the family from Germany to Brazil. You can click on the various Links to see more detail of their journey.

31 August 1825 is made the contract of freightage under number 5,176 of the ship Kranich for Major Schaeffer, in Hamburg.

20 September 1825 the Kranich begins loading supplies and passengers at the port of Hamburg, with a destination of Brazil.

Click for Map

03 October 1825 the Kranich leaves Hamburg, beginning the voyage of the Thomas Schömbs family and others to Brazil.

	The original passenger list of the Kranich showing the Schembs family Click image to enlarge
If you zoom in on the passenger list above for Thomas on line 1, it clearly appears there is an umlaut (¨) over the center of his family name, i.e. "Schömbs"

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19 January 1826 arrive at the port of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Arrival Document in Rio
Click image to enlarge

20 January 1826 disembark at Armação da Praia Grande (Rio de Janeiro/RJ).
During their two week stay in Armação da Praia Grande, Catharina (*1804) was married to Jorge Spohr. The wedding was 1 Feb 1826. Catharina and Jorge apparently did not accompany the family on the next leg of their trip to Porto Alegre.

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05 February 1826 embark at Rio de Janeiro on the "Americana" sumaca * (Costeiro no 4), with destination of Porto Alegre/RS. The boat sails down the coast From Rio de Janeiro and through Lagoon dos Patos and Lagoon Itapoã to Porto Alegre/RS.

In Porto Alegre they change boats and go up the Guaiba and Sinos Rivers to São Leopoldo

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07 March 1826 arrive at the Colony of São Leopoldo/RS, where they were registered with Dr. João Daniel Hillebrand, Director of the German Colony of São Leopoldo. The family remained a few months in São Leopoldo. For unknown reasons, perhaps not receiving their property or not liking the property that was offered to them, they decided to move to a different colony. In this period, the government of the Province of São Pedro was forming a new colony on the North Coast of the Rio Grande do Sul state. In which Thomas decided to settle with his family.

Page 47 - Codex 333 of the AHRS. The number 61 indicates that Thomas was the 61st immigrant in the month of March and 484 that he was the 484th immigrant in the year 1826 to arrive in São Leopoldo.

61 - 484 - Thomas Schems
62 - 485 - Margarida - wife
63 - 486 - Anna Maria - daughter
64 - 487 - Barbara - daughter
65 - 488 - João - son
66 - 489 - Elisabeth – daughter

Of the family members who disembarked in Rio de Janeiro, missing are Catharina (*1804) and Jacob Antonio (*1819) in São Leopoldo.

Registration Book of Dr. Hillebrand


São Leopoldo: The place where immigrants arrived [2]


This house sheltered the first German immigrants in São Leopoldo. It was called Real Feitoria do Linho Canhamo (Portuguese architecture) [2]	Ox Cart: the transportation for the immigrants [2]

24 September 1826 arrive in four yachts at Porto Alegre from São Leopoldo and are part of the 1st group of immigrants (352 people) with the destination of Torres ("Towers").

28 September 1826 a 2nd group (66 people) arrives at Porto Alegre from São Leopoldo in a yacht , also with destination the Torres.

The "Kleiner hafen" (little port) at Porto Alegre in the time of the immigrants [3]

28 September 1826 until 31 October 1826 the groups are delayed in Porto Alegre on their voyage to Torres, "originated already for true difficuldades, already for reasons that I leave in I silence" (Gordilho de Barbuda).

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01 November 1826 leave Porto Alegre for Torres (they totaled 421 people: 237 protestants and 184 catholics) in the two groups, five yachts; saw rivers Guaíba, Lagoon Itapoã, Lagoon dos Patos, and finally the Capivari river.

03 November 1826 arrived at the mouth of the Capivari river.

04 November 1826 landed and discharged the five yachts in the Capivari river.

05 November 1826 commencement of the overland trip in ox carts. Some families delayed because 4 carts,which had been ordered, did not arrive.

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07 November 1826 arrive at Passo de Tramandaí (the place to ford the river Tramandaí), after passing through the area of Quilombo.

13 November 1826 begin an overland trek near, and sometimes on the beach for the final 80 km (50 miles) in 5-6 days, for lack of canoes and the oarsmen.

The picture on the book cover is an artist's concept of the German emigrants' arrival in Torres from Tramandai in 1826. On the right is the Atlantic Ocean, on the left the forest and ahead the Torres (towers).
Click image to enlarge

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17 November 1826 arrive at Torres. Thomas and Margaretha are listed as German Catholic members of the São Domingo parish of Torres. Their names are on page 207 of Paroquia de São Domingos.

The stories of the colonies of Três Forquilhas and São Pedro de Alcântara, both in the Rio Grande do Sul state, mention the heavy rains in late 1826, and the unusual experiences that the German colonists had endured.

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18 July 1827 Lieutenant-Colonel Inspector Francisco de Paula Soares Gusmão, director of the Colony of the Torres, writes to the President of the Province Salvador José Maciel, saying that "Twenty-eight catholics had arrived to plead in a signed petition to the presidency of the Province, for land in the region of Tramandaí or other places".

The Letter requesting other Lands
Original on the left, transcription on the right
Click images to enlarge.

Thomas Schömbs' signature is in the first column of the document, highlighted by the red arrow. Immediately below Thomas is Philipp Schaefer, probably his son-in-law (married to his daughter Anna Maria).

According to Ruy Ruben Ruschel in Torres Origens "Pressured by such measures of force, after all in July of 1828, one year and more after their arrival, the last catholic colonists received their property, the most opposed who had emigrated from Germany for São Leopoldo or other places."

Sometime after 1827 the family leaves Torres and lives in Dom Pedro de Alcântara for a period of time. Click here for modern day pictures from Dom Pedro de Alcântara.

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Final move to Gravatai The timing and route are not known but Thomas and parts of his family then later moved to Gravatai.

* sumaca (of the dutch schmake): sail boat, often used along the coast of Brazil, two masts and Latin sail.

The Evidence that the Schemes Family is Schömbs

From the passenger list of the Kranich, we know that Thomas Schömbs emigrated to Brazil with two sons: Jacob Anton (*1819, name would generally translate to Jacob Antônio); and Johannes (*1821, name would generally translate to João). Yet in my research I have only been able to find the connection of the Schemes family back to José Monteiro Schemes.

The only documents that show a clear link to the family of Thomas Schömbs are of marriage and baptism. It is through this analysis that I draw my conclusion of the kinship.

When analyzing the document of the marriage of Antonio Jorge Selister and Maria José Schemes (27-09-1883), we see that Antônio is legitimate son of João Jorge Selister and Felisberta Schemes (Anna Elisabetha Schömbs) and that Maria José is natural daughter of Maria Sophia dos Anjos (Maria Sophia born in this State around 1834. She died in Gravataí city in 02 October 1925. Was daughter of Custódia Luiza dos Anjos (born 17 May 1788 in San Antonio da Patrulha-RS). Her maternal grandfather's was Antônio dos Santos Coitinho, from Cananéia city-SP, and Victoria Luiza de Queiroz, from Rio Grande city-RS.

Notice that Maria José, for being declared natural daughter, demonstrates that her mother Maria Sophia dos Anjos was not married. The document does not identify the father of Maria José Schemes. But the most important fact in the document declares "without any impediment, except of a second degree of consanguinity of lateral line, which was excused by Provision of Mr Reverend." This indicates that the fiancés are cousins in first degree and, therefore, their parents are siblings.

But who would be the brother of Felisberta Schemes?

We discover this by analyzing the baptism document of Adalberto Selister (31-05-1887), where appears the name of José Monteiro Schemes as maternal grandfather and Maria Sophia dos Anjos, as maternal grandmother. Next appears João Jorge Selister and of Felisberta (Schemes) Selister, respectively paternal grandmothers. There are two possibilities: First, José Monteiro Schemes is another son of Thomas Schömbs, born after their arrival in Brazil; or second, that José Monteiro Schemes is the Brazilian name of either Jacob Anton Schömbs or Johannes Schömbs. I think the latter is more probable.

The Lives and Deaths of Thomas and Margaretha

On 15 December 1830 the Law of Budget was enacted. The Law rescinded all of the tax credits and incentives which had been promised to the immigrants. It is probable that Thomas and others of his family and friends left São Pedro de Alcântara (near Torres) soon thereafter. According to Aurélio Porto in O Trabalho Alemão no Rio Grande do Sul "Torres, that is, the Colony São Pedro de Alcântara, had a development with the initial intention of settlement, stopping, later, from 1830 to 1846, for several reasons, especially because of the upheaval in the Province, that also echoed deeply there." Jean Roche in A Colonização Alemã e o Rio Grande do Sul "This maneuver of the Parliament condemned any new attempt and risked to annihilate the already existing colonies. In São Leopoldo, the settlers got agitated because of the damage they had suffered, since neither the overdue indemnities, nor the ones that had been promised to them for the two first years of settlement, had been paid". Such political, geographic, climatic and cultural factors had affected the life of these first immigrants to the North Coast of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. In the search of a new place to settle, it is possible that Thomas went to other places where they had been before Torres, as for example the areas next to the Tramandaí river, near Santo Antônio da Patrulha, Gravataí (where marriages and baptisms of the families Schemes and Selistre took place) or even returning to the colony of São Leopoldo, in the Vale do Rio do Sinos (Valley of the Bells River). Regardless, Thomas and Margaretha lived their latter years in Gravatai city. It is there that Margaretha died on 09 July 1855 at the age of 65 and Thomas less than a year later on 24 May 1856 at the age of 86.


Death Record for Margaretha Schemes Click image to enlarge Click here for full page	Death Record for Thomas Schemes Click image to enlarge Click here for full page

Descendants of Thomas Schembs

All the children of Thomas were born in Germany. In all Thomas was the father of eleven children. For information on those who did not emigrate with Thomas and Anna Margaretha, go to the story of Thomas in Reinhold Schembs' book. The number in parentheses following each of the immigrant names is their line number from the Kranich passenger list shown above. The "Schaems" spelling of the family name below is one of those found in Brazilian documents from the time.

Children: (11)

From Thomas's first marriage with Maria Theresia Conradi (5):

11.1.....Heinrich Schömbs (*06.02.1801 Dittelsheim, +08.06.1830 Dittelsheim)

Heinrich did not emigrate to Brazil with the family but stayed in Germany. He later married Catharina Hamscher (*1804) and had one son, also named Heinrich (*1829). Heinrich (*1801) died a year later at the age of twenty-nine.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Heinrich Schömbs (*30.03.1829 Dittelsheim, +11.07.1909 Brooklyn NY)

Heinrich "Henry" emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1852. Two years later he married Crescentia "Mary" Kämmerer (*02.06.1829 Monzernheim, +23.04.1910 Brooklyn NY). Mary was also from Monzernheim. They would have known each other all their lives, as Monzernheim was, and still is, a small village.

1852 Emigrant from Germany to New York City, USA
Click for the Story of Heinrich Schömbs (*1829)

11.2.....Catharina Schemes (*1804, +Brazil)(#148 on Kranich passenger list)

We do not have a birth record for Catharina. We know of her emigration as she is on the passenger list for the Kranich.

Catharina married Jorge Spohr (without more notice) days after the Kranich arrived in Rio de Janeiro. The wedding was the 1st of February, 1826. As we have previously seen, the family disembarked in Rio de Janeiro on 20 January, and left Rio de Janeiro on 5 February. It is believed that Catharina and Jorge did not continue to Porto Alegre with the family.

11.3.....Anna Maria Schemes (*25.09.1807 Dittelsheim, +16.05.1890 São Domingo das Torres RS)(#149)

"Felipe Chefa and Anna Maria

On the eighteenth of June, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-six, in this my house of God, I married the widower Felipe Chefa, on account of the death of Catherina, to Anna Maria, the legitimate daughter of Thomaz, and Margarida Genaipe, and I gave the blessings thereto, of which João Mendes Carlos Jose had been witness, and to which I made this term, which I sign.
The chaplain Antonio Nunes da Silva"

Marriage of Anna Maria Schaems and Philipp Schaefer
Click image to enlarge

Anna Maria married Philipp Schaefer (*15.12.1789 Heimersheim, Germany, +after 1856 Torres RS), a widower with one son, in São Leopoldo on 18 June 1826. Philipp's first wife Catharina and their daughter Anna Maria perished while on the "Künsteschiff Carolina" or "coastal ship Carolina" from Rio de Janeiro to São Leopoldo in January 1826. This too can be seen in the emigration record of Philipp.

Philipp and Anna Maria Schemes, after their marriage, decided to follow most of the Schemes family to live in Torres.

The documents providing the information on the Schaefer family are somewhat in conflict with each other. The births of the first three of Philipp and Anna Maria's children are from the Church Book of Baptisms in Torres. The births of the later children were found in a family history written in 2003 by a Schaeffer descendant. Yet the Civil Record from Torres at the time of Anna Maria's death gives different birth years for several of the children. The translation of the Civil Record is provided by Fernando Gusmão. We believe that the church and family provided information might be more reliable than the Civil Record. Should more records be found, some of these dates could change.

Children: (10)

10.1.....Miguel Schaeffer (*10.09.1828 São Domingo das Torres RS, +after May 1890)

Miguel and Maria Leopoldina Magnus married. Undoubtedly the sister of Maria Magdalena Magnus who married 10.3 Christiano Schaeffer below.

Children: (4)

4.1.....Pedro Schaeffer (*22.08.1854 São Domingo das Torres - hoje Torres - RS)

4.2.....Maria Schaeffer (*16.07.1856 São Domingo das Torres RS)

4.3.....João Schaeffer (*27.10.1858 São Domingo das Torres RS)

4.4.....José Schaeffer

10.2.....Eufrasia Schaeffer (*26.09.1830 São Domingo das Torres RS)

On 5 Jan 1854 Efrasia married Peter Müller in São Domingo das Torres on 5 January 1854. Peter was also an immigrant from Germany.

10.3.....Christiano Schaeffer (*20.06.1835 São Domingo das Torres RS, +20.08.1925 in São João do Sul (Araranguá) - SC)

Christiano married Maria Madelena Magnus (+antes de 20.08.1925 Sertão (São João do Sul - SC)) on 1 November 1860 in São Domingo das Torres.

Children: (6)

6.1.....Antônio Cristiano Schaeffer (*1860, +10.02.1945 Praia Grande (Araranguá) - SC)

Antônio Cristiano and Luiza Vieira de Jesus married.

6.2.....Miguel Christiano Schaeffer (*1862 Santa Catarina, +28.04.1943 São João do Sul (Araranguá) - SC)

Miguel Christiano and Constantina Ludovina de Jesus (*1876 SC) married on 12 August 1893 in São João do Sul (Araranguá) - SC.

6.3.....Anna Maria Schaeffer (*1869 SC, +28.10.1915 Sombrio SC)

6.4.....Manoel Francisco Schaeffer (*10.09.1871 RS)

Manoel Francisco married Anna Thereza Raupp on 8 February 1896 in São João do Sul (Araranguá) - SC.

6.5.....Wenceslau Christiano Schaeffer (*1874 SC, +01.09.1955 Praia Grande (Araranguá) - SC)

6.6.....Francisco Cristiano Schaeffer (*02.03.1877 RS)

Francisco Cristiano and Arminda Ana Bauer (*1882 SC)were married 6 September 1902 in São João do Sul (Araranguá) - SC.

10.4.....Leopoldina Schaeffer (*abt 1838)

10.5.....André Felipe Schaeffer (*abt 1840)

André Felipe and Maria Marcelina de Jesus married.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Carolinda Schaeffer (*15.10.1876 RS)

2.2.....José Schaeffer (*08.03.1878 RS)

10.6.....Felipe Schaeffer (*abt 1842)

Felipe married Maria Deutsch.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Jorge Schaeffer (*09.06.1852 São Domingo das Torres RS)

3.2.....Cristiano Schaeffer (*18.09.1857 São Domingo das Torres RS)

3.3.....José Schaeffer (*01.12.1859 São Domingo das Torres RS)

10.7.....Catharina Schaeffer (*abt 1844, +after May 1890)

Catharina and Manuel Claudino da Silva married.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Anna Silva (*16.07.1872 RS)

2.2.....José Manoel Silva (*16.09.1873 RS)

10.8.....Maria Schaeffer (*abt 1846, +after May 1890)

Maria married Peter Müller in São Domingo das Torres on 18 May 1870. Presumably this is the same Peter Müller who married Maria's older sister Eufrasia. If so, Eufrasia must have passed away prior to 1870.

10.9.....Ana "Felipe" Schaeffer (*abt 1848)

10.10.....José Felipe Schaeffer (*abt 1850, +after May 1890)

Maria Luisa Florisbela de Jesus and José Felipe married.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Manoel Schaeffer (*10.03.1876 RS)

2.2.....Antônio Schaeffer (*28.05.1883 Araranguá - SC)

11.4.....Catharina Barbara Schemes (*14.10.1810 Dittelsheim, +Brazil)(#150)

We only know that she was registered as having arrived in Brazil (Rio de Janeiro), then at the Colony of São Leopoldo, and later decided to go to Torres.

11.5.....Anna Margaretha Schemes (*22.04.1813 Dittelsheim, +before 1825 Germany)

Anna Margaretha apparently died in Germany before the family emigrated.

From Thomas's second marriage with Anna Margaretha Seipp (6):

11.6.....Wilhelm Schems (*17.08.1815 Dittelsheim, +14.01.1822 Dittelsheim)

11.7.....Margaretha Schems (*19.12.1816 Dittelsheim, +11.10.1825 at sea)(#151)

Margaretha died on the high seas during the voyage from Europe to South America. This can be seen in the passenger list for the Kranich. She was nine years old.

11.8.....Jacob Anton Schemes (*05.03.1819 Dittelsheim, +Brazil)(#152)

The only record of Jacob is his registration when he arrived in Brazil. Perhaps he died on the journey from Rio de Janeiro to São Leopoldo, and therefore was not registered by Dr. Hillebrand, much less in the list of the colonists who would go to Torres. As he was only seven years old at the time of arrival in Brazil he certainly would not have left his family.

11.9.....José Monteiro (Johannes) Schemes (*03.05.1821 Dittelsheim, +02.05.1910 Gravataí RS)(#153)

As previously stated, I believe Johannes changed his name to José Monteiro Schemes in Brazil. The death of José Monteiro is documented in Gravataí city on 02 May 1910. The cause of death was prostatitis. The death register says he was a citizen of this State and does not indicate if the deceased left property and children. Occupation: solicitor. The solicitor was a mix of lawyer, prosecutor and legal adviser. Its main functions were to advise, assist, represent and defend their constituents, which might be individuals, companies or public bodies. The services provided are of a judicial nature, as do legal defense before the courts and extrajudicial, for accompanying and representing the interests of their clients before courts, tax authorities, notaries, registrars of land records, commercial, civil and other bodies and offices.

As discussed above in the section "The Evidence that the Schemes Family is Schömbs", the mother of the children of José Monteiro was Maria Sophia dos Anjos (*08.10.1834).

Children: (8)

8.1.....Justina Schemes (*08.08.1853 Nossa Senhora dos Anjos, Gravatai RS)

8.2.....Amelia Schemes (*abt 1865)

8.3.....João Monteiro Schemes (*abt 1866 ?Gravatai RS, +10.12.1918 São Sebastião do Cai RS)

João and Amalia Carolina Veeck (*30.01.1874 Porto Guimarães (S. Sebstião do Caí - RS), apos 1918 POA ou São Sebastião do Caí - RS) were married on 6 Jun 1891 in São Sebastião do Cai RS.

Children: (13)

13.1.....Irma Schemes (*13.10.1891 São Sebastião do Caí RS, +08.08.1958 Porto Alegre RS).

Irma and Domingos Galant (*about 1890 RS, +1929 Porto Alegre RS) married.

Children: (2)

2.1.....João Galant (*1925)

2.2.....Oscar Galant (08.08.1927, +Porto Alegre RS)

Oscar and Zilá De Sá Alvares (*24.12.1948, +23.07.1988 Porto Alegre RS) married.

Children: (1)

1.1.....José Ernani Álvares Galant (*09.04.1948, +21.06.2010 Porto Alegre RS)

13.2.....João Carlos Monteiro Schemes (*24.06.1893 São Sebastião do Caí - RS)

João and Amalia Vecck (*30.) were married ..........

13.3.....Julietta Mercedes Schemes (*08.02.1895 São Sebastião do Caí - RS, +13.10.1906 São Sebastião do Caí - RS)

13.4.....Carlos Reinaldo Schemes (*23.07.1896 São Sebastião do Caí - RS, +09.06.1981 Novo Hamburgo - RS)

Carlos Reinaldo and Elma Juchem (*06.10.1900 São Sebastião do Caí - RS, +06.12.1979 Novo Hamburgo - RS) married on 8 July 1916 in São Sebastião do Caí - RS.

Children: (7)

7.1.....Ladyr Schemes (*26.09.1916 São Sebastião do Caí RS)

7.2.....Nelson Schemes (*21.02.1918 São Sebastião do Caí RS, +19.10.2012 São Sebastião do Caí RS)

Nelson married Alda de Campos (*01.06.1919) married on 8 July 1916 in São Sebastião do Caí - RS.

7.3.....Carlos Enio Schemes (*30.07.1920 São Sebastião do Caí RS, +05.11.2010 São Sebastião do Caí RS)

7.4.....Jacy Schemes (*25.02.1922 São Sebastião do Caí RS, +07.08.2013 Angra dos Reis, RJ, Brasil)

Jacy and Clara Schemes (*24.06.1927 Natércia, Minas Gerais, Brasil, +25.08.2008 Rio de Janeiro RJ) were wed married on 7 Oct 1946.

7.5.....João José Schemes (*10.09.1925 São Sebastião do Caí RS, +10.11.1990 Novo Hamburgo RS)

João and Ignes Therezinha Sefrin (*24.12.1932 Sapiranga RS, +06.04.2023 Novo Hamburgo RS) married.

7.6.....Dalva Terezinha Schemes (*30.09.1927 São Sebastião do Caí RS, +27.12.1929 São Sebastião do Caí RS)

7.7.....Eva Isabel Schemes (*05.11.1930 São Sebastião do Caí RS, +Novo Hamburgo RS)

Eva married Lino Pilger (*24.05.1927 RS) married.

13.5.....Nelly Schemes (*18.03.1898 São Sebastião do Caí - RS)

13.6.....Irlando Hugo Schemes (*03.11.1899 São Sebastião do Caí - RS)

13.7.....Carlotta Alice Schemes (*02.12.1901 São Sebastião do Caí - RS)

13.8.....Mario Veeck Schemes (*18.05.1903 São Sebastião do Caí - RS, +May 1958 São Sebastião do Caí - RS)

Mario and Guilhermina Alzira Erig (*08.10.1903 São Sebastião do Caí, +Abt 17.06.1986 São Sebastião do Caí) were married 25.05.1929 in São Sebastião do Caí.

13.9.....Iracema Maria Schemes (*28.12.1907)

13.10.....Darcy Veeck Schemes (*28.12.1907)

Darcy married Hilda Eichenberg (*08.11.1910) on 23 July 1932 in Porto Alegre - RS.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Maria Alice Schemes (*17.8.1935)

Maria married a man with the family name Jaco.

2.2.....Luis Raul Schemes (*14.09.1943)

Luis and Maria Amalia (maiden name?) were married in ...... on ........

Children: (1)

1.1.....Luis Fernando Schemes (*1965)

Luis and Christina Maria Sá were married on ...... The ceremony was in ..... Church in .......

Children: (2)

2.1.....Luis Felipe Sá Schemes (*1993)

Luis Felipe lives and works in Frankfurt Germany.

2.2.....Ana Carolina Sá Schemes (*1995)

Carolina also lives and works in Frankfurt Germany

13.11.....Telmo Schemes (*06.02.1909 São Sebastião do Caí - RS, +25.07.1963)

Telmo and Julieta Rodrigues Fagundes (+about 1935) married on 6 Feb 1929.

13.12.....Ernani Veeck Schemes (*03.10.1912) São Sebastião do Caí

Ernani married Néllida Ribeiro da Silva (*5.06.1915) in Porto Alegre 15 July 1933.

13.13.....Êribo Schemes (*11.11.1914 São Sebastião do Caí)

Êribo and Guertha Kruse married.

8.4.....Maria José Schemes (*abt 1867)

In Nossa Senhora dos Anjos on 27 Sep 1883 Maria and Antônio Jorge Selister (*06.10.1858 Gravatai - RS) were married. They were first cousins. For the story of Maria José and Antonio Jorge click here.

Children: (4)

4.1.....Adalberto Selister (*25.10.1884 Gravatai - RS)

4.2.....Maria Selister (*30.04.1886 Gravatai - RS)

4.3.....Andradina Selister (*1887)

4.4.....Octávio Selister (*05.02.1896 Nossa Senhora dos Anjos, Gravataí - RS)

8.5.....José Monteiro Schemes Filho (*22.10.1871 Gravatai RS, +29.11.1903 Gravatai)

8.6.....Oscar Monteiro Schemes (*29.11.1872 Gravatai RS, +28.08.1947 Cerro Negro SC)

Francisca Rodriegues Varella (*08.09.1883 Campo Belo do Sul (Lages-SC), +29.08.1920 Cerro Negro - SC) was married to Oscar Monteiro in Campo Belo do Sul (Lages SC) on 5 Apr 1902.

As noted, Francisca passed away in 1920 when she and Oscar Monteiro had had eleven children. Oscar Monteiro then four years later married Francisca Antunes de Castro (*02.04.1906 Santa Catarina). The wedding took place on 22 March 1924 in Cerro Negro - SC. They then went on to have an additional twelve children, making Oscar Monteiro the father of twenty-three in total.

Children: (23)
From his first marriage with Francisca Rodriegues Varella:

23.1.....Silvio Monteiro Schemes (*30.03.1903 Lages - SC, +26.10.1946 Cerro Negro - SC)

Silvio married Malvina de Moraes Varela (+09.10.1936 Cerro Negro - SC) on 16 February 1925 in Cerro Negro.

23.2.....Octávio Monteiro Schemes (*29.03.1904 Lages - SC, +18.04.1988 Lages - SC)

Octavio and Jordelina Moraes Varela (*22.02.1906 Santa Catarina, +08.09.1969 Cerro Negro - SC) were married in Cerro Negro on 18 September 1923.

Children: (9)

9.1.....Indalecio Manoel Monteiro Schemes (*1929)

9.2.....Licinio Monteiro Schemes (*1933)

9.3.....Carmosino Monteiro Schemes (*1939)

23.3.....Irma Schemes (*07.06.1907 Lages - SC, +26.01.1947 Cerro Negro - SC)

José Vitorino da Silva (*02.10.1902, +11.09.??) and Irma Schemes married 12 April 1928 in Cerro Negro.

23.4.....Adelina Schemes (*29.03.1909 Lages - SC, +19.02.1948 Cerro Negro - SC)

Adelina and Bernardino Gomes da Silva e Sá (*08.08.1885, +03.12.1934 Cerro Negro - SC) were married 14 June 1930 in Cerro Negro.

23.5.....Celina Schemes (*10.02.1910 Lages - SC)

Octavelino Kley (*04.03.1909 Rio Grande do Sul, +13.05.1950 Cerro Negro - SC) and Celina were married in Cerro Negro on 26 January 1929.

23.6.....Marina Schemes (*29.06.1912 Lages - SC)

23.7.....Cacilda Schemes (*06.09.1913 Lages - SC, +18.03.1995 Curitiba - PR)

Cacilda and Pedro Francisco da Silva (*02.09.1911, +07.02.1977) married on 4 December 1940 in Cerro Negro.

23.8.....Augustinho Schemes (*27.08.1915 Lages - SC, +02.03.1947 Cerro Negro - SC)

23.9.....Cláudio Monteiro Schemes (*20.07.1917 Lages - SC)

Cláudio Monteiro married Adélia Waldrigues (*10.02.1921) in Cerro Negro on 1 March 1941.

23.10.....Orival Monteiro Schemes (*29.10.1918 Lages - SC)

Orival Monteiro and Zaira Luiza Gobetti (*09.01.1930 Rio Grande do Sul) in Cerro Negro on 31.05.1947.

Children: (?)

?.1.....Angelina Schemes (*1948)

23.11.....Adail Schemes (*29.08.1920 Lages - SC)

From his second marriage with Francisca Antunes de Castro:

23.12.....Ari Antunes Schemes (*18.12.1924 Cerro Negro - SC)

Ari and Ida Nunes da Costa (*08.09.1925 Campo Belo do Sul (dist Antônio Inácio) - SC) married on 10 June 1947 in Cerro Negro.

23.13.....Heitor Antunes Schemes (*16.12.1925 Cerro Negro - SC, +2003 Cerro Negro - SC)

Heitor married Olga Varella.

23.14.....Anita Antunes Schemes (*16.01.1927 Cerro Negro - SC)

On 20 December 1947 Anita and Manoel Ribeiro (*27.07.1925, +03.09.1969 Cerro Negro - SC) married in Cerro Negro.

23.15.....Maria Santa Schemes (*30.06.1928 Cerro Negro - SC)

23.16.....Solon Monteiro Schemes (*29.08.1929 Cerro Negro - SC)

23.17.....Iracema Antunes Schemes (*04.10.1930 Cerro Negro - SC)

Iracema and João Maria Ribeiro (*04.12.1924, +20.07.1986 Cerro Negro - SC) were married 31 July 1947 in Cerro Negro.

23.18.....Celite Antunes Schemes (*26.05.1931 Cerro Negro - SC)

Celite and a man with the family name Almeida married.

23.19.....João Maria Antunes Schemes (*1932)

23.20.....Osni Antunes Schemes (*1934, +)

23.21.....José Celeste Antunes Schemes (*1936)

23.22.....Anápio Antunes Schemes (*1940)

23.23.....Edgar Antunes Schemes (*1942)

8.7.....Nemésia Schemes (*11.11.1874 Gravatai RS)

8.8.....Octávio Monteiro Schemes (*21.11.1877 Nossa Senhora dos Anjos Gravatai RS)

11.10.....Elisabetha Schems (*16.09.1823 Dittelsheim, +04.02.1824 Dittelsheim)

Elisabetha passed away at the age of five months in Germany.

11.11.....Anna Elisabetha (Felisberta) Schemes (*15.03.1825 Dittelsheim, +Brazil)(#154)

Felisberta married João Jorge Selister (Johann Georg Schlitzer in German) (*1815 Germany, +30.08.1897 Gravataí/RS). We know no more details.

Children: (13)

13.1.....Maria Catharina Selister (*1843 Santo Antonio da Patrulha RS)

Maria Catharina was married on the first of September 1887 to Joaquim Gregório Filho (*1834 Viamão - RS, +21.06.1899 Nossa Senhora dos Anjos, Gravataí RS).

Children: (9)

9.1.....João NN (*12.07.1864 Gravatai - RS)

9.2.....Geraldo Gregório (*06.07.1867 Gravatai - RS)

9.3.....Maria José Gregório (*May 1871 Gravatai - RS)

9.4.....Joaquim NN (*08.05.1872 Gravatai - RS)

9.5.....Dionízia NN (*21.07.1875 Gravatai - RS)

9.6.....Hypollito Gregório (*1877)

9.7.....José Gregório (*1879)

9.8.....Julio Gregório (*1882)

9.9.....Francisco Gregório (*1884)

13.2.....Maria José Selister (*20.05.1844 Gravatai RS, +07.09.1923 Gravatai)

Maria José and Nicolau José Linck (*21.07.1848 São Leopoldo - RS, +19.06.1923 Gravataí - RS) were married 10 May 1870 in Gravatai.

Children: (13)

13.1.....José Selister Linck (*23.11.1866 Gravatai - RS)

13.2.....João Augusto Linck (*01.11.1869 Gravatai - RS)

13.3.....Guilhermina Antônia Selister Linck (*16.05.1871)

13.4.....Carolina Augusta Selister Linck (*23.12.1873 Gravatai - RS)

13.5.....Clemente Linck (*19.09.1875 Gravatai - RS, +04.01.1912 Passo da Taquara, Gravataí - RS)

13.6.....Maria Cristina Selister Linck (*06.07.1877)

Maria Cristina and Juvêncio José da Silveira married.

13.7.....Luis Augusto Selister Linck (*24.06.1879)

13.8.....José Selister Linck (*31.01.1881)

13.9.....Frederico Nolasco Linck (*31.01.1881)

13.10.....Albertina Linck (+1883, 04.04.1931 Gravatai - RS)

13.11.....Augusto Linck (*09.07.1884)

13.12.....Maria José Linck (*17.11.1885, +07.06.1973 Gravataí - RS)

13.13.....Ernesto Linck (*14.09.1887 Gravataí - RS, +24.03.1928 Gravataí - RS)

13.3.....Maximilia Selilster (*01.09.1846 Gravatai RS, +depois de 28.01.1879)

Maximilia Sellioster married Guilherme Leff (*about 1838, +28.01.1879 Nossa Senhora dos Anjos, Gravataí RS).

Children: (3)

3.1.....Guilherme Leff (*20.11.1867 Gravatai - RS, +13.11.1944 São Sebastião do Caí - RS)

3.2.....José Leff (*04.07.1871 Gravatai - RS)

3.3.....Há outros 5 filhos Leff

13.4.....João Selister (*10.01.1849 Gravatai RS)

13.5.....Josepha Selister (*24.09.1851 Gravatai RS)

Josepha Selister and Eufrásio José Pereira married.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Maria Jose Pereira (*1885, +01.08.1887 Gravatai RS)

2.2.....Bernardina Pereira (*05.05.1887 Gravatai RS)

13.6.....Maria Selister (*15.12.1853 Gravatai RS)

13.7.....Romão Antônio Selister (*01.07.1856 Gravatai RS)

Romão Antônio married Rita de Oliveira Barboza in Gravatai. The wedding took place 09 Jan 1886.

13.8.....Antônio Jorge Selister (*06.10.1858 Gravatai RS)

Antônio and Maria José Schemes were married 27 Sep 1883 in Nossa Senhora dos Anjos, Gravatai RS. Antônio Jorge and Maria José were first cousins. For the story of Maria José's family click here.

Children: (4)

4.1.....Adalberto Selister (*25.10.1884 Gravatai RS)

4.2.....Maria Selister (*30.04.1886 Gravatai RS)

4.3.....Andradina Selister (*1887)

4.4.....Octávio Selister (*05.02.1896 Nossa Senhora dos Anjos, Gravataí RS)

"On the twenty seventh day of September of One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighty Three (27 Sep 1883) at around 5:30 PM, in this parish church, after the usual bans of marriage and without any impediment, except of a second degree of consanguinity of lateral line, which was excused by Provision of Mr Reverend on The Fifteenth Day of September, in the presence of the undersigned witnesses Felisberto Pereira Gomes Sobrinho and Balduino Antonio Vieira, I, Priest Bartholomeu Tiecher, solemnly received in marriage by word in the face of the church to Antonio Jorge Selister and Maria José Schemes. He, a legitimate son of João Jorge Selister and Felisberta Schemes and she, natural daughter of Maria Sophia dos Anjos, both born and living in this village.

I have made this term that I sign.

At the request of Felisberto Pereira Gomes Sobrinho and Baldino Antônio Vieira, witnesses. "

Marriage of Antonio Jorge Selister and Maria José Schemes
Click image to enlarge

"On the thirty first day of May of One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighty Seven (31 May 1887), in this parish church, I solemnly baptized Adalberto, born on the twenty fifth day of October of One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighty Four; legitimate son of Antonio Jorge Selister and Maria José Schemes, free and brazilian. He, carpinter and she, housewife; paternal grandson of João Jorge Selister and Felisberta Selister and maternal grandson of José Monteiro Schemes and Maria Sofia dos Anjos. The godparents were the maternal grandparents.

I have made this term that I sign.
Vicar Nicolau."

Baptism of Adalberto Selister, son of Antonio Jorge and Maria José
Click image to enlarge

13.9.....José Selister (*21.02.1861 Gravatai RS, +12.04.1861 Gravatai)

13.10.....Emilia Paulina Selister (*11.01.1865 Nossa Senhora dos Anjos, Gravatai RS)

On 27 Jun 1885 Emilia and João Machado de Oliveira were married in Gravatai.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Alzemiro de Oliveira (*13.05.1886 Gravatai)

2.2.....Elpidio de Oliveira (*01.04.1895 Nossa Senhora dos Anjos, Gravataí RS)

13.11.....Manoel Selister (*23.08.1868 Gravatai RS)

13.12.....Margarida Selister (*Santo Antônio da Patrulha - RS, +08.08.1905)

In 1855 on May 19 Margarida married Antonio Rodrigues de Oliveira in Gravatai.

Children: (6)

6.1.....Dionizio de Oliveira (*08.10.1858 Nossa Senhora dos Anjos, Gravataí RS)

6.2.....Vitor Selister de Oliveira (*13.04.1863 Nossa Senhora dos Anjos, Gravataí RS)

6.3.....José de Oliveira (*18.07.1867 Nossa Senhora dos Anjos, Gravataí RS, +22.06.1871 Nossa Senhora dos Anjos, Gravataí RS)

6.4.....Antonio de Oliveira (*03.09.1869 Gravataí RS)

6.5.....Diamantina de Oliveira (*16.06.1871 Gravataí RS)

6.6.....Eduardo de Oliveira (*13.10.1874 Gravataí RS)

13.13.....Carlos Quintiliano Selister

Carlos married Carlota de Oliveira Barbosa. They were wed 24 Nov 1884.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Wikipedia

[2] Foto Copyrights by the Visconde de São Leopoldo Historical Museum and other Organizations in the area

[3] Foto Copyrights by the Visconde de São Leopoldo Historical Museum and other Organizations in the area