The DESCENDANTS of J. HEINRICH SCHÖMBS (*1675)

Return to Zacharias, father of Joh. Heinrich Schömbs

Joh. Heinrich Schömbs (1675-1743)2.3

Overview:

Johann Heinrich Schömbs, the third son of Zacharias and Magdalena Schömbs, was born in 1675. The birthplace is unknown. The birthyear is deduced from the record of his death in the Churchbook at the Catholic Church in Undenheim. He died on 10 March 1743, with his age given as 68 years.

Joh. Heinrich Schömbs was married in Undenheim on 21.04.1704 to Anna Sybilla Dapper. Of the four children of Zacharias, Joh. Heinrich has left by far the largest number of descendants -- two very large family lines, one in Laubenheim and the other in Herrnsheim. Chapters C and D are dedicated to these lines.

Joh. Heinrich Schömbs was St. Albans-Hofmann from 1708-1719 in Undenheim. He took over the Hofgut (farm), located at Tränkegasse Nr. 4 (formerly Hintergasse), following the death of Zacharias in 1707 and was in charge until 1719.

Seal of the Village Court
of Undenheim
(16th - 18th Centuries)

In 1727 Joh. Heinrich became the mayor ("Schultheiß") of Undenheim, a position which he held until his death in 1743.

The Mayor's office was the most important and best known public office at the time. It was normally bestowed only on the most reputable citizens. The Mayor sat as the Chairman of the village court, adjudicating disputes and other legal matters. Besides his judicial function, he was to be the spokesman for the upper class, while simultaneously being the representative of the village community (peasants). This sometimes led to conflicts of interest. While in the minority in Undenheim and economically less well off, most of the applications for Mayor came from the Catholics.

It was the custom that the upper class would arrange priviledges for the Mayor, for example exemption from certain taxes and the rights to use certain public lands. Generally the public lands were used for grazing cattle. The Mayor would be given the right to use miscellaneous, small sometimes oddly shaped pieces of public land for his own purposes – to cultivate crops – as compensation. [1]

The Mayor held office in the Rathaus (town hall) in Undenheim. He needed to ensure his performance was to the satisfaction of the residing electors of the Pflaz (Palatinate) in Heidelberg. Because the Mayor had access to some public funds (in today's vernacular an expense account), some of the Mayors were notorius for abusing this priviledge leading to many disputes.

Another example of the special position of the Mayors and jurors is that they were assigned a special pew in the Church located under the organ. [2] As the court convened, the Mayor would pound his ceremonial staff on the floor, declaring "He needed the cooperation of both men (the parties in dispute) to achieve justice and to be a fair trial."

The Mayor was required to take an oath regarding the performance of his official duties.[3] One example of such an oath (although much more extensive than the ordinary Mayor's oath and one which in today's German is almost incomprehensible) follows. It was given by the Mayor of Herrnsheim in 1698. It is a single sentence!

He had to swear: [4]

"... den Euch anvertrawten Herrnsheimer Schultheisen-Dienst mit behörigen Fleiß, Sorgfalt und Eyfer dergestalten zu versehen, damit alles was zur Handhabung Ewerer guädiger Herrschaft gerechtsame, in dero Flecken Hernsheim und darzue gehöriger Gemarckung ersprieslich, auf das beste beobachten, und die für fallende importierliche Sachen deroselben zeitlichen Kellern allhier, sobald immer möglich angezeiget, wie nicht weniger, dass alle euch zuekommende herrschaftliche Befelch, sie seien von selbicher selbst oder in ihrem Nahmen von ihren Bedienten auf das schleunigste vollzogen und dero allhiesige Gefäll zur rechten Zeit eingesamblet, dieselbe besagten ihren Kellern gegen Schein für sambst eingeliefert werden mögten, sodan auch, dass ihr allebey euch sich anmeldende parhyen in denen für einen zeitlichen Schultheisen zue Hernsheim gehörigen Sachen jederzeit guotwillig anhören und dieselbe ohne underscheidt der persohnen, sie seyen reich oder arm, durch ordentlichen Spruch nach eweren besten verstand von einander entscheiden..."

An example of the daily duties of a mayor comes from 1763, when Matthäus Schömbs (probably the grandson of Zacharias) was Mayor of Undenheim. Priest Klage of the Catholic Church in Undenheim asked the Mayor to intercede for him in a dispute with the Viktariat, a high department of the church hierarchy in Mainz. The Viktariat was very concerned about his habits after becoming a priest. The allegations were that he was having questionable contact with village women, not wearing his ecclesiastic robes during off hours, and apparently there was a matter of three of the women with whom he had been seen giving birth with no indication of who the fathers were.

Now we should talk more about St. Alban Hofgut (the Undenheim farm), which played such a crucial role in the history of the Schömbs family for all of the 18th Century, [5] and about St. Alban – the Cathedral in Mainz – and the church hierarcy there.

The name St. Alban comes from the Priest Albanus, who appeared in Mainz about 400 A.D. and who died as a martyr in the chaos of the migrating tribes. Soon after his death a chapel was built at his gravesite to worship him (in the area of a present-day Mainz park).

400 years later, around 800 A.D., a very large church was erected in the place of that first chapel during the Franconian times. The church, St. Alban Cloister, was affiliated with the Benedictine Order. St. Alban soon developed into an important cultural and religious hub in the empire. The spouse of Karl the Great, Fastrada, spent her last years in the Cloister as did the archbishops of Mainz over the next 200 years.

In 1329 the Cloister was destroyed by fire and rebuilt. In 1419 the Cloister was changed into a spiritual center for the knighthood. Again in 1552 fire struck, and again it was reconstructed. The church hierarchy moved into the Cloister in 1793 when the city was destroyed in a siege.

1803 marked the end of the 1000 year history of the Abbey/Cloister, when the French (under Napoleon) confiscated the property, claimed it as national property, and sold it off.

Kloster St. Alban, Mainz (1518)

In 1131 the Cloister had much property in Undenheim, which increased in the following years and decades. It was through this that the Hofgut (farm) St. Alban originated. The property had a special position for many reasons. First, it was the largest piece of property in Undenheim -- 189 große Morgen, das sind ca. 517.ooo qm also 51 ha; dazu kam noch 1 1/2 Morgen Hofreite und Garten. A large Morgen equates to approximately 2/3 acre, so the property was about 128 acres (51 hectares). In addition there was a horse stable and garden on another acre of land. The property of St. Alban Hof was clearly distinguished as compared to the other properties in the area, which had been divided multiple times in the past and at most were strips of at most ½ acre.

St. Alban Hof also had many paths and roads leading to it, which made it more efficient at harvest time than many other properties which were landlocked by today's vernacular.

Dr. Curschmann hypothesizes in his book that St. Alban Hof must have been royal land previously ("Königsgut") and then turned over to the Cloister in Mainz. In this way it had avoided the subdivisions that had occurred on the surrounding properties over the centuries. [6] Because of this St. Alban Hof was assigned the responsibility of looking out for the unfortunate and providing their basic needs:

"wäre es, dass unser gnädiger Herr der Pfalzgraf oder die Seinen herkämen, auf welche Zeit es geschehe, so sollen sie ziehen auf den Hof zu St. Alban, und darin Sie haben Stallung, dass die Gemeinde keinen Krait (Anm.: Kommt von Krähen: die armen Leute sollten derselbst davon keinen Schaden haben) davon habe, und da sollen sie ihrem Herrn geben Heu und Stroh"

This was still true during the time of Joh. Heinrich Schömbs.

In the legal books of the Pflaz in 1683 the St. Alban Kloster (Mainz) was to:

"hat auch einen Hof allda (Undenheim), an jetzo von 40 Malter verliehen (Anm.: Jahrespacht der Hofleute = 40 Malter Korn) und muß aus demselben einen Hofwagen zur Frohnd, auch sooft die Herrschaftoder Bediente dahin kommen, Logament und Stallung, auch Rauhfutter stellen, und ist der Hofmann allen Gemeindsbeschwerden unterworfen und auf die Überbesserung geschätzt"

From this a not insignificant responsibility rested on the shoulders of our Schömbs forefathers at St. Alban Hof. In the autumn the Hofmann of St. Alban would make a trip to the Cloister in Mainz.

Hofgut St. Alban in Undenheim
(in the background the "tithe" barn is barely visible)

The principle parts of the St. Alban Hof formed the farmyard at Tränkgasse Nr. 4 (the address) with its twin large barns, and immediately behind was a field of 30 Morgen (20 acres). Beside it another field existed. A part of the Village ditch also belonged to the property. The St. Alban manager was responsible to the Village for the functioning of the ditch, as well as sounding a large bell when there was bad weather coming. Finally they also had the task of maintaining/operating the Alzeyer Gate, apparently one of the villages gates of entry used for defense.

Inner yard of the Hofgut St. Alban, Undenheim (1999)

In 1700 an important agreement was reached with the regional authority covering many points. It stated that St. Alban Hof should be free from certain taxes, including taxes on the fields and the crops. In this regard, St. Alban Hof would be treated like the property of a knight. Nevertheless, in the following years there were more and more instances where those people responsible for the defense of the Village would approach St. Alban, demanding that they be paid for their services of protection – for example the archer would receive 4 Malters of grain. Being Hofmann of St. Alban had constant risks and fears. Also they had to share their homes and buildings with the tithe officials and their workers.

The tithe was originally purely a church tax, as called out in the Bible. In the course of time, however, the practice fell into the hands of secular people in power and was abused (although this does not appear to be the case in Undenheim). The biggest tithes were made of grain and wine, while smaller tithes were of herbs and turnips and young livestock. A enormous burden was always connected with the making of the tithe. The persons responsible for collecting the tithe ("Zehntwächter") were present during the harvest. Occasionally the Hofmann of St. Alban was also present, for which he would receive 10 Albus-Weispfennig for each wagon. The harvest, lasting about 4 weeks, might produce 10,000 sheaves of grain, of which 1,000 would be set aside for the tithe.


Boundary stone for St. Alban Bodenheim District (found during survey work)

From September until March the tithe grain would be processed and carried on wagons to Mainz to be sold. But invariably parts of the tithe grain would be stolen. Deception and fraud were common. Since the tithe grain was stored in a barn at St. Alban Hof, the Hofmann (proprietor of the Hof) found the impulse to fudge the records to be too great. Disputes over the tithes were customary.

In 1661 a major fight erupted at St. Alban Hof between the Hofmann and the Wachtmeister (the tithe official). It resulted in the son of the Mayor being arrested and his wife imprisoned! Therefore you can see that such crimes were dealt with severely. We know nothing of such problems during the periods when the Schömbs were the Hofmann/managers. Since the Schömbs were often occupying both the office of Mayor and running St. Alban Hof, this would have been quite a problem. There is a terrific reference to the personalities of the Schömbs during the 1700's in Undenheim. According to Walter Schwamb, the Catholic priest Häffner characterized Schultheiß Heinrich Schömbs as "an impolite and crude person". Also, two branches of the Schömbs family in Undenheim kept the Village court busy with "inquisitions in fact of serious allegations, the worst sort of verbal assaults and disputes in the family as well as against others." Apparently there was indeed a lot of potential for conflict in the family. Like Undenheim itself, St. Albans Hof was destroyed during the Thirty Years War (1618-1648) as well as during the devastation of the Pfalz in 1689. The estate in its present day form, therefore is the result of rebuilding during the 18th Century. According to the Land Register in 1817, the estate had the highest value of any house in Undenheim (2,000 Gulden). Recently the foundation stone was found in St. Albans Hof giving the year of construction as 1616. This is believed to be one of the oldest stone monuments in Undenheim.

Mauerstein im Hof aus dem Jahr 1616

Home of Heinrich Schömbs since 1732 at der Alzeyer Straße Nr. 6, Undenheim
In the house later lived his son Johann, then his nephew Johann and Johann's son until the early 1800s

With the previously mentioned confiscation and sale of the St. Alban Cloister in Mainz in 1803, the Hof in Undenheim was also auctioned. According to local oral history, the farmers from Undenheim went to Mainz and took lodging at the white Bierhaus on Rosengasse at the corner of Klarastraße. The proprietor, brewer Paul Bernhard, provided them with food and drink. While they were there, Bernhard slipped out, went to the auction, and acquired the Hof for little money. The Hof was owned by the Bernhard family from 1803 until 1957. In that year Julius Schwamb acquired the property. The Hof today is still owned by the Schwamb family. (jds Note: Peter Schwamb and his family live there today, and operate a small cafe in the building – a must stop for an American Schömbs visitor!)

Joh. Heinrich Schömbs, during his stewardship of the property had the coldest winter of the century (1708/9). It is reported that thousands of people died miserably in the Pfalz, the birds fell out of the sky, the game froze, the wine froze in the barrels, and almost no vines survived, destroying the wine making in the region for many years. Many people left the region for America during this time of greatest hardship (jds Note: although we are aware of no Schömbs family members). During the years from 1718 through 1724 it is told that there were extraordinarily high temperatures during the summer. 1732 erstellte Schultheiß Heinrich Schömbs unter Mitwirkung von sechs Schöffen (u.a. Johann Mathäus Schömbs) ein aktuelles Verzeichnis der zinspflichtigen Güter in der Gemarkung. Die Aufstellung enthält nähere Angaben zu den von den zinspflichtigen Gütern zu zahlenden Zinsen. Neben Heinrich Schömbs erscheinen in der vollständigen Aufstellung auch etliche Schömbs-Familienmitglieder, z.B. Theodor Schömbs, Philipp Schömbs, Johann Mathäus Schömbs und noch einige andere, u.a. ist auch Heinrich Schömbs selbst mit erfasst. Von besonderer Wichtigkeit ist die Urkunde für unsere Familiengeschichte auch noch deshalb, weil es sich bei der Unterschrift von Heinrich Schömbs (geboren 1674) unter der Urkunde um die älteste überlieferte Unterschrift eines der Söhne von Zacharias Schömbs handelt, also brachte die Familie 1692 als sie nach Undenheim kam,wohl tatsächlich bereits den Namen "Schömbs" mit dieser Schreibweise mit.

Renovation der der Kollektur Odernheim zinspflichtigen Güter in der der Gemarkung durch Schultheiß Heinrich Schömbs und sechs genannte Schöffen (1732)
Hess. Staatsarchiv Darmstadt C2, 413/3 (Auszug aus der Originalurkunde)

Der für heutige Verhältnisse schwer lesbare Text lautet:

Undt daß vorbeschriebene Zinßen, undt da vor Ein gegebene Unterpfändter mitt Ihrn Jetzigen Inhaber beforchenten neben Läger undt anstößer, durch unß Schultheiß undt gerichten des Orths Undenheim Oberambts Alzey zu Endt mitt Eygener Handt gemelt. Warhafftig wie vorher Eingetragen, beschrieben. Ein solches Thun wir Bey unseren Theuren gerichts Eydten bekennen. Dessen den zu warhaffter undt mehrer Urkundt haben wir diese neu verfertigte Renovation mitt Unserem gewöhn(lichen) Gerichts Insigill /: doch in all Weg ohne Schaden :/ hiemitt confirmiret. Geschehen Undenheim den 18 ten October 1732

Heinrich Schömbß schultheiß
Jost Peter……………………deß gerichts
Wendel…………………….. Deß gerichts
………………….deß gerichts
Johan Mathes Schömbß deß gerichts
………………….deß gerichts
benedict Schloß …….. deß gerichts

Entry for the Death of Joh. Heinrich Schömbs, Kath. Kirchenbuch Undenheim 1743

Joh. Heinrich Schömbs lived during the Age of Enlightenment. The morals and conduct of people ranged from a high moral level and consummate politeness to the coarsest brutality. Baths were a rare luxury. Fragrances were used to hide the body-odor and smell of one's clothes. Men could be conscripted into the army. Less than 1 of 1000 farmers could read and write. Nutrition was bad, hygiene was primitive, and one had little idea of the causes of disease and illness.

War was also an issue on the Continent during this time: The Spanish War of Succession (1701-1714), the Polish War of Succession (1733-1735), and the Austrian War of Succession (1740-1748). Yet it was also a time of great artists who left hope for better times ahead, e.g. Bach and Händel.

Some of the famous contemporaries of Joh. Heinrich Schömbs:

1663 - 1727 Dr. Eisenbarth

1670 - 1733 August the Strong

1672 - 1725 Peter the Great

1685 - 1750 Johann Sebastian Bach

1685- 1750 Georg Friedrich Händel

Children: (11)

Anna Margaretha Schömbs (*ca. 1697)2.3.1

Johann(es) Schömbs sen. (*17.03.1706, +21.05.1766 Undenheim)2.3.2

Johann Schömbs Sr. married Appolonia Görtgen (*1712, +24.10.1785 Undenheim) from Weinolsheim on 24.06.1727 in Undenheim. Witnesses were Philipp Schömbs and Joh. Peter Escher. Johann Schömbs Sr. married for the second time the widow Ursula Fessenenfeld (*Oberbrechen) (nee Neukirch) on 26.10.1762. Witnesses were Johann Schömbs and Valentin Lahr.

Marriage Record for Johann Schömbs sen., Kath. Kirchenbuch Undenheim, 1727

Marriage Record for Johann Schömbs sen., Kath. Kirchenbuch Undenheim, 1763

Johann Schömbs Sr. lived first at Tränkgasse 6 and later at Kirchstraße Nr. 23 (Church Street #23) in Undenheim. The estate on Kirchstraße went later to the son-in-law of Johann Sr., Johann Eberhard who had married their daughter Catharina.

After the death of Catharina Schömbs Eberhard in1781, Johann Eberhard married again. In 1786 Johann Schömbs (Catharina's brother) was the godfather of Johann Eberhard, a son by Eberhard's second marriage. In the churchbook entry Johann Schömbs is listed as coming from Laubenheim.

Death Record for Johann Schömbs sen. KB Undenheim 1766

Children: (10)

Anna Elisabeth Schömbs (*Undenheim)2.3.1/1

Anna Schömbs (*26.10.1728, +26.01.1729 Undenheim)2.3.1/2

Godmother was Anna Schömbs, wife of Mathäus Schömbs.

Anna Katharina Schömbs (*1.05.1730, +30.09.1781 Undenheim)2.3.1/3

Godmother was Anna Catharina Schömbs, daughter of Heinrich Schömbs. Anna Catharina Schömbs married on 10.06.1770 Johann Eberhard from Niederweinheim. Witness was Balthasar Münzenberger. Catharina Schömbs lived with her husband until her death in 1781 in her parents house at Kirchstraße Nr. 23 in Undenheim.

Children: (1)

1.1....Appolonia Eberhard (*02.09.1772 Undenheim)

Godmother was Appolonia Schömbs.

Johann Wilhelm Schömbs (*15.11.1733, +10.09.1739 Undenheim)2.3.1/4

Godfather was Johann Wilhelm Görtgen, Weinolsheim.

Johann Mathäus Schömbs (*09.01.1736 Undenheim, +23.08.1768 Undenheim)2.3.1/5

Godfather was Johann Mathäus Schömbs, Wahlheimer Hof. Johann Matthias Schömbs died from an unfortunate fall in the barn.

Johann Valentin Schömbs (*22.03.1739, +03.11.1739 Undenheim)2.3.1/6

Johann Georg Schömbs (*06.05.1742, +10.01.1743 Undenheim)2.3.1/7

Godfather was Johann Georg Schömbs, son of Heinrich Schömbs.

- Laubenheim Line -

Johann Schömbs (*14.10.1744 Undenheim, +14.08.1793 Laubenheim)2.3.1/8

Godfather was Johann Schömbs, son of Mathäus Schömbs and his wife Anna.

The couple lived until about 1775 in Undenheim. They had four children, the first three of whom were born in Undenheim. The birthplace of their fourth child Andreas is not known.

Johann Schömbs is the founder of the Laubenheim Line, about which a chapter is dedicated because of its scope.

Chapter D "The LAUBENHEIMER SCHEMBS"

Johann Schömbs must have moved to Laubenheim in about 1780. In the previously mentioned baptism in Undenheim of his nephew Johann Eberhard, he is listed as "Johann Schömbs aus Laubenheim". But he apparently changed the spelling of the family name about this same time (or rather those who recorded the family name, e.g. the scribe of the church records). The record of the marriage of Johann Schömbs in Ober-Olm was entered as "Schems", while other records in Laubenheim have him as Johann "Schembs". (jds Note: Thus the name change for this branch of the family from roughly the time of the American Revolution, and 60 years before certain descendants began their emigrations to Amerika.)

The descendants of Johann Schembs are discussed in Chapter D, "The LAUBENHEIM SCHEMBS".

Anna Elisabetha Schömbs (*24.09.1748, +13.04.1749 Undenheim)2.3.1/9

Godmother was Anna Elisabetha Geist, Weinolsheim.

Johann Peter Schömbs (*12.10.1750 Undenheim, +29.10.1812 Frettenheim)2.3.1/10

Godfather was Peter Lenz, Weinolsheim. Johann Peter married Agnes Becker (*Gau Odernheim) on 04.01.1783.

Balthasar Schömbs (*01.11.1754 Undenheim)2.3.1/11

Godfather was Balthasar Münzenberger.

Anna Katharina Schömbs (*ca.1706, Undenheim)2.3.2

Anna Katharina is entered in the churchbook in 1726 as godmother for Anna Katharina Held. The Held family is from Vallendar.

Anna Maria Schömbs (*11.11.1707 Undenheim)2.3.3

Godmother was Anna Maria Dapper, Wahlheimer Hof, wife of Joh. Peter Dapper.

Johann Peter Schömbs (*12.05.1708, +22.01.1717 Undenheim)2.3.4

Godfather was Johann Peter Dapper, Wahlheimer Hof.

- Wahlheim Line -

Joh. Mathäus Schömbs (*18.02.1711 Undenheim, +12.07.1780 Wahlheimer Hof)2.3.5

Godfather was Johann Mathäus Schömbs, son of Hermann Schömbs. Johann Mathäus Schömbs is the founder of the "Wahlheimer Line" of the Family.

Joh. Mathäus Schömbs married on 15.09.1729 in Undenheim Maria Ottilia Palmes, Wahlheimer Hof (*1710, +17.09.1773 Wahlheimer Hof). Maria Ottilia Palmes was one of three daughters of the miller Martin Palmes and his wife Catharina. Martin Palmes operated the mill at the Wahlheimer Hof. After the marriage in 1729, Joh. Mathäus Schömbs first worked as an apprentice at the mill of his father-in-law. Later Mathäus and Otilia took over the mill from her father.

Wahlheimer Hof with its small mill is a settlement which lies between Undenheim, Köngernheim and Hahnheim. The Hofgut, which included 8 residences, the mill and the actual farm, is named the "Wahlheimer Hofer Hof". It is today an autonomous section of the community of Hahnheim.

Drawing of the Wahlheimer Hof

The Settlement of Wahlheimer Hof

The Wahlheimer Hof has a very old history. It was an important residence of the Cloister of Eberbach (Rheingau). The Wahlheimer Hof cloister building was built in 1227. The cloister included buildings that are still there today, like the Abthaus (monks' residences), the tithebarns, and the former mill with its thatched roof. The mill of the Wahlheimer Hof was one of the many former mills on the bank of the river Selz. It was an old watermill. It was known in the area as one of the best mills, producing primarily grain and bran. After the First World War, when owned by the miller August Ebling, the mill was modified to specialize in only grain.

Today the Wahlheimer Hof and the mill are the property of the Ruzycki family, who operate a vineyard and wine laboratory there. The old mill building has been incorporated into today's residence, with its millstones and other architectural elements. Especially impressive is the old waterwheel.

The Selz at the time was a source of water energy running through the mill building. On the floor of the living room of the Ruzycki family there is a big glass window through which one can see the river running under the house. There is a light installed to enable one to see the river.

In another building, the farmer Albert Dückert had a cattle barn museum and a life sized replica of the Hof's history. Albert died in 1998. He was very proud of, and actively researched, the Wahlheimer Hof. Albert was motivated by a community festival located at the Hof in 1983, and became involved with the local paper serving Hahnheim, Selzen und Köngernheim.

The writing of the name is interesting in Wahlheim. At the time the priest recorded the family name in the churchbook as "Schimbs". The Wahlheimer Hof was under the authority of the town of Zornheim and Sörgenloch.

Children: (12)

Johann Schömbs (*27.02.1731, +01.05.1732 Wahlheimer Hof)2.3.5/1

Godfather was Johann Schömbs from Undenheim

Heinrich Schömbs (*07.10.1733 Wahlheimer Hof, +01.12.1810 Undenheim) 2.3.5/2

Godfather was Heinrich Schömbs, Undenheim (brother of the father). Heinrich Schömbs was married on 17.06.1760 to Anna Maria Friedrich (*1736 Dienheim,+14.10.1810 Undenheim). The father of Anna Maria, Jakob Friederich was a juror in Dienheim. Heinrich was an inkeeper (1789) and civic leader (1784-1790) in Undenheim.

Children: (15)

15.1.. Johann Jakob Balthasar Schömbs (*26.04.1761 Undenheim)

Godfather were Johann Jacob Friedrich, Dienheim, and Balthasar Münzenberger.

15.2.. Maria Ottilia Schömbs (*02.02.1763 Undenheim, +26.03.1795 Gimbsheim)

Godmother was Maria Otilia Schömbs. Maria Otilia married Petrus Spira (*04.02.1750/51 Sponheim, +24.06.1815 Gimbsheim) on 25.01.1791 in Undenheim. Witnesses were the father of the bride and Georg Wirth, teacher. Peter Spira was also a teacher.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Agnes Spira

Agnes married on 16.07.1782 in Gimbsheim.

3.2.....Franz Johann Dominic Spira (*07.11.1791 Gimbsheim, +25.11.1859 Gimbsheim)

Franz married on 19.09.1815 in Gimbsheim Maria Josepha Walter (*23.02.1779 Gimbsheim, +23.04.1854 Gimbsheim).

Children: (1)

1.1.....Elisabetha Spira (*20.05.1817 Gimbsheim, +24.03.1882 Gimbsheim)

Elisabetha married on 03.03.1840 in Gimbsheim Johann Martin Weyrich (*02.08.1813 Gimbsheim, +30.11.1893 Gimbsheim).

Children: (1)

1.1.....Eva Katharina Weyrich (*24.12.1840 Gimbsheim, +03.01.1906 Gimbsheim)

On 25.11.1862 in Gimbsheim married Eva Katharina Johannes Mahlerwein III (*14.06.1836, +01.07.1887 Gimbsheim).

Children: (3)

3.1.....Maria Sophie Mahlerwein (*19.04.1878 Gimbsheim, +08.12.1959 Freiendiez)

Maria Sophie married on 29.10.1908 in Freiendiez August Schmidt (*15.01.1871 Freiendiez, +27.02.1939 Freiendiez).

Children: (3)

3.1.....August Julius Karl Schmidt (*18.08.1909 Freiendiez, +03.12.1978 Aull)

On 06.09.1936 in Freiendiez married August Erna Auguste Lina Lind (*15.10.1914).

Children: (1)

1.1.....Uta Minna Schmidt (*06.07.1938 Diez-Freiendiez)

Uta married Herr Walter.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Stephan Walter (*1960 Limburg/Lahn)

Stephan Walter married on 17.05.1986 in Freiendiez Monika Beate Ströder (*1957 Frankfurt/Main).

Children: (3)

3.1.....Isabel Christine Walter (*1989 Limburg/Lahn)

3.2.....Maya Sophie Walter (*2001 Limburg/Lahn)

3.3.....Julian Walter (*2005 Limburg/Lahn)

3.2.....Karl Schmidt (*20.09.1914 Freiendiez, +11.03.1986 Hennethal)

Karl married Else Enders

Children: (2)

2.1.....Beate Schmidt (*1954 Hennethal)

Beate married Manfred Schwenk

Children: (2)

2.1.....Carina Schwenk

2.2.....Tatjana Schwenk

2.2.....Gabriele Schmidt (*1960 Hennethal)

3.3.....Adolf Schmidt (*15.03.1919 Freiendiez, +17.12.1983 Freiendiez)

Adolf and Irmgard Gunkel married.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Volker Schmidt (*1962)

3.2.....Johann Mahlerwein (*~1881 Gimbsheim, +in Amerika?)

3.3.....Drittes Kind Mahlerwein

Children: (2)

2.1.....Hans Mahlerwein (+~1942)

2.2.....Maria Mahlerwein (+27.02.1945 Mainz)

3.3.....Peter Spira (*04.07.1793 Gimbsheim)

Peter married Anna Margareta Lelarge (*1806 Köln)

Children: (x)

x.x.....Sohn Spira

Children: (x)

x.x.....Gertrude Spira (*27.05.1874 Andernach)

Children: (x)

x.x.....Daughter Spira (?)

Daughter Spira married Herr Knorrp.

Children: (x)

x.x.....Trudemarie Knorrp (*1939 Köln)

15.3.. Franz Schömbs (*14.11.1764, +21.06.1776 Undenheim)

Godfather was Franziscus Gesinn, Dienheim.

15.4.. Mathäus Schömbs (*23.04.1766 Undenheim)

Mathias Keller was the godfather. Mathäus Schömbs was married on 28.11.1797 to Klara Müller (*1777 Nieder-Olm, +16.06.1849 Undenheim).

Children: (8)

8.1.....Elisabetha Schömbs (*17.07.1798 Undenheim)

Elisabetha Schömbs was married on 17.04.1830 in Nackenheim to the widower Stephan Junker.

Kinder: (3)

3.1.....Adam Junker (*1834)

Adam married on 13.06.1858 in Nackenheim Gertrud Grisheimer.

3.2.....Elisabetha Junker (*1836)

Elisabetha was married 08.08.1858 in Nackenheim to Paul Herdt.

3.3.....Franz Junker (*1839)

Franz Junker was married on 19.01.1864 in Nackenheim to Barbara Zimmermann.

Note: We know there is a problem with dates here but are not sure which one is in error. The births of Elisabetha and Heinrich cannot be so close.

8.2.....Heinrich Schömbs (*25.09.1798 Undenheim)

Godfather was Heinrich Schömbs.

8.3.....Peter Schömbs (*02.05.1801 Undenheim)

In the Family History book for Undenheim by Peter Schwamb it is remarked that Peter Schömbs 1849 emigrated to Amerika.

8.4.....Maria Christina Schömbs (*06.09.1803, +21.06.1872 Undenheim)

Children: (1)

1.1.....Johannes Schömbs (*10.07.1827 Alsheim)

8.5.....Maria Therese Schömbs (*18.01.1806 Undenheim, +07.10.1882 Undenheim)

Godfather was J. Heller. Therese Schömbs married 11.12.1828 in Undenheim Simon Schreiber (*28.08.1802 Bodenheim, +17.02.1865 Undenheim).

Children: (5)

5.1.....Margarete Schreiber (* 08.05.1829 Undenheim, + 12.05.1829 Undenheim)

5.2.....Peter Schreiber (*14.08.1830, +29.08.1830 Undenheim)

5.3.....Johannes Schreiber (*15.12.831)

Johannes Schreiber was married to Anna Burkhard (*Mainz).

5.4.....Margarete Schreiber (*12.1834 Undenheim)

5.5.....Jakob Schreiber I. (*24.12.1836 Undenheim, +18.09.1917 Undenheim)

Jakob Schreiber I. married 14.01.1875 in Undenheim Dorothea Werle (*13.03.1844 Köngernheim, +05.10.1910 Undenheim).

Children: (3)

3.1.....Theresia Schreiber (*1876)

3.2.....Jakob Schreiber (*1878)

3.3.....Maria Dorothea Schreiber (*1880)

8.6.....Anna Margarete Schömbs (*05.04.1809 Undenheim)

Anna Margarete Schömbs was married 28.11.1832 in Undenheim to Philipp Andreas Michel (*07.05.1795, +15.04.1876 Undenheim).

Children: (2)

2.1.....Adam Michel (*29.08.1834 Undenheim)

Adam was by profession a baker. He married Christine Best aus Köngernheim.

2.2.....Katharina Michel (*21.04.1839, +31.08.1872 Undenheim)

Katharina Michel married Ebling from Schornsheim

8.7.....Mathias Schömbs (*22.02.1812 Undenheim, +24.05.1818 Undenheim)

Godfather was J. Heller.

8.8.... Johannes Schömbs (*27.01.1815 Undenheim, +03.05.1884 Milwaukee WI)

Godfather was Johannes Müller, Nieder-Olm. The death record of Johannes in Milwaukee, Wisconsin identified Mathäus Schömbs and Klara Müller as his parents.

~1846 Emigrant to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Click for the Story of Johann Schoembs

Children: (4)

4.1.....Margaretha Schoembs (*~1849 Wisconsin)

4.2.....Therese Margaretha Schoembs (*Dec 1849 Wisconsin, +after 1905)

4.3.....Wilhelmine M. Schoembs (*15.02.1854 Wisconsin)

4.4.....Elizabeth Schoembs (*~1863 Milwaukee WI, +aft 1930)

Godfather was Mathäus Keller.

15.5.. Maria Susanna Theresia Schömbs (*07.08.1767 Undenheim).

Godmother was Maria Susanna Theresia Zetti.

15.6.. Anna Maria Schömbs (*30.10.1768 Undenheim)

Godmother was Anna Maria Zimmermann, Oppenheim. Anna Maria Schömbs married on 30.12.1802 in Gimbsheim Johann Falger.

15.7...Elisabeth Schömbs (*25.01.1770 Undenheim)

Godmother was Elisabeth Friedrich, wife of Johannes Lahr.

Elisabeth was preparing to marry Hilarius Deginter from Frettenheim when he died. She was pregnant with his child and delivered their baby in 1789. She then married Ernst Deginter, the brother of Hilarius on 31.07.1796. But it does not stop here. The Undenheim history is unclear whether it was this Elisabeth Schömbs (*1770) or Elisabeth Schömbs (*1750). We don't know.

Children: (2)

From the relationship with Hilarius Deginter:

2.1.....Ottilia Schömbs (*17.08.1789 Undenheim)

From the first marriage with Wolfgang ?Ernst Deginther?:

2.2.....Anna Maria Deginther (* 09.05.1795 Spiesheim)

In a second ceremony Elisabeth Schömbs then in Frettenheim was married to Johannes Stahl.

15.8...Dorothea Schömbs (*08.08.1771, +14.08.1771 Undenheim)

Godmother was Dorothea Kämmerer, wife of Johann Kämmerer.

15.9...Maria Eva Schömbs (*23.02.1773, +08.05.1775 Undenheim)

Godmother was Maria Eva Diehl, Wörrstadt.

15.10..Johann Peter Schömbs (*28.10.1774, +18.01.1852 Undenheim)

Godfather was Johann Peter Schömbs). Johann Peter Schömbs was married to Anna Katharina Berger (*02.12.1782, +18.01.1852 Undenheim). Peter was a carpenter by trade. The family live first at Tränkgasse 48, later at Sorchengasse 61.

Children: (8)

8.1.....Peter Schömbs (*01.07.1796, +1806 Undenheim)

Godfather was Peter Ernetti, Frettenheim.

8.2.....Lorenz Schömbs (*13.10.1805 Undenheim, +17.10.1807 Undenheim)

8.3.....Maria Eva Schömbs (*1808 Undenheim)

Maria Eva Schömbs was married 27.04.1830 in Undenheim to Georg Friedrich Brand.

8.4.....Elisabetha Schömbs (*02.07.1809 Undenheim)

On 3 June 1839 in the Catholic Church in Saulheim Elizabetha married Andreas Koch.

Children: (7)

7.1.....Melchior Koch (*16.09.1839 Saulheim)

7.2.....Anna Maria Koch (*15.10.1841 Saulheim)

7.3.....Ignatius Koch (*29.10.1843 Saulheim)

7.4.....Andreas Koch (*07.06.1845 Saulheim)

Margaretha Dotzauer (+before 1880 Illinois USA), the daughter of Francis and Elisabetha Diehl Dotzauer, was married to Andreas Koch on 14 November 1870 in the Saulheim Catholic Church. Their first child, a son Adam, was born in 1872. They then emigrated to Amerika in the same year.

Margaretha died before 1880, leaving Andreas with their son Adam. Adam was remarried in 1881 to Christina Plattner (*1840 Germany). They had two more children, according to the 1910 U.S. Census.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Adam Koch (*1872 Saulheim)

3.2.....Eva Helena Koch (*1884 Illinois)

3.3.....???? Koch

1872 Emigrant to Illinois, then Michigan, USA
Click for the Story of Andreas Koch

7.5.....Friedrich Koch (*24.07.1847 Saulheim)

7.6.....Catharina Koch (*05.10.1849 Saulheim)

7.7.....Christina Koch (*28.11.1852 Saulheim)

8.5.....Johann Schömbs (*21.07.1811 Undenheim, +27.01.1848 Undenheim)

8.6.....Peter Schömbs (*04.08.1812 Undenheim, +05.12.1827 Undenheim)

8.7.....Ignaz Schömbs (*01.05.1814 Undenheim, +02.02.1864)

Ignaz Schömbs married Elisabetha Müller (*09.03.1814, +1872 Mainz) on 26.02.1843 in Hechtsheim.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Helene Schömbs (*03.05.1837, +17.12.1837 Hechtsheim)

3.2.....Jacob Schömbs (*17.03.1839 Hechtsheim)

3.3.....Melchior Schömbs (+17.07.1845 Hechtsheim)

8.8..... Franz Schömbs (*01.04.1819 Undenheim)

Franz Schömbs married Maria Kaffenberger.

Excerpt from "Der Erzähler,
Unterhaltungsblatt für Jedermann", 1850

Franz Schömbs married Maria Kaffenberger (*22.12.1825 Wolfskehlen, +17.05.1875 Undenheim).
Franz Schömbs was first a shoemaker and postman in Undenheim. Later he took a position as driver for Count Friedrich Wilhelm von Görlitz in Darmstadt. Maria worked for a time as a maid for the Countess. Information about Franz and Maria is found in the literature in connection with a murder, e.g. in the "Universal-Lexikon der Gegenwart und Vergangenheit", Volume 2, in 1851 -- "Famous Criminal Cases of higher and lower society." The Schembs were witnesses in the trial apparently.

Children: (8)

8.1.....Wilhelm Ferdinand Schömbs (*05.04.1850, +10.04.1857 Undenheim)

8.2.....Elisabetha Schömbs (*23.12.1852 Undenheim, +21.05.1866 Undenheim)

Elisabeth Schömbs war verheiratet mit Johann Valentin Hoß (*Groß-Rohrheim, +1870 Darmstadt).

8.3.....Anna Pauline Schömbs (*04.01.1855 Undenheim, +21.05.1942 Bingen)

Anna Pauline Schömbs was married 11.08.1881 in Undenheim to Friedrich Josef Escher (*15.06.1844 Undenheim, +28.06.1909 Undenheim).

Children: (3)

3.1.....Jakob Escher (*24.01.1884 Undenheim, +04.06.1957 Darmstadt)

3.2.....Margarete Escher (* 31.07.1885, + 06.07.1975 Bensheim)

Margarete married Peter Mann, Gabsheim.

3.3.....Otto Escher (*26.04.1893 Undenheim, +25.09.1915 im I. Weltkrieg)

8.4.....Maria Johannetta Schömbs (*30.09.1857 Undenheim, +02.10.1857 Undenheim)

8.5.....Charlotte Katharina Schömbs (*25.12.1858, +12.07.1886 Undenheim)

Charlotte Katharina Schömbs was married on 01.11.1884 in Undenheim to Johannes Hamm (*30.03.1854 Schwabsburg).

Children: (1)

1.1.....Margarete Hamm (*22.01.1885 Undenheim)

8.6.....Adam Schömbs (*15.12.1861 Undenheim)

Certificate of Confirmation
for Adam Schömbs, 1875
zum Vergrößern klicken

Adam Schömbs married in 1893 in Selzen Eva Maria Weber (*Selzen). Per the oral history of Mr. Klier (descendant), Adam died early. "The child had to grow up in an orphanage. This doesn't quite make sense. Perhaps in the future it will be clarified.

Children: (4)

4.1.....Paula Schömbs

4.2.....Auguste Schömbs

4.3.....Elisabeth Schömbs (*1898 Biebrich)

Elisabeth married Georg Klier (*1891 Langenzell/Bayern).

Children: (4)

4.1.....Hans Klier (*1930 Wetzlar)

Hans Klier married Anneliese Straub (+).
Hans Klier joined the Schömbs 2008 Familientreffen in Undenheim, the home of his ancestors! He learned from the newspapers that the Schömbs descendants would be visiting on Friday to tour Undenheim. So he took the opportunity to join the group at St. Albanshof.

Hans Klier

He brought with him a family tree as evidence that his grandfather was Adam Schömbs. He added to the knowledge of the family.

4.2.....Bertha Klier

4.3.....Paul Klier

4.4.....Heinz Klier

4.4.....Otto Schömbs (*Selzen)

Otto Schömbs was a tailor by profession. He lived in Bad-Nauheim. Now only through the information from Hans Klier about Otto Schömbs do we know with confidence about Otto Schömbs. But there also is an item in the Hessian State Archive, saying that the worker Otto Schömbs was arrested in March 1933 on charges of "throwing cigarettes over the wall for imprisoned Communists." He was incarcerated in the prison in Bad Nauheim.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Inge Schömbs

Inge Schömbs married. We do not know to whom.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Son

8.7.....Christina Schömbs (*17.03.1863 Undenheim)

8.8..... Johann Heinrich Schömbs (*15.10.1867 Undenheim)

15.11...Johann Heinrich Schömbs (*08.10.1776 Undenheim, +13.02.1801 Undenheim)

Godfather was Heinrich Schömbs, Herrnsheim.

15.12...Anna Katharina Schömbs (*12.04.1778 Undenheim)

Godmother was Catharina Schömbs, wife of Nikolaus Schömbs, Wahlheimer Hof.

15.13...Valentin Schömbs I. (*21.05.1780 Undenheim, +24.03.1860 Undenheim)

Godfather was Valentin Lahr. Valentin Schömbs married on 20.07.1800 Christina Schmitt (*1776 Friesenheim, +25.07.1856) from Friesenheim. The family lived first at Untergasse 75, at Oppenheimer Straße 148.

Children: (8)

8.1..... Mathias Schömbs II. (*24.03.1802 Undenheim, +30.06,1843 Undenheim)

Godfather was Mathias Schömbs. Mathias Schömbs II. married 1830 in Gabsheim Barbara Müller (*16.09.1806 Elsheim, +15.01.1865 Undenheim). They lived at Wörrstädter Straße 54.

Children: (1)

1.1....Barbara Schömbs (*ca. 1832)

Barbara Schömbs was married on 08.02.1854 in Gabsheim to Lorenz Berkes (*10.11.1825 Schornsheim, +30.06.1906 Undenheim).

Children: (4)

4.1.....Katharina Berkes (*27.11.1854, +02.07.1937 Undenheim)

4.2.....Jakob Berkes (*13.06.1856, +28.03.1940)

Jakob married Elisabeth Berkes (*1860), a cousin of some degree.

4.3.....Franz Berkes (*15.03.1858, +06.05.1936 Undenheim)

Married Katharina Manz.

4.4.....Maria Berkes (*25.04.1861, +1943 Weinsolsheim)

Married Georg Heinrich Berkes, a cousin of some degree.

8.2.....Peter Schömbs (*24.03.1803 Undenheim)

8.3..... Christina Schömbs (*24.06.1804, +10.10.1805 Undenheim)

Godfather was Mathias Schömbs.

8.4..... Maria Christina Schömbs (*18.09.1806, +1806 Undenheim)

Godfather was Mathias Schömbs.

8.5..... Barbara Schömbs (*1808 Undenheim)

Barbara Schömbs married Mathäus Schnaal (*Dalheim).

8.6..... Valentin Schömbs II (*1811 Undenheim)

Valentin Schömbs was married on 21.11.1844 in Undenheim to Anna Maria Becker (*08.08.1810. +30.11.1851 Undenheim).

Children: (3)

3.1.....Maria Anna Schömbs (*25.05.1848 Undenheim, +16.05.1877 Undenheim)

Maria Anna Schömbs was married 17.08.1875 in Undenheim to Johannes Bork (*13.09.1843 GauBickelheim, +07.08.1885 Undenheim).

Children: (1)

1.1.....Georg Bork (*20.03.1876 Undenheim)

3.2.....Christine Schömbs (*11.05.1850 Undenheim, + 09.11.1919)

Georg Anton Brandt (*15.12.1848, +20.07.1922) and Christine Schömbs married.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Ludwig Brandt (*26.07.1894, +17.12.1914)

Ludwig Brandt married Martha Elisabeth Raber (*21.09.1893, +21.07.1929).

3.3.....Margaretha Schömbs (*12.11.1851 Undenheim, +17.11.1851 Undenheim)

8.7..... Maria Anna Schömbs (*03.10.1813 Undenheim)

8.8.... Jacob Schömbs (*30.01.1817, +09.05.1873 Undenheim)

15.14..Maria Magdalena Schömbs (*26.03.1783, +19.04.1790 Undenheim)

Godmother was Maria Magdalena Münzenberger.

15.15..Balthasar Schömbs (*23.03.1785 Undenheim, +21.04.1786 Undenheim)

Godfather was Balthasar Fleck.

Maria Catharina Schömbs(*27.02.1736, +12.09.1736 Wahlheim)2.3.5/3

Godmother was Maria Catharina Sieb from Zornheim.

Peter Schömbs (*23.08.1737 Wahlheimer Hof)2.3.5/4

Godfather was Peter Metten, Wahlheimer Hof.

Johann Mathäus Schömbs (*10.06.1739 Wahlheimer Hof, +1773 Oppenheim?)2.3.5/5

Godfather was Johann Mathäus Krait, Gabsheim. Mathäus Schömbs married 27.09.1768 in Oppenheim Maria Agatha Raunheimer. Joh. Mathäus probably died young. In a marriage record from Oppenheim in 09.11.1773 regarding the marriage of Agatha Schömbs to Caspar Zöller, this is likely the widow of Johann Mathäus.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Joh. Matthäus Schömbs (*19.04.1771 Oppenheim)

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Dieter Curschmann, 1200 Jahre Undenheim

[2] Dieter Curschmann, Festschrift zur Restaurierung der katholischen Kirche und Schule Undenheim

[3] Heimatjahrbuch 1975, Landkreis Mainz-Bingen

[4] wie Anm. 25

[5] wie Anm. 36

[6] siehe Anm. 36