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Amsoldingen, Reutigen and Thierachern registers: the Hirschi family

· 14 min read · 4 people named

Read-only search of the original church registers held by the Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern (StABE), which are free to view online through its catalogue (query.sta.be.ch). Each register volume is published as one large PDF of double-page microfilm images. I read single pages by HTTP range request instead of downloading whole volumes. The six pages cited below were saved to media/switzerland/amsoldingen/ and are listed in its README. No masters or data files were edited, and nothing was committed.

In the transcriptions, [?] marks an uncertain reading, […] an expansion of an abbreviation, and | a line break in the original. The spelling is the register's. German script (Kurrent) is transcribed in roman type.

Key finds

  1. Susanna Katharina Hirschi's baptism is found (H0038). It is in the Amsoldingen baptism register, K Amsoldingen 5, p. 167, no. 16 of 1846.
    • She was born 15 May 1846 and baptised Friday 5 June 1846 at Amsoldingen, as "Susanna Catharina".
    • Her parents were Christian Hirschi, son of Peter, of Schangnau, living at Lilachen (Lilache, a hamlet in the municipality of Amsoldingen), and Magdalena Stocker, daughter of Johannes, of Boltigen. They had married at Thun on 26 Oct 1833.
    • This proves the birth date given in every American source. It also proves her parents, and it places her birth in Amsoldingen parish, at the family's home at Lilachen, not at Schangnau.
  2. Her parents' marriage. Three Amsoldingen baptisms (1836, 1844, 1846) each state "copuliert Thun 26. Oct. 1833". The banns were read at Reutigen on 29 Sep and 6 and 13 Oct 1833 (K Reutigen 7, p. 19, no. 15), and the "copuliert" column there is blank.
    • The wedding was therefore at Thun, not at Reutigen (the FamilySearch index place, which is the place of the banns) or at Amsoldingen (Find a Grave).
    • The Amsoldingen marriage register of 1833 and its name index have no entry for the couple.
    • StABE's Thun series has no marriage register before 1839 (K Thun 9 begins in 1839), so the Thun entry itself cannot be read online.
  3. Christian Hirschi's place of citizenship (Heimatort) is Schangnau, confirmed five times. The four Swiss records above (1833, 1836, 1844, 1846) all call him "of Schangnau", and so does the citizenship column of the Thierachern baptism of 28 Aug 1814.
    • That baptism is of Christian, born 18 Aug 1814, son of Peter Hirschi and Maria Stutzmann, living at Uebeschi.
    • Its godfather was Jakob Hirschi, the father's brother.
    • The 1814 image confirms the index's 18 Aug; Find a Grave's "14 Aug 1814, Schangnau" is wrong on both the day and the place.
    • In the banns of 1833 Christian is a Küher, a dairyman or herdsman; the migrant Küher mostly came from the Emmental, where Schangnau lies.
  4. Two sisters found.
    • Magdalena, born 4 Feb 1836 and baptised 21 Feb 1836 (p. 52, no. 11).
    • "Margaritha Rosalie", born 12 or 18 Sep 1844 (the register's day is ambiguous; her 1924 Illinois death record, FamilySearch NQFG-2L4, gives 12 Sep 1844, which the masters adopt) and baptised 13 Oct 1844 (p. 151, no. 46). She is probably the "Rosina" of the probate file and Find a Grave (Rosina Margaret Hirschi Tontz, 1844–1924).
  5. Relatives named as godparents in 1836:
    • Johannes Stocker, "the child's mother's brother";
    • Magdalena Hirschi née Oesch, "the child's aunt". She is probably the wife of Christian's elder brother Peter Hirschi, who married Magdalena Oesch of Amsoldingen in 1826 (K Amsoldingen 10, p. 75, no. 509: "Peter Hirschi von Schangnau, Küher, Peters Sohn");
    • Susanna Stutzmann née Simon, of Uebeschi, from the family of Christian's mother.
  6. Magdalena Stocker's father, Johannes, was dead by Feb 1836. In 1836 he is "Joh. sel." (selig, "the late"). In 1833 he is named without "sel.", and in 1844 and 1846 simply as "Johannes".

1. Baptism of Susanna Catharina Hirschi, 5 June 1846 (H0038)

Source. Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, K Amsoldingen 5, Taufrodel [baptism register] 1832–1862.

Transcription. The register's columns are number, role, entry and name.

Freitags den 5. Juni.

16. | Eltern | Christian Hirschi, Peters, von Schangnau in Lilachen [or "im Lilachen"] | Magdalena Stocker, Johannes, von Boltigen | Copul. Thun 26. Oct. 1833. Kind | Susanna Catharina, geboren den 15. Mai 1846. Zeugen | Peter Gassner, Unterlehrer, von und zu Amsoldingen | Susanna Anken [?], Christians, von und auf den Höfen | Catharina Schneiter, Johannes, von Amsoldingen im Dörfli [last word uncertain].

Name column: Susanna Catharina. No marginal remark.

Translation.

  • Date: Friday, 5 June [1846].
  • No. 16, parents: Christian Hirschi, [son] of Peter, of Schangnau, [living] at Lilachen; Magdalena Stocker, [daughter] of Johannes, of Boltigen; married at Thun, 26 Oct 1833.
  • Child: Susanna Catharina, born 15 May 1846.
  • Godparents:
    • Peter Gassner, assistant schoolmaster, of and at Amsoldingen;
    • Susanna Anken, [daughter or wife] of Christian, of and at the Höfen;
    • Catharina Schneiter, [daughter or wife] of Johannes, of Amsoldingen, in the Dörfli.

Notes.

  • Weekday: 5 June 1846 was a Friday, as the heading says.
  • Godmother Anken: the reading is supported by entry 18 on the same page, where the Anken family of the Höfen appears again.
  • Lilachen is today Lilache, a hamlet in the municipality of Amsoldingen (swisstopo gazetteer, LV95 2611345 / 1174325).
  • The 1844 entry has the same place, as "im Lilachen".

What it proves (grade).

  • Record quality: an original record. Its information is primary for the baptism, and for the birth it was reported three weeks after the event; the evidence is direct.
  • Birth date: 15 May 1846, matching the death certificate, the 1900 census, the county history, the obituary and the gravestone.
  • Parents: Christian Hirschi and Magdalena Stocker, with both of their fathers' names.
  • Birthplace: the family's home at Lilachen, in Amsoldingen parish and municipality. The register gives the parents' residence, not a separate place of birth, so the birth there is an inference, but a strong one.
  • Citizenship: the family was citizen of Schangnau, which she inherited as a legitimate child. The FamilySearch tree's "Schangnau" birthplace is therefore her Heimatort, not her birthplace.
  • Given names: the register spells them Susanna Catharina; her 1918 death certificate has "Katharina".
  • Grade: proven.

2. Baptism of Margaritha Rosalie Hirschi, 13 October 1844 (the sister called Rosina)

Source. StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, Taufrodel 1832–1862.

  • Page 151 (right-hand page of pp. 150–151), entry no. 46 of 1844.
  • PDF image 77 of 187 (same catalogue and PDF links as above).
  • Saved as …/1844-10-13_baptism_margaritha-rosalia-hirschi_K-Amsoldingen-5_p151.png.

Transcription.

Sonntags den 13. October.

46. | Eltern | Christian Hirschi, Peters von Schangnau im Lilachen | Magdalena Stocker, Johannes von Boltigen | Copul. Thun 26. October 1833. Kind | Margaritha Rosalie [ending unclear: -ie or -ia], geboren den 18. September 1844. Zeugen | Ludwig Buchhofer, Metzger, von und zu Thun | Rosina Messerli, Christians von Belpberg [?] im Rütimättli | Anna Margaritha Zuber [?] von Wattenwyl, [?] Gallen [?] in Thun.

Name column: Margaritha Rosalie.

Translation.

  • Date: Sunday, 13 October [1844].
  • Parents: as in 1846, living "im Lilachen"; married at Thun, 26 Oct 1833.
  • Child: Margaritha Rosalie, born 18 September 1844.
  • Godparents:
    • Ludwig Buchhofer, butcher, of and at Thun;
    • Rosina Messerli, [daughter or wife] of Christian, of Belpberg [?], at the Rütimättli;
    • Anna Margaritha Zuber [?], of Wattenwil, [? … ] at Thun.

Notes. 13 Oct 1844 was a Sunday. "Buchhofer" is a Thun burgher surname.

What it proves (grade).

  • Record quality: original record, primary information, direct evidence of the birth and baptism of a daughter of the couple.
  • Identification with Rosina: the probate file and Find a Grave give a daughter Rosina (Rosina Margaret Hirschi Tontz, 1844–1924), and the 1850 passenger list has "Rosine, 4". I found no other Hirschi daughter born to the couple in 1844. Her baptismal names are Margaritha Rosalie, and she used Rosina (or Rosine) as a familiar form.
  • Grade: identification probable.
  • Find a Grave: its sister "Rosina (1844)" was born at Amsoldingen, which is confirmed.

3. Baptism of Magdalena Hirschi, 21 February 1836

Source. StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, Taufrodel 1832–1862.

  • Page 52 (left-hand page of pp. 52–53), entry no. 11 of 1836.
  • PDF image 27 of 187.
  • Saved as …/1836-02-21_baptism_magdalena-hirschi_K-Amsoldingen-5_p052.png.

Transcription.

Sontag, d. 21.sten Hornung.

11. | Eltern | Christian Hirschi [first written "Hirsig"; the "-ig" is struck and "chi" written above in Latin script], Peters S[ohn], von Schangnau, z[u] Amsoldingen | Magdalena Stocker, Joh[annes] sel[ig] v[on] Boltigen | copuliert Thun 26. Oct. 1833 Kind | Magdalena geb[oren] d[en] 4.ten Hornung. Zeugen | Johannes Stocker, des Kindes Mutter Bruder | Susanna Stutzmann, geb[orne] Simon, von Übische | Magdalena Hirschi geb[orne] Oesch, des Kindes Tante.

Name column: Magdal[ena].

Translation.

  • Date: Sunday, 21 February [1836].
  • Parents: Christian Hirschi, son of Peter, of Schangnau, at Amsoldingen; Magdalena Stocker, [daughter] of the late Johannes, of Boltigen; married at Thun, 26 Oct 1833.
  • Child: Magdalena, born 4 February.
  • Godparents:
    • Johannes Stocker, the child's mother's brother;
    • Susanna Stutzmann née Simon, of Uebeschi;
    • Magdalena Hirschi née Oesch, the child's aunt.

What it proves (grade).

  • Record quality: original, primary information, direct evidence.
  • The sister: Magdalena (Mrs Jacob M. Kamm, 1836–1903) was born 4 Feb 1836 at Amsoldingen, confirming Find a Grave's year and place.
  • Magdalena Stocker's family:
    • her brother Johannes Stocker, living in 1836;
    • her father Johannes, dead by 21 Feb 1836.
  • Christian's family:
    • his brother's wife, Magdalena née Oesch (see section 6);
    • a Stutzmann godmother from Uebeschi, which ties the couple to the family of Christian's mother, Maria Stutzmann (section 5).
  • Grade: proven for the child and her parents; the relationships of the godparents are as stated in the entry.

4. The parents' marriage, 1833: banns at Reutigen, wedding at Thun 26 Oct 1833 (H0169 × H0170)

Banns: source. StABE, K Reutigen 7, Eherodel [marriage register] 1827–1875.

Transcription. The columns are No., Verkündet [banns read], the couple, and Copuliert [married].

15. | Sept. 29. Oct. 6. 13. | Christian Hirschi, Peters von Schangnau, Küher | an der B[ü]n[?]schmaan [?] [a place-name, reading uncertain]. | Magdalena Stocker, Johannis von Boltigen, | am Gand [?] wohnhaft. | [Copuliert column blank]

Translation.

  • Banns: read on 29 Sep and 6 and 13 Oct [1833].
  • Groom: Christian Hirschi, [son] of Peter, of Schangnau, dairyman (Küher), at the B…[?].
  • Bride: Magdalena Stocker, [daughter] of Johannes, of Boltigen, living at the Gand [?].

Notes.

  • The Gand: "Gand" is a field-name in Reutigen municipality (swisstopo, LV95 2614690 / 1172031), which fits a bride living in Reutigen parish.
  • Blank "Copuliert" column: most other entries on the opening give a place and officiant there. A blank column means the wedding was held elsewhere.

The wedding. Each of the three Amsoldingen baptisms states the marriage in its own words: "copuliert Thun 26. Oct. 1833" (1836), "Copul. Thun 26. October 1833" (1844) and "Copul. Thun 26. Oct. 1833" (1846). 26 Oct 1833 was a Saturday.

Registers checked without result.

  • Amsoldingen marriage register, K Amsoldingen 10 (1807–1837):
    • The 1833 entries (pp. 114–116, PDF images 59–60) have no Hirschi–Stocker entry. Pastor's summary: 21 couples proclaimed and 9 married in 1833.
    • The volume's surname index (PDF image 94, "Hirschi") lists the marriages of Niklaus, Maria, Barbara, Peter (p. 75, no. 509), Johannes, Jean and Johannes, but no Christian.
  • Thun: StABE's Thun series runs K Thun 1–8 (baptisms), K Thun 9 marriages 1839–1855 and K Thun 12–16 (burials). No Thun marriage register for 1833 is online at StABE.

What it proves (grade).

  • Banns: an original record, with primary information and direct evidence that Christian Hirschi, son of Peter, of Schangnau, and Magdalena Stocker, daughter of Johannes, of Boltigen, were proclaimed in Reutigen parish in Sept–Oct 1833.
  • Date and place of the wedding: Thun, 26 Oct 1833. The evidence is contemporary and consistent, stated three times by the Amsoldingen pastor in 1836–1846, but it comes from the baptism entries, not from the Thun register.
  • Grade: date and place of the wedding: strong (not seen in the marriage register itself); banns: proven.
  • Corrections to earlier sources:
    • FamilySearch's "1833, Reutigen" indexes the banns register;
    • Find a Grave's "26 Oct 1833, Amsoldingen" has the right day and the wrong place.

5. Baptism of Christian Hirschi, 28 August 1814, Thierachern (H0169)

Source. StABE, K Thierachern 8, Taufrodel 1800–1833.

Transcription. The right-hand column of this volume gives each family's commune of citizenship: Uebeschi, Uetendorf, Schangnau and so on.

Aug[ust] 28. eine ehel[iche] [?] Christian, natus 18. Par[entes]: Peter Hirschi, & [?] | Maria Stutzmann bei [?] Uebeschi Test[es]: Christen Stutzmann, der Mutter Bruder | Jakob Hirschi, des Vaters Bruder | Susanna Stutzmann, geb[orne] Keller [?] v[on] Uebeschi. Right-hand column: Schangnau.

Translation.

  • Baptism: 28 August [1814], a legitimate [child], Christian, born the 18th.
  • Parents: Peter Hirschi and Maria Stutzmann, at Uebeschi.
  • Godparents:
    • Christen Stutzmann, the mother's brother;
    • Jakob Hirschi, the father's brother;
    • Susanna Stutzmann née Keller [?], of Uebeschi.
  • Citizenship: Schangnau.

What it proves (grade).

  • Record quality: original, primary information, direct evidence of the birth (18 Aug 1814) and baptism (28 Aug 1814) of a Christian, son of Peter Hirschi and Maria Stutzmann, citizen of Schangnau, whose family lived at Uebeschi in Thierachern parish.
  • Identification with the husband of Magdalena Stocker. It is now strongly supported, because every element matches:
    • father Peter (1833, 1836, 1844, 1846);
    • Heimatort Schangnau (in all five records);
    • a Stutzmann godmother from Uebeschi at his first daughter's baptism in 1836;
    • home parishes next to one another (Thierachern, Reutigen, Amsoldingen);
    • his age: 36 in Aug 1850 and 47 in Aug 1860.
  • Grade: identification very probable. It is still short of proof, because no Swiss record found so far names both his parents together with his wife, for example a family register (Burgerrodel) of Schangnau.
  • Birth details:
    • the image confirms 18 Aug 1814; Find a Grave's 14 Aug is an error;
    • his place of birth was probably Uebeschi (Thierachern parish), not Schangnau.
  • New relatives:
    • a paternal uncle, Jakob Hirschi;
    • a maternal uncle, Christen Stutzmann.

6. Context: marriage of Peter Hirschi and Magdalena Oesch, 1826 (the "aunt" of 1836)

Source. StABE, K Amsoldingen 10, Eherodel 1807–1837.

Transcription.

509. | 6. Octob. | Septemb. 10. – 17. – 24. | Peter Hirschi von Schangnau, Küher, Peters Sohn, [und] Magdalena | Oesch von Amsoldingen, Johannes Altlieutenants Tochter, ersterer | auf dem G[ü]nzenenberg [?], K[irchgemeinde] Reutigen sich jetzt aufhaltend, letztere | allhier wohnhaft, beyde ledig. | Schein | Reutigen

Translation.

  • Dates: 6 October [1826]; banns read on 10, 17 and 24 September.
  • Groom: Peter Hirschi of Schangnau, dairyman, son of Peter, now living at the G…berg [?] in Reutigen parish.
  • Bride: Magdalena Oesch of Amsoldingen, daughter of Johannes, the former lieutenant, living here.
  • Status: both single.
  • "Schein Reutigen": the banns certificate was issued for a wedding at Reutigen.

What it shows.

  • The groom: very probably Christian's elder brother Peter (baptised 24 Apr 1803 at Thierachern, index 66JX-K4C3), the brother who stayed in Switzerland. He is a son of Peter, of Schangnau, a Küher, living in Reutigen parish.
  • The "aunt" of 1836: his wife, Magdalena Oesch, is the "Magdalena Hirschi geb. Oesch, des Kindes Tante" of 1836.
  • Grade: probable identification.

Corrections and additions for the masters (for the lead to integrate)

  • H0038 Susanna Katharina:
    • Birth: 15 May 1846 at Lilachen, Amsoldingen, Bern (proven by the baptism).
    • Baptism fact: 5 Jun 1846, Amsoldingen; godparents Peter Gassner, Susanna Anken, Catharina Schneiter.
    • Citation: K Amsoldingen 5, p. 167, no. 16.
    • Name: the register spells it "Susanna Catharina".
    • Research note: replace the "probable" birthplace reasoning, and drop "no baptism found".
    • Citizenship: Schangnau, by descent.
  • H0169 Christian:
    • Marriage: 26 Oct 1833 at Thun (from the baptisms), banns at Reutigen 29 Sep and 6 and 13 Oct 1833 (K Reutigen 7, p. 19, no. 15).
    • Occupation: Küher (dairyman), 1833.
    • Residence: Amsoldingen, 1836; Lilachen, Amsoldingen, 1844–1846.
    • Heimatort: Schangnau.
    • Birth: 18 Aug 1814, image-confirmed; the family was then at Uebeschi.
    • Identification with the Thierachern baptism: upgrade to very probable.
    • Relatives: paternal uncle Jakob Hirschi; maternal uncle Christen Stutzmann.
  • H0170 Magdalena Stocker:
    • Heimatort: Boltigen.
    • Father: Johannes, deceased by 21 Feb 1836.
    • Brother: Johannes Stocker, living 1836.
    • Residence in 1833: "am Gand" [?], Reutigen parish.
  • Siblings of H0038 without H-IDs:
    • Magdalena, born 4 Feb 1836, baptised 21 Feb 1836 (p. 52, no. 11);
    • Margaritha Rosalie ("Rosina"), born 18 Sep 1844, baptised 13 Oct 1844 (p. 151, no. 46).
  • H2192 Peter Hirschi (the grandfather):
    • his son Peter Jr. married Magdalena Oesch in 1826 (K Amsoldingen 10, p. 75, no. 509);
    • his brother Jakob Hirschi was godfather in 1814.

Leads (not done)

  • The other children in K Amsoldingen 5 (PDF images 12–95):
    • Christian Jr. (about 1834);
    • Johannes (about 1838);
    • Friedrich (about 1839);
    • Elisabeth (about 1841);
    • Rudolf (about 1843);
    • Gottlieb (about 1848);
    • Jakob (about 1849).
    • The 1834 entries up to no. 35 (24 Aug 1834, images 12–17) have no Hirschi.
    • The volume has no index; the pages must be read in sequence.
  • Magdalena Stocker's baptism: Boltigen register, about 5 Dec 1814 (Find a Grave). Check the StABE catalogue for K Boltigen.
  • Johannes Stocker's burial, between Oct 1833 and Feb 1836: Boltigen, Reutigen or Amsoldingen burial registers (K Amsoldingen 12, burials 1808–1851).
  • Peter Hirschi × Maria Stutzmann's marriage: 5 Mar 1803 at Thierachern per the FamilySearch tree (K Thierachern 14, Eherodel 1753–1833).
  • A Schangnau family register (Burgerrodel) would link Christian's parents and wife in one record. It is probably held by the commune of Schangnau or the civil registry, not StABE.
  • The emigration of 1850: StABE's emigration and passport records may name the family.
  • Uncertain readings to revisit:
    • the groom's residence in the 1833 banns ("an der B…schmaan");
    • "Günzenenberg" in 1826;
    • the 1844 godmother "Zuber … Gallen".

Searches run

  • StABE full-text search "Amsoldingen Taufrodel": K Amsoldingen 1–6. The fonds is K Amsoldingen (catalogue ID 241379), and its volumes are IDs 241380–241392:
    • 5 = Taufrodel 1832–1862;
    • 7 = baptisms elsewhere 1805–1868;
    • 10 = Eherodel 1807–1837;
    • 11 = Eherodel 1837–1875;
    • 12 = Totenrodel 1808–1851.
  • "Thun Eherodel": K Thun 9–11, from 1839 only.
  • "Reutigen Kirchenbücher": K Reutigen 1–11 (IDs 230819–230829).
  • Thierachern series: IDs 233177–233196, including K Thierachern 8 (Taufrodel 1800–1833) and 14–15 (Eherodel 1753–1869).
  • Pages read:
    • K Amsoldingen 5, images 12–17, 21, 27, 72–78 and 85;
    • K Amsoldingen 10, images 39, 50, 56–57, 59–60, 94, 97 and 101–104;
    • K Reutigen 7, images 10–12;
    • K Thierachern 8, images 60, 87, 88 and 90.

Log line (for the session log)

  • 2026-09-27: 6 free register-page images (StABE online Kirchenbücher: K Amsoldingen 5 pp. 52, 151, 167; K Amsoldingen 10 p. 75; K Reutigen 7 p. 19; K Thierachern 8 p. 170) into media/switzerland/amsoldingen/. Listed in its README.md. Analysis in families/research/amsoldingen-2026-09-27.md.

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