Wife and I are making or first trip to Europe in Sept. Part of our travels include my wife doing some geneology research. Any suggestions on where to start in the Loraine region of France. Family name is Speer.
Posted by
San Francisco
14795 posts
Maybe at the city hall in Metz? Or, Forbach or Thionville (Diedenhofen), a bit north of Metz?
Posted by
Durham, USA
71 posts
Have you tried ancestry.com? It's amazing what you can find. It might help you narrow it down where to start. I found on there an ancestor who was born in Charost, France in 1639 and left about 1680. We're swinging through there on this trip. If I had the time I'd do some more research, but at least getting a picture with the village sign will be fun. I would start by asking at the local TI, if there is one, and also maybe a local library or town hall. Most baptism records are still in churches if they weren't destroyed in a war or revolution.
Posted by
Santa Rosa, CA, USA
355 posts
Churches are often a good resource, if you know the town...
Posted by
OP
Sparks, NV, USA
17 posts
Exhausted ancestry.com even the Family History Center in Salt Lake City. French and Germans keep meticulous records but region was been a battle ground for hundreds of years. Have no leads to follow when we get there. Just looking for some ideas from anyone who lives or has spent time in region.
Posted by
San Francisco
14795 posts
Hi, I suggested Metz since it is/was the main city of Lorraine. Yes, it was fought over in 1870, 1918, and 1944. There is also the "homeland" history museum in Metz.
Posted by
OP
Sparks, NV, USA
17 posts
Thanks