Help with translation & understanding parish record, Degersheim, Sankt Gallen Switzerland

Pat Lowe

Here is what I have determined so far, please correct me if needed

Elisa Bertha, daughter of Albert Roth & Elisa Lienhard, Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche Degersheim (Sankt Gallen, Film # 008044045  Image  of 729 

born 17 May 1900, baptized 10 Jun 1900, parents Albert Roth & Elisa Lienhard, Bürgerort= Ganterswil (Is this the child's birthplace or does it refer to parents?)

Taufzeugen und Stellvertreter=Witnesses (plus their residences?) Gottfired Bühler, of Berg, Bertha Lienhard, of ??.

Wohnort=residence (of parents?) Oberdorf

My question is, if the child was born in Ganterswil, why is the parent's residence Oberdorf?

Charlotte Noelle Champenois

Bürgerort (often called Heimatort) is the place of citizenship. Christopher linked to a helpful article about this topic. The Swiss place of citizenship was inherited from the father, so it's both the child's and the parents' place of citizenship. What this means is that Ganterswil (Ganterschwil) and the place of residence would track their baptism, marriage, and burial information. Since the parents' residence is Oberdorf, the child was born in Oberdorf. But both the parish in charge of the residence (i.e., parish of Degersheim) and the parish in charge of the place of citizenship (i.e., parish of Ganterschwil) would've recorded this and subsequent family events. The 1900 baptism record from Ganterschwil isn't available online yet, though; see https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Ganterschwil_Parish,_Sankt_Gallen,_Switzerland_Genealogy (unless you can view the digitized images at this page? https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/293775?availability=Family%20History%20Library)

Stellvertreter means proxy, so the baptismal witness column could list someone who stood in as proxy for the actual godparent (though this would be indicated).

Bertha Lienhard is of Sennruthi (Sennrüti, within the same parish of Degersheim).

The child was born on the 17th at "1/2 8 mg [Morgens]"--i.e., 7:30 a.m.

Christopher Kovach_1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Place_of_origin

Pat Lowe

Thanks very much to Charlotte Noelle Champenois and Christopher Kovach_1 for the detailed explanation and the reference for more information.

I did look at the wiki, but did not see the place of origin. I guess this concept of being registered in a place of origin as well as the actual place of birth is unique to Switzerland. I must say that having more than one place to look for records is a great concept!

Pat Lowe

One more question please about Elise Roth 9CHD-5CW

When I went to add "Oberdorf, Sankt Gallen, Switzerland" to her birth place, two different suggestions popped up .

Oberdorf, Widnau, Sankt Gallen, Switzerland

Oberdorf, Gossau, Sankt Gallen, Switzerland

How do I tell which Oberdorf is the residence of the parents Albert Roth 9VGS-92T & Elsie Lienhard 9VGS-92Y at the time of her baptism in 1900 ?