Is this 1798 birth record in French or German?

Gary Knecht

I believe this a birth record (civil, not church) for Johann Henrich Carl SCHAUN (oldest brother of my 2nd great grandfather) who was born in Offenbach am Glan, Kusel, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany on 2 or 12 October 1798. His parents were Johann Christian SCHAUN and Catharina LEDIG according to other sources. Does this document clarify date and/or verify parents?

I am especially interested in names, ages, occupations and other details that may be contained in this document for both parents and witnesses, so feel free to include guesses but please indicate anywhere you lack certainty.

sylviaelchinger1

Hi Gary,

You're sort of correct about there being French in this record, but it refers to the dates, which are expressed in terms of the French Republican Calendar - see here for more info. This page also has links to date converters, so you can find out what the "real" dates are.

https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/French_Republican_Calendar

Here's as much as I can make out of the record. There are several words in brackets that elude me.

Translation -

Today on the first day [of the French Republican week] of the second decade* of the month of Vendemiaire in the seventh year of the Fr[ench] R[epublic] at 4 o'clock in the afternoon appeared before me Christian Simon, municipal agent in the community of Offenbach, Christian Schaun, schoolteacher here, accompanied by Michael Jung, age 51 years, and Nichol Gips** age 41 years, both residing here. [Schaun] Declared to me, Christian Simon, that his lawful wife Chatarina [can't read], today on the first day [of the French Republican week] of the second decade* of the month of Vendemiaire, early at one o'clock, gave birth in his home to a child of the male sex, who was given the names Johann Heinrich Carl. According to this declaration, which the citizens Jung and Gips [have attested to the truth of?], and after the child was presented to me, I have, by the power [invested in me?], created the present act, which Christian Schaun, the father, and the two witnesses Jung and Gips have signed with me. Took place in Offenbach on the day, month, and year as above. [signatures] Simon agent

Nichol Gibs Michel Jung Christian Schaun as the father

*Note - a decade is a "week" in the French Republican Calendar, consisting of 10 days, which are known simply as first day, second day, etc.

**The registrar spells this name as Gips, but it looks like the man signed it as Gibs.

sylviaelchinger1

Yes, I also got 2 October 1798. The wife gave birth at 1am and the father reported the birth at 4pm on the same day. I'm always fascinated about the fact that the father actually trotted the newborn down to city hall to prove that there is indeed a child that was just born!

Gary Knecht

@sylviaelchinger1 - Spectacular response to my question! Thanks so much. Using the date converters, I got his birthdate as 2 Oct 1798 at 1am. Do you agree? And he reported the birth at 4pm on the same day.