Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Recovering a Patrimony

In any large family some individual family members will care more about their heritage than others. This is not a critique, simply an observed truth.

In previous generations, some family members were seemingly less attached to their heritage and sold many things. I will probably never have a true accounting of all the items that have gone missing. I say missing as opposed to lost because I hope to recover some items that may be in flea markets, antique shops, or book sellers just waiting to be discovered.

To that end last month I purchased three framed engravings by Charles Philippe de Büren who lived in the latter half of the 18th century. He was an artist who focused on nature themes and did many engravings of animals and pastureland. The seller acquired the engravings 5 years ago at an antique flea market in Paris, and recently posted them on eBay.


The engravings done by Charles Philippe, most likely from the 1780s



Wednesday, December 23, 2009

The Gift of Connection

As the holiday season is often spent with family and is a time for fellowship and thanks, I would like to reflect upon this past year.

Thanks in part to my family history projects and through the grace of current technology I have been able to reconnect with family that I have been searching for and connect with some I didn't know I had.

This past year I have reconnected with many relatives in Switzerland, and met some Swiss cousins for the first time. Thanks to Facebook, I now have a virtual relationship with my cousins in Argentina – one I hope to make real with a visit. Most surprisingly I just found some cousins I did not know I had in Arkansas and Texas who descend from a de Büren who emigrated to Indiana in 1830.

A good deal to be thankful for in my view. Happy Holidays.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Moréri's Grand Dictionnaire



Louis Moréri's encyclopaedia, Le Grand Dictionnaire Historique, ou le mélange curieux de l'histoire sacrée et profane (The Great Historical Dictionary, or Anthology of Sacred and Secular History) was first published in Lyon in 1674. It was mostly focused on historical and biographical articles. Within his encyclopaedia there is an entry on the de Büren family. The following excerpt comes from the 1759 edition. I have left it in French, only changing place names to their current spelling.


BUREN ( de ) famille noble et fort ancienne en Suisse, comme on le peut voir dans la cosmographie de Munstérus, a été considérable, et par divers emplois que ceux de cette famille ont exercés, et par diverses terres et seigneuries qu’elle a possédées.

ARNAUD de Buren était déja en haute estime l’an 1166, comme cela paraît par divers titres, et particulièrement par une transaction rapportée par Stumfius, dans la chronologie Suisse, page 306. Ses descendans se retirerent ensuite avec un grand nombre d’autres familles distinguées dans la ville de Berne, pour se mettre à couvert des vexations des comtes de Kyburg, et autres grands seigneurs de ce pays-là. Leur retraite fut suivie de divers emplois considérables qu’on leur donna, et leurs services ne contribuerent pas peu à l’accroissement de cette république.

JEAN, qui fut d’église; et CONRAD, avec Mathilde sa femme, firent de grandes libéralités pour la fondation de divers monastères du voisinage, vers l’an 1200.

NICOLAS & JACOB frères, avec Berte leur mère, se distinguerent aussi en oeuvres pies, pour les mêmes sujets, l’an 1274 et 1276. OTTON et Isabelle de Coudrefin fa femme continuerent aussi à faire des donations considérables à divers couvents, en terres et en fiefs, dont quelques aliénations furent autorisées par Isabelle, comtesse de Kyburg, en 1307.

PIERRE et RODOLPHE, frères et fils d’Otton, l'un consacré à l’église, l’autre du grand conseil souverain de la république de Berne, contribuèrent libéralement pour la fondation du monastère des dominicains de cette ville en 1326: leurs noms et armes y subsistent encore. JEAN, fils de Rodolphe, sénateur de la république en 1345, et seigneur de Morisried, près du lac de Brientz, qu’il acheta de Jean de Riggenberg, chevalier en 1356, eut pour fils JEAN, aussi seigneur de Morisried et de la baronie de Signau, qu'il acquit pour onze cens florins d’or en 1399. Il était aussi sénateur de la république, à laquelle il rendit des services importants. Ses descendants pendant dix générations, ont toujours été dans les premières charges de l’état.

On trouve dans cette famille vingt-deux sénateurs, et bannerets, qui en temps de guerre et de paix ont rendu des services considérables à la république, de même qu’à plusieurs rois et princes étrangers.

Ils ont aussi donné à l’église diverses personnes, qui y ont occupé des rangs considérables. LOUIS de Buren servait en qualité de capitaine dans les deux célèbres batailies de Morat et de Nancy, où Charles le Hardi, duc de Bourgogne, fut défait en 1476 et 1477. Il fut par ordre des Cantons, commandant du comté de Bade. Louis XII, roi de France, l’appella à son service, et lui donna, avec une compagnie Suisse, des emplois considérables dans son armée, pour la conquête du Milanais en 1499 et 1500. Il fut du grand conseil, sénateur et bailli du comté de Thoune.

NICOLAS, fut prieur de Cerlier, près de Neuchâtel. Agnès, abbesse de Gnadenthal ou Val-de-Grace dans l’Argovie, fut pour sa vie exemplaire béatifiée en 1405. ELISABETH, abbesse de l’isle de Saint-Michel à Berne en 1503.

DAVID, seigneur de Seftigen, et baron de Vaumarcus, dans le comté de Neuchâtel, qu'il hérita de Marguerite de Bonstetten son épouse, porta les armes dans sa jeunesse sous Frédéric-Henri, prince d’Orange, et dans l’empire, où il acquit de l’honneur. Il fut bailli de Lausanne et Romainmôtier en 1640 et 1650, puis sénateur et banneret de la république de Berne. En reconnoissance de ses services et de ceux de ses prédécesseurs, l’empereur lui conféra la dignité de baron dé l’empire, pour lui et tous ses descendants; et les lettres en furent enregistrées dans la matricule de l’empire.

JEAN-CHARLES, son fils, qui vivait encore vers la fin du siécle passé, baron de Vaumarcus , premier vassal et grand véneur des comtés souverains de Neuchâtel et Vallangin, a été bailli à Nyon, dans le pays de Vaud, près de Genève, sénateur et banneret depuis 1682. * Mém. manuscrits.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Jeu de Paume

Jean de Büren was the first son of Jean de Büren (1567-1622) and Barbara de Wyttenbach (1585-1652). He was born in 1610 and would start his Swiss military career in the service of France. While in France he participated in a jeu de paume, the forerunner of tennis which was all the rage at the time. He exerted himself so much in one particular match that afterwards he fell gravely ill. He was so ill in fact that he returned to Switzerland and to his mother's side at the Château of Aigle, where he would die in 1631.

Jeu de Paume, Paris, 1630

Château d'Aigle

The future of the family would rest on the shoulders of his younger brother David, who was the last surviving family heir. After the death of his brother, David would cut short his military service in Holland and return to Switzerland. David would survive to adulthood and start a new era of influence and wealth that would endure for many generations. A fateful game of tennis changed the de Büren family fortunes forever.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Jean de Büren 1567-1622

Jean was the first son of Jean de Büren (1544-1594) and Barbara Koch (1550-1577). He was said to have been a gifted magistrate and was a very religious and pious man. He became a member of the Grand Council of Bern in 1591, would later become a Senator and was appointed as Governor of the Abbey of Königsfelden in 1608.

For many generations the de Büren almost died out, and that was almost the case with Jean. He would not live long enough to see his last son David start a new era in the family, one of greater prominence, wealth and vigor.

Personal Stained Glass

Barbara de Wyttenbach, Jean's third wife

Véronique de Büren (b. 1590), first daughter of Jean


Marriages:
In 1588 he married Ursule de Wurstemberger (1572-1596), daughter of Sulpice de Wurstemberger, Magistrate of Morges and Christine de Fellenberg.

In 1697 he married Susanne Wyss (1580-1604), daughter of Samuel Wyss and Catherine Huber.

In 1605 he married Barbara de Wyttenbach (1585-1652), daughter of Nicolas de Wyttenbach and Salomé Thormann.


From his first wife he had 4 children:

1. Véronique (1590) ∞ 1. Samuel Archer 2. Jacques de Tscharner
2. Ursula (1592-1593)
3. Barbara (1594-1595)
4. Crishona (1595-1596)


From his second wife he had 4 children:

5. Susanne (1598-1616) ∞ Jacques Kohler
6. Catherine (1600) ∞ Pierre Tschiffeli
7. Barbara (1601-1670) ∞ 1. Jacques Koch 2. Nicolas Daxelhofer
8. Jean (1604-1606)


From his third wife he had 4 children:

9. Salomé (1606-1622)
10. Marguerite (1608-1641) ∞ Martin Fels
11. Jean (1610-1631)
12. David (1614-1659) ∞ Marguerite de Bonstetten

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Family Swords

These three swords, part of a larger family set have always caught my eye and wanted to profile them here.

The first is an English pattern light calvary sword sword made from 1796-1821. To quote an article from Classic Arms & Militaria.

"The 1796 pattern light cavalry sword is perhaps the best known of all British swords, an extremely elegant yet formidable weapon whose service life from 1796 until 1821 spanned all of the Napoleonic wars and, in particular, the Peninsular and Waterloo campaigns where the British cavalry was employed to its greatest effect."

Hilt detail

Rotton (sp.) & Son Cutlers, 25 Sackville Street, Piccadilly


The second sword was made by J. Guillaume Eickhorn in Solingen, Germany and is a cavalry sword with the words "Sans Peur et Sans Reproche" on the blade.

Hilt detail

Blade detail


The third sword is a much older two-handed broadsword. I assume it is Swiss, but I am unsure of its provenance or date.

Hilt detail

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Jeanne Henriette de Büren 1861-1944

Jeanne was the first daughter of Henri de Büren (1825-1909) and Natalie de Freudenreich (1835-1900). Like her sister Henriette and brother Albert Gustave she was deaf from birth. While not much is know about her life, what still endures is her beautiful artwork. Like her father and many of her ancestors she had a great gift for art.


Jeanne Henriette de Büren (1861-1944)


Jeanne (far right) with her sisters, Amelie and Alice.


Château de Moilans (Savoie), 1876


Château de Miolans detail


Chalet


Chalet detail


Lakeside, 1883


Lakeside detail

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Berner Münster

The cathedral of Bern was for many of my ancestors the center of religious and civic life. Louis de Büren's tomb is within the cathedral as are many visual refrenences to the de Büren family. When I was in Bern last, I arrived too late in the morning and was only able to spend a couple minutes in the cathedral before it was closed for the lunch hour.

Thankfully I came across many beautiful photos from the Berner Münster on flickr by Christoph Hurni, which I have included below.

Berner Münster as seen from the Aare river.

Inside of the Cathedral.

Window commemorating the marriage of Ernst de Büren (1858-1928) and Ida de Bondeli.

Large window with de Büren crest at the center.

Window with various guild arms.

Detail of the Butcher's Guild arms, in which the de Büren family has participated for almost 700 years.


Arms of other Bernese families that allied themselves with the de Büren family.

de Mülinen

de Wattenwyl

de Freudenreich

de Fischer

de Tavel

de Diesbach

de Bonstetten

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Louis de Büren 1453-1526

Louis was the second son of Pierre de Büren (1425-1458) and Christine de Seftigen (1416-?). He was a figure of incomparable energy and drive.

As a young man he fought at the battles of Morat in 1476 and Nancy in 1477 against the Burgundian army of Charles the Bold. In both battles he distinguished himself by his valor and bravery. He is mentioned in Diebold Schilling's Grosse Burgunderchronik, which covers the history of Bern and Burgundian Wars. An allegorical stained glass window chronicling his feats hangs in the Church of Wimmis to this day.

He was later Magistrate of Wimmis, Burgdorf and Thun as well a Bernese Senator. He was a devoted friend of France, and in 1500 left his official duties to fight for French King Louis XII in his war against Milan and Naples. For this act he was officially rebuked, stripped of his duties and fined. He would later return to favor in the eyes of Bern.

Louis would not have any children and would give his fortune to his nephews, whom he adopted. He would die in 1526 and be buried in the Cathedral of Bern, where he rests still.

Battle of Morat (Murten), 1476

Battle of Nancy, 1477

de Büren crest on Louis' tomb in the Cathedral of Bern.

de Büren crest is at center in the floor at the altar.


Marriage:
In his first marriage, he would marry Marie Segesser de Brauneck, from a noble Aarau family.

In his second marriage he would marry Adèle Fries, daughter of Henri Fries of Fribourg and Nicola Techtermann.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Château de Denens

On my recent trip back to Switzerland, I paid an all to brief visit to my Cousin Pierre de Büren at the Château de Denens, near Morges. The Château of Denens has been in the family since 1796 when it was acquired by marriage with the de Tavel family and Pierre's children represent the 7th generation of de Büren's living at Denens. I remember vividly as a boy visiting Pierre's grandmother Marie Dorette, and getting lost within the house.

Château of Denens with vineyards in foreground.

Watercolor of Denens by Albert de Büren, Baron de Vaumarcus.

Sepia of Denens by Albert de Büren, Baron de Vaumarcus, circa 1830s.

Sepia of Denens by Albert de Büren, Baron de Vaumarcus, circa 1830s.

Denens is an active winery with many varietals, the Chasselas is still my favorite.

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