Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Life at the Castle

Albert Gustave de Büren, the first son of Henri de Büren was born deaf. It appears that he was home-schooled, or in this case castle-schooled and kept a regular journal from 1870-72, roughly between the ages of 8-11. The pages are filled with wonderful observations and insights, as well as details that most adults would likely omit. It is a true gem and a wonderful window into what life was like at Vaumarcus during this time period.


Albert Gustave's Journal

I have translated a couple of sections below.

August 26, 1870
“This week the weather was cooler, the sun was almost always behind the clouds. We can’t go swimming anymore, the water is too cold now. Fall is fast approaching, the swallows will leave soon for warmer lands. We are picking pears now. Grandfather and father sell a great many. We also dry a portion in the oven that we will eat in the winter.”

September 17, 1870
“Many children in Sauges have scarlet fever, a very dangerous illness. They suffer terribly. Aunt Elisa goes and gives them herbal remedies. We have searched around for some toys and and games to send these poor children. We are also taking the same remedies, to keep up from getting sick, Lord willing.”

February 20, 1871
“We were very happy to find small flowers in the fields today announcing the start of Spring. Yesterday we saw butterflies who had left their chrysalis and flew happily on the breeze. As the weather warms, more inscects and flowers show themselves, God is bringing them back to life.”

March 20, 1871
“The last couple of days we have see a great many French because the war is finished. They are very happy to be returning home. The sick and wounded will stay in Switzerland unti they are well.”

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Albert de Büren 1719-1798

Albert was the fifth son of Philippe Albert de Büren (1679-1756) and Elisabeth de Diesbach (1681-1724). He was also the brother of Salomé de Büren mentioned in an earlier post. In 1736 he entered the Swiss Guards in the service of Austria. In 1737 he would enter into the service of Piedmont in his uncle de Diesbach's Regiment. He fought with distinction at the battle of Campo Santo in 1743 and the battle of Madonna dell'Olmo where he was wounded. In 1761 he became a Major, a Lieutenant Colonel in 1765 and Regimental Commander in 1776. He would leave military service in 1781. He would become member of the Bern Grand Council in 1755 and after leaving the service in 1781 Governor of Königsfelden.

Biography of Albert and the de Büren family history from Histoire Abrégée des Officiers Suisses, by L'Abbé François Girard, 1781.

"Albert de Büren, Brigadier au service de sa Majesté Sarde, Colonel commandant du régiment de Tscharner, et Membre du Grand Conseil de Berne, naquit en 1719. La maison de Büren est une des plus anciennes de la ville de Berne, et tire selon toutes les apparences son origine d’un des endroits de ce nom dans l’Argovie. Quelques uns descendre de la famille du même nom, dont Cunon & Lüthold sont signés dans un instrument de 1130; autre Cunon, Arnold et Lüthold ont fait des donations considérables à l’abbaye de Muri en 1166. D’autres s’en rapportent simplement à des documens bien plus certain, et la font remonter à Jean et Conrad, qui furent bienfaiteurs du couvent de Fraubrunnen dans le treizième siécle. Otton fit aussi quelques dons à l’abbaye de Frienisberg en 1307, et Rodolphe son fils ayant été admis dans le Conseil de Berne en 1346, en fit de même aux Dominicains de cette ville. Son arrière-petit-fils Pierre, Seigneur de Münsingen, Baillif de Trachselwald, est auteur des branches existantes aujourd’hui, dont les alliances sont très-considérables, comme avec les Hürnberg, Seftingen, Bonstetten, Wattenwyl, Erlach, Stürler, et autres; et qui ont possedé en divers temps les seigueuries de Mœrisried, Münsingen, Gleresse, Signau, Seftingen, Vauxmarcus: ces deux dernières sont encore dans la famille. En outre elle a produit quantité de magistrats distingués, des consièillers, baillis, et bannerets. Albert entra dans sa jeunesse au service de Savoie comme officier dans le régiment Bernois de Roguin, et après avoir passé par différents grades, il obtint une compagnie le 1 Août, fut nommé du grand conseil de Berne à la promotion de 1755, et Lieutenantcolonel du régiment de Tscharner en 1765, colonel commandant et brigadier le 17 Juin 1776, & en fait les fonctions avec beaucoup de réputation."

Also from Les généraux bernois By Johann Rudolf von Steiger

"Né le 12 octobre 1719 il fut d'abord officier du régiment suisse de Schmid au service d'Autriche. Comme capitaine du régiment bernois de Diesbach au service de Sardaigne, il fit les campagnes de 1742-1748 et reçut un coup de feu à la tête au siège de Valence en 1746. Colonel commandant ce corps devenu brigade bernoise de Tscharner en 1774, il passait brigadier deux ans plus tard et se retirait en 1781 pour prendre le gouvernement de Königsfelden. Il est mort le 15 janvier 1798 à Berne, âgé de 78 ans et en état d'enfance. Il n a pas eu d'enfants de Marie Zehender, veuve de David Thormann."

Albert de Büren 1719-1798, painted in 1780.


Marriage:
In 1780 he would marry Marie Zehender (1738-1796) daughter of Samuel Zehender and Rosina Hüni and widow of David Thormann. They would not have any children.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Menu from Geneva

What I love about exploring my family history are finding little gems along the way. Frequently they are more substaintial finds, like a painting or an artefact, but sometimes they are small items that catch my attention. Today, I found one of those small things. It is a menu card with a hand written lunch selection from June 29, 1932. It is certainly from Geneva. Was it from a local restaurant, a private club? Most importantly, why was it kept? Did this lunch have a special significance for one of my ancestors? I will never know.

What I can be certain of is as a designer and foodie, I love it.

The menu reads:

Lunch
Potage Parmantier (Potato & Leek Soup)
Langue de Boeuf garnie sauce Mâdère (Beef Tongue with Madeira Sauce)
Cornets au beurre (Butter Horns)
Salade (Salad)
Glace Vanille aux Cerises (Vanilla Ice Cream with Cherries)
Patisserie (Pastries)

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Wordless Wednesday – Holding Sons

The following two photos are of my grandfather, Henri de Büren holding my father as a baby and my older brother as a baby. I like them both very much and wanted to share.

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