Stephan² Clasen (Jacob¹) was born before 1734 at Arbach, Province of the Rhineland, West Germany, the son of Jacob and Catharina (__________) Clasen.

He died 29 December 1793, age approximately 59, probably at Arbach and is probably buried in the cemetery of St. Remigius Catholic Church at Retterath, a small community about a mile and a half southwest of Arbach.

He married Catharina Push 29 April 1755 at St. Remigius Catholic Church. Reverend _________________ presided. Witnesses were _______________ and ________________. The marriage is recorded in the marriage register of the church.

Catharina Pusch was born 7 July 1735 at Arbach, the daughter of Stephan and Maria (Gundert) Pusch. She died after 11 February 1794, age __, probably at Arbach. She is probably buried in the cemetery of St. Remigius Catholic Church.

The earliest baptismal register of St. Remigius Catholic Church, which is still in existence, begins in 1734. Since Stephan Clasen's birth and baptism are not recorded after that date; we assume he was born prior to 1734. His death is recorded in the records of that church for 1793, as follows:

The honorable man, Stephanus Clasen, Synodalis (presbyter) of Arbach, with the last sacraments of the church previously administered, died the 29th of December."

See Kirchenbuch Retterath, Abt. 560/124, no. 2, p. 197, now preserved in the Bistumsarchiv (diocesan archive) at Trier. Retterath is in the Archdiocese of Trier.

Catharina Pusch's birth and baptism are recorded in the baptismal register of St. Remigius Catholic Church for 1735, as follows:

"Stephano Pusch and Maria, married couple of Arbach, had a daughter born on the 7th of July, and baptized Catharina on the same day. Sponsors: Jo(hann)e(s) Schneider, and Catharina, of Elz.

See Kirchenbuch Retterath, Abt. 560/124, No. 1, p 10.

There is a gap in the death register of St. Remigius Catholic Church from 1798 to 1834 and since her death is not recorded prior to 1798, she probably died after 1797. She was living on 11 February 1794, when her son Peter Clasen married Margaretha Einig.

The marriage of Stephan Clasen and Catharina Pusch is recorded in the marriage register of St. Remigius Catholic Church for 1755, as follows:

The honorable adolescent Stephanus Clasen, the legitimate son of the honorable Jacobi Clasen, and of Catharina, of pious memory, married couple, of Arbach, and the honorable virgin, Catharina Pusch, the first legitimate daughter of the honorable Bernardi Pusch, and of Barbara (sic., their names were Stephan and Maria), of pious memory, of Retterath, after the banns had been published three times, and no impediment was detected, were joined by the sacrament of matrimony, in the presence of the honorable men Joannes Nicolas Werhahn of Retterath, and Petro Diederich of Arbach as witnesses, in front of the church community, on the 29th day of April, 1755.

See Kirchenbuch Retterath, Abt. 560/124, no. 1, p. 437.

According to the 1772 baptism record of his son, Matthias, Stephan Clasen was a "scabino." Roughly translated, this means "judge", and it was probably a church office rather than a civil office. Stephan Clasen was probably a farmer like most of the other inhabitants of this region during this period. According to the church record, he was a "Synodalis" in 1765, when his son, Peter, was baptized and at the time of his death. Roughly translated, this means "presbyter," another lay office in the local church.

Stephan and Cathrina (Pusch) Clasen had at least seven children whose names are recorded in the baptismal register of St. Remigius Catholic Church:


i. Bernard Clasen

B. 29 January 1756 at Arbach, province of the Rhineland, West Germany. He was baptized at St. Remigius Catholic Church 30 January 1756 at Retterath. His sponsors were the honorable man, Bernardo Pusch of Retterath, and the chaste girl, Maria Margretha Clasen of Arbach. See the baptism records of the church.

M. ___ _______ ____ - _________ _______ at ____________ Roman Catholic Church at _____________, __________________. Reverend _______________ presided. The witnesses were ___________________ and ________________. See the marriage records of the church.

She was born _______________ at _____________, _______________, the daughter of ___________ and _________ (__________) ________________. See ___________ birth records. She died _____________, age __, at _____________, __________ and is buried in ___________________ Cemetery at __________________. See ___________ death records.

D. ______________, age __, at _______________, ________________ and is buried in ____________________ Cemetery at ___________________. See ______________ death records.


ii. Maria Margretha Clasen

B. 14 April 1758 at Arbach, Province of the Rhineland, West Germany. She was baptized at St. Remigius Catholic Church at Retterath the day she was born. Her sponsors were Maria Margretha Clasen and Matthias Pusch, both of Arbach. See the baptism records of the church. Her birth is recorded in ______ records.

M. ___ _______ ____ - _________ _______ at ____________ Roman Catholic Church at _____________, __________________. Reverend _______________ presided. The witnesses were ___________________ and ________________. See the marriage records of the church.

He was born _______________ at _____________, _______________, the son of ___________ and _________ (__________) ________________. See ___________ birth records. He died _____________, age __, at _____________, __________ and is buried in ___________________ Cemetery at __________________. See ___________ death records.

D. ______________, age __, at _______________, ________________ and is buried in ____________________ Cemetery at ___________________. See ______________ death records.


iii. Matthias Clasen

B. 13 November 1760 at Arbach, Province of the Rhineland, West Germany. He was baptized 14 November 1760 at St. Remigius Catholic Church at Retterath. His sponsors were Matthias Kraemer of Arbach and the honorable woman Susanna, wife of Petri Kraemer of Salcherath. See the baptism records of the church. His birth is recorded in _______ records.

M. No.

D. Before 1772, age __, of _____________, at, probably Arbach, Providence of the Rhineland, West Germany and is buried in ____________ Cemetery at _____________. See ______________ death records.


iv. Oswald Clasen

B. 26 April 1762 at Arbach, province of the Rhineland, West Germany. He was baptized 27 April 1762 at St. Remigius Catholic Church at Retterath. His sponsors were the honorable man, Oswaldo Wagner, and the honorable virgin, Maria Diederich, both of Arbach. See the baptism records of the church. His birth is recorded in _______ records.

M. ___ _______ ____ - _________ _______ at ____________ Roman Catholic Church at _____________, __________________. Reverend _______________ presided. The witnesses were ___________________ and ________________. See the marriage records of the church.

She was born _______________ at _____________, _______________, the daughter of ___________ and _________ (__________) ________________. See ___________ birth records. She died _____________, age __, at _____________, __________ and is buried in ___________________ Cemetery at __________________. See ___________ death records.

D. ______________, age __, at _______________, ________________ and is buried in ____________________ Cemetery at ___________________. See ______________ death records.


v. Peter Clasen

B. 9 November 1765 at Arbach, Province of the Rhineland, West Germany. His birth is recorded in _______ records.

M. 11 February 1794 - Margaretha Einig at St. Remigius Roman Catholic Church at Retterath, Province of the Rhineland. Reverend _____________ presided. The witnesses were _________________ and _________________. See the marriage records of the church.

She was born _______________ at _____________, ________________, the daughter of ________ and _________ (_______) Einig. See __________ birth records. She died _________________, at _________________ and is buried in ______________ Cemetery at __________. See ___________ death records.

D. __ ________ 18__, age ___, probably at Arbach, and is probably buried in the cemetery of St. Remigius Catholic church at Retterath. See ____________ death records.


vi. Gertrude Clasen

B. 10 March 1769 at Arbach, Province of the Rhineland, West Germany. She was baptized the day she was born at St. Remigius Catholic Church at Retterath. Her sponsors were Stephano Jax of Arbach and Gertrude Mandt of Retterath. See the baptism records of the church.

M. ___ _______ ____ - _________ _______ at ____________ Roman Catholic Church at _____________, __________________. Reverend _______________ presided. The witnesses were ___________________ and ________________. See the marriage records of the church.

He was born _______________ at _____________, _______________, the son of ___________ and _________ (__________) ________________. See ___________ birth records. He died _____________, age __, at _____________, __________ and is buried in ___________________ Cemetery at __________________. See ___________ death records.

D. ______________, age __, at _______________, ________________ and is buried in ____________________ Cemetery at ___________________. See ______________ death records.


vii. Matthias Clasen

B. 1 April 1772 at Arbach, Province of the Rhineland, West Germany. He was baptized the day he was born at St. Remigius Catholic Church at Retterath. His sponsors were Matthias Kraemer of Arbach and Susanna Draemer of Retterath. See the baptism records of the church. His birth is recorded in _______ records.

M. ___ _______ ____ - _________ _______ at ____________ Roman Catholic Church at _____________, __________________. Reverend _______________ presided. The witnesses were ___________________ and ________________. See the marriage records of the church.

She was born _______________ at _____________, _______________, the daughter of ___________ and _________ (__________) ________________. See ___________ birth records. She died _____________, age __, at _____________, __________ and is buried in ___________________ Cemetery at __________________. See ___________ death records.

D. ______________, age __, at _______________, ________________ and is buried in ____________________ Cemetery at ___________________. See ______________ death records.