Niclaus Sitter

   General Notes:

Emigrated from France...Havre de Grace (port of exit) to New York City...to Ontario..to Rainham Tw.

Nicholas fought in the great war in France under the Emperor Napoleon. They were born in Alsace- Lorraine, France. All sailed to New York in 1836 (it took 90 days ), then up to Rainham County to Fisherville. There they cleared the land, taking up 100 acres of land and built a log cabin.(Near the now Bretzler Cemetary). They are now resting in the Bretzler Cemetary. Their stones have been broken......Barbara Scott, Dec. 1995

Alsace, a province located on the northeastern tip of France bordering Germany, is an area rich in fertile soil, and has been disputed over between France and Germany for many years. The territory was part of France from 1684 until 1871, when it was taken over by Germany. Alsace was restored to France after World War II.

Records indicate that the Sitters came from Zillingen, Lorraine France. Zillingen is the German name for the town known as Zilling, which is in the Department de la Moselle, France (in Lorraine). It is in the arrondissement of Sarrebourg and canton of Phalsbourg about 11 km northeast of Sarrebourg and about 1 km northwest of Phalsbourg.

Niclaus Sitter is buried at the Bretzler Cemetery, near present day Fisherville, ON. Stone resting under tree at back of cemetary (cemetary abandoned and run down).

The following is from a pamplet compiled by J.H. Beers & Co., Toronto, in 1905...........Commemorative biographical record of prominent Citizens of Lambton County......George Sitter....(I have broken it down to the individual person from this pamplet)


Nicholas Sitter, was a native of the above province, (Alsace) and there grew to manhood, following the peacefull persuit of farming. He had fought under the great Emperor Napoleon during the great general's wonderful career. In France Mr. Sitter married Barbara Philips, and they became the parents of eight children : Nicholas, Catherine, Peter, Jacob, Valentine, Barbara, Christina, and Caroline. At that time in France it was customary for all boys, when they reached the age of 18 years, to begin training to enter the army, and as the sons of Mr. Sitter had no desire to enter the army, they influenced their father to dispose of his holdings and sail for America. This he did in 1836, making the trip from Havre de Grace to New York, whence the little band of home seekers made their way to Ontario, locating in Haldimand Co. They were among the earliest settlers of Rainham Township, and there they settled down to pioneer life. The country was new at this time: wolves, bears, deer, and other wild animals roamed the forests; there were no schools or churches, and no roads to guide, except the trail of the Indians. In fact there were no traces of civilization whatever. it was in such a country that the little band settled, taking up 100 acres of land, and here, after erecting a log cabin, started to clear a home from the forest. After years of hard work this was accomplished, new buildings were erected, and Mr. Sitter before his death in 1844, saw the farm in a fairly cleared condition. His wife died in 1883, and she was buried in Rainham Cemetary (Trinity Lutheran Cemetary). They were members of the Lutheran Church.

Facts about this person:

Fact 1
died 47 yrs, 3 months, 4 days


Burial
Bretzler cemetery (near Fisherville, ON)

   Events:

� Fact 1: See Note Page.

Niclaus married Barbara Phillips, daughter of Pierre Phillips and Catharina Barbara Heilmann, on 30 Dec 1818 in Zillingen, Lorraine, France. (Barbara Phillips was born on 26 Jul 1795 in Zillingen, Lorraine, France and died on 5 Jun 1883 in Rainham Township, Halimand Co., Ontario, Canada.)

   Marriage Notes:

Facts about this marriage:

Alt. Marriage 1818
Zillingen, Lorraine France

Source: Setter1.FTW
Medium: Other
Date of Import: Mar 22, 2000

Source: Setter5.FTW
Medium: Other
Date of Import: May 17, 2000