Johann Michel (Zeringer) Zeringue (abt. 1684 - 1738)

Born about 1684 in France [uncertain]

Husband of Anna Maria Moler — married about 1705 in Basel, Switzerland

Husband of Ursule Spat — married 10 May 1711 in Huningue, Haut-Rhin, France

Husband of Marie Barbara Haertel — married 26 Dec 1726 in New Orleans, Louisiana, New France

Descendants

Died 4 Sep 1738 at about age 54 in New Orleans, Louisiane, Nouvelle-France

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Biography

Johann Michel "Hans" Zeringue , originally ZERINGER, master carpenter of construction of the predecessor of the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, was born about 1687 in France or Switzerland. His parents have not been identified, nor his exact place of origin; however, records for the birth of some of his children were found in Village Neuf, Haut-Rhin, France. There are discrepancies in the records regarding his place of origin:

1. Although Hanno Deiler stated that Michel Zeringue was from Franconia, Bavaria, Albert Robichaux believes a line was skipped in the transcription of Deiler's original notes, and that Franconia, Bavaria, was the place of origin of Zeringue's third wife.
2. A later volume published by Marcel Giraud identified Huningue as the place from where Michel Zeringue left France for Louisiana: Michel Seringue, master carpenter of the fortifications of Uningue (Huningue).
3. Robichaux examined microfilmed records of the registers of St. Louis of Huningue and those of neighboring parishes of St. Nicolas of Village Neuf in July 1992, in the Family History Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Salt Lake City. He notes there are gaps in the records for certain years. He found records for several members of the family named Ziring but was unable to connect any of them to Michel. No records for Michel between 1712 and 1720 were found.

Michel married twice in Europe (and a third time in Louisiana):

(1) Anna Maria MOHLER(IN), native of Basel in Switzerland; married about 1705 probably in Basel, Switzerland. A record exists for the burial of Anna Maria on March 2, 1711: Anna Maria Moler(in), native of Basel, wife of Michel Serin, carpenter in Huningue, was buried.

Children of the marriage:

1. Anna Maria ZERINGUE OR ZEHRINGER c: 13 Jan 1706 in Huningue, Haut- Rhin, France
2. Maria Salome ZERINGUE c: 29 Jun 1707 in Huningue, Haut- Rhin, France; died 28 Sept 1726, New Orleans.

Marriage (2) Ursula SPATEN b: ABT 1689 in Pejuille, Switzerland; Married: 10 May 1712 in Huningue, Haut-Rhin, France.

Children of the marriage:

1. Marguerith Zeringere was baptized on 14 March 1712 at Huningue Haut-Rhin, France. Michel signed his name: Hans Michael Zahringer.

Immigration

Albert Robichaux states that it is certain that in 1720 Michael signed a contract with the Company of the Indies to work as a carpenter in Louisiana. This contract has not been found, but colonial documents are very explicit that Michel Seringue was brought to Louisiana by Mr. Boispinel, the brother of LaBlond de La Tour.

December 14, 1720, Michel Serene, his wife and one child, arrived at Biloxi aboard La Dromadaire. The arrival date at Ship Island off New Biloxi was December 14, 1720, as recorded by La Harpe. La Harpe mentions the notable passengers of M. de La Tour, Chevalier de Saint Louis, brigadier of the engineers; M. de Boispinel and M. Franquet de Chaville, both engineers. Michael Zehringer with his wife Ursula Spaet and daughter Marie Salomee Zehringer (12 years old) arrived in Biloxi on December 14, 1720.

The first documented evidence of Michel Seringue's arrival in Louisiana is a December 9, 1721 "List of Company Workers who are Actually in Louisiana," which states that he was a master carpenter.

May 19, 1722, Michel Seringue, master carpenter, was listed as a company worker employed at New Orleans with an annual salary of 400 livres.

August 18, 1722, Proces Verbal report by Mr. de Boispenel: Michel Zeringue, a carpenter, was demolishing the house of Mr. St. Martin when he uncovered certain ironware and axes that were stolen from Mr. de Valdeterre. This activity may have been associated with the transfer of the capitol to New Orleans, as mention was made that the goods stolen were from the old fort.

February 9, 1724, Adrien de Pauger reported that work on the new church of St. Louis was unceasing. He reported that a contract with Mikael Seringue had been signed and approved by the council and that Seringue was already acquiring wood for its construction.

January 1, 1726, Michel Seringue, carpenter, his wife, and one child were residing near the new church, on Chartres Street.

September 28, 1726, his daughter, Maria Salome Zeringer, died, and on November 1, 1726, his wife Ursule Spat(en) died. Both are buried in New Orleans.

The Church of St. Louis was dedicated December 14, 1727.^[1]

Marriage (3) to Maria Barbara HAERTEL b: ABT 1705 in Europe; married 26 Dec 1726 in New Orleans.

Children of the marriage:

1. Pierre Laurant ZERINGUE b: ABT 1730 in New Orleans.
2. Marie Felicite ZERINGUE c: 12 May 1733 in St Louis Cathedral, New Orleans.
3. Jacques or Joseph Michel ZERINGUE b: ABT 1735 in New Orleans, Louisiana
4. Jean Louis ZERINGUE b: ABT 1737 in New Orleans.

Death

On the morning of September 4, 1738, the royal notary Henry visited the home of Mr. Jacques Ozenne in the city of New Orleans. There he found Michel Zeringue very ill in bed. A last will and testament was recorded, but Michel was too ill to sign the document. He died that night. It isn't clear why he was in New Orleans instead of his own home. An inventory of property described it as being 50 feet by 30 feet, 22 arpents front by the "the customary depth" (40 arpents), about 2 leagues (6 miles) above New Orleans.

Sources

1. ↑ See drawing of the original church here.

Please Note: All the information entered here, unless otherwise cited, is from the book cited below. However, the author drew from various sources which he cites such as the Sacramental Records of New Orleans; Conrad's First Families;Hanno Deiler's The Settlement of the German Coast; Giraud's Histoire de La Louisiane Francaise; Archives des Colonies, and the various records he found at the Family History Library at Salt Lake City.

• Albert J. Robichaux, Jr., German Coast Families, European Origins and Settlement in Colonial Louisiana (Rayne, LA: Hebert Publications, 1997) pp. 377-383.

See Also:

• Johan Michel ZEHRINGER at Rootsweb

• Agnes Rita Forman, Zeringue, Zerangue, Zeringue, Zyrangue and Allied Families, (Gateway Press, Inc, 1979) FHL Title Number 83706. The book contains between 1100 and 1200 names of Michel Zeringue’s descendants.