Spending Sunday with my great-grandparents

The family’s all here, my great-grandparents, a third cousin twice removed, a distant uncle, even my great-great-great grandfathers sister, yes, a sizable clan has gathered here with me – well on my computer at least. Sadly, most all of these people passed away a long time before I entered this world, but once they walked and breathed the same communal air I do, and as such I’ve recently started to piece together their worlds.

Genealogy has been a topic that’s engaged and fascinated me since I was a very young child. Growing up I always knew that I wanted to build my family tree, yet for a multitude of reasons it wasn’t until this past January that I finally put my shoulder to the wheel and dove head first in exploring the people whose lives ultimately led to my own existence.


{While not of my own relatives, this 1954 Life magazine photograph of a large family is the sort of gathering I love to imagine taking part in with the living members of my family tree one day.}


Very few people on either side of my family are all that interested in genealogy or seem to know very much about their (our) family’s history. In a way this can be frustrating for someone who is just starting out on their journey into genealogy, yet at the same time having numerous (nearly) blank slates to build upon is intriguing – and in a way almost liberating – in and of itself. It allows me to start from scratch, working off what I’ve gathered over my lifetime about my family and going backwards (or sideways, as the case may be) from there.

Genealogy is an amazing field; it’s the collective desire to ensure that the lives of our ancestors do not disintegrate with the passing of time, the dream that future generations will inherit the knowledge of who their ancestors were, and the hope that we will learn more about ourselves through the process of discovering more about our (sometimes forgotten) relatives.

History has always been an integral part of my life, an interest that has multiplied and flourished over the years, and genealogy allows me to make history an even greater part of my world, for suddenly the names, places and dates I’m learning about connect directly to my very being.

Over the course of 2010, I’ve begun to put together (generational) lines for my four grandparents (my father and mother’s parents, respectively), and to expand those branches outward, both with living relatives and those who now exist in the realm of memories.

I’ve had better luck with some lines than others, but of course realize that my journey into the past has only just begun. I earnestly plan to continue doing genealogical research for the rest of my time on earth, gathering as I do knowledge that I hope to pass along to those generations who will succeed me.

At the moment, I’m doing my research on a shoestring (re: nonexistent) budget, yet happily that hasn’t hampered my ability to do quality research too much. Thanks to the wonders of the internet and the staggering array of quality genealogical resources available (often for free) online, I’ve been able to make some tremendous strides and discoveries.

While I realize that the likelihood of any of my readers being distant relatives of mine is fairly improbable, I wanted to do something rather unorthodox (in comparison to the topics Chronically Vintage usually talks about) and list the names of some of my ancestors, on the slim chance that someone reading this now (or perhaps somebody who will one day, in the course of their own genealogical research, stumble upon this page) recognizes one or more of them and would like to chat family history with me.

Out of respect for the privacy of certain living relatives, I’m not going to name my own siblings or parents (or my parents’ siblings), but will instead begin with my grandparents and provide basic information (where known) for each person listed.

Please note, I’ve stuck with listing information in a pedigree chart style manner, that is to say I’ve (mostly) focused on my direct line of ancestors and avoided branching off, in most cases, into those peoples’ siblings and so forth, so as to try and keep this post from turning into novel sized document.


~ Some branches of Jessica Cangiano’s family tree ~

-Paternal grandfather: Lorne (last name withheld for privacy reasons), b. 1939

-Both of Lorne’s parents’ (my great-grandparent’s) names unknown. The family, which is of Russian heritage, has ties to Nelson, British Columbia and possibly the prairie provinces of Canada.


-Paternal grandmother Jean Margaret Grams (married name withheld for privacy reasons), b. circa 1941

-Jean’s parents (my great-grandparents) were:

-Father: Alfred Grams, (possibly) b. circa 1925 (in Germany, immigrated as a child to Canada) – d. (possibly) circa 1975 (possibly in Vancouver, British Columbia)

-I do not know that names of Alfred’s parents or other Grams relatives (save that for at sometime in the 19th century one of my very distant relatives was named Gottlieb Grams).

-The Grams family had ties to Nelson, British Columbia.

-Alfred may have fought (for Canada) in WW2.


-Mother: Mary Walker, d. circa 1996 in Prince George, British Columbia (birth date/year unknown).

-I do not know that names of Mary’s parents or those of any other Walker relatives.

-Mary and Alfred had three children, including my grandma; their other two children were named Ronald (Ron; who married a woman named Jeanette) and Elaine (who married a man named Robert (Bob) McCannon).

-At some point Mary and Alfred Grams divorced and Mary went back to using her maiden name, Walker. I believe that Mary did not remarry, but do not know about Alfred.

-Mary’s family was of British origin (as to whereabouts in the UK, that still remains to be discovered).


Maternal grandfather

-Alfred Schill, b. 1927 (Bessarabia, Russia), d. 1990 (Maple Ridge, British Columbia)

-Mother: Maria (her maiden name may possibly have been Mattheis), b. 1899 (likely in Bessarabia, Russia), d. 1989 in Pitt Meadows, British Columbia (buried in Maple Ridge, British Columbia).

-I do not know Maria’s parents names or have any further information about her ancestors.


-Father (my great-grandfather): Johannes Schill, b. 1896 (likely in Bessarabia, Russia), d. 1990 in Pitt Meadows, British Columbia (buried in Maple Ridge, British Columbia).

-Johannes’s father may have been named Heinrich Schill (and have lived in Bessarabia, Russia), I do not know his mother’s name or have any further information about his ancestors.

-Johannes and Maria immigrated to Canada in 1930 on a ship called the Monteclair, which deported from Hamburg, Germany and landed in Montreal. The couple had young children (including my grandpa, Arnold, who was seven years old at the time) with them and are listed in the ship’s log as being of Romanian origin. This is, technically speaking, not exactly true. You see, at the time, the part of Russia where my great-grandparents came from, called Bessarabia, was under Romania rule (this was the case between roughly 1918 and 1940). Interestingly, though Bessarabia was previously considered to be part of Russia, many people, including my g-grandparents were of German decent and had settled in that area during the 19th, enticed to leave their German homeland by certain promises that the Russian government made to those who would emigrate to, and settle in, Bessarabia), yet the family spoke German (my g-grandfather may have also spoken Italian, but I do not know why, if in fact he did) and considered themselves to be German Russians.

-After arriving in Canada, Johannes and Maria often used the (slightly anglicized) names John and Marie Schill.

-Johannes and Maria (and their kids) lived briefly in Alberta (possibly in Drumheller or Medicine Hat), before settling in the Lower Mainland Area of British Columbia (around Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows) where they ran a farm for many years

-In addition to my grandpa, Arnold, the Schill’s had the following children (listed oldest to youngest): Gustuv, Johan (John), Ella, Erna, Herbert (Herb), Frieda (possibly spelled "Freda" or "Freida"), and Hilda (note, Frieda and Herb were twins). (I have a limited amount of information, including in some cases spouses’ and childrens’ names, for some of these people. Please contact me if you think you may recognize any of these names and would like more info on them.)

-While Johannes and Maria’s first language was German, they learned English and spoke it with their children’s families, including their grandkids. Though they both passed when I was very young, I was blessed to have a chance to know them in person as a small girl. While I do not remember too much about my great-grandparents, I treasure the few memories that I do have (such as what their living room looked like and that my g-grandma always wore her long hair up in a bun) for the rest of my life.


-Maternal grandmother

-Bernice Schill, b. 1930 in Dawson City, Yukon (living)


-Mother: Marie Wilhemina Lefebvre Burkhard, b. 1896 in St. Honoré, Quebec, Canada; d. 1958 in Long Beach, California.

-Marie Lefebvre’s parents were Jean Baptiste Lefebvre, b. circa 1872 (date of death unknown), and Clara Parent.

-I do not have the names of either of these peoples’ parents or any of their further ancestors.

-Jean Baptiste and Clara were married on February 15, 1892 in St. Honoré, Quebec.

-Around the turn of the 19th century, the Lefebvre’s and their young children moved to the Yukon (they appear there in 1911 Canadian census).

-In addition to my g-grandma, Marie Wihemina, Jean Baptiste and Clara had two other daughter: Marie Anne Lefebvre (who married a man named Joachim Granger, the couple had at least one child: Alfred), and Arthemise Lefebvre (who married a man named Edward Millard Bell; I have a small amount of info on Edward Bell, including his parents’ and siblings’ names), the couple had two children: Robert Edward Bell and Marie Eveline Arthemise Bell.

-Tragically, on October 25, 1918, Arthemise, Edward and their two small children all perished when the ship the SS Princess Sophia sank off the coast of Juneau, Alaska. To make that fact even more heartbreaking, that very same date was little Marie’s first birthday.


-Maternal grandfather: Charles Frank Burkhard, b. 1874 in Omaha, Nebraska, d. 1945 in Dawson City, Yukon.

-Charles Burkhard married Marie Lefebvre on June 12, 1912 in Dawson City, Yukon.

-In addition to my grandma, Bernice Violet Jean Burkhard Schill, the Burkhards had eight other children (listed oldest to youngest): Virginia Marie Genevieve, Doris Claire Evelyn, Alice Grace Ruth, Adele Elsie Francis, Evelyn Agnes Arthemise, Vivian Doris Violet, Olive Inez Hazel, and Francis (Frank) Joseph. (I have a limited amount of information, including in some cases spouses’ and childrens’ names, for some of these people. Please contact me if you think you may recognize any of these names and would like more info on them.)


-Great-great-grandfather: Charles Burkhard’s father was Frank Simon Burkhard, b. 1850 (possibly in New York state), d. 1910 in Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska.

-Frank Burkhard married Genevieve Agnes Pischke (b. 1850 in Prussia, d. 1925 in Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska) on November 22, 1870 in Omaha, Nebraska.

-Genevieve’s parents were named Albert Pischke and Victoria (maiden name unknown). I do not have any further information about the Pischke family other than that their mother tongue may have been Polish.


-Great-great-great-grandfather: Frank Simon Burkhard’s father was John Burkhard (b. 1810 in Germany – possibly in Bundenthal or Bruchweiler, d. 1870, location unknown).

-John Burkhard married Catherine Riedel (or possibly Rudell), for whom I have no further information aside from her name. I do not know when or where John and Catherine Burkhard were married.


-Great-great-great-great-grandfather: John Burkhard’s father was Simon Burkhart (b. circa 1790 - 1799, in Bruchweiler, Germany, d. unknown date and location).

-John Burkhard married Catherine Zwick, for whom I have no further information aside from her name. I do not know when or where Simon and Catherine (Zwick) Burkhard were married.

-Important note: I do not know exactly when or with whom, but at some point around Simon’s lifetime, the family name went from being spelled “Burkhart” (with a “t” at the end) to Burkhard (with a “d” at the end). When I go further back in time than Simon (and including him, too), it appears that my ancestors spelled their surname “Burkhart”. This German last name has many spelling variations (please contact me if you’d like a list of them, I’ve been keeping one and have over 25 possibly variations of the Burkhard/Burkhart surname), another common one of which is Burkhardt (however I’ve not tied that spelling to my direct ancestors at this point).


-Great-great-great-great-great-grandfather: Simon Burkhart’s father was Johann Theobald Burkhart Jr. (b. circa 1760 or 1763 in Bundenthal or Bruchweiler, Germany, d. 1836 in Bruchweiler, Germany). (Note: this man’s name may have been “Johannes Theobald Burkhart, Jr.”, in my research I have come across it spelled both ways.)

-Johann Theobald Burkhart Jr. married Anna Maria Schreiner (b. circa 1767 in Rumbach, Germany, d. unknown date/place) in 1788 in Schönau, Germany.

-Anna Maria Schreiner Burkhart’s parents were Nicholas Schreiner and Margaretha Hirsch. I do not have birth/death dates or any further information for these people.


-Important note:, working further back in time from Johann/Johannes Theobald Burkhart Jr., I have found certain names and dates, yet provide them very tentatively. I cannot fully vouch for their accuracy and provide them simply as a guideline for other who may also be researching their Burkhard/Burkhart ancestors (please contact me directly if you’d like to know where I sourced the following names – or any other information in this article – from).


-Great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather Johann/Johannes Theobald Burkhart Jr.’s father was Johannes Theobald Burkhart Sr. (b. 1721 in Bruchweiler, Germany, d. 1785 in Bruchweiler, Germany).

- Johannes Theobald Burkhart Sr. married Maria Catherina Wachtel (b. 1728 in Bruchweiler, Germany, d. 1782 in Bruchweiler, Germany) on February 20, 1759 in Bruchweiler, Germany.

-Maria Catherina Wachtel’s parents were Johannes Georg Wachtel (b. circa 1687 in Bruchweiler, Germany, d. 1751 in Bruchweiler, Germany) and Maria Regina (maiden name unknown; born circa 1690 in Bruchweiler, Germany, d. unknown date/place).

-I have not traced the Wachtel family any further back than Johannes Georg and Maria Catherina.

-Interestingly, Johannes Theobald Burkhart Sr. was Maria Catherina’s second husband, she was first married to a man named “Johannes Siegfried Kuntz” (b. 1723 in Bruchweiler, Germany, d. circa 1759 Bruchweiler, Germany).

-Equally interesting is the fact that Johannes Theobald Burkhart Sr. was also married to someone else before he wed Maria Catherina. His first wife’s name was “Agnes Kuntz” (b. 1723 in Bruchweiler, Germany, d. circa 1759, probably in Bruchweiler, Germany).


-Great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather: Johannes Theobald Burkhart Sr.’s father was Johannes Leonhard Burkhart (b. circa 1690 in Bruchweiler, Germany, d. date/place unknown).

-Johannes Leonhard Burkhart married Maria Ottilia Pörtner (b. circa 1695 in Dahn, Germany, d. date/place unknown) on February 15, 1718 in Bruchweiler, Germany.

-Maria Ottilia Pörtner Burkhart’s parents were Sebastian Pörtner (b. circa 1659 in Dahn, Germany, d. 1752 in Dahn, Germany – just have to point out, this man lived what was an extremely long lifespan in that day and age!) and Maria Ottilia Riesbeck (b. 1672 in Dahn, Germany, d. 1752 in Dahn, Germany). Sebastian and Maria Ottilia married circa 1692 (likely in Dahn, Germany).

- Maria Ottilia Riesbeck’s parents were Wolfgang Riesbeck (b. circa 1634 in Dahn, Germany, d. 1677 in Dahn, Germany) and Anna Barbara Leiser (b. circa 1634 in Germany (possibly Dahn), d. circa 1690 in Dahn, Germany). The couple married circa 1662 in Dahn, Germany.

-I have not traced Wolfgang Riesbeck’s family further back, but Anna Barbara Leiser’s parents were Siegfried Leiser (b. circa 1608 in Dahn, Germany, d. circa 1674 in Dahn, Germany) and “unknown first name” Dauenhauer (b. circa 1612 in Dahn, Germany, d. date/place unknown). Siegfried and his wife married circa 1634 in Dahn, Germany.

-Siegfried Leiser’s father was Ludwig Leiser (b. circa 1578 in Dahn, Germany, d. circa 1635 in Dahn, Germany). I do not know Siegfried’s mother/Ludwig’s wife’s name. Ludwig Leiser is as far back as I’ve been able to trace this family line.

-Sebastian Pörtner’s father (so Maria Ottilia Pörtner Burkhart’s grandfather) was Georg Pörtner (b. circa 1634 in Dahn, Germany, d. date/place unknown). I do not know Georg’s wife’s name.

-Georg Pörtner’s father was Sebastian Pörtner (b. circa 1608 in Dahn, Germany, d. date/place unknown). I do not know Sebastian’s wife’s name. Georg Pörtner is as far back as I’ve been able to trace this family line.


-Great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather: Johannes Leonhard Burkhart’s father was Johannes Burkart (b. circa 1660 in Erfweiler, Germany, d. circa 1729 inBruchweiler, Germany).

-Johannes Burkhard married Anna Barbara Weiss (b. 1660 in Schindhard, Germany, d. 1731 in Bruchweiler, Germany). They were married in 1679 (location unknown).

-I do not have any further info at this time about Anna Barbara’s family line.


-Great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather: Johannes Burkhart’s father was Johannes Sebastian Burkhart Jr. (b. circa 1620 in Erfweiler, Germany, d. circa 1685 in Erfweiler, Germany).

-Johannes Sebastian Burkhart Jr. married a woman with the surname Wagner, whose first name I have not discovered yet (she was born circa 1628 in Erfweiler, Germany, I do not know when/where she died).

-Interestingly however, I have know that “Unknown Wagner’s” father’s was named Valentin Wagner (b. circa 1600, place unknown, d. circa 1677 in Erfweiler, Germany). I do not know Valentin’s wife (“Unknown Wagner’s mother’s) name, but she may have been born circa 1605 (that is all I have on this woman so far). Valentin Wagner and his “unknown wife” married circa 1627, place unknown.

-Valentin Wagner’s father’s name was Michael Wagner (b. circa 1560 in Dahn, Germany, d. circa 1613 in Dahn, Germany). I do not know anything about this man’s wife/Valentine’s mother.

-Michael Wagner’s father was Bernhard Wagner (b. circa 1524 in Dahn, Germany, d. circa 1580, place unknown). I do not know anything about this man’s wife/Michael’s mother.

-Bernhard Wagner’s father was Lorenz Wagner (b. circa 1496 in Dahn, Germany, d. circa 1548, place unknown). I do not know anything about this man’s wife/Bernhard’s mother.

-Lorenz Wagner is as far back as I’ve traced this family line.


-Great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather: Johannes Sebastian Burkhart Jr.’s father was Johannes Sebastian Burkhart Sr. (b. circa 1590 in Erfweiler, Germany, d. 1654 in Erfweiler, Germany).

-I do not know Johannes Sebastian Burkhart Sr.’s wife’s first or maiden last name, but it’s possible that she was born circa 1608 and that she died circa 1677 (unknown locations for both events).

-Important note: In some instances, I’ve seen Johannes Sebastian Burkhart Sr.’s first name referred to as “John” (thus he would be called John Sebastian Burkhart).

- Johannes Sebastian Burkhart Sr. is as far back as I’ve been able to trace my direct line of the Burkhart/Burkhard tree (in certain instances –especially with the Burkharts/Burhards – I have some info on various relatives’ siblings and those peoples’ spouses and descendants, if you feel that have a relative who may fit into my tree, please don’t hesitate to contact me, I may have them listed amongst my research). I’m actually a bit gobsmacked that I’ve been able to reach all the way back to the 1500s, especially when I stop and reflect on the fact that up until this past January, I did not even know the names of grandma Bernice’s parents (Charles and Marie Burkhard). I don’t know if I’ll ever have such wonderful good fortune with the other main branches of my tree, but I’m trying!


(I would just like to briefly point out that most of the information in this article should be used as a starting point and not considered to be the unquestionable truth. In many cases I have used research that’s been conducted by other people, but have sought out/am continuing to search for as many supporting/credible documents [e.g., census reports, birth and death certificates, baptism records, marriage certificates, land holding documents, wills, parish records, ship’s logs, diaries, family bibles, etc) as possible. I am the first person to admit that there could be errors in this information, and will try to update this page if I make a discovery that alters/voids something that is written here now.

Another note worth mentioning is that often when dealing with German men named “Johannes”, you will see the names Johan, Johann, and John used somewhat interchangeably (particularly by 20th and 21st descendants of such people). If you’re searching for a relative with this name, it’s always worth trying all four versions (as well as the abbreviated/shortened form of Johannes, “Hans”).

Likewise, if you happen to be researching German women (and possibly those from surrounding countries such as Prussia, Switzerland and Austria) prior to the 20th century, you may find that an overwhelming number of them had the first (or “fore”; German “vornamen”) name “Maria” (“Anna” is also another very common German female first name).

This can quickly make things trickier for you. However, on the plus side, many such women had a second/middle name (or names) as well. When this name was used in place of a person’s first name in many situations, it was (is) sometimes called a rufname (or rufnamen) in German. So instead of simply being named “Maria” you great-great-great aunt may have been called something like “Maria Eva” or “Maria Susanna”, which can sometimes make things easier for you when you’re trying to research that particular person.

So common was the prolific use of the first name Maria, that in some family trees, I’ve seen people do away with listing it at all, instead they refer to women by their second/middle/rufname name. This means that a woman named “Maria Sabrina Keller” may be listed simply as “Sabrina Keller”. I do not personally take this approach (which I’ve also seen used for men with the first name “Johannes” and a known second/middle name), but I’ve certainly encountered it in other peoples’ trees/research and understand why, for the sake of making things less confusing, it’s done.)


While a large percentage of my family tree is comprised of German ancestors, I’ve always viewed myself as a Heinz 57 of European nationalities. At this time I know that Russian, Prussian, French, and British roots are swirled into the mix. I had ancestors who first settled in the US, before their decedents made their way up to Canada, so I also feel like I have close ties with America.

Though this post delves a lot (!) further back in time than any other I’ve posted on Chronically Vintage before, I hope that you do not mind. I don’t plan on starting a blog devoted just to the topic of my family’s genealogy at this point in time, yet I wanted one concise spot online where I could place some of what I’ve learned in the past four months (coupled with the info I started out with), that was more intimate than a genealogy related forum, message board or mailing list (all of which are wonderful in their own right, don’t get me wrong).

If anyone who is reading this (at any point in time) feels that they may – even remotely – have ties to one (or more) of the name(s) in this post, please (please!) do not hesitate to contact me via email. I would truly love to hear from you!

But enough about me (or should I say “mich”) and all my ancestors! What about you, dearest readers, are you also passionate about genealogy? Is it something you hope do get into one day but haven’t approached yet? (If so, I highly recommend just jumping in with both feet and starting with whatever you know, no matter how little information that may be.) Have you been building your tree for years or even decades? What draws you to genealogy and how do you find it has enriched your life?

I wish you all the utmost of success in tracing your own ancestral paths – and hope that along the way you’re able to find out an extra large amount about those in your family tree who lived during our beloved vintage decades of the mid-twentieth century! 