Marriage of Stephan Cabos and Maria Justine Siercken (1772)¶
"Stephan Cabos Soldat von H Major v Arnim C. mit Frau Justine Maria Siercken aus Templin"
He emigrated from France and married Maria Justine Siercken on July 16, 1772 in Stettin. She was born on January 28, 1754 in Templin near Berlin as the daughter of a town musician.
Document Information¶
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Document Type | Church register entry (marriage) |
| Date | July 16, 1772 |
| Location | Stettin, Prussia (today Szczecin, Poland) |
| Groom | Stephan Cabos (soldier in Infantry Regiment No. 8) |
| Bride | Maria Justine Siercken |
| Bride's Date of Birth | January 28, 1754 |
| Bride's Origin | Templin near Berlin |
| Bride's Father's Occupation | Town musician |
Transcription¶
[Insert transcription of original entry here]
Description¶
On July 16, 1772, Etienne Cabos - now under the Germanized name Stephan Cabos - married Maria Justine Siercken in Stettin. The bride was only 18 years old and came from Templin near Berlin, where her father worked as a town musician.
The Groom¶
At this time, Etienne/Stephan was already a soldier in Infantry Regiment No. 8 (von Hacke), a traditional regiment stationed in Stettin. The exact circumstances of his emigration from France and his entry into the Prussian army remain shrouded in the mists of history.
The Bride¶
Maria Justine Siercken came from a musical family. Her father was a town musician in Templin - a respectable profession in the 18th century. Town musicians were responsible for providing music at official occasions.
Prussia as a Refuge¶
The Edict of Potsdam (1685) had granted French Protestants refuge and special privileges in Brandenburg-Prussia. Approximately 18,000-20,000 Huguenots found a new home here. French became the language of the educated elite, and the Reformed confession connected the Huguenots with the ruling house.
Significance for Family History¶
This entry documents:
- The beginning of Etienne's "German" life under the name Stephan
- His service as a soldier in Prussia
- His marriage to Maria Justine Siercken
- The family's location in Stettin