Death Certificate Maria Justine Cabos (1810)¶
"Num 90 — Frau Maria Justine Cabos geborene Siercke, des Kaufmanns Seel. Cabos hinterlaßene ... aber separirte gew.... Frau — actatis circa 56 Jahr. — hinterl. 1 major: Tochter und 3 Söhne davon 2 major: sind, und 1 Sohn von dem man seit 20 Jahren nichts weiß, starb den 10. September abends 9 Uhr an der Ruhr öffentlich mit Geläute beerdigt den 13. ....."
No. 90 — Frau Maria Justine Cabos, née Siercke, the deceased merchant Cabos's surviving but separated wife — age circa 56 years — leaves behind 1 adult daughter and 3 sons, of whom 2 are adults, and 1 son who has not been heard from in 20 years. Died on September 10th at 9 o'clock in the evening of dysentery. Publicly buried with bells on the 13th. ...
Document Information¶
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Document Type | Church register entry (death) |
| Source | Church register of Luisenkirche, Charlottenburg |
| Entry Number | 90 |
| Name | Maria Justine Cabos, née Siercke |
| Date of Death | September 10, 1810, 9:00 PM |
| Cause of Death | Ruhr (Dysentery) |
| Age | circa 56 years |
| Burial Date | September 13, 1810 |
| Type of Burial | Public with bells |
Description¶
Two years after the death of her husband Etienne, Maria Justine Cabos died on September 10, 1810 at nine o'clock in the evening from dysentery (Ruhr). She was buried on September 13th "publicly with bells" - an honorable burial.
"Separirte" - A Broken Marriage¶
The church register entry contains a remarkable detail: Maria Justine is described as "separirte" - living separately. Although Etienne had already died in 1808, the clerk used this designation, which indicates that the couple had already been living apart before Etienne's death.
This also explains why Etienne died in the hospital in 1808 and not at home with his family.
The Surviving Children¶
The entry provides a poignant insight into the fate of the family:
| Child | Status 1810 |
|---|---|
| 1 Daughter (Elisabeth) | Adult, married to city surgeon Pohle |
| 2 Sons | Adults |
| 1 Son | Missing for 20 years |
The missing son - probably one of the older sons from the Stettin period - had disappeared around 1790, during the Rotterdam years. What became of him remains a mystery in the family history.
The Luisenkirche in Charlottenburg¶
The Luisenkirche, named after Queen Luise of Prussia, was the Protestant parish church of Charlottenburg. In 1807, the wedding of their daughter Elisabeth to city surgeon Pohle was also celebrated here.
Significance for Family History¶
This entry documents:
- The date and cause of death of Maria Justine
- The separation of the couple before Etienne's death
- The number and status of the surviving children
- The mystery of the missing son
- The connection to the Luisenkirche in Charlottenburg
Maria Justine Siercken - A Life¶
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1754 | Born January 28 in Templin (father: town musician) |
| 1772 | Marriage to Stephan (Etienne) Cabos in Stettin |
| 1772-1785 | Nine children born (in Stettin and Rotterdam) |
| 1782, 1784 | Loss of two children in Rotterdam |
| 1792 | Move to Berlin |
| ca. 1790 | Disappearance of a son |
| before 1808 | Separation from Etienne |
| 1808 | Death of husband |
| 1810 | Death from dysentery, 56 years old |