Koth Marriage 1844

One of my immigrating ancestors was Pauline Koth (pow-LEEN-a COTE), wife of Gottfried Arndt. She was born in Józefina, Turek Province to Anna Krystyna Semmler and Daniel Koth. See the baptism record here.

What is known about Pauline’s parents?

Children of Daniel and Krystyna Semmler Koth

According to church records, 6 children were born to Daniel Koth and Krystyna Semmler:

• Anna Karoline Koth, born about 1845/1846 in Teodorow, Kalisz
• Anna Julianna Koth, born 1850 in Józefina, Turek, Kalisz
• Jan Wilhelm Koth born 1854 in Józefina, Turek , Kalisz
• Anna Krystyna Koth born 1857 in Józefina, Turek, Kalisz
• Paulina Koth born 1859 in Józefina, Turek, Kalisz
• Ernestyna Koth born 1862 in Józefina, Turek, Kalisz

So, the pair probably married before 1845.

The Turek church records available at the Polish National Archives did not have a marriage record for Daniel and Krystyna. However, the Poznan Project (indexing marriage records 1800-1899) contained an index entry for the pair:

From the Poznan Project website:

Our [Poznan Project] database only provides basic information to identify the spouses. There is no liability for the accuracy, as it depends on the quality of the record and the skills of the transcriber. The full information about the marriage can only be found in the original records.

The original record for this marriage is held in the National Archive in Kalisz, Poland.

Is the record anywhere else, besides Poland?

Finding the Marriage Record

Looking at the purple box above the index entry indicates that the couple married in the Evangelical parish of Stawiszyn in the year 1844, marriage #44.

Searching online, I found that the microfilm image of this record book is available at the Salt Lake City Family Search Library.

AND … I planned to travel to Salt Lake City in August 2025.

1844 Marriage of Daniel Koth and Krystyna Semler¹Kościół ewangelicki. Parafja Stawiszyn (Kalisz).Kopie księg metrykalnych, 1809-1895. Akta urodzeń, małżeństw, zgonów 1840-1850. FamilySearch film 8015283, image 320. Daniel Koth marriage December 17/29, 1844, No. 44.

Zamęty

It happened in Stawiszyn on December 17/29, 1844, at 3 p.m. We make it known that in the presence of witnesses Wilhelm Alisz, age 35, and Daniel Neumann, age 31, both renters residing in Zamęty, Dzierzbin commune, a religious marriage was concluded today between Daniel Koth, a youth, renter, residing in the settlement of Mycielin, age 20, son of Gottlieb and Rozyna née Hoch, married couple Koth, renters residing in Danowiec, born there, and Krystyna Semler, a 24-year-old maiden, daughter of the deceased Krystyan Semler, tenant in Kopojno, and his also deceased wife, Marianna née Alisz of Grabienice, born in Wielołęka and now serving in Zamęty. This marriage was preceded by three banns in the local Evangelical Church on December 3/15, 10/22, and 14/26 of this year, as well as the oral consent of the bridegroom’s parents present. No impediment to the marriage occurred. The new spouses declare that they have not entered into any prenuptial agreement. This document was read to the presenters and witnesses and signed by both witnesses.²Translated by Aneta Sienczak, a member of the Polish Genealogy Facebook Group, August 12, 2025.

What did we learn?

The couple married at Evangelical Church of Stawiszyn on December 29, 1844 [Gregorian calendar], at 3 p.m. Banns were read on three previous dates.

Groom: Daniel KOTH (20), renter, residing in Mycielin, born in Danowiec
Parents of the groom: Gottlieb KOTH, renter, residing in Danowiec, and Rozyna HOCH

Bride: Krystyna SEMLER, (24), born in Wielołęka, serving [residing] in Zamęty
Parents of the bride: Krystyan SEMLER, deceased, tenant of Kopojno, and Marianna ALISZ, deceased of Grabienice

Witnesses: Wilhelm Alisz, (35), renter, residing in Zamęty, Dzierzbin, and Daniel Neumann (31), renter residing in Zamęty, Dzierzbin

Conclusions:

The ages of the groom and the bride correspond with the ages of Daniel and Krystyna on their children’s baptism records. So, this record is certainly for my ancestors.

What’s next?

The names of the bride’s and the groom’s parents are listed.  What can we learn about them?

Was Wilhelm Alisz related to Krystyna Semler? Krystyna’s mother’s maiden name was Alisz.

These people were illiterate; they could not sign this record. Is it possible that they left other, written records?

SOURCES

• 1
  Kościół ewangelicki. Parafja Stawiszyn (Kalisz).Kopie księg metrykalnych, 1809-1895. Akta urodzeń, małżeństw, zgonów 1840-1850. FamilySearch film 8015283, image 320. Daniel Koth marriage December 17/29, 1844, No. 44.
• 2
  Translated by Aneta Sienczak, a member of the Polish Genealogy Facebook Group, August 12, 2025.