An Algerian Connection

 

Geneanet. Oran, Algeria. 1 Jan 1858.

In May and June 2023, I wrote about the family of Allison's 5th-great-grandfather, Jean Pierre Halter. At the time, it was unclear to me what had happened to him and his third family after his children with first wife Anne Marie Hamm moved to New Orleans. I had assumed he had stayed in France, and died in Bas-Rhin.

Instead, it appears Jean Pierre, his third wife Rosine, and their children made their way across the Mediterranean to Oran, Algeria. This was a complete surprise, and thanks to the wonders of the Internet, we can see some of those Algerian records mentioning the family.

Google Maps. Oran, Algeria.

The snapshot of the record above is a death record for Jean Pierre, dated 1 January 1858, from Bou-Tlélis. The record states he was from Birkenwald in Bas-Rhin, and lists his parents Francois Halter and Elisabeth Sigrist. Jean Pierre's death record states he was a cultivateur, or farmer. It isn't clear what types of crops he grew in Algeria, perhaps grapes, olives or other fruit.

Rosine died in Algeria in 1860. Their son, Antoine Halter, graduated from military school in Oran in 1859, and died there on 31 January 1886, 139 years ago today.

Jean Pierre and Rosine had two daughters who married in Algeria: Marie Françoise Halter and Marie Rose Halter. It's quite possible there are descendants of Marie Françoise still in Algeria.

I'm sure Allison's family is unaware of this connection to French-Algerian colonial history. There's more records to share on this branch of the family.