Notes for Michel DUPREL

Notes for Michel DUPREL

Michel the second son of Nicolas DUPREL and Susanne GRESSER, was born in Greisch a commune of Septfontaines Luxembourg in the canton of Capellen. Greisch is approximately two miles from Septfontaines it is a farming and dairy community. According to Jean Pierre DUPREL (Greisch Luxembourg) Michel came to America sometime in the 1800's. Jen Pierre said that Michel did not like it in America and returned to Luxembourg. I know that Michel was back in Luxembourg by 1873 because I have his military certificate #727. It reads that Michel was in the Army of the Grand Duche de Luxembourg from 1873 to 1877.

Jean Pierre DUPREL also stated that Michel worked as a miner. I suspect that he worked as a miner in Bertrange. His future wife Anna Catherine KRIER and her parents were from there. While doing my genealogical search I found a DUPRE' / DUPREZ family living there in Bertrange. According to their records they lived there from 1796 to 1882, one of the Dupre's children was born in Tuntange Luxembourg. Tuntange is only a few miles from Greisch. (Just down the hill). It is known from the records that Michel's father and grandfather at times used the surname DUPRE. So I do not know if it was just a coincidence that there was a DUPRE' / DUPREZ family living in the same town as Michel future wife.

I had a genealogist who specialize passenger arrival (ship list) due a check of the records for me. The records were searched for the years 1850 till 1880. There was no listing for a Michel DUPREL. Below is a list of the variations of the DUPREL surname that was searched for.

Du Prel, Duprell, Dupril, Doprel, Prel, Prell, Prele, Prill, Prels

At a later date I will search for the DUPRE' / DUPREZ surname spelling. On Michel birth and military records his last name was written as DUPRE'. On Michel children records all of their names written DUPREL.

RECORDS: Birth, Marriage, Marriage papers, Military
BORN: Sun MARRIED: Wed DIED: Sun. Age at death 75 years 4 months 28 days.
LDS Film #0425113, 1169432, 1140397

Written by Richard J. Duprel
Lacey, Washington. (1993)

It was not a easy time for a emigrant in the States. In the port cities the immigrants were shamefully exploited. There are on record many complaints to that effect. The advice in newspapers of the Grand Duchy was that the emigrants should join with others before leaving. They traveled then in groups of ten, fifteen, twenty and twentyfive families. The fare was expensive; it came to 200 francs per person, without food. Children traveled for half fare. After the immigrants landed, the battle with the extorioners began. They fought for the traveler's baggage, promised the newcomers lodging at almost no cost, and when they were unable to detain the immigrants any longer swindled them for every penny. The immigrants were fortunate if they escaped with their baggage intact. Unfortunatley, many of the worst extorioners were Germans.

Written by Nicholas Gonner
Luxembourgers in the New World