Johann Michael (The Younger) was born on 2nd February 1775 (table 18). Within the family, he was the first who kept a written record of the most important events. The document is in my possession. The record of his school career and his duties as a civil servant is thus documented in his own words.

I, Johann Michael Soterius von Sachsenheim, was born on 2nd February 1775. Until 1890, I had the privilege to be educated at the local Protestant school, when my blessed father took up a position at the main district administration in Clausenburg17. I followed him there to study philosophy and law at the lyceum18 until my blessed father, aged 52 and by now a councillor, passed away on the last day of March in 1794.

On 5th July 1794, I joined the district government administration.

On 1st July 1796, I became Government (......)19 on a daily wage of 30 kr20.

On 21st February 1803, I became 4th Grade Government Chancellery Clerk with a salary of 200 fl21.

On 12th March 1804, I became 3rd Grade Government Chancellery Clerk with a salary of 250 fl.

On 28th August 1807, I became Controlling Officer at the General Provincial Treasury of Hermannstadt with a salary of 400 fl.

On 1st February 1808, still in the same position, my salary was increased to 450 fl.

On 20th March 1811, I became Paymaster at the Provincial Treasury with a salary of 600 fl.

On 8th August 1827, I was appointed Supervising Administrator at the Clausenburg17 General Treasury. I would have had to move there, had I not, following top-level involvement, been appointed Inspector General with a salary of 1200 fl, whereby my salary rose from 800 fl to 1200 fl from 8th August 1827 to 19th July 1828.

Johann Michael has also recorded all the other important events in his family in his house diary (there are four large-format pages in close handwriting). This text is also documented in his own words as follows:

Important events involving members of my family and my household transferred from the previous housebook at an earlier date and continued.

I started to write the first housebook on 25th June 1808, the day on which my beloved Theresia Sophie Elisabeth v. Albrichtsfeld was formally promised to me as my bride and we exchanged rings. She was born on 1st October 1782, and had previously been married to H Krug, the Magistrate's Secretary of Kronstadt, who died, together with their daughter, three years into the marriage. We were formally married on 5th September 1808, at 5 o'clock in the afternoon at the big church in Kronstadt. Three days later, we set off for our journey to Hermannstadt.

On 3rd February 1812, God gave us a sweet little daughter who was born at 7 o’clock in the morning. On 5th February 1812, our dear child was baptised Maria Johanna Juliane. Godparents were my dear wife's former brother-in-law Michael Krug, a merchant from Mediasch, and his substitute Andreas Conradt, furthermore Johanna Mysel and her substitute Friederike Barthai, and finally Dr Maria Elisabetha Bikni. Our dear child died on 16th April 1812 at 7 o’clock in the morning as a result of epistaxis22, an illness that caught the doctors' attention. On 18th of the same month the dear child was laid to rest.

........23Between 30th and 31st January 1813, in the middle of the night around 2 o'clock, God gave us a sweet little son. He was baptised Johann Friedrich Gustav in the afternoon of 3rd February 1813. Godparents were Andreas von Reißenfels, who later became founder of the Local Charity Pension Fund, Johann Bergleiter, pastor in Stolzenberg and Josepha Freiin24 von Bruckenthal, née Kissling.

On 8th October 1814 at 12noon, my poor father-in-law Johann Albrich von Albrichtsfeld, who had been deprived of his eyesight for over 15 years, died of exhaustion. He was laid to rest in silence on the 10th of the same month.

On 14th March 1816, at half past eleven at night, a dear little daughter was born to us. She was baptised Josepha Caroline Fridericke, on 17th of the same month. Godparents were Herr Gregor von Frest, Major of the "löbl. Szekler Kürassier Regiment”25, my poor wife's brother-in-law, his substitute, Generalperceptor26 Martin Simonis, Justine von Rauenheim, wife of the Honorable Government Secretary Stephan von Rauenheim and furthermore, Caroline von Salmen, wife of the Castellan of Talmesch, Stephan Salmen, cousin of my dear second wife.

On 15th April 1817, at 10.30 in the morning, a dear little daughter was born to us. At a holy christening, which took place on 18th of the same month, she was baptised Johanna Justina Theresia. Godparents were Cartharina27 von Trautenfels, wife of the District Judge of Kronstadt, Johann von Trautenfels and my wife Therese's half-sister, along with her substitute, Frau Commercienrats28 Referentin29 Regine Brüderin. Additionally, there were Justina Barberins, my wife's older biological sister, and her substitute Frau Elisabetha Kissling, mother of the formerly mentioned Freyin24 von Bruckenthal, and finally, my brother-in-law, Martin Georg Hirling.

On 20th July 1817, my dear mother-in-law, Anna Catherina von Albrichsfeld, née Brauner, died of dropsy. She was the daughter of Superintendent Georg Brauner, who was also a famous patriotic historian, and she was laid to rest on the 22nd of the same month.

During the night of the 26th to 27th July 1819, my, in all respects, excellent wife and friend, Theresie Elisabeth Juliana von Albrichsfeld finally passed away as a result of tuberculosis, an illness that had caused her and myself great misery over the years. She was buried on 28th of the same month at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. For me, it was a great loss indeed. May God let me find her once again (table 19).

On 13th August 1819, at half past twelve in the afternoon, our poor daughter Fritzchen (Fridericke) followed her into the grave. Next to her mother, she found her final resting place on 14th of the same month at 6 o'clock in the afternoon. After having been extremely weakened by pertussis30 followed by a collarbone fracture, the poor child then contracted dropsy and tuberculosis. This too was a very difficult ordeal. Praise and thanks to God that he allowed me to survive.

On 2nd October 1820, the Royal Judge of Leschkirch, Gottlieb Conrad, and Anna Maria, née Salmen, promised me their daughter's, my sweet dear Johanna Justine, née Conrad's hand in marriage.

On 25th May 1820, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, our marriage ceremony was solemnly performed at my house in Hermannstadt (table 20).

On 5th March 1821, at 7 o'clock in the evening, a lively little son was born. On 10th of the same month he was baptised Michael Franz Friedrich. Godparents were my above mentioned brother-in-law Gregor Frast von Frasthausen, Major of the "löbl. Heller Grenz Infanterie Regiment”31, who in the meantime had been made Baron, and his substitute, my wife's uncle, the Castellan of Talmesch, Herr Samuel Steph. v. Salmen; furthermore, my brother-in-law

Friedrich Conrad, the Castellan's secretary, and my dear sister-in-law, wife of Samuel Simonis who at the time was Leschkirchen Sacristan and Tax Collector.

On 5th November 1822, around twelve noon, a dear little daughter was born to us who, at a holy christening ceremony, was baptised Clara Adelheid. Godparents were Caroline v. Salmen née v. Trautenfels, wife of Herrn Major of the” Haller Husaren Regiment“32, my wife's uncle Gottfried v. Salmen and her substitute Frau Eleonore Soterius, wife of Samuel Soterius who, a historian at that time, later became Royal Tax Collector, and furthermore, Carolina Wachsmann, daughter of Joh. Wachsmann, at the time the local adjutant to what now would be known as the National Committee.

On 7th May 1824, at almost 6 o'clock in the evening, a dear little son was born to us. He was baptised Conrad Albert on 12th of the same month. Godparents were my brother-in-law Joseph Conrad, at the time a District Government Clerk and, as his substitute, my brother-in-law, Carl Conrad, furthermore Michael v. Hierling, Comitial Clerk and Regina Brantsch, wife of Noble Judge Andreas Brantsch.

On 9th May 1826, at 3 o'clock in the morning, my dear Justine brought forth a little son. At a holy christening ceremony on 16th of the same month, he was baptised Carl Victor. Godparents were my dear childhood friend Michael Bratsch, Royal Tax Collector, who later became Royal Judge in Leschkirch, Comitial Secretary Daniel Ziegler and Frau Maria Therese Thomas, née Ziegler wife of Delegate H. Thaler and furthermore, Secretariat Superintendent Reginald Thanner.

On 28th May 1827, my father-in-law Samuel Gottlieb Conrad, a Royal Judge to the territorial authority of Leschkirchen, died of a long illness and old age.

In 1827 my house was haunted by many troubles causing us much grief. It was my dear wife in particular who suffered from severe rheumatism, my son Gustav from violent typhus followed by a high fever, my little son Albrecht Carl Victor from rheumatic swellings, fever-induced falls and febrile convulsions, and finally my children Fritzi, Clärchen, Albrecht and Victor also contracted pertussis. Furthermore, my nephew and two boarders, Carl Simonis and Fritz Conrad, as well as my little son Albert, along with several servants, fell ill with rubella, making it 16, some of them fatally, ill people in my house in that year. However, God has granted all of them recovery to a sound health. Praise and Glory be to him. A violent storm caused much damage in the house and the garden. As a consolation however, I was fortunate enough to be promoted “Controllor”33 with a salary of 800 fl in the same year by the “Provincial Liquidator”34.

On 23rd December 1827, at 6 o' clock in the morning, my dear Justine delivered a well-built daughter who was baptised Maria Emilie at a holy christening ceremony on 26th of the same month. Godparents were: Frau Juliane Mätz, National Archive Secretary, Frau Oberlieutenantin35 Carolina Emilie Herzberg, sibling of my dear Justine, and furthermore my brother-in-law, “Officinalrats Secretari”36 Samuel Conrad and his substitute, “Oberlandes Cassations Praedicant”37 Franz von Salmen.

On 26th December 1829, at 2 o'clock in the early morning, my dear Justine gave birth to our little daughter who, on 2nd January 1830 was baptised Karolina Mathilde. Godparents were: Rittmeister of the “Erzherzog Josef Husaren”38 Josepf Wagner, Frau Obristin39 Maria Chigelli née Hertel and Frau Hauptmannin40 Sophie von Münsinger née Binder. The childbirth resulted in a very painful breast disease causing 10 sores in the right breast, from which the poor mother was made to suffer for 10 weeks and which finally healed with God's help.

On 20th March 1831 at midnight, we were newly and very badly hit by the fate of our dear merry little son Carl Victor, who had seemed to enjoy life so much. He died of an illness deemed utterly insignificant. On 20th March in the afternoon, he was stricken by extremely strong infant spasms, which did not stop until the hour of his death. Shortly before he had still been jolly and cheerful. He had been a handsome, cheerful, affectionate and outgoing lad who gave us so much joy, and through his death left us in unspeakable grief. On 22nd of the same month at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, he was laid down in his final resting place next to my blessed first wife and my two late daughters.

On 4th April 1831, at 9.30 in the morning, soon after the death of our poor Victor, my dear Justine delivered a lively little son. On 20th April in the same year and in remembrance of our little son, who had died shortly before, he was baptised as Carl Konrad Victor at a holy christening ceremony. The christening had been delayed due to my unfortunate wife's poor health. She had again come down with a breast disease, which later was fortunately cured. Godparents were: Provincial Liquidator36 Herr Andreas von Rauenheim, my brother-in-law, Cassation Lawyer Georg Carl Conrad and our dear sister-in-law Caroline Brand, née Playher.

On 23rd September 1831, my righteous brother-in-law, Hermannstädter Stadtherr und Pollizey Director41 Martin Georg von Hirling died at the age of 64.

Our eldest son, Michael Franz Friedrich later lived in Vienna. Our eldest daughter Clara Adelheid, became the painter Theodor Sockl's apprentice and she lived with him even before they married. At the time, this was deemed improper and she was considered the black sheep of the family. Later she married him and they moved to Vienna. They had two sons and one daughter. However, Clara died very young in 1861, as did her husband. Later, around 1880, their two sons, Victor and Carl went to London. Victor founded a company for greeting cards and Carl became a chief clerk. Their daughter Otilie was a teacher and lived in Switzerland.

A self-portrait by Clara Adelheid is in our possession. However, it is not the one depicted but a very small other one. She also painted her husband's portrait (table 21). The image of Justine Soterius v. Sachsenheim depicts his mother-in-law and with that we actually posses an image of the 2nd wife of Johann Michael, the Younger (table 22).

We also hold a letter of his to his first wife, dating back to the year 1810, when he worked in Hermannstadt and his wife still lived at her parents. At the time, they had been married for only two years and they did not yet have children.

In addition to his work, he had also taken over several voluntary commitments. After the old Bruckenthal's (his uncle's) will had been legally disputed by the heirs, especially by his son, he had been appointed as an asset administrator by the court and consequently had to pay out the annually generated assets to the heirs (table 34 and 25-30).

On 22nd February 1838, Johann Michael, the Younger, died at the age of 63 of acute respiratory distress syndrome in Hermannstadt (table 31).

This article is taken from the family history book compiled by Fritz Soterius von Sachsenheim.

This document has been translated by www.janserKraft.com