de Büren Family

Posthumus Film Credit

noreply@blogger.com (Jean-François de Buren) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:50:00 +0000

A number of months ago I received an email from documentary film director Victoria Bruce. She found my Grandfather's Central & South American film footage on my YouTube channel and expressed interest in using scenes of 1960 Panama in her film We're Not Broke. As I have my own filmmaking aspirations I consented freely.

My grandfather filmed Central & South America during a trip he and my grandmother made in 1960. It was his first trip back since leaving Argentina as a boy for Switzerland in 1911.

I was just informed today that We're Not Broke will be featured in year's Sundance Film Festival lineup. As I dream one day to have my own film at Sundance, it fills me with great pride that at least one family member is being recognized this year. Bravo Henri!

Swiss Miniature

noreply@blogger.com (Jean-François de Buren) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 03:18:00 +0000

I came across the following image today and was thoroughly puzzled.

It is the de Büren ancestral family Castle of Vaumarcus, but in miniature. I did not know if this was for an event at the castle or for a cantonal celebration, but after some research found out that it is one of many models of Swissminiatur, a theme park of Swiss scale landmarks.

Swissminiatur is located in Melide, Ticino near Lugano. It was founded in 1959 by Valais grocery store owner Pierre Vuigner. Mountains, lakes, trains, and precision, so very Swiss. Photos below give some idea of scale of this "Little Switzerland".

Stuck in Customs

noreply@blogger.com (Jean-François de Buren) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:20:00 +0000

Family research is like panning for gold, lots of time hunched over, not knowing when you might find a nugget. Some of my finds lately have come from unlikely sources. The latest gem was from eBay. I stumbled upon a document written to my ancestor Louis de Büren, who was at the time the governor of Lausanne, by a local merchant who had leather goods held up in Aosta. He needed Louis' help in getting them released, which Louis did on June 6th, 1795.

The text of the document in French:

Très Noble, Magnifique et Très Honoré Seigneur Baillif

Jean Jacques Mercier, négociant de cette ville, fidèle sujet de l’etat, et très obéissant serviteur de votre magnifique seigneurie, prend la liberté de lui exposer avec un profond respect.

Qu’ayant fait une emplette de cuir en poil de Genès, qui sont actuellement en route dès la cité d’Aost [Aosta], au nombre de cent pièces, lesquelles lui auraient d’abord été arrêtées aud(it) Aost, la sortie de ces cuirs pour ce canton lui a été permise, par le bureau général des royales gabelles de Turin, le 24e mai dernier, moyenant l’engagement qu’il a pris sous caution, que dans le terme d’un mois il ferait entrer dans ce duché d’Aost la même quantité de cuirs fabriqués en Suisse.

L’humble exposant est dans l’intention de faire partir le plustot possible, à tant moien de son engagement, si votre magnifique seigneurie a la bonté de le lui permettre, la quantité de trente cuirs pour le susdit duché.

C'est cette permission qu'il sollicite humblement de votre magnifique seignuerie, en se

répaer dans en voeux pour sa précieuse conservation.

Nous permetton la sortye des trents cuirs cy nommes. Au Château de Lausanne, le 6 Juin, 1795. de Büren Baillif.

A great find to put it mildly. What I love most is the language. The first line after the salutation is the most memorable. "Jean Jacques Mercier, local businessman, faithful subject of the state, and very lawful servant of your magnificent lordship, with profound respect takes the liberty to present himself." Not exactly Dear Sir.

Louis de Büren's signature

The de Büren family seal used to certify the release.

Jeanmaire's Cat

noreply@blogger.com (Jean-François de Buren) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 07:10:00 +0000

A small pencil sketch of a cat has adorned a desk at my parent's home ever since my childhood. The French inscription says "Likeness of Pupi. Sunday evening, Castle of Vaumarcus, October 23, 1892. E. Jeanmaire to Miss Jeanne de Büren."

Jeanne de Büren was a talented artist in her own right but what interested me was finding information on E. Jeanmaire. After some research it seems clear that the cat was drawn by Édouard Jeanmaire, a very important local artist from the time period. He was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds and would produce many nature-themed paintings and sketches during his lifetime (His bio and examples of his artwork follow below).

The only question I had was why 1892? The castle was sold by Henri de Büren in 1888. My ancestor's must have remained close to the new owners and certainly returned to Neuchâtel from Geneva often to visit local friends, artists and scientists. What I love most about the drawing is at 120 years old the quick sketch style is timeless and could be done in a very similar fashion today.

Edouard Jeanmaire (1847-1916)

Biography of Édouard Jeanmaire from the Library of La Chaux-de-Fonds
Edouard Jeanmaire (1847-1916), peintre, est né à La Chaux-de-Fonds et mort à Genève. Il est originaire du pays de Montbéliard en Franche-Comté. Son père Lucien Jeanmaire est horloger. Sa mère Emilie Courvoisier, héritière du domaine de la Joux-Perret, s’occupe de lui. A dix ans, son père le place dans une famille de paysans à Dombresson pour garder les chèvres. A douze ans, ses parents l’inscrivent au collège municipal à Neuchâtel puis au gymnase. Edouard Jeanmaire se révèle un élève turbulent, c’est pourquoi ses parents l'expédient dans le sévère pensionnat morave de Kornthal en Allemagne de 1862 à 1863. C’est à cette époque qu’il commence à peindre. Sa mère s’en inquiète car elle voit dans la pratique de cet art la perdition de l’âme. Une fois revenu à La Chaux-de-Fonds en 1864, son père le place dans l’atelier de peinture sur émail de Marc Dufaux. Un an plus tard, l’émailleur et son apprenti quittent la cité horlogère pour Genève. Dans la cité lémanique, il fréquente les Beaux-Arts et rencontre son « maître », Barthélemy Menn. Son apprentissage terminé, il reste à Genève, employé chez son ancien patron. En 1869, il part pour Paris, mais il doit revenir rapidement en Suisse à cause de la guerre franco-allemande. En 1870, il participe à l’exposition des Amis des Arts à La Chaux-de-Fonds où une de ses toiles connaît un grand succès. En 1871, il se marie avec Louisa Bugnot. Le jeune couple s’établit à Genève où Edouard Jeanmaire achète une maison qui sera son domicile jusqu’à la fin de sa vie. Louisa décède en 1876. Il se remarie l’année suivante avec Eugénie Laval. Son père décède et Edouard hérite de la maison de la Joux-Perret. Le couple y passe la plupart des étés. Dans les années 1880, il voyage passablement, visitant l’Algérie, la Hollande, l’Egypte et l’Italie. Edouard Jeanmaire est un travailleur acharné, il produit beaucoup : études, peintures, eaux-fortes. Ses œuvres, au début en tous cas, se vendent bien. Il expose régulièrement, à Neuchâtel, à Genève, moins facilement à La Chaux-de-Fonds où son caractère ombrageux lui vaut bien des inimitiés. Ses toiles sont de vrais miroirs du Jura de son époque. Néanmoins, ses œuvres passent un peu de mode dans la seconde moitié de sa vie. Victime sans doute de la photographie, la peinture naturaliste de Jeanmaire est jugée rétrograde par les critiques. Homme de caractère, Edouard Jeanmaire prend position sur plusieurs sujets brûlants de la fin du siècle. Il soutient Emile Zola dans la campagne de réhabilitation du capitaine Dreyfus. Ce soutien lui vaut un message de remerciement de l’écrivain. En 1904, il soutient Charles Naine qui est emprisonné pour avoir refusé de servir. Ses principaux amis sont le docteur Pierre Coullery et Philippe Godet, camarade de classe. Ses œuvres les plus connues sont La sortie de l’étable, L’enterrement à la Joux-Perret, Le calme des pâturages en septembre et Le ranz des vaches.

Helvetiq Swiss-American Edition Launch

noreply@blogger.com (Jean-François de Buren) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 05:52:00 +0000

In February of this year my business partner Michael Gaedeke of the Swiss Center Los Angeles had an idea about contacting the inventor of the popular Swiss trivia game Helvetiq, Hadi Barkat and proposing a Swiss-American version. I thought it was a grand idea. Thankfully Hadi did as well.

Little did I know how much work would be involved. In hindsight, I am glad I was blissfully unaware of the late nights of research, and question re-writing.

The Helvetiq Swiss-American Edition launched last week, and am proud of the result. The game demonstrates in a unique way the tremendous impact the Swiss have made on their adopted homeland, and one that I hope Swiss-Americans will embrace.

The trivia cards consist of more than 260 questions, illustrations and photos. Questions cover a wide range of topics including entertainment, history, politics, art, science and food. There is something for everyone in the Helvetiq Swiss-American Edition.

The object of the game is to follow the annual summer ascent route of Swiss cows and to arrive at the top first. You climb the mountain with every correct answer about the Swiss in America. An advanced degree in Swiss-American studies is not needed to play; it’s about fun after all.

The game can be purchased on the Helvetiq store.

The Argentine Lawyer

noreply@blogger.com (Jean-François de Buren) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 05:58:00 +0000

My Swiss grandfather Henri was born on the family ranch of “La Elisa” in Argentina in 1900. He would later emigrate to the United States in 1923 from Switzerland where the family had gone for his schooling. After spending time in California’s central valley learning how to run a ranch, he was supposed to return to Argentina and take over La Elisa. On his way to Argentina he went to San Francisco to look for work, met a French Basque woman, fell in love and would not return to South America until his 60s. The task of running the ranch would fall to his younger brother Carlos, who unlike his other brothers really did not have a choice in the matter.

As with any family dynamic, there can be misunderstandings and hurt feelings. The relationship between Carlos and his older brother Henri were no different. Many of the family tensions would come to a head when my grandfather in the early 1960s – in speaking on behalf of his other siblings – persuaded Carlos that it was time to divide up the ranch and give the other heirs their share.

Thus begun more than a decade or legal wrangling between my grandfather in San Francisco and his brother in Argentina. The go-between in Buenos Aires was Dr. Martín Aberg Cobo, an Argentine lawyer, staunch conservative and executive in the Tornquist bank. As my grandfather was very orderly and precise, he kept all important correspondence between them from 1962 until 1976. The family drama chronicled within the carbon copy duplicates is fascinating, but I will save it for the family history volume I intend to pen one day. What I have highlighted below are passages in which Aberg Cobo either confides his feelings to another conservative about the U.S. or the state of affairs in South America.

Given the geo-political situation of the Americas at the time, I found the snippets compelling. It must be said however that given the gravity of the situation on the ground in Argentina and Chile, Aberg Cobo’s comments can be flippant at best. I was shocked by his categorization of the situation in Chile, after Pinochet’s coup and the assassination of Salvador Allende that “The news from Chile is on the whole good, though they might be overdoing it a little.”

My political views could not be more different than my grandfather and Aberg Cobo’s, but this is not meant to be a political post. As an historian I simply felt these windows into the time period were valuable and should be shared. Certain names and events within the quotes have been hyperlinked where appropriate.

Buenos Aires, November 19th, 1968
“I heartily congratulate you on the outcome of the U.S. election, that I followed with the greatest of interest in a group of Republican friends at the American Club until about 4 a.m. At one time nearly everybody was most despondent though I insisted, and was right in saying that we had to wait for the returns of the West Coast and Middle West States!

I feel sure that Mr. Nixon will manage to govern with the indirect support of the Southern Democrats, and you must remember that the White House is a power in itself.

Senator Goldwater is at present in Argentina. I would much like to meet him and congratulate him on his foresight. He really has not much to say in the Senate except constantly pointing out that 'I told you so!'"

Buenos Aires, June 12th, 1970
“You must probably be interested to know what has happened in Argentina. Is is still too early to make any reasonable forecast, but the crux of the matter is that General Onganía, who was in power as a delegate of the top brass, began to consider himself the real and only boss, and therefore was dismissed by his colleagues who apparently want an earlier return to democratic rule than he did.”

Buenos Aires, July 27th, 1970
“On June 8, the Army, Navy and Air Force ousted General Onganía and later replaced him with General Levingston (I consider it a good change on the whole), and the Argentine Central Bank, to avoid any speculation in currency, immediately closed down the exchange market for about a fortnight, thus preventing the remaining remittances...”

Buenos Aires, October 20th, 1970
“Last political developments in this country seem rather unfavorable. Through a disagreement with his Under Secretary of State – apparently a direct ‘protégé’ of General Levingston’s, we have lost the services of the Interior Minister, Air Force Brigadier McLoughlin, a firm Peron opponent, with the consequent unrest in his colleagues.

Economy Minister Moyano Llerena, a friend of McLoughlin’s also resigned, and has been replaced by Dr. Aldo Ferrer, who is decidedly not a staunch enemy of inflation as his predecessor was, and immediately closed down the exchange market for a few days.... On the other hand, Peronist celebrations of October 17 – 25th Anniversary of Peron’s success over the first military opposition – turned out a decided flop, and have therefore considerably strengthened the ‘top brass’ position, making the political outlook much clearer, thus causing a sharp rise in the stock market that was before really below par.

Let’s hope they will use the advantage they have gained and set the country at peace for once and for all.”

Buenos Aires, May 5th, 1972
“The situation here is not at all pleasant, as Government makes so many unnecessary mistakes, probably through personal ambitions regarding future elections, that also seem rather dangerous as everybody is so confused at present.

The terrorists actions are most regrettable and certainly require a firm hand instead of political maneuvers. The dastardly murder of General Sánchez was a real set back for the country as many – military and otherwise – considered that he was the man that could get us out of this mess.”

Buenos Aires, September 18th, 1972
“The ‘terrorist’ problem is becoming a world wide one, and we have had our share of it, with international problems with Chile whose government has behaved disgracefully regarding the last jailbreak. I have nevertheless some hopes that the matter will calm down after our next election, if and when it is carried out.”

Buenos Aires, November 16th, 1972
“My heartiest congratulations on President Nixon’s landslide victory, that I consider most beneficial not only to the U.S. but also to the world in general, though it is certainly a pity that his ‘coat tails’ were somewhat short. I certainly think you should all see his tailor about it!

The situation here is rather complicated as we are on the eve of Peron’s return, that conceivably might cause some rioting in spite of the stern precautions taken by the government.

The whole matter is really absurd, and in my opinion President Lanusse has made a grievous mistake in not letting sleeping dogs lie, as Peron’s undoubted popularity was already on the wane. Anyway, we shall see what happens on both sides of the fence.”

Buenos Aires, October 31st, 1973
“Our new government is apparently trying to restore law and order, a task somewhat hampered by their previous outlook on violent proceedings during the military regime. Though I do not agree with them, I heartily wish for their success, as it is impossible to carry out any business if you don’t know where you stand, even if it is on unfavorable ground.

I am most concerned about the events in the U.S. and think – from afar – that events are being magnified for political reasons. I hope good sense will prevail in the end, not only in your great country but in the whole free world.

The news from Chile is on the whole good, though they might be overdoing it a little, as Allende was taking them straight into the red camp.”

Buenos Aires, April 18th, 1974
“I am certainly distressed about the amount of kidnappings in the U.S. and here. Locally I think it is part of guerrilla warfare being carried out by the extreme left that hope to harass the Government with it; and at least there is some talk of the latter taking a firm stand too long delayed.”

Buenos Aires, December 24th, 1976
“Our country is slowly recovering from the awful Peronist mess, and it would seem that 1977 will be a considerably better year than the last one.

Of course there are still many snags ahead, such as the inflation not yet under control, and the outbreak of violence that the Government has as yet not been able to definitely stamp out, though they have made much progress in that direction.”

Art Supplies Case

noreply@blogger.com (Jean-François de Buren) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 01:13:00 +0000

Many of my ancestors were artists. I have profiled some of them on this blog; Jeanne de Büren, Albert de Büren, Philippe de Büren and Natalie de Büren to name a few. Among some old family books I found the following art supply case. It is a wonderful 19th century treasure that most likely belonged to one of Henri de Büren's children. It was purchased from Papéterie Lagier Frères in Geneva and still contains period charcoal and water colors. I thought it was fantastic and wanted to share.

Suisse Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Jean-François de Buren) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 05:28:00 +0000

Suisse Magazine, a French-language publication on Switzerland wrote a small story on me in their latest issue. The magazine's editor asked the Museum of the Swiss Abroad in Geneva for insight on Swiss who were making a name for themselves outside Switzerland, and unbeknownst to me the Museum suggested my name. I feel honored beyond measure. Images from the magazine as well as the story in French follow below.

Jean-François de Buren est un Suisse dans le monde, né en 1970 en Californie, à Tiburon, près de San Francisco. Etudiant en arts graphiques à l’université d’Arizona, il a travaillé chez Frog design, une plateforme multimédia et technologique à vocation mondiale. Depuis 2007 il travaille désormais à son compte. Jean François de Buren est aussi écrivain, historien, et généalogiste, à ce titre, il s’est depuis longtemps passionné pour l’histoire de son illustre famille neuchâteloise et bernoise qui compte parmi elle des soldats, des hommes d’État, des aventuriers et des artistes. Le projet qui lui tenait à cœur depuis plusieurs années déjà, s’est concrétisé en 2011 : le journal et les lettres racontant les aventures américaines de son arrière-arrière-grand père, Henri de Buren, explorateur, botaniste et artiste Suisse vont être publiées en français, en anglais et en espagnol. Le Musée des Suisses dans le Monde est partie prenante de cette publication en en étant l’éditeur. Jean-François de Buren qui a aussi pour ambition d’être metteur en scène envisage de porter à l’écran l’expédition de son ancêtre. Last but not least, Jean-François a été choisi pour être le chef de projet de la version américaine du jeu de société suisse « Helvétiq ». « Je veux que ce jeu représentent les Suisses en Amérique et que ces Suisses soient fières de leur héritage » dit notre ami. Jean-François de Buren, c’est le Swiss made.

Helvetiq Swiss-American Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Jean-François de Buren) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 04:26:00 +0000

My Swiss heritage means a great deal to me. Its importance has deepened over time as I become more familiar with the details of my lineage. My interest in Swiss history and Swiss immigration however is not isolated to my own family story, but also to the Swiss experience writ large.

As the Swiss are not ones to self-promote, I feel privileged to be leading a project that will help Swiss-Americans realize the impact they have made on the United States. A book written on the subject a number of years ago perceptively coined the phrase for the Swiss in America "Small Number, Big Impact."

The paragraphs below were sent out to Swiss clubs nationally, and appeared in the most recent edition of the Swiss Review.

Helvetiq Swiss-American Edition

From New Glarus, to New Bern, from Vevay to Sacramento, more than a million Americans of Swiss-descent have left their mark on the United States. Figures such as Albert Gallatin, Meyer Guggenheim, Louis-Joseph Chevrolet and Renée Zellweger are well known, but what about those unique stories that have yet to be shared. To honor this rich heritage, the Swiss Center Los Angeles in partnership with Lausanne-based RedCut will release later this year a Swiss-American version of the popular Swiss trivia game Helvetiq.

Does your local Swiss club have interesting information, trivia or little known facts about the history of the Swiss in your area? Do you know of any Swiss inventions, enduring traditions, local luminaries or tall tales? No fact is too trivial, no aneqdote is too outlandish. Our intent is for the game to be a living testament to all the Swiss who have made a difference in the United States.

A Swiss Abroad Tracking a Swiss Abroad

noreply@blogger.com (Jean-François de Buren) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 04:06:00 +0000

In the most recent Lettre de Penthes, the journal of the Foundation for the History of the Swiss Abroad, I wrote a small article about my artist, adventurer and explorer Great-Great-Grandfather, Henri de Büren. As the circulation for the journal is limited I am reproducing it below. Enjoy.

A Swiss Abroad Tracking a Swiss Abroad

The sun glistened off the surface of the blue Caribbean Sea gently rocking a small water taxi as it made its way to port. Mid-morning sunlight shone on an imposing fort and lighthouse crowned by the Spanish colors gently waving in the breeze. Below in elegant cursive the word “Havane”.

This is my first memory of a journal that has consumed my life for the last three years. I was initially ignorant to its author and provenance; to me, it was simply a beautiful watercolor of an exotic destination. Visions of Castro and the Cuban Missile Crisis wafted through my conscious like so much cigar smoke. However, this image was not painted during a time of casinos, mobsters and revolutionaries but rather one captured a century earlier in the Cuba of colonial Spain.

While my initial interaction with the journal made an impression, I found it as a boy who was preoccupied with school, and soccer practice. I returned it to the armoire from whence it came, to be read another day. That day would not come again for 20 years. In 2007 I found the journal again while looking through family papers and when I picked it up time seemed to collapse as if my boyhood fascination with the object had never left me. Instead of merely skimming its beautifully penned pages, I decided to read it and hoped it would have secrets to tell. I would not be disappointed.

I discovered that Cuba was only a very small portion of the journal; it was dedicated almost entirely to the day-to-day documentation of an 1853 expedition of European settlers venturing deep into the Amazon of Northern Peru. The pages were brimming with tales of natural beauty, social conflict and internal power struggles. I was hooked. To my utter amazement I found the journal to have been written by my great-great-grandfather, Henri de Büren.

How did I not know of this before? It would have seemed to be a great family story, passed down from generation to generation told over sumptuous dinners, getting more fanciful in each retelling. “Did you hear how grand-père cleared the jungle with only his Swiss Army knife?” Alas, all I knew about Henri was that he sold the family castle of Vaumarcus near Neuchâtel at the end of the 19th century, and I believe this choice tainted his family legacy.

Passionate about his voyage, I searched for any additional writings from the journey and to my delight found another journal that compiled all of his correspondence home to his family in Switzerland. The letters home covered a grander journey than just Cuba and Peru. It documented a Grand Tour that lasted almost two years and covered thousands of miles. Starting with his Liverpool departure on a British mail steamer, they document how he crisscrossed the Eastern United States calling on Swiss compatriots and scholars. He visited Cuba, spent four months exploring Mexico, six months traversing the Peruvian Andes with an expedition of 90 and finally canoeing down the Amazon river into Brazil.

What had started with the fascination surrounding one watercolor illustration had blossomed into finding a detailed first-person account of a journey that covered large parts of the Americas. I felt at that moment, that I had discovered a unique artifact and a piece of Swiss cultural history that needed to be shared. When I started this process what I knew about the 1850s in the Americas revolved around the California gold rush. Therein lies the tragic tale of another Swiss, John Augustus Sutter, but that is another story. In the past three years of research, my scholarly knowledge of the 1850s has increased considerably. Thanks in large part to JSTOR, Google Books and the fact that Henri travelled in illustrious circles, I have been able to find most of those mentioned in his journals and letters. The names of Louis Agassiz, Arnold Guyot, Leo Lesquereux, and Asa Gray were at first just handwritten words on a page. Given my new found understanding of the time period their existence makes the narrative all the more fascinating.

In spite of the early exhilaration of discovery, there have been moments that I doubted my sanity for throwing myself headlong into this endeavor. There were also those along the way who dismissed my project as simply a quaint family research project. I have come to feel very strongly that it is far more than that. Henri was a witness to scientific, social and cultural history in the Americas and in a era of one-way immigration. His return home is something to be acknowledged in itself. When I felt a lead go cold, a new bit of information would be revealed, or when I became dispirited, an invaluable word of encouragement would come from the unlikeliest of sources. Early interest in my project by swissinfo, former Peruvian President Alejandro Tolledo, Peruvian-American author Marie Arana, and Benedict von Tscharner, Foundation President for the Museum of the Swiss Abroad, were invaluable.

As Henri took a chance and leap of faith when he left Neuchâtel for points unknown I have tried to do the same. I intend to retrace his original journey for a documentary and am currently writing a feature film screenplay about Henri and his son. I will readily admit that I have been very un-Swiss like in my promotion of my project and Henri’s journey, acting at times like his PR manager. One blogger commented that I was “Hoping to secure a place for Henri in the history books.” He could not be more correct.

This year, Henri’s journal and letters will be published with the gracious support of the Edition de Penthes and the Institute of the Swiss Abroad. Not only did the Institute of the Swiss Abroad realize the merit of the source material, they have been instrumental in the both transcription and fundraising.

Working with Henri’s journals and trying to understand who he was has taught me a great deal, not simply about my ancestor but what it means for me to be Swiss. I have grown up around family heirlooms my entire life, but reading Henri’s passages about his love for family and his country has stayed with me and deepened my personal attachment to Switzerland. I hope that my project reveals in some small measure the impact that the Swiss have made historically in the Americas and one we will continue to make into the future. As Henri brought back botanical and agricultural knowledge with him from the Americas, I want to give back to Switzerland a success story of one of its native sons. As a result I hope Switzerland will look more closely at its culturally rich past and celebrate more stories like Henri’s – they are national treasures waiting to be revealed.

The Man with the Green Arm

noreply@blogger.com (Jean-François de Buren) — Mon, 09 May 2011 02:40:00 +0000

Of the many themes that endure from generation to generation in the de Büren family, love of the natural world is an important one. While my family were large land owners for many generations, the scholarly study of the natural world started in earnest with Baron Albert de Büren. He studied botany at Thaer's school of agriculture near Berlin in the early 19th century. His son Henri, would follow in his footsteps and also study botany at the same school in Prussia. This love and knowledge of the natural world would be passed down from father to son, and so it is no surprise that my father is so talented when it comes to horticulture. The label of "Green Thumb" does not do him justice.

As a boy I was less enthused about his zeal for flowers and trees as my job was seemly only to haul clippings to the curb. Over time however, I to have developed my own love for nature, and I appreciate how hard he has worked to turn the barren rocky soil around our family home into a lush eden. As spring is my favorite time of year, and when I believe the garden is at its most stunning, I wanted to share some images with you here. Enjoy.

A Mother's Day Acknowledgement

noreply@blogger.com (Jean-François de Buren) — Thu, 05 May 2011 07:01:00 +0000

I like finding patterns in history. Generational linkages have always been fascinating to me. In many ways we all are representations of generational threads, your mother's eyes, your grandmother's laugh.

Over the past couple of years I have pondered actively what I care about and what moves me. In honor of Mother's Day I would thank seven generations of de Büren women whose traits have become mine and have helped me become the man I am today.

Mom – Sharon de Buren (Carter)

Thank you for giving me your drive.

My grandmother – Emelie de Buren (Lasserre)

Thank you for giving me your love of music.

My great-grandmother – Louisa de Büren (Fabrini)

Thank you for giving me your love of cooking.

My 2 x great-grandmother – Natalie de Büren (de Freudenreich)

Thank you for giving me your compassion.

My 3 x great-grandmother – Catherine de Büren (de Senarclens)

Thank you for giving me your tenacity.

My 4 x great-grandmother – Charlotte de Büren

Thank you for giving me your commitment to family.

My 5 x great-grandmother – Cornélie de Büren (van Assendelft)

Thank you for giving me your love of art.

Happy Mother's Day.

Soldiers, Statesmen, Adventurers and Artists

noreply@blogger.com (Jean-François de Buren) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:20:00 +0000

On April 8th I will showcase five generations of family art as well as give a presentation on my family heritage at the Beverly Hills Women's Club. I am honored that club president Claudia Deutsch offered such a beautiful space.

The write-up:

Designer, writer, historian, genealogist, and aspiring filmmaker, Jean-François de Buren has been passionate about his family history for as long as he can remember. For the past 10 years he has actively worked on the story of his Swiss, Argentine & American roots. Jean-François’ presentation will cover his 800 year family story as well as highlight his current creative endeavors surrounding his heritage.

Soldiers and Statesmen. Adventurers and Artists. The History of the de Büren family.

Covering over eight centuries of history, in the United States, Switzerland and Argentina, the de Büren family saga is replete with passionate tales of soldiers, statesmen, adventurers and artists. From the blood-drenched battlefields of Europe to the steaming jungles of South America, from the fertile pampas of Argentina to California's Central Valley, the tale of the de Bürens reads like a great novel -- evoking the grand sweep of history as well as its telling details, bursting with complex intrigue, fascinating personal stories, and the most compelling of family dramas.

In addition to the presentation Jean-François will showcase family heirlooms, as well as engravings, drawings, sketches, watercolors and sculpture made by family members during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

Jean-François grew up in Northern California is a dual Swiss and American citizen and is active in the local Swiss community. He will publish this year his great-great-grandfather’s journals chronicling a two-year journey through the Americas of the 1850s. As a companion to the book, Jean-François aims to retrace his Ancestor’s expedition for a documentary film. He is also writing a screenplay for a feature film set in Switzerland that centers around his deaf-mute ancestor. Additionally, Jean-François writes about Swiss emigration to California, and is currently working on the Swiss-American version of the popular Swiss board game Helvetiq.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the club website http://www.bhwomensclub.org/

Madeleine's Album

noreply@blogger.com (Jean-François de Buren) — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 05:32:00 +0000

A couple of weeks ago a received a surprise package from a cousin in France. She sent me a souvenir album that was said to have belonged to Germaine de Büren (1863-1931), a daughter of Henri de Büren (1825-1909). While I turned its many pages I came to realize that the album may have ended up with Germaine but as it was started many years before she was born, it was surely the keepsake of someone else. I repeatedly came across the name Sillem and images of Hamburg. Why would Germaine have had this album? It didn’t seem to be a de Büren heirloom.

Germaine de Büren

Upon reflection it dawned on me that this could be the album of Madeleine Sillem, Henri de Büren’s first wife who died tragically six weeks into their marriage of typhoid fever. Madeleine was not only Henri’s wife but also his first cousin – Henri and Madeleine mothers were both sisters from the de Senarclens family. Her death was an incredibly tragic event not only for Henri but for the whole family. Henri would marry again only five years later, and as with his first marriage, he would wed another first cousin, Natalie de Freudenreich who gave Henri nine children. It seems plausible that Henri kept Madeleine’s album as a memento and passed it down to his daughter Germaine when she was older.

The Sillem family history is quite impressive and theirs has been intertwined over the ages with that of Hamburg. After a good deal of business hardship in the late 1840s, Madeline’s father moved the family from Hamburg to Geneva and spent the remainder of his life in Switzerland. Even after Madeleine’s death, the de Büren family and their Sillem cousins in Geneva remained close. In fact Auguste Gustave de Büren’s boyhood journal mentions many visits of his “Uncle and Aunt Sillem” to the castle of Vaumarcus.

As this album concerned in great part the Sillem family I contacted Martin Sillem in Hamburg who has taken over stewardship of the Sillem family history. I sent him some of the drawings and etchings of Hamburg and asked if he could help me translate some of the notes in German. He agreed and was gracious enough to get the notes transcribed from Sütterling and translated in English.

The notes in fact turned out to be poems most likely written to Madeleine from her family in Germany. I find them touching and am indebtted to Martin to helping bring them back to life after such a slumber. I am including two poems from Louise and Dolores Sillem below:

Dich führe durch das wildbewegte Leben

Ein gnädiges Geschick

Ein reines Herz hat dir Natur gegeben

O ! bring es rein zurück !

Louise Sillem

May a blessed destiny guide you

On the wild river of life

Nature has given you a pure heart

Oh! please bring it back just as pure!

Louise Sillem

Blau ist des Himmels lichter Bogen

Wenn ihn kein Nachtgewölk umzogen

Blau ist das Blümchen, welches spricht

Ich bitte dich: Vergiß mein nicht.

Dolores Sillem

Blue is the dome of the sky

When no clouds are drawn across it

Blue is the little flower that says

I ask you to forget-me-not

Dolores Sillem

As to the visuals in the Album I am including a selection of etchings of Hamburg, as well as artwork done by her family and friends.

Drawing by Marie Sillem, 1848

Drawing by Jerome Sillem

St Petri Kirche in Hamburg

Ansicht von Hamburg

Die Börse in Hamburg, 1847

Lausanne

The one drawing that caught my imagination was that of a warship guns ablaze flying the stars and stripes.

Could this drawing have been made by Henri de Büren as he travelled the Americas before he and Madeleine got married? The possibility is certainly intriguing.

A Sacred Space

noreply@blogger.com (Jean-François de Buren) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 06:08:00 +0000

In my years of research I have often come across passages that mention the final resting place of certain ancestors as this or that Swiss Cathedral. These passages often date from the 18th century or earlier so I don’t know if the tombs still exist or ever did.

On a recent trip to Switzerland I went to Lausanne to see if an ancestor who was said to buried there, still was. It has been documented in family records that Barbara Wyttenbach, mother of David de Büren, who also happens to be my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandmother (I hope that’s enough greats) is buried in the ambulatory of the Cathedral of Lausanne. As there is no ancestor help line at the cathedral, I needed to go to Switzerland and look for myself.

Barbara de Wyttenbach (1585-1652)

Cathedral of Lausanne Ambulatory © Sacred Spaces

After parking in town I made my way up the many steps to the Cathedral. I was dressed for cold weather, and wanted to ditch my winter coat halfway to the top on the unseasonably warm day. Upon making it to the Cathedral, I walked inside and was greeted by a beautiful holy expanse. I walked to the back of the church where I knew the ambulatory to be and started to look at the inscriptions on the tombs I found.

As I made my way around, I saw some names that I recognized like de Loys and de Tscharner, but as yet no de Büren. I held out hope that I would find her name and upon almost exiting the ambulatory, eureka! I was oddly emotional when I found her name, perhaps because I didn’t think I would find her to begin with. She was not listed as de Büren or von Büren but rather as her maiden name of Widenbach (Wyttenbach). She is buried with three of her children, who died in infancy, from her second marriage to François Güder.

She was from an old Bernese family, so why is she buried in Lausanne? When she died in 1652, her son David de Büren was chief magistrate of Lausanne for Bern and it appears that he pulled some strings to have buried in the Cathedral. I think that he wanted to respect his mother’s memory and those of his half-sisters with a burial place of honor.

Below is a photo of the tomb as well as my interpretation of the Latin inscription.

When I entered the Cathedral initially the door was opened for me by a man begging his next meal. He hoped I would repay his gesture with one of my own in the form of a Franc or two. Upon leaving the Cathedral I found him again and placed a couple of Francs in his cup. It seemed only right, he had after all invited me into a sacred space not just for others but also for my family.

Beyond Survival

noreply@blogger.com (Jean-François de Buren) — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 21:23:00 +0000

Having detailed family archives are indispensable when it comes to discovering personal historical narrative but it is also instructive for a broader understanding of family history.

For many years the de Büren family, not unlike other families of the time, was always on the verge of extinction. Between warfare, disease, and high maternal mortality the continuation of the family was by no means assured in Switzerland of the Late Middle Ages/Early Renaissance.

Within the family much has been made of David de Büren (1615-1659) starting a new era of prosperity with his marriage to Marguerite de Bonstetten. This union led directly to the acquisition of the Château de Vaumarcus and the title of Baron for his descendants.

Whatever the reason – moving away from the city, new found wealth, greater political influence, or simply fate – family life expectancy and birth rates improved dramatically with David’s descendants.

On average the life span of de Büren women increased by 23 years from the 17th to the 18th century. More importantly male births increased from 12 in the 17th century to 27 in the 18th century. As a result of longer life spans for mothers and more sons, the 18th century made the family larger and more resilient as a group.

In 1631, after the death of his brother, David de Büren was the last male heir of the de Büren name, one that could have died with him. Some 400 years later, there are over 50 of his direct de Büren descendants living in Switzerland, France, England, Argentina, Brazil and the United States.

Marvin Watches

noreply@blogger.com (Jean-François de Buren) — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 16:20:00 +0000

The former ancestral home of the de Buren family, the Château de Vaumarcus has since the 1980s been the headquarters for many Swiss firms. One company that has called Vaumarcus home since 2007 is the Marvin Watch Company.

Marvin was started in 1850 in St. Imier, Switzerland, and was successful for many years before falling on hard times. The brand was purchased in 2002 by Cécile and Jean-Daniel Maye and had since experienced quite a renaissance.

The following videos give an overview of Marvin's activities and well as their very talented staff.

Marvin Watches by Cool Hunting

Meet Marvin Watches at Home

What I find very interesting is that Marvin's offices are in the Palais portion of the castle, the part of the castle that was built by Charles de Büren for his Dutch wife so she could have a more comfortable space in which to live, work, draw and paint. This construction helped fostered many generations of de Büren artists. It is comforting to know that the legacy of de Büren creative expression at Vaumarcus continues today with Marvin.

The Rüeblimahl

noreply@blogger.com (Jean-François de Buren) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 06:42:00 +0000

One of the reasons I went on my recent trip to Switzerland was to attend an event dear to my ancestors. The event was the Rüeblimahl held at the one of the medieval guilds of Bern, the Metzgern Zunft or in English the Butcher’s Guild. The de Buren/von Büren family has been a member of the guild since its arrival in Bern in 1326, so it was a great honor to represent the family again within its hallowed walls.

The Rüeblimahl is a meal that commemorates the aftermath of the Battle of Laupen in 1339 when hungry soldiers from the guild only found carrots to eat from a local field. While the feast may commorate the eating of carrots, do not be fooled, this is not the Vegetable guild, it is the Butcher’s guild, so meat, meat and more meat is on the menu for this occasion. In fact, when I visited Franz von Graffenried, the President of the Burgergemeinde Bern the afternoon before the event, he joked with me “You won’t be eating any carrots, that’s for sure.” and he added “I hope you don’t have anything planned that afternoon.” Well I did actually, my time was short in Bern, I figured the lunch couldn’t last all afternoon, could it?

Daniel Claude and myself in the Pig's corner. Thanks to Jürg Stauffer for the Photo.

I was greeted at 11:45 am by Daniel Claude the son of the President of the guild, Martin Sauerer, as well as fellow guild member Jürg Stauffer. They were both very kind and took me under their wing. They infomed me that I would be sitting with them in the Pig’s corner, a place traditionally reserved for hog butchers, but now occupied by the young members of the guild. We started to make small talk and when I told Daniel that I had an interview at 2:30 pm he said, “Oh, we won’t be done by then. Better make it 4 or 5 pm.” What? I was triple booked all afternoon. I was sure he was pulling my leg.

We started the festivities with a nice apperitif of Swiss white wine in the cellar and then moved into the dining hall. We were packed to the gills at three long tables addorned with guild artifacts and carrots, just for decoration.

We started with soup, introductions and speeches. The first speech was made by the President of the guild who after acknolwedging his many important guests, most from other local guilds, came to me. He said that a member of one of the oldest families in Bern and of the guild, a von Büren was with them today, and had also come from California for the event. He stopped speaking Bärn Dütsch (Swiss-German dialect of Bern) of which I know probably two words and spoke in French for my benefit saying that I was always welcome at the Butcher’s guild. I was obviously moved. There were more speeches as the wine flowed.

The second course was bone marrow and liver, and not just one plate mind you. The marrow on bread with salt was very tasty. Someone remarked that it didn’t matter how much wine we were all drinking since we were eating liver. The third course arrived with heaping mouds of beef, special sausages and green beans. The sausages were my favorite, simply outstanding. After a couple of helpings I realized that I had to meet a reporter from Swissinfo who was doing a story on me, a California-Swiss coming back to his roots. As the reporter and I walked around the old town I felt a deep connection to Bern, one that grows each time I come back.

After my appointments I came back at 5 pm for some eau-de-vie with those who were still there. Jürg Stauffer and I talked for a bit and then I headed on to Neuchâtel. I was treated with genuine warmth by all those I met and really felt like a member of the guild.

I hope to attend again next year, and this time I will stay for the duration, if only to have a couple more of those sausages.

Château d'Oron

noreply@blogger.com (Jean-François de Buren) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 23:26:00 +0000

As I travel through Switzerland this week I have had many unique experiences. One was a private viewing of the Château of Oron in Western Switzerland. David de Büren was chief magistrate for Oron in the early 18th century and therefore it has a special meaning for my family.

Many thanks to André Locher of the Oron conservation committee for taking time out of his busy schedule to show me around.

The Spin Doctor of the 15th century

noreply@blogger.com (Jean-François de Buren) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 05:07:00 +0000

Clara de Büren was the second daughter of Jean de Büren and Nicola Mossü. She was lady of Signau and Worb and was one of the most famous women of her age. She would marry first Ulrich Rieder and then Louis (Loy) de Diesbach. Louis was lord of Diesbach, and a Bernese Senator. While Clara was important in her own right, she is known mostly today as the mother of Nicolas de Diesbach, Schultheis of Bern and key player in the Burgundian wars that would consume Switzerland in the 15th century.

Nicolas was the richest man in Bern in his day thanks to the family business, a multinational corporation that imported textiles. He was a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre, a great orator, very charismatic and given his political ambitions, rose quickly within the circles of Bernese power.

Nicolas is most well known for his role as an emissary for Louis XI of France in Bern. The following section on Nicolas comes from Capitaine de Vallière's masterwork on the Swiss in foreign service, Honneur et Fidélité. I have translated and interpreted the following section from the original.

Louis XI the Prudent, King of France

Through the use of a number of machiavellian measures Louis XI pushed the Swiss to war on his behalf against the bravest and most powerful Prince in Christendom, Charles the Bold. The King of France had one aim in the middle part of the 15th century: the destruction of the Duchy of Burgundy. To accomplish this goal he would need the military might of the Swiss.

Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy by Peter Paul Rubens

The confederates at that time were not at all interested in becoming embroiled in a quarrel between a King and his Vassal, they preferred to stay on good terms with both and remain neutral. To win over those who preferred peace, the King used several close allies, Jodoc de Silinen, of Luzern, Bishop of Grenoble, Guillaume de Diesbach, and especially his cousin Nicolas de Diesbach of Bern, a very talented diplomat. These men would take their mission very seriously, slowly turning public sentiment away from the alliance with Burgundy, all the while handing out French gold as they went. The public, duped by fabricated stories, now felt threatened by the ambitions of Charles the Bold, who was seen as a dangerous enemy with the darkest of intentions. The exodus of Swiss mercenaries in the service of Louis XI and France commenced.

1474 Alliance Treaty between Louis XI and the Eight Confederate Cantons

1470 marked the first political success of Nicolas de Diesbach and showed his expanding influence. In light of the supposed eminent attack of Charles the Bold, eight Swiss cantons signed a defensive treaty with Louis XI. Four years later at the urging of Nicolas de Diesbach war would be declared against Charles and the Duchy of Burgundy. France and Louis XI would stay out of the fray, happy to have the Swiss fight Charles the Bold for them. The Burgundian Wars would last until 1477 when Charles the Bold died at the battle of Nancy.

Nicolas de Diesbach would die in 1475 of plague at Blamont near the beginning of hostilities with Burgundy. As a result of his death the Swiss lost their most able negotiator and when the war was over in 1477, Louis XI took clear advantage of the situation. History has judged Nicolas severely, most seeing him only as a puppet of Louis XI. If any positives can be drawn from the period is that the war that Nicolas de Diesbach lobbied for and helped bring about would substantiate the Swiss as a fighting force to be reckoned with for years to come.

The Strongbox

noreply@blogger.com (Jean-François de Buren) — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 05:02:00 +0000

My great-aunt Natalie de Büren was a passionate Swiss artist and in previous posts I have featured examples of her sculpture and drawings. After her passing in 1986 my father was lucky enough to secure her estate and keep her work intact. Natalie was incredibly prolific but not well known, and my father certainly saved many or her drawings and sculptures from destruction.

Interestingly, amongst the lot of art and isolated personal effects came a small wood and iron strongbox.

When I first saw it I had visions of the Pirates of Caribbean, Black Beard and Spanish gold taken at musket point. To further peak my curiosity the key was long gone. My father shared my interest in discovering its contents and actually had the box x-rayed.

After the x-ray he determined the box to be full of papers. OK, so it wasn't gold, but I was still very intrigued, weren't they missing the 1291 Swiss Federal Charter or something? My father found someone who specialized in old locks and had a key made. After many months of anticipation the wait was over, I would finally get to see what was inside the box.

Fabricated key.

Strongbox lock on the underside of the lid.

It turned out to be full of love letters and correspondence from the 1920s and 30s. Kind of a let down, but the way I figure it, there is a reason the letters are in that box. I think it is a deliberate act, not like misplacing them in the top drawer of a chippendale desk. One day I intend to transcribe their contents for the book I will write on my family.

Découpages

noreply@blogger.com (Jean-François de Buren) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 05:22:00 +0000

While conducting some research I came accross the site of talented French Artist Stéphanie Miguet who specializes in découpages or paper cutting. I found her site because she was featured in a small art show at the Château of Denens, where my cousin Pierre de Büren makes wine.

During her time at Denens, Pierre showed her some découpages that two de Büren girls produced some 200 years ago. The artwork was most likely produced by Louise de Büren (1797-1841) and her sister, Cécile Amalie de Büren (1802-1890), both daughters of Louis Jacques de Büren (1771-1838) and Marie Henriette de Tavel (177-1864). I have featured Stephanie's photos of the 1810s découpages below. Enjoy.

La Maison Jaune

noreply@blogger.com (Jean-François de Buren) — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 03:42:00 +0000

Günther de Büren was the only son of Edouard de Büren (1853-1940) and Dorothée de Diesbach (1860-1940). His father was a lawyer and property manager in Bern. He was born in Bern in 1889 and would marry Maria Schild of Germany in 1927. Günther was a well known Biologist in Bern and French-speaking Switzerland. He was the Secretary of the Natural Sciences Society in Bern, Archivist of the Swiss Society of Natural Sciences and the Editor of the Swiss Botanical Society's publications. He made especially important contributions in the study of mushrooms with his publication Protomycetaceae of Switzerland: life history and biology.

He and his wife lived in a beautiful house called La Maison Jaune (The Yellow House) in the small town in Cully (VD) on the lake of Geneva. Günther and Maria did not have any children and when he died in 1953 he left the building to the town of Cully. The town did not take possession of the building until the death of Maria in 1966.

The house dates from 1641 and today is the home of the winemaker of the city (vigneron de la commune) with cellars in the basement, work shops on the main floor, living quarters on the second floor, city administration boardrooms on the third floor and the attic space displays local artists.

La Maison Jaune

View of Cully (VD), Switzerland

Vaumarcus Bear Hunt

noreply@blogger.com (Jean-François de Buren) — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 06:00:00 +0000

When I was a boy I was told a story of one of my ancestors that was supposedly responsible for killing the last wild bear in Bern. If true, it is quite a dubious distinction since the bear is the symbol of the city. A tale that can be verified however is the bear hunt led by my ancestor for the sovereign of Neuchâtel.

The story is taken from La Béroche: recherches historiques sur la paroisse de Saint-Aubin By Fritz Chabloz. It describes how in 1700, Baron Jean-Charles de Büren of Vaumarcus who was at the time the Grand Veneur de Neuchâtel (Responsible for the Royal Hunt), was instructed to organize a Bear Hunt for the Prince of Neuchâtel.

Diana, the Roman Goddess of the Hunt

Jean-Charles found a young bear in a tree near Gorgier. He ordered the men in his company to retrieve the bear. Finding his men unwilling, Jean-Charles climbed the pine tree himself, forcing the bear to go higher. They both found themselves at the top of the pine tree when the tree gave way and both the Baron and the Bear came tumbling down. The bear was taken to Vaumarcus, where he was released into the woods behind the castle and the hunt began. Many dogs were also released into the woods only to be scared back to the castle by the bear. The hunt would have to continue without the benefit of the hounds. The bear would outwit the hunters for a full 8 days until he met his maker.

"Cependant la Béroche était encore le coin du pays où l'on venait par tradition faire de grandes chasses. C'est ainsi que, dans la dernière année du XVIIme siècle, la grande chasse qui devait masquer les arrangements à prendre pour qu'un prince français devînt prince de Neuchâtel, eut lieu à Gorgier. C'est ainsi que le haut-gruyer, Charles-Victor de Büren, au commencement du XVIlIme siècle, découvrit, un jour qu'il se livrait au noble art de la vénerie, un ourson sur un sapin. — Il commanda au garde qui l'accompagnait d'aller faire descendre l'animal de son gîte aérien. Mais le garde était fort craintif, en vrai écureuil qu'il était; il s'en défendit tant qu'impatienté de Büren s'élança sur l'arbre et grimpa jusqu'à l'ours, qui monta plus haut. Arrivés tous deux au sommet du sapin, force leur fut de s'arrêter. L'ours voulut faire repentir son ennemi de sa témérité : il lui allongeait d'énergiques coups de patte. Le haut-gruyer ne savait d'abord comment se défendre, car un coup d'arquebuse lui semblait quelque chose de vulgaire ; il ordonna à son domestique de lui apporter une corde avec un nœud coulant. Puis au premier mouvement hostile de son antagoniste, il lui passa le nœud à une patte et l'attira à lui. L'animal résistait. Le chasseur, qui était grand et fort, dut employer toutes ses forces pour lui faire lâcher prise. Bref, après un violent craquement, la branche, la corde, l'ours, le baron, tout dégringola. Fort heureux que le sapin fût garni de branches touffues! On arriva sans grand mal au pied de l'arbre. Là les chasseurs parvinrent à lier le jeune ours avant qu'il fût tout à fait revenu à lui. Il fut conduit à Vauxmarcus et élevé dans la cour du château. Quand l'hôte du baron eut pris de la taille, le haut-gruyer invita ses amis à une chasse à l'ours. L'animal fut lâché dans la combe boisée derrière le château. Une meute où figuraient tous les héros de la gent canine neuchâteloise fut mise sur la voie et l'on sonna le lancé. Mais lorsque les chiens s'approchèrent et voulurent l'attaquer, l'ours en éventra trois ou quatre de sa robuste patte ; aussitôt toute la meute tourna dos en hurlant, et l'animal s'enfonça rapidement au fond des bois. Les chasseurs déconcertés durent continuer la chasse sans meute; maintenant que la bête était lâchée, il fallait l'abattre, car le Gouverneur avait rendu le haut-gruyer responsable des dommages que pourrait causer l'ours s'il venait à s'échapper. Ce ne fut que après huit jours de battue et de fatigues que les chasseurs purent sonner la mort de l'ours de Vauxmarcus."

Genealogy Parchment Roll

noreply@blogger.com (Jean-François de Buren) — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:24:00 +0000

There are many family artifacts that I am drawn to, but one has always fascinated me. A genealogy tree or in this case a parchment roll that was created in the 17th century to chronicle the de Büren family history up to that point. The creator started to write widthwise as you would with an illustrated family tree, but thought better of it, given the length of the narrative and after the first generation began writing lengthwise.

It appears to be done by a family member and was possibly done by Jean-Charles de Büren (1636-1719). I imagine my ancestor with a quill and ink reservoir at a large table diligently writing out the early history of the de Büren family. I am sure it never crossed his mind that one of his descendants would be looking at his work 350 years on.

de Büren family genealogy parchment roll first entry – Arnold de Büren, 1166

14th century section

Parchment roll ends with the children of David de Büren and Marguerite de Bonstetten