Francis Joseph Xavier REISS

   Another name for Francis was Frank REISS Frank J. Reiss, Francis J. Reiss.

  General Notes:

The evidence gathered confirms that the Francis Reiss buried in St. John's Cemetery is the father of this line. However, there are some major pieces of information about this individual that did not match up with family beliefs - the place of origin in Europe, the different middle names he used, and his place of birth. This man declared on each census from 1900 to 1930 that his parents came from Germany, not Alsace (which the family believed); his middle name is Joseph in most records but Xavier in one; and the death certificate declared that he was a lifelong resident of New York City, not a transplant from upstate. One constant is that he was most often known as Frank Reiss.

A letter from the Church of the Annunciation, 5/4/99, indicates that the family lived at 166 Hope Street, Brooklyn when their son, "Ludovicus Franciscus" (Louis Frank) was baptized in 1894. The other two children were also baptized at the Church of the Annunciation.

Conversations with Rosemary Reiss on June 21 and 22, 2000 supplied previously unknown information. Rosemary said that Frank was a member of the Third Order of St. Francis. She remembered her mother saying that the first time her mother visited Frank, she had to wait because he was saying a Rosary. Rosemary said that Frank Reiss remarried, but she did not know when that happened. She said that Frank's new wife threw the two teenage boys (Charles and Louis F.) out of the house. Their sister, Mae, married in 1914. Rosemary said that Charles and Frank lived in a boarding homes after being evicted. Charles and Louis were boarders on Metropolitan Avenue in 1920. Rosemary further stated that Frank was still alive in 1920-21 because her father and mother went to Frank's house and Frank's wife would not let them in. During a conversation in May 2001, Rosemary stated that her family went to visit Frank when her brother brother Charles was about 8 years old and was told by the second wife, "He is dead." Charles would have been eight years old in 1931.

Inquiry at the Brooklyn Diocese Cemeteries Office on June 16, 2000 indicates that there is a Francis Reiss (age 64) interred at St. John's Cemetery, Middle Village, in 1931. There are two other persons in the grave, females named Caroline Reiss. The Social Security Application for Caroline Reiss (born August 12, 1909) indicates that her parents were Francis Xavier Reiss and Caroline Renner. This appears to be the family that is buried in St. John's Cemetery. During a conversation on April 30, 2001, Rosemary stated that Francis Xavier was the correct name for Frank and that this would be his grave. She stated that the family was upset because he was not buried in Most Holy Trinity cemetery, where his first wife is buried.

A letter was sent to the Brooklyn Cemeteries Office on May 1, 2001 requesting information on the Francis Reiss buried in St. John's Cemetery. The death certificate for this Francis Reiss was also requested and was received on 7/2/01. The death certificate stated that Francis was a retired jeweler who had worked for 30 years at that profession. His parents are listed as Francis Reiss and Betty Mertz, both born in Germany. His birthdate does not appear and his birthplace is listed only as "US." The death certificate also states that he had lived in the City of New York for all of his life. His cause of death is listed as carcinoma of the stomach (inoperable). Another word appears to be "exhaustion." He was treated from February 18, 1931 until March 6, 1931 by a doctor whose name appears to be Francis A. Ka?ster who is listed at 751 Bushwick Avenue. The place of death was 6819 Nansen, Queens, described as a private residence. The undertaker was George Baque, 614 Woodward Ave. and burial was March 9, 1931.

Request for a search of birth records for Manhattan in the NYC Archives brought a listing for a Frank Reiss, born January 31, 1866 at 36 3rd Avenue to an Emerich and Elizabeth Reiss.

In checking online directories and census records during 2001 and 2002, there were few individuals named Francis or Frank Reiss. On July 2, 2001, I found a Francis Reiss, age 45, born in Prussia, enumerated in New York County in the 1860 census (17th Ward, District 9, page 650). He was a jeweler. He had a wife named Elizabeth, age 48. They had two sons, Emery (age 18) and Adolph (age 11). Despite an extensive search, Francis was not found in the 1870 census indexes or on census images at Ancestry.com or HeritageQuestOnline.com. City Directories for 1870 will be searched to locate their address in that year.

On Nov. 3, 2003, the following entry was found in the 1880 census viewed at FamilySearch.org. Francis Raiss, age 65, born in Prussia, a retired jeweler is enumerated at 166 Hope Street with son, E. Joseph, age 39, born in Prussia, a bartender, Mary E., daughter-in-law, age 40, born in Bavaria, and Francis, age 14, grandson. Despite the different spelling this is most certainly the same Francis Reiss enumerated in Manhattan in 1860 and the Reiss line we are researching.

The 1900 Federal census lists the Frank Reiss family at 168 Leonard Street (one of eight families at that site). According to the census record (June 1900), Frank and Mary had been married for 9 years, indicating that they were married after June 1890. Since their first child was born in October 1891, they were probably married by January 1891. Other information in the census record is that Frank's parents were born in Germany. His occupation was listed as "jeweler." The 1897-98 Brooklyn City Directory lists a Frank Reiss as a jeweler and living at 152 Leonard Street. This is the address where his mother, Mary E., died in 1898. In the 1909-1910 Brooklyn City Directory, Frank was living at 103 Ten Eyck St. which is the address given on the death certificate for his wife, Mary E., who died in 1903.

In October 2002, the 1910 census index CD was ordered from Heritage Quest. This CD shows a Frank Reiss in the 15th ward of Brooklyn, Roll 964, page 34A. This roll of the 1910 census was ordered and examined on Nov. 12, 2002. The Frank Reiss family was living at 101 TenEyck St. and included Frank, Carrie (wife), Mary, Charles, Louis, and Carrie. Due to the accuracy of the names and ages, this most certainly is the same Frank whose first wife was Mary Thomser, and the grandfather of Thomas Reiss.

The 1920 Census for Kings County (page 10A, ED 1212) shows Frank Reiss, age 53, born in New York, enumerated with Caroline (age 47), his wife, and Caroline (age 10), his daughter, at 292 Trautman St. His parents are listed as being from Germany and German-speaking. He is identified as a jeweler at a jewelry store. His wife is identified as having been born in Germany and as being a naturalized citizen. Their daughter was born in New York.

In the 1930 census, Frank (age 64) and wife and daughter are enumerated at 6819 Nansen St., Forest Hills, Queens. He has no occupation listed.

The Applications for Social Security Numbers for Louis Frank and Caroline Reiss were examined. Louis Frank claimed that his father's name was Frank Joseph. That for Caroline stated that her father's name was Francis Xavier.

In July 2003, I joined the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. This organization is located in New York City and does research on people who have lived there. On July 14, I ordered a 3 hour search for Francis (Frank) Reiss to determine if he is the Frank Reiss who was born at 36 3rd Avenue, Manhattan on January 31, 1866. The NYG&B did not address that question but did find a listing in the Grooms Index for an October 24, 1908 wedding. This certificate has been ordered from the NYC Archives. The parentage and place of birth would be included on this form.

On November 3, 2003, based on a tip found on the NYC-Roots maillist, I searched city directories for Brooklyn and Manhattan online at Ancestry.com. I found 1890-91 Lain's Brooklyn Directory listings for a Francis Reiss and a Francis J. Reiss at 166 Hope Street, Brooklyn. The 1881 Lain's Brooklyn Directory lists a Francis Reiss, jeweler, at that address. The 1859 New York City Business Directory lists an F. Reiss at 36 Third Ave. in the "Watches and Jewelry, Dealers" section. The 1861-1864 Trow's Manhattan Directories have listings for a Francis Reiss, jeweler, living at 36 Third Av. This is the same address given for the birthplace of a Frank Reiss, son of Emerich and Elizabeth Reiss on January 31, 1866. In the 1869 NYC Directory, there is a watchmaker named Francis Reiss at 19 Hester St.

On the basis of this new information, it is believed that this is the Reiss family that we have been searching for. Further research will be done to verify the accuracy of the assumptions.

A letter was sent to Annunciation Church, Brooklyn for information concerning a marriage record for Frank and Caroline. A response arrived on May 4, 2001 that they did not have those records. It was suggested that we contact the Church of St. Anthony-St. Alphonsus. St. Alphonsus was a German parish in the 19th century as was Annunciation. It is unlikely that the family attended that parish because it was quite a distance from where they were living. However, that church was contacted and a reply was received that they required a fee of $50 to check their records. Since it was unknown whether that search would be successful, it was not pursued.

On December 22, 2003 I received the Affadavit for License to Marry and Certificate and Record of Marriage for Frank Reiss and Carrie Renner, dated October 13, 1908. On the Affidavit, Frank was living at 103 Ten Eyck Street, Brooklyn. He was 42 years old and a jeweler, born in Manhattan. His parents are listed as Emil Reiss and Mary E. Rouch, both born in Germany. This is his second marriage and his former wife is dead. Carrie was living at 247 Melrose St., Brooklyn. She was 36 years old and never married before. No occupation was listed. Her place of birth is listed as Bruchsal, Baden. Her parents were Frank M. and Johanna Merz Renner, both born in Germany. The Certificate repeats some of the same information. The Record is filled out by the priest who performed the marriage, James F. Crowley. The marriage took place on October 25, 1908. A check of the 1910 census shows a James F. Crowley as pastor of Church of the Immaculate Conception of BVM. This church is close to where Frank was living. A letter will be sent to that church requesting the church records for the marriage and for the baptism of Caroline.

Francis married Mary Elizabeth THOMSER, daughter of Louis THOMSER and Appolonia Elisabeth KÖFERL, about 1890. (Mary Elizabeth THOMSER was born on 14 Dec 1871 in Williamsburg, Kings, NY, USA, died on 29 Jan 1903 in Brooklyn, Kings, NY, USA and was buried on 1 Feb 1903 in Brooklyn, Kings, NY, USA.)