Appolonia Elisabeth KÖFERL

  General Notes:

According to the Certificate of Death for Appolonia, she died at 58 Ten Eyck St., Brooklyn. This address is identified as a tenement. She was 28 years, 4 months and 20 days old. The cause of death was Phthisis Pulmonalis (which was also the cause of death for her daughter, Mary). The doctors name was written as Samuel J. Brady, M.D., 16 Bedford Ave. She was buried at Holy Trinity Cemetery on September 29, 1879. The undertaker was George Steinmetz, 170 Montrose Ave. Her occupation was listed as Housekeeper. The certificate also states that she was a resident of the City of New York for 28 years. The certificate stated that her parents were born in Germany. However, the Certificate did not give their names. In the birthplace <state or country> box, "EPPillinsburg" is written. On May 3, 2003 I posted a message on the NYC-Roots mail list asking if anyone had a clue about that birthplace. I received the following response from Russell K. Brown: Probably "E.D. [for Eastern District] Williamsburg." Williamsburg was known as the Eastern District of Brooklyn for many years after it was annexed by that city in 1854(?). Upon further examination of the writing (the PP looks a lot like a fancy W. The transcript of the death certificate was produced in 1911, long after Appolonia died and long after Williamsburg was referred to as the Eastern District. The original writing might have been hard to decipher and the transcriber did the best he could. The microfilm containing a copy of Appolonia's original death certificate was ordered and studied. It is quite certain that the physician filled out the certificate and that his name was Samuel W. Brady, M.D. The "W" in his name matches almost exactly the first letter of Appolonia's place of birth which appears to be Williamsburg, although this is not a state or country.

Further research in census records produced one couple who appear to be the parents of Appolonia, Anton (Anthony) and Appolonia Koferl (enumerated as Kaferly and Keffer in the 1860 and 1870 census. Another couple was Joseph and Theresia Ko(e)ferl, both born in Germany. They were found in the 18th ward, Brooklyn (which is part of Williamsburg), in the 1870 and 1880 censuses but not before. No children were found with this couple in either census. No record of this couple was found in previous census records. Another possibility was a Charles and Mary Koferl who resided in Elizabeth, NJ with a son, Augustus. All three were born in Germany and emigrated sometime between 1842 and 1849. Charles is identified as a Watchmaker. Charles was found in the 1870 and 1900 censuses enumerated at Tusten, Sullivan Co., NY. In 1870 Charles and Mary are alone. Therefore, they could not have been the parents of Appolonia. Charles Koferl is enumerated alone in the 1900 census in Tustin, Sullivan County. He is listed as being a watch and clock repairer. Charles was not found in the 1860 and 1880 census.

The Brooklyn City Directories for 1888-90 list three Koferls: Anthony, Henry and Henry, Jr. They are all jewelers, living at 182 Johnson Avenue. The 1860 census lists a Henry as a son of "Anthony Kaferly." Henry has a sister named Appolonia.

Appolonia married Louis THOMSER, son of Jean THUMSER and Marguerite BURGUN, on 14 May 1867 in Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Williamsburgh, NY. (Louis THOMSER was born on 3 Jan 1842 in Götzenbrück, Lorraine, France, died on 4 Sep 1911 in Brooklyn, Kings, NY, USA and was buried on 16 Apr 1935 in Holy Rood Cemetery, Westbury, Li, NY.)