Burtschell/Burttschell Family International

Burtschell Family Reunion at the restored distillery where many reunion activities took place.

In 1974 Michel Rodier and his wife, Noelle, hosted a reunion of his mother’s Burtschell family at their home in Avon, Fontainebleau, France. The purpose of this first reunion was to help his mother stay in contact with her family. In 2017 Michel and Noelle’s son Remi Rodier and his wife, Valerie, hosted a reunion at their home in the Bonneville, Charente, region of France.

However, during the intervening 43 years, family contacts expanded well beyond the boundaries of the original area. Through family research, travel and use of technology, the original Burtschell reunion is now the Burtschell/Burttschell Family International Reunion with branches in Germany, France and the US. The 2017 reunion marks the twentieth anniversary of the international connection. By 1997 at a reunion in Lille, France – after six reunions under the leadership of Michel – Remi and cousins assumed the roles of organizers. For the first time, German cousins joined their French cousins. The Texas cousins could not attend but sent greetings and gifts.

Texas Burtschells in France

The French branch discovered their ancestor, Etienne (Stephan) Burtschell, had actually emigrated from Germany in 1823 to find work. As the youngest of three surviving brothers from the village of Büdesheim by Bingen on the Rhine, he looked to the Alsace area of France, married, and remained. Older brother Lucas with wife and ten children arrived in Texas and settled in Colorado County in 1846. Brother Franz Joseph remained in Germany, although a son, Francis R., immigrated to the US in 1846. He gradually moved from New York to Crescent City, California. George, another son of Franz Joseph, remained in Germany and is the ancestor of the German branch.

During the 20 years of the international gatherings, two reunions have been held in Germany, three in Texas, and four in France. The latest family celebration included 29 Texans, 14 Germans, and 44 French, representing four generations of the extended family.

The organizers promoted the Cognac/ Pineau area and its products. Some of the visitors traveled to Bordeaux for an interactive wine tour across the world and across the ages, cultures, and civilizations. La Cite du Vin – The City of Wine – opened in 2016 in an amazing architectural structure. Pre-reunion activities included a tour of the 12th century Cathedral of St. Peter in Angouleme, where the host couple, Remi and Valerie, were married.

Tours continued in the city of Cognac and the Martell facility, established in 1715. Visitors had a chance to do some tasting. Part of the group took a detour to Saintes to view a Gallo-Roman amphitheater from the first century AD. The rest traveled closer to the reunion site to see the Gallo-Roman theater Les Bouchauds – also from the first century AD.

Family members then gathered at the reunion site, a restored 17th century cognac distillery. It has been remodeled for family use. Everyone took advantage of time to relax, enjoy refreshments, and meet and greet cousins. In the evening they also celebrated a 50th wedding anniversary. Several families continued visiting and exploring the history of the area surrounding the Chateau de Gourville, which dates from the 1400s. It belonged to the family of the host’s mother, Noelle Rodier. It is now privately owned and is operated as a B&B and a place for group gatherings. Some cousins stayed there.

The reunion day began with Mass in the Chapel of St. Clement. The chapel from the 1600s still has remnants of early frescos. It was originally part of the family property but became district property after the 1789 revolution. The newly ordained presiding priest, Fr. Alban Rodier, is a cousin from Luxemburg. A brief history of the international reunion was included at the close of Mass.

After Mass, family gathered for refreshments and visiting. Tasting continued with the local Pineau des Charentes. A bottle of Cognac XO was shared and appreciated after coffee at the end of the meal. Younger family members went swimming in a pool added in the renovation.

After a day of visiting and sharing, the host led a walking history and sightseeing tour along farm roads through vineyards, fields of sunflowers, and the cemetery from the 1800s. The original cemetery had surrounded the chapel.

The Texas branch extended an invitation to Texas in 2019.

Report assembled and shared by Arliss Treybig, El Campo, Texas, representing the family’s Texas branch, and Remi Rodier, Bondues, France, representing the family’s French branch.