Christopher Alt

M, #51, b. 20 May 1828, d. 15 July 1873

 
Christoph Alt

Father*Christoph Alt b. 5 Jan 1783, d. 24 Oct 1844
Mother*Anna Margareta Ruhl

ChartsDescendant Chart - Thomas Beane
Descendant Chart - Jeremiah Crossley
Descendant Chart - Samuel James

Birth*Christopher Alt was born on Tuesday, 20 May 1828 at Bannerod, Hessen Darmstadt, Germany.1 
Name Variation As of 20 May 1828, Christopher Alt was also known as Christoph.1 
He was the son of Christoph Alt and Anna Margareta Ruhl. 
Education*Christopher Alt was educated at Bannerod, Germany, The shipping records show that Christoph could read and write when he emmigrated to Australia. 
Description* In 26 July 1848 Christopher Alt was described as Born: 1828; Height: 6ft. 5in. (may not be the same as English measurements); Hair: Blond (in German can also mean light brown); Brow: Flat; Eyes: Brown; Eyebrows: Blond; Nose: (word illegible); Mouth: Regular; Beard: None; Chin: Notched; Face: Round; Facial Colour: Fresh (ruddy?); Distinguishing Marks: None.2
 
OccupationHe was a manservant from August 1848 to April 1849 at Lauterbach, Germany.3 
Milit-Beg*He was conscripted on 10 April 1849 in Germany into the Hessen Archducal Third Infantry Regiment. 
Milit-Medl*He was, on 29 August 1849 at CarlsRuhe, Germany,, awarded a commemorative medal by the Archduchy of Baden. The award certificate translated from German read as follows:
Be it known by these present that it pleased HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE ARCHDUKE (of Baden) on this day, the 29th August, 1849 to create and establish a Commemorative Medal in grateful recognition of services rendered him by the allied troops brought into the Archduchy for the purpose of suppressing the late Rebellion and as a lasting memorial of the military virtues displayed by those troops and to award the said medal to all those who took part without stain or disgrace in the late campaign against the rebels, wherefore the said Commemorative Medal is hereby given and awarded to: Private Christoph Alt, Hessen III, Infantry Regiment.

In witness whereof the present Award Certificate is hereby made and issued.4
 
Milit-MedlHe was, on 16 March 1850 at Darmstadt, Germany,, awarded The Field Service Medal by the Grand Duchy of Hesse. The translation of the German Certificate reads as follows:
Private Christoph Alt of Bannerod in the Administrative District of Alsfeld, at present serving in the Archducal 3rd Infantry Regiment, is hereby awarded the Field Service Medal, as created and established on the 14th June, 1840 for services in time of war. In witness whereof the present attestation is herby made and issued to the said Private Alt.5 
Milit-End*He was discharged as a Private on 29 February 1852 in Germany. His Certificate of Discharge read as follows (as translated from the German):
Private Christoph Alt of Bannerod in the administrative district of Alsfeld, Having been called to the colours in the second conscription intake of the year 1849 and having served since 16th April, 1849 in the III Infantry Regiment is hereby released and discharged from Military Forces of His Highness and Grand Duke of Hesse, in witness whereof the present Certificate of Discharge has been made and issued. The subject of this certificate may be liable for military service in future as a member of the relevant age classification.6
 
(Passenger) VoyageHe was a passenger aboard The Ship Reiherstieg which sailed from Hamburg, Germany, in 1852 and arrived in Sydney, NSW, Australia on 5 August 1852. 
Name Variation As of 1853, Christopher Alt was also known as John C and on the road as a carrier he was called "Johnie the German."7 
OccupationHe was a carrier between Yass and Sydney from 1853 to 1859.8 
Residence*He lived from 1857 to 1859 at Rossi Street, Yass, NSW, Australia.9 
Marriage*Christopher was married to Elizabeth Jeffrey, daughter of John Jeffery and Ellen Thompson, on Wednesday, 21 January 1857 at St Clements Church, Yass, NSW, Australia.10 
ResidenceChristopher Alt rented and lived from July 1859 to June 1864 at Galway Inn, at the junction of the Hume Highway and the road to Wargiela, about 2 miles from Yass, NSW, Australia. About April 1860 the name was changed to the Galway Arms and by 1861 was known as the Carriers Arms, the name it retained for the remainder of its existence.11
Naturalization*He was naturalized on 14 February 1861 at Yass, NSW, Australia.11 
Occupation*He was a farmer and inn keeper circa 1862 at Yass, NSW, Australia. 
Marriage*Christopher was married to Martha Crossley, daughter of Jeremiah Crossley and Sarah James, on Wednesday, 1 January 1862 at St Clements Church, Yass, NSW, Australia.12 
ResidenceChristopher Alt and Martha Crossley lived from July 1864 to January 1869 at Fairy Hole Creek Hotel, Boorowa Road near Yass, NSW, Australia.13
ResidenceChristopher Alt lived from 21 April 1869 to 15 July 1873 at Yass Hotel on the corner of Cooma and Rossi Streets, Yass, NSW, Australia.14 
(Witness) MarriageHe witnessed the marriage of John Schneider and Sidona Kleinschmidt on 21 March 1870 at St Clements Church, Yass, NSW, Australia.15 
Death*Christopher Alt died on Tuesday, 15 July 1873 at Yass, NSW, Australia, at age 45.1 
Burial*He was buried on 16 July 1873 at the Church of England section of the cemetery, Yass, NSW, Australia.16 
Obit*He had an obituary appear in The Yass Courier, Yass, NSW, Australia, on Friday, 18 July 1873 as follows:
DEATH OF A WELL-KNOWN TOWNSMAN
On last Tuesday Mr Christopher Alt died at his residence the Yass Hotel, at the comparatively early age of forty-three and his funeral, which was largely attended by all classes, took place on Wednesday afternoon. Mr Alt was for many years a carrier on the road, and was well-known as "Johnie the German". By industry and thrift, he acquired a snug farm in the neighbourhood of Yass, which he cultivated successfully, and latterly became landlord of the Yass Hotel. Not long after commencing hotelkeeping, he was attacked with illness, from which he suffered until the hour of his death, although medical practitioners both in Yass and Sydney were consulted. He was very generally respected and leaves a wife and seven children behind to mourn the loss of an attentive husband and father.17
 
ProbateChristopher died intestate and Letters of Administration were granted to his widow, Martha, on 7 August 1873, a month after he died. The value of the estate was sworn at three hundred pounds.17 

Family 1

Elizabeth Jeffrey b. 1829, d. 28 Feb 1861
Children

Family 2

Martha Crossley b. 15 Oct 1842, d. 14 Aug 1937
Children

Citations:

  1. [S47] Ronald Henry Alt, Christoph Alt, Appendic C, Family Tree No. 1.
  2. [S47] Ronald Henry Alt, Christoph Alt, Page 5.
  3. [S47] Ronald Henry Alt, Christoph Alt, Page 2.
  4. [S47] Ronald Henry Alt, Christoph Alt, Page 6.
  5. [S47] Ronald Henry Alt, Christoph Alt, Page 8.
  6. [S47] Ronald Henry Alt, Christoph Alt, Page 9.
  7. [S47] Ronald Henry Alt, Christoph Alt, Pages 13.
  8. [S47] Ronald Henry Alt, Christoph Alt, Pages 10-13.
  9. [S47] Ronald Henry Alt, Christoph Alt, Pages 12.
  10. [S2] Index of BDM records, NSW BDM, Place of Marriage Registration: Yass; Registration Year: 1857; Registration Number: 2858.
  11. [S47] Ronald Henry Alt, Christoph Alt, Pages 14.
  12. [S2] Index of BDM records, NSW BDM, Place of Registration: Yass
    Registration Year: 1862
    Registration Number: 3290.
  13. [S47] Ronald Henry Alt, Christoph Alt, Pages 18.
  14. [S47] Ronald Henry Alt, Christoph Alt, Pages 20.
  15. [S47] Ronald Henry Alt, Christoph Alt, page 79.
  16. [S47] Ronald Henry Alt, Christoph Alt, Pages 22.
  17. [S47] Ronald Henry Alt, Christoph Alt, Pages 23.
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