Hi Ellen, The nitty-gritty answer: It could be either. When I say I'm from Santa Barbara, that could mean I'm from Santa Barbara County (yes) OR from the city of Santa Barbara (no) OR I may have just mentioned the largest city near me (yes, since I live outside the city limits, in an unincorporated area between the cities of Santa Barbara and Goleta.) So, your Isadore could have been born actually in the town/city of Wissembourg or in any of the villages found in the arrondissement or anywhere near Wissembourg, if W was closer than any other large town/city. Don¹t you wish it could be narrowed down better? Darn! Re: your question of dates US vs EU(rope).....one must remember that most records were not written by the person involved, for instance the children¹s birth records were written by either a pastor/rabbi/priest or the mayor or other civil official (and who knows WHO gave the information?) If the mother in June 1874 said the father is 50 (AND was accurate!), resulting in a researcher stating 1824, whereas his birth date could be between June 1823 and Jun 1824. AND if the wife never knew exactly how old he was (perhaps he didn¹t know!) she may have said 47 or 48 or 49 or 50 or 51 or 52....or? Also remember that most families did not have calendars in their homes, nor have the profusion of dated memorabilia found in most homes today. Were I you, I¹d start with Jeannette¹s birth, since it¹s narrowed down to a particular village. I see the LDS has microfilmed civil reg pertinent to her birth year: France, Haut-Rhin, Durmenach - Civil registration Titles Registres de l'état civil, 1792-1882 Durmenach (Haut-Rhin). Officier de l'état civil Once you find her birth, look also for a marriage record, which MIGHT tell you specifically from where her bridegroom came. I suggest you start out with the 10 year indexes: Naissances, mariages, décès 1793-1872 Tables décennales 1802-1872 FHL INTL Film 731640 Cari Thomas ------------------- >Hello Listers.... >I've been trying to find information on one Isidore Alexandre who married Jeannette Weiller (prior to 1874, date and place unknown). Three of their children were born in Belfort between 1874 and 1879. Jeannette, I'm fairly certain, was born 1846 in Durmenach. The only Isidore Alexandre I've been able to find was on the list of optants which says he was born 18 Sept 1847 in Wissembourg. My question is, would that mean the village of Wissembourg or could it mean the Arrondissement? Also, the date of birth given is off by about 3 years compared to the date of birth stated on his children's birth records. I know that the records here in the US are frequently at odds regarding birth dates but is that something you also see in France? >Will really appreciate anyone's thoughts and opinions. >Ellen Alexander Jacksonville, Florida