Dear Linda, in the meantime I have received some information from an experienced researcher of this name (Dr. Valentin Theus, doesn't have e-mail) - see below : > ---------- > Von: Linda[SMTP:Bock@nebi.com] > Gesendet: Dienstag, 1. Februar 2000 04:48 > An: SWITZERLAND-L@rootsweb.com > Betreff: [SWITZ] Theiler-Tyler > ........ > THEUS - Domat Ems, Chur, Graubunden, Switzerland. Departed Rotterdam > with Capt. Percy arrived Charles Town, South Carolina were Christian Theus > was ordained Minister of the Gospel. He had completed his studies at the > Reformed Theological Seminary prior to leaving Switzerland. Rev. Theus > was > the first minister and school teacher in Saxe Gotha (SC) Township in 1739. > His brother, Jeremiah Theus, was a famous portrait painter in Charles > Town. > * On 20 MaR 1736 Orangeburgh(SC) town lot 264 and 250 acres granted. > To avoid further misunderstandings : "Domat Ems, Chur, Graubuenden" is some sort of contradiction in itself - both Domat Ems and Chur are independent communities in Canton Graubuenden (Grisons), with Chur being the capital. To start with, therefore "Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz" http://swiss.genealogy.net/famnam-m.htm should be consulted. If you don't have easy access to this source, check the "Swiss Surname Directory" http://swiss.genealogy.net/surnam-m.htm (please, read the description, and then follow the link to the query page) where you'll also find other basic information on this name, plus a list of other people interested in the same name (with e-mail addresses). Now - Familiennamenbuch lists Theus citizenships prior to 1800 in only two locations : Domat Ems and Felsberg (neighbouring villages in Graubuenden); there are today also Theus of Chur - but this line was granted Chur citizenship as late as 1922 - of no interest to you. So a citizenship at Domat Ems seems plausible at first sight. Puzzling, however, is the fact that Domat Ems was a purely catholic parish during the 18th century - whilst Felsberg was protestant. Two explanations come to mind : either Domat Ems is wrong (and you would better look in Felsberg), or Christian Theus was converted, attended the Reformed Theological Seminar - and emigrated because he couldn't really return to his home town Domat Ems (??). Dr. Theus had done extensive research in Domat Ems back to mid-18th century - a bit late for your Christian - but he didn't find any Christian or Jeremiah there; whilst favourite names may have changed over the decades, this may also be an indication that these two names were at least not common in Domat Ems. Dr. Theus has not researched Felsberg. Felsberg church records have been filmed - unfortunately they only date back to 1711 (at least on film - don't know whether older records exist, and have not been filmed). Domat Ems church records seem not to have been filmed. This sort of info you find most easily (when you know the canton you are looking for) by starting from http://swiss.genealogy.net/ldsloc-m.htm I hope this gets you started, and send my best regards - Wolf ---------------------- Wolf W. Seelentag, PhD, e-mail : wolf@swissmail.com Reherstr. 19, CH - 9016 St. Gallen, Switzerland Tel (home) : +41-71-2885121 Fax : +49-89-2443-91987 Tel (work) : +41-71-4942233