Rosalind, I. Adelaide Jenny Pittet would have been born on 9-March, 1893. Probably in Bière in Canton Vaud, rather than your spelling of Bierre (which has never existed). Bière is a small (pop. 1363) mountain (elev. 698 meters/2285 feet) village 20km due west of Lausanne (Lausanne is a very large city on the north side of the Lake of Geneva, also called Lac Leman). In your Grandmother's day, over a century ago, the population of Bière was 1271, but it was bustling. It is described in the 1907 Baedecker's Switzerland (on p. 277) as being approached by rail from Lausanne and Morges, a trip of one hour duration, 12 English miles, for a fare of 2 francs first class or 1 franc, 40 centimes second class. Further: "The line ascends the valley of the Morges (river) for 2 miles to Vufflens at the foot of the medieval château of that name, with its tower (160 feet in height), said to have been erected by Queen Bertha (of Swabia, wife of Rudolph II [912-937AD). Originally purposed as a church and Benedictine abby, the queen's bones, with those of her husband and her son Conrad, were discovered in 1864 and were reburied in the parish church, where the queen's saddle with a hole for her distaff [the staff for holding her flax or wool for spinning] is seen. Here too are seen some fine Etruscan artifacts and items of antiquities taken from the far greater Etruscan Collection at the Musée Fol in Geneva. Passing a wide bend to the left, we next pass the stations of Bussy, Yens (beyond which to the left, is the Château de Chardoney), Apples, and Ballens. 12 more miles gets you Bière (elev 2285', pop. 1271). Many hotels are described in some detail, as is the artillery training camp and its large barracks." II. The church records of Bière (VD) been filmed only for the years 1568-1821 (Reformed Church). Births, baptisms and marriages for 1568-1718 are on FHL's INTL FILM No. 128600. The same for the period 1719-1821 are on FHC INTL FILM No. 128601. The state archives listing is down for maintenance this afternoon, but tomorrow I will try for the e-mail address of Canton Vaud's archives. They will surely know the status of the church records for the period 1822-present [whether filmed or not]. Their snail-mail address is: ===== Archives Cantonales Vaudoises Rue du Maupas 47 1004 Lausanne Switzerland ===== III. Corresponding with Pittet families living in Switzerland today. In all Switzerland: 1639 families In Canton Vaud: 820 " In Bière (VD): 13 " If you wish to shotgun a letter to Pittet families resident in Bière today, let me know and I will provide the addresses. IV. SSD data: Pittet von Moos: Complete Zimmermann John: Essai généalogique sur les Pittet de Pampigny, d'Yverdon et de Bussigny. La Topur-de-Peliz 1974 - 5 cahiers, 136 f., 11 p., 36 p. (aux archives cantonales vaudoises) Zimmermann John: Essai généalogique sur les Pittet de Suchy. La Tour-de-Peliz 1974 - 10 f. (aux archives cantonales vaudoises) de Diesbach-Belleroche Benoît: Mélanges généalogiques: La famille Pittet de La Joux. In: Bulletin, Institut fribourgeois d'Héraldique et de Généalogie. 1989, no 5 - p. 19-23 et 1990, no 6 - p. 2-4 (de Bussigny-près-Lausanne: PAM 35p.) (de Pampigny : PAM 136f., 11 p., 35 p.) (de Pampigny : PAM 35p.) (de Suchy : PAM 10 f.) (de Yverdon : PAM 136 f., 11p., 35 p.) PAM -- ZIMMERMANN John: Essai généalogique sur les familles de Pampigny ... La Tour-de-Peilz 1975, 1 dossier (aux archives cantonales vaudoises EA 79) (de Cuarnens : COS Bd. 2, S. 34) COS-- LEUBA Pierre: Familles de la région de Cossonay. Cossonay 1953. (SA aus: Journal de Cossonay 1952 bis 1955) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Pittet Familiennamenbuch 1989: Complete BE Bern 1923 (Le Crêt FR) Sigriswil 1952 * FR Bouloz a Chapelle (Broye) b(Cheiry FR) Cheiry a Le Crêt a Les Ecasseys a Grangettes a La Joux FR a Mézières FR a Montet (Broye) a Romanens a Romont FR a Sâles (Gruyère) a Surpierre a Vuisternens-devant-Romont a GE Carouge GE 1928(Ormont-Dessous VD) 1941(Romanens FR) 1950(La Joux FR) 1961(Romanens FR) Choulex 1923 F 1935(La Joux FR) Collonge-Bellerive 1928 F Cologny 1891 F Genève 1851(Cillars-le-Terroir VD) 1913(Bière VD) 1915(Pampigny VD) 1928(Ollon VD) 1929(La Joux FR) 1934(Villars-le-Terroir VD) 1949, 1958(Romanens FR) 1960(Villars-le-Terroir VD) 1961(Cheiry FR) 1961(La Joux FR) 1961(Villars-le-Terroir VD) Lancy 1929(Bière VD) 1961(Romanens FR) Pregny-Chambésy 1943(Ormont-Dessous VD) Vernier 1953(La Joux VD) Veyrier 1950(Pampigny VD) 1956(La Joux VD) NE La Chaux-de-Fonds 1890(Ormont-Dessous VD) Neuchâtel 1929(Les Ecasseys FR) VD Bière a Bussigny-près-Lausanne a Cossonay 1959(La Joux FR) Cronay a Cuarnens a Granges-près-Marnand c(Seigneux VD) Lausanne 1956(Chapelle[Broye]FR) 1958(La Joux FR) 1959(Romanens FR) Lavey-Morcles a(Ormont-Dessous VD) Malapalud 1962* Miles 1957(La Joux FR) Mollens VD 1952* Montreux b Ollon 1805(Ormont-Dessous VD) Ormont-Dessous a Pampigny a Pizy 1929 F Pully 1957(Romanens FR) Seigneux a suchy a Villars-Bramard a Villars-le-Terroir a Yverdon 1819(Pampigny VD) 1957(Le Crêt FR) ZH Zürich 1949(Ormont-Dessous VD) ------------------End of FNBS ' 89 --------------------------------- Thank you for writing to the Swiss List. If you have any questions on any of the above, or if you wish the addresses of Pittets living in Bière (or anywhere else in Switzerland) today, just ask. Regards, Pete Mattli Clermont, FL SSD Admin [email protected] ================ Subj: [SWISS-SURNAMES] Pittet of Bierre. Date: 2/16/2003 12:06:06 PM Eastern Standard Time From: <A HREF="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</A> To: <A HREF="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</A> Sent from the Internet (Details) Hello everyone, I am looking for information on my Grandmother and her family. Adelaide Jenny PITTET, born 9 March 1893 in Bierre. She had two Brothers, John and Armand. At some time whilst young, her Mother died.(Aline Eugenie Louise CHOLLET) I believe her Father, Henri Frederic PITTET remarried and had a daughter, Fanny. As a young girl she went to live with family in Malta - Naval people. There she met my Grandfather, Edgar SMEETON, and married in Valetta in 1913. My Father Robert was born in 1914. He had 2 sisters, Melita Aline who died in 1918, and Melita Aline Mary who died in 1924. Has anyone heard of - or have connections with this family? I would love to hear from you. Best wishes.Rosalind.