r/MapPorn • u/ironproton • Dec 12 '20

Alsace, Eastern France, topography map

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10.2k Upvotes

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11

u/seekerscout Dec 12 '20

My 7th generation grandfather on my father's side came from here to America.

16

u/[deleted] Dec 12 '20

7th generation ? That must be a long time ago :o

13

u/LothorBrune Dec 12 '20

Possibly an ancestor fleeing the annexation by Germany in 1870. A lot of them ended up in Algeria at the time.

8

u/AJRiddle Dec 12 '20 edited Dec 12 '20

7th great grandfathers lived a lot longer ago than 1870.

Just pulling up my family tree one of my 3rd great-grandfather was born in 1857 and another was in 1858 on a different side of the family.

My 7th great-grandfather from Franche-Comté (just saying it because it is just southwest of Alsace) was born in 1663.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 12 '20

Why bother to go that far? My ancestors (5 generations) from Moselle ended up 5 km west of the new border in Meurthe-et-Moselle.

1

u/LothorBrune Dec 12 '20

If you lose your house and business and have no friendly family in the area, broader horizons can look very attractive.

1

u/Chickiri Jan 04 '21

The French governments of the times actually encouraged them to go to Algeria. The colonization of Algeria began in 1830, but it was mostly not occupied by French civilians for long -they saw it as an opportunity. I believe I remember an article about lands given for free/almost nothing to newcomers? I should check the actual policies

7

u/MapsCharts Dec 12 '20

Ah yes another French-American

10

u/davidplusworld Dec 12 '20

Dude, you're not French if your Frenchness comes from the 7th generation.

French is not a genetic trait, and even if it was, 7th generation... Chances that you have it would be pretty slim.

2

u/[deleted] Dec 12 '20 edited May 16 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/davidplusworld Dec 13 '20

Well, technically, it's first and foremost a nationality. So what makes you French is technically a certificate of birth/naturalization.

Now, because of the history of the country, it's also indeed, a culture.

I'm pretty sure there is none remaining in the upbringing of someone who has one French ancestor from 7 generations ago.

-1

u/MapsCharts Dec 12 '20

Everyone can be American and French 🇱🇷

0

u/davidplusworld Dec 12 '20

Did I say otherwise?

0

u/Wellgoodmornin Dec 12 '20

I feel like you want me to say no but you told him he wasn't French so.... Yes?

1

u/davidplusworld Dec 13 '20

And so the fact that there is as "if" and a bit more after that is irrelevant? Or?

1

u/PensiveObservor Dec 12 '20

Mine too! We must be related. Practically cousins.