François Chouvy, son of François Chouvy & Françoise Gauthier, was born on 7 December 1789 in Vic-le-comte, France.
On 29 April 1808 (at the age of 18½), he was drafted into the 8th Light Infantry Regiment. The garrison of the regiment was located in Geneva. He served in Napoleon's Army and fought against the Russians. He was captured by the Russians and resettled in the Volga German colony of Graf.
On 13 August 1813, he was recorded in Graf as an hired-hand of colonist Sebastian Heile. His name among the Volga German colonies became Franz Schuvie.
On 12 June 1814, together with six other prisoners of war, he submitted a petition for Russian citizenship. On 3 August 1814, he was recorded as a colonist in Graf (rather than a prisoner of war).
On 13 October 1814, he married Margareta Niederquell, daughter of Konrad Andreas Niederquell & Anna Maria Chaminé. Their children include: Walburga (1818), Anton (1821), Barbara (1825), Konrad (1827), Maria Anna (1830), Elisabeta (1834), and Anton (1837).
On 23 September 1839, he died in Graf [the 1850 census records erroneously that he died in 1849].
François Chouvy (Franz Schuvie) had three half brothers from his father's first marriage and three full sisters and two full brothers. They all remained in Vic-le-comte and raised families.
- 1834 Census of Graf.
- 1850 Census of Graf (No. 69).
- Le 8ème Régiment d'Infanterie Légère: 1796-1815 (online).
- Parish register of Graf.
- Parish register of Vic-le-comte.
- Belousov, S.V. "Prisoners of war of Napoleon's army in the Volga region: the arrangement, content, relationships with the local population." Bulletin of the Samara State University, No. 1 (Samara, Russia: Samara State University, 2006): 48-55.
Ivan Serov
Sean McGinnis
Brent Mai
Parish register of Vic-le-comte recording the birth of François Chouvy (line 44).
Source: Sean McGinnis.
Parish register of Vic-le-comte recording the birth of François Chouvy.
Source: Sean McGinnis.