Nicolaus² Poncelet (___________¹) was born 10 March 1811 at, probably, Battincourt (then Bettem) in Commune Aubange of the Province of Luxembourg, Belgium. His birth may be recorded in Battincourt birth records. His parents' names are unknown.

He died 14 May 1890, age 79 of _____________, at _____________, ______________ County, __________. The funeral was held _____________________, at _________________ church, __________, and he is buried in ___________ cemetery at ____________. His death is recorded in _____ County death records, v. ____, p. ____.

He married Anna Steinbach 9 October 1847 at Port Washington, then Washington County, Wisconsin. Geo. W. Forter, Justice of the Peace presided. Witnesses were ______________ and _____________. See also Ozaukee County marriage records, v 1, no. 119.

She was born _____________, at _____________, ___________, the daughter of _____________ and _____________ (___________) Steinbach. Her birth is recorded in ___________ birth records.

She died _____________________, age __ of _____________, at _____________, ______________ County, __________. The funeral was held _____________________, at _________________ church, __________, and she is buried in ___________ cemetery at _________. Her death is recorded in _______ County death records, v. ___, p. ____.

According to the death record of Nicolaus' daughter Mary, he was born in France. See Ozaukee County death records, v 11, no. 220.

He and his brother Joseph were among a group of families from Luxembourg and Belgium’s Province of Luxembourg who migrated to the United States in the summer of 1845 and settled near Holy Cross (Helleg Kräiz" in Luxembourgish) in the Town of Belgium, six miles from Port Washington on the road to Fredonia.

At that time, the Holy Cross area was a wilderness, an endless forest. Indians still roamed the area and their presence stirred fear among the white settlers. Their first homes were log huts and transformation of the dark, silent virgin forest into green, fertile fields and pasture required hard work. The group lost no time, however, in constructing a parish church of logs. In the early days, there was no money for a church bell; the Ave Maria was sounded with a shepherd's horn.

On 4 October 1847, Nicholas Polslese paid Nicholas Steinbach and Barbara, his wife, of Port Washington $50 for 40 acres in the Town of Belgium described as:

The southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section Number Nineteen in Township Number twelve North of Range Number twenty-two East containing forty acres....

The deed was signed by Nicholas Steinbach and Barbara made her mark. These signatures were witnessed by Geo. W. Foster and Metgas Gietzen. The deed was recorded 6 May 1850 in Ozaukee County deed book F, p 418-419.

On 29 August 1854 Nicolaus Pously paid Jean Baptist Miller and Catharina Miller, his wife, of the town of Belgium $150 for 20 acres described as:

The North half of the South West quarter of the South West quarter of Section No. twenty in township No. twelve, North of Range No. twenty two, 22, East containing twenty acres....

The deed was signed by J. B. Muller, and Catharina made her mark. These signatures were witnessed by Herman J. Schulteis and W. H. Ramsey. The deed was recorded 29 August 1854 in Ozaukee County deeds, book 2, p 600-601.

On 14 July 1855, Nicholas Posly and Francis Antoine of Belgium, Ozaukee County, signed a land contract agreeing to pay Dennis Morrissey of Marshall, Calhoun County and State of Michigan $880 for 80 acres described as:

... the East half ½, of the South West quarter, ¼ of Section twenty six, 26, town twelve, 12, Range twenty two, 22, East....

They agreed to pay $440.00 at the "ensiling and delivery hereof" and $440.00 "one year from the Date of this Contract, together with twelve per cent in interest per annum until paid...."

The contract was signed by Francais Antwin, Niclais Ponslet and Dennis Morrissy. Their signatures were witnessed W. Lynn and M. Martini. The contract was recorded 18 August 1855 in Ozaukee County deed book 4, p 594-595.

On 15 June 1857, Nicholas Poncelet and Francois Antoine of the Town of Belgium paid Dennis Morrissey of Marshall Calhoun County and State of Michigan $880 for:

The East half ½ of the South West quarter ¼ of Section twenty six (26) Town Twelve (12) North of Range twenty two (22) east....

Dennis Morrissey signed the deed in the presence of L. G. Noyes and Samuel S. Lacey. The deed was recorded 23 June 1857 in Ozaukee County deed book 8, pp. 448-449.

On 23 June 1857, Nicholas Poncelet and Anna, his wife, sold 20 acres to Anton Hubing for $400 described as:

The North half of the East half of the East half of the South West quarter of Section Number twenty six Town Twelve (12) North of Range Twenty Two East, containing 20 acres...except a strip of Land of a width of seven and one half along the West side of said land also right of way upon a certain road, belonging to...François Antoine running along the middle, North and South, of the East half of the said South West quarter, of a width of fifteen feet.

Both Nicholas Poncelet and Anna Poncelet made their marks in the presence of William A. Pors and Francois Antoine. The deed was recorded 23 June 1857 in Ozaukee County deed book 8, pp. 445-446

On 23 June 1857, Nicholas Poncelet and Anna, his wife, sold 40 acres to Francois Antoine for $1 described as:

The undivided half of the West half of the East half of the South West quarter of Section twenty six (26) Town Twelve (12) North of Range twenty two East...with the exception of a strip of land of a width of Seven feet and one half along the East side of the said piece of Land, said strip being one half of a road to be common between the said parties....

Both Nicholas and Anna Poncelet signed the deed with their marks in the presence of Anton Hubing and William A. Pors. The deed was recorded 23 June 1857 in Ozaukee County deed book 8, pp. 446-447.

On 23 June 1857, Nicholas Poncelet paid Francois Antoine and Catharine his wife "the sum of one dollar" for __ acres described as:

One undivided half of the East half of the South West quarter of Section Number twenty six (26) town twelve (12) North of Range twenty two (22) East...with the exception of a strip of land of a width of Seven feet and one half along the West side of the said piece of Land, said strip being one half of a road to be common between the said parties....

Francois Antoine signed the deed and his wife Catharine made her mark in the presence of William A. Pors and Anton Hubing. The deed was recorded 23 June 1857 in Ozaukee County deed book 8, pp. 447-448.

On 8 February 1858, Nicholas Ponsly and Anna, his wife, of the Town of Belgium sold John N. Ponsly for $300, 20 acres adjoining the 80 acres bought in July 1855 for $880, described as:

The West half (of the) South West quarter South East quarter Section No. Twenty Six, 26, Township No. Twelve, 12, Range No. Twenty two, 22, East containing twenty acres...

This deed description is incorrect. It should read:

The South half of the East half of the East half of the South West quarter of Section 26, Township 12, Range 22 East, containing 20 acres…

Nicholas Ponsly made his mark, and Anna Ponsly signed her name. Their signatures were witnessed by Paul Ronk and Geo E. Choll. The deed was recorded 20 January 1859 in Ozaukee County deed book 7, p 632.

On 16 September 1865 Nicolaus Ponsle and Anna his wife sold 20 acres to Barbara Steinbach for $525 described as:

The West twenty acres of the North East Quarter of the North West Quarter of Section Number Thirty (30) in Township Number Twelve (12) North of Range No. Twenty two (22) East

Both Nicolaus and Anna Ponsle signed the deed with their marks in the presence of A. Heidkamp and D. Lanser. The deed was recorded 18 September 1865 in Ozaukee County deed book 16, p 427.

We have not determined when they purchased this land.

On 16 September 1865, Nicolas Possle and Anna his wife of the town of Belgium, Ozaukee County, were paid $525 by Nicolas Wagner of the same place for 20 acres described as:

the East twenty acres of the North East quarter of the North West quarter of Section Number thirty (30) township Number twelve (12) North of Range Number twenty two (22) East.

Both Nicolas Possele and his wife Anna signed with their marks, witnessed by A. Heidkamp and Nicolas Pierron. The deed was recorded 2 April 1866 in Ozaukee County deed book 18, p 201.

We have not determined when they purchased this land.

This 20 acres is currently (1991) owned by M. A. Thill.

On 17 December 1875, Nicholas Ponsley and Anna Ponsley, his wife, sold 100 acres to Nicholas Ponsley junior and Catharine Depiesse for $5,000. described as:

The South Half of the South East quarter of Section No. Nineteen (19);

And also the North Half of the South West Quarter of the South West quarter of Section No. Twenty (20), all in Township No. Twelve (12) North of Range No. Twenty Two (22) East; containing One hundred acres of Land, more or less.

Both Nicholas and Anna Ponsley made their marks, witnessed by Peter Jones and Heinrich Müller. The deed was recorded 15 March 1876 in Ozaukee County deed book 29, p 269.

Of the 100 acres, Nicholas and Anna had purchased 40 acres on 4 October 1847 and 20 acres on 29 August 1854. We have not determined when they purchased the other 40 acres.

The 20 acre parcel lies across county highway B from the 80 acre parcel about a mile north of Holy Cross. These parcels are part of a larger 240 acre farm currently (1991) owned by Leroy and Ella C. Possley.

On 1 February 1877, Nicholas Ponsli paid $1,062 to John Baptist Marshall and Anna Jungers, his wife, for ten acres described as:

The North West Quarter of the South West quarter of the North East Quarter of Section No. Thirty Two (32) Township No. Twelve (12) North of Range No. Twenty Two (22) East, containing ten (10) acres of land, be the same more or less.

The deed was signed by J. B. Marchall and Anna Jungers and their signatures were witnessed by A. Heidkamp and Nickolas Ponsley, Jr. The deed was recorded 1 February 1877 in Ozaukee County deed book 29, p 603.

We have not determined when this property was sold.

The Poncelets had four children:

Nicholas Possley Jr. = Katherine Depiesse
Mary Possley ............= John Feireisen
Catherine Possley ...= Never married
Frank Possley ..........= Mina ______ ______

Return to Possley/Poncelet Table of Contents

Return to Possley/Poncelet home page