Schexnayder is a common name found in southern Louisiana. The first Schexnayders came to Louisiana in the early 1700s. They settled in what is called the "German Coast". Hanno Deiler lists 27 spellings of the Schexnayder surname found in official documents. The name is likely a French adaptation of the German surname Schachtschneider. It may refer to;
Irving "Boo" Schexnayder,, Noted coach and educator
First Families
Three Schexnayder families departed Europe, bound for Louisiana. Only two families left documents showing their arrival in Louisiana. A Scheckschneider family consisting of Hans Rhinhart, Cath and their two sons leaves L’Orient, France aboard the La Garone in January 1721. Several on board become ill. Their son Jacob, is one of the sixteen who were left in Brest, France because they were too ill for the voyage. The second son is not named. Deiler shows an undated list of inhabitants of the German Coast. Albert Scheckschneider has 4 arpents on the west bank bounded above by 6 arpents belonging to Bernard Vique, possibly his father-in-law,. Deiler speculates that Hans Rhinhart is the progenitor of the Louisiana Schexnayders. However, Henry Albert's parents are Simon Schexnayder, native of Brussels in Brabant, and Anne Marie Vasdray. This shows that Deiler's speculation is incorrect. The New Orleans Catholic Church has records for only two Schexnayder families: 1. A marriage record of Hanz Georg Schscchneider son of Hanz Schscchneider and Anne Marie Hessin marries Catherine Antonia on June 26, 1742. 2. Baptism records of four children of Albert Schscchneider and Marie Wich. Henry Albert's family is the only family that has additional records in Louisiana.
First Generation
Henry Albert Sechchnedier and Marie Magdelaine Wich The New Orleans Catholic Church baptisms records of Catherine, Jean George, Jean Henry and Marie Lucie list their parents as Albert Sechchnedier and Marie Magdelaine Wich. Henry Albert died in January 1776. He had ten living children from his first marriage to Marie Wich. They are Andre, Henry Albert, George, Ambroise, Jean Baptiste, Adam, Marguerite, Catherine, Josette, and Julienne. Henry's second wife was Marianne Edelmayer. Their marriage contract is dated March 5, 1768. Their only child was Epiphany. The inventory of Henry's property after his death list his eleven living children. Conrad pages 480-481 lists Henry's first wife as Marie Magdelaine Huisin. Conrad's error about Henry's first wife's name is due the entry dated November 6, 1777, which is after Henry's death. That entry says “before Jean Baptist Garic, royal notary at New Orleans cane Henry Schexnayder... widow of Marie Magdelaine Huisin promises to marry Marianne Edelmayer... ‘. Evidently Henry went to royal notary in New Orleans to record his intention to marry his second wife. Garic probable did not speak German. Garic may have pulled Huisin's name from the marriage record of Hanz Georg Schscchneider.
Second Generation
Children of Henry Schexnayder and Marie Wich Andre's 1729 birth is based on his reported age as 40 years old in the 1770 militia list. In 1784 Albert buys 4 arpents of land 20 miles north of New Orleans on the west bank. He marries Marie Catherine Rixner and their eight children were George, Andre, Josette, Toussaint, Marguerite, Magdelaine, Joseph and Jean at the time of his death before March 5, 1799. Adam is married to Pelagie Rome and they resides in St. James parish in 1801. He received 640 piasters due his wife from the death of her father. Pelagie's mother's name is given as Jean Rome. Henry Albert's birth is about 1746. He never marries and dies about 22 March 1778 due to a hunting accident while living with his brother-in-law Jacque Villars in St John parish. George was baptized on September 10, 1746. His will states that he leaves his possessions to his wife Marie Dore. He dies before Nov 23, 1779 with one young daughter Marguerite. He owns a 1 1/2 arpents farm Ambrose buys a two arpent farm in 1772. This is the only record of Ambrose in the civil records of St Charles and St John Parishes. Jean Baptiste marries Marguerite Belsom. He dies on 29 June 1783. Their six children are: Jean, Marguerite, Caterin, Mariane, Charlotte and Juliene. Marguerite marries Andre Edelmayer. Their children are: Madelaine, Andre, Marguerite and Charlotte. Andre dies on 29 June 1783. Catherine is baptism in Sept 21, 1741. She marries Jacques Villard. Jacques Villard dies 29 Dec 1779. In the 1784 census Catherine has three young children, two sons and a daughter. Catherine remarries Jean Miller. In 1801 Catherine giver her son Henry Villardpower of attorney to collect a debt. Josette leaves all of her possessions to her sister Marguerite Schexnayder. She died prior to January 1779 since she is not listed in the settlement of her father's estate. Julienne requests her brother Jean Schexnayder be appointed her tutor. She died prior to January 1779 since she is not listed in the settlement of her father's estate. Children of Henry Schexnayder and Marianne Edelmayer Epiphany Schexnayder's tutor is Jacques Villard.
