The birth date transcribed from his tombstone is 09 sep 1789, but the baptismal record at Le Locle shows 23 sep 1780. The discrepancy may simply be the result of deterioration of the tombstone.
The baptismal record says he is the son of "Abraham fils de Daniel Brandt ancien de l'�glise � La Chaux-du-Milieu", a statement that is equally ambiguous in French or in English. It is not clear from this statement whether it was Abraham or his father Daniel who was an elder in the church at La Chaux-du-Milieu.
The name in Switzerland was probably Bratschi, known in several towns in the Canton of Bern, such as B�zingen, Lenk, Safern, and Zweisimmen. Secondary sources suggest she was the daughter of a Johann Bratschi who came to Philadelphia in 1817 or 1816 and remained there for a short time before coming to Vevay. later moving to Louisville.
She was probably one of the daughters of Jean Caspar Brechb�hl of Trub and his wife Elizabeth Hermann who were baptised at P�ry, possibly the Elizabeth who was baptised there 07 may 1773, sponsored by Elizabeth Rohrer and Marie Hirschi. The same Jean Caspar Brechb�hl also baptised a daughter Marie 25 sep 1774; she is probably the Marie Brechb�hl who married Moise Dubach, brother of Johann Aaron. These baptisms were then forwarded to Trub, where they were recorded in the church books there. This seems to have been the only Brechb�hl family at P�ry, and the only Brechb�hl family recorded in the church books of Trub who had daughters of approximately the right names at this period. However, the marriages were apparently not recorded at Trub, and the records at P�ry do not reveal the parentage of either bride.
Jean Nivet the minister is listed with wife Marie Br�mond at the time of his sentence 04 jul 1715 for preaching to recently converted Catholics. There is some question about the surname, however, which seems to be listed as Beaumont in records at St. Gall. The date of marriage is given as 1702, and her age at death is certainly very far in error, implying that she was born in 1659. She is listed as age 75 at the time of the census of French refugees in Lausanne, 1740, yielding a more believable
date.
There are several versions of her name, reflecting the typical ambiguity of many records of that time, especially those dealing with refugees and immigrants. She is Marie Br�mond in the French records, Marie Beaumond at St. Gall, and Anne Beaumont at Lausanne. The notarial records of the district of Lausanne have not yet yielded any additional details.
Another possibility is that Jean Nivet had two wives, the first Marie Br�mond and the second Marie or Marie Anne Beaumont.
[1320]
Marie veuve de Jean Nivet de Nior en Poitou, age about 94. From the apparent age of her husband and son, this may have been exaggerated.
