Roy in der Schweiz

[caramccn]

Swiss Genealogy Problem - How to get started? Advise please.

Here is my current problem:
I have French speaking Swiss ancestors that moved to New York during the 1850s. Probably between 1853-1856.

They are Claude Roy and his wife Catherine Dunn (Durn? Durm?)

They have the following children on the 1865 New York Census:
Louis Roy born 1843 age 22 (Possible a brother or nephew? Have younger son Lewis/Louis?)
Joseph Roy born 1850 age 15
Paul Roy born 1849 age 16
Dennis Roy born 1851 age 14
Mary Roy born 1853 age 12 (Last child born in Switzerland. This is Mary Catherine Roy, my ancestor.)
Florence Roy born 1856 age 9 (First child born in America)
Loui Roy born 1858 age 7

I have found additional records of three of the children, Joseph, Mary Catherine (my ancestor), and Lewis C Roy, the youngest.
Joseph Roy’s death certificate claims he was born in Switzerland about 1846, and that his parents are Claude Roy and Catherine Dunn??

Mary Catherine Roy’s death certificate claims she was born in Switzerland/France around 30 Nov 1855. Her father is listed as Claud Roy.

Claud Roy’s father is listed as John (Jean?) Roy on the Michigan Death Index.

The Watertown, Michigan Cemetery transcription has the following down for Claude and Catherine Roy.
Roy, Catherine
d. 3 Jun 1894, 83y 8m
Roy, Claud
d. 1 Nov 1881, 84y 8m

Findagrave.com has the following birthdays for Claud and Catherine, though I don’t know the original source of these…
Claud 3 Jan 1812
Catherine 8 Mar 1810

Census records have Claud being born from 1807-1812, and Catherine from 1814-1818.

I would like to start looking for Swiss Records, but I don’t have a specific location.
Roy is such a common name that I am likely to find it in all the French speaking Cantons. I am not sure which surname was anglicized as Dunn. The two closest names I came up with are French Dunand/t and German Dünner or Dünz.

I guess I should be ordering Microfilm, which I haven’t actually ever worked with. It seems like a needle in a haystack problem. I would appreciate advice on which records to start with and the easiest way to get access to them. Please feel free to reply in any language.

Thanks,
Cara

[Wolf]

Welcome to the forum, Cara .

I would like to start looking for Swiss Records, but I don’t have a specific location.
Roy is such a common name that I am likely to find it in all the French speaking Cantons.

You are correct - without a location to start with, it's going to be difficult.
You are also correct in assuming French speaking cantons: according to the Register of Swiss Surnames Roy have been citizens since before 1860 in cantons Bern (Biel), Bern now Jura (Epauvillers, Pleujouse, Soubey), Neuchâtel (Boudry) and Vaud (Agiez, Bretonnières, Montcherand, Premier, Vallorbe).

Last autumn I have given a talk (in German) on special issues for research in Switzerland, which may give you some hints, how to get started. If you post your mail address (as PN is not yet functional for you), I can send you this presentation. As mail addresses should not usually be posted her (only an invitation for spam), I will delete your address again as soon as I see it.

I hope you'll find some help here - Wolf