It was another one of those days a genealogist only dreams of… one, when a huge brick wall comes tumbling down. Today my daughter and I were reading through our latest bunch of 11 Family History Center tapes, hoping to eek out a simple clue regarding our Prussian German forebears. We had already viewed 9 tapes when on our 9th tape we saw a birth/baptism record for Eduard Ferdinand Kunz. The name Ferdinand Kunz had appeared as being in attendance at my great aunt (Tante) Ella’s baptism. Did we have the right family?
As readers of ManyRoads may already know, Auguste Kunz (my Uhr-Oma) on my grandmother’s line has been a mystery to everyone. We did not know where the Kunz’s were from, where they lived, who they were. In other words, they were a seriously challenging ‘brickwall’. No more.
Happily, I can say that the Kunzes are now ‘better’ known to us. We have found them! By the time we reached page 109 of the Baarenhof Baptisms (Taufen), we had found the birth of Auguste Alvina Caroline Kunz.
By page 240, we had found the ‘key’ birth of Elsie Hedwig Erna Recht (my Tante Erna) born to Hermann Recht and Auguste geboren Kunz.
Yes! We have found our family. They lived in what once was Neuteicherwalde near Baarenhof, Kreis Marienburg, Westpreussen (Baarenhof, Marienburg County, West Prussia). Auguste’s parents were August Ferdinand Kunz and Catherine Elisabeth geboren Albrecht.
We have now ordered the marriage tapes for the church as well as the available death records. We will analyze and edit the images we have and build a more complete image of our family. We most certainly hope to uncover more!
Ah, what a day.
27 September 2011 Update:
For those of you who pay really close attention to ManyRoads, you will remember that last week, we had actually identified the wrong Auguste Kunz as being our forebear!
Yep, nearly 100 years without data and now we are knee deep in potential! As I reviewed our images and documents last week, a second Auguste Kunz appeared; she was born in 1869. My mother had always said that her grandmother was born around 1870/1871. This second Auguste was closer to that date, but we could not be certain. I had already gone to press once, too quickly!
Then the Parker FHC (Family History Center) called and said a new tape had arrived for us. It was the Ladekopp Church (ev. Kirche) death records through 1920. My mother had always said that her grandmother had died around the end of WW1. And sure enough, in this new set of records we had the death of Auguste Recht geboren Kunz document as being on 6 Oct 1916 with burial on 12 Oct 1916. The document said that she was 47 years 1 month and 4 days at death. Calculating backwards from the death date to the birth date we had a match with our second Auguste Kunz. O-Oma was found, for certain, this time!
As I stared at the image of her death document, a very peculiar item lay immediately below her death- the death of her mother! My O-O-Oma was found! She died on 10 December 1916 in Pietzkendorf. She was 74 years 3 months and 29 days; which according to my feeble calculations has her birth as being 11 August 1842. I am in awe of these finds.
More records are on their way. Who knows what we’ll find next…
If you know of anyone related to and/or seeking images of a young Clyde Ross born in Cambridge Illinois, USA in the year 1896, we have 5 original photos of Clyde. The photos show Clyde at the ages of 3 months through 7 years (approx.). We found these wonderful photos in an antique store in Denver and simply could not let the collection be broken up any more than it already had been. Besides, the images of Clyde growing up simply charmed us.
If you are related to and are seeking images of Clyde, we’d love to send digital copies of Clyde’s photos back to his family. Please use our contact page to get in touch with us directly.
Does anyone have access to West and East Prussian German recipes? I would like to gather a collection of food recipes that were local to the Germans who once populated the region of Europe between Danzig Marienburg, and Koenigsberg.
Please contact me directly with any recipes or food names that you might have/ remember. I will eventually place everything I gather in a database here for all to see, read and copy. I suspect that might take a while and that assumes, of course, I obtain any recipes at all. But given it is the holiday season, and this is the time for foods, I thought I’d ask!
Happy holidays and enjoy your Koenigsberger Klops!
Which genetic genealogy DNA service is best? This is the question with which I am currently wrestling. Perhaps one or more of our knowledgeable readers has some insights to share. I certainly would appreciate experienced observations and insights into our dilemma.
Here are the basic objectives of our DNA search:
We’d like information and insight on any Native American information on the male Rabideau and female Deyo line (I do not currently have access to male Deyo DNA); we also seek information on the background of both lines in Europe and before.
We seek information on the Senger- Recht matrilineal lines; there is no DNA material available for either line on the male side, of which I am aware (the world wars took care of that…). This will be a search for European and pre-European migrations etc.
My assumption is that we ultimately are best served by having my father’s DNA run for both matrilineal and patrileneal lines (additionally examining both sides for Native American markers). We also ought to have my mother’s DNA run for our Prussian ancestry markers to check her matrilineal lines for European migrations etc.
If you have already conducted similar research…
With which services have you had good success/ positive experiences?
Are there obvious flaws in my plan?
What would you do differently from my plan or recommend I include in our search?
We have a list of links to the providers we have found on our Links page (see Genetic Genealogy). Perhaps we have missed some important players? Perhaps you can tell us which are best, based upon your experience(s)…
I am currently working on a portion of the Henss family and am ‘visiting’ Virginia/ Maryland at the time of the Revolutionary War. The person I am closely examining is a Mister John Hall; his wife is Mary Magdelene Smith. I just love it when the names are so incredibly unique!
So here goes, I have three mysteries!
Please use our Contact page to let me know if you have any firm data or information to help solve these!
Mystery 1
I found a document (located in the National Archives) addressed to ‘some guy’ named George Washington. [SinglePic not found]
The document is transcribed as the following in Letters to Washington and Accompanying Papers. Published by the Society of the Colonial Dames of America. Edited by Stanislaus Murray Hamilton:
Sworn to this 27th. day of August 1757 –
BALTIMORE COUNTY SS The Deposition of Thos. Hudson, taken before me the subscriber one of his Lordship’s Justices of the peace for the County aforesd. in the Province of Maryland; who being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists declares. That he this Dept. was present with Mr. Nathaniel Gist & John Hall when the said John Hall was going to sign his assent to being Enlisted in his Majesties Service; That the said John hall on taking the Pen in his Hand, said I will not sign for any more than Six months, Upon which said Mr. Gist made answer, Thats what I want; (or thats what I desire) but which of those words this Dept. can’t exactly remember. That Mr. Saml. Owings a Magistrate for this County was then also present; and on the said John Hall going to sign as aforesd.–Said unto the aforesd. Nathl. Gist, this Boy is too Young; to which the said Gist made answer he was the highth of their Standard; and farther Saith not –
… before
… BUXTON GAY
A Brief Look at John’s Genealogy
The genealogy I have for John Hall and Mary Magdelene Smith is:
John Hall
b:1732 Chester, Pa.
d:1794 Bedford, Va.
m:1759 Bedford, Va.
Mary Magdelene Smith (wife)
b:1734 Bedford, Va.
d:1833 Bedford, Va.
My thoughts are that since Baltimore, Maryland is in a straight line between Chester, Pa. and Bedford, Va (and is approximately in the middle), well you get the point; this could be my John Hall.
The real question is: Does anyone have any hard information on this subject?
And..as if that were not enough, I also have the following for a John Hall (again any firm data or ideas are most appreciated).
Mystery Two
Letters of Delegates to Congress: Volume 18 March 1, 1781 – August 31, 1781 John Hanson to John Hall
My Dear sir Philadelphia June 4th 1782 I inclose you the two last papers-the Accounts given of the battle in west Indias are upon the whole rather unfavourable yet there are some Circumstances that render their Authenticity some what Doubtful. No official Account is yet come to hand at New York and it is reasonable to suppose if their Account be true that a Communication of a matter of Such Importance, to their Commander in Chief here would not have been so long delayed. There are other favourable Circumstances and I hope for the best, but am afraid the french have received so much damage in the Action, as will prevent the intended Attack on Jamaica at least for a time. An embarkation of Troops at New York is talked of, and a number of Transports it is said are going from thence to take of the Garrison at Charles Town. We hear nothing from Sir Guy. I very Sincerely wish you may Adopt the five per Ct Duty in the manner recommended by Congress, because I think an impost on all imported goods is a mode of Taxation the easiest that can be proposed. The Merchants in the first Instance pay, the people insensibly refund, every man pays in proportion to what he Chuses to Consume. The Extravagant man pays for his folly and the foreigners And strangers Among us are made to Contribute.
I sincerely wish you health and happiness, being my Dear sir, your friend & most humble Servt. John Hanson
RC (MdHi: Gilmor Collection).
…AND…
Mystery Three
Letters of Delegates to Congress: Volume 5 August 16, 1776 – December 31, 1776- Benjamin Rumsey to John Hall?
Sir (1) Joppa 19th Decr. 1776 Engaged in the Commission and the Business thereof in which we met with great Difficulties & Interruption I never attended Congress till this Day Week and should not then as the Business remained unfinished had I not heard Mr. Tilghman and Mr. Carroll had gone Home and left the Province unrepresented.(2)
When I got into Congress where I came determind to stay ’till the last Extremity, altho exceeding inconvenient to me, I found that Congress had two or three Days before that determined by the Advice of their Generals to remove from thence to Baltimore, Upon a presumption that the Enemy being possessed of the Jersey above by marching Parties opposite the City might make a push in the Night in Conjunction with the Tories and seise the Persons of the Congress, and this might have been done with great Facility as the City Militia had all marched to join General Washington.
The Enemy are posted on the Banks of the Delaware at Trentown and from thence have pushed their parties as low as Burlington and as high as Penny Town. They are commanded by General Howe who has with him it is supposed the whole Brittish Force that can be spared from their Conquests and are thought to amount to about thirteen Thousand Men.
General Washington had not when we came away above 5000 Men with the Junction of the Militia posted on the opposite Banks with forty Peices of Cannon. Genl. Lee was posted about 25 Miles in the Rear of the British Army at a place called Chattam about 3 miles from Morris Town with a large Body of Forces composed of a Detachment from the Northern Army Troops returning from Ticonderoga and encreasing daily with the Jersey Militia Numbers unknown to me but between 5000 and 12,000 from whence he has positive Orders to march and join Genl Washington very injudiciously in my Opinion but the Slowness of the coming in of the Militia in the State of Pennsylvania possibly may justify the Measure.
If the Militia would join Genl. Washington in such Numbers as to make him strong enough in Front to prevent the Enemy’s crossing Delaware and taking Philada. Lee by strong Detachments may cut off all their Supplies and destroy the British Army without striking a Blow or if they decamp expose them to two fires in Front and Rear.
My Colleagues Colo. Contee and Mr. Hanson have just parted from me after finishing our Business as far as we could to lay before your Honours and this in some Measure will account to you for my not writing.
I understood that as the Pennsylvania Militia rather moved slow the Congress had come into a Resolution to request the Militia of our State to march to the Assistance of Genl. Washington. I understood too Col. Ewing undertook voluntarily to bring them up and rode away without any written Orders; my Intelligence was from One of the Officers of our Army. You know Colo. Ewing (I presume the Congress do) and eer this or at their first setting at Baltimore You will receive a written Requisition.
I heard Mr. Chase tell Mr. Robt. Morris that all our sick, the Baggage of the Congress and even Mr. Morris’s Effects which are pretty considerable would be removed with Ease as he had wrote for Vessells to transport them but none were at the Head of Elk as I came by, at least they pressed Colo. Aquila Halls Vessell for that purpose. How Mr. Chase has transacted this whether in a public or private Capacity I cant tell, he can best answer it.
I had just received Orders from the Brigr. Genl. to give my Battallion Notice to hold itself in Readiness (If I am yet a Colo. which I doubt of from Report) and in Letters to the Officers was communicating that Intelligence when the Express brought to me your Letter directed here by the honorable John Hancock Esqr. on his Way to Baltimore. I much approve of your giving the Militia Notice to hold themselves in Readiness but I now tell you that will be totally useless without more, that they are without Arms, Blanketts many of them & Baggage Waggons with a numerous &ca. that ought to be supplied them before or on their March, and that they ought really to be better supplied than other Troops especially at this severe Season. I have advertised the 8th Battallion that if I am still their Colo. I will with the greatest alacrity do myself the Honour to march at their Head if the Province is represented without me.
A Doubt may arise with You respecting the Reason of the Tardiness of Pennsylvania. You know great Part of Philada., Bucks and Chester are Tories and the Councill of Safety of Pennsylvania have cried Wolf, Wolf two or three Times falsly to the back Counties and now the Wolf is really come they think it still a false Alarm. They are distracted too abt. the State of their Governmt., People being of various Opinions about it.
I have opened Mr. Presidents Letter (3) but shall seal and send it by Express to Baltimore to Mr. Chase who I expect by this Time is there. Seamen were much wanted and your Orders in sending the Seamen will be very agreeable to Congress. For if Philadelphia should ever be taken by some Coup de Main of the Enemy, wch. by the by a well manned Frigate will render much more difficult, there being no Ships of the Enemy in Delaware Bay, the Frigates and a great Quantity of Stores may be saved thereby.
You are also requested by me to inform Mr. President that it has not been either with my privity, Consent or Knowledge that Individuals have been applied to, that I am exceedingly sensible it rather tends to delay Business and that he and the whole Board I hope will acquit me of any Design in being Wanting in Respect to the cheif executive Power in the State, the Dignity of which I was always strenuous in supporting while I had the Honour of Seat there and still am ‘tho I have not thot I am (besides my Love for my Country), added to other Motives, actuated- by a Friendship and Esteem for the Individuals of that Board that will always induce me to treat them with the Utmost Respect, Esteem and Regard.
I am Sir, Your most humble Servt. Benjamin Rumsey
RC (MdHi).
1 Perhaps John Hall, vice president of the Maryland Council of Safety. Rumsey obviously directed this letter to a member of the council of safety and in the course of it twice mentions “Mr. President,” Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer.
2 Matthew Tilghman and Charles Carroll, Barrister, are known to have been in Philadelphia as late as December 9, the day they and Samuel Chase requested money for the removal of sick troops to Maryland. Tilghman and Carroll apparently left soon afterward, leaving only Chase and William Paca to represent Maryland, which until February 15, 1777, required the presence of three delegates to cast the state’s vote in Congress. See William Paca to the Maryland Council of Safety, December 7, 1776, note 3; and JCC, 7:111.
3 Probably the council’s December 15 letter to the Maryland delegates. See Md. Archives, 12:530-31.
William (Wilhelm) Henss and Katharine (Catharina) Kaemmer probably both came from Hesse in Germany and were born around 1830 (according to the 1900 US Census records Dec 1831 for William and Nov 1829 for Katharine) . I am looking for any historical documentation regarding their births or marriage. Photos of graves or life would be most appreciated, also.
I have a fairly well established genealogy and history for their lives in the US. They lived and loved in Wayland, Henry County Iowa. What I am most ardently attempting to establish is a clear link for them back into Germany before 1853- I have a tentative information set with which I am not completely comfortable. I do know that Katharine Kaemmer (name originally spelled as Catharina Kaemmer) came to the US from Lumda and through Bremen through port of Baltimore – all according to a metal tag on her trunk. She is reported to have come to the US in 1854 and William in 1853; both immigration dates are from US Census information.
Any help, leads or pointers are most appreciated; you may use our contact page to get in touch with me directly.
Based on data and input I have received from various people, I believe I have traced and documented a “plausible” genealogy for the Joseph Deo family leading back to France in the late 1600s.
If anyone is interested in reviewing the tree and commenting on what I have pieced together, please contact me.
In addition to Luise Senger who joined the Deutsche Luftwaffe towards the end of World War 2, numerous friends and family members of the Senger family were either inducted into or volunteered for German military service.
Below are the photos of those we have in our collection. If you happen to know any of these individuals, please contact us. We’d love to hear from you.
Tommy was an English war prisoner who spent most of World War 2 working on the Senger family farm in Zeyervorderkampen. He was originally captured by German forces at Dunkirk in 1940 and he spent more than 4 years of the war working on and about the Senger farm. As you might gather from the photo, he was a good looking young man in town with few during a time of total war and mobilization.
Note: I have solved this mystery and established the link. John’s parent’s were, in fact, Joseph Dion (Deo- Deyo) and Julia (Julie/ Julienne) Denis (Denys, Lafay, LaFaille, Dennis).
The most commanding piece of obvious genealogical evidence is immediately below (John’s death certificate).
As for the rest of the story, I am writing and plan to post a more complete history. My previous post on this subject is below:
I am searching to find the parents of one John Deyo. I can find an obvious (but incorrect!) link from him to a set of parents identified in the New Paltz area of New York as Christian Deyo… I think we now can say for certain that our Deyos are from Canada not New Paltz. My sister (Linda) is going to do some record research in Albany this week to see what she is able to unearth. (more to come… we hope!)
So here’s the dilemma I have, on the last census it seems John parents are Canadian (John & Julie Deo); earlier evidence seems to indicate John was born in the US (what we don’t know is who these people were before they came to the US).
After performing a detailed analysis of all the Deyo’s it is highly unlikely that I have yet found the parents of our John Deo/ Deyo. My analysis of the Joseph & John Deo’s in Altona circa 1870-1880 would seem to point to Joseph Deo being the father of John… however, we have no proof . My sister Linda is going to visit NYS records to see what may lie there. I have contacted Holy Angels Church in Altona and also Altona (NY) Town Clerk to see what they might offer. Oh and yes, I have contacted the genealogy group from Altona. My sister is going to also examine the adjoining town of Chazy for records… and look in Altona for any property records (because 1880 and 1870 Censuses both indicate the Deo’s were property owners- farmers). It is quite the mystery.
Any help or insight is MOST appreciated!
Genealogically, here’s what I had (and now believe to be incorrect!):
Deyo John
1837 – 1924
Birth
Abt Dec 1837
Rosendale, Ulster, New York USA
The 1910 Census indicates he was born in Vermont. The 1900 Census provides the approximate birth date.
Gender
Male
Census
1870 Census
Altona, Clinton, New York USA
Census
1850
Rosendale, Ulster, New York USA
Census
1900
Wilton, Saratoga, New York USA
This census indicates John was born in New York, as were his parents and wife.
Census
1910
Altona, Clinton, New York USA
Died
1924
Altona, New York USA
date obtained from his headstone…Holy Angels Roman Catholic Cemetery Altona, Clinton County, New York
Father
Deyo Christian J, b. 11 Apr 1807, New Paltz, Ulster, New York USA , d. 11 Dec 1887, New Paltz, Ulster, New York USA
Mother
DuBois Blandina, b. 17 Jul 1812, New Paltz, Ulster, New York USA , d. 25 Jul 1885, New Paltz, Ulster, New York USA
Married
8 Sep 1831
New Paltz, Ulster, New York USA
Family
Burnah Mary Ann, b. Abt Apr 1853, d. 1940, Altona, New York USA
Married
Abt 1864
Children
>
1. Deyo George, b. 1868, Altona, Clinton, New York USA , d. 1945
Notes
John appears to have been either disowned or otherwise cast away from the Christian J. Deyo family. For most of his life, he moves from place to place and continually changes description of his birth location.
Unfortunately my LDS ev. Church books for Zeyer – Ellerwald (West Prussia) are reaching an end…I’d love to hear from you if you have any pointers as to where I might look for earlier data (pre-1774).
I am looking for information on the following family members:
I have what is for me a riddle. I know that before 1774 Zeyer had a Church, but it held no records. Does anyone know which, if any, Elbing Lutheran Church may have held the records for births, deaths and weddings? The main Lutheran Churches in Elbing seem to have been Heilige drei Koenige, Sankt Marien, Heiliger Leichnahm, Sakt Annen, and Sankt Paulus; does anyone know which might hold the correct LDS microfilm archive?
Any help is most appreciated!
Hallo Leute!
Habe eine (fuer mich, unerlosbar) Frage: ich weiss dass es erst ab 1774 ein unabhaengige evangelische Kirche in Zeyer gab. Wusste es jemand, welcher Elbinger Kirche verantwortlich fuer die Taufe-/Heirats-/Todesregister den Gebiet Zeyer/Zeyerniederkampen vor 1774 war? Ich finde so fuenf evangelische Kirchen: Heilige drei Koenige, Sankt Marien, Heiliger Leichnahm, Sakt Annen, und Sankt Paulus; weiss aber nicht welche LDS Mikrofilme wahrscheinlich die richtige sind.
Because of the great shortage of information and histories associated with the expulsions of Germans from Eastern Europe after World War 2, I am placing a call to anyone willing to share their family story with others.
Please contact me (use our contact page) with any histories that you may have from family members or elsewhere that involve the expulsion, flight or ethnic cleansing of Germans following the second world war. I will place the information you send (assuming it is not politically motivated) on the internet for others to view and share.
It is my hope to contribute a bit of our past in order to help others understand the unacceptability of and horrors associated with ‘ethnic cleansing’.
.jpg "Auguste Alvina Caroline- Birth 1869-complete (small)")
.jpg "Auguste Recht geb Kunz and Elisabeth Kunz geb Albrecht- Deaths 1916 (small)")
 circa 1942.jpg)
 circa 1940.jpg)
