[Research List Cross-Index] [German Cross-Index]
[Ethnic, Religious, National Index] [Location (Address) Index]
[Map Room] [Master IndexPage] [FEEFHS FrontPage] [Website Index]

Ost Preußen / Preussen
(East Prussia) Research List
ARCHIVE 97-1


Latest Update 21 November 2002 .......................................... WebSite Version

Suggestions for effective Ost Preußen Germany Research List Messages:

SOURCES For Finding a Place of Origin in Germany

OPRURL ARCHIVE 97-1 Posting status:
- entry for HAYS, Elsa, 21 June 1997
- entry for NELSON, Sharon, 2 July 1997
- entry for PETERS, Claude, 10 July 1997
- entry for CARLSON, Deb KOSEMUND, 24 July 1997
- entry for RICKMAN, Alan, 31 July 1997
- entry for WOLSKI, Malcolm, 2 August 1997
- entry for HEPFNER, Lee, 9 August 1997
- entry for FREDERKING, R.E.(Ren), 11 August 1997
- entry for VAUGHAN, Cathy, 11 August 1997
- entry for GENGLER, Helen, 13 August 1997
- entry for TAYLOR, Eric, 21 August 1997
- entry for MILLER, Ian, 3 September 1997
- entry for LANGE, Sarah, 7 September 1997
- entry for HIRSCH, Julia, 16 September 1997
- additions for CARLSON, Deb KOSEMUND, 29 October 1997
- revised entry for HEPFNER, Lee, 1 March 2000
- new eMail for VAUGHAN, Cathy, 24 July 2000
- new eMail address for CARLSON, Deb KOSEMUND, 12 January 2001

For all other OPRURL entries see:

CARLSON, Deb KOSEMUND
eMail address: drcarlson@gateway.net
(Catholic, Lutheran)

I am looking for any information on the KOSEMUND family. I have records showing their presence in Koenigsberg, East Prussia in the 1600's on. Then they were banished out and settled in the Pommerania area. They were fisherman by trade. Records did show some belonging to the Catholic church early, but from the 1800's on the Kosemund's were mostly Lutheran. I would appreciate any suggestions on where to get started on finding documents and such for that period.

Webmaster's Note: Without sharing the full name and vital date information for your pedigree ancestor, his wife and their early generations, it is virtually impossible to help you. Salt Lake City FHL microfilm records of Königsberg are extensive, spanning 29 topics with over 120 collections. About half of them are churchbooks. For example Catholic churchbooks are not extensive and start in 1853 but Evangelisch records go back to 1687. Cemetery records go back to 1831, civil records of deaths go back to 1829 and land records to 1768. University entrance (Matrikel) records go back to 1544 and funeral sermons exist from 1529-1724, but it is rather unlikely a fisherman will be found among them.

Your surname in not listed in Die Pommerschen Leute's "Die Vorfahren" database of 100,000 Pomeranians and you list no place of origin there. If you have any specifics they should be forwarded to editor/publisher/database compiler Myron Grunwald for entry into his extensive Pommern database. You also give no alternate spellings of your surname. It is likely some exist.
I read your suggestions, I thank you. My great-grandfather, Fritz Johann Kosemund was born to Carl and Corlene VILLE Kosemund in 1873. We believe it was at the Island of Rugen, Pomerania. His sister, Auguste Kosemund was married to August Moeller on 26 October 1884 at the Island of Rugen. August MOELLER was born at the Island of Rugen 11 January 1860. My German cousins and I believe Fritz's brother, Karl Fredrick Kosemund was born sometime in 1870 or so in West Prussia. Both belonged to the German Navy. Karl Fredrick Kosemund was the Captain of the Navy ship that his brother, my great grandfather, Fritz Kosemund, was on. Great-grandfather Fritz Kosemund jumped ship in New York, while his brother covered for him. He made his way to Grand Island, Nebraska and stayed with his sister Auguste Kosemund Moeller. The family name of Kosemund has never been changed. Today there are about 80 families left in Germany, and less than 10 Kosemund families in the U.S. The cousins I've heard from, bring up West and East Prussia, the town of Koenigsberg and the Kirsches Haff in different letters I've received.


FREDERKING, R.E.(Ren)
P.O. Box 12411, Grass Valley, California 95945-2411
eMail address: rubydevt@netshel.net

I am searching for the date and birth place of Adam FREDERKING / FREDERKINGK. Adam with his family passed through Poland from Prussia on his way to Volhynia in 1837. A grandson recalled that Adam came from Koenigsburg. As Adam was a farmer he probably lived in one of the rural villages surrounding Koenigsburg. Between 1837 and 1863 five children were born to him in Volhynia but no death record has been found. A civil record in Volhynia states that Adam FREDERKING, a Prussian, bought some land in Ostruwka, Volhynia in 1861. I do not know Adam's wife's name. Actually I would like to learn of any persons with the FREDERKING surname in Prussia around 1800. Information about any FREDERKINGS in East and West Prussia, Pommern, Posen, Brandenburg, etc. would be most welcome.

Webmaster's Note: There are considerable FHL microfilm resources available for researching in Königsburg in the 19th century. See my note to Deb Carson above. You should also become a subscriber to the Wandering Volhynians (HomePage elsewhere on this website) and enter your genealogy in their surname list.

GENGLER, Helen
9005 Ferden Street, Chesaning, Michigan 48616-9741, USA
eMail address: HGengler@aol.com

I am looking for any information of Anton TIETZ, born 21 March 1841 at Koenigsberg. He married Rosa RESKY on 23 April 1865. They were both Catholic. Various name spellings may be VON RESKY. I was told they - her parents - may have "bought" a title. They spoke "high" German. Anton made saddles for the cavalry, harnesses and boots. They later moved to Poland and owned a sheep ranch and raised potatoes. They emigrated to Ohio in 1889; then to Maple Grove Township, Saginaw County, Michigan.

I have checked the LDS records of Koenigsberg but not extensively because I think the TIETZ family lived in the country and I found only city and military records. I have checked the US census records, birth,marriage and death records. I have not checked General Land Office records but I will find out where they are kept & check them. I would like to find out who Anton's parents were and his siblings. I do know that he had a sister Rose who married a MAIKRZEK and lived in Alpena County Michigan. so that I can trace the family back further. I do not know where in Poland they were -- records say "Polkaim"; but I assume the northern part because they emigrated thru either Hamburg or Bremerhaven according to an elderly aunt. (I have checked ship records- what there are- both there and the east coast of the US to no avail).

Rose RESKY's parents were Valentine / Theresa RESKY. Rose was born 23 February 1842 but I do not know where. She had a brother, August and wife Anna who lived in Alpena County, Michigan. I would like more information on her family, too, but cannot find that name anywhere. If you have any information on any of these people or even a thread of hope it would be great or if you can suggest any other places for me to check, I would appreciate it.

Webmaster's Note: Polkeim is in Kreis Rössel (Roessel), Ost Preussen but I see no microfilm listings for it in the 17th edition of the FHL Catalog on CD-ROM.

HAYS, Elsa
521 Shenango Road, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania 15010-1658
eMail address: ehays@ccia.com

Betha Louise SCHWARTZENBEREGER was born 3 February 1861 near Koenigsburg, probably Mehlsack, Ost Prüssen and died 27 July 1944 at New York City, New York. Her parents were Herman SCHWARTZENBEREGER and Anna SEEBERCK. Her spouse was Karl HENNING. I am looking for any information on this family.
Webmaster's Note: Ten collections of Churchbooks, Civil Registration, Land and Property records, Occupations (Guild records of smiths and cartrights) and Town Records exist on FHL microfilm for Mehlsack, Kreis Braunsberg.

HEPFNER, Lee - entry reposted


HIRSCH, Julia
eMail address; wolfhirsch@aol.com

I am searching for any relatives of the family of Bruno HIRSCH born at Wersmeningken, East Prussia on 7 August 1902. His father ran a small general store there circa 1900, and his mother was born in Lithuania. I do not know their names. Bruno had only one sister Martha and at least five brothers including Otto, Aawald, Adolph, Max and Eric. Eric was the youngest and born about 1904. Bruno came to the United States in 1926 several years after Max immigrated. Martha and Eric went to West Germany shortly after World War II.

There were several towns in East Prussia with the name Wersmeningken, and I do not know which one it is. Bruno talked about it being near Tilsit; so possibly it is the one near the border with Lithuania. I checked FHL Film 6308797 for Wersmeningken church records 1791-1829, and found no HIRSCH. I believe the family was Lutheran. Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Webmaster's Note: John Cakars notes that this common surname has over 11,000 listing in the German telephone book CD-ROM lookup. You might get help by using the Ahnenstammkartei des Deutschen Volkes and looking to see if at Wersmeningken location is a sub-dirctory under the Hirsch surname there.

LANGE, Sarah
17195 Central Street, Romulus, Michigan 48174-9601
eMail address: langes@mail.wcresa.k12.mi.us

I am seeking birthplace of Gottfried LANGE, born 10 September 1819 in East Prussia. He married Caroline EHRIG about 1838 in Prussia. I have found Lutheran Church records for period of 1850-1875 from the Finckenstein, Rosenburg, West Prussia area. They had children, Carl (married Augusta SCHWARZ, 22 October 1868 at Finckenstein), Marie (married Friedrick JANOSKE, 11 August 1872 at Finckenstein), Godfrey Jr, August, Minnie (married Fred GALL, 11 August 1872 at Finckenstein), William, Ferdinand, Herman, Caroline, and Julius. The family then came to the United States, settling in the Detroit, Michigan area.


MILLER, Ian
eMail address: S.Miller@swansea.ac.uk

I would like to hear from anyone who can help me trace the ancestors of my great grandfather, Richard William MUELLER (1854 - 1922). His marriage and death certificates indicate that he was born between 10 September 1854 and 23 November 1854 at Koenigsburg, Prussia. I do not know if the place of birth was in the city or the Landkreis. On 3 April 1881 a census recorded him as a sailor, lodging in Swansea, South Wales, U.K., and, on 23 November 1881 he married Agnes HARRIS at Swansea. Their marriage certificate records that his father's name was also Richard William MUELLER, farmer (deceased). He returned to Prussia soon after the 1st World War and died at Koenigsburg Town Hospital on 19 September 1922. His death certificate gives his address as II Rundteil 6, Koenigsberg, Prussia.

According to my grandmother, Blanche MUELLER nee LEWIS, he graduated from Koenigsberg University and won a medal when in the Prussian army. After his marriage, he went back to Prussia and returned to South Wales with two friends. One of these went on to America and the other died as a result of an industrial accident in a steel works in South Wales. He was also involved in starting one of the first motor garages in Swansea. Later, he worked as a supervisor for Daimler at Coventry, England, and was interned at Crystal Palace during the 1st World War. His father was at some time a Consul in the Canary Islands and died, in a riding accident, before he was born. His mother was the daughter of a German aristocrat. Her name is not known.

I have recently heard, via the Internet, about the LDS microfilms of Koenigsberg address books and parish records and I have arranged to view some of them. If your research interests link up with mine, please contact me so that we can exchange data. I would especially like to know if other useful sources of genealogical information exist for the Koenigsberg area.
Webmaster's Note: Knowing to religion is important with the many churches and the 62 church record collections on FHL microfilm for Koenigsberg. With your specific street address and a known religion it may be possible for you research the closest church to that address or have a German A.G / Professional Genealogist suggest where to start and maybe do a search for you.

29 Koenigsberg topics are listed as subjects of FHL microfilm collections in Salt Lake City. Many might be of help but many are difficult to search without some clues, so you need to judicious in your selection and patient in your search. The Totenregister (Cemetery death index 1831-1919) and one or more of the several Obituary collections might help you.

In addition, contact the Anglo-German Family History Society and join them. They can be very helpful in ideas of how to unearth your missing English records.

NELSON, Sharon
eMail address: randyn@polaristel.net

I am looking for information on Edward KRAUSE born in Buchwalde near Koenigsberg, East Prussia on 2 October 1833. He married Anna Elizabeth WARM on 19 August 1858. They had 6 children Carolina, Wihelmine, Augusta, Annie, Herman, Mary or Marie.
Webmaster's Note: If you know the Kreis (county) that would help you. There are three locations named Buchwalde in East Prussia. None of them are near Königsberg - They are in 3 different Kreis that are on the West Prussia border some distance from Königsberg.

PETERS, Claude
eMail address: Cpeters@servtech.com

I am looking for information on the BARUTZKY family and descendants that lived in or near Tilsit, East Prussia. The oldest son, George, was born in 1873. He immigrated to the United States in 1904 or 1905. The name was then changed to BARUTZKE. He died in 1949. As far as I know, no other Barutzkys came to the U.S. I have fairly complete information about his family, with the exception of how he got to Chicago. If any other Barutzkys did immigrate to the U.S., I would like to know that as well.

I believe George had 8 siblings: Daniel (born 1874), unknown (born 1876), Heinrich (born 1877), Franz (born 1887), Martha (born 1881), Marie (born 1883), Bertha (born 1885), and Anna (born 1891). Franz was in Berlin from at least 1938 to possibly 1948 and beyond. He had 2 daughters. Anna married and became a WABNIK. I believe she remarried and became a GRABOWSKI and settled in Nagold, Wuerttemberg, by the 1960's. The name of the father and mother of this BARUTZKY family is unknown.
Webmaster's Note: Tilsit is now Sovetsk, Kaliningrad, Russia. What religion? 13 Tilsit church record collections exist on FHL microfilm for Old Lutheran, Evangelical-Reformed, Katholic, Mennonite, Miltary Garrisons and even the Deutschenordenskirche (Teutonic Knights church). Others might also be found at the Deutschen Zentralstelle für Genealogie at Leipizg. Other topics with microfilm at the FHL include city directories (1902-1925), Tax Lists (1540-1729), Public records (1552-1809), and 7 collections of land and property records

RICKMAN, Alan
12016 Moorpark Street Apt# 7, Studio City, California 91604-1731
eMail address: Alan68@aol.com

I am looking for any information on the SCHWENZFEIER family. My grandfather's name was Ernst SCHWENZFEIER. My grandmother Martha's maiden name may have been BODLIN. Both resided at Heilsberg, East Prussia, where my grandfather had a factory of some sort. I would like to know if it is possible to trace family roots as far back as you can. Thank you for any information you can provide me.
Webmaster's Note: Heilsberg is now Lidzbark Warminski Poland. Without vital dates for anyone it is impossible to give specific suggestions such as reference to land and property records or civil registration or guild records on microfilm. And without a religion specified or suggested, it not possible to even point to existing FHL microfilm of Evangelishe of Catholic church records. "As the sowing, the reaping".

TAYLOR, Eric
9012 Corliss Avenue North, Seattle, Washington, 98103-4140, USA
eMail address: jetaylor@wln.com

According to the family tree, Karoline GWILDIS was born on 16 August 1869 at Kleschoven, Kreis Dahrkehnen, Ost Preussen. Her mother, Maria GRUSDAT, was born 19 January 1833 and died 26 May 1893 at Dahrkehnen. Her father, August GWILDIS, was born 18 February 1826 in Kreis Dahrkehnen and died 1 January 1883 at Medunischken. I have looked for these place names on old and new maps and I have not been able to locate them. My questions are: (1) Where would I find these places today? (2) Have the names been changed since Ost Preussen no longer exists? (3) Where would I find official records for these places?

Karoline GWILDIS married Adolf Gustav REEH at Essen a.d. Ruhr on 16 October 1897. They moved to the province of Posen around 1904 and then to Altkessel, Schlesien (now Stary Kisielin, Poland), in 1914. They emigrated with four of their children to Rochester, New York, USA, in 1927. In Germany, they had belonged to the Frei Evangelische Gemeinde. Any information about the religion, names or places of origin would be appreciated.
Webmaster's Note: It is often the case that German place names are mispelled for a variety of reasons. I believe the correct spelling of the East Prussia Kreis you are seeking is Darkehmen. If so, then the corect spelling of the place of origin you seek is probably Kleszowen. The Evangelische churchbook (1836-1944) from there is on 4 FHL microfilm reels. While not all of the vital dates you mention above will be on film (as all records do not start in 1836), you should be able to add to your knowledge of this family from these records.

VAUGHAN, Cathy
1482 East 50 South Springville, Utah 84663-
eMail address: cvaughan@airswitch.net

I am researching the KLIESCHIES surname. My gg-grandfather Friedrich (Fritz) KLIESCHIES was supposedly born in Heinrichswalde (Kreis Niederung) [Now: Slavsk, Kaliningrad, Russia] 27 September 1845. It is my understanding that he was a Lutheran. He married Maria SCHLIE (SCHLIE?) and had four daughters (Barta, Emilie, Emma, Ida Martha) before dying 4 July 1884. Three of the four daughters were born in Schillelwethen (Kreis Niederung) [Now: Noiken, Kaliningrad, Russia]. There is some question as to the place of Emma's birth (and possibly Friedrich's death place). It was apparently in Kreis Gumbinnen, 22 November 1882.

I understand that KLIESCHIES and KLISCHIES are the germanized spelling of the Lithuanian word: Klysys (bowlegged) and that the original Lithuanian surname was spelled KLISYS. I am interested in any information about this family or surname. Does anyone know of a Martha or Arthur GRUBE? A family note says that Ida Martha married a Mr. Grube and had two children: Martha and Arthur. I would guess that they were born between August 1902 (LDS church records state that Ida Martha was single and in Koenigsberg at this time) and 7 February 1908 (this was when Ida Martha died). I would love to contact their descendants. I come through Emilie. She immigrated from Schillelwethen in Koenigsberg in 1900, from Koenigsberg to Herne, Germany in 1906 and from Herne to Utah in 1907. Neither of the other sisters married or had children. Thank you in advance for your help.
Webmaster's Note: 2 collections of Evangelishe church records (1686-1887) and 3 collections of Land and Property records exist for Heinrichswalde, Kreis Niederung on FHL microfilm at Salt lake City. They were filmed at the Deutschen Zentralstelle für Genealogie at Leipzig.

WOLSKI, Malcolm
eMail address: m.wolski@gu.edu.au

I am searching for the Evangelical birth records for parish Alt Christburg at Kreis Mohrungen (1820-1870) Ost Preussen. My ancestors Wilhelm (born 1844 at Alt Christburg) and Johan WOLSKI (born 1840 at Munsterberg) (father Michael) should be on these registers. They don't appear to have been microfilmed by LDS. Anyone else researched this area or know where the parish or civil birth records for this period are held now?

Webmaster's Note: No listings presently exist in the 17th edition of the FHLC (as of 31 March 1997) for Alt Christburg. For Münsterberg (Kries Heilburg) there are 3 listings of marriages and deaths on microfilm (1684-1776).

For all other OPRURL entries see: See also Surname Index to Ammended List from the book East Prussians from Russia by Michael J. Anuta

<

SOURCES For Finding a Place of Origin in Germany


0 - 0 - 0
[Research List Cross-Index] [German Cross-Index]
[Ethnic, Religious, National Index] [Location (Address) Index]
[Map Room] [Master IndexPage] [FEEFHS FrontPage] [Website Index]