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Westpreussen (West Prussia) Research List Archive
- WPRURL ARCHIVE 97-2


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

Suggestions for effective West Prussia, Germany Research List Messages:

See also:WPRURL Archive INDEX

Suggestions for Finding a Place of Origin in Germany

WPRURL ARCHIVE 97-2 Posting status: The following submitters are on this page:
- entry for SMITH, James, 30 October 1997
- entry for SALINGER, Ralph, 30 October 1997
- entry for FANTORE, Dan, 30 October 1997
- entry for RESCHKE, Horst, 2 November 1997
- entry for EVANS, Clyde, 8 December 1997
- entry for FRANZ, Gilbert W., 8 December 1997
- entry for GAEDE, Carl W., 8 December 1997
- entry for NEUBAUM, Calvin, Jr., 8 December 1997
- entry for MONSON, Dorothy, 28 December 1997
- entry for TIEGS, Richard, 28 December 1997

See also WPRURL ARCHIVE 97-1
and WPRURL


EVANS, Clyde
14330 Caves Road, Novelty, Ohio 44072-, U.S.A.
eMail address: CEvans5420@aol.com
(Lutheran)

The family name I'm researching is TESMER. My great grandfather, Gottlieb Tesmer and great grandmother Anna Rose Tesmer and their first 5 children disembarked about 4 July 1884 in Baltimore, Maryland, coming on the SS Hohenzollern from Bremen. I know that they were Evangelical Lutheran, living in Schmilow or Smilowo, being baptised in the Lutheran church in Vandsburg (Wiecbork today), district was "Kreis Flatow." Gottlieb was born 4 October 1849 to Christoph Tesmer and Rose Tesmer. Anna Rose was born 20 June 1850 to Martin POTRATZ and Anna Elisabeth RUX. I've also found the names and birth dates of the other children of Christoph / Rose and Martin / Anna; plus identified Christopher family, including parents Georg Tesmer and Dorothea SCHLEIP, and their eleven children; plus his wife Rose's parents, Georg Tesmer and Dorothea Elisabeth JAHNKE and their nine children. What I'm looking for is their marriage record and the record of the birth of the first five children. At some time before leaving from Bremen they must haved moved out of the Vandsburg area. The children are Augusta, probably born about 1876; Wilhelm or William born August 20 (I think) 1877; August, born August 1879; Ernestine, born October 1881, and Edward born September 1883.


FANTORE, Dan,
eMail address: dfantore@tjms1.jefferson.arl.k12.va
(Lutheran)

Johann SCHEWE, my great-great grandfather, born 1817 in Konitz, West Prussia married Anna Maria CZYSCH (born 1817) at Evangelische-Lutherische church, Konitz, West Prussia. They emigrated in 1878 to first East Tawas, and then later to Port Hope, Michigan. Their eight surviving adult children also emigrated to Michigan. I have reviewed the Lutheran and Catholic records of Konitz and have found that the Czysch family lived there for a long time, back to the 1600s, however, the SCHEWE family seemed to arrive after 1790 as there were no births, deaths, or marriages in Konitz before that date. Any ideas as to where this family moved from? Where were other SCHEWE families from in West Prussia? I'd appreciate any ideas.
Webmaster's Note: Several dozen persons named Schewe are listed in the Die Vorfahren Pomeranian database. Others are known to have lived in East Prussia, Volhynia and Russia. The coordinator found 1,800 in the German Telephone book CD-ROM. If you ask, you certainly will find one or more genealogists among them.

FRANZ, Gilbert W.
email address: gil_fran@pacbell.net

Dear West Prussian Researcher: Let's compare FRANZ's. Heinrich FRANZ born about 1733 (possibly had a brother Stefan) had son Heinrich FRANZ born January 1753, Peter born about 1760 and daughter Anna born about 1755 all near Komrau / Kammerau, Kreis Graudenz, West Prussia, POLAND. (Sovereignty changed about 1772). Heinrich FRANZ born January 1753, died 10 July 1809 lived at Kammerau, Kreis Graudenz, West Prussia, Prussia, had a son Heinrich born before 1772, married 5 January 1797 to Elizabeth FRANZ. He also had son Peter born between 1782-85, daughter Anna born about 1790, Maria born 27 February 1794 and Agnete born about 1800, died 1827. Maria FRANZ (1794) married Johann (Hans) GOERZ and had 6 children, then married Johann SIEWERT and had another son. She through her 1st husband with her brother Heinrich (1772) inherited her father's property when he died in 1809.

The Heinrich FRANZ (1772) family lived at Alt Marsau, WSW of Graudenz, West Prussia until 1812 when the property of 1 morgen was sold and they moved to Sibsau. The family migrated 1821 to Molotschna, to Alexanderwohl village in 1832. They had sons Heinrich born 4 February 1798 and Kornelius born 19 March 1800 and twin daughters Elizabeth and Anna born 8 August 1806. His son was my gr gr grandfather Heinrich FRANZ born 4 February 1798 married 1823 to Lencke BULLER born about 1800 at Alexanderwohl, Molotschna, Taurida, Russia. My gr gr grandfather Heinrich had children Elizabeth (1831), Cornelius (1833), Gerhard (1836) and Jacob (1840) for whom I have abundant information. For his sons Heinrich (1824) and Peter (1828) my info shows only the immediate children. Heinrich (1798) lived most of his life in Russia, Taurida province, Molotschna settlement, village of Alexanderwohl. To the best of my knowledge the entire family migrated to the Kansas plains, with the possible exception of 1st son Heinrich, and two sons by second wife Maria Franz JANZEN; John (1854) and Klaas (1858), for whom I have no information besides the birth date. I also have some children listed for the brother Kornelius.

I am looking for other possible connections among other descendants of these people. I would like additional supporting evidence for the earlier generations in Poland that subsequently became Prussia. I would also like additional information on the sons from the second wife of Heinrich(1798). Adelbert Goertz has demonstrated that additional more accurate information can be obtained from court records. Whom do I contact for copies of these records? (from prior to 1820). Does any of this strike a familiar chord? In kinship.

Compare your Hieberts with mine. Johann (Hans) HIEBERT born about 1747 lived Walldorf, Kreis Elbing, West Prussia in 1776, and then migrated from Pletzendorf to Einlage, Chortitza, Russia about 1796. He apparently operated a windmill to grind flour for a period of time in Einlage. Son David HIEBERT remained Prussia until 1804 when he migrated from Einlage, Amt Elbing, West Prussia, Prussia to Lindanau or Montau, Molotschna, Taurida, Russia having 1 wagon & 3 horses. Sons Johann & Abraham went with Father to Einlage, Chortitza. (Johann Johann HIEBERT's son Abraham HIEBERT emigrated to Bergthal settlement, Russia). Sons Andreas & Christian HIEBERT (not mentioned in BHU's 1808 census of Einlage and may have arrived later) migrated in 1825 from Chortitza, Russia to village Prangenau in Molotschna, Russia. There is a family tradition that Christian HIEBERT's father came originally from Holland (The Netherlands). Christian's son Peter HIEBERT married Katharina NACHTIGAL VOTH who died, and then married Anna PANKRATZ and lived Alexanderwohl, and emigrated to Kansas in 1874 (these were my gr gr grandparents).

I have a completed family tree from Peter HIEBERT to 1994. I am looking for additional information on Johann HIEBERT (1747) in the Vistula delta area near Elbing. I would like any additional information on Andreas and Christian HIEBERT's migrations or on any descendants. I would like to share information with Canadian and other descendants of this particular Johann HIEBERT (1747). Does any of this strike a familiar chord? In kinship.

Lets compare the GOSSEN surname. Jacob GOSSEN born 2 July 1713 Danzig Free State? (Stobbendorf, 1776; died 1785 Ladekopp, West Prussia) had sons Johann (born 1746, Danzig), Franz Jacob, Heinrich (Stobbendorf, 1776), Maria, Gerhard Jacob, Deurk Jacob and by a young wife of his old age, Maria, Martin & Klass. His young wife married his son Heinrich after Jacob died. I have nearly complete family tree for the first four generations incl Jacob thru 1835. I have family tree information available for Jacob D. GOSSEN (born 25 January 1822) son of Deurck Jacob GOSSEN who migrated from Chortitza to Molotschna about 1826, for twins Heinrich and Franz (born 27 April 1824) and younger brother Jacob (born 22 September 1829 [also reported as 1824]) all sons of Franz Johann GOSSEN of Landeskrone after 1839. I have less extensive information for Johann Franz GOOSSEN (born 3 June 1779 Reinland, WPrus) son of Fransz Jacob and for Gerhard (born 23 September 1811) son of Gerhard Jacob GOOSSEN. There are many grandsons of Jacob GOOSSEN (1713) for whom no more information is available and would be desirable.

There was a Dietrich GOSEN living in Furstenau in 1860's, daughter Katharina born 30 May 1854. I would like to obtain sufficient information to establish connection to earlier GOOSSENS. There is a Johann GOOSSEN born 13 January 1844, died 27 Aug 1914 at Halbstadt, Molotschna, Taurida, Russia. There are at least 3 Johanns in the earlier information born circa 1844-45. I need additional information to establish a connection. There is a Gerhard GOOSSEN, born 1834, son of Franz Johann GOOSSEN for whom I would like additional information, descendants etc. In kinship.

My other surnames: BULLER, SCHMIDT, PANKRATZ, RATZLAFF, UNRAU, JANTZ, BARTEL, ABRAHAM, HIEBERT, HOOGE, GOERTZ, SOMMERFELD / SOMMER, JANZEN, GOOSSEN, WILLMS, LOEWEN, UNRUH, VOTH.

GAEDE, Carl W.
P.O.Box 308, Springs, Pennsylvania 15562-, U.S.A.
eMail address: wolf@gcnet.net
(Hugenot, Lutheran)

I am searching for the parents of my grandfather Karl GAEDE (GÄDE) born 26 March 1875 in Freystadt, West-Preussen, died 13 June 1919 at Deutsch-Eylau, West-Preussen. His wife, my grandmother, was Bertha SENDZIK born 2 June 1885 and died 17 September 1929. I am also looking for my mothers father August ALLMON and his wife Gertrud SCHATHAT. They lived at Koenigsberg-Kalthof, Ost-Preussen. The Allmons were Hugenots, all others were Lutherans. I would appreciate any help.


GAMBREL, Muriel PLOHMAN
eMail address: jgambrel@shaw.ca

My grandfather, Herman Richard PLOHMANN was born 20 May 1872 at Konitz, West Prussia. My father told me that Herman's father was Carl PLOHMANN also from Konitz, and the mother was Marie LOCHNER. He also said that this Carl was wounded in the leg in 1870 in the Franco-Prussian War. Hermann was christened in the Lutheran church, but the only Carl I can find in Konitz is a Carl Johann PLOHMANN, christened 19 June 1843, in the Catholic Church in Konitz. This Carl's father is listed as Anton PLOHMANN, married to Fredericke LOEWERT. Before Anton PLOHMANN I cannot find any other PLOHMANN's in West Prussia. However, there are many in East Prussia.

I have questions: Is it often found that people changed religions, or was there no Lutheran Church in Konitz in 1843 when Carl PLOHMANN was born? Also, would I have to go in person to that town to view the church lists, or how would I go about writing for information to verify that this Carl Johann PLOHMANN was indeed my grandfather's father? And How could I trace Anton PLOHMANN to the ones in East Prussia? (I have been using the LDS files (IGI). I have heard of people writing to Poland for documents, only to be charged very high prices, and some never getting a reply. Is this a chance that I must take? And would Prussian Military Church records help identify the Carl PLOHMANN I am searching for, since he was wounded in 1870 and his son was born in 1872?
Webmaster's Note: Military records are difficult to use since most are unindexed and they usually require knowledge of the military unit in which the ancestor was serving, something that is not often available. No German records are to be found in Poland today. There are Evangelical records that were microfilmed in Lubeck -- some have been extracted by Salt Lake City. You might try to use Ahnenstammkartei des Deutschen Volkes looking for the Pholmann line in West Prussia.


MONSON, Dorothy
905 East South Airport Road, Norfolk, Nebraska 68701-1610, U.S.A.
eMail address: dmonson@ncfcomm.com
(Lutheran)

I am looking for any information on the surname LAMBRECHT maybe LAMBERT. My great grandmother Charlotte Fredricka LAMBRECHT was born 7 December 1826 and married Friedrich C. VILLNOW in 1852. He was born 11 September 1829 at Wisenthal, Prussia. They had 7 children namely Albertine, Louis, Wilhelmine Dorothea, Augusta Catherine, Anton G., Henrietta Charlotte, and August W. They emigrated to the United States 2 July 1873, landing at the Port of New York. Anton, their fifth child, was born at Kutz, Prussia close to the Baltic Sea. They first lived at Buffalo, New York after arriving in the United States and used the name LAMBERT. When they moved to Nebraska they used the name LAMBRECHT. That is the name I know them by. I would be interested in learning about the parents and siblings of Charlotte Fredricka LAMBRECHT and also the parents and siblings of Friedrich C. VILLNOW. I am also interested in finding the marriage record. I would appreciate any information.


NEUBAUM, Calvin, Jr.
eMail address: neubaum@dave-world.net

I am looking for any information on the surname NEUBAUM. My great grandfather Wilhelm NEUBAUM and his wife Louisa (KLODA) NEUBAUM emigrated to the United States in 1881. They were followed by Wilhelm's 5 brothers; Heinrick, Gustave, Fredericke, Augustus, and Johann. One of them brought their mother Caroline NEUBAUM and their sister Mary. They list Steinberg, Rosenberg district, West Prussia as their home. I wrote to the Evangelical Parish in Susz, Poland but received no response. I would like to find information on the name NEUBAUM and the town of Steinberg. Any information for researching this would be helpful.


RESCHKE, Horst A.
(Q&A columnist on German Research in "Heritage Quest Magazine.")
eMail address: hreschke@juno.com

I just had occasion to check out the excellent West Prussia FEEFHS Research List on the Web! You are doing a wonderful job! I have my Reschke line back to 1624. My people sat in the same village (Wandau, parish of Neudö:rfchen, Kreis Marienwerder, Westpreussen), for over 300 years, until they had to make room for the Poles in 1945. I consider Wandau my ancestral home, although I was born in Hannover. If I can be of help with any perplexing problem, be sure to let me know. - Kind regards!
Webmaster's Note: Horst is the Heritage Quest Germanic expert. We found him to also be a superb lecturer at the IGS Seminar in Glendale on 11 October 1997. He is well aware of the FHL microfilm listing of Wandau in the Neudö:rfchen civil registration records for 1876-1877, but we will mention it for others.

SALINGER, Ralph
Kibbutz Kfar Ruppin, Beth Shean Valley, Israel 10850
eMail address: salinger@netvision.net.il
(Jewish)

I am not sure who I should thank for the creation of this magnificent page, but anyway thank you. My ancestors [Jewish] lived in Krojanke in the 18th century. I know this from documents from Suwalki where my ancestors moved to after leaving Krojanke. I have a copy of the excellent Prussian census of 1774. My question is: Are there any documents describing the Jewish presence in Krojanke prior to 1774 ? Looking forward to your reply.

In the process of my researches it became apparent that my family was not the only one that made the West to East emigration when most emigration was later to be East to West. All together some 8 Jewish family groups from Krojanke, Flatow and Jastrow made the move with my family. Exactly why they left is still completely unexplained. Several theories have been put forward:
[a] After the Prussians took control of West Prussia in 1772 they spoke much of the need to expel the poorer Jewish elements - this theory falls down in that those expelled are unlikely to have moved some 300 miles to the other side of Poland, rather they would have found a home as close to the border as possible.
[b] People moved because of arranged marriages- again this falls down because here some 8 family groups are involved.
[c] The most likely reason at this stage, is that their moves where in some way tied in with the Prussian expansion eastwards. As these 8 families settle either in East Prussia or in New East Prussia. They all have German surnames [SALINGER, LICHTENSTEIN, FLATAU, GRUSKA, JAKOBI, BERKOWITZ and LEWKONJA and presumably spoke German as well as Yiddish due to the predominance of German settlers in the Netze Valley.

Although many areas in Poland have a richly recorded Jewish history, the villages of the Netze Valley are sadly lacking in any form of documented material. In the process of my researches I have approached most of the archival sources in Israel and the United States and in all cases I have drawn a blank. The same is not so regarding the Jewish presence in Suwalki.
Webmaster's Note: While 5 Jewish record collections exist at the FHL for the three locations you are searching (Krojanke [2] and Flatow [2] in kreis Flatlow and Jastrow [1] in kreis Deutsche Kröne), you are correct in stating no local histories are found in the 17th CD-ROM edition of the FHL Catalog (FHLC). However if you open the "Jewish History" topic under West Prussia in the FHLC you will find Zur Geschichte der Juden in Westpreussen - History of the Jews in West Prussia - by Max Aschkewitz (276 pages, published in 1967 by Johann G. Herder-Institute at Marburg/Lahn).

SMITH, James
eMail address: llbjps@snet.net
(Roman Catholic)

I am trying to locate information on my wifes grandfather, Leo LADEMANN. I know he was Catholic, and from West Prussia, believe the city of Danzig, born approximately 1900. He married Elizabeth Maria ZIROTZKI in or around the Danzig area. Elizabeth was born 01 October 1901 in Oliva. They had five children and lived in a house that he built in 1936 in the small town of Wonneberg, district of Danzig. I have all of the childrens baptism certificates from a church in Emaus. I do know that he worked as a brick mason building bomb shelters in Berlin till his death in 1942-1943. I would like to be able to obtain copies of his baptism, birth, marriage and death certificates if possible.
Webmaster's Note: A LADEMANN family genealogy written in 1883 by Teo Lademann (born 1834) and extended by an descendant is on FHL microfilm #1036491 item 29. FHL microfilm exists only for the Wonneberg Evangelische church (1648-1937). Civil Registration (1874-1883) is on 3 FHL reels - 1456564 item 15-17; 1456565 and 1456566 item 1-12.

Zirotski is a Polish name, so it is suggested you broaden your search for her ancestors to include Polish genealogy sources, not just German ones. For Oliva, Catholic church records exist for prior years. Land and Property records (1868-1880) exist for Oliva on FHL microfilm #0577793 item 1. Other microfilm records also exist for Oliva Forst near Danzig. Emaus does not appear on the 17th CD-ROM edition of the FHL Catalog.

TIEGS, Richard
44 Kelly Drive, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2M 1V6
FAX: 519-578-1722
eMail address: rgtiegs@ibm.net

I am seeking information on the family name KANT. My second great-grandfather was Ferdinand KANT, born 31 December 1838 at ? Konitz, Westpreussen. In about 1865 he married Emilia BEYER, born 25 December 1842 in Westpreussen. They had a daughter, Helene KANT, born Aug 1, 1867 in ? Konitz Westpreussen, then emigrated on the ship "Gutenburg" 16 September 1868 to Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada. The emigration record shows their place of origin as Grimberg, Preussen. There is no Grimberg in Westpreussen and I am fairly sure they came from either Kreise or Stadt Konitz. Ferdinand's father was named Michael. I would like to determine their exact and correct place of origin and I would like to find other ancestors i.e. the parents and/or siblings of Ferdinand and Emilia.

I am also seeking information on the family name BARTSCHER. My second great-grandfather was Theodore BARTSCHER who was born in Westpreussen and was married to Elizabeth MOLKENTINE, also from Westpreussen, probably about 1858. They had 4 children, all born in Westpreussen - Arnold born 14 May 14 1860; Bernard born 1866; Richard born 1872; and Ida born 1875. Theodore died in Westpreussen about 1876 and Elizabeth remarried to a Karl SCHMIDT and they had a son Hugo born 1878. Elizabeth and Karl and all 5 children emigrated to Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada in about 1878-80. The eldest son Arnold may have emigrated alone in 1878. I have been unable to find any record of their emigration in the Hamburg Passenger Lists or Germans to America. I would like to determine their place of origin, emigration details, and information on their ancestors i.e. parents and siblings.
Webmaster's Note: There was a Grimbach in East Prussia and several Grüberg (Grunberg) locations in nearby Pommern. If that location was spelled in German text, you might have a German language expert look at a photocopy of the document to be sure of the spelling.

See also:WPRURL Archive INDEX
Suggestions for Finding a Place of Origin in Germany

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