Thursday, December 24, 2009

New Database: Mecklenburg, Germany, Parish Register Transcripts, 1876-1918

Ancestry added a new database on December 7th entitled "Mecklenburg, Germany, Parish Register Transcripts, 1876-1918".

I was browsing through the images of this database, and this is one great resource that they've put online! It states: "The majority of the records cover the years 1876-1918. However, there are some earlier records, some as early as 1716." These are digital images of the actual records! Let's hope they continue with this and upload more and more records from other parts of Germany, and Europe too!

There's four (4) initial categories to choose from, for the database:
  • Evangelical-Lutheran Mecklenburg-Schwerin
  • Evangelical-Lutheran Mecklenburg-Strelitz
  • Garnisongemeinden (Garrison Communities)
  • Catholic
I can offer my assistance with a quick look-up or translation help. Anything after 1/2 hour, I charge at a fair hourly rate. Here's a list of the towns available for each category.

Evangelical-Lutheran Mecklenburg-Schwerin:
Ahrensberg
Alt Rehse
Althof
Ankershagen (mit Möllenhagen)
Bäbelin
Bad Sülze
Badendiek
Barkow und Brook
Basedow
Basse
Baumgarten
Beidendorf
Belitz
Bellin
Benthen
Bentwisch
Berendshagen
Berhren-Lübchin
Bernitt
Biendorf
Biestow
Blankenhagen
Blücher
Boddin
Boitin
Boizenburg
Borgfeld
Börzow
Bossow
Breesen
Brenz
Briggow
Bristow
Brudersdorf
Brüel
Brunow
Brünshaupten
Brüz
Buchholz
Buckow-Burow-Camin
Bülow
Bützow
Camin
Cammin
Chemnitz
Conow
Cramon
Crivitz
Dambeck
Dammwolde
Damshagen
Dänscheburg
Dargun
Dassow
Demen und Hohen Pritz
Diedrichshagen
Döbbersen
Dobbertin
Dobbin
Doberan
Dömitz
Dreibergen
Dreilützow
Dreveskirchen
Eichsen-mühlen
Eickelberg
Eldena
Elmenhorst
Federow
Frauenmark
Friedrichshagen
Gaarz
Gadenbusch
Gägelow
Gammelin
Garwitz
Gehlsdorf
Gielow
Gnevsdorf
Gnoien
Goldberg
Goldebee
Gorlosen
Gorschendorf
Grabow
Grambow
Granzin bei Boizenburg
Granzin bei Lübz
Grebbin
Gresse
Gressow
Grevesmühlen
Gross Brütz
Gross Flotow
Gross Giewitz
Gross Helle
Gross Laasch
Gross Methling
Gross Poserin
Gross Salitz
Gross Trebbow
Gross Upahl
Gross Varchow und Luplow
Gross Vielen
Grosse Lukow
Grubenhagen
Grüssow
Güstrow Dom
Güstrow Landarbeitsh
Güstrow Pfarrkirche
Haustorf und Heiligenhagen
Herzfeld
Hohen Mistorf
Hohen Sprenz
Hohenkirchen
Holzendorf
Hornstorf
Ivenack
Jabel
Jabel Alt
Jesendorf
Jördenstorf
Kalen Alt
Kalkhorst
Kambs bei Röbel
Kambs bei Schwaan
Karbow und Darss
Karchow
Karin Alt
Kastorf
Kavelstorf
Kessin
Kieth
Kiewe
Kirch Jesar
Kirch Kogel
Kirch Mulsow
Kittendorf
Klaber und Grosse Wokern
Kladow und Vorbeck
Kladrum
Klinken
Klüss
Klütz
Kölzow
Körchow
Krakow
Krein
Kritzkow
Kröpelin
Krümmel
Kuhlrade
Kuppentin
Laage
Lambrechtshagen
Lancken
Lärz
Leizen
Leussow
Levin
Levitzow
Lexow
Lichtenhagen
Lohmen
Lübow
Lübsee
Lübsee bei Güstrow
Lübtheen
Lübz
Lüdershagen
Ludorf
Ludwigslust
Ludwigslust-Bethlehem
Lüssow
Lütgendorf
Malchin
Malchow
Marlow
Marnitz
Massow
Mecklenburg
Melkof
Melz
Mestlin
Meteln
Moisall
Mölin
Möllenbeck
Muchow
Mummendorf
Neese
Neschow
Neubukow
Neuburg
Neuenkirchen
Neukalen
Neukloster
Neustadt-Glewe
Paarsch
Pampow
Pankow
Parchim St. Georgen
Parchim S. Marien
Parkentin
Parum bei Güstrow
Parum bei Wittenburg
Passee
Passentin
Peckatel
Penzin
Penzlin
Perlin
Petschow
Picher
Pinnow
Plate
Plau
Poel
Pokrent
Polchow
Prestin
Pritzier
Proseken
Qualitz
Raden
Rambow
Rechlin
Recknitz
Redefin
Rehna
Reinshagen
Retgendorf
Rethwisch
Retschow
Ribnitz Kloster
Ribnitz Stadt
Rittermannshagen
Röbel Alt
Röbel Neu
Röckwitz
Roggendorf
Rossow
Rövershagen
Rühn
Rumpshagen
Russow
Sanitz
Sankt Nicolai (Schelfkirche)
Satow bei Malchov
Satow bei Rostock
Schlieffenberg
Schloen
Schorrentin
Schwaan
Schwandt
Schwarz
Schwerin Alt
Schwerin Dom
Schwerin Paulskirche
Schwerin Schlosskirche
Schwinkendorf
Serrahn
Sietow
Slate
Spornitz
Stavenhagen
Steffenshagen
Sternberg
Stralendorf
Stuer
Suckow
Sülsdorf
Tarnow
Techentin
Tempzin
Tessin
Tessin Grosse
Teterow
Thelkow
Thulendorf
Thürkow
Toitenwinkel
Uelitz und Goldenstadt
Upahl Grosse
Varchentin
Vellahn
Viecheln Hohen
Vielist und Sommerstorf
Vietlübbe
Vietlübbe und Gadebusch
Vilz
Vipperow
Volkenshagen
Walkendorf
Wamckow
Wangelin Hohen
Waren
Waren St. Georgen
Waren St. Marien
Warin
Warnemünde
Warnkehagen
Warsow
Wasdow
Wattmannshagen
Wessin und Bülow
Westenbrügge
Wismar St. Georgen
Wismar St. Marien
Wismar St. Nicolai
Wittenburg
Wittenförden
Witzin
Woosten
Woserin
Wustrow
Zahrensdorf
Zapel
Zarrentin
Zehna
Zernin
Zittow
Zurow
Zweedorf

Evangelical-Lutheran Mecklenburg-Strelitz:
Badresch mit Klein Daberkow und Klein Miltzow
Ballwitz
Bredenfeld mit Neigarten
Brunn
Carlow
Daberkow mit Mildenitz
Dahlen mit Birkhof, Beseritz und Dishley
Demern
Dewitz mit Cölpin
Eichhorst mit Liepen, Jatzke und Gentzkow
Feldberg
Friedland mit Lübbersdorf
Friedland St. Marien
Friedland St. Nicolai
Fürstenberg mit Buchholz
Fürstenhagen
Gaarz
Gehren mit Galenbeck und Wittenborn
Göhren
Göhren midt Georginenau, Plath und Leppin
Grosse Helle
Grünow
Hagenow
Helpt mit Holzendorf und Krekow
Herrnburg
Hinrichshagen mit Rehberg und Ballin
Jatzke mit Genzkow
Kaebelich mit Petersdorf
Kotelow
Kratzeburg
Kuhblank mit Neetzka und Golm
Mirow
Neddemin
Neubrandeburg St. Marien
Neubrandeburg Johanniskirche
Neuenkirchen mit Neverin und Glocksin
Neustrelitz Militägemeinde
Neustrelitz mit Zierke
Neustrelitz-Hofgemeinde
Plath
Prillwitz mit Hohenzieritz
Ratzeburg
Rödlin
Roga
Rühlow
Schillersdorf
Schlagsdorf
Schönbeck
Schönberg
Schwanbeck
Schwichtenberg
Selmsdorf
Serrahn
Stargard
Staven
Strasen
Strelitz mit Userin Quassow
Strelitz-Alt
Teschendorf
Tornow
Triebkendorf mit Woldegk Synode
Wanzke
Warbende
Warlin
Weitin
Wesenberg mit Drosedow
Wokuhl
Woldegk mit Cancow
Woldegk mit Pasenow
Wulkenzin
Ziethen

Garnisongemeinden (Garrison Communities):
Garnison Colmar
Garnison Ludwigslust
Garnison Parchim
Garnison Rostock
Garnison Schwerin
Garnison Wismar

Catholic:
Barkow Rostock
Ludwigslust
Rostock
Schwerin
Wismar

Treasure Chest Thursday - Carl Gustav Märten

This photo was sent to me in 2008, several months after my great-grandmother, Sylvia (Martin) Flemming passed away. This is of her grandfather, my 3rd-great-grandfather, Carl Gustav Märten.


Carl Gustav was born 23 Aug 1846 in a very tiny village that you won't find on any map, named Töpperkuthen. It was incorporated into a larger village nearby named Berneuchen. They were located in Kreis Landsberg, Brandenburg, Germany.

You can notice on the image, that Carl Gustav is a decorated veteran. His 1934 obituary states that he was a "Franco-German war veteran". After finding this out, I scoured records trying to find his military information. I located him serving in Lieb-Grenadier Regiment Nr. 8 (1. Brandenburg) in the 4th Company (1st Battalion). This Regiment was part of the 5th Division of the Prussian/German army. It was also a famous regiment which distinguished itself in all three of the Wars of Unification. During the Franco-Prussian war the division saw action in the battles of:
Spicheren (August 6, 1870)
Vionville-Mars la Tour (August 18, 1870)
Gravelotte-St. Privat (August 18, 1870)
The Siege of Metz (August 19 to October 27, 1870)
Bellevue (October 7, 1870)
Provenchères (November 6, 1870)
Bretenay (November 7, 1870)
Beaune-la-Rolande (November 28, 1870)
Orléans (December 3-4, 1870)
Revoy (December 7, 1870)
Gien und Briare (December 8, 1870)
Azay-Mazange (January 6, 1871)
Le Mans (January 10-12, 1871)

He received the Iron Cross for his service in this war, along with two other medals I haven't been able to identify yet. Any ideas?

He was married twice: first to a woman named Henrietta Kurth, who passed in 1876 and secondly to my 3rd-great-grandmother Louise Friederike "Auguste" Lübke. They were married on 15 Jun 1876 in Gross Schönfeld, in Kreis Greifenhagen, Pommern, Germany. They had total of six children: Otto (1877), Carl (1880), Gustav (1882), William (1883), Alvina (1885) and Anna (date unknown). The family immigrated to America, migrating through Bremen and landing in Baltimore, Maryland on 18 Apr 1883, aboard the S.S. Hohenzollern.

The family immediately settled in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, presumably with relatives. On 10 Jun 1891, he purchased 80 acres of land in Polar Township, Langlade County, Wisconsin, at Section 14, Township 31N, Range 12E. This land continued to be held in the family until the 1960's.

Carl Gustav and his wife Auguste lived in Polar til their deaths, in the 1930's. Carl Gustav passed on 12 mar 1934 and Auguste on 19 Oct 1938. The entire family is buried in St. John's Cemetery in Polar.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Sunday, December 20, 2009

My Genealogy Goals for 2010

I liked Elyse's blog post about her goals for 2010, so I thought I would give it a shot. Here are some of my goals I wish to complete for this upcoming year. Be warned, it's going to be a lot. I'm a very driven and persistent researcher, I'll get most of it done... hopefully!

1. Continue with my Hungarian Marriages Project. As of right now, I have the marriages for the Reformed churches of Tiszadob and Taktaszada complete, and I'm 95% done with Tiszadada. I also have a portion of marriages for District I of Budapest complete as well. At the moment, I have these other parishes at hand to begin indexing: Büdszentmihály (1737-1852), Tiszalök (1761-1852), Tiszaszederkény (1753-1895) and Kesznyéten (1760-1895).

2. Prove my descendancy from Revolutionary War Captain, Samuel Martin. Born 26 Mar 1732 in Ireland and died 18 Nov 1836 in Dallas, Lincoln Co, NC. My 3rd-great-grandfather was William S. (probably Samuel) Martin. He was born about 1804, probably in Lincoln Co, NC. He is the grandson of Captain Samuel Martin. I'm just unsure who his father was.

3. Find actual documents including information on my noble Hungarian ancestors from these families: Berzeviczy de Berzevicze, Fekete, Horváth de Perlak, Izdenczy de Komlós, Kottány de Kothan, Miskolczy, Széky, Szük and Tóth.

4. Research my Posen roots: the families of Domagala/Domagalski, Gadacz, Gotowa/Gotowy and Lesniewski. They came from these two areas: Birkenfelde, Kreis Znin, Posen, Prussia, now Brzyskorzystew (Żnin), Bydgoszcz, Poland, and Gluschin, Posen, Prussia, now Głuszyna, Poznan, Poland (part of Poznan).

5. Break down my Costilow brick-wall. James Costilow, whom I know nothing about, was married to Mary Bethia Hopkins in Adams County, Mississippi in 1818. Mary Bethia is a descendant of English and French royalty from the 1300-1400's.

6. Document my descendancy from the English and French royalty from the 1300-1400's. I descend from them through my 4th-great-grandmother Mary Bethia Hopkins Costilow Bell.

7. Learn anything I possibly can about my 3rd-great-grandmother, Martha A. Miller. She was the wife of Civil War veteran James Andrew J. Costilow. She was born 18 Nov 1836, possibly in Alabama and died 19 Dec 1877 in either Holmes or Yazoo county, Mississippi. They were married on 25 Jul 1855, place unknown. Her dates were taken out of a Costilow family bible, that seems to have disappeared.

8. Learn more about my earliest Rodgers ancestor: James Rodgers. He emigrated Ireland in 1718 and came to America, going to Pennsylvania before he finally settleding in the Shenandoah valley of Virginia in the mid-1700's. James died not long before 22 May 1760 in Augusta County, Virginia. He left behind a widow, Ann, and two sons: James (married Margaret) and Thomas (married Elizabeth White). There was a possible third son named John.

9. Continue the research on my Black Forest ancestors. My research in Gutach is near completion (after nearly 10 years). And I now need to move onto Hoheweg (Beilarz's), Reichenbach (Schondelmaier's), Sankt Georgen (Schultheiss) and Kirnbach (Summ's).

10. Continue my research on my Bohemian ancestors in the Czech parish records available on RecordSearch. These are the main families: Grundmann, Heller, Kasper, Matzken, Müller, Munzig, Paschant, Reichelt, Reichenbach, Sandrich, Schicketantz, Schneller, Tietze/Tieze, Vogel, Weishaupt and Wenzel. They are from Graber, Litomerice, Bohemia (now Kravaře, Litoměřice, Czech Republic) and also neighboring Johnsdorf, Litomerice, Bohemia (now Janovice, Litoměřice, Czech Republi). I'm also researching in the towns Dörfel (now Víska), Littnitz (now Litice), Schönau (now Křenov), Schönborn(now Stráž u České Lípy) and Waltersdorf (now Valterice).

11. Begin research on my Sprengling and Mai families from Weinolsheim, Kreis Oppenheim, Hesse, Germany. I know very little on this family.

Black Sheep Sunday - Hiram Howell

Not much is known about my 5th-great-grandfather's early life and family.. or his immediate family, for that matter.

I do know this: His name was Hiram Howell. He was born about 1790 in South Carolina and died in 1853 in Tippah County, Mississippi, from very curious circumstances. He was shot and killed, by his probable son-in-law, Lindsey Slaughter. How ironic is Lindsey's surname?!

Anyway, Hiram was married to a woman named Rachel. Her surname and past is unknown, but I do know she was born about 1794 in Georgia. She died sometime between 1853 and 1860 in Mississippi. According to various state and federal census records, they may have had a total of up to eight children. Three are definite: a daughter who's name is unknown (that married Lindsey Slaughter), a daughter Temperance Howell (who married George Vance) and a son Joel Howell (that married a woman named Rebecca).

As I said, Hiram was listed in several various state and federal census records. Here's a list of the records:
  • 1820 Federal Census: Lincoln Co, TN; Also listed are a David, Joel, Jonathan, Reas (Reece), and Samuel
  • 1840 Federal Census: Fayette Co, TN
  • 1845 State Census: Tippah Co, MS
  • 1850 Federal Census: Tippah Co, MS
Hiram also served in the War of 1812. He was a Corporal in Cocke's 2nd Regiment, Western Tennessee Militia.

Now for the interesting tid-bits. Hiram Howell, along with his two sons-in-law George Vance and Lindsey Slaughter, are found numerous times in the Tippah County, MS court records. One of the three was usually posting bond to get one of the others out of jail. Certain unknown circumstances lead to the death of Hiram Howell, by Lindsey Slaughter. Did Lindsey shoot him accidentally? Was it intentional? Did the men have a quarrel about money or about other no-good men in the area?

In hopes that further research will help settle these questions, I have a feeling I will never know the truth about what happened to my ancestor.

Was he flat-out murdered.....?!