Ostfriesen Genealogical Society of America (OGSA)

Transcription

OSTFRIESEN GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
AMERICAN-OSTFRIESEN ZEITUNG
Eala Freya Fresena! Lever Dod Als Slav!
OCTOBER 2008 Volume 11, Issue 4
The Mid-13th Century CHURCh in strackholt
OSTFRIESEN-AMERICAN ZEITUNG
OSTFRIESEN GENEALOGICAL
SOCIETY OF AMERICA
Ostfriesen Genealogical Society of America
Eala Freya Fresena! Lever Dod Als Slav!
October 2008 Volume 11 Issue 4
The newsletter of the Ostfriesen Genealogical Society of
America is published four times a year. Please write: Lin
Strong, Editor, OGSA Newsletter, 168 North Lake Street, Forest Lake, MN 55025 or email - [email protected] with comments
or suggestions.
We are happy to consider any contributions of genealogical
information. Whether we can use your material is based on
such factors as general interest to our members, our need to
cover certain subjects, balance through the year and available
space. The editor reserves the right to edit all submitted materials for presentation and grammar. The editor will correct errors and may need to determine length of copy.
Contributors are responsible for accuracy, omissions and
factual errors. Cite documentation for facts or statistical information and give complete source for all abstracted or transcribed records.
Other than the exceptions given, all or part of this publication may be copied without fee provided that: copies are not
made or distributed for direct title commercial advantage; the
OGSA copyright notice, the name of the publication and its
date appear; and notice is given that copying is by permission
of the Ostfriesen Genealogical Society of America. You must
contact the editor for permission to publish in any form.
Materials not otherwise attributed, were prepared by the editor.
Copyright @ October 2008
Ostfriesen Genealogical Society of America & Lin Cornelius Strong
OGSA MEMBERSHIP
MEMBER PRIVILEGES include four issues of the American Ostfriesen Zeitung (January, April, July, October), four
program meetings each year and one special event, special
member order discounts, and access to the OGSA library.
2009 MEMBERSHIP—Send your check for $18 (high speed
internet download or newsletter sent by pdf file—make sure
you specify which option you prefer) or $28 for paper copies
payable to OGSA 1670 South Robert Street, #333, West St.
Paul, MN 55118
Foreign membership is $18 if sent by pdf file—$30 if paper
copies. You can deposit your membership at Sparkasse Emden
if you prefer.
♦ The membership year is from November 1 through October 31 of each year.
♦ If you join midway during the year, you will receive the
code to download all back issues for that year or the paper copies. Back issues for many past years may be available for purchase.
♦ Please include your name, address, email address, phone
number and eight names you are researching in Ostfriesland along with their village names.
♦ If you have any question about your membership, please
do not hesitate to contact the membership coordinator!
Mail Address: 1670 South Robert Street, #333,
West St. Paul, MN 55118
Change of Address Contact: [email protected]
Officers are elected for a two year term and will serve during 2007
and 2008.
OGSA OFFICERS:
President—Sharon Arends, [email protected] (952) 906-9677
Vice President—Gene Janssen, [email protected]
Treasurer—Lübbert Kruizenga, [email protected]
Recording Secretary—Nancy Jensen, [email protected]
BOARD MEMBERS:
Lin Strong: [email protected] / [email protected]
Dr. James Limburg: [email protected]
Ray Kleinow: [email protected]
Jill Morelli: [email protected]
Rick Gersema: [email protected]
Zella Mirick: [email protected]
COMMITTEE COORDINATORS:
Program & Meeting Committee: Open, You can help!
Publicity: Open, do you have time?
Library: Zella Mirick (651) 452-2574
Membership Coordinator: Sharon Arends (952) 906-9677
Mail Coordinator— Zella Mirick, Nancy Jensen
AMERICAN-OSTFRIESEN ZEITUNG STAFF:
Lin Strong, News Editor / Cell 651-269-3580 / [email protected]
Contributing Authors: Jill Morelli, Rudy Wiemann, Gene Janssen,
Zella Mirick, Jeanee Thompson
Columnists: Jeanee Thompson, Ray Kleinow, Rudy Wiemann, Lin
Strong
NOTE: All Board Members and Officers will be up for election
November 1, 2008. If you are interested in serving, please contact the
Vice President who heads the nominating committee. Distance is not
an problem as we can also tele-conference all meetings.
OGSA MISSION STATEMENT
OGSA is headquartered in Minnesota and our official name is Ostfriesen
Genealogical Society of America. Anyone with ancestors from Ostfriesland or who has an interest in Ostfriesland is welcome to join.
The purpose of the group is exclusively educational, and specifically
to:
♦ Foster and increase interest in Ostfriesen genealogy.
♦ Provide an association for those interested in Ostfriesen
genealogy.
♦ Provide an opportunity for exchange of knowledge about
Ostfriesland.
♦ Encourage the establishment of Ostfriesen genealogical
resources.
♦ Hold meetings for instruction and interest of its members.
♦ Collect and, when practical, publish genealogical, biographical and
historical material relating to people of Ostfriesen descent.
♦ Work with other similar societies to preserve and protect
Ostfriesen genealogy and heritage.
Our organization is a 501C3 non-profit organization.
Your donations are tax-deductible.
2
OCTOBER 2008
MOIN, ALLE!
By the time you read this, I’ll be in Ostfriesland for the second time this year.
There are, however, no complaints from me. Some of the nicest people in the
world are there. Come along with me next Spring!
I don’t know about you, but summer was really not long enough. Especially
in this part of the U.S. where summer weather is treasured.
Inside this issue:
An 1853 Auction
4-8
New board members/officers are on the agenda for the coming year. You should receive a
ballot in the mail before October 10th—please send it in immediately to get your vote
counted. This is YOUR organization. See bottom of this page for more details.
Ede Klaassen Kriens & Martje
Jaspers Buurma; OSB Update
I think you will really enjoy the article on an auction in the 1800’s. It gives you a look into
the possessions that a family had accumulated—and the reason it had to be sold. Thanks to
Jill for her excellent research skills. Do you have something like this that you can share with
us? We all benefit from sharing!
Prinz Heinrich
The January issue will feature emigration—you will not want to miss this issue. Stories
that should be preserved for future generations—we don’t want them lost forever. Contact
me at 651-269-3580 or email [email protected] to find out how you can share your family stories.
If we have enough of them, this can be an annual edition. What are you waiting for?
War, Crime & a Lack of Fat
19
Ostfriesland & Batavian Republic
20
A Time for War & Revolution
21
Hay Hotels
22
Links to Deep Roots
23
Member News,
Letter from Loquard
23
23
Technology 101
Notes from North
24
24
Bombing of Esens
25,26
Which should serve as a reminder that you need to send in your membership dues today.
You will not want to miss the next issue. Please note that there is a handy form in this newsletter with membership information. Why not consider a membership as a holiday gift for a
family member—it’s the gift they will enjoy for an entire year! Also included is an order
form with all sorts of books and other items that you may enjoy.
Make sure you read the “Travels in the North of Germany”—page 27. You may be reading
about YOUR ancestors—and maybe you will find some pride in your ancestry, too. Do you
know what a hay hotel is? Check out the article on page 22. So many of you commented on
the Dollart article and how much you enjoyed that. Write to Rudy at [email protected] and
thank him for all his translations! Eleven years ago there was nearly nothing written in English about the history of Ostfriesland—we’ve come a long way!
Norman Hensley won the photo contest for July—no one can identify the picture in the April
edition? Hint—it’s in Emden. Of course, Norm was on the May trip and saw TULIP vases.
We visited Keukenhof in The Netherlands and there was an abundance of tulips of every
shape and size there. But I’m happy that some of you are reading the newsletter and contacted me about it. Ideas for other contests?
There is a new brochure for the Moordorf Moormuseum in English now. Gene Janssen and I
volunteered our time to help them with this project, he translated the German into English and
I added the pictures and editing. If you would like a pdf copy, please contact me—it will be
available by November 1 after it is proofed in Ostfriesland. We have formatted it so that the
brochure will eventually be in Dutch and French, too. This is a wonderful museum and if you
are in Ostfriesland, please visit. They are a non-profit organization and donations are always
welcomed. And tea and desserts in their small café are not to be missed!
This is our last issue of the year, please renew promptly, so we don’t have to mail you a
reminder post card. It is appreciated. Enjoy the beautiful Fall weather and have a blessed
holiday season.
News Editor, Lin Strong
IMPORTANT! OGSA members who have applied to be on the Board of Directors for the 2009-2010 term are as follows:
Gene Janssen
Lübbert Kruizenga
Nancy Jensen
Roger Peters
Mardelle Decamp
DeeAnn Johnson
Lin Strong
Sharon Arends
Zella Mirick
Rick Gersema
Ray Kleinow
When you get your ballot, you will vote for nine members for the Board. If you
do not get a ballot by the time you receive this newsletter by postal mail, contact
[email protected] immediately. Your vote counts!
3
Amt Emden
News from Ostfriesland
Strackholt’s Church
Strackholt & Environs
8
9-13
14
15-16
17
18-19
Rural Development Projects
Nature Protection Association
26
26
Travels in the North of Germany
27
Mapping
Officals in the Old District of
Wittmund
New Members
28
29,30
30
Upcoming Issues, Letters
31
Upcoming Events, Programs
32
Membership Form
Insert
W E’ RE ON THE WEB!
www.ogsa.us
Send in your membership
renewal today!
Next year’s issues will be
even better!
Auction: Estate of Ede Klaassen Kriens
and Martje Jaspers Buurma
Surnames included in article: Aikermann,
Bornkenck, Buseman, Buurma, Cramer, Dreesmann, Drenbur, Dreye, Drye, Eekhoff, Ennenga, Faralaer, Focken, Fockern, Foiken,
Franken, Freiborg, Freiling, Geerdes, Groenwoeld, Hadlander(s), Hahen, Hayen, Herens,
Horenga, Horst, Ibeling, Jongling, Kampen,
Klosteroboer, Koenen, Kriens, Kuper, Lebens,
Leerhoff, Lengen, Lenhoff, Luppens, Muhring,
Muller, Nanninga, Norrmann, Rave, Reker,
Ricks, Rieks, Ryks, Schappers, Schippen,
Schipper, Schmidt, Schulte, Sebens, Siefker,
Siefkes, Siemens, Tebbens, Venenga, Vierkant,
Viertaken, Wesermann, Wienenga, Wientjes,
Wirtjes, Wolterman, Wolthuis
______________________________________
Submitted by Jill Morelli
The Homecoming Tour of 2005 to Ostfriesland
sponsored by the Ostfriesen Genealogical Society of America (OGSA) offered me the opportunity to learn about the culture of the region
where our ancestors called home. I was fully
aware that this was not a research trip, but I
was surprised how much research I accomplished, primarily due to the helpfulness of
researchers and historians in the area.
One such event took place when we toured the
Heimatmuseum in Weener. There, the caretaker of the records (and rescuer of records
from the dump!), Frau Popkes assisted us in
finding records of our ancestors which were
recorded in the mid 1800’s by the Notary Public, Teodor Wilhelm Cramer.
One of those documents was the auction record
of the sale of the effects of my great-great
grandparents. Due to the fastidious nature of
the notary to record names of purchasers and
their villages of residence, this document may
be of interest to a wider audience than just my
more narrow interests, so it seems reasonable to
share it with you.
Those of you who have relatives in the region
may find your ancestor here; those of you who
do not, may find this “snapshot” of the possessions of one Ostfriesian family in the mid1860’s of interest on a cultural level.
No.
Item
Tlr. Gr. Name of Purchaser
1.
Shovel and ??
8
Jürgen Peters Fockern
Tichelwarf
2.
Various
5
Gerd Vierkant
do. (do = ditto)
3
1 basket w/ weights
and 1 rake
6
Jürgen Ochers Focken
do.
4.
Various
1
Martinus Franken
Beschotenweg
5.
1 spade, 1 hoe
15
Hinderk Kampen
Tichelwarf
6.
1 manure fork, 1 hoe
7
Hinderk Herens
Holthusen
7.
1 potato sieve
5
Jasper Kriens
Tichelwarf
8
1 yarn spool
9
Bavid Dreye
9
1 pot
5
Geerd Herens
Holthusen
10
1 yoke and ???
15
Cornelius Leerhoff
Tichelwarf
11.
1 pot, 1 ?, 1 board
5
Geerd Herens
Holthusen
12
Various
15
Wubbelt Schulte
Beschotenweg
13
1 peat crate
12
Geerd Vierkant
Tichelwarf
14.
1 barrel
9
Carl Hadlander
Weenermoor
15.
2 foot stouds
15
Jan Harms Luppen
Holthusen
16
1 hatchet
10
Hinr. Viertaken (?)
Tichelwarf
17
1 pail
8
Jan ???
do.
18
1 basket and 1 scarf
8
Carl Hadlanders
Weenermoor
19
2 wash tubs
8
Jan Muhring
Bunde
20
1 tub
7
Jasper Kriens
Tichelwarf
21
1 scarf
12
Gerd Vierkant
do
22.
1 wash tub
2
8
Harm Poeter Reker
do
23.
???
1
5
Hake Klosterboer
do
24.
1 basket, 1 winch
8
Hinderk Kampen
do
25
1 ??? w/ accessories
4
Jasper Kriens
do
26.
1 ladder
1
6
do
do
27
1 clothes rack
6
Jan Hinr. Franken
do
28
1 hoe, 1 peat spade
2
Hindr Herens
Holthusen
29.
1 box
10
Claas Wesermann
Beschotenweg
30
1 tea kettle
7
Gerd Vierkant
Tichelwarf
31
2 pots
7
Jan Harms Luppen
Holthusen
32
1 pitcher
7
Gerd Woltermann
Beschotenweg
33
3 pots
5
Carl Hadlander
Weenermoor
34
1 coffee kettle
Hake Klosterboer
Tichelwarf
4
1
1
Residence
It is unknown exactly where the sale took place;
however, it can be assumed that it was on the
property of the deceased. Since a journey of a
few miles was a major undertaking it can be
assumed that this document probably identifies
some residents who lived in the Rhiederland
area of Ostfriesland.
No.
Item
35
1 bowl, 1 pot
2
Jan Muhring
Bunde
36
2 pots
1
Carl Hadlander
Weenermoor
37
do
4
Jan Horenga
Tichelwarf
38
do
4
Hartog Tebbens (?)
do
39
1 mirror
Klaas Krien & J. Kriens
Bunde
40
1 lamp, 1 book
3
Geerd Herens
Holthusen
41
1 bowl, 2 figurines
10
Cornelius Jongling (?)
Beschotenweg
42
1 book
14
Wirtje Nannenga
do
1 tea pot
6
Abbe Hind. Horst
Tichelwarf
1 chopping knife
13
Jasper Kriens
do
45
1 tea container, etc
7
Moedje Muller
do
46
???
3
Jan Muhring
Bunde
47
1 tea pot, 1 glass
7
Weert Hayen
Tichelwarf
48
Various
4
Martinus Franken
Beschotenweg
49
Various tea things
4
Cornelius ???
do
50
3 cups
5
Claas Kriens
Bunde
51
2 bowls
5
Geerd Vierkant
Tichelwarf
52
5 plates, 2 pitchers
5
Jasper Kriens
do
53
2 plates, 6 cups
Abel Haken
do
The estate of Ede Klaassen Kriens and Martje 43
Jaspers Buurma was resolved with a sale of
44
property, primarily personal effects, by the heirs.
Ede Kriens died in 1854 and Martje Buurma
died in August of 1863. Surviving them, as the
immediate heirs, were their daughters, Eda
Klaassen Kriens (married to Harm Boews Ryks/
Ricks/Riks), and Martje Eden Kriens (married to
Jan Harms Luppens); a son, Jasper Eden Kriens
(married to Nantje Otten Ibeling); a grandson,
Klaas Kriens, unmarried; and three minor grandchildren, Grietje, Martje and Eda Weintjes/
Wienenga, daughters of Grietje Eden Kriens,
deceased. Grietje Wientjes/Wienenga is my
great-grandmother.
1
1
1
Residence
54
2 bowls
15
Jan Muhring
Bunde
The sale was conducted by the Notary Public,
Teodor Cramer of Weener on 18 September
1863. Prior to the sale, an agreement was
reached which outlined the rules of the auction
and payment, which are not so dissimilar from
the rules we would find today. At the time of
the sale, a list was made of purchasers, what
they purchased, and the amount paid in Taler/
Groshen (30 Groshen to one Taler).
55
1 ??, 1 bottle
4
Hinr. Schmidt
Tichelwarf
56
1 bottle 4 glasses
7
Gerd Koenen
Beschotenweg
57
1 bottle, 2 salt glasses
14
Harm D. Ricks
Tichelwarf
58
1 misc. spoons
13
Jasper Kriens
do
59
???
9
Jan Muhring
Bunde
60
1 three legged stool
and 1 crock
7
Hake Klasterboer
Tichelwarf
The sale sheet gives an overview of the types of
things that a family might own and thereby is a
“window” to their world. The items auctioned
fell into three categories:
1) farm implements and working tools,
2) clothing, bed linens, and housewares,
3) farm animals and use of land.
61
2 coffee creamers, 1
lamp
8
Gerd Herens
Hotlheide
62
2 irons, 1 pan
11
Jurgen Peters Foiken
Tichelwarf
63
???
11
Jan Wirtjes
Mühlenwarf
64
1 cake iron
10
Jaspers Kriens
Tichelwarf
65
1 coffee mill, 1 sieve
12
do
do
Some of the items such as peat forks and sieves
were undoubtedly typical items one would expect to find in the Ostfriesen farm home. Other
items such as two books, two figurines, a decorated plate and a can valued at 55 Groshen tell
us that this family had disposable income to purchase decorative items.
66
1 spinning wheel
18
Harm Boels Ricks
???
67
1 hearth chain
2
Eilert Siefkes
Tichelwarf
68
1 pot
1
1
Berend Farelaer
do
69
do
7
Mishel Jans Kuper
Holtheide
70
1 tongs
8
Eilert Siefker
Tichelwarf
71
1 pot
1
10
Jasper Kriens
do
1 iron
1
5
Eppe Dreesmann
Mühlenwarf
The pattern of the sale of items is not dissimilar 72
to an auction of today. The smaller items were
auctioned off first before the larger more valu-
5
1
1
able items.
My thanks go to Rudy Wiemann for the translation. I have taken the liberty of gently modifying the German syntax and the form of his
translation to make the document more readable for contemporary audiences; therefore, all
mistakes are mine.
There are items that do not have a contemporary translations or are too faded or difficult to
read; these are noted with a ???. Where I did
the best I could, but there is still some doubt as
to the script, I noted it with a ?.
No.
Item
Residence
73
1 glass cabinet
1
2
Harm Berends Siemens
Holthusen
74
1 bed warmer
1
1
Jurge Pehen Focken
Tichelwarf
75
2 slippers shoes
6
Berend B. Shippen
Holthusen
76
???
12
Gerd Herens
do
77
4# wool @ 16 Groschen
4
Ede Rieks & Jasper Kriens Bunde & Tichelwarf
78
1 batch
16
Gerd Herens
Holtheide
79
4 chairs @ 14 Groschen
2
16
Berend Luirs Schippen
Tichelwarf
80
2 chairs @ 15 Groschen
1
10
Jan Eekhoff
Boen
81
2 shirts
10
Martinus Franken
Beschotenweg
82
do
1
83
1 batch of clothes for
children
1
84
3
Berend Berents Schappers Holtheide
8
Jasper Kriens
Tichelwarf
2 bed sheets
15
Martinus Franken
Beschotenweg
85
1 hat, 1 overcoat
6
Wubbe Geerds Groenwoeld
Tichelwarf
Upon initiated request of the heirs of the departed married couple, Ede Kriens and Martje
Jaspers Burma, in Tichelwarf did today the
undersigned royal Hannoverian notary public,
Theodor Wilhelm Cramer, residing in Weener
to this place conduct the public sale of the
above remains of furnishings and fixtures. To
this merchandise have the applicants personally appeared and the auction conducted according to the following conditions.
86
3 towels
16
B. B. Shipper
Holtheide
87
2 bed sheets
1
10
Jasper Kriens
Tichelwarf
88
???
1
Klaas & Jasper Kriens
do
89
1 lady’s jacket
1
2
Aald. Hind Geerdes
Beschotenweg
90
1 apron
19
Jan Harms Luppen
Holthusen
91
do
1
Abbo Hind. Horst
Tichelwarf
92
2 chimney clothes
14
David Drye
Beshotensweg
Paragraph 1: The sale should be on a three
month payment period and every buyer bound
within the same time frame. From what is recorded today, the purchaser shall pay the
awarded purchase price with an additional
amount of five percent for the notary taken as
guarantee.
93
1 chest cloth , 1 cloth
7
do
do
94
1 little jacket
2
11
Michel Aikermann
Weener
95
1 skirt
4
do
do
96
do
1
10
Eilert Wolthuis
Tichelwarf
97
1 little jacket
1
16
Jan van Lengen
Mühlenwarf
98
1 skirt
1
11
Peter Eggers Ennenga
Tichelwarf
99
1 apron
1
6
Berent Buseman
do
100
1 little jacket
1
6
Harm B. Ricks
do
101
1 skirt
2
10
Jan Wirtjes
Mühlenwarf
102
1 jacket
3
Berent Luurs Schippen
Tichelwarf
103
1 (feather) tick
18
5
Hake Klosterboer
do
104
1 mattress
7
15
Ibeling Ibeling
Mühlenwarf
105
2 pillows
1
16
Peter Eggers Ennenga
Tichelwarf
106
1 cushion
1
10
Christian Drenbur
Mühlenwarf
107
1 bed cover
2
Hind. Norrmann
Beschotenweg
The document begins…..
Negotiated in Tichelwarf in the residence of the
deceased land user, Ede Kriens on the seventh
of September eighteen hundred three and sixty .
Presently circulating Hannoverian silver coins
of a guilder Dutch shall equate to six good
Groschen ??? as calculated but to the exclusion of all other methods of payment in paper
or metal. The notary herewith in his residence
in Weener is charged with the levying, collecting and forcible collecting from an individual
the sum of cash and fee to pay.
Paragraph 2. Possession of the sale items shall
occur at once with the extra charge to the buyers be transferred. The purchasers, because
deficiencies and fault are possible, are not entitled to restitution to demand nor are they al-
1
6
No.
Item
Residence
108
2 pillow cases
1
do
do
109
1 decorative plate
15
Jasper Kriens
Tichelwarf
110
???
10
Jan Lebens
Tichelwarf
111
1 batch of caps
7
Harm Freiling
Boen
lowed to step back from the purchase.
112
do
15
Frans Upkes Venenga
Beschotenweg
113
???
5
???
???
114
1 chest of drawers
4
Folkert Rave
Tichelwarf
Paragraph 3: Every buyer shall upon demand
designate a secure absolute guarantor and the
guarantor shall be responsible should the
buyer first renounce their obligations.
115
1 corner cabinet
4
Hake klosterboer
do
116
??? (a cabinet of
some type, childs?
6
Hind. V. Aiken
do
117
1 wall clock
8
Klaas & Jasper Kriens
do
118
1 smelling salt box
1
19
Hinderk Martens Wolthuis do
119
1 money purse with a 3
snap closure
10
do
do
120
1 hen with 11 chicks
1
19
Eppe Dreesmann
Mühlenwarf
121
2 chickens
1
3
Hrk. Mart. Wolthuis
Tichelwarf
122
???
1
1
Jasper Kriens
do
123
???
16
do
do
124
1 pot
do
do
125
1 basket
4
Jan Sebens
do
126
1 batch of ??? without 7
straw
5
Jasper Kriens
do
127
1 hog
17
do
do
128
1 can
55
Aeisse Wirtjes
Boen
129
1 heifer for J.H. Luppen
30
Cornelius Lenhoff
Tichelwarf
130
???
13
10
Meine Freiborg
Beschotenweg
131
???
9
5
Harm Jans Frieling
Boen
132
1 wheat barrel
1
10
Eppe Dreesmann
Mühlenwarf
133
1 batch of garden
fruit
3
Jasper Kriens
Tichelwarf
134
1 batch of potatoes
8
10
Jasper Kriens, Harm Ricks do
& J. H. Luppen
135
???
1
16
Gerd Vierkant
Tichelwarf
136
1 Gras (unit of meas- 2
ure) cutting of 40 ???
for ???
10
Hind. M. Wolthuis
do
137
The use of a field
10
Eilert Wolthuis
do
137
(sic)
The use of a second
field
10
Hdk. Martens Wolthuis
do
5
1
15
Under the same conditions as for Fr. U. Venenga of Beschotenweg
138
1 wheelbarrow
3
10
Harm Engbers Bornkenck
Paragraph 4: Buyers and guarantors shall, if
their purchase monies are not fully or timely
paid shall on the basis of this protocol, submit
themselves to immediate foreclosure which the
applicants expressly precondition, to the jurisdiction of the royal county court of Weener in
the first stage.
As the applicants to the organizing notary
personally are capable of decision making
and known as much as him, they have given
assurance that upon his inquiry they will comply with conditions listed in paragraph 27 of
the notary public regulations of 18 September
1853. Listed defects are present and if found
by the notary the progress of the auction will
not be terminated.
There were, therefore, the above conditions in
effect to the ready-to-purchase people and
there upon the auction negotiations themselves opened:
Author’s note: To give you a frame of reference for the value of these purchases, in the
October 2007 OGSA newsletter it was noted
that a workman in 1868 could earn 15
Groshen per day. “do” means ditto, or the
same as the above.
As there was nothing else to sell, the protocol
was closed. The Notary Public testifies that,
as far as has become known to him upon this
inquiry, in his ?? ?? the ?? deficiencies listed
in Paragraph 27 of the notary regulations of
September 18, 1853, did not take place. So
accomplished, as above.
For the purpose of testifying,
Theodor Wilhelm Cramer (sig) Notary
Some purchases are of special interest: Two
books were sold. (Author’s note: I guess it is
too much to ask for the notary to record the
titles!)
Tichelwarf
The single most valuable item was a can
which sold outside the family to Aiesse Wirt7
Descendant Indented Chart: Ede Klaassen Kriens & Martje Jaspers Buurma
jes for 55 Talers. Aiesse made no
other purchase. This is the equivalent of 3.5 days wages.
To give you a frame of reference, a
person today who makes $40K per
year, would make about $160 per
day (before taxes). This “can” was
valued at the equivalent of $560
dollars. The author suspects that
this was of a precious metal to make
it so valuable.
The gross proceeds of the sale were
274 Thalers/1127 Groshen.
Relatives of Ede and Martje who
purchased items included:
1. Jasper Kriens, son
2. Jan Harms Luppens,
son-in-law
3. Harm Boews Ryks/
Ricks/Rieks, son-in law
4. Klaas Kriens, a unmarried grandson
5. Meine Frieborg,
spouse of Antje Baayen
Wientjes, ½ sister to
Grietje Wientjes/
Wienenga, a granddaughter
• Ede’s and Martje’s fourth child
that lived into adulthood,
Grietje Eden Kriens, had died
just two years prior to the sale.
It should be noted that at this
time that her daughter, Grietje
Wienenga, was probably living
with the Dirk Englekes Ammerman family of Bunde. The
family tradition says she was
not raised by her immediate
family, but was considered an
orphan. In August 1865, just
two years after the sale, Grietje
emigrated with the Ammerman
family to Ridott Township,
Stephenson County, where at
age 19, she married Hindrick
Jans Bode. Eda immigrated
shortly after Grietje and married Peter P. Eckhoff. It is assumed that Grietje never saw
her twin, Martje, again.
Buyers at the sale are noted in red.
Ede Klaassen KRIENS, b. 29 Nov 1784 Beschotenweg, d. 17 Mar 1855 Tichelwarf
+Martje Jaspers BUURMA, b. 1791, m. 13 Sep 1814 Bunde, d. 22 Aug 1863 Tichelwarf
├── Eda Klaassen KRIENS, b. 6 Jul 1815 Tichelwarf, d. 3 Nov 1853 Tichelwarf
│ +Harm Bouwes RIJKS, b. 21 Jul 1821 Nieuschbeerta, m. 20 Jul 1848 Weener
│ ├── Yde Harms RIJKS, b. 9 May 1843 Tichelwarf
│ └── Grietje RŸKS, b. 12 Aug 1848 Tichelwarf, d. 7 Sep 1858
├── Grietje Eden KRIENS, b. 4 Sep 1818 Tichelwarf, d. 3 Jan 1861 Beschotenweg
│ +unknown spouse
│ └── Klaas KRŸNS, b. 1 Mar 1841 Tichelwarf, d. 8 Jul 1920 Ridott Township, IL
│ +Baje Loerts WIENTJES, b. 9 Jul 1778 Weenigermoor, m. 12 Nov 1848 Weener, d. 8 Aug 1862
Beschotenweg
│ ├── Grietje WIENENGA, b. 15 Oct 1849 Beschotenweg, d. 19 Feb 1922 Wellsburg, IA
│ ├── Martje WIENTJES, b. 15 Oct 1849 Beschotenweg, d. 2 Apr 1931 Wedde, Netherlands
│ └── Eda WIENENGA, b. 12 Apr 1853 Beschotenweg, d. 29 Nov 1922, USA
├── Martje Eden KRIENS, b. 19 Dec 1821 Tichelwarf
│ +Jan Harms LUPPENS, b. circa 1823 Weener, m. 27 Apr 1845 Weener
│ ├── Harm Jans LUPPENS, b. 4 Sep 1849 Holthusen
│ ├── Maltje LUPPENS, b. 30 Jun 1853 Holthusen
│ ├── Ede LUPPENS, b. 20 Aug 1857 Holthusen
│ └── Willemke LUPPENS, b. 16 Feb 1862 Holthusen
├── Jasper Eden KRŸNS, b. 5 Aug 1824 Tichelwarf, d. 18 Aug 1824 Tichelwarf
├── Jasper Eden (2) KRIENS, b. 12 Sep 1827 Tichelwarf, d. before Sep 1828
├── Jasper Eden (3) KRIENS, b. Sep 1828, d. 15 Jan 1829 Tichelwarf
├── Jasper Eden (4) KRIENS, b. 21 Nov 1832 Tichelwarf
│ +Nantje Otten IBELINGS, b. 15 Jan 1832 Beschotenweg, m. 9 Aug 1854 Weener
│ ├── Ede Klaassen KRIENS, b. 26 Nov 1854 Tichelwarf, d. 14 Dec 1854 Tichelwarf
│ ├── Martje KRIENS, b. 15 Dec 1855 Tichelwarf
│ ├── Otto KRIENS, b. 4 Dec 1857 Tichelwarf
│ ├── Ede Klaassen KRIENS, b. 22 Dec 1859 Tichelwarf, d. 23 Jan 1939
│ ├── Geerdje KRIENS, b. 7 Dec 1861 Tichelwarf
│ ├── Grietje Klaassen KRIENS, b. 23 Jul 1863 Tichelwarf
│ └── unnamed child KRIENS, b. 8 Jan 1866 Tichelwarf, d. 8 Jan 1866
└── unnamed daughter KRŸNS, b. 28 Dec 1838 Tichelwarf, d. 9 Jan 1839 Tichelwarf
Sources:
Cramer, Theodor, notary public, “Bill of Sale for Auction of Estate of Ede Klaassen Kriens and Martje
Jaspers Buurma, September 1863”, translated by Rudy Wiemen, October 2007. Original at
the Weener Hietmaten, Weener, Germany. Photocopied by the author in June 2005.
Evangelische Kirche original parish records, Weener, Germany, “Tote, Geburts & Hieraten 1707 to
1893”, various microfilms obtained from the Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Evangelische Kirche original parish records, Bunde, Germany, “Tote, Geburts & Hieraten 1707 to
1893”, various microfilms obtained from the Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Henry Bode Household, 1870 Federal census, population schedule, Ridott Township, Stephenson
County, Illinois, (enumeration district, page no. household no.)
OSB Update Suurhusen & Marienwehr are now in print.
Rysum will be printed in
2008. Siegelsum, Grimersum and Dornum are finished and may be printed in 2009. Several others are near completion!
• A lot of older OSB have been re-printed in very limited quantities. Loga, Logabirum,
Middels, Timmel and many others that have been on your lists! Contact us for a complete list. Many have been out of print for more than ten years!
• Neermoor and Borßum should be here by the time you receive this. We’ve had mail
problems. Rorichum is near completion and should be ready in 2009. Thorsten Harms
is also working on Hinte. Contact us today! [email protected]
IN STOCK Ardorf, Baltrum, Barstede, Bingum, Böhmerwold, Buttforde, Critzum,
Dunum, Eggelingen, Fr. Ref. Emden, Gandersum, Großefehn, Hage, Hatzum, Holtgaste, Jarßum, Jemgum, Landschaftspolder, Loga, Logabrium, Marienchor, Marienwehr, Middels, Midlum, Pewsum, Pogum, Potshausen, Riepe, Simonswolde, Spetzerfehn, Stapelmoor, Suurhusen, Twixlum, Völlen, Wiesens, Woquard, Wolthusen, Wy8
Amt Emden
By Rev. J. F. Bertrams, Geographic Description of the Principality Ostfriesland, 1735, revised by C. H. Normann in 1785.
Parts in italics by O. G. Houtrouw, Ostfriesland gegen Ende der
Frstenzeit*, 1889. (*The last Fürst, or Duke, Carl Edzard, died
in 1744).
This Amt borders on the Dollart Bay, the Ämter Greetsiel,
Aurich, and Leer, and the Fiefs Oldersum and Rysum. It measures about 14 miles in an approximate north to south direction from Cirkwehrum to Klimpe, near Jemgum, Rheiderland - and
from five to ten miles across. It is drained by quite a number of
waterways which are intercepted by Siel canals which empty
into the Dollart Bay in Emden and Larrelt, and into the Ems at
Oldersum. These waterways serve to drain the mostly low-lying
land as well as aid the transportation of goods from the villages
to the city when the roads become unusable in the fall and winter.
LOPPERSUM BURG
1. The Hinte Vogtei
A) Hinte is a larger village and the site of an annual fair. It is located on the northern boundary of Emden. It is home of a registered aristocratic estate and has a noteworthy church. The local
parson supervises eight congregations: four in this Vogtei
(Loppersum, Suurhusen, Canhusen, Marienwehr) and four in the
Larrelt, Vogtei (Larrelt, Twixlum, Logumer-Vorwerk, Wybelsum). There is a Lutheran chapel on the noble estate, the former
site of a fortified residence. Osterhusen, formerly a fief in its own
right, is part of Hinte. It was the seat of chieftains of considerable
means who surrounded it with an earthen dam. Osterhusen is also
famous for an agreement reached on May 21, 1611, between
Count Enno and Ostfrieslands Estates. Still known as the Osterhusen Accord, it is often inveighed as a quasi-constitution. Wichhusen, a registered aristocratic estate, belongs here. It belonged to
the Cirksenas until Count Ulrich in 1466 turned it over to a
nephew of Imel Abdena, Emdens last chieftain, as part payment
for relinquishing all claims to Emden. Vliehaus, originally a
landed estate, is also part of Hinte.
The Ems River empties into the Dollart Bay at Pogum. The Amt
has handsome and substantial hamlets and villages, prosperous
fiefs, and sizable farms and estates. It has quite a number of
lakes, its soil is fertile and grows wheat, barley, oats, rapeseed,
and other grain in abundance. Rapeseed is predominately grown
in the Polders and is generally shipped from Bundersiel (!)
down the River Aa.
Dairy farming is likewise important, as the butter and cheese
produced here constitute a large part of Emden’s commerce
through transshipment to Hamburg and Bremen. Moreover, it
has ten brickyards. It is administered in the name of His Royal
Majesty by a Drost, a First Amtmann, and a Rentmeister who
employs a Levee Commissioner responsible for the levee system. It has 25 Kirchspiele, not counting Nesserland Island, of
which only one, Pogum, is Lutheran, all the others adhering to
the Reformed faith.
B) Loppersum includes a registered aristocratic estate. The local
chieftain, Folkmar Allena of Osterhusen, quarreled with Okko
tom Broek over his wife’s inheritance and allied himself with the
chieftain Gerold of Wirdum, Habbo of Hinte, Kamp of Emden,
Reduard of Groothusen, and Enno of Larrelt to force Okko to
hand it over, but the latter, joined by his brother-in-law Edzard
Cirksena of Greetsiel and Haro Aylts of Gross-Faldern, beat his
opponents here in 1379 in a bloody battle. He then torched Folkmars resident Burg in Loppersum and added the town to his possessions. After Okko’s death, Folkmar got it back in 1404 after
which it remained in the family for several generations until it
was sold to a family of nobility.
This Amt is divided into the following five Vogteien: Hinte,
Midlum, Larrelt, Jemgum, Ditzum
HINTE
Eisinghusen, most likely a church-owned estate, as it is listed in
Münster, seat of the Bishop, as income producing property, belongs here as well, as does Abbingwehr, a former Hospitaler
commandery.
C) Suurhusen. Originally called Süderhusen, it derives its name
from its location with reference to Hinte, as do Osterhusen and
Westerhusen. A marker on the local church indicates the elevation to which the North Sea water rose during the All Saints
Flood of 1570. It rose even higher during the Christmas Flood of
9
1717. Suurhusen was the seat of judges, predecessors to the
chieftains or headmen, already in the 13th century.
A local chieftain, Boinck, quarreled with chieftain Folkmar
Allena of Osterhusen over an inheritance, which was a mistake,
because Folkmar took Boinks residence Burg by surprise and
dragged Boinck off to Osterhusen. He later released him upon
intercession by relatives, though he kept the Burg. Folkmar
himself eventually got his own clock cleaned by Okko. (See
Loppersum above.) Old and New Suurhuser Hammrich belong
here too, and one sees sizable remnants of trenches, walls, etc.,
of the old strongholds: Stikelborg, Osterhuis, and Brughuis.
Brughuus, i.e., Bridge House, then a tavern, was so popular
with customers from Emden that, as older folks are saying, on
Sundays the wine nearly flowed out the door.
D) Canhusen. It had a fortified residence belonging to Folkmar
Allena which was torched by Okko tom Broek after the Battle
of Loppersum in 1379. Okko added the village to his dominions but returned it to Folkmar in 1404. Longewehr, supposedly the site of a former monastery, is churched here.
E) Marienwehr, literally St. Mary’s Dam, a small Kirchspiel,
presumably at one time a monastery landed estate. Churched
here also are Randzeel, T5telborg, an aristocratic estate, presumably the former location of a fortified residence, and
Harsweg (hars is Friesian for horse). Here once stood a Chapel
which served Lutherans in Emden, as they were not allowed to
hold their services in the city. In 1666, during the former religious quarrels, it was shot up during a Sunday service by a
militia from Emden. The preacher was chased away and the
congregation declared nonexistent by force of arms. Its former
members now go to church in Emden or elsewhere. The cemetery and a small building where school is conducted for
Harsweg’s children still exist. Harsweg now is made up of four
royal government Domnen farms and a tavern. Near Emden on
the Hinte Canal a sizable (wind powered) oil press, the Bommert (bulwark), Middelburg, and a (wind powered) sawmill are
located. A short distance before the sawmill stands a marker
which indicates the border between the jurisdictions of the city
of Emden and the Amt of Emden.
2. The Midlum Vogtei
This Vogtei is separated from the previous one by the Hinte
and Sielmönken Canals. Is has the following Kirchspiele:
A) Groß-Midlum with Horst. Groß-Midlum, not to be confused
with (Klein) Midlum in Rheiderland, is already mentioned in
documents of around 1000 AD and boasted one of the handsomest residence Burgs (torn down around 1800) in the area
which, by marriage, went to the old aristocratic von Appelle
clan of Luneburg. The grandson of the first East Friesian Appelle became the spokesman for the Estates which protested an
attempt by the ducal executive branch in Aurich to control the
finances after the disastrous Christmas Flood of 1717, as this
was seen as a power grab and a breach of the Osterhusen Accord (see Osterhusen above). The result was a virtual civil war,
the Appelle War, which the protesters lost (in the short run)
and in which Appelle temporarily lost his estate.
Currently, Horst, a small settlement, has a stud farm. (From Internet info.)
B) Westerhusen. Here stood formerly a residence Burg which in
1436 was captured and torn down by Emden and Hamburg after a
determined defense. On its site a large, handsome house was built
which stood for many years, but burned down two years ago. It
has since been rebuilt. Documents mention Westerhusen as early
as 1000 AD. Since the beginning of the 14th century it was the
seat of chieftains serving as one of the judges of Friesian Emsigerland with the responsibility of formulating written law covering
manslaughter, assault, crippling, inheritances, and all items whichwere needed and lacking in Emsland. No local chieftains are mentioned toward the end of the 16th century and the estate was no
longer in aristocratic hands.
Albringswehr was mentioned as a solitary farm in 1472; the name
Groß and Klein (i.e., greater and lesser) was added when settlements developed. Mossenborg belonged to the aristocratic estate
Groß Albringswehr in 1788. It no longer exists as a settlement.
C) Cirkwehrum, along with Cirkwehrumer Hammrich and Kringwehrum. Cirkwehrum is first mentioned in written history 1346
when a Reydolph of Cirqwerum officiates as a judge in a treaty
between the Bishop of Münster and the regions Ems-, Broekmer-,
Moormer-, and Overledingerland. Indications are that a residence
Burg castle once stood here which may have partially survived the
Okko tom Broek (Vetkoper Party) vs. Folkmar Allena (Schieringer
Party) era struggle only to be destroyed by Hamburg. This small
town already had a school teacher in 1561.
Of Kringwehrum the historian Beninga writes that in 1375 de vloet
so hooch in Oostfreeslant und in andere umliggende landen
gewest, dat de van Krengwehrum mit hues and lueden wechgedreven sinnen. (...that the flood was so high in Ostfriesland and in
other surrounding lands that those from Kringwehrum drifted
away with houses and people.)
D) Freepsum, with Sielmönken, once a Benedictine convent, then
an Augustinian monastery, was destroyed by Balthasar of Esens in
1531 and rebuilt on a smaller scale. Freepsum’s church was built
in the 13th century. The royal government Domnen farms, formerly the monastery Coldewehr and the convent Blauhaus also
belong here. The latter was built for the Conbörny sisters who had
to abandon their Logumer-Vorwerk convent due the 1509 Flood.
Freepsum, like most settlements in Krummhörn, had a local chieftains Burg, a fair-sized, thick-walled, moat-surrounded fortress,
which belonged to the powerful Folkmar Allena of Osterhusen. In
1437, it was destroyed, along with those in Larrelt, Hinte, Grimersum, Wilgum, Nesse, Groothusen, and Westerhusen, by the Cirksenas, with Hamburg’s help, to keep them from offering protection
to their enemies, i.e., Fokko Ukena’s alliance. The building material was taken to Emden and used to strengthen its defensive
works. (Four lakes were once located around Freepsum: Lake
Freepsum, Owl Lake, Sand Lake, and Reed Lake, but they have
long been drained and their beds put to agricultural use. At 2.3
metres below mean sea level, they are the lowest lying area in Ost10
friesland and one of the lowest in Germany.)
From 1740 to 1760, at the time of the local preacher Theodorus
Weermann, a man by the name of Hinrich Janssen (commonly
called Langer Hinrich) lived here, who with his heretical teachings, did harm to the public and moral conduct, misled many
self-sufficient citizens and turned them into beggars. Weerman,
with the help of preacher Meyer of Canum, tried to point him
in the right way, but those efforts were futile. He continued in
this way and was finally put in prison. His heretical teachings
and his fate and that of his adherents may be read about in Melings Church and Heretics Dictionary.
E) Canum, a Warf (Mound) village, was mentioned in surviving documents for the first time in 950 AD. Its name probably
stands for home of the Caning clan. Its church occupies the
Warf’s highest point and dates back to the second half of the
13th century. A school is mentioned in 1581. (From Wikipedia)
F) Woltzeten is one of the smallest villages in Krummhörn,
first documented around 1000 AD. As in many Warf villages,
the church, built in 1727 to replace an earlier structure, occupies the center of the settlement. Thanks to its elevated situation, Woltzeten did not suffer much damage from the Christmas Flood of 1717. Spiegelhaus, one of several outlying farms,
is churched here too.
3. The Larrelt Vogtei
A) Larrelt, a large village on the Ems with a fine old church
and tower which are said to have been built in 1225. Ulgerwehr, a large farm half an hour walk to the west, which may be
the site of a former monastery, is also churched here. When
new levee sections were built near Larrelt after the great
Christmas Flood of 1717, and earth was excavated for their
construction, a number of urns from heathen times were found.
These resemble jars and are made of earthenware in which the
heathen peoples gathered, kept, and buried the ashes of family
members. First mentioned in documents of 930 AD, Larrelt is
the largest town in the Amt, yet it was formerly still larger and
more important. With a fine harbor and a powerful chieftain in
charge, it attracted the envy of Emden which in 1623 destroyed
Larrelt’s levee gate. Into the 15th century, it was enclosed by a
wall and moat, much like Osterhusen and Emden itself. The
Christmas Flood of 1717 destroyed the levee in its vicinity in
several places and washed out a 200 x 500 x 80 deep hole
which took until the year 1723 to fill. (From the Internet: Larrelt was incorporated into Emden after WWII and is home of a
present day large VW assembly plant. Worth seeing is its 15th
century church which includes the gate of its 12th century
predecessor.)
B) Twixlum, with Barleen and Rote Scheune. This village was
already mentioned in a document dated 1124 and was the seat
of judges and chieftains whose genealogy hasn’t been determined. Their Burg fell to neighboring chieftains: in 1425
Freerk Allena of Larrelt held it, later descendants of Fokko
Ukena of Leer, then Ulrich von Dornum, who was also chieftain of Oldersum and Wittmund. The Burg may still be seen on
the southeast side of the village, between church and canal.
The village and the Hammrich farms nearby suffered great loss
when the cattle pest swept through Ostfriesland in 1715/16, taking 397 heads of cattle. In the 1717 Christmas Flood ten people,
60 heads of cattle, four horses, and 80 sheep drowned. In the New
Years Flood of 1720 the sea water rose 15 inches higher still,
flooding the barn of the parsonage on top of the Warf.
Barleen, a small settlement, perhaps formerly the site of a chapel,
and Rote Scheune (red barn), a former Grashaus (farm and administrative office), both west of town, are churched in Twixlum.
(Note: Twixlum was incorporated into Emden in 1972.)
C) Logumer Vorwerk once belonged to the village Logum, or
Loge, which sustained major flood damage during the 16th century. Its church was taken down in 1588, and the village site was
left outside the new dike alignment. The salvaged material was
used to build a new church in 1594, which became the new seat
of the Kirchspiel. Logum’s former location is still known among
sailors as Logumerhörn.
In 1602, Count Enno I of Ostfriesland built a fort near the old site
of Logum which was outfitted with five large and strong bastions
directed against Emden’s shipping lane, able to cut the city off of
all supplies coming by sea. It was surrounded by a 140 ft. wide
moat. In the following year troops from Emden and the Netherlands laid siege to it, captured and razed it. In commemoration of
this military action Emden struck a coin, the obverse showing the
fort with a few ships on the Ems, the reverse the following inscription (in Latin): With the support of God and with the help of
the United Netherlands, the senate and the citizenry of Emden
under the leadership of Warner du Bois (the Dutch general) have
forced Fort Logum to surrender and razed it in 1603.
D) Wybelsum formerly belonged to the old parish town of Gerdeswehr which was flooded in 1699 due to a break in the dike during a storm. A new dike was then built further inland which left
the town site to the mercy of the sea. On June 13, 1700, Pastor
Ehlers of Logumer Vorwerk conducted a final service in that
church, which had
survived
the
storm, on Hos. 6; Wybelsum’s Church
1.
Immediately Built in 1700
thereafter it was
torn down and the
material sold or
reused for the
construction of the
new parish church
in Wybelsum. On
August 24 its corner stone was laid.
Pastor
Ulferts,
who
was the
preacher of this
congregation,
dedicated
the
church on Dec. 5,
1700, with a sermon on 1 Kings;
28-30. A bell
11
WYBELSUM CHURCH
tower was added in 1713 which houses Gerdeswehrs St.
Mary’s bell of 1447.
According to Ubbo Emmius, Bettewehr was already lying outside the dike in 1590. In 1605, the village was relocated farther
inland where a new church was built from the material salvaged from the old one. The village lost 10 people to the
Christmas Flood of 1717 after which the dike was again realigned, leaving Bettewehr again facing the sea. On Sept. 27,
1720, Pastor Harkenroth of Larrelt delivered the last sermon in
the church on Rev. 2; 11. The New Years Flood of 1720/21
washed away most of what still left standing. Knock, perhaps
so called because it sticks out into the Ems like a knuckle, is
said to have been a sizable village with its own church, but no
documentary evidence exists. A government run ferry service
to Dutch Termönter Siel has existed here since ancient times.
The following part of this Amt which lies on the opposite side
of the Ems in Rheiderland, is called Nieder-(i.e., lower)Rheiderland, and consists of the Vogteien Jemgum and
Ditzum.
4) The Jemgum Vogtei
It has four Siele (levee gates) and just as many drainage canals.
Located here are the following Kirchspiele:
A) Jemgum, a large and formerly rich market town with an
Ems River harbor. It has an old church on which traces of
decorations that once embellished it can still be seen. The first
church was a large fortress-like structure which was torn down
in 1534 by Count Enno II after the lost battle here in the year
1533. (see below). Jemgum then used the smaller Hospitaler
church, which the order had given it in 1401, and enlarged it.
One of the two preachers here has inspection authority over
Lower Rheiderlands eight Kirchspiele. The small settlements
or outlying farms Eppingawehr, Jemgumgaste, Klimpe, Sappenborg, Jemgum-Kloster, and Timpe are churched here too.
Jemgum was probably one of the towns in Rheiderland, most
of which held on to Popedom longer than the rest of Ostfriesland, where the pure teachings of the Gospels first broke
through.
Jemgum is also known in history through two battles which
took place here. In the first one, fought in 1533, Carl, Duke of
Gelderland, and Balthasar, chieftain of Esens, contended with
Enno II and Johann I, co-Counts
of Ostfriesland, in which the two
latter suffered a bloody defeat.
The second battle took place in
1568 between Ludwig, Count of
Nassau, and the Spanish Duke of
Alba. The latter won, loosing only
80 men. Of the other (Dutch liberation) army 7,000 drowned in
the Ems, most of the others were
slain as they fled. Only the cavalry escaped. The beaten Count
Ludwig saved himself miserably
by fleeing in a boat down river to
Emden.
JEMGUM CHURCH TOWER
In the 30 Years War, the headquarters of the Hessian forces in
Ostfriesland was located in Jemgum of which a manuscript has
recently come to light. Their commanding general, Count von
Eberstein, was quartered here and died here in 1644. He wanted
to fortify Jemgum, but had to drop his plans due to objections by
the States-General.
When the Mansfelders were in Ostfriesland, a Colonel Carpezan
had his own wife decapitated by an executioner on a charge of
infidelity. Through this action he brought so much hatred down
on himself that the women and children in a certain Dutch town
would have stoned him to death had he not taken refuge in a
house.
In July of 1783, a fire of unknown cause broke out which was of
such intensity that in a short while 46 houses and two brickyards
burned down.
B) Midlum is first mentioned in a surviving document of 1449. It
had a resident Burg which belonged to Wiard, Chieftain of
Uphusen and Oldersum, who willed it to Countess Theda, niece
of Fokko Ukena, who also had a claim on Oldersum, in exchange
for sole possession of Oldersum. Its church dates back to the 13th
century, and its congregation was well endowed with land providing it with rental income. In 1580, a school teacher is first
mentioned in Midlum.
C) Kritzum may have derived its name from a stream called
Kritte which may have drained a shallow lake at Marienchor before the Coldeborg intercepter canal was dug. It is first mentioned
in a surviving document dated in 1432. A document of 1475 calls
it Croytzum. Its church may have served as a place of physical
refuge, as it is surrounded by a moat to be crossed by three
bridges. The chieftains here resided in their fortified mansions in
nearby Coldeborg which formerly had its own church or chapel.
It was taken by Gelderland troops after the first Battle of Jemgum, but was not occupied for long. No visible trace is left of it
now.
D) Marienchor, called Marienwehr in a document dated 1496. A
Wehr (protective dam) it probably needed, as before the levee
from Pogum to the River Aa was built, the North Sea waters
reached it during storm floods by way of what later became the
Dollart Bay, and during the winter its inland sea rose alarmingly.
The area around here may be Kritzemewalt (= Kritzumerwolde or
Kritzumerhammrich) of a document of 1475 which states that a
church located there fell victim to the floods. Marienchor’s
church was built in 1668. Dunkirchen, a solitary farmstead south
of here situated on a remnant of a levee ordered built by Count
Edzard I in 1494, is churched here. Behind Marienchor toward
the dike lies the New Hammrich to which the permanent members of Bunde’s congregation have a claim (i.e., Bunderhammrich).
E) Landschaftspolder was leveed in 1752, measures about 2,700
acres in area, and supports 22 sizable farms. The church built
here was dedicated on Dec. 1, 1768, with a sermon on Exod. 1517. In 1774, various local interested parties began a new Polder
here which, however, was unsuccessful.
12
5. The
Ditzum
Vogtei
A
)
Ditzum
is a large
village
and has
a
well
situated
harbor
on the
Ems. It
is mentioned in
a document of 1496, then called Derzum and has kept its relative independence through its own chieftains of which little knowledge has
come down to us, except for Tyo who married into Emden’s Reformed Abdena clan with a Lutheran branch in Petkum. After the
death of Tyo’s son, Igo Gerrits, who died without descendants, the
chieftain of Petkum presumably added Ditzum and Pogum to their
possessions, which would explain why they owned the local patronage into the 17th century.
Ditzum did start out Lutheran but later joined the Reformed Coetus
(Synod) of Emden. Pogum remained Lutheran. Located to
Ditzum’s south and churched in Ditzum are the settlements
Ditzumer Hammrich and Aaltukerey which once made up the congregation Dertzamerwalt (-wolde), listed in the bishoprics roster as
threatened.
B) Pogum, or Pawing, is found in documents later than its sister
town Outer Pawing, which showed up first in 1367 but fell victim
to the Dollart Bay in 1509. In that flood, Pogum lost much of its
productive land which was reflected in the rather small pay it could
offer its pastors. It is one of three Lutheran congregations, with
Bingum and Holtgaste, in mostly Reformed Rheiderland (see
Ditzum). Dieksterhusen, a settlement along the Dollart levee, is
churched here too.
C) Nenndorf is, as the name implies, a relatively New Dorf (Dorf
meaning village). Until 1593, its people were served by Hatzum’s
pastor after which it remained in a filial relationship with its
neighbor which signed over to it the taxable benefits of some
pieces of property within its jurisdiction. In that year it installed a
minister who soon had to be let go because of his Lutheran leanings. When in the years 1665/66 the plague swept through Ostfriesland and took 27 ministers, Nenndorf installed a Dutchman,
who turned out to be a follower of Jean de Labadie, founder of a
pietist sect, who proved to be hard to get along with and had to be
let go. In 1683, Nenndorf became an independent congregation.
Churched here is also the nearby settlement of Wischenborg.
D) Oldendorp is, as the name implies, an old village; in fact, it is
one of the oldest villages in Rheiderland. Monastery records of
around 1000 AD already list it as Aldonthorp, meaning old village
(Thorp = Dorf). The walls of its church are five feet thick and
made of extraordinarily large bricks.
13
A Pastor, Petrus Aemilius, installed in 1594, had to appear before the old forum orthodoxiae, the Coetus in Emden, to defend
himself against accusations of harboring ideas promulgated by
the Remonstrant Brotherhood. He decanted. Oldendorp had its
chieftains, too. One of them, Tjaert, joined by fellow hoevetlinghe (Hauptlinge = Chieftains) Imel of Osterhusen and Hinte,
Ailt and Folkmar of Grimersum, Frerick of Hinte and Larrelt,
and Redert of Groothusen, asked Phillip, Duke of Burgundy
and Count of Holland, for protection against the Cirksenas and
Hamburg. The location of their Burg is no longer known.
E) Hatzum, a provostship of the Bishop of Munster already
before 1276, along with Weener, Leer, Emden, Groothusen,
Hinte, and Uttum, has a tall and stately church which also
served parishioners living in neighboring Nenndorf for a long
time. (See also Nenndorf.) It had its Burg as well, now gone,
on the ground on which indications of a place of execution
have been found. Its chieftains married into a neighboring ruling family and called themselves Chieftain of Hatzum and
Coldeborg. The small settlements of Boomborg and Eilingwehr
are churched here, as well as Hatzumerfehn where several
royal government Domnen farms are located.
F) Nesse, or Nesserland, became an island when the Ems River
changed its course from describing a northern loop around the
village to forcing a straight path through the peninsula to its
south. Its congregation is Reformed. It is situated across the
oxbow from Emden but, unlike the other islands, has no dunes.
It had salt works until around 1600 when sea salt began to be
imported. The Friesian King Radbod traveled through here on
his way to the ferry at the Knock, and it is believed that traces
of the old road are still detectable.
In the great Christmas Flood of 1717, this Amt, like several
others, suffered much. The water in Emden rose so high that
one could negotiate the streets by ship. In several houses the
water stood three to six feet deep, and in many places great
damage was sustained. The so-called Long Bridge by the harbor, which had a safeguard house standing on it, was suddenly
lifted off its pilings. The Bolen Gate Bridge drifted off as well.
Other bridges sustained only partial damage.
From the massive city wall on the Ems side whole sections
were torn away, and holes were washed out in the streets.
Two people and 174 head of cattle drowned. The surrounding
countryside suffered more, losing 53 people, 85 horses, 419
heads of cattle, 388 sheep, and 97 hogs to the flood waters.
Rheiderland, though more exposed to these forces of nature,
suffered less. Only three houses were damaged and a small
levee gate was washed away. Only two people, seven horses,
ten heads of cattle, and four sheep were lost.
Upon inspection of the dikes on Dec. 29, 1717, and Feb. 2,
1718, the following damage was noted: In the first section,
between Larrelt and Emden, a hole 2250 feet wide and 870 feet
long was washed out. The 2nd and 10th section were gone altogether. The 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th section had washed-out holes
of various sizes and depths. The 3rd, 4th, and 9th sections remained almost undamaged. The island of Nesserland suffered
no particular damage.
THE PRINZ HEINRICH
Submitted by Rudy Wiemann
The Prinz Heinrich, the oldest still existing propeller driven
steamship which navigated the Outer Ems River, is back in
Ostfriesland, after a 30 year hiatus in several Baltic Sea ports,
and undergoing a 2.6 million Euro restoration in Leer. She was
built in 1909 by Papenburg’s Meyer Werft as a 233 ton double
propeller packet ship, powered by a 300 hp two-compound
steam engine, for the Borkum Narrow Gage Railroad Company
which connects Borkum’s harbor with the island’s settlement.
She served as a supply ship for the island in both World Wars
and was subsequently remodeled, fitted with Diesel engines
and renamed “Hessen” (Hessia).
Decommissioned in 1970, she was sold to private interests,
served as the Museumship Mississippi in Lübeck, on the Baltic
Sea, and thereafter lay idle and slowly deteriorating in the Baltic Sea port of Rostock. There she was discovered by Dr. W.
Hofer, who promptly founded the ad hoc Association Prinz
Heinrich, a Maritime Tradition which promptly had her towed
to Leer. The Association’s enthusiastic members have created a
great deal of public and official interest by emphasizing her
historic value, her classical beauty, and her special place in
Ostfriesland’s seafaring ways. The Office for Monument Preservation in Hanbover has recognized her as a monument ship, a
precondition for willing foundations, public bodies, etc., to free
up funds for her costly restoration.
The Association has begun a worldwide search for a working
steam engine of the original design. It has experts on board
who oversee every restoration step taken, particularly the repair
welding of old steel parts, a critical procedure as welding techniques and materials must be suitable for the 100 year old base
metal. But this phase of the operation is moving right along and
is showing visible results. The original vertical bow, characteristic for ships of the turn of the twentieth century, has been
rebuilt, and good progress is made in restoring the dining room.
To expedite this work, the Association is trying to recruit retired welders to volunteer some of their time. Next week the
ship is scheduled to leave the slipway of the former Janssen
Werft shipyard, and the job will continue while she is afloat.
A maritime expert expresses his evaluation of this ship’s importance “as a witness to the epoch of the Kaiser’s Empire
whose last freight,
mail, and passenger
steamer should be
rescued from oblivion all cost. ... The
hull, the deck structures, and the auxiliary engines are
largely original
component parts and
will be preserved.”
Thought is given to
choosing a dock in
Leer’s old commercial
harbor wing as her permanent berth from
where she will occasionally steam down the
Ems past Emden on her
old run to Borkum. On
those occasions she will undoubtedly imbue passengers
and onlookers alike with a
sense of nostalgia for a time
long gone by. The Association’s favorite dream, however, is having the Prinz
Heinrich ready and fully
flagged in 2009 to guide one
of Meyer Werft’s new, huge
luxury liners, about a thousand times her size, from her
place of birth in Papenburg
down the Ems to the sea. It
would be a most fitting 100th
birthday party.
Note: Prinz Heinrich was a
brother of Kaiser Bill and a
respected naval commander.
He took two trips to America
(1896 and 1912).
SOURCE: OstfriesenZeitung, 1/16/08 & Google
The Prinz-Heinrich-Mütze is worn by a ship’s captain.
Named after kaiserlich-deutschen Großadmiral Prinz Heinrich von
Preußen (1862–1929), younger brother of Kaiser Wilhelms II.
They are worn all over Ostfriesland, and not just by sailors.
http://www.germanimporthaus.com/
Or call 1-888-643-3379 / $42.00 + $7 shipping
There is a wide variety of other German
items available on
the website including jewelry, costumes, t-shirts and
souvenirs.
14
NEWS FROM OSTFRIESLAND
Ostfriesische Nachrichten, 6/6/08
Filsum - Ostfriesland’s competing horseback riders will meet
in Filsum this weekend. Its derby is one of the largest equestrian riding sport events in the region and the most popular
competition organized by the Equestrian Sport Association
Weser-Ems, as its 57 expected entries give proof of. In the
sport of show jumping the derby designates a variation which
includes particularly long stretches between jumps and the introduction of natural terrain features, such as dams, depressions, ditches, etc., as obstacles to overcome.
Jeversches Wochenblatt, 6/6/08
Wilhelmshaven/Brussels - The European commission has
given the green light to the Danish shipping line MöllerMaersk for a 30% participation in the operation of the new Jade
-Weser-Port Container Terminal in Wilhelmshaven, reasoning
that this would not be detrimental to a competitive environment
within the European economic sphere.
Jeversches Wochenblatt, 6/6/08
Hooksiel - Since the air-sea rescue helicopter “Christoph 26”stationed in Sanderbusch, west of Wilhelmshaven - was outfitted with a hoist 5 years ago, it has gone on 15 to 20 missions
over the North Sea to search for and rescue crew members
gone overboard or to offer assistance to patients on ships. All
members of the rescue team must take part in an annual training exercise, such as took place in Hooksiel last Friday where
the swimmers of the German Life Guard Society, set afloat in
Jade Bay, took on the role of castaways to be lifted onboard.
For the assistance to patients on ships, or the evacuation therefrom, members of the German Maritime Rescue Operation
furnished volunteers.
Rheiderland Zeitung, 6/6/08
Jemgum - Bad news for commuters to Leer was announced at
an informational meeting called by two energy corporations
working on the local gas cavern project, part of a Russia-toWestern Europe natural gas pipe line. Traffic Interruptions in
the direction of Leer are to be expected which make a detour
through Marienchor and Böhmerwold necessary. Should these
interruptions coincide with the closing of the Ems River bridge
at Leerort, for widening of the main span, then those commuters using the bridge will have the additional inconvenience of
having to detour through the Ems Tunnel.
Borkumer Zeitung, 6/6/08
Borkum - From June 7 to 14, the seven East Friesian Islands
and an island nearer to Hamburg will make news in the sports
world with the seventh annual North Sea Run. The event is
broken down into 8 segments, one per island, each leading the
participants thorough a picturesque landscape of shoreline and
dunes. The segments are open to runners, joggers, and walkers
of all ages and will take place the following order: 1. Langeoog
(10 km); 2. Juist (6 km); 3. Norderney (6 km);
4. Wangerooge (9 km); 5. Borkum (11 km); 6.
Spiekeroog (10 km); 7. Baltrum (10 km). The
final run (12 km) will take place across the tidal flats from Neuwerk to Cuxhaven in the Elbe estuary.
General Anzeiger, 6/6/08
Leer - The Professional Academy Ost-Friesland observed its fifth
Academy Day in its study center, Loga’s Schloss Evenburg.
These events are organized by the students themselves and give
them an opportunity through lectures, poster presentations, and
discussions to present ongoing projects in the company where
they are serving their apprenticeship. These tasks are called
“Practice Transfer Projects” which the student have to absolve six
times during their course work. It is this combination of school
and workplace, of theory and practice which make the bachelor
degree earned at the Academy so attractive to the students.
Ostfriesen-Zeitung, 6/14/08
Emden - Emden’s Volkswagen Assembly Plant is looking for
about 750 workers willing to accept temporary employment. As
in past years, it is relying on high school graduates and university
students home for the summer to keep its required workforce at a
steady level during prime vacation time. The plant currently has
appr. 9,000 employees.
Anzeiger für Harlingerland, 6/15/08
Leer - The federal Office for High Seas Navigation and Hydrography has issued a license for the installation of the North Sea’s
18th wind park. The Prokon North Energy Systems of Leer may
now start the base construction for its 80 planned wind powered
generators @ 5 megawatts each, 45 km north of Borkum. The
wind park area, Borkum West II, is 56 sq km in size.
Borkum - Twenty years ago tomorrow the Alfried Krupp was
christened with a bottle of champagne as one of the most modern
sea rescue vessels of the German Maritime Rescue Association.
Since then the Borkum Station has been her home from where
she set out to take part in innumerable aid and rescue missions,
patient transports, ventures, and exercises in all kinds of weather.
She is the place of birth for several children and star of Borkum’s
annual “Day of the Rescuer of the Shipwrecked” when she
proudly shows off her new or updated technical equipment to
anyone coming onboard. Her most tragic hour came in the night
from January 1 to 2, 1995, when she went out at wind speed condition 11 to 12 to help a Dutch ship secure a chain of barges. On
the way home she evidently was surprised by a ground swell
which washed two crew members overboard who could not be
rescued.
Rheiderland Zeitung, 6/16/08
Bingum - A fire put a sudden end to a birthday party in Bingum’s
15
hay hotel. Many of the thirty celebrators in the main hall thought
somebody was making a bad joke when the cry “Fire!” rang out
- but it was no joke. The fire actually began in the adjacent horse
barn and was quickly extinguished, and a resident horse led to
safety, when the local fire department arrived. The firemen
found cigarette butts in a bale of hay which they turned over to
the police.
Holterfehn/Potshausen - Work has begun on the construction of
a bicycle path to run parallel to the county road connecting Potshausen and Holterfehn. The 1.8 m wide, 2.6 km long path will
cost 640,000 euros to complete of which the state will pay
525,000, the balance to be billed to Leer County.
Norden - The sandbar “Kachelot Plate” off the island of Juist
underwent steady growth for over 50 years, but recent storm
surges have reduced its 2.3 sq km size by about a quarter, so that
its merger with the bird island Memmert is no longer expected.
Emden - The small Cassens-Werft shipyard has filed for insolvency but hopes to continue work after a restructuring process.
It has an order book worth $350m with deliveries stretching into
2011. However, the shipping company who ordered a nearly
completed container ship can’t secure financing to pay for it. To
add to its woes, the funding for another new vessel is also uncertain. HVB Bank has therefore recalled the yard’s loans. The
yard filed for insolvency in 2003 during the last shipbuilding
crisis, but then recovered.
Borkum - The German national table tennis team will meet on
this island from June 27 to July 6 to prepare for the Olympic
Games in Beijing. How seriously these preparations are taken is
demonstrated by the fact that a gym floor especially imported
from China will be installed on which the hopeful Olympians
will carry out their preparatory games. The athletes will not be
totally sealed off from the islanders, however. Several periods
are set aside during which the public will have an opportunity to
watch them play, and the young crowd will have a chance at
collecting autographs.
Emden - More then 200 employees from various Volkswagen
plants in Germany are busy in Emden to inspect 30,000 brandnew cars which were standing out in the open during last week’s
severe hailstorm. It will take some time to inspect all cars for
dents left by the Ping-Pong ball size hail stones. An estimated
cost of the repair work has not yet been established.
Anzeiger für Harlingerland, 6/28/08
Wittmund - Recognizing that today’s demographic development
demands increased counseling and support opportunities for the
elderly, this county will receive a state human services grant of
40,000 euros for the establishment of a senior services bureau.
Over the next four years a network of such offices is planned,
each able to connect elderly inquirers with a cadre of helpful
volunteers, neighbors, and professional supporters.
Norden - Thousands of Lutheran and Reformed Christians assembled in Norden for the fifth East Friesian Church Day. The event
stood under the motto “A piece of Heaven - Lücht in mien
Leven” (Light in my life) and challenged Christians to stand
against injustice and leave “tracks of heaven” on this earth. The
state of Lower Saxony’s prime minister said in his address that
people are empowered in everyday life, in politics, and in the
church to make heaven touchable during their earthly sojourn.
“Only when we protect creation and live a life of peaceful coexistence does it begin to shine, this piece of heaven on earth.”
Norden - An estimated 20,000 visitors came to Ostfriesland’s
Church Day and participated in its more than 300 presentations,
discussions, and concerts. The greater part of the offering collected will pay for a new roof on the church of a Christian congregation on the edge of the city of Khartoum, Sudan, with which
Norden’s church district has been in contact for decades.
Aurich - The state of Lower Saxony owns the traditional restaurant “Gaststätte Kukelorum” on the Ems-Jade-Kanal in Rahe,
west of Aurich, and wants to sell it pending a minimum offer of
80,000 euros. Lüppo Wermerssen, host of “Kukelorum”, has always been wanting to buy it and now sees a chance of ownership.
The village council of Rahe as well as the city council of Aurich
are keen on Kukelorum’s preservation as important for tourism
and for Rahe’s village cohesion.
Aurich - The rumor that one of the hard rock band leaders at this
year’s Wacken Festival in Aurich-Tannenhausen would sport an
emblem on his cap resembling a swastika had the local police in a
state of high alert, but the rumor turned out to be false, and the
5,000 visitors enjoyed the bands Motörhead, Machine Head, and
Saxon in an atmosphere of (according to the organizers) “Super
Feeling and Super Mood”. Many fans arrived a day early to camp
and to celebrate. The weather played along, and a good time was
had by all.
Großefehn - Forty participants in the canoe races during this
year’s Windmill Days enjoyed their water sport. Hizzoner, Mayor
Olaf Meinen, himself a participant, enjoyed it so much that he
jumped in the canal at the goal line.
Oberledingerland - On Wednesday the summer recess for Lower
Saxony’s schools begins, a time for many families with schoolage children to head out on a vacation trip in or outside of Germany. Those who booked early are fortunate, as the steep rise in
the cost of energy has affected travel and lodging. Last minute
bookers will find few offers and few economy accommodations.
Since last year’s summer was a rainy one in Oberledingerland,
many families booked this year’s vacation in areas where they are
hoping to enjoy more sunny days.
16
STRACKHOLT
STRACKHOLT Landkreis Aurich
Lutheran. (Auricherland, once Church of St. Barbara, Diocese of Münster) Mid-13th century.
Originally an apse church with apse on east end.
Structure enlarged 1853 and again 1883, this time
in cruciform shape to meet the needs of parishioners strongly motivated by deep devotional piety.
Of the original windows one each in the long walls
and in the apse wall have survived. Two squints,
which had been added,
were later sealed shut.
Corner columns extend
to the base of the building. The interior was
originally vaulted. Apse
arch has beaded molding
and a rare attischer base.
Noteworthy 13th century
baptismal font of Bentheim stone; Baroque
altar from 1654 and neoBaroque style pulpit
from 1801. Detached,
brick bell tower on south
side of the church. The
swan on the bell tower
designates a Lutheran
church.
17
Strackholt & Its Environs...
SOURCE: Strackholt OSB, by Geerd Kroon, translated by Gene
Janssen
On a geest strand in the southern portion of the county of Aurich
there are two peasant villages, Bagband and Strackholt, which
have been there since prehistoric times. Strackholt's elevation
above sea level is about 9 meters (ca. 30 feet) and Bagband's
about 3 meters (ca. 10 feet) less. People were probably safe
from the floods of the North Sea on this island of sand before
the era when dike building began. Most likely there were people settling and living here before prehistoric times.
The name "Strackholt" indicates that at one time there was a
flourishing forest in the area, most of which has long since disappeared, probably having had to give way to meadows, pastures and farmland, for the nourishment of the increasing population. Nowdays, Oldehave, south of Strackholt, possesses the
last traces of the forest on the edge of its meadowlands. However, structural walls in Strackholt contain many of the oaks and
other types of trees, those living, breathing lungs of nature.
Traveling toward Strackholt on Federal Highway 436 from either east or west, there is once again an abundance of tree
cover.
In early times, the area was bounded on the north and the east by
the nearly impassable moor wetlands. To the south there were
natural waterways: the Witthaver Tief stretching from the direction of the Voßbarg moor and further south, the Bietze River.
Both waterways drained the lowlands and moorland. The Bagbander Tief is formed by the confluence of the two channels.
The little brooks west of the village flowed into the Kayentief
which cut through the Bagband Feldmark separating Strackholt
and Ulbargen and emptied into the Bagbander Tief. This natural
drainage system has long since been replaced by man made
ditches and canals.
The desire of the early settlers of this region to wrest a living
from the land led, over centuries, to the continuous cultivation
of the area. For ages there had been a path to Uplengen and,
via Bagband, the geest villages of Hesel and Holtland could be
reached. There was no way to get to Aurich-Oldendorf over
the moor until a corduroy road, called die Spetze, was built.
from Frederick the Great in 1765, many of the old, traditional
rights and customs were discontinued, not however, without consequences.
Originally, Spetzerfehn belonged to the parish of Bagband. A
separate church book/record was kept for Spetzerfehn in Bagband. However, a number of the residents of the old Heerweg
(Royal or Noble Road/Street) preferred going to the church in
Strackholt, which was nearer for them. A meeting in the Kompagniehaus in Spetzerfehn in 1789, led to a consensus of the
three pastors from Bagband, Aurich-Oldendorf, and Strackholt:
all the residents on the Strackholt side of Heerweg and all residing to the east of that were to belong to the pastorate of Strackholt. It was for this area of Spetzerfehn that a special church record was kept in Strackholt from 1790 until 1812. The fehn area
continued to expand eastwards and remained a part of the parish
of Strackholt. Thus, until 1950, when the congregation at
Spetzerfehn was founded, Wilhelmsfehn II and Auricher Wiesmoor II belonged to the parish of Strackholt.
More settlements arose around Strackholt: Norderney, Fiebing,
Voßbarg, and Zwischenbergen. There were even settlements auf
der Höchte (on the heights), in the Südhorn and in the Leeken
area. The settlers were usually from large farm families, but
many laborers, servants, and maids from the surrounding localities came with the desire for establishing an independent living.
The work was very difficult. If physical strength or health failed,
disaster followed with a descent into poverty and destitution. A
canal planned for the Bagband Tief, to be called Fiebingerfehn,
never materialized. Thus, the settlers were at a disadvantage
compared to the fehn settlers, for a canal was needed to ship the
peat out and to bring fertilizers back.
The village of Strackholt suffered greatly during the 30 Years'
War (approx. 1618-1648) and experienced difficult times thereafter. Poverty stalked the land after rained-out harvests or livestock
diseases which killed off whole herds. Then, the death registers
Though the extensive forest provided building and heating materials until the 17th century, eventually the cleared areas began
to be utilized, especially the use of the peat for heating. By the
time Spetzerfehn was founded, the inhabitants of the neighboring villages had already harvested a large portion of the moorland along the Spetze waterway. However, since the water
could not be completely drained off, the best and deepest of the
black peat went unused. After Spetzerfehn developed eastwards, things also changed for Strackholt. There were disputes
about boundaries and old rights. With the Edict of Reclamation
18
report causes of death as debilitating weakness or starvation—
even for those in the prime of life. Thus, there are years when
there were more deaths than births.
For instance, in 1739, there were 19 deaths compared to 13 births;
in 1743, 31 people died, mostly children, with a report of only 20
births. And in 1747, there were 29 deaths and 18 births. Small
pox ravaged the population in 1772, 1781 and 1795, with scarlet
fever and typhus harvesting many souls in later years. In 1856,
there were 89 deaths, with 32 from scarlet fever and 10 from consumption. The settlers' deaths were certainly part of the statistics
of the later years mentioned above; however, the cause of death is
not always listed in the church record.
According to the church records, a fire in 1815 destroyed 61 buildings and killed 200 livestock. Adrian Theodor Reershemius reported in his postscript to Ostfriesländisches Prediger-Denkmal
(Almanac of Ostfriesian Preachers) , page 9: "On the 10th of
April, 1815 a fierce fire destroyed 61 buildings with the loss of six
horses, 73 cows, 93 calves, 14 oxen, 38 sheep and about 100 beehives as well as other property and furnishings." Though summer
would soon be there, it must have taken a great deal of effort to
recover from such a catastrophe.
War, Crime and a Lack of Fat
Many of the innumerable official notices during WW I were secretly or openly ignored, which led to a diminished respect for the
law. In Ostfriesland there was a shortage of fat products especially in the homes of workers. Many farmers preferred to sell
their lard and butter for higher prices to the "hoarders" in the industrial areas rather than delivering them to be used for the soldiers' packages sent to the front. Serious arguments arose among
the working classes in the last months of the war and during the
winter of 1919. Men gathered together in groups of fifty to seventy, and carrying a red flag, they marched through villages demanding bacon (Speck) from the farmers.
•
A group of reds from Möhlenwarf came to the pastor’s home
in Marienchor, but he was able to quietly persuade them to
leave. However, they were disrespectful to the farmers and
only in few places did they pay for the bacon received. If
their rash demands were not met they burst in, taking not only
bacon, but also clothing and other valuables. At some places
they trampled the food in the mud and mistreated the farmers.
That was the sad Holy Week of 1919. The leaders were punished afterwards for disturbing the peace.
In the morning of March 3, 1919, carpenter Peter Hinderks from
Bunderhammrich was going to work in Marienchor. At milestone
1.2 on the Jemgum sluice, he saw something lying in the water
that looked liked a man's coat. He dragged out the body of a welldressed man whose skull had been crushed and his throat slit. In
the nearby grassy area by a pool of blood there were gold-rimmed
glasses and a bloody monkey wrench. It turned out that the victim
was a businessman (Hübener) from Bremen. When his widow
19
came to claim the body at Weener where the court had ordered
it be buried, she said that her husband had traveled to this area
on the advice of a stranger to receive goods along the Dutch
border and that he had had 62,000 Marks in his possession.
There was no money left in the man's briefcase. The stranger
most likely attacked him in this remote place. No trace of the
murderer was ever found.
•
In the summer of 1920, a hired boy of farmer Boehoff had
his bicycle stolen during broad daylight by a loiterer on the
road to Jemgum. The thief was captured here on the
bridge; he was an oft-arrested man from Saxony. The
court in Aurich sentenced him to three years in prison and
five years of probation.
Older residents of the community of Marienchor have told me
that in 1825 the house of the farmer, Hassebroek, was burglarized during the night by a large band of thieves who came by
horse and wagon from the heath to rob and steal. They knew
that Hassebroek had recently sold a horse and that he had the
money in the house. A maid of the pastor, who had a late visitor, heard the noise and cries of the victims. When she saw
what was going on, she hurried to the tower, locked herself in
and rang the bells causing the robbers to be chased off. The
next day the Hassebroek house Bible was found at Böhmerwold, but the silver clasp had been ripped off.
Some time later, a beggar woman from the heath came to Mrs.
Hassebroek and revealed that she knew the perpetrators. Mrs.
Hassebroek replied that she was too busy to hear her story, but
if the woman would return on Sunday afternoon and tell her
everything she would receive a large piece of bacon. The
woman promised she would return, which she did. The constable was sitting in the next room writing down everything the
woman said.
When he entered the room, the woman went pale and said, "but
my husband was not really among them." He was the infamous
Kuper-Jan to whom everyone gave whatever he demanded.
They knew that otherwise he would return the following night
and take what he wanted. If a valuable load of freight had to
cross the heath, Kuper-Jan was taken along and paid 25 Pfennig to guarantee safe passage.
If his companions were captured, he would whistle a certain
signal and they would all remain silent. People took their
sheep to bed with them to keep them from being stolen during
the night. And during the still of a winter night, people would
often hear the sound of the thieves skating along on the ice,
going about their "business." The participants in the theft at
the Hassebroek's were all sentenced to years in prison and all
but one died there.
SOURCE: Osterkamp, Pastor Kaspar Wilhelm and Bokeloh,
Pastor Heinrich Gerhard: Excerpts from the History of the
Evangelical-Reformed Church Congregation of Marienchor,
translated by Gene Janssen
Ostfriesland and the Batavian Republic
Based on Onno Klopp, “Geschichte Ostfrieslands”, Volume 3 noverian army. (Many of its soldiers went to England and fought
E x c e r p t e d a n d tr a n s l a t e d b y R u d y W i e m a n n with distinction in the King’s German Legion at Waterloo.) He
prohibited all commerce between the Weser and Elbe river ports
With the Netherlands controlled by revolutionary France as the (i.e., Bremen and Hamburg) and England which caused most of
Batavian Republic, its overseas commerce destroyed and its har- it to be concentrated on the Ems, and most of that on Emden.
bors blockaded by Britain, commercial activity on the Ems began
to blossom, as this river ran east of the demarcation line estab- Once again the neutral Prussian flag could be seen on the Seven
lished by the Peace Treaty of Basel in 1795. In the first half of the Seas, and Emden’s harbor filled with more ships than it could
1790’s approximately 570 ships had entered Emden’s harbor; that accommodate. When yellow fever had spread from the New
number rose to 1064 in 1797. Leer profited as well, its volume of World to Spain, all ships from both places and bound for Emden
commerce amounting to about a third of that of Emden. Prussian were intercepted in the Ems estuary and refused landfall. In
Ostfriesland got a new king that year, Frederick William III, 1804 two ships from Emden were high-jacked by a Moroccan
whose ascension to the throne caused no profound changes.
frigate, the crew’s freedom having to be bought. The bonanza
did not last.
In 1798/9 the Tow Canal between Emden and Aurich was dug,
the money for it having been raised through a local bond issue. Napoleon presented Prussia with Hannover in return for ceding
The East Friesian Estates financed a survey of Ostfriesland and some of her territory to France and forbade Prussia to carry on
Harlingerland which was carried out between 1797 and 1804. It commerce with England. A Prussian garrison in Emden saw to it
determined that the two lands were considerably smaller than as- that this was carried out. King Frederick Wilhelm III’s assursumed. The Estates also earmarked money for the construction of ances to King George III that this was but a temporary situation
a “Conversation House” on Norderney under the supervision of a did not satisfy the British who now blockaded the Ems as well
medical doctor in order to foster tourism on the islands. Nor- and confiscated all Prussian ships they encountered. Emden
derney was chosen because it could be reached by coach at low erected a number of redoubts to prevent its bombardment from
tide. The Duchess Christine had already accompanied her guests the sea, although the Ems estuary was hardly navigable without
there from Germany’s interior in the 17th century (she was a knowledgeable pilots. With its seagoing commerce all but gone,
daughter of the Duke of Württemberg, married to Duke Georg the city was facing hard times. Meanwhile, the Batavian RepubChristian of Ostfriesland in 1662, and served as regent and guard- lic was turned into a Kingdom by Napoleon who insisted that
ian of their young son after Georg’s death in 1665). The idea of a the Dutch request the honor of having his brother Louis apvacation for one’s health in a North Sea resort was indeed rapidly pointed as their king. He was crowned in 1806. When England
gaining in popularity.
and Napoleon were starting peace negotiations, the English demanded the return of Hannover as its precondition to which NaEmden needed to invest in its future as well. The Ems had flushed poleon agreed. When news of this reached Berlin, Prussia was
out a new bed in the beginning of the 16th century and defied all forced to uphold its honor by placing its army on a war footing.
attempts to force it to run past the city again. This left Emden no Its army was quickly defeated by Napoleon on Oct. 14, 1806.
choice but to connect itself to the river through a lengthy water- Eleven days later Dutch troops, commanded by General
way which, as most of the regional drainage water was emptying Daendels*, crossed the Ems and occupied Ostfriesland which
through four “Siele” (levee gates) elsewhere, was too sluggish to was then incorporated into the Kingdom of Holland.
prevent its silt burden from settling out. Moreover, the harbor was
too small, two fifths of it being taken up by its herring trawlers *A word about General Daendels, a man of remarkable accomalone.
plishments with a colorful history. Born in 1762, he took part in
the aborted rebellion of the Patriot party against the Orangists of
So the decision was made to build a set of locks and dams at the 1787 and fled to France. He returned as brigadier at the head of
end of the waterway, close the “Siele” and route the region’s the Dutch contingent of the French revolutionary army and,
drainage through its harbor. Opposition to the project in Berlin, through his leadership in the defeat of the British/Russian landthough, and the political situation in Europe prevented its execu- ing force of 1799, proved to be the Batavian Republic’s best
tion. In 1803, smallpox vaccination was made obligatory after an general. In 1806 he commanded a division which occupied
English physician had noticed that people who had contracted Prussian Ostfriesland and the Prussian provinces in Westphalia;
cowpox were immune to the disease. In 1787, this disease had in 1807 Napoleon made him Marshal of Holland; from 1808 to
taken 750 lives in Ostfriesland alone.
. ‘11 he was Governor of the Dutch possessions in East Asia; in
1812 he distinguished himself as a division commander in NaIn 1803, Napoleon occupied Hannover - still an Electorate of the poleon’s Grand Army in Russia. Upon coming home from the
Realm, whose Prince Elector (entitled to a vote for a new Em- war, King William I of the returned House of Orange-Nassau
peror) was the King of Great Britain - and disbanded the Han- appointed him Governor of the Dutch possessions on the African Gold Coast where he died in 1818.
20
A Time for War and Revolution
Submitted by Rudy Wiemann
In order to gain a better overview of the historical events affecting
Ostfriesland which were set in motion by a shift in the tide of
ideas that burst its constraints in the American and French Revolution, a timeline may be appropriate. The underlined cities are
the capital cities from which Ostfriesland was ruled in the course
of its history.
1689 - 1815
Recurrent wars between England and France
ending at Waterloo.
1744
Ostfriesland’s last Duke of the indigenous
(Greetsiel) House of Cirksena dies without a direct heir.
This ends Ostfriesland’s role as an earldom of the Holy Roman
Empire with its seat in Vienna and changes it into a province of
the Kingdom of Prussia with its seat in Berlin. Imperial, Danish,
and Dutch troops leave Ostfriesland.
1754 - 1763
French and Indian War
1756 - 1763
Seven Years’ War
1775 - 1783
American Revolutionary War.
1780 - 1784
The Fourth Dutch-English War.
1781
Beginning of the progressive Dutch Patriot
movement, opposed by the conservative Orangists in power.
1787 - 1789
Civil War in the Netherlands. Patriots defeat
Orangists. Prussia sends in 20,000 troops and terminates the revolution. Many Patriots flee to Paris.
1789
French Revolution begins.
1794
End of the Reign of Terror.
1794/5
French forces occupy the Austrian Netherlands
(appr. today’s Belgium and Luxembourg) and take virtual control
of the United Netherlands (approx. today’s Holland) where they
create the Batavian Republic. They rout the armies of the reactionary European monarchs marching against them. Treaty of
The Batavian and French republics form a defensive alliance response to which Britain, already at war with France, declares war
on Holland, blocks its sea-borne trade, confiscates ships, and
seizes its overseas colonies.
1797
The Dutch fleet is destroyed by the British.
1799
32,000 British and Russian troops land in Holland but are defeated by a Dutch Patriot and French army. Many
soldiers retreat to Ostfriesland for evacuation to England.
1799
Coup d’état in Paris. Napoleon installed as First
Consul.
1803
Napoleon occupies Hannover, whose head of
state is the British King George III, in order to strike at Great
Britain.
1804
Napoleon Emperor of France.
1806
Holy Roman Empire ends. Napoleon trades
Hannover to Prussia for an agreement to close its harbors to
commerce with Britain. Britain seizes most of Emden’s merchant
fleet and declares war on Prussia. Napoleon promises to give
Hannover back to Britain which renders Prussia honor-bound to
put its troops on a war footing. They are quickly defeated, and
21
Prussia loses all of its territory west of the Elbe River, which
includes Ostfriesland and Jeverland. Napoleon demands invitation of his brother Louis as King of Holland. Batavian Republic
ends. Dutch troops march into Ostfriesland and Jeverland.
They become the Dutch Departement OostVriesland, ruled from
The Hague. Rheiderland is added to the Departement Groningen. Louis declares that he has brought the German and Dutch
Friesians together again. Aurich celebrates his birthday in September which many local historians treat with silence. (Rising
nationalism during the Napoleonic Wars does much to weaken
this bond.) Napoleon declares the Continental Blockade, prohibiting all trade with Britain.
1808
King Louis refuses Napoleon’s demand for a
Dutch conscription to beef up his Grand Army for an invasion of
Russia. The British land 40,0000 troops intending to take Antwerp, which Louis cannot repel. Napoleon does so with French
troops and uses this as a pretext to remove his brother.
1810
Napoleon annexes the entire Kingdom of Holland and mandates military conscription. Ostfriesland and Jeverland become part of the Empire of France as Departement de
l’Ems oriental divided into 3 Arrondissements (Emden, Aurich,
Jever), subdivided into 14 Cantons, each consisting of groups
of communities, Mairien, ruled by Paris.
1813
After Napoleon’s defeat in Russia and at
Leipzig, Cossacks of the Russian Army ride into Ostfriesland
which becomes Prussian again.
1814/15
Congress of Vienna. Prussia yields Hannover to Britain adding Ostfriesland (minus Jeverland, plus
Rheiderland) and Emsland. Jeverland goes back to Oldenburg. Hannover is raised to Kingdom with George III, grandson
of the first Hannoverian king on the British throne as its head.
Ostfriesland’s king now resides in London. The personal union with the throne of Great Britain will remain intact until 1837
when Queen Victoria ascends the British throne but is prevented
by the Salic Law from becoming Queen Hannover. Hannover
now gets its own king who resides in capital city likewise named
Hannover. The Netherlands are intended to become a strong
Kingdom as a barrier against French expansion and are joined
with the Austrian Netherlands, formerly that (southern) part of
the Spanish Netherlands which did not successfully revolt
against Spain. In 1830 the Roman Catholic South demands separation from the predominantly Reformed North and forms Belgium and Luxembourg.
1866
Austro-Prussian War. Hannover, siding with
the looser Austria, is annexed by Prussia. Being ruled again
from Berlin is celebrated in Ostfriesland. After the FrancoPrussian War of 1870/71 the Prussian King becomes Emperor of
Germany, exclusive of Austria. Prussia, with Ostfriesland, are
merged into Germany. Prussia’s capital, Berlin, becomes Germany’s capital.
Staying in Ostfriesland’s Hay Hotels
By Frederic Ulfer, Rudy Wiemann
Vacationing in Ostfriesland means enjoying the various types of
landscape Mother Nature has blessed it with - its coastal flats
secured by dikes, its sandy core made productive since the invention of fertilizer, its moors turned into Fehns, its shallow lakes
softly bound by moss and reeds. But what about heightening
one’s appreciation of these blessings by stepping out of the car,
getting on a bike, and developing a more personal relationship
with her, knowing that after a hard day of pedal pushing a cozy
rest in one of Ostfriesland’s hay hotels awaits one? Emden, being
easily reached by motorized transportation, makes a good beginning and end for such an adventure, particularly appreciated by
the younger set and by those young at heart.
From Emden’s railroad depot a short ride will take one to the
“Delft” (compare English “delve”) its old downtown harbor by its
stately city hall. Within the city limits one just moves along with
the large crowd of local bikers. Pedaling south along the western
edge of the harbor, past the “Nordseewerke” shipyard and the
large sea locks, one soon reaches the Ems River, the very watercourse to which Emden owes its existence. Following the road
west toward the dike gate and pumping station at the Knock in
Krummhörn’s southwest corner one gets a sense of place, seeing
on one’s left the river opening up into the Dollart Bay on the far
side of which the distant profiles of the Dutch harbors of Termunten and Delfzijl projecting above the
Grandma would never beflat horizon catch the eye.
lieve this! Prickly-posh
To the right stretch far and wide the
barn beds are in! - And the
flat “Polders” of Larrelt, Wybelhay pioneers among farm- sum, and Rysum whose rich topsoil
ers are amazed to see how
consists of sediments deposited by
enthusiastically and by
the floods before the dikes were
whom the new holiday offer made strong enough to hold them
is greeted. The hay hotels in back. The villages are located inland
Niedersachsen is now more a ways and are made up of houses
crowded closely together on small
than 70 farms.
Hay and straw accommoda- round hills which were once meant
tion is offered from May to to protect them from the angry sea.
October. One sleeps in barns, Dispersed between them are large
farms, their huge barns of red brick
lobbies or in other quaint
sharing their roof with the family’s
hay or straw bedding. A
home. The few trees around here are
toilet, sanitary facilities
permanently leaning before the
and most frequently also a steady northwest wind.
shower are available.
Leaving the Knock and going
through Rysum, Loquard, Campen, and Upleward one reaches
Hamswehrum. There the Schönings operate the farm
“Leeshaus” and greet their guests with a cup of Ostfriesen tea.
For those travelers whose allergies prevent them from experiencing the true enjoyment of a night in the hay, a room without such
bedding material is offered. In the morning the kids will find the
farm yard breakfast egg hunt exciting.
Biking north close to, and winding along the dike, past Pilsum’s
massive cruciform church on the right and its iconic yellow-and22
red ringed light
tower on the left,
the fishing village of Greetsiel
can be reached in
half a day. The
town is car-free,
but one may bike
right up to the
old locks and
“Siel” wall and
look upon the
attractive harbor. A dozen Greetsiel trawlers lie at anchor here,
the ornate gables of the stately old houses lining the harbor making a colorful backdrop. Near Marienhafe, whose massive
church tower dominates the countryside for miles around, the
landscape changes. This is border land between the rich soil of
the coastal flats and the higher “Geest” region. The luscious
green tilled fields give way to less fecund sandy soil and peat
bogs.
From Marienhafe it is five miles to East Victorbur. There the
stud farm Wilken operates the local hay hotel from where a side
trip around the raised bog lake “Ewiges Meer” is well worth the
time. It is a land dominated by low birches and tall, ochre bog
grass. On the far side of the moor lies the residence city of Ostfriesland’s former Dukes, Aurich, an attractive place which
evokes a spirit of classicism. Fifteen miles more and one reaches
Wiesmoor, a florist’s dream city. After crossing former bog
land for another twelve miles one reaches Großefehn. In the
fashion of typical “Fehn” settlements this town stretches for 17
kilometers along the “Fehnkanal” which was dug to drain off
the moors and move their peat. The many lift bridges over the
canals, the locks, and the stately windmills lift one’s spirit while
traversing this area. In Timmel the Onneken family has already
prepared a hay bed in its barn.
On the way back to Emden lie the reed bed bound Sandwater
Lake and “Großes Meer”, Ostfriesland’s largest lakes. “Großes
Meer” covers more than 1,100 acres but is less then 30 inches
deep. In days of old these lakes supplied much of the reed used
for roofing material in Ostfriesland. From “Großes Meer” it
isn’t far to Emden. Along the way a genuine East Friesian curiosity stands out: the leaning tower of Suurhusen. Because of a
layer of sediment-covered post-Ice Age bog plants which surround much of Ostfriesland’s “Geest” core, many East Friesian
churches built in this area have settled to some degree over the
course of centuries and stand canted upon the land. But in Suurhusen one has to wonder what’s keeping this tower from collapsing: at a height of 88 ft. its overhang measures nearly eight
feet, a record acknowledged even by Guinness.
Whoever wants to still see the Henri Nannen Art Museum in
Emden will have to push those pedals for the last stretch to get
there before closing time. To spend the night in that fair city
presents a problem, however, for, alas, Emden has one disadvantage: it has no hay hotel.
LINKS
TO
DEEP
ROOTS
Submitted by Ray Kleinow
Government List of Genealogy Record Collections?
We are regularly looking at old records and one of the biggest
providers of such is our government. Did you know they maintain
a listing of significant genealogical record collections available
for genealogists? Take a look at; http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/
Topics/History_Family/State_Genealogy.shtml. It also lists
many state and local archives. Yes, the listing is online, but most
records are not, although that is improving all the time.
An Oldie but Goodie, & some new things worth mentioning.
Have you noticed that the FamilySearch.org home page has a
new look? The tabs to Home, Search, etc. are gone. Now you
have a menu bar with drop down menus. Of special interest is the
access to the FamilySearch indexing by just clicking on the
“Index Records” tab. This will take you to the indexing home
page. Also, under Search Records, click on “Record Research
Pilot”. This site has millions of records now available. Most of us
have heard about The LDS Church being in the process of digitizing its microfilms. We know this will take years, but did you
know that the work that has been done is available right here?
This is a work in process site for the info that is being transcribed, but they are putting it online for us to use as it becomes
available. This is a site you will want to check regularly. I understand some census are re-indexed and they have improved some
of the searches, so if you could not find someone and they should
be there, try it again. Some areas have the actual records available
for viewing and can be saved and/or printed.
The Cook County, Illinois Records Are Now Online!
Back an issue or two, I mentioned this was coming. Now you can
Dear Friend!
use the site! Caution - the site is not complete as yet, so you may
not find all your people. See: http://www.cookcounty genealogy.com. Birth certificates, marriage licenses and death certificates are now available online. The Genealogy Unit of the Cook
County Clerk's Bureau of Vital Records provides non-certified
versions of birth, death and marriage records for the purpose of
genealogical research. Records found on the site are for Chicago
and Cook County dating back to 1872. All Cook County vital
records prior to the Chicago Fire of October 8, 1871 were destroyed. Record keeping was resumed in 1872.
Records available are:
1. Birth certificates that are 75 years or older (before the present date in 1933);
2. Marriage certificates that are 50 years or older (before the
present date in 1958); and
3. Death certificates that are 20 years or older (before the present date in 1988).
Unfortunately, they are not free. Each record will cost $15 plus a
credit card charge of $1.75 on the total order. Once paid for, the
record(s) are available for you to view on your computer. These
are the original records (not transcriptions). You then can save
the images to your hard drive and/or print on your printer. Another comment or two – I heard that the marriage date is for the
license date, not the marriage date. The pricing is in my opinion
too high. Rumor says Ancestry and LDS may have the data in
the future.
Bought a Genealogy Book Lately? It May Have Been Available Online! The cost of books or getting them from a library is
increasing, while the cost of accessing the same books online are
decreasing. Thousands of genealogy books have already been
scanned and are available online today at no charge on Google
or at the Harold B. Lee Library at BYU. See the BYU Family
History Archive at: http://www.lib.byu.edu/fhc.
Books, and many other types of documents are available for free
on FamilySearch.org and for a fee from Ancestry.com, and
many other web sites.
Loquard, August 7, 1947
On August 2 I received a gift package which was ordered by you. It contained
900 grams bacon, 700 grams sausage, 2 cans of meat, and 1 can of butter. I was
very happy about it and thank you from my heart. That very morning I was
thinking if I were only to get a package with fatty food, and soon thereafter the
mailman came and told me that I could pick up a package at the post office. You
can’t imagine how happy it made me. There is a lack of everything here in Germany, but especially of fat as part of the food. But it really can’t be any different
after a lost war.
We live here out in the country surrounded by farmers, but we can’t buy
even a gram of butter or lard. Everything is bartered or enters the black market,
and that is impossible to afford. But this situation can’t last forever. Things will
have to change for the better. Well off is the person who has a good friend in
America. Those who have plenty but no heart for others, can only think of themselves. I am very thankful to you and I know that I won’t be able to make it up
to you.
Just a moment ago, I was reading a letter from your mother which she wrote
to Aunt Jurke in 1931. She wrote that all of you, except for Dirk, could no
longer read German. So now I am hoping that there is still be somebody around
who can read German. Unfortunately, we don’t know each other personally, but
I thank you kindly for your generous gift.
23
MEMBER NEWS
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Rosalie Heikes, wife of the late George Heikes, died in
July. George was an avid OGSA supporter and translated
many articles and prefaces into English. He died several
years ago and is still missed.
What a treat to talk to Willee Ackermann who flew
through MN this summer. Her brother of 85 just remarried—great genes in that family!
Mike Balster has had some major health problems in the
past month. Get well soon, big guy!
Roy Stiegler’s sister died last March after an extended
illness. Our sympathies to the family.
Gene and Shirley Jibben and Rudy Wiemann have had
lots of company from Germany this summer
Shirley Jibben’s mother died in September, our sympathies.
Roger Peters is now Opa—and loving it!
Do you have family news that you can share?
TECHNOLOGY 101
Submitted by Ray Kleinow
Kodak Announces a 50-Megapixel CCD Image Sensor
Most of us are aware of the importance of the megapixel specification on
digital cameras and that as the number goes up, picture detail improves, all
else being equal. This is very noticeable if you compare a picture from a 3
megapixel camera with one from a 5 or 10 megapixel camera. So, when we hear
about a 50 megapixel image sensor, understandably we are interested. Unfortunately,
this announcement was not what one would think it was. The 50 megapixel size was
designed for the medium format cameras like the Hasselblads, not what you or I will
likely be carrying around. Such cameras do have an excellent picture quality capability. See www.kodak.com, look for the “Search “ window on the right, type in “50
megapixel” (without the quotes), and then click on the “News Release” item for more
details. Or, of course, “google it” with the same terms.
We Took Our Trip (to Sweden, not Ostfriesland)
As mentioned last issue, we all like pictures and videos of our trips, but carrying a
video camcorder AND a camera can be a pain, especially for a month. And we want
high definition pictures. Also, we always run out of capacity. Why not have it all in
one unit? The new digital camcorders with a good sized hard drive can take videos
and still pictures! How good are they? I’d like to give you my observations after a
month’s use of our Sony HDR-SR11. First of all, it is small and light but has high
capacity. After 30 days, we had taken 414 videos and 1,957 still pictures. The hard
drive was about half full! The videos were taken at (1920 x 1080) High Definition
resolution and stills at 10.2 megapixel settings. The 60 GB hard drive was backed up
every day or two. (Only what was new was copied to a laptop we took along with the
backup program that came with the unit.) The results are mixed. The videos look very
good but it was very easy to move that small camera too fast. You don’t think so at
the time, but you are. The stills for the most part are very good if the light was good.
Unfortunately, the pictures where light was not the best will not respond to the usual
touchups with an image processor program like PaintShopPro. Yes, the unit has a
flash, but as is common with these units, it is only good for a few feet away. (Yes,
you can purchase an add-on flash unit.) I did take some pictures of pictures and had
good results, but again, only if the light was good. Would I recommend this type of
unit? Yes, if you realize the limitations and correct for them. And use the flash.
Your Genealogy Program and Data on the Internet?
There has been more talk recently about having your genealogy program and data on
a server, not on your computer. This is not a new idea, but until lately the few programs available did not have the features of the present programs. The ability to access and work on your genealogical data anywhere you have a computer with internet
access, such as a library, friends home, hotel room that has a computer with access,
etc., is very useful to at least some of us. Some of these programs are also multi-user
so others can use/add data simultaneously. I can easily see volunteers of organizations
using this to work on a project. Some disadvantages mentioned about these programs
was the inability to print some of the usually requested type of reports. They are getting better so such a program may be in your future. For more info on one of the better ones see; The Next Generation of Genealogy Sitebuilding (TNG) at http://
lythgoes.net/genealogy/software.php. Also, LDS is providing one to its members
FamilySearch Family Tree. (Not sure if it is available to non-LDS yet.) See http://
labs.familysearch.org/familytree/
Interviews of Genealogy Pundits on Various Subjects?
This isn’t exactly new but several people I’ve talked to recently had not heard of this,
so better mention it. Some are very good. See http://www.rootstelevision.com/.
24
NOTES FROM THE
NORTH…
It’s early September as I write
this – schools are back in session and we see numerous yellow school buses driving on our
thoroughfares. Where did the
summer go? Much too quickly
at our house.
I hope all of you had a wonderful summer
and had time to enjoy all your area has to
offer. My husband and I managed to go to a
couple of ethnic fests in our area and had a
wonderful time. Our favorite was the Danish Fest in Minneapolis where we sampled
open faced sandwiches, reminiscent of the
Brot board dinners we’ve enjoyed with our
Cousin Heti in Aurich so many times.
Don’t you love small town parades? We
managed to make the 4th of July parade in
Maynard this year. While sitting on the
curb, watching the royalty cars go by from
various area communities I suddenly saw a
little trailer with a model house. Lo and
behold, it was a facsimile of the Ostfriesan
Ammerman home which has been restored
in Clara City. This model was beautifully
done and I commend The Frisian Historical
Society for taking the time to share their
ethnic history with their neighboring towns.
It reminded me that I haven’t been to their
home site in a few years. Job well done to
this group and thank you for keeping our
history alive.
The Board is moving forward with nomination of officers for the coming years. Be
sure to follow the instructions given in the
newsletter and reply with your vote for the
slate of officers. Check the various announcements in the newsletter for our upcoming Tea Party as well as our Annual
Meeting. We’d love to see you at these
functions.
Finally, thank you to everyone who continue to volunteer their time to keep our
organization moving. Enjoy the beautiful
fall season.
Sincerely,
Sharon Arends
OGSA President
Surviving the Bombing of Esens
A SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL SURVIVES THE
BOMBING OF ESENS, by Johannes Mennen
In the archives of Wittmund was found letters written by a
young girl who lived during the last war years 1943-1945. Her
duties in the “1000 Year Germany” began April 15, 1943 with
her ride from Oldenburg. After September 27, the young girl
found her condition intolerable. She wrote two letters to her
parents in Oldenburg about the dreadful carnage from the
bombing of Esens by English airmen. Another letter written by
Annemarie Klose, written after the war, gives further information about the situation in Esens. The letters still arouse disturbed recollections among many people.
In September 1944, she received orders to report for duty as
an assistant to a night fighter squadron in Wunstorff. When
Germany surrendered in May 1945, AnneMarie Klose was
stationed at a centralized anti-aircraft site in Rendsburg.
THE FIRST LETTER OF SEPTEMBER 28, 1943
Dear Folks!
At present I can give you a detailed account. We are all sitting in the kitchen and have a warm fire made. We were busy
the entire day caring for soldiers and giving them bread and
warm tea. I am very tired tonight.
There was an alarm at 11 o’clock yesterday. We went
promptly into the earth bunker of the workers encampment with
our leader Mrs. Siefken. Shortly, there was a whistling and
blustering uproar. Everything rattled and jangled, we all
clasped each other and thought that this was the end. In between times we heard the sound of the bombers. After the attack was over we went to ground level and saw the results of
the air raid. Our fine house lay in ruins. In the barracks 20
dead bodies wee recovered together with 50 school children.
Among others, Friedrich, son of Mrs Fruchenicht died and
Hinrich was transported to the hospital in Wittmund. Another
casualty was Hannelie, daughter of Mrs. Otmanns, who only
that morning had her birthday. Klara Gerdes is also dead.
Craters and shell holes are everywhere.
But we are still in good health when, in spite of all, we can
still laugh occasionally. In spite of all, the outlook is grim for
us. Last night was another alarm. Dear Mother and Father,
what can we do? It is much worse here than in Oldenburg.
Please don’t send my private packages yet.
THE SECOND LETTER, WRITTEN OCTOBER 2, 1943
My dear Mother and Father
I have your two letters and thank you heartily for them. Oh
Mother and Father, there is great, great sorrow and suffering
in Esens. Thursday a service was held for the burials of
Gerkin, Oltmanns, Fruchtenicht and Steffens, all of my coworkers who lost their children. I work for the Gerkins, who
know me best. No, I cannot describe for you how terrible conditions are here. It will be better if you do not try to come to
visit me.
When the air attack was over I was called to the barracks.
There, two children were buried. One can no longer bear the
sight of it. The small Klara and the small child with Steffens.
Also Friedrich with the Fruchtenicht and the youngest, little Hannelore with Oltmanns. So much grief and sorrow, dear God.
Our furloughs are not possible at this time. Otherwise we
would have left tomorrow.
Mother and Father, I really cannot describe what has happened
here because I am so unnerved and upset. There was another
alarm tonight and the sound of the bombers came nearer. The
worst seems to be over and I am thinking of you
ANNEMARIE KLOSE’S RECOLLECTIONS OF DUTIES IN
1943 IN ESENS:
In September 1943 after the barracks were destroyed by English bombers, we girls and young women were transported to
Winzlar/Wunstorf and settled in a night flyers barracks.
First of all I want to tell you of my induction into RAD-Lager
at Esens. I was just 17 years old when I received my notice to
pack a bag for a rail trip to the Work Center in Esens. This was
in April 1943. At the Center we received uniforms that transformed us into non-civilians. We went to farmers’ houses daily
to help with the work, or in families where there were many children to give the overworked mother a hand. ...Until September
things went well but on the 27th—that day will live in my memory forever. It was a Monday, I was assigned for the next four
weeks in the encampment after doing outside duty for the previous four weeks. Those of us who worked inside had a break for
breakfast (a small piece of wurst, two grams of margarine, artificial honey and bread). Our leader, Mrs. Siefken and her helpers
received the same food as we did. Mrs. Siefken made a specially
good breakfast for us on weekends. There was some envy later,
but for now we felt good.
All of a sudden we heard the alarm sirens go off. We wanted to
finish our breakfast first. Then came our leader and got us instantly to our feet. .... if you are not in an air raid shelter, run
immediately from the house to the earth bunker.” We barely
reached the cellar when a horrendous noise began. The earth
shook. We clasped each other in fright. Mrs. Siefken was still
standing on the steps of the cellar to see where the bombers were
coming from. The bombs, which were falling close by, caused
her to fly in a heap of rubble, but without harm done to herself.
When she had collected herself she comforted us girls, who were
besides themselves in terror. crying and wailing. We were worried about the girls who had outdoor duty because we did not
know how far the air attack reached, whether only Esens was
bombed or in the surrounding neighborhoods. Now we heard a
cry for help from the earth bunker. Two neighbors brought a
severely wounded woman to us. We were the only ones who
could help her. The woman had suffered a head wound. Never
before had we seen anything so bad as this. The woman’s wound
was bandaged and she was taken to the hospital. What happened
25
to her afterward I do not know. There were so many maimed
and killed on this day !!
As we left the bunker we saw the extent of the damage done
by the bombing. Nothing was left but ruins on top of ruins.
Our quarters, which we had named “Comradeship” with the
outside rooms and rooms for the leaders together with the girls
quarters was totally destroyed. The fore house was burning
because the oven was lit and the fire spread from it. A delegation from the anti-aircraft unit engaged our leader to supply
them with help to fight the fires that raged in the city. Everywhere we looked was full of bedding goods, while from the
trees hung materials of every description. There were ruins in
every direction. Our girls were ordered to proceed to the city
to offer help in any way we could. A few of us happened to be
by the school as the firemen brought out the dead children from
the cellar. Girls who were under a year of compulsory service
were also among the victims. The building was completely
destroyed. We did not stay long because there was nothing
more for us to do. In three of the outdoor establishments that I
had previously been assigned to, the families lost at least one
child.
We girls had to make ourselves useful as we were now in the
gymnasium where the Red Cross was now set up. Bread had
to be prepared and hot drinks made for all the helpers in the
city. For once we were permitted to eat our fill.
On the day of the burials in the market place we saw the caskets of the dead aligned in rows. Everybody who was able to
come was there to take part in the burial process. It was a
tragic ceremony. A large mass grave was already prepared for
the bodies. We girls had to place a cross on each of the caskets. The flow of tears that day was almost endless and the
grief of all was not to be described. On the following days we
sought out each of the bereaved families to give them help.
A few days later there came an order from the Oldenburg
authorities commending us for our work and our help in the
hours of greatest need. Then the leader gave us three days of
special furlough. However, we had to get ready for transfer. In
September or early October we found ourselves in Winzlar/
Wunstorf near Hannover where there was a night fighter airdrome. We were stationed in barracks.. A few months later we
were bombed night and day by English and Americans planes.
There was no end to the bombing. Hannover was very severely
damaged and our headquarters also. We had to move once
more, this time to Rendsburg. I stayed in the fighter barracks
from spring 1944 to April 1945. We were then discharged with
the provision that we would be recalled if the need came. That
need never came. I was discharged to Neumunster where relatives lived and I stayed with them until an opportunity came to
come home.
A Frenchman driving an old truck picked me and a few others up. All were anxious to reach home. For a few dollars, I
forget how much, he took us along. The journey was a long
one, across the Elbe from where people were fleeing from the
Russians, into French controlled territory. In Osnabruck I
found myself alone and out of fright I accompanied a group of
discharged soldiers who were searching for their families in the
neighborhood. It was a heavy load for a 20 year old girl to carry a
large pack home. There was no means of transport, no bridges
over the water—only on foot could we go. When night came I had
nowhere to go. But luck was with me in the form of a young
woman who invited me to stay at her house. Her parents had seen
me standing forlornly on the street and were sorry for me. I was
treated in the best way possible and slept in a white featherbed that
night. A day or two later I found an old bicycle on which I eventually rode to my parent’s home and had the further good fortune
of meeting a man on a bicycle also going to Oldenburg. His son
was evacuated to Wahnbeck and lived there with a farmer. The
man wanted to visit him. He accompanied me to Oldenburg and
gave me necessary protection from the many foreigners on the
streets and roads. These outsiders brought much unrest to the local people.
Aurich - Nearly 10 million Euros will flow from Brussels and
Berlin to Ostfriesland this year for the promotion of rural development projects in the categories village renewal, reallocation
and consolidation of agricultural land holdings (Flurbereinigung),
and rural road construction.
On July 1, Baltrum, Leybuchtpolder, and nine Uplengen communities headed by Spols have been added to the village renewal
program. 90 villages have already benefitted from it and 32 are
presently on the active list, among them Middels, Bensersiel,
Marx, Langeoog, Buttforde, and Reepsholt. Communities must
submit concepts with well developed strategies and goals in order
to be admitted to the program.
Most of Ostfriesland is already covered with such concepts,
except for regions around Aurich, Wittmund, and Friedeburg
which will offer a joint plan and place great stress on the EmsJade-Kanal as a potentially important feeder line for the new JadeWeser container port near Wilhelmshaven. A new railroad line
Aurich-Wittmund has its promoters, too. Running parallel to these
programs is the installation of a broadband net which Ostfriesland
will support with 17.5 million Euros in public funds over the next
few years.
SOURCE: Anzeiger für Harlingerland, 7/8/08
Wiesmoor - The 116 hectare nature preservation area Otter Lake
in Wiesmoor has for years been in the care of the Nature Protection Association Wiesmoor-Großefehn which has planned and
worked for the recreation of its original environment as a peat
bog. Birch trees, which for years occupied a large part of it, have
been removed as not belonging to a bog environment, and many
endangered plants, such as the moor lily, are thriving again.
Moor frogs and moor salamanders show themselves more frequently, in contrast to the European adder (which gave the lake its
name) which formerly was frequently seen here. The agency is
planing to set up a fund for private donations to bear some of the
cost of maintaining the area.
There is general agreement that the environment ‘moor’ with its
unique flora and fauna must be protected in the future.
SOURCE: Anzeiger für Harlingerland, 7/7/08
26
TRavels in the north of gerMany
Source: Hodgskin, Thomas, Travels in the North of Germany, describing the Present State of the Social and Political Institutions
1820, Archibald Constable & Co., Edinburgh 1820. Excerpts from
pages 288-293, Volume 1 Part two, continued from Issue 3, 2008.
(Note that the spelling, etc. is copied exactly as found in the book).
The Friezlanders are more Dutch than German, and distinct in
their manners and language from the latter, though East Friezland
has always formed a part of the empire. Numerous mills for sawing, for making oil, and for spinning stand on the walls of Embden,
and in the neighbourhood of the town; they are all built after the
Dutch manner, and are proofs of the industry and enterprise of the
people. The dikes with which the greater part of Friezland is protected, and in a manner won from the sea and the river; the manner
in which the inhabitants are obliged constantly to struggle against
this element; the canals I have already mentioned, and numerous
others which have been dug from Embden to all of the villages in
its neighbourhood; are, all proofs of the same admirable qualities.
The agriculture of the Friezlanders is excellent, and they are,
in all respects, a more enterprising people than the greater part of
the Germans. They are stouter and better looking—they are better clothed and better fed—they hold themselves upright and
manly, and they pride themselves on being superior to the Germans. After seeing something of both, I join in their opinion. One
of the causes of this superiority has already been mentioned.
The Friezlanders were originally a separate tribe, and were every
where distinguished by the form of their government, and by the
division of their landed property from the rest of the Germans.
Friezland, like Hadeln, is divided into farms of from 400 to 50
acres, which are, in general, possessed in full property by the persons who cultivate them The farmers owe no feudal services, and
they have no labourers but those they hire. There are nobles in
Friezland, but they are not numerous.
That part of the feudal system which considered a certain class
of men as the property of their lord has long been abolished, or
never found its way into Friezland. Every man was his own master,
or, as a respectable merchant of Embden said, a king in his own
house, and if an action were to be done for the common good, and
by general exertion, it could only be done by the consent of all.
The land owners, or the farmers, had a vote in the election of
their own priests, of their own tax-gatherers, of the people who
looked after the dikes, and they elected the persons who were to
administer the taxes. There was a regular parliament for the management of public business to which the towns sent 15 deputies,
and the owners of the land, or third stand, 180. They were, therefore, adequately represented. At the head of the government was a
Count of Friezland, and constant disputes between him, the nobles,
the town of Embden and the parliament, till the very last moment of
the independent existence of Friezland, shew that no one party had
obtained the possession of uncontrolled power.
In 1744, the family of the Counts became extinct, and Friezland
then fell under the dominion of the sovereign of Prussia who held it
as a fief of the empire. It stood in the same relation to him as
27
Hadeln did to Hannover. Under him, the inhabitants preserved some of their privileges. A particular treaty regulated
the number of men, and the sum of money Friezland was to
pay its sovereign, but the manner of levying both was to be
left to the states, and it was to remain free from the conscription of Frederick, and his arbitrary taxes. The sovereign appointed some of the principal officers, but the greater part of
the inferior ones, particularly all those connected with the
administration of the revenue, were as formerly appointed by
the states, or elected by the people. The monarch did not long
respect the treaty which he had made with his subjects.
In return for the money and the soldiers they were to give
him, he sent a commissioner to administer the government,
and take care of the interests of the crown. Notwithstanding,
the solemn assurances which had been given that all the privileges of the people should be secured to them, this commissioner told the states, when they refused to augment their tribute of men and money, “If you will not do as my master
wishes, I will leave you tomorrow, and he will send in my
place a few regiments of soldiers, to facilitate giving a subsidy, and sending recruits.” Such was the exchange. The
Friezlanders gave their wealth and blood for such protection
as the royal commissioners could afford, and they were only
employed to exact still more wealth and blood.
The public spirit of this people is viable in the construction
of canals and dikes, and their prosperity in the extent of their
commerce, and the goodness of their agriculture; and we see
their morality and happiness in their general comforts and
appearance. Friezland, after Hadeln, is the most prosperous
part of Germany, and here, as there, the people have always
managed their own affairs. They have erected works of public
utility, superior to any which have been erected in the much
governed lands of Germany.
The minds of the inhabitants of Friezland have been chastened by disasters, and ennobled by a continued independent
nation national existence. Every other country of Germany
has been bought or sold, or bequeathed as an inheritance; but
Friezland has always been nearly of its present extent, and the
people have always lived and fought as Friezlanders. They
have a regular and continued history of their exploits, and are
ennobled by knowing that they are the descendants of men
who have always been independent. But their pride has been
humbled and chastened, while their minds have been strung to
new toils by disaster which were inflicted by the hand of God.
Their country is on the level as the sea, and it requires constant care, and great labour, to preserve it from being overwhelmed. Their history is full of sufferings, but none equals
the great flood of Christmas 1717, when a large part of the
land was inundated. The farm-houses were swept away, and
the people whom the water spared, perished from cold.
(This is a small portion of the two volume set. It is an excellent discourse on the history of Germany in the early 1800’s)
MAPPING
Map scales show differences as a ratio between
map distance and ground distance.
For example, a map scale designated as 1:100,000
(right) indicates that one centimeter on the map
represents 100,000 centimeters on the ground.
One kilometer equals 100,000 centimeter on the
ground.
1:100,000
The larger the number given as the ration of the “1”, the less
the detail found on the map. A scale of 1:25,000 shows a
smaller area in greater detail than one of a scale of 1: 250,000.
The proportion for a map is its scale. Selecting the appropriate
scale depends on the size of the sheet of paper and the accurate
placement of features. Ground area, rivers, lakes, roads, distances between features are shown proportionately smaller than
their actual size.
Large Is Small
Scale is the relationship between distance on the map and
distance on the ground. A map scale usually is given as a ratio—1:10,000. These "representative fraction" scales mean
that 1 unit of measurement on the map—1 inch or 1 centimeter—represents 10,000 of the same units on the ground. If the
scale were 1:63,360, for instance, then 1 inch on the map
would represent 63,360 inches, or 1 mile, on the ground
(63,360 inches divided by 12 inches equals 5,280 feet, or 1
mile).
The first number (map distance) is always 1. The second
number (ground distance) is different for each scale; the larger
the second number is, the smaller the scale of the map. "The
larger the number, the smaller the scale" may sound confusing,
but it is not difficult to underderstand. A map of an area 100
1:5,000
miles long by 100 miles wide drawn at a scale of 1:63,360 would
be more than eight feet square. To make the map a more convenient size, either the scale used or the area covered must be reduced.
If the scale is reduced to 1:316,800, then 1 inch on the map
represents 5 miles on the ground, and an area 100 miles square can
be mapped on a sheet less than two feet square (100 miles at 5
miles to the inch equals 20 inches, or 1.66 feet). On the other hand,
if the original 1:63,360 scale is used but the mapped area is reduced to 20 miles square, the resulting map will also be less than 2
feet square.
Such maps would be easier to handle. But would they be more
useful? In the small-scale map (1:316,800), there is less room;
therefore, everything must be drawn smaller, and some small
streams, roads, and landmarks must be left out altogether. On the
other hand, the larger scale map (1:63,360) permits more detail but
covers much less ground.
Maps of the city of Aurich, for instance, have been mapped at
different scales in this article. The most important consideration in
choosing a map is its intended use. The more detailed the map,
the more information is found—note the Aurich map on the left
corner 1:5,000. This scale is much larger so that many features
such as buildings, libraries, churches and museums are identified.
Use this scale if you are spending time in a village and wish to
find certain points of interest. In the smallest scale, buildings are
easily identified, in the 1:100,000 little village detail other than
streets can be discerned. In the 1:200,000 map, only major roadways through the city are identified.
The map 1:100,000 illustrated in this article is taken from the
Freizeit Atlas Ostfriesland and each page is detailed enough to
note older areas that may no longer exist. The map below is the
Heimatkarte Ostfriesland. Both are available from OGSA.
SOURCE: Internet, Wikipedia, Lin Strong
28 1:200,000
Officials in the Old District of Wittmund
Extract from Heyko and Eva Heyken's book, Die Einwohner des
alten Amtes Wittmund von 1565 bis 1752 (Residents in the old
district of Wittmund from 1565 to 1752), pp. 614-617 Translated
by Gene Janssen
This is a short explanation of official positions found in the civil
records for the old district of Wittmund. [These same titles are
found throughout Ostfriesland as well]. Further information
about the concept and organization of the governing officials can
be found in two works, one by Gröttrup and one by König which
provided the basis for the following descriptions. [Approximate
English terms have been supplied by the translator, though they
may not exactly describe the function of the office]
Der Drost
(sheriff/bailiff) was the most senior government
official who supervised all the other officials. He also served as
the Deichgraf (the dike official or commissioner).
Der Amtmann (recorder/clerk of court; later justice of the
peace) was originally the Schreiber (clerk). Only later (around
1600) did the increased importance of the position lead to the title
Amtmann. He handled primarily legal/justice issues and often
had studied law. In addition, he played an important role in the
government administration. A distinction between justice and
administration was unknown at the time.
Die Vögte or
(constable/prefect) The district of Wittmund, as
well as the district of Esens, was divided into
Vogteien (somewhat like precincts) at the time.
der Vogt
Every precinct, Vogtei, was comparable to a church district,
Kirchspiel. The records always list the areas in question as
Kirchspiele whereas, to be more precise, they ought to have used
the term Vogtei. A Vogt often served more than one precinct. He
was the one who carried out the orders of the government and
was responsible for carrying out court decrees, issuing summons
and collecting fines. In criminal cases he had to conduct the investigation and arrest the perpetrator. In short, he was the public
face of the administration. Usually the Vogt lived in Wittmund.
Der Burggraf (captain of a castle or fortress, bailiff, chatelain,
castellan) filled a special position in that he was not only a Vogt
for Wittmund and the surrounding area and sometimes other areas, but he was also responsible for the castle in Wittmund as
well as the defenses of the same.
Der Moorvogt (county commissioner) along with the Burggraf,
the Moorvogt was responsible for anything to do with the moorlands including the administration of them, the parcelling out of
plots, the harvesting of the peat and supervision of the moor
workers.
Der Auskündiger (town crier, announcer, deputy) along with the
Vogt (and reporting to him), the Auskündiger had almost the same
function as the Vogt, with the duties of carrying out orders.
29
Every Vogtei had an Auskündiger. The office carried no salary
as did the above mentioned offices, but there were various fees
and levies which were directed to it.
Der Schäfer
(shepherd) apparently also included in the
list of officials. He received an annual payment of 12 Fuder of
peat.
During the 30 Years' War (ca. 1618-1648) the office of the
Rezeptor was begun in 1637 when the Hessian troops invaded
the land and presented constant demands for war tribute or assessments. The ducal officials were reluctant to be saddled
with this very public collection of money. Due to the extended
occupation time of the Hessian troops, this office became a
permanent fixture, though later it was aligned with the personnel of the Deichrentmeister (dike revenue) department. The
responsibility of the Rezeptor or the Deichrentmeister was the
collection and distribution of revenue. Hence, he was the senior-most financial official. Duties included the leasing of the
manorial lands, the collection of rents and the distribution of
monies as found throughout the civil records. Upon taking
office he had to post a personal bond to assure that all financial
transactions were carried out properly, and any shortages were
charged to him along with .5% interest.
(broker, middleman) at that time was the
Der Makler
middleman for all business transactions. True, no one was required to use his services, but if anyone needed a broker or
middleman, they had to use him, the official broker. The income from forty-two residents throughout the district of Wittmund as recorded on August 28, 1687, gives us some idea of
the work of this office as well as the esteem which a Makler
enjoyed.
Der Ausmiener (auctioneer) The Ausmiener had a dual function. It was his duty to conduct voluntary auctions (as today's
auctioneer) and to carry out foreclosure auctions. Only people
with reliable means could bid; otherwise, a security or guaranty
had to be posted. If the final bidder was not able to come up
with the money, the Ausmiener was allowed by law to seize it
from the bidder's assets. There was an Ausmiener in every district of the Harlingerland.
There was a unique form of auction in conjunction with the
sale of land called the Kerzenverkauf (candle sale). Bids on the
property could be made as long as a candle was burning. Of
course, there were instances when the bidding was slow or not
forthcoming that a second or even a third candle came into
play. (König distinguishes two types of sale: the Ausmienerei
as the sale of moveable goods and the Kerzenverkauf as the
sale of land) Actually, there are records in the Weinkaufsprotokollen (real estate records) which tell of the public sale of
homes by Ausmienerei in the district of Wittmund.
Deichrichter or Sielrichter
In contrast to the rest of
Ostfriesland, where these officials were elected, in the Harlingerland they were appointed by the ruler. According to Gröttrup
the two positions were usually combined, but in Wittmund there
were two separate officials.
It was their responsibility to oversee the dikes (Deiche) and
sluices or drainage works (Siel), and in times of storm floods
were allowed to organize emergency repair crews and to supervise the same as long as necessary in addition to participating in
the conduction of inspections. They received an annual stipend
(for example six Reichstaler in 1670) and were somewhat exempt from dike assessments.
Der Deichschütter also called Deichschützer in the records,
though that is most likely an erroneous translation. The person
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as an attachment!
in this position served as an aide to the Deichrichter. Twice
weekly, or daily if necessary, it was his duty to carry out the orders or directions of the Deichrichter. In addition to this messenger service, he had to oversee the dike along with feeding the
animals thereon (sheep) and to serve legal notices on people who
damaged the dike.
Der Landrichter was not a district official but an official for the
entire Harlingerland. He resided in Esens. Not only was he the
judge or adjudicator but also the overall administrator. As judge
he was responsible in cases of injuries or insults. The daily record (from 1575-1588) also shows that he was responsible for
dike building. The Landrichter was one of the highest ranking
officials, though the Drost and the Kanzleiverwalter (chancery
administrator) in Esens were above him, and the Amtmann beneath him in rank.
Email Address Change
Pat Mower, [email protected]
Ross Papke, [email protected]
Leona Frey, [email protected]
Barbara Smith, [email protected]
Do you know someone who might like a sample copy of our
newsletter? This is one way we find new members! Contact
us!
New Memberships:
Sandra Jean Marriott Carr, 547 East 200 North, Bountiful,
UT 84010 [email protected] 801-298-3687 Researching: Moorberg (Leer), Heye (Westerende), Boltjes
(Westerende), Goldenstein, Stromer, Hinrichs (Blomberg),
Rothfuss (Aurich), Janssen, Garrelts, Wessels (village unknown)
Paula Frieden Giegold, 0653 CR 64, Garrett, IL 46738
[email protected] 260-357-3606 Researching: Kramer
(Moordorf, Borkum), Friden (Aurich, Ostersander), Schaefer
(Schwerinsdorf), Janssen (possibly Borkum)
Arthur Hasbargen, 813 Orchard Drive, Macomb, IL 61455
[email protected] 309-833-4774 Researching: Hasbargen (Neesmersiel), Freese (Westermarch), Iwerks (Hauen/
Pilsum), Smidt, Risius (Pilsum), Alberts (Westerende), Peters
(Norden), Roos (Visquard)
Joanne Meyer, 12353 Travois Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55347
[email protected] 952-807-2568 Researching: Janssen
(Extum), Groneveld (Steenfeld)
Sherrie Guenthner, PO Box 111, Hazen, ND 58545
[email protected] 701-748-2129 Researching: Loning
(Beschotenweg), Nonninga (Weener), Cornelius (Campen),
Kadus (Bunde), Swyter
Change of Address
Rich Campen, 10722 N Trail View Drive, Dunlap, IL 61525
Rick Gersema, 21247 110th Street, Parkersburg, IA 50665 319
-346-2046
PROGRAMS OF INTEREST
The Germanic American Institute, 301 Summit Avenue, St.
Paul MN presents:
GERMANS IN AMERICA - showing October - November at
11 a.m. in RATSKELLER—followed by:
GESCHICHTE- Your Story — A four-part television series,
produced in Germany, recounts the story of German immigrants
to the United States, using gripping stories about naive settlers
and successful farmers, about devout free-thinkers and political
refugees, about the heyday of the German-language press in
America, and about the founders of industrial dynasties in the
new homeland.
Each program will be shown twice, always at 11 a.m. in the Ratskeller. (42 minutes long)
October 4 , 11 - Program 1: Into the Promised Land;
October 25, Nov. 1—Program 2: The Price of Freedom;
November 8, 15 - Program 3: Little Germanies;
November 22, Nov. 29 - Program 4: A People Disappears
The Landmark Center will have an "Urban Safari" about Germany on January 18, 2009—several genealogical groups will be
invited.
More information is available from:
Dina Vaynerman
Program and Marketing Manager
Minnesota Landmarks, Landmark Center
75 West 5th Street, Suite 404, St. Paul, MN 55102
651.292.3276 (direct) 651.292.3225 (info) 651.292.3272 fax
[email protected]
www.landmarkcenter.org
30
UPCOMING ISSUES WILL
INCLUDE:
Emigration—January Issue
Make sure you don’t miss this issue
filled with stories:
Jann Kaiser’s 1852 Letter
A Journey from Dunum
Uda’s Journey
Visit of an Ostfriesen Descendent
Emigration Costs, Requirements
Ostfriesen in the Wild West
Westermarsh to Iowa
April/July Issues:
Happy 375th
Birthday
Großefehn!
OGSA member Lisa
Buß who lives in Großefehn and several members of OGSA attended
with an exhibit at this
community event on
Sept. 14—21, 2008. Our
best wishes to this picturesque community and
its friendly citizens.
A special thank you to everyone who donated funds for our board member, Rick
Gersema, whose home was destroyed by a tornado earlier this summer. We received the following note from Rick and will share it with you here:
Dear Sharon & all the members of the OGSA,
I am now home from my honeymoon and trying to get into a routine. I wanted to
thank you all for your wonderful generosity in the many, many gifts that you sent on
my behalf after the tornado took my house and contents on May 25.
I was simply overwhelmed at the amount of items that Zella brought when she came
to attend my wedding on July 12. I am still amazed at the kindness that everyone has
shown me through all of this. It is a great blessing to belong to an organization such
as this. I am proud to be Ostfriesen and to have great friends like you all. I could
never begin to repay you for all of this so all I can say is a humble "Thank You."
I only hope that I can be just as supportive when a tragedy comes upon someone else
in the future. God bless you all! With heartfelt gratitude, Rick Gersema
P.S. I have a new address now: Rick & Jean Gersema, 21247 110th St., Parkersburg,
IA 50665”
31
Der Brautpfadd
Marienchor
Midlum’s Pastors
The Settlement of Firrel
Gandersum
The Ems River
Where Did the Cloisters Go?
Keukenhof
The Ships of Meyer-Werft
The Pirates of Marienhafe
Delftware
Houtrouw’s Ostfreislandbuch
PHOTO CONTEST
Do you know what this is used for?
It is wooden, sits on the floor and is hand
carved. Guess anyone?
PLEASE NOTE:
Feb. 2, 2009
UPCOMING EVENTS
New Mail Address:
10 a.m. to noon
OGSA ANNUAL TEA PARTY
Nov. 1,
2008
GermanAmerican
Institute
301 Summit
Ave.
St. Paul, MN
(651) 222-7027
Osfriesland’s
Organs & Music
Mt. Olive Lutheran
Church
31st & Chicago
MARIENHAFE
10 a.m. to noon—
noon—come early for a tour of this historic
dwelling!Bring your tea cup and saucer or use one of
ours! Ostfriesen tea, great food, fun & door prizes
and surprises, too! http://www.gaihttp://www.gai-mn.org/gaimn/
aboutus.html (parking lot is in the rear)
OGSA
1670 South Robert
Street, #333,
West St. Paul, MN
55118
News Editor
Address :
Lin Strong
([email protected])
168 N. Lake St.,
Forest Lake, MN
55025
651-269-3580
New Library
Address:
MN Genealogical
Society
1185 Concord St. N. So.
St. Paul, MN
OGSA Phone No.
(651) 451-6472
MGS Hours:
Tues., 6:30-9:30 pm
Wed., 10 a.m.-4 pm
Thurs.10 a.m.-4 pm
6:30-9:30 pm
Sat., 10 a.m.-4 pm
Coming from out of
town, call or email
Zella Mirick
[email protected]
All meetings are open to the public. Please join us and bring a relative or friend!
1670 South Robert Street, #333,
West St. Paul, MN 55118
Address Service Requested
32
U.S.POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. #21
New Member
□
Renewing Member
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□
Gift Membership
Donor Name_____________________________________________________
Name:
Street Address:
City, State, Zip Code:
Phone No.:
Email:
Personal Website:
High Speed Internet?
Yes____________
No______________
Eight surnames and villages you are researching in Ostfriesland:
__________________________________________
______________________________________________
__________________________________________
______________________________________________
__________________________________________
______________________________________________
__________________________________________
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•
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•
OGSA MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS
OGSA membership is for the calendar year (October 31, 2008 through November 1, 2009).
New members who join during the calendar year will receive all back issues for that year / membership code and
password is available to all current members.
Membership dues are due in November for 2009.
OGSA publishes four newsletters each year in January, April, July and October and newsletters are online the
first day of each of these months.
Please note new membership options!
Please check one of the following membership options:
□
□
□
□
□
□
2009 Membership……………
$
Paper newsletter sent by postal mail
$
pdf newsletter sent as email attachment
$
Download newsletter from ogsa.us website
(Newsletter is online January 1, April 1, July 1, October 1—everyone will be sent passwords/member code)
2009 Non-USA Membership…… $
Membership Booklet………….
$
(per year) Paper copy sent by postal mail
MEMBERSHIP TOTAL ……..
(If sent by postal mail)
Membership Booklet (EXCEL) (Free & searchable sent by email attachment…………
SEND YOUR RENEWAL OR NEW MEMBERSHIP TODAY!
$____________
$____________
$____FREE___
NOTE! OGSA needs your donations to help pay for special projects.
Donation to OGSA…………..$ ___________
OGSA is a 501 C3 and you can legally deduct your donation.
We appreciate donations in any amount!
TOTAL $ ___________
Address: OGSA, 1670 South Robert Street, #333, West St. Paul, MN 55118
33

Ostfriesen Genealogical Society of America (OGSA)

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