oldenburg-l - Nachricht 2007-01 00004

[Fran Hill <fran(a)haas.berkeley.edu>]

I am searching for information on my German ancestors, the Trenkamps and Hussmanns.  My great, great grandfather Franz  (or Francis, my namesake) Trenkamp was born around 1820 in Oldenburg.  His older brother, Clemens (probably Clemens Augustus) Trenkamp was born around 1816.  

I have found both of them at ages 17 and 21 respectively arriving in New York City on a ship called the Constitution on December 30, 1837.  The ship sailed from Bremen, Germany.   14 years later, my GG grandfather Franz/Francis marries Catherine Mary Elizabeth Hussmann on the 17th of May, 1851  in the presence of Louis Hussmann and Clemens Augustus Trenkamp, Witnesses, at the Church of St. Nicholas,  2nd Street, NYC.

Catherine Mary Elizabeth, who went by Elizabeth, was also born in Oldenburg, in Lohne, about 1829.   At some point after their marriage Franz/Francis and Elizabeth settle in Milwaukee, WI.  Their children and grandchildren marry into other immigrant German families--the Gluabitzes, the Schellings, the Forrers, etc. and most remain in Milwaukee for 2-3 generations.  

I would be very grateful for any information or suggestions as to how to identify any additional members of the Trenkamp and Hussmann families in Germany.  I remember my grandmother Anella Trenkamp Forrer telling me that our family had a farm in the area of Oldenburg for nearly 450 years, but I do not know if she was referencing her father's side of the family (Trenkamps) or her husband's side (Forrers/Schellings).  I know that she corresponded with German "cousins" in German  well into the 1960s.  I don't have a lot of information that might be of interest, but I do have an old family photo of the Trenkamps, most likely taken in Oldenburg, which I will happily share digitally.  

Many thanks,
Fran Hill
Northern California, USA
____________

Franz (Francis) Trenkamp (1820 Oldenburg, Germany - 1873 Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
Clemens Augustus Trenkamp (1816 Oldenburg, Germany - 1880 --place unknown)
Catherine Mary Elizabeth HUSSMANN (1829 (Lohne, Oldenburg - after 1873 in Milwaukee, WI)