Date: 1999/02/08 13:10:18
From: DODD <dodd(a)iinet.net.au>
I am researching the family history of my 2 x great-grandparents, Michael
(Laurence) HOFFMAN and Margarethe SCHMIDT. They were born about 1820 in
Bavaria and had two known children: Katharina Annie HOFFMAN, b 14 Jan 1847
at Bayreuth, Bavaria and Annie Katharina, born 17 Jan 1850.
I wondered if anyone else might be researching this family, who emigrated
to Queensland Australia about 1854?
,-._ |\ Gail Dodd, Spreading Branches on the Net
/ Oz \ Research Names:
\x,-- . / http://carmen.murdoch.edu.au/community/dps/research/dod01.html
v
Date: 1999/02/10 00:39:19
From: DODD <dodd(a)iinet.net.au>
Hello list - I wanted to share the tale I have of my ancestor, from
Franken, Michael (Laurence) HOFFMAN alias MERLEIN, husband of Margarethe
SCHMIDT. The couple had two daughter, Katharina Annie, born 14 Jan 1847 at
Bayreuth and Annie Katharina, born 17 Jan 1850. Other than that, I have no
information about the family pre-emigration and would welcome contact from
anyone who may be able to give me some advice on researching my German
heritage.
***
Laurence emigrated from Bavaria to Queensland on the 'Marbs' which departed
15 November 1854 as Michel Merlein from Bayreuth in Bavaria, Schäfer
(shepherd). The most obvious reason for using an alias would be that he was
an illegitimate son - MERLEIN and HOFFMANN being the names of mother and
father (or vice versa). For an illegitimate child to be known by the
father's surname was not all that uncommon. Another possibility was that
his mother might have remarried (or even married for the first time) and
Michael Lawrence might sometimes find it convenient to take the surname of
the step father.
Or, he might have been that he wanted to get out of the country without the
authorities being aware of it. For young men between 16 and 25 years of
age, this was often to avoid conscription into the army. However, Lawrence
appears far too old for that - but there are many other reasons that a man
might wish to slip away - some less honourable than others.
To emigrate, a person had to seek permission from the authorities. Part of
the process involved advertising the intention in the local paper so that
debts could be cleared before departure.
Bayreuth is a city in Oberfranken (upper Franconia) region of Bavaria with
a population in 1956 of 60,500. The first two German immigrant ships to
sail from Hamburg direct to Moreton Bay, entered the bay on Wednesday the
21st March 1855. These ships, the "Aurora" and the "Marbs" (also referred
to as the "Merbz"), landed a total of 506 people - described as "fine and
able looking people who will, without doubt, form a valuable addition to
our labouring population".
Some of the immigrants were taken by steamer, "City of Melbourne" to Wide
Bay, where they had been engaged for employers in that area. The steamboat
"Swallow" took others directly up the Brisbane River to Ipswich, while the
remainder came up the river by the "Palermo" and "Brothers" to the
immigration depot at Brisbane, where they "enlivened the town with their
glee and choruses, appearing to be highly pleased with the appearance of
their new home.
Unfortunately the voyages of both ships were marked with tragedy and
disaster. The "Aurora", a barque of 132 tons, left Hamburg on October 20th
1854 under Captain Mign. On entering Moreton Bay, it appears that she
mistook the entrance, and coming in by the south passage went aground on
the seaward side of Moreton Island. No casualties occurred and the crew
and passengers were safely landed, some of the island and the others on
Cleveland Point from where they were transferred to their various
destinations. The "Aurora" was not so fortunate - left high and dry on the
shore, there was no profitable way of getting her off, so she was stripped
of her sails and other salvageable fittings.
The "Merbs", a barque of 178 tons, under Captain Wilder, left Hamburg on
November 26th 1854. Sickness struck on the first day out of port and
typhus, cholera and measles plagued those on board up until the last
twelve days of the voyage. In all 47 deaths occurred on the voyage - 28 of
these were children whose deaths were attributed to measles. This high
mortality ate - 2% and complaints of insufficient provisioning led the
Health Officer for Brisbane, Dr. William Hobbs, to report the matter to the
authorities. His report led to an inquiry into the conditions aboard the
ship. Dr. Hobbs was very critical of the insufficiency of clothing and the
absence of fresh provisions and basic comforts. He attributed the high
mortality to the lack of these necessities and suggested that unless the
system was changed, it could be expected that other ships would suffer
similar losses. He pointed out that the character of the vessel had to pay
for each adult passenger - alive or dead - but would stand to lose nothing
if all the passengers were to die, as he insured each of their lives.
Included in Dr. Hobb's report was the following scale of provisions and
food allowance on which the "Marbs" immigrant existed for almost four
months. The ship sailed direct - no ports were visited on the voyage from
which fresh provision could have been obtained. The weekly menu was thus -
Sunday - Half a pound of salt beef, and plum pudding. Monday - Half a pound
of salt pork, potatoes and sour cabbage. Tuesday - Half a pound of salt
beef, and peas. Wednesday - Two salt herrings per adult, potatoes and beans
Thursday - Half a pound of beef, rice and treacle Friday - Half a pound of
pork, potatoes and peas Saturday - Half a pound barley per adult and plums.
The allowance of bread per adult was five pound per week, of coffee, 31
pounds amongst the whole passengers. The allowance of butter was one half
pound per week per adult, and of sugar a quarter of a pound per week per
adult.
Medical comforts for the voyage consisted of - wine (claret) - 80 bottles,
Arrowroot - six pounds, sago - forty pounds, Oatmeal - sixty pounds,
Vinegar - 4 Hogsheads. There were no supplies of milk for the children, no
porter (port), no spirits, no lime juice, no clothing, no soap. Little
wonder that on arriving in Brisbane, the immigrants "enlivened the town
with their glee" - they were no doubt very pleased to leave the ship.
(The shipping information has been extracted by Mr C. F. Joy of Gordonvale,
who wishes to acknowledge the assistance he received from Mrs J. Ruig of
Singleton).
On arrival, Lawrence gained employment near Toowoomba as a horse driver to
the Taylor family. Just five years later he died.
A death certificate for Lorenz (Laurence) Hoffman has been located for 16th
September, 1860 at Toowoomba. It states: Michael Mierlin alias Hoffman. The
certificate denotes him as a labourer, six years in the colony, aged 37
years*, cause of death unknown; date of death 16th September, 1860 at
Toowoomba; father's name: Lawrence Hoffman, mother's name unknown, married
to Margaret Lund* married 1836* survived by two daughters and nine children
deceased. Buried 17th September, 1860 at Toowoomba. (*Questions of accuracy
here. Often death certificate information was provided by the undertaker,
who may not even know the deceased person, from information supplied by
someone who may not have been a close family member).
***
,-._ |\ Gail Dodd, Spreading Branches on the Net
/ Oz \ Research Names:
\x,-- . / http://carmen.murdoch.edu.au/community/dps/research/dod01.html
v
Date: 1999/02/19 08:07:11
From: JMBEZAK <JMBEZAK(a)aol.com>
ARE THERE ANY CIVIL BIRTH RECORDS AVAILABLE FOR ASCHAFFENBURG FOR THE TIME PERIOD OF 1820'? WHERE ARE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OR PROTESTANT CHURCH RECORDS HELD? SEARCHING FOR THE SURNAME LOECHLER. GOTTFRIED LOECHLER LEFT ASCHAFFENBURG IN THE 1840'S AND ARRIVED IN NEW ORLEANS. EVENTUALLY HE SETTLED IN COLUMBUS, OHIO. APPRECIATE ANY HELP. JANET HUDSON, OH
Date: 1999/02/19 13:04:10
From: Ruth and Steve Taylor <taylorsr(a)snip.net>
I haven' received a message in ages from franken-l, didn't realize anyone else was on. I am searching for records from Bischofsheim which is also in Unterfranken (lower Franconia) Just last night I wrote a letter to the archives. Here it is Diozesanarchive Bruderhof la Domerschultstr.2 97070 Wurburg Germany JMBEZAK(a)aol.com wrote: > ARE THERE ANY CIVIL BIRTH RECORDS AVAILABLE FOR ASCHAFFENBURG FOR THE TIME > PERIOD OF 1820'? > > WHERE ARE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OR PROTESTANT CHURCH RECORDS HELD? > > SEARCHING FOR THE SURNAME LOECHLER. GOTTFRIED LOECHLER LEFT ASCHAFFENBURG IN > THE 1840'S AND ARRIVED IN NEW ORLEANS. EVENTUALLY HE SETTLED IN COLUMBUS, > OHIO. > > APPRECIATE ANY HELP. > > JANET > HUDSON, OH
Date: 1999/02/19 13:37:10
From: George Richmond <grichmon(a)localnet.com>
Janet shouted: >WHERE ARE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OR PROTESTANT CHURCH RECORDS HELD? The Catholic records should be in the Diocesan Archive in Würzburg. Address: Würzburg Diözesan-Archiv Domerschulstraße 2 97070 Würzburg Germany George
Date: 1999/02/19 22:58:42
From: LTBoehmke <LTBoehmke(a)aol.com>
I'm still interesting in hearing from others who are searching these names. I will happily exchange what information I have. LaVerne