Germany

10 years ago

I decided to explore the locations in Germany where my ancestors lived. I have tried before to search for more information about them but with 4 first names not always in the same order, it's daunting. But a couple of days ago, after my success last year with Yorkshire, I decided I could learn the area in Germany, too. It's working!! Google maps knows where these places are! The skimpy information I have seems to fit/be close enough together to be logical.

I have German families on both sides and from what I've found they all came here from the same small area within a few years of each other. I know that the ones on my father's side knew each other and the ones on my mother's side knew each other. The big question is did they ALL know each other? In 1861 the population was 34,670,277; in 1867 the entire population was 37,512,005. On the other hand they probably didn't go to town on Saturday night to meet their friends from near and far. The 2014 population for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern was 1,600,000.

The boundaries changed so often it was almost a year by year thing. German history is a real headache.

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Comments (8)

Shades_of_idaho
10 years ago
OH my it sure sounds like it would be difficult to research these kind of changing borders if everything else were totally clear. WOW. Joe's family was German on his mothers side and I would have to look up the spelling on his Mom's maiden name. Scheligal or some thing close to that. I never could get it right and had to drag out his birth certificate to fill in his death certificate.

good luck and I LOVE Google even if it is not always right it gets a person pretty darn close.
User
Original Author
10 years ago
I've been working on it all day and I'm at a dead end everywhere. There's a book I need.. $35. Not. http://www.familyrootspublishing.com/store/product_view.php?id=2935

I'm going to keep using google. Maybe I might buy the book if I can't make any progress after a while. There are so many free places to search. Rootsweb and ancestry message boards can be pure gold. I found three towns with the same name today. It happens. I haven't looked in enough places yet to plunk down 35 bucks. The list of names out of the book is very helpful, though.
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Shades_of_idaho
10 years ago
When I used to be a search angle reuniting birth families years ago there were several of us sharing resources. Each would do a state or several and purchase data bases and we all networked together. Was a fun time and rewarding. NOT financially but emotionally.
User
Original Author
10 years ago
I wish there was someone else, anyone else, researching this family. I have one cousin who I'm in contact with but he's not very forthcoming with information. I think he has it, I think he either doesn't want to share or hasn't been working on it and doesn't want to look anything up.
Shades_of_idaho
10 years ago
It would be nice if he would help you a little more.
User
Original Author
10 years ago
Yes. Would be nice. But maybe he's busy. Maybe he's sick of me! You know how expensive it is. Maybe he just doesn't want to share his investment. Can't say as I blame him. I take but have nothing to give. If I could find something new to show him he might confirm it.
murraysmom Zone 6a OH
10 years ago
But honestly, what is the point of NOT sharing family information? Why wouldn't you want anyone else in your family who is interested to know what you find out? Why keep it to yourself? I don't get that.
Shades_of_idaho
10 years ago
Agree on that Murraysmom. I found a distant cousin like 5th removed that shared so much with me on my Tucker side of the family and it was not even that closely related to him. He even printed it all off and mailed it to me and would not let me pay him for the copies and postage. It was about 30 pages.

Sadly when I did my family genealogy I did not get all that into it with purchasing the birth and death marriage certs for proof. I have a few on my Fathers side just used to get information about him. Suppose I should send for his death certificate. HA like I need to do more paper work right now. NOT

I lost interest in researching several years ago. I know it was fascinating when I was doing it and so fun to find another clue. Maybe I will pick it up again some day when I have more time. Right now I would rather break glass. and play with decorating the house. I have no one to pass it all down to. Like my photos and sorting through and scanning them. Always planned to do that but for me why spend all the time. There is no one that cares about my photos. I shared the ones I had that were important to the family members. The rest just a suitcase of photos.