The Hennigs of Langenau (Stephanz Family)

As I stated, the Facebook groups are fantastic for finding #ancestors.  Getting help with #genealogy and #familyhistory on Facebook has been a gold mine for me!  #blogginmyfamilyhistory just got even better for my #lifeofafamilyhistorian.

On October 14, I decided to post on my Prussian Genealogy FB page regarding tracking down the Hennig ancestors from the Rosenberg, Danziger Höhe area.  I listed the “heirs” from Andreas’ death record and immediately received some excellent help.  One of the admins from the group found Andreas’ birth record, and from that, his parents!  So, now I have his father as Andreas and his mother as Barbara Wohlert.

Another member then posted several marriages of Hennigs from Langenau.  I matched the children of Andreas and Barbara to their spouses and then the children from that.  We have tons of Hennigs!

Our 3rd great-grandparents were Maria Elisabeth Hennig and Johann Schwittkowski.  Their son, our 2nd great-grandfather, Johann Leopold Schwittkowski, and our immigrant to America, took his mother’s maiden name of Hennig.  See Schwittkowski Name Change to Hennig.  She was born in Langenau, as was her father, Andreas.  However, although Barbara was from Langenau, Andreas was from somewhere we couldn’t read in the marriage record (see the words where it’s scratched out).

So I then posted this on my Genealogy Translations website and discovered that the script above is in Latin, not German, which makes sense for the #Catholic records at the time.  We thought the place was Nieda or Sadlowa, but then someone stated the first word was Nieder, meaning “Lower”.

Here is the translation as it was given to me on Facebook:

Year 1797
Langenau

I, who (did the same) above, on the day the 28th of May, with three banns having been promulgated and no impediment detected, contracted marriage between Andreas Hennig, originating from Ninda Skadlau(?), age 23 years, and Barbara Wohlert from Langenau, age 20 years, after asking for and receiving the usual mutual consent in front of the church, in the presence of witnesses Paul Gronta(sp?) and Martin Danousk(sp?).”

I am now inclined to think that Andreas’ hometown is most likely Nieder Schredlau, which geographically would make sense.  However, this is still being researched.

From their ages, this makes Andreas born in 1774 and Barbara born in 1777.  We now have our 5th great-grandparents and 5th great uncles and aunts, as seen below.

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There could be more children, especially between Antonius and Martinus and Anna and Peter, but I have not found any record.  Barbara lost five children at such young ages.   I am unsure why unless the Cholera epidemic hit them.

Their daughter, Anna Maria, had a son, Johann Michael Hennig, on 14 Aug 1836.  She married Christian Richter on 28 Aug 1836.  The index states that Christian was the father, but I cannot locate the record.   As I was writing this, someone discovered the record for me.

Translation:

# 10 Schönwarling on August 28, 1836
the youth Christian Richter, eldest son of Christian Richter inhabitant of Schönwarling, 25 years old with his betrothed bride Maria Hennig, eldest daughter of the deceased inhabitant Andreas Hennig from Langenau, 21 years old both catholic religion and residing in Schönwarling
Witnesses: And.Mutter(?) and Joh.Hennig
remark: She has consens from the court Dirschau August 22, 1836

They had 12 more children.  She also lost several children at a young age, one- another Peter Paul.

Their daughter, Dorothea, married Johann Hein, and they had Anna Maria Hein and Andreas Eduard Hein.

From the marriage record shared with me on Facebook, I could deem more marriages from Andreas’ siblings, their parents being Andreas and Maria Kriese.  Michael married Marianna Piertnitzki in 1863.  I am still working on them.

There are several other Hennigs I have yet to fit in the tree, but I’m getting there.

Now, to see what Hennigs I can find in Nieder Schüttlau!  

If you need research assistance, do not hesitate to contact me.

Your Family Tree Research Specialist

Research Specialist

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