Dear Linda,
Mr. Wohlers of the registry office in Visbek tried to find your Hellmann - Wilkens marriage, but without success.
He could also not find the date of birth of the first child, but the secound child is born 20.Nov.1882 in Visbek,
named Johann Diedrich Hellmann, but no notices about the date of birth of the parents.
We must assume, that this family first lived on other places, married there and the first child is born there also.
I have notices that Hellmann lived in Cloppenburg(Crapenburg) and Vechta/Oythen.
I'm sorry that I could not help in this case.
Werner
PS: I can not send directly to your email address: "could not be delivered"
--- HIER BEGINNT DIE WEITERGELEITETE NACHRICHT ------------------------------
Hello Listers
I am searching again for Ahrens. This time in Jever. In 1860 there were
just three:
Arernd Ahrens born about 1826
Gertina wife " " 1833
Mary dau. " " 1859
Later I have:
John Henry " " 1862
Edward Frederic (Adv.) son September 1865
Eimel B or Amos " son 1867
Some evidence indicates Arernd came to the US in 1867.
The wife and children came to Sterling, Whiteside County, Illinois via New
York
(arrived April 15 1869 on Liner America) - Bremen
Thank you
Robert Cooper
Werner,
I appreciate what you did find 
I now have a birth date for Johann who died
within weeks of his arrival in the US in July 1883 which I did not have before
I will try writing to the Catholic archives to see if anything can be found.
Also, I did check with my server who has apparently been periodically blocking
all e-mail from your domain due to the amount of spam received from it. I'm not
very happy with the situation, but not much I can do except find an alternate
e-mail address. So sorry for your trouble, I've had this happen with AOL before
& it's very frustrating.
And, regarding the Hoffmann articles, it probably won't be until next week that
I can make it to the library, but will copy & then scan to send to you.
Thank you for your help,
Linda Boorom