I am looking for information on any of the above names.
My great grandfather was Heinrich von Brook. His wife was Johanna Eberhardt and they lived in Oxstedt, near Cuxhaven. All of their sons, Heinrich, Freiderich and Wilhelm emigrated to the U.S. around the turn of the last century.
My other great grandfather was Moritz Leutermann. His wife was Anna Pass and they lived in Altenbruch, also near Cuxhaven. Most of their children also emigrated to the U.S. at about the same time.
I have been told that our name was most likely von Brock, but all my references in this country show the spelling as Brook.
Any references to churches in the area or government offices would also be greatly appreciated. Not being fluent in the language, the political subdivisions of the area are very confusing to me.
Rick von Brook
wb2txf@earthlink.net
Hello Rick,
If you live near a LDS (Mormon) center, you can order microfilm for the
church in Altenwalde, which is north of Oxstedt. It would seem likely that
is where the people from Oxstedt went to church. I haven't found
verification for that however. There is now a church in Nordholz, but that
was more recently built.
As for Altenbruch, the LDS doesn't have copies of the church records,
but there is a good website which includes an email address for that church:
http://www.kirche-altenbruch.de/
I hope this can be of some help to you.
Barbara
Hello again,
The LDS list a Johanna Dorothea Eberhard born in the town of Spieka in
1831. Spieka is south of Oxstedt. Her parents were Erich Friederich and
Catharina Dorothea Eberhard. The spelling without the final "t" probably
would not be significant. There is an earlier Johanna born in 1799 in
Spieka. The LDS also have the church records for Spieka. This may not be
of any significance to you, but the town is in the same general area of your
ancestors.
Good luck,
Barbara