Debbie wrote:
Your info is very helpful.
On my Grandmother's Pommern side, I have found what I hope to be my Great
Grandfather's Birth (in Familysearch.org) to be Karl Auguste Stabs born in
1847. I think this may be him because one of his son's names is Carl August
Stabs born in 1884. However, it then states that this Karl Auguste Stabs
died a month later. Could there be twins who were named the same name? Was
this a common practice in 1880's Germany?
Hello Debbie,
If the original Karl August had seven sons then seven sons would name their
first born son Karl/August about 1847 +/- ! You need to look at the baptism
date which was sometimes on the day of birth; it would be too late to give a
surviving twin his brother's name if they had both been baptised. Baby and
child deaths were the norm and often you will find parents lose more than
one child who was named in honour of the grandparents and it could be that
the youngest living sibling carries the name. A son is baptised with two
or three godfathers, a daughter is baptised with one godmother and one or
two godfathers. These witnesses are usually family or good friends and if
possible at least one godfather of high status who would be relied upon to
assist the child in later life (work/apprenticeship, etc). You will
probably find the child carried a name from at least one of these people.
The IGI list is only a guide, you still need to look at the original entry
which will have been filmed. Carl and August were very popular names at the
time even in the UK. You need to find American descendants to compare old
stories handed down and also who has the family bible? letters home? and
other surviving documents/photos? (some secondhand book dealers advertise
old immigrant bibles on the web).
At burial services, the Hannovarian Lutheran churches in England recorded
the town of origin of immigrants - have you checked the church death entries
for your early relatives?
Best Wishes
Rena in England