Deborah said:
<snip> I'm sure eventually I'll find a valuable clue.>
Even though you haven't found the marriage certificate which would give
information you seek. You already have clues to Friedrich and Dorothea's
fathers' names. It's a pity F & D didn't have any daughters, you would have
had the full set of parents names left behind in Germany. Friedrich would
probably have honoured his father by giving his name to his first born son,
You would, therefore, be looking for a Friedrich or Wilhelm Becker in
Germany. Depending on the number of months between the births in 1873 and
1876 there could be a missing birth, or Charles Theodor could well be
carrying the name of his maternal grandfather, Theo or Chas Ehlers/Ahlers.
Having said that, in the case of my German migrant Hermann Flemme - his
first son was named William Henry which were the names of both the fathers
of Hermann and his English wife. As was the custom in those days the 2nd
daughter was given the name of the father's mother, this is how I know that
my grandmother Edith Sophia was named after Hermann's mother Sophia.
BTW often a family would follow another member of the family or another
villager. If you see a surname you recognise immigrating a year or two
before your family, they could be relatives.
Rena