Att'n Raf G. Jorden
Answer to your question
Pat,
Due to the interest of various members of the list here some hints collected
so far:
Among others Christine thought of Vienna - which seems phonetically possible
- but how should an assumingly simple seaman get there?
There was one hint to the area of Winsen/Aller (Winsen at the river Aller)
and Vreden. Promising for three reasons:
First Vreden and Winsen could result in something like Vrienna
Second Winsen/aller had a known shipyard and was connected to Bremen via
Weser river
Third there are known Lewis and Stofer families in the area.
Nevertheless there is one setback: The church records of Winsen/Aller have
been destroyed late WW II.
I am currently waiting for another source (I am looking for another name in
Winsen) and will keep your names in mind.
So far no more hints or clues
Ralf (Jordan)
ahnen@rgjordan.de
Hello,
why shouldn't a 'simple' seaman get to Vienna, as a steward perhaps or
whatever? Also six year olds did sometimes travel on their own if the Shipping
Company accepted them and found someone amongst the passengers to have
an eye on him or her. Many children suffering from trachoma, an eye disease
were kept back in German ports because the shipping companies knew they
would be rejected in Ellis Island. So they joined their families after their eyes
had healed up. Or sibling children came over to the States at different times
because of lack of money.
But never mind all that, if you do think of Winsen, then I wanted to point out
the other Winsen. Winsen on the river Luhe near Hamburg the largest German
sea port. Might help.
Regards,
Ingrid