Johann Traugott Heinrich, the great grandfather of my wife, wrote the
following in his diary describing the day he left Horka on his journey to
Australia.
"On 27th April 1849 I, with a fellow traveller Traugott Tzschoppe from
Middle Horka, ... walked towards the Vinehill, and often, with tear filled
eyes, turned around to see the paths, steps and places of my youth, and, for
the last time, saw the church, its tower and my parental home. When I
arrived behind the hill, the dearest place of my life had vanished from my
eyes."
In 1994 my wife and I visited Horka for a day and had no trouble finding the
track up vinehill, and we could look back and see the Church, with its
steeple, and we wondered if the old Heinrich home still stood there too. We
took photos, and made enquiries but were not able to find out where the
original Heinrich home stood - and whether it is still standing.
Could anyone tell us how we might find out where his Heinrich parental home
stood?
Johann Traugott Heinrich was born in Prussia 29th Oct 1821 at Upper Horka
near Niesky in Upper Lusatia. His father was Johann Gottlieb Heinrich, born
13 Feb 1793 and died 16 Dec 1850, a cooper and the owner of a house in Upper
Horka. His mother was Johanne Christiane, nee Neuworth [6 April 1799 - 14
Sept 1875. Her father was a brewer in Mueckenhain, and a magistrate in Upper
Horka for the Mueckenhain District].
In 1846 Johann Traugott Heinrich married Johanne Rosina Tschoppe, and for a
time they lived with his father - "We were given a room in the second storey
with some extra space and lived there until 27th April 1848."
The following year they left for Australia.
His brother Friedrich August Heinrich owned [inherited?] their father's
house until Friedrich died on 9th Feb 1897.
We have no information about the Heinrich home after this date.
We would be delighted to find out which house was Johann Traugott
Heinrich's parental home, and if one can still view it from Vinehill.
Kevin Z
Melbourne
Australia