Henry William BISSEN
b. 18 Sept 1865 [?]
place - Unknown
father - Henry Bissen
mother - Maria
sister- Bertha
worked as a carpenter/joiner in Hawaii
I have been trying to find the birth town, parents and ancestors of Henry Bissen for a number of years with no success and hoping someone can help me. He and 800 + contract/indentured workers sailed from Bremen on 28 Feb. 1883 on the ship Ehrenfels and arrived Hawaii on May 1 or 2 1883. The workers were divided between 2 plantations in Lihue and Koloa, Kaua'i. The ship manifest simply lists the workers by name ie: H Bissen. We have good records on his descendants but no data on his ancestors and will share info with interested parties.
The workers were recruited by a German national acting as agent for the the plantation owners and the Hawaii government - he solicited immigrants primarily from Hannover area - but I have not been able to find any info or records of this individual or his business. The Bremen immigration records have been distroyed so no help there. Available records in Hawaii give no birth place.
I recently learned there may be Bissens living in the Landkris Harburg and Landkreis Uelzen distrcts of Hannover and this might be a possible area for research.
I would very much appreciate any help I could receive. Are there searchable records for this time period? Any other suggestions?
If I can help anyone with research in the Chicago, Illinois USA area, let me know.
Without knowing your ancestor's origins it is near impossible to
locate any records.
There are only 18 Bissen entries in the German phone directory, I
suggest that you write or phone everyone listed, check details at
www.dastelefonbuch.de
With an uncommon name it is possible someone listed is also a
descendant of your ancestors and they may have researched their
family or be able to give you further assistance.
Once you know the name of the town/village/community, contact the
list again for further advice.
try this page from the german genealogy-clubs. http://gedbas.genealogy.net/
Put the name Bissen in the field "Nachname".You will find some names. Click on the names and it will show you the names and e-mail-adresses of some people whoe also research your name Bissen. Maybe this is a chance.
Yes, there are Bissens living near Harburg. There are 18 Bissens listed
in the German phonebook today in the towns of Winsen and Tespe (not far from
Harburg). You could contact those people. The addresses are listed in the
phonebook.
Phonebook address is this: http://www.dastelefonbuch.de/