Hello Julie,
Your message caught my eye on several points. I am not sure we have enough information about Neuenkirchen at this point. I am also researching an ancestor from Neuenkirchen. There are many Neuenkirchens in northern Germany. In the old Kingdom of Hannover, there are at least 2 that I know of.
My ancestor came from Neuenkirchen, Kreis Melle. On the 1860 U.S. Census he reported that he was from Hannover. You might look at the censes records for his home "country". Things have changed in the last 140+ years. A church records may help. Or you might have to check both areas.
The other Neuenkirchen in the old Kingdom of Hannover was near the Dutch border. Almost straight west of Amsterdam.
I am tracing a Herman Heinrich Brandhorst and Johann Heinrich Brandhorst from the same era. They ended up in St. Paul, Mn. Are we close?
Please keep in contact.
Jim Danielsen
Stoughton, WI USA