Ron, The following may not be of any help but may be worthy of
consideration.
My parental grandfather was Georg Ehlers of Hüllstede bie Westerstede.
Most of the Ehlers documentation came thru the family along with the
documents submitted by the family to satisfy the German National Socialism
(Hitler's Period 1933-1945) edict. The research and documentation takes the family
back to 1378. A major part of this information has been confirmed with the
records of the Westerstede Church.
During early research, I directed questions to the Westerstede Church --
it is my understanding the Church holds the records.
In reviewing the Ehlers history I have the following information -- Helene
Catharine Ehlers (1751-1836) inherited the Ehlers estate in Hüllstede and
her husband Johann Beken took the "farm name" of Ehlers and the were
married 5 December 1770. Secondly, their son Brunke b 14 Dec 1787 was their last
child and he relocated to Filkensolt and married Talke Catharine Eilers.
It appears from records that their children used the surname of Ehlers.
Regarding your comment, "She and her husband were members of the Baptist
church in Felde"
For this information contact the Westerstede Baptist Church - they hold the
records of the Felde Baptist Church. (Ten years ago I visited the
Westerstede Church and met Gisela Heise -- she and the pastor located Halsbek
Baptist Church records for my great grandparents who were members of the Felde
congregation. I have more backigound on this -- please contact me off line.
As an aside, the Felde Baptist Church is the oldest standing Baptist Chapel
in Europe. And, in 1867 a branch of this denomination was founded in
Burlington, Iowa. (verified by History of DesMoines County)
.
In a message dated 1/16/2012 1:50:55 P.M. Central Standard Time,
rwgerdes@yahoo.com writes
I'm looking for information about my g-g-grandmother, born Helene Eilers
in Fikensolterfeld near Westerstede 14 August, 1824. She married Gerd Gerdes
in August 1844, also in Fikensolterfeld. She died in May 1855 somewhere
near Westerstede. She and her husband were members of the baptist church in
Felde.
I'm particularly interested in discovering who her parents were. Any help
would be greatly appreciated.
Ron