Hello,
My name is Richard L.Schindall I live in Bettendorf Iowa. I'm searching for information on a family named Janssen that emigrated from Bremen on March 19th, 1904 on the liner S. S. Chemnitz with a destination of Burlington Iowa. The listed their place of residence and birth only as Oldenberg Germany. The family consisted of Johan Dederich Janssen age 59 born in 1845, his wife Anna (Gerdes) Janssen age 58 born 1846, daughter Anna Marie age 28 born 1886, son Johan Diderich Jr. age 26 born 02 Apr 1878, and son Heinrich Gerhard Janssen age 23 born 07 May 1881. Supposedly there were 4 living children but could only find names of three. If at all possible I'd like to learn the village and area of Oldenburg these families originated. Any help you might render would be very gratefully appreciated. If it requires joining your group or any other fee involved please advise.
Kindest Regards,
Richard L.Schindall
Hi, Richard.
Wow! With only a couple of common patronyms to go on, you have your work
cut out for you. 
I took a quick glance at the Varel, Jade, and Wiefelstede CDs and didn't
find them. Do you have exact birth dates? I'll take a closer look later.
Perhaps you've already done these, but I'll suggest them anyway:
1. Take a careful look at the church records. With a stroke of luck,
perhaps you'll find them there.
2. Check at the county historical society where they died. Are there any
obits that give the birthplace? Even if you already have an obituary,
there might be another one with different information.
3. They immigrated relatively recently. Check with all your uncles,
aunts and cousins to see if they know of any information, or know of
someone who might have it. Does anybody have any old letters? any old
church records like baptism certificates? Also, the fact that you're
contacting your relatives will let them know you're interested, should
they find something later.
4. I think the suggestion was made earlier to get information on their
neighbors (and, I would add, their fellow church members). Maybe the
church records or obituaries of their friends and neighbors will give you
a clue.
5. Keep checking on the internet. The information out there keeps changing.
6. Pray for luck. I know my g-grandmother's place of birth because
somebody missed a scrap of paper in the back of a closet when they cleaned
out her house. It was her 1867 confirmation certificate. The new owner
of the house found it and gave it to one of my cousins.
Marilyn in Wisconsin
Hi Marilyn in Wisconson,
Many thanks for your reply and suggestions. I just finished researching my Swedish side and was very successful. I actually had less info to go on.
Only names year of birth, date of death, year of emigration from Sweden. I was able to find from the Swedish Emigration records in Goteborg their names which was Kindahl (not Schindall/ Americanized over the years) village & parish the left from, Name of ship they traveled on ,destination point (Burlington,Iowa). I do have the actual birth dates of two of the sons: Johan Diderich Janssen born 02 Apr 1878 in Oldenburg and Henry Gerhard Janssen born 07 May 1881 in Oldenburg as well. They left Bremen on March 19th, 1904 on the North German Lloyd liner S. S. Chemnitz and arrived Baltimore Port on
April 8th 1904. I can't imagine Bremen doesn't have the same type of records that The Swedes do. Evidently all persons leaving Sweden on any vessel must have cleared checks at the police station before they were given permission to board. Supposedly the Swedes copied the recordkeeping practices from the Germans. I've checked relatives and all obits, church records, census' and marriage certificates and naturalization papers. They all just say Oldenburg or Germany. I realize there are many villages and church parishes in Oldenburg and that possibly several Johan Diederich and Henry Gerhard Janssens born on the same days but I still believe the key is in the Bremen Port of embarkation on that particular day and ship. Both World Wars 1 & 2 may have destroyed a lot of the records in Germany where as Sweden was neutral and thus remain. Again thanks for your help, and if you come up with anything from your CDs on the actual birth dates on the two boys mentioned above please advise.
Kindest Regards,
Richard L. Schindall
Hi Richard!
There is a relativly new online website for emigrations via Bremen/Bremerhaven. It is also available in English. I have tried to find your Janssens, but I have had no success. Perhaps you look for yourself:
http://www.ged-search.com/hmb/index_engl.asp?id=154
Greetings from Germany,
Andrea Korbanka