Carol wrote:
Both - but I believe I've found just about everything stateside, and that's why I wrote to the Hannover list.
Though I know what you mean in general, remember it's never the case. There is always something more that can be found.
A reminder also: will and probate records are not always linked by local jurisdiction filing protocols. Hard to believe but true. So generally you ought to think of those two record types as separate when it comes to locating them. Often a will may be referenced or cited in the probate record, but you may find no copy of it is included in the probate docket/dossier itself. It is also not unusual to see wills duly recorded at the local level, but never proceed into probate (for various reasons). And on and on the irregularities go, especially the further back you go.
However, where the 1860 U.S. census did not show "relationships", it's probably safe to assume that the additional 3 year old boy born in New Jersey and listed in the household, was their son.
Generally speaking that would be a safe assumption until something comes along to disprove it. The percentages are greatly in your favor in any case.
[Which brings me to a whole other research project - neither the son nor the father are shown in the 1870 census, but the father is back in the 1880 census. I haven't found any death information on the son, nor does he seem to be in the cemetery with the rest of the family. And since the father is back in the 1880 census, I'm wondering if perhaps he made a trip back to Germany - perhaps to bury the son there, or just to see that he was included in the family church records.... or maybe Adam just went back to bring other children to America....?]
Is this all at the same residence, or on the same property? Another reason land deeds and transfers can be revealing in filling in certain informational gaps. The son could very likely have died, and death/burial/cemetery information back at that time would be hit and miss at best. Not sure if this is a city dwelling or farm locale, but if the latter, the child might have been buried on the property itself.
Do you = know = Adam went back to Germany at some point? During the 19th century, a return trip to Germany would be most unusual. Not unheard of, just unlikely due to the expense and distance. To take a child back to bury on German soil would be a very very unlikely scenario. I would also think it rather unusual for children to be left behind in Germany when a perspective couple came over together with at least one child in tow (again not impossible, just nothing to hold your breath on). As for the father missing in one particular census, it could be he was out of town visiting someone, or staying with family or friends, or else working out of the area (possibly with his 13 year old son). The census taker may have felt he/they would be picked up elsewhere in the enumeration process and requested just the present and accountable inhabitants of the dwelling. There has always been some inconsistencies in this regard when it comes to the US censuses. It's one reason that you occasionally find the same person listed in two places at once (assuming they didn't relocate between the time the respective census takers came knocking). And as you quickly learn, some census takers took their job a lot more seriously than others. A few were downright shoddy in their work.
Now by 1880, the same "missing" [?] son would be 23, and may have been on his own if he didn't die earlier. Always check high and low!
As for Adam having siblings.... I'm sure you're correct - the church records should have the answer. I'm just sorry that the other researcher only made note of Anna's christening.
Right, but let's not forget she may have been an only child also. There could have been a whole slew of reasons why this would be the case, even if larger families were 'par for the course' back then.
The reason we suspect/assume other siblings is because we need a "connection". At this point, there are three distinct Rahenkamp branches who have immigrated to America, and we are all lacking "the common denominator".
Understand. Hopefully the local church records will bear this out. Only don't lose sight of the fact that the name connection could predate this particular generation (if there's one to be had at all). If the three branches you speak of all come from the same general vicinity in Germany, you have a much greater likelihood to 'make' this connection you're seeking, as I'm sure you're aware.
THANK YOU for your response to my query. It definitely helped to clear my thinking and provide additional avenues for further research!
Keep trucking! 
Jb