The main reasons for the migration during the 1840's were the famine and
economic depression which struck across Europe. We always hear of the Irish
potato famine, but little of the fact that the rest of Europe was also
suffering from famine and unemployment. In the 1840's the local textile industry
was unable to compete with English imports. Industrial and agricultural
depression forced unemployed artisans, tenant farmers, and agricultural laborers to
emigrate.
From 1844-47 food increased 50% in price. In addition Europe suffered an
extremely bad economic period in the 1840's. The Industrial Revolution was
getting under way. All of which led to widespread civil disturbance and, in
1848-49, revolution broke out in many parts of Europe.
As Fred says avoiding conscription was not the major reason for leaving
Oldenburg. My Great-grandfather left Oldenburg and arrived in Baltimore on the
Ship Bessel on August 6, 1846. His draft notice was published a year later.
Oldenburgische Unzeigen Sonnabend No 85 Den 17. Juli 1847.
(Oldenburg Announcement Saturday Number 85 for July 17, 1847)
A translation of the article:
Official Notice is Hereby Given
Official Proclamation
Military Board
The recalcitrant servicemen who are liable for military service are required
to show up at the draft board. They are listed here: There are 71 names
listed. Anton was number 28.
"28. Repking, Anton geb. den 12, Novbr. 1825 zu Oythe, Loof. No 59"
[28. Repking, Anton born on the 12th of November, 1825 in Oythe.]
According to a drafting law passed on July 19, 1837, they must appear before
1 April 1848 in front of the draft board or be punished.
Oldenburg, 1847, July 1
Grandduke of Oldenburg Military Board Jansen Behrmann
Signed - The Greater Dukedom of Oldenburg
He did not leave to avoid the draft, but to secure a better life than that
of a Heurleuter inOldenburg.
Ron Repking
In a message dated 1/28/08 9:41:51 A.M. Central Standard Time,
fredrump@gmail.com writes:
Carel,
for the most part I think the constant references to escaping the
draft to be apocryphal especially when there was no draft to run from.
In other areas and other times and especially in Prussia this holds
more truth as being drafted could have meant 20 years or so in the
army. Now THAT is something to run from. Oldenburg had a very small
army, a regiment or so, and most members were volunteers. All this
changed in more modern times when the Oldenburg military was basically
integrated under Prussian command.
Over the years of reading about all these draft evaders one has to
become a bit sceptical about the real reasons for emigration as you
infer. Perhaps the young men worried about the future 'possibility' of
having to serve in the army and took the high road before that ever
might happen regardless of the small chances of it actually happening.
Such worries later turned into a full fledged reason for why did you
leave the old country.
Fred
Kay Derner-Brown wrote that her ancestor came to America in order not to
be drafted in the army. JNM, NN and Marilyn wrote something similar. A very
old aunt of mine told me that there was a story in the family that the first
Paradies to come to Holland did so in 1853 as a deserter.
Are there more families with similar stories?
Could these stories have been introduced to hide the shame of leaving your
country because of poverty or is there some truth in them?
Would there be sources in Oldenburg concerning deserters?
Carel Paradies
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