Speckman Research Update and Follow Up Questions

hannover-l
1

Hallo Hanover Listees,

This is a brief update on my Speckmann research and some follow up questions.

Thanks to the excellent help of Armin Hattorf, I (he) was able to make sense from the emigration papers that I received from the Osnabruck Archives. The documents were a request and approval for my GGF Freidrich Ferdinand Speckmann to emigrate to the US despite the fact that he was of military service age. One of the reasons given to support the approval was the fact that FF Speckman had a brother in Amerika, which is news to me. So I now have another linkage to relatives in the US to research.

Recently I was also given information about the birth date of a Freidrich Ferdinand Speckmann (November 1, 1843), which matched the birth date on the emigration documents referred to above. This information was graciously provided by the Osnabruck Genealogy Society (Arbeitskreis Familienforschung Osnabrück), which I have since joined as a member. Through this organization I have found FF Speckmann's parents and several of his grandparents.

Lastly, I was able to remove a lingering doubt in my mind about whether the FF Speckmann I found in Germany in Schinkel in 1860 is the same FF Speckman I found in San Francisco in 1868. I did this by confirming that they both had the same birth dates. I got FF Speckman's of SF birthdate from his obituary. So I can continue to research the Schinkel/Osnabruck Speckmanns with confidence that they are indeed my ancestors.

As always, there are more questions with every new bit of information. From the Osnabruck Genealogy Society (Arbeitskreis Familienforschung Osnabrück), I received the following information:

FF Speckman's father is Gerhard Heinrich Speckmann who was born in Hunterburg on April 10, 1807 and died on April 27, 1873 in Osnabruck. I understand that Hunterburg is 15 km north of Osnabruck.

He was married to a Catharina Maria Calmer on August 17, 1831. Catharina was a widow with a previous married name of Riepe.

Gerhard and Catharina had (in addtion to FF) a son and daughter that lived to be adults - Gerhard Heinrich Speckman, born on 23.05.1837 in Schinkel Buschhaus and Maria Elisabeth Speckman, born on 12.02.1834 in Schinkel. These would be the brother and sister of FF Speckman. From the earlier note, Gerhard Heinrich Speckmann might be FF Speckmann's brother in America.

Catharina had a son by here previous marriage, Everhard Heinrich Riepe, born on 28.10.1829 in Schinkel. I am guessing that he might be another person that could be the "brother" in Amerika, even though he is technically a half brother.

FF Speckmann's grandfather was Herman Friedrich Speckmann and his grandmother was Catharina Maria LUX-MELCHER. I have no information about their births, deaths or where they lived.

Questions -

Does anyone know of anyone else researching the Speckmann family containing any of these individuals?

Does anyone know where I can get access to Church records for Hunterburg to get more information on Gerhard and possible his father's home town? I believe FF Speckmann was a Catholic.

Does anyone have any more information about FF Speckmann's "brothers", Gerhard Speckman or Everhard Riepe? Like did they die in Germany or emigrate to the US?

Does anyone know what the location of "Buschhaus" in Schinkel refers to?

Would a son like Everhard Riepe contiue to carry the name Riepe after his mother remarried or wold he take on his new fathers name of Speckmann?

Does anyone have any information about FF Speckmann's grandparents Herman Friedrich Speckmann and Catharina Maria LUX-MELCHER

Excuse my long email and many questions.

Thanks for all the help,

Have a beautiful day,

Barney Speckman

2

Hi Barney,

     You have made progress! I think the town is called Hunteburg, not
Hunterburg. It is along the road between Bohmte and Damme, northeast of
Osnabrück. Check it out with mapquest.com

     There are Speckmanns in the area today. I did a search in the German
phone book for Speckmann in Hunteburg:
Speckmann Berthold Nutz- u... Brinkstr. 3 49163 Bohmte 05475 2 39
Speckmann Harald Auf dem Schafbrink 2 49163 Bohmte 05475 51 79
Speckmann Ingo Amselweg 18 49163 Bohmte 05475 12 79

     The LDS has some Hunteburg records, but they are duplicates and are
probably incomplete:
   Kirchenbuchduplikat, 1806-1874 Katholische Kirche Hunteburg (Kr.
Wittlage)

Have fun,
Barbara

3

Good Morning Barbara,

Yes, I have made progress, thanks to you and many others who helped me.

Thanks for the leads in Hunteburg.

Have a great day,

Barney Speckman

4

Hi Carol, [I AM RESENDING THIS BECUSE IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT IT WENT THROUGH THE FIRST TIME]

I contacted Mr Michael Ortmann first. He is the President of the Arbeitskreis Familienforschung Osnabrück e.V. (roughly translated to Osnabruck Genealogy Society) This society is volunter run like most such societies in my area in Calfornia. He responded to one of my Hannover list emails with data on the date of birth of my GGF. He speaks very good English (although he would say otherwise). He is at ortmann@osfa.de

They have a website at (the second is in English). So far I have not used the web site much - just learning the ropes.
http://www.osfa.de
http://us.osfa.de

Membership is normally 30 Euros per annum. For US members, they also have a 5 year membership for 100 Euros. The membership chair is:
Rita Kroeger at kroeger.rita@t-online.de . She also speaks English well.

I was told that sending cash (Euros) via the regular mail had proven best in the past - so I tried it and had no troubles. I would wrap it with paper, less of a target. I'll probably get an email from the US Mail Service about this email.

Their mail address is (cost about $1 to send a regular enverlop):
Arbeitskreis Familienforschung Osnabrück e.V.
Iburger Str. 240,
49082 Osnabrück
GERMANY
They also have a person that coordinates research related to US/German ancestors who
I am told he speaks English well. I have just intitatied contact with him.
So far the society has been very helpful. I am just learning how to do research via
remote control.
Hope this helps,
Barney Speckman