Hello, my German is not so good so I ask my question in English.
I would like to know where the Standesamt for Kreis Randow was located.
Kreis Randow no longer exists, but when my ancestors lived in Germany, they would have been registered in this Kreis.
I have been in touch with the church in Hohenselchow, where my ancestors were baptized and married, but the church records are sketchy to say the least. So I wondered, if I knew where to write for the records of Hohenselchow, Kreis Randow and for Gr. Pinnow, Kreis Randow (5km south of Hohenselchow) and for Casekow, Kreis Randow (5 km west of Hohenselchow), perhaps I could get more information about my ancestors.
Or, if anyone can tell me where I could write to obtain registrations of birth, death and marriage for the former Kreis Randow, I would be very much appreciative.
Thank you in advance,
Beverly Markham
Prescott, Arizona, USA
Life on Earth is expensive but at least it provides
a free trip around the sun...........
So, wear a hat and enjoy the ride.
Liebe Mitforscher,
weiss jemand inwieweit das Standesamt I in Berlin noch Unterlagen hat �ber
-Gerdauen
-Rastenburg
-Gilge
-Uderwangen/Prs. Eylau
Vielen Dank und herzliche Gr��e
Katja
re:
I would like to know where the Standesamt for Kreis Randow was located.
Kreis Randow no longer exists, but when my ancestors lived in Germany,
they
Adalbert Goertz responds >>>>>>>>>>>>
Since Kreis Randow is not in East or West Prussia, you may want to
post this question to the Pommern-Pomerania lists.
To searcher for Kreis Randow.
Kreis Randow is located in the NE corner of Germany in the State of Vor
Pommern. It is bordered by the North Sea, The Oder River on the East and
the AutoBahn which runs W from Stettin (which is in Poland across the Oder
River boundary). It is an
easy drive NNE from Berlin. Church books have been preserved during the
Russian occupation by volunteers in the villages and
missionaries from the old West Germany are reopening churches with local
help. It is necessary to visit local mayors and talk to
local residents to find volunteers who hold keys to rectories in which
church books going back hundreds of years are stored in such
sophisticated places as kitchen cabinets. In some, the keys are held by
clergy in neighboring villages who visit periodically so it is
not easy to get to the books. The Lutheran authorities in Berlin are in the
process of copying these old books before they are lost
but it is a slow process. Locals are friendly and helpful. It is useful to
have passports with your name matching the family which
you are tracing or any documentation which establishes you as a true
descendant of long departed emigres. Hotels are excellent
and a cut above the Gasthouse accomodations common throughout Germany. If
you drive daily from Berlin you have a full gamut
of fine hotels there. In one village I visited, the locals had established
a simple village museum in which they had gathered a lot of
historical data of the village and Kreis including a lot of genealogical
pertinence. The original center of govenment where emigres
went to obtain emigration permits was Stettin. I have not been there but
understand that many records did not survive the WII.
Because the area was an agricultural region important to the supply of food
to East Zone residents, the Russians apparently did
lilttle to harm the area during their occupation except the very unpopular
confiscation of all private farms which were organized
into collectives. Much to the dismay of the locals, the present central
government of reunited Germany had not yet returned
control of family farms to the pre-Soviet owners, allegedly to avoid
disrupting the food supply (as of 2000). Because graves are
reserved only fifty years, many old markers are gone though some may be
found stacked against cemetery fences. Cemeteries are
well kept and open to all with no permit required. We were invited into
homes of locals having our family name for meals and
long conversations on family history and examination of one anothers
documents. The area is economically in good shape and
might be described as solid middle class agricultural. Most families have
cars, TV and Satellite antennas. Regular market days
are held and traditional festivals are celebrated.
Hope these recollections of my own research trip are helpful.
Bill Higgins
Families for which I am searching: Behm and Kunze who emigrated ca 1850,
settling in Waldenburg, Michigan.