Hello,
I am seeking the date of marriage of Rev. Kristupus Sturys/Sturies, pastor
of the Luthern Church in Kaunas/Kaukehmen, Lithuania (then Prussia, I think)
ca. 1856-1857. Their son, Hans Bernhard Sturies (my grandfather) was b. 28
December 1858 in Saugen. I am also seeking the names of the parents of the
wife of Kristupus, Johanna Mechback/Mechback. Kristupus was the son of David
Sturys and Vete Smalanise.
Barbara Hanley
Hello Barbara,
I can't give you the dates of the marriage of Christoph Sturies, but I can
give you the dates of his employments as vicar in East-Prussia. He was born
in 1821 and consecrated for priests service in 1850. In the same year he
became provisional vicar (parson) of the parish of SAUGEN, where he stayed
until 1864; in 1864 he became vicar (parson) of the parish of MALLWISCHKEN
and in 1873 he became vicar(parson) of the parish of KAUKEHMEN.
In 1891 he either died or retired. Parsons in these times very often served
until death in their parishes, often supported by an young vicar, then
called "Adjunkt".
I don't know if and when he was in Kaunas (Kowno). I don't think he was.
May be you mistook some information because in your mail you set Kaunas and
Kaukehmen as equal, which is not the case. Kaunas, Lituania, then imperial
Russia was called KAUEN by the Germans and KOWNO by the Russians. KAUKEHMEN
was a village and parish in North of East-Prussia, often called "Prussian
Littuania" in the district " Litthauische Niederung". Later called
"Elchniederung". And Christoph Sturies war parson in Kaukehmen.
So you perhaps might find the marriage of Christoph Sturies either in the
records of SAUGEN or in those of the residence of the bride.
(The source für the appointments is: Friedwald Moeller, Altpreussisches
Evangelisches Pfarrerbuch von der Reformation bis zur Vertreibung 1945,
Hamburg 1968.)
Best regards
Hans-Christoph Surkau