I am sorry, I cannot read German? I hope someone can understand?
I am looking for information about the Eduart (b. 1827) & Dorothea (b. 1827) Witt from Darkehmen, East Prussia. We have heard that before they came to the USA, they lost
15 children in a flood, when a dam broke near their home? It would be between 1860-1873.
They came to America in June, 1873. These are my great grandparents. When they came to America they had 3 children, John & Elisabeth Witt and an older brother, August Witt b. 03, Nov. 1853 in Darkehmen, East Prussia.
Would there be any newspapers that might have this information about the 15 children who drowned?
until about the 1920's (when effective engineering measures were taken) certain parts of northern East Prussia were regularly flooded during the so-called 5th season, known as the "Schacktarp" (pronounced ShuckTAHRP). The "Schacktarp" covered large areas and occurred towards the end of the winter time. Because of the masses of water that rushed by (up to 6,000 cubic yards per second), people had to move to the second floor of their homes, and often take their livestock with them until the flood was over. Of course, there were victims each and every year. If there was still a thin layer of ice on the water, people could not even leave their homes by boat, which would otherwise have been possible. There are similar occurences along the Mississippi-Missouri system in the USA still today, even though not regularly.
Thank you for the information. It must have been awful when so many people lost their lives in the floods every year. Maybe some of these records were lost in the floods, also?
I now have an obituary for Dorothea Ludwig Witt b. 01 Feb. 1826 Darkehmen Prussia She married Eduart/Eduard Witt in 1846 in Prussia. They came to America in 1873
with 2 sons (August E. Witt b. 03 Nov. 1853 and John/Johann Witt b. about 1866) and 1 daughter, Elisabeth (Lizzie) Witt. b. about 1870 or 1871. I would be grateful for any information.
They lost 15 children in a flood before they came to the USA.
I now have an obituary for Dorothea Ludwig Witt b. 01 Feb. 1826 Darkehmen Prussia She married Eduart/Eduard Witt in 1846 in Prussia. They came to America in 1873
with 2 sons (August E. Witt b. 03 Nov. 1853 and John/Johann Witt b. about 1866) and 1 daughter, Elisabeth (Lizzie) Witt. b. about 1870 or 1871. I would be grateful for any information.
They lost 15 children in a flood before they came to the USA.
Rita Ingli Hojem
Spring Valley, Wisconsin USA
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Peter Perrey" <pcperrey@t-online.de>
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2014 11:44 AM
To: <ow-preussen-l@genealogy.net>
Subject: Re: [OWP] Witt family
Rita,
until about the 1920's (when effective engineering measures were taken) certain parts of northern East Prussia were regularly flooded during the so-called 5th season, known as the "Schacktarp" (pronounced ShuckTAHRP). The "Schacktarp" covered large areas and occurred towards the end of the winter time. Because of the masses of water that rushed by (up to 6,000 cubic yards per second), people had to move to the second floor of their homes, and often take their livestock with them until the flood was over. Of course, there were victims each and every year. If there was still a thin layer of ice on the water, people could not even leave their homes by boat, which would otherwise have been possible. There are similar occurences along the Mississippi-Missouri system in the USA still today, even though not regularly.
Rolf-Peter
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