GERMANY: Baker - from Nassau, Germany

[Pysie]

I am trying to trace my great-grandfather's roots in Nassau, Germany.

The surname is 'Baker' but I understand this is an anglicised version and I don't know how to find out their original 'German' surname.

There were four brothers who settled in Worthing, Sussex. Their first appearance is in the 1871 census so I assume they arrived in England between 1861 and 1871. Their names are:-

Phillipp Bartholomew Baker b C1847
Johannes (John) Baker (my ggrandfather) b C1851
George Bonifacious Baker b C1853
Christian Baker b C1855

Censuses put their place of birth as Nassau, Germany, although Christian's place of birth is recorded in one census as (possibly) Wilsenroth.

They were all professional musicians.

They were Roman Catholic.

Their father - who probably stayed in Germany - is recorded on Johannes' marriage certificate as Joseph Baker, builder.

All four brothers are recorded in censuses as 'BS' (British subject?).

All except Christian married and died in England. (Christian disappeared from censuses. No death recorded so I assume he returned to Germany.)


Are there any passenger lists which might record the four brothers travelling together? Or how easy is it to obtain naturalization papers, given I don't know which surname to search? Or can I obtain birth details from a church in Wilsenroth?

Since I don't speak German, I'd be grateful for any help anyone can offer.

[Berlin-Bob]

Hi Pysie,

You can see some topics on naturalisation here:
Topic: RootsChat Topics - Naturalisation and Internment
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,157691.0.html

which will give you an idea of how to do it, and what you might find.

A baker in german is BÄCKER, but BEEKER is pronounced Baker in german (near enough), or it could have been BECKER or BACKE or other variations.

Nassau is in Hesse - see:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hessen-Nassau

No passenger list for Continental Europe to UK, so try the naturalisation "route" first - trying all the variations of BAKER.

good luck,
Bob

[CaroleW]

Hi

Looking at the IGI for Germany - their surname may possibly have been Becker or Bekker

If you put in Baker as a surname those are the 2 main options it comes up with.  Nothing for your 4 brothers though

[Pysie]

Thanks for the info, Carole and Bob.

How do I seach for naturalization? Can I do it online these days? I can't get to Kew because I care for Mum full time. Johannes was her grandfather and she is desperate to know about her German background.

Thanks in anticipation,
Cathy

[Berlin-Bob]

Hi Cathy,

yes you can search online:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/search.asp?j=1

have a look in the topic I mentioned for more details.

Bob

[Pysie]

Thanks, Bob, I'll let you know how I get on.

[Berlin-Bob]

Hi Pysie,

yesterday was "english night" in the german forum chatroom, so I threw "Wilsenroth." into the pot to see if anyone could come with some ideas:

"but wikipedia says today it's part of dornburg "
==>  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dornburg_(Hessen)
:
"Königreich Preußen / Provinz Hessen-Nassau / Regierungsbezirk Wiesbaden / Landkreis Limburg -
that's from "gemeindeverzeichnis.de"
=> www.gemeindeverzeichnis.de
:
"there's a kinship book for wilsenroth "
"kinship?? "
"ortssippenbuch "

==> http://wiki-en.genealogy.net/FAQ_Local_Heritage_Book
and
==> http://www.v-weiss.de/ofbmeur-w.html

Wilsenroth/065/1982/1679-1800
O.A.: Ortssippenbuch Wilsenroth 1679-1800. o.A. 1982; ST Hessisches HStA Wiesbaden (361, Frickhofen 1-2)

I think this means that it is kept at the Hessisches Hauptstandesamt (Main Registry Office)

So a query to them, when you have a bit more data, might help.

Some Local Heritage Books (Ortssippenbücher OSB, or Orts Familien Bücher - OFB) are online,
http://www.online-ofb.de/index.html but not Wilsenroth

regards,
Bob

[mazzie74]

Hi,

Probably not the same family, but I'll try throwing this in the mix:-

Naturalisation Papers: Ebbecke, George Louis, from Nassau. Certificate 3772 issued 11 April 1862.


Thanks,

Darin.

[mazzie74]

Or there's these ones:-

Naturalisation papers: Backer, John Peter, from Felsberg, Hesse Cassel. Certificate 5233 issued 31 October 1866.

Nationality and Naturalisation: Becker, Johann Peter [known as Peter Baker], from Germany. Certificate A2564 issued 10 April 1878.

Nationality and Naturalisation: Becker, Johann Peter Ignatius, from Germany. Resident in London. Certificate A6842 issued 16 September 1891.

Nationality and Naturalisation: Becker, Philip, from Germany. Resident in Lambeth. Certificate A4182 issued 14 October 1884.

Nationality and Naturalisation: Bechtel, George Christopher, from Germany. Certificate A1669 issued 10 August 1875.

Nationality and Naturalisation: Bechtel, Christian, from Germany. Resident in London. Certificate A3227 issued 13 April 1880.

Nationality and Naturalisation: Becker, Christian Wilhelm, from Germany. Resident in Newport, Mon. Certificate 20613 issued 30 August 1911.

Nationality and Naturalisation: Becker, George Edward, from Germany. Resident in London. Certificate A3667 issued 4 April 1882.

Nationality and Naturalisation: Bakker, Johannes Georg, from Germany. Resident in Ipswich. Certificate 16551 issued 5 January 1907.

Darin.