german immigration 1850s-1860s

[roly]

In an effort to trace an ancestor, I found a birth-date for him in Germany c. 1845 and I know that he married in London in 1869 as a 'British subject'.  Where he came from, I have, as yet, no idea - but suspect northern Germany.

His Anglicised name was Rekert - Christian name William, father's name Henry (I don't believe that Henry journeyed to England) - and there are Rekerts who arrived in England at various times; but German records I've seen (and as might be expected) also give variants of the name such as Riekert and Reichardt.

One Rekert arrived in Dover at an unspecified time.  How do I access this?  Otherwise, details do not match up - I've not found a William whose father was Henry (nor yet a Wilhelm whose father was Heinrich).

Can anyone help?

PS Attention Mick Colinese...This might help you too.

roly brown

[Trippy]

Hi roly

this is a quick reply sorry! but I researched a german ancestor and his english wife.  Back when they were married c 1870's(off the top of my head), the wife took german nationality when they were married. 

When he died in 1918 during WW1, she obviously wanted to get back her english nationality, and therefore had to apply for "naturalisation", I found this document at the TNA, and it listed where her husband was born in Germany.

If you ancestor was listed as a british subject, he must have gone through a process to become british, have you looked at these records? (i suppose naturalisation or citzenship records?. maybe at the TNA?)

Kind Regards
Trippy

[roly]

Tippy,

I'd assumed that my man would've had to have gone through certain processes.  Unfortuntaely for my research, I live in France and have no direct access to any British records.  Working through proxy (and in any case) is a costly and erratic business.

However, I did wonder if someone could name a few agencies/sources - such as the Nat. Archives (plenty of possibilities there but sometimes a little confusing) - and how herlpful they are; and - perhaps - indicate how long a time someone applying for citizenship would've taken.

Given my man's age (24) at marriage in England as a 'British subject' he might have had four-six years for his emigratyion and naturalisation.  I can hardly see a younger person being able to accomplish this unless, in some way, he was sponsored.

All speculative, I grant you.  Thanks for your attention.

roly

[Trippy]

Hi Roly,

I am at work at lunch, and had a quick look on the TNA website.  You can search to see if naturalisation papers exist on line.  If they do, then you need to employ a researcher to find the paper, and photocopy/scan it for you.  But there were no matches under Rekert, Reikert.  These were the matches under Reichardt........but none of them seem to be your man??


HO 45/9414/56880   Nationality and Naturalisation: Reichardt, Christian, from Oldenburg. Certificate A1960 issued 31 July 1876.    1876   56880

HO 144/103/A20712   Nationality and Naturalisation: Reichardt, Henry Christian, from Germany. Resident in London. Certificate A3797 issued 6 November 1882.    1882   A20712

HO 144/103/A20712B   Nationality and Naturalisation: Reichardt, Frederick Henry, from no foreign state. Resident in London. Certificate A5882 issued 20 August 1888.    1888   A20712B

HO 144/390/B20746   Nationality and Naturalisation: Reichardt, Joseph Paul, from Austria. Resident in Kingston-upon-Hull. Certificate A8903 issued 9 April 1896.    1896   B20746

HO 144/390/B20748   Nationality and Naturalisation: Reichardt, Alexander, from Austria. Resident in Kingston-upon-Hull. Certificate A8924 issued 16 April 1896.    1896   B20748

HO 144/901/175127   Nationality and Naturalisation: Reichardt, Christian Philipp, from Germany. Resident in Highgate. Certificate 17966 issued 12 April 1909    1909   175127

HO 144/17784   Nationality and Naturalisation: Reichardt, Bruno Alexander Ferdinand (known as Boris Ranevsky), from Russia. Resident in London. Certificate AZ3247 issued 25 July 1933.    1933   524463

HO 1/20/241   Naturalisation Papers: Reichardt, John Christian, from Prussia. Certificate 241 issued 20 October 1845.    1845   
 
HO 1/90/2922   Naturalisation Papers: Reichardt, Alexander, from Austria. Certificate 2922 issued 16 May 1859.    1859   

I will try to post again later, maybe with more information.

Kind Regards
Trippy 

[roly]

Extremely kind of you, Trippy.

You're right (domage).  Nothing seems to match.  I'm still plugging away at various other sources...

What, though, is TNA?

roly

[Trippy]

Hello

Oh sorry!! the TNA is the short name for The National Archive.  The UK National Archive is in London, and they have a huge amount of records, which can help the family historian.  Some are available on-line, others you need to visit the Archive to view.  The website is www.nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Another good website for UK records is www.ancestry.co.uk, on here you can access incoming passenger records to the UK.  I never found my ancestor this way, as it was very difficult to read some of the records.

I don't have access to Ancestry at the moment, my subscription has run out, so I can't look for you.  But there are some free records, I can still see.  I presume you know that your ancestor is listed as living in 200 Southampton Street, London, with a wife (Frances) and 4 children (Helena, Henry, Stanley, and Roland) in 1881?  His occuption is saddler and harness maker.

Hope this is some use

[roly]

Yeah.  Well aware of all that.  I simply couldn't afford to keep up my subs. to Ancestry - but am looking at a pay-as-you-go option.

Have got the refs. to William and his family.  Now also have a friend in north Germany working as best he can for me.

Will plug away, naturally.

Thanks for your time.

roly