Tracing German Ancestors

[JustinL]

Hello Irene,

How did the research company deduce that Paul's original surname was Winkler?

Do you have a copy of the marriage certificate from 1853? It would help to know that name of Paul's father, and the denomination of the church.

Justin

[KGarrad]

The census referred to was 1881:
Reference RG11, Piece 453, Folio 16, Page 27
3 Grove Street, St George in the East, Tower Hamlets

Wheeler, Paul  Head  M  54  Railway Porter  b Germany (Mannheim has been added, but I wouldn't say it was scribbled?)
Wheeler, Emily  Wife  F  53  b Dartford, Kent
Wheeler, Charles  Son  M  25  Collar Cutter  b St George in the East
Wheeler, George  Son  M  18  Shopman  b St George/East
Wheeler, Rose  Daughter  F  15  b St George/East


The "Mannheim" would have been added probably by the enumerator.


The marriage entry (June qtr 1853, Bethnal Green, Vol 1c, page 528), shows both Paul Wheeler and Powell Wheeler, together with Emily Smith, on the same page.

[KGarrad]

FindMyPast is showing, for the 1851 census, a Paul Werngler, born 1828 in Germany?

Unfortunately I no longer have a sub to FindMyPast, and I can't locate the entry on Ancestry?

[SwissGill]

FindMyPast is showing, for the 1851 census, a Paul Werngler, born 1828 in Germany?

Unfortunately I no longer have a sub to FindMyPast, and I can't locate the entry on Ancestry?

Ancestry 1851 C:
George Reed (head) 43, wool sorter born Herts.
Mary Reed 50 wife born Bedfordshire
Mary A Reed 23 daughter born Herts.
Alfred M White 16 nephew born Bedfordshire
Moss We(i)ngler 24 son, clock maker born Germany
Paul We(i)ngler 23 son, clock maker born Germany

all living at 5 Abbey Road, Bermondsey

Transcript on A'cy showed them all in one household, FindMyPast not.

[JustinL]

Gill just beat me to it.

The entry on ancestry also indicates a possible correction to Wangler. Looking at the original, I think it reads Werngler.

More importantly, I cannot imagine that a clock maker - a skilled tradesman - would abandon the trade to make cigars.

[isy]

Evening all,

First, sorry for the delay in replying - I did, I thought reply, but it would seem that I must have pressed the wrong button - well thats my excuse and I am sticking to it.

I have the marriage certificate for Paul and Emily and under the heading 'name and surname' it says 'Powell Wheeler' but he has signed at the bottom of the certificate 'Paul Winkler'.   His father was Powell Wheeler, whose profession was stated as Independent.   I have assumed from this information and that of the census is where the genealogy company came to their conclusion.

I also agree, that it would seem very unlikely that he would have changed his occupation from clockmaker to cigar maker.

Once again thank you all for your help.

Irene