Germany - Ostfriesland - RIECKEN

[sylcec]

I've just received copy of naturalisation docs from TNA for a German baker, named Johannn Heinrich RIECKEN. He would have arrived in London probably late 1870s. Naturalisation docs (from 1911) give his date of birth as 20 May 1848 in "Werdom amt Esen, Ostfriesland" (at least I think that's what it says). Have worked out general location in NW Germany, even place called Esens - but Werdom is complete mystery. Any ideas, or where I might find church or civil regn records?
Thanks - in hope but not expectation!

[sugarbakers]

I think it's Werdum, near Esens ... very close to the coast.

[sugarbakers]

Yes, Werdum is about 7km east of Esens, and about 5km from coast.

[sugarbakers]

It would appear that it's a health resort. Take a look at  http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werdum  (it will translate to English if you need it to).

It has a Lutheran church, which is probably your best source of family info. Send a letter, preferably in German, stating the family you are looking for and offering to pay for the research ... but be patient, these enquiries often take time.

The Anglo-German FHS  http://www.agfhs.org.uk  , and its publications, may be of considerable help to you if you are not familiar with research in Germany.

Good luck with your research. You are one of the lucky ones as you have a birthplace for your ancestor. Many of us don't, and without a birthplace research is nigh on impossible in Germany.

[sylcec]

Thank you both very much.  Even though John Riecken applied for and was granted citizenship in 1911 because "he wanted to be able to vote" - in fact he had already appeared on the electoral roll for many years.  I suspect that someone had discovered he was a non-citizen and taken his name off the roll, hence his application after over 30 years residency.  Others may have behaved similarly.

[Peonie]

Hi  sylcec

you can find Johann Heinrich Rieken in the "Ortsfamilienbuch Stedesdorf, Burhafe, Dunum", also his parents and siblings.

http://ortsfamilienbuecher.de/famreport.php?ofb=stedesdorf&ID=I90423&nachname=RIEKEN&modus=&lang=de

You can follow the family back to 1600;
 
Have fun, regards Peonie

[sylcec]

Thank you Peonie.  Very interesting - on his naturalisation papers Johann b. 1848 names his mother as Eva.  Anyway, I have found that the LDS have microfilmed the church registers for Werdum from 1828-1874, so have ordered these and will check the details for myself. 

Will report back once these have been received - probably 3 weeks or so.
Sylvia