Fredolin and Elizabetha Schmeider aboard the Fanny Kirchner from Germany in 1858

[Leisa]

Good morning Debra and thank you for your reply.

I realise that I have made an error with regards to Carl Frederick Schmeider's year and date of birth.

Carl was born in Feb 1858.  He was unsure of the date as he had no birth certificate.  The newspaper article is in fact incorrect with the year and day of his birth. However, his story has been passed down through generations with third and second cousins also knowing about his birth of the ship.

If you look at the inscription on his headstone, it says he passed away 30 July 1942 at the age of 83 years and five months.  By my calculations, this makes Carl born in Feb 1858. 

I do hope that you accept my apologies for the incorrect year of birth and date.  With his brother being born in 1859 which a birth certificate in the Qld BDM,  you are right that he was not born in that same year, which helps my case for him being born on the Fanny Kirchner.

With the most kindest regards Debra,
Leisa

[Dundee]

This family were Catholic so would have not waited too long to have a child baptised.  Have you looked at church records in Sydney?  Even if he was baptised onboard then he may have been received into the church after disembarkation.

https://www.sydneycatholic.org/directory/listing/sydney-archdiocesan-archives

Sacramental registers have been microfilmed within the constraints of legislation and are available for family history research at Society of Australian Genealogists (120 Kent Street Sydney), State Library of NSW and National Library of Australia (Canberra).

https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/6103587

SAG 0200. Baptisms: 1 January, 1846-6 October, 1848, also lists of persons received into the church, 1856-1858, 1868 (one only), 1848; 1 January, 1854-23 February, 1861, including entries for St. Benedict’s Church, Broadway and Sacred Heart Church, Darlinghurst.

I have previously borrowed microfilm on interlibrary loan from the NLA to Queensland, there is a fee. You can also try 'ask a librarian', as you might find that they are willing to have a quick look at the microfilm for you.

https://www.nla.gov.au/using-library/getting-started/ask-librarian

Debra 

[Leisa]

Dear Debra,

Thank you.

I never thought about that.  I had been on the NSW State Library/Archives/BDM websites, however, I was unsuccessful.

I will contact the library about the church records.  My dad always wondered how they travelled from Sydney to Brisbane to be in the Fassifern area.  I used Trove to look up names on paddleships during the year they arrived to when they settled near Ipswich.  However, it was with no success.

Again Debra, I am very grateful to you for assisting me with my family research. 

With so much thanks,
Leisa

[Dundee]

If you look at the inscription on his headstone, it says he passed away 30 July 1942 at the age of 83 years and five months.  By my calculations, this makes Carl born in Feb 1858. 

No, it is 1859.

Debra 

[Leisa]

I am very sorry if I have upset you Debra as it was not my intention at all. 

I do not understand your abrupt replies with a green face emoji.

In the past, everyone that has helped me on here has been accepting that sometimes, records are incorrect and have assisted me in the right direction, similar to what you did today with the Sydney parish registers.

I trust and hope that we can move forward as I believe you have knowledge that surpasses my 12 years of self-taught research.

With only the greatest admiration,
Leisa

[sparrett]

Hi, Leisa!


There is a difficulty, however, with this child being your ancestor. A male child by the name of JANSON was born during the voyage of the "Fanny Kirchner'. (His mother died soon after arrival and her death was the subject of an Inquest.) If it is accurate that only 1 birth took place, it can't, therefore, be that of your Carl Frederick SCHMEIDER.

Additionally, the "Fanny Kirchner", as per the Health Officer's Report, was not placed in quarantine and there was not small pox aboard. (The "Armin", which arrived in late 1858, did have small-pox, but this doesn't fit with your ancestor's stated date of birth, the 16th Feb 1858. This is also problematic as the vessel was still at sea then - not in port.)

I know how frustrating this must be for you and hope you do find something that will give you the answers you're looking for. And, of course, if you do, I'm sure there are many of us who would be interested to hear of it!

Rgs
Lisa

Hi Leisa,
It is always challenging when family stories believed by generations of descendants do not tally with available factual information.
Perhaps you already have these links, but I am adding them for your interest and to build onexisting contributions above.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13006828
Arrival of Fanny Kirchner in Sydney 27 Feb 1858.

 The  ship “Armani” NOVEMBER 1858 was quarantined with a case of smallpox.
This agent for this vessel was KIRCHNER and co.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/161172686

The sad Janson inquest details. The one birth on board. It tells how a large number of immigrants were sent to very poor lodgings which were filthy and horrible.  Smallpox is not mentioned.
 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28634697

Good luck in your quest.

Sue

 

[Leisa]

Thank you Sue,

I appreciate your kindness and understanding.

I have also been searching for ships arriving in Australia during this period through the Trove newspapers that were quarantined for small pox.

I read an article that quoted that often the shipping records were kept from the last port that was departed from.  In other words, if my family left from Bremen or Hamburg and stopped at the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, the records would reflect their departure there. 

Sadly, not many shipping records during this time that arrived in Sydney, then departed to Melbourne, the number of immigrants are listed, but not all of their names.

Yes, it is very sad when family history and stories passed down does not correlate with the records and newspaper articles available to us and you feel defeated trying to justify the why and when.

If anyone would like to assist me in my search for answers, I would appreciate your input or access to what is not available online. 

With my deepest respect and apologies,
Leisa.   x

[Leisa]

Ha Ha.

To think I was upset with the green emojis only to find that I replied with a similar emoji years ago. 

Obviously, green emojis are used on Roots Chat.

Please accept my deepest apologies.  I feel like a fool all in the love of my family. 

Leisa x

[Leisa]

Subject: A daughter’s 15-year search: Finding the Armin for my Dad in Heaven

Hi everyone,

I am writing this with a very humble heart and tears in my eyes. I have been a part of this community for a long time, and so many of you have been so kind to me. I want to sincerely apologize for my recent posts about the Fanny Kirchner. I was holding onto that name because I so desperately wanted to find the answer for my family, but I am setting that aside now. I am starting fresh, led by my heart, my research, and a promise I made to my father.

My dear Dad passed away four years ago. Before he left us, I spent years making sure our ancestors were recognized as original settlers with Picture Ipswich, fulfilling a deep wish of his. I will never regret a single second of that time, because seeing the look of pride on my Dad’s face when I told him they were finally honored is a memory I will carry forever. Now, I pray to him every day, and to my grandparents and great-grandparents, asking them to give me a sign—to lead me to the truth.

The Story I Need to Find:
My great-grandfather, Carl Frederick Schmeider, was born at the very beginning of our Australian story. Our family history tells us he was born in Botany Bay/Port Jackson while the family’s ship was held in a desperate quarantine due to a smallpox outbreak.
I am now focusing everything on the ship Armin (or Arnim). I have discovered a major clue: while some shipping lists only note two passengers, the official 1859 Health Officer’s Report for Port Jackson proves there were actually 292 passengers on board. Because of the smallpox, they were held at the Quarantine Station and weren't officially cleared to land until February 1859. This matches my great-grandfather Carl’s birth and every word my father ever told me.

The Brick Wall and My Plea:
I have reached out to the Museums of History NSW, but they could not find my family in their digital lists. Because Fredolin arrived under a special German labor scheme, their names were left off the standard records, and the original German manifests were destroyed in the WWII bombings. It feels like they were almost erased from history, but I know they were there.
I know they eventually found peace at Portions 11 and 14, Parish of Goolman, near Peak Mountain. Fredolin built our legacy at Hillside and Schmeider’s Lagoon, but the ship that carried them to those shores is the final piece I need to find for my Dad.

Is there anyone out there who knows something—anything—that can help me? Is there a diary, a local record from February 1859, or a quarantine list that names those 290 missing souls? I have tried for 15 years. I just want to look up at my Dad in heaven and tell him I finally found it. I want to tell the truth of the Schmeider name.

Please, if you have any information on the Armin, or the other 1859 ships like the Main or the Wandram, reach out to me. I am doing this for the love of my Dad and the history of my family.

Thank you for your kindness and for helping me find the start of our story.