Johanna Specht-Germany/Greenock

[JakeMcGhee]

Hello Everyone,

I am looking to find the birthplace of my Great x3 Grandmother Johanna Specht, Johanna was born in Germany (as stated in Scottish Census Records, except 1921 where she is nowhere to be found from my attempts) I have her 1st marriage certificate to William Moyer in Hull in 1881, and her 2nd marriage certificate to my Great x3 Grandfather William Reid, as well as her death certificate in 1925, she was born in Germany around the early to mid-1850s, Her Father is listed as Friedrich Specht on her marriage certificate to William Moyer, while on her death certificate he is listed as John Specht, with her mother being listed as Rosa (maiden name not recorded)
Does anyone know any useful resources to research German ancestors? Johanna and William Moyer had a daughter born around 1873 named Rosalina (Lena) in Germany, and a son named William in The United States.

Kind regards,
Jake

[aghadowey]

Previous topic here-
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=887689.msg7609005#msg7609005

Her Father is listed as Friedrich Specht on her marriage certificate to William Moyer, while on her death certificate he is listed as John Specht

Many Germans had more than one Christian name so both could be correct.

Have you found birthplace for daughter Rosalina in Germany? although if Johanna and 1st husband married in England they might have come from different parts of Germany.

I've been able to trace my German ancestry back quite far but have locations to start with and lots of help from relatives still there.

[JakeMcGhee]

Hello

Thank you very much for the reply, I have not been able to track down the birthplace of Rosalina so far, I managed to find her on the 1921 census, but her birthplace was listed simply as "Germany". I have not encountered German ancestry before, so have no real knowledge on the best places to navigate outside of Ancestry and FindMyPast, although something may have slipped through the cracks somewhere on those sites.

Kind regards,
Jake

[Neale1961]

You say you have 2 marriage certificates for Johanna.
What is the information on BOTH please?
Post Complete and full details, please. Omit nothing.


Where and when was the son William Moyer born in USA?
There is a male child born at sea, onboard “Revello”, on 21 Jan 1884, to William Moyer and Annie Spect. Is this him, or a different son?
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XT8Q-1HY?lang=en

[Neale1961]

In the 1881 census for Hull, there is Anna Specht, age 26, from Stromberg Germany, lodging with the Stephan family from Wurtemberg.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27B-WKBL?lang=en

Christoph Stephan was a pork butcher and victualler.
Have you looked to see the connection between your Annie and Cristoph Stephan, or either of his 2 wives.

[JakeMcGhee]

You say you have 2 marriage certificates for Johanna.
What is the information on BOTH please?
Post Complete and full details, please. Omit nothing.


Where and when was the son William Moyer born in USA?
There is a male child born at sea, onboard “Revello”, on 21 Jan 1884, to William Moyer and Annie Spect. Is this him, or a different son?
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XT8Q-1HY?lang=en

Hello Neale1961,

Thank you very much for the reply, here is the information I have for both marriage records

William Moyer & Johanna Specht.
26th May 1881 German Lutheran Church, District of Hull.
William Moyer aged 35, Johanna Specht aged 27
Bachelor & Spinister
William Moyers' profession listed as "Ships Cook"
residence for both listed as "Myton Gate, Hull"
Williams Father was listed as Philip Moyer & Johannas as Friedrich Specht, both of whom were farmers.
Witnesses seem to be G. Stephan & W. Schroeder

William Reid & Johanna Specht/Moyer (Named solely as Johanna Moyer on this record)
24th July 1885 Church of Scotland, Greenock
William Reid aged 42, Johanna Moyer/Specht aged 31
William Reid listed as Widower, and Johanna Moyer/Specht as Widow.
Can not make out usual residence.
Williams' parents listed as William Reid & Margaret Cochrane, Johannas' parents listed as John Speck and Rosa Speck (Maiden name not given)
Both Williams parents listed as deceased, and Johannas' father listed as deceased, both fathers were listed as labourers.
Witnesses seem to be A. Ross & Elizabeth Lyle.

If anything else is needed please let me know
Kind regards,
Jake

[JakeMcGhee]

In the 1881 census for Hull, there is Anna Specht, age 26, from Stromberg Germany, lodging with the Stephan family from Wurtemberg.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27B-WKBL?lang=en

Christoph Stephan was a pork butcher and victualler.
Have you looked to see the connection between your Annie and Cristoph Stephan, or either of his 2 wives.

Hello Neale

Now that I saw this message I see C. Stephan on the marriage certificate to William Moyer & Johanna Specht! instead of G. Stephan. I would say that is a very positive step in the right direction, there is I am sure something that links them together.

[Neale1961]

The 1881 census gives a place of birth for Johanna. Since she is living in the house of C Stephan who is also witness to her marriage, it would be worth looking into the Stephan family. I ran out of time today, but I did notice that Christoph had 2 marriages.

[Neale1961]

The surname Specht is so very unusual in Scotland, so my curiosity was aroused by the Rosina Magdalin SPECHT born in 1892 Greenock East.
What do you know about this person?