Lesley, It took me a few years to uncover her sad story. So many on Ancestry still think my great grandmother is theirs, when they miss this rich history of her past, and so many ancestors and descendants still living in her village. I've added this story to my Ancestry tree so hopefully they will get to know her and her family. Thank you for your kind words.
Every time I hear about families on a trans-Atlantic journey like this, I am amazed. Such hardship they endured. For Tecla to die, and then probably her baby girl as well, is so tragic. I'm happy you have discovered their story and they can both be remembered.
Cynthia, Yes, I'm amazed too. What a long journey for just the hope of a better life. I remember when I first found out when she died and thought about how she must have felt on that journey. Thanks.
Trying to imagine how I would feel in her situation, I think realizing I was seriously ill after the long journey and having a new baby, the dread and fear would be tenfold.
How tragic that Tecla made that awful journey but died after having her baby! I was entranced by this story- beautifully written and thoughtfully shared.
What a moving story. I liked that we learned the weather for their journey. Many Irish Americans and Canadians have ancestors who left Ireland in the spring/summer of 1847. They would have disembarked at Grosse Île, Québec, in what was the hottest weather anyone ever remembered in Canada, during they called the “Calcutta summer” of 1847, when temps were in the 100s.
Thank you for this beautiful story. You write so well, I can see them.
Can you direct me to sources I can find about arriving in NY from Germany at this time? My ancestors arrived from Bavaria in 1845. 2 of my foremothers were pregnant when they sailed and another gave birth at sea. Come to think of it, every married woman of childbearing age was pregnant during the crossing, since my other female ancestors were single, children themselves, or middle-aged. They must not have thought of pregnancy as we do now. Or you were lucky enough to get a ticket that waiting was not an option. I wonder if Tecla's baby was premature due to the stress of all that traveling.
Love the info from Germany as well! I hope to get such info myself. This is the kind of story I want to be able to write.
Anne, Thanks. There are several places to find passenger lists. I have an Ancestry account and you can search the database for arriving passengers. Here is another place to look: https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger. If you don't have an ancestry account, message me with their names and I'll see if I can find them. The farm information I just came by from a fellow genealogist Dirk I contacted about the Knipper family since his wife is related. Happy hunting!
I have passenger lists and an Ancestry account. I meant how do you know the length of time it took to buy a ticket and actually leave? And the info about the immigrant runners in broken German.
What a sad story, but one so common at the time. Like you, I can’t help but wonder at the timing of the trip. Maybe Tecla didn’t know she was pregnant? Maybe the tickets were in such high demand they needed to be purchased far in advance? Maybe their recent arrival meant no midwife was yet found?
Amazing journey. I also have German families that came over around the same time. Lots of revolution and fighting in the area at the time so not a surprise people left for the hope of stability, but what an awful trip
I was surprised and saddened to read that Tecla and Mariam died. I wasn't expecting that. You are a good storyteller, Lynda.
Lesley, It took me a few years to uncover her sad story. So many on Ancestry still think my great grandmother is theirs, when they miss this rich history of her past, and so many ancestors and descendants still living in her village. I've added this story to my Ancestry tree so hopefully they will get to know her and her family. Thank you for your kind words.
Wonderful tracking and the details! Especially from Germany!
Marci, Thanks.
Every time I hear about families on a trans-Atlantic journey like this, I am amazed. Such hardship they endured. For Tecla to die, and then probably her baby girl as well, is so tragic. I'm happy you have discovered their story and they can both be remembered.
Cynthia, Yes, I'm amazed too. What a long journey for just the hope of a better life. I remember when I first found out when she died and thought about how she must have felt on that journey. Thanks.
Trying to imagine how I would feel in her situation, I think realizing I was seriously ill after the long journey and having a new baby, the dread and fear would be tenfold.
How tragic that Tecla made that awful journey but died after having her baby! I was entranced by this story- beautifully written and thoughtfully shared.
Sadie, Thanks.
What a moving story. I liked that we learned the weather for their journey. Many Irish Americans and Canadians have ancestors who left Ireland in the spring/summer of 1847. They would have disembarked at Grosse Île, Québec, in what was the hottest weather anyone ever remembered in Canada, during they called the “Calcutta summer” of 1847, when temps were in the 100s.
Lisa, Thanks. Wow! That would have really been an even more difficult journey with the heat.
Yes and so many died tragically once they reached their destination —more than a few as a result of the intense heat.
Thank you for this beautiful story. You write so well, I can see them.
Can you direct me to sources I can find about arriving in NY from Germany at this time? My ancestors arrived from Bavaria in 1845. 2 of my foremothers were pregnant when they sailed and another gave birth at sea. Come to think of it, every married woman of childbearing age was pregnant during the crossing, since my other female ancestors were single, children themselves, or middle-aged. They must not have thought of pregnancy as we do now. Or you were lucky enough to get a ticket that waiting was not an option. I wonder if Tecla's baby was premature due to the stress of all that traveling.
Love the info from Germany as well! I hope to get such info myself. This is the kind of story I want to be able to write.
Anne, Thanks. There are several places to find passenger lists. I have an Ancestry account and you can search the database for arriving passengers. Here is another place to look: https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger. If you don't have an ancestry account, message me with their names and I'll see if I can find them. The farm information I just came by from a fellow genealogist Dirk I contacted about the Knipper family since his wife is related. Happy hunting!
Very cool on finding Dirk.
Thanks so much for your generous offer of time.
I have passenger lists and an Ancestry account. I meant how do you know the length of time it took to buy a ticket and actually leave? And the info about the immigrant runners in broken German.
Anne, ChatGPT found me some info on the runners, but can't remember where I found the length to buy the ticket. Here is some info on runners. Even paragraph about how a couple of passengers from the Minna were swindled out of money. https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Immigration_and_the_Commissioners_of_Emigration_of_the_state_of_New_York/Chapter_4#:~:text=3,examination%20on%20November%2015%2C%201847
Wow thank you!
What a sad story, but one so common at the time. Like you, I can’t help but wonder at the timing of the trip. Maybe Tecla didn’t know she was pregnant? Maybe the tickets were in such high demand they needed to be purchased far in advance? Maybe their recent arrival meant no midwife was yet found?
Great storytelling!
Amazing journey. I also have German families that came over around the same time. Lots of revolution and fighting in the area at the time so not a surprise people left for the hope of stability, but what an awful trip