HOME - Blanck Introduction - Henry Blanck (1849-1911) At Sea - Heinrich Christian Blanck - Melusine Erxmeyer - Children of Henry Blanck and Melusine Erxmeyer | |
Henry (Heinrich) Bernard Blanck (Blank) (1849-1911), a Brief Biographical Sketch Heinrich Bernard Blanck was born in Lehe, Germany in 1849, the son of Heinrich Christopher Blanck and Dorethea Wenzel. He was listed on the Bremen Crew Lists between 1868 and 1871 as Heinr. Bernd. Blank. Henry immigrated to Hoboken, New Jersey, in 1871 where he married Melusine Erxmeyer in 1874. They were the parents of five children (four boys and one girl): John Friedrich (1875), Herman (1877), Dora (Dorethe) (1880), Henry (1882), Louie (1887) . Henry Blank died in Hoboken in 1911.
The Spelling of the Name Blanck John Blanck, born in Hoboken in 1915, the grandson of Henry Blank, said that the name was changed in the US with some family members choosing BLANCK and some choosing BLANK. However, the records for the name in Germany were sometime spelled BLANCK and sometimes BLANK. In the German parish records the name was spelled "Blanck". In the Bremen Crew lists the name was spelled "Blank". In the United States records, Henry was listed as both Blanck and Blank. The directories from 1876 to 1904 list Henry sometimes under Blanck and sometimes under Blank. "Blanck" was used in 1900 when Henry's son, Henry, was listed with that spelling at his confirmation in 1897. Henry's sons, Herman and Louie, mostly used the spelling "Blanck". His sons, John and Henry, stayed with the "Blank" spelling. The birth records of the first two children of Louis Blanck were registered under "Blank". Louis youngest child, John Blanck's birth was recorded under "Blanck". Dorothy Blanck Foley entered a correction with the state of New Jersey in 1952 changing the spelling on her birth certificate from "Blank" to "Blanck". Distribution of the Name Blanck in Germany Blanck (Familienname) suggests that the highest consentration on the name with the spelling BLANCK is in Northern Germany. My thanks to Peter Schulz, January 2011 for making me aware of this web page. Peter also says: The word Blank appears in Germanic language (Middle-High-German or Old-High- German) before the 10th century and seems it meant something like: white, pale, bright. Heinrich (Henry) Blanck, Birth, Lehe, Germany 1849 Heinrich Bernard Blanck was born in Lehe, Germany on January 16, 1849, the son of Heinrich Christopher Blanck and Dorothe Christiana Wenzel. Lehe, a borough that dates from medieval times, forms part of Bremerhaven in northern Hannover. Bremerhaven is about 37 miles north of Bremen. For many years, Bremer was the major shipping point from northern Germany. Johann Smidt, the burgomaster of Bremen founded Bremerhaven as a new port for Bremen in 1827 after the old port began silting up. Bremerhaven was the headquarters of the North German Lloyd Shipping Company (Norddeutsche Lloyd). Their piers in New York Harbor were in Hoboken, New Jersey. See Bremer/Bremerhaven/Lehe now or at the bottom of the page. Henry Blanck in the Bremen Crew Lists The German port of Bremen was among the busiest ports in the world when Henry Blanck was a young man. Many young German men went to sea with the German Merchant Marines. Henry Blanck lived very near the Bremen port and so signed up with the Bremen ships of the North German Lloyd Line. The Bremen Sailors Registry: The Bremen Sailors Registry lists indicate that "Heinr Bernd Blank" (born Lehe 1849) signed up for five tours with the North German Lloyd Shipping Company out of Bremen:
*Although it clearly says "14. 26", it cannot be 14 months and 26 days. If so, it would take until August 1870 and Henirich signed up again April 6, 1870.
The Bremen Crew Lists indicate that Heinrich Blank signed up for five tours: three on the steamship NEW YORK and two on the steamship MAIN.
A sculleryman worked in the scullery. The scullery (or utility) room contains large sinks for both hot and cold water. The scullery is used for washing dishes, pots and pans, etc and for preparing vegetables. It is usually adjacent to the galley (kitchen).
A steward is a ship's office in charge of stores and
arrangements about meals or a male
attendant who looks after ship passenger's personal needs.
For more information on and images of Henry Blanck's time at sea go to Henry Blanck at Sea now or at the bottom of the page.
Immigration Henry Blanck immigrated by deserting from the ship MAIN on August 13, 1871. Information Bremen, German Desertions of Sailors, 1855-1874 available through Ancestry.com lists: BLANK, Heinrich aus Lehe geb 1849 Steward (cannot read two words- fuzzy) Main Capt. von Oterendorp (cannot read one word- fuzzy) 13 August 1871 in New York -: 21319 fol --4.15Dissection from the merchant marines as a method of immigration was an extremely common practice at the time.
Marriage On November 15, 1874, Heinrich Blank, shoemaker, age 27, married Melusine "Erkmeyer", age 27, both of Hoboken, New Jersey. The marriage was performed in Hoboken by the Rev. Leopold Mohr. Melusine' s parents are listed as Henry and Dorothea. Henry's parents are listed as Christopher and Dovette. The marriage is recorded in a ledger book: Volume BN, page 357, Hoboken, Hudson, New Jersey and in the records of the German Evangelical Church. According to the church records, Henry was born June 16, 1847 in Bremerlehe, Hannover and Melusine was born February 13, 1848 in Walzrode, Hannover. The witnesses were F. Erxmeyer and Julie Lehmann. Notes:
Wilhelmina, the daughter of Melusine Erxmeyer Wilhelmina, AKA, Minnie, the daughter of Melusine Erxmeyer, was born in Lehe in May 1871. Melusine Wilhelmine Charlotte Erxmeyer of Lehe and no name, illegitimate daughter Wilhelmine Julie Charlotte Henriette 27.5.1871 (Die Einwohner des Fleckens Lehe 1827-1875) Minnie, the infant born to Melusine, listed her father as Heinrich Blank on her marriage certificate in 1897. It is possible that Henry Blanck was her father. He was born in Lehe and immigrated to the US in August 1871. Melusine and Henry would have know each other in Lehe as they belonged to the same congregation. Melusine and Henry married in Hoboken in 1874.
Wilhelmina Blank of 43 Willow Street, Hoboken was confirmed on April 27, 1884 at the German Evangelical Church in Hoboken. For more information on Wilhelmina (Minnie) go to Minnie Blanck now or at the bottom of the page.
Children of Melusine Erxmeyer and Henry Blanck Henry Blanck and Melusine Erxmeyer had:
Herman Blank married Caroline Willot in the German Evangelical Church: Herman Blank, carpenter 903 Willow Ave Hoboken and Caroline Willot same address (Jersey Journal, August 2, 1899, list of weddings in Hoboken in July 1899) Herman and Carrie had two children: Melusine and Herman jr. For more information on Herman Blanck go to Herman Blanck now or at the bottom of the page.
Henry Blanck married Marie Wellinger. They had: Eva, John Henry. For more information on Henry Blanck go to Henry Blanck, Jr. now or at the bottom of the page.
The Directories 1876: Henry Blank, 10 Willow shoemaker 1877 & 1878 Henry Blank, shoemaker, home rear, 150 Park ave, Hoboken 1880 Blanck, Henry, shoemkr, 66 1st, h[ome] r[ear] 152 Park av. H'n 1881 & 1882 Directory Blanck Henry, 66 1st ave home 53 Willow Hoboken. 1884 Henry Blank 66 1st st Hoboken, listed under boot and shoemakers 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888 through 1892 Henry B Blank, shoes 66 1st home read 43 Willow 1892: Blank, Henry under boots and shoes dealers and makers, at 208 1st Hoboken
1895 Blanck, Henry, shoemkr, 215 Willow 1902 & 1903 Henry Blank, "205" Willow, shoemaker 1901 and 1904 Blank, Henry janitor, 205 Willow av Hoboken In 1900 205 Willow had an outhouse.
1922: Under two different spellings:
Shuetzen Corps Henry Blanck's in laws, the Erxmeyer brothers Fred and Henry, as well as other family members were active in the Hoboken Schuetzen corps. Henry, himself, was on some committees over the years. See Hoboken Schuetzen Corp
The 1880 Federal Census The 1880 census lists the family of Henry Blank at 43 Willow St. in Hoboken:
1Nothing obvious on Chas Schalk born Hannover circa 1854 on Ancestry, January 2011. 2Nothing obvious on Henry Geiss born Germany circa 1849 on Ancestry, January 2011. Notes: The family of Henry Blank remained at 43 Willow at least until Herman's confirmation in 1892.
Naturalization of Henry Blank Henry Blanck was naturalized in Hudson County Common Pleas Court on October 21, 1884. Melusine and Minnie automatically became citizens under Henry's citizenship. There was no information other than the name and date.
The 1885 New Jersey Census This census was taken for statistical purposes and does not provide a lot of genealogical information. The Blanks are listed in the first Ward of the 1885 New Jersey census as follows: Henry, Melusine, Henry Jr., John, Herman, Minnie, and Fritz Parmer. Notes:
The 1895 New Jersey Census This census was taken for statistical purposes and does not provide a lot of genealogical information. It lists the Blancks as follows: Henry, Melusine, Henry Jr., John, Herman, and Minnie. There is no address. However they were in very close proximity to Melusines's sisters, Julia Erxmeyer Lehman (and her children, Elizabeth VonDohran, and Berthe Labouser), Berthe Erxmeyer Bremer, and Mary Erxmeyer Rosenthal.
The 1900 Federal Census Henry Blank and family were listed at 215 Willow Avenue, Hoboken, New Jersey:
The 1905 New Jersey Census I could not find Henry Blanck and family listed in the 1905 census. The supervisor's report at the end of the 1905 census in Hoboken listed 65,468 inhabitants and 4, 227 households that included 14, 626 families. There were:
The 1910 Federal Census The family of Henry Blank was at 213 Willow Avenue Hoboken:
Death of Henry Blank, Senior Henry "Blank" died on March 11, 1911, at 213 Willow Avenue in Hoboken. The cause of death was pulmonary edema, contributory factor, hemiplegia (stroke). He was buried at Grove Church Cemetery in Hudson, County, New Jersey on March 14, 1911 in the Erxmeyer plot. No will listed in New Jersey State Archives, August 2008.
Melusine, John and Minnie in the 1915 New Jersey Census The 1915 census in New Jersey listed the family of Melusine "Blancke" renting at 213 Willow Street, Hoboken as follows
Melusine, John and Minnie in the 1920 Federal Census At 213 Willow:
Death of Melusine Erxmeyer Blanck "Melusina" Blanck died on September 27, 1925 at 213 Willow Avenue in Hoboken of general dropsy (nephtitid) due to physical inactivity. She had been bed-ridden for 4 years after fracturing her hip. The death certificate lists:
The information was supplied by her son, Henry Blanck of 213 Willow Street, Hoboken. She was buried in the Grove Church Cemetery in Hudson, County on September 29, 1925. 213 Willow Avenue, Hoboken is a small apartment building. No will listed in New Jersey State Archives, August 2008.
Minnie Blanck Reuter and John Blanck in the 1930 Census On Highpoint Ave in Weehawken
They were renting from their cousin Berthe Labouseur, the daughter of Julia Erxmeyer Lehamnn.
Kith and Kin of Henry Blanck in New Jersey Most people did not immigrated in isolation. They went where there were already other family (kin) or friends and neighbors from the old country (kith). With this in mind, I have looked for the kith and kin of Henry Blanck in Hoboken. I did not find any other Blancks who appear to be related. There were the following possible associations:
Note: None of the given names of any of these Blancks are listed in the records in Lehe, Germany. Henry's sister-in-law, Charlotte Reddehase (Charlotte was the wife of Melusine's brother, Frederick Erxmeyer) was also from Lehe. The Erxmeyers, including Charlotte Reddehase Erxmeyer, immigrated around the same time as Henry Blanck. The records for the German Evangelical Church in Hoboken show that there were a fair number of people from Lehe in the parish. Lehe, part of the port city of Bremenhaven, was a stopping off point for people coming from other parts of Germany who eventually immigrated to America. The Erxmeyers were an example of a such a family. They moved from Walsrode, Germany to Lehe before emigrating.
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Minnie Blanck Reuter, daughter of Melusine Erxmeyer Minnie (Wilhelmina) Blanck married Gustave Reuter, bartender. For more information on Minnie and Gustave, click on the picture of the bartender |
John Blanck, son of Henry Blanck and Melusine Erxmeyer John Blanck, lumberman, never married. For more information on John, click on the picture of the lumberman. |
Herman Blanck, son of Henry Blanck and Melusine Erxmeyer Herman Blanck, carpenter, married and had a family in Hoboken. For more information on Herman, click on the picture of the carpenter. |
Melusine Erxmeyer, wife of Henry Blanck
Henry Blanck married Melusine Erxmeyer. Melusine and her family immigrated to
Hoboken in the 1870s. For more information on Melusine and the Erxmeyers go to
Melusine Erxmeyer
or
The Family of Henry and Dorethe Erxmeyer
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Heinrich Christopher Blanck and Dorothy Wenzel,
parents of Henry Blanck
Henry Blanck born in Lehe Germany in 1849 was the son of Heinrich Christopher Blanck and Dorothy Wenzel.
For more information on Heinrich Christopher Blanck and Dorothy Wenzel go to
Heinrich Christopher Blanck
For information on Henry Blanck, his years at sea go to
Henry Blanck At Sea
Images of sea voyages
Immigration
Many other young men in Germany also went to sea out of Bremen, including my ancestor,
J. Berend Petermann and
Henry Blank's in-laws, the Erxmeyers. To see images of and information on
Berend Petermann experience at sea go to
Berend Petermann at Sea
Images of sea voyages
Immigration
For information on and images of Lehe go to
Bremen/Bremerhave/Lehe
For information on and images of Hoboken go to
Hoboken
Introduction to other Blanck related pages including: life in Germany, occupations,
Germans in America, Linen Weaving, the immigration experience, immigration ships, and more.
Blanck Introduction
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© Maggie Land Blanck - page created 2005 - latest update, September 2016 |