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Johann Berend Petermann (1843-1909)
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Johann Berend (Bernard) Petermann (1843-1909) a Brief Biographical Sketch Johannne Berend Petermann (AKA Johann, John and Bernard) was born in Ganderkesee, in the Duchy of Oldenberg, Germany in 1843, the son of Johann Christopher Petermann and Gesche Margarete Engelbart(h). Berend Petermann spent 14 years at sea with German commercial shipping lines. J. Berend Petermann and Sophie Steuer has a son, Johann Bernard, born September 18, 1879, two months before thier marriage. Berend Petermann married Sophie Steuer in Elsfleth, Germany in November 1879. They immigrated to the US sometime between their marriage in 1879 and the birth of their son, Christian August, who was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1883. They had five children: Johann Bernard (1879), Christian August (1883), Wilhelm (1884) who died as a infant, Meta (1886 and Anna (1887). The family settled in Hoboken, New Jersey. Berend Petermann died in Hoboken in 1909.
Johann Berend Petermann, AKA, Johann, John and Bernard Petermann All the records in Germany list him as Johann Berend or Berend Petermann. However, he was listed in various records in New Jersey as John or Bernard Petermann. Notes: Berend and Bernard appear to be the same names and are variations of an Old High German name, Berinhard [from bern bear and hard brave, strong]. Maybe Bernard was considered more "America" than Berend.
Birth of Johann Berend Petermann, 1843 Johann Berend Petermann was born December 9, 1843 in Ganderkesee, Duchy of Oldenberg, Germany, the son of Johann Christopher Petermann, heuerling (hired man — laborer) zu of (born) Ganderkesee, and Gesche Margrete born Engelbart Baptized on December 30, 1843. Witnesses were Johann Berend Engelbart*, Harm Wilke Englelbart** and Gesche Margarete Petermann. (Evangelische Kirche Ganderkesee, LDS film #1431001)
* Johann Berend Englebart was Gesche's brother.
** There Ganderkesee Ganderkesee is a municipality located between Bremen and Oldenberg in Lower Saxony. Today Ganderkesee contains 25 hamlets. J Berend Peterman was listed as living in the hamlet of Hoyerswege on the Bremen Crew lists from 1867 to 1872. Ganderkesee church is St. Cyprian and Cornelius, Ring 14, 27777 Ganderkesee, Phone: 04222 / 942 00. Go to Die Gaukirche St. Cyprian und Cornelius in Ganderkesee to see some lovely images of St Cyprian and Cornelius. The records for St Cyprian and Cornelius have been microfilmed in part by LDS — films # 1431001 and 1431002. See Petermanns in Ganderkesee To see images of Ganderkesee go to Ganderkesee
Occupations of Johann Berand Petermann
*My understanding is that before container shipping a stevedore and a longshoreman (or dock worker) were separate jobs. The stevedore worked exclusively on the ship loading cargo into the hold. The stevedore was a crew leader and had a knowledge of the way the cargo need to be laded so the ship would ride correctly and the cargo would not slip around in rough weather. Too much heavily stowed cargo too low down could cause the ship to ride stiffly. It the center of weight was too high the ship might list to one side or the other. Stowing cargo was somewhat of an art form. Longshoreman worked on the docks getting cargo to and from the ship.
Berend Petermann from the Bremen German Ship's Crew List Johann Berend Petermann went to sea at the age of 16. He signed up for 13 tours of duty which took him "around the world" several times. He spent 14 years at sea; his last voyage was in 1873. From my armchair point of view it seems like great adventure. Ganderkesee is about 12 miles from the famous port city of Bremen. Many young men from the town of Ganderkesee went to sea. Berend's first voyage was to Greenland on a whaler in the winter of 1859. Later that same year he sailed for the Far East — destination Hong Kong. In April 1861 the ship he was on was turned back from Charleston, North Carolina a few days after the Confederates fired on Fort Sumter starting the American Civil War. He headed for South America in the fall of 1861 and continued on to China. In 1864 he deserted ship in New York City. I believe that he spent two plus years in the Orient before leaving his ship in New York in 1864.
In the spring of 1867 Berend Petermann was back in Germany where he signed up for a trip to Bahia, Brazil. He made two tours to Baltimore in 1868 and a tour to New York in 1869. In 1870 headed "to sea" on the bark TEXAS the ship was recorded as sailing to Germany from Philadelphia. On July 19th she was forced to take refuge from the French warships in Stornoway, Scotland. In 1871 and 1872 Berend sailed twice to the West Indies. I do not know if he completed the trip in August of 1871. The ship was headed to Aspinwell in the Isthmus of Panama, but was towed to Southampton on August 17th. In the fall of 1872 and the spring of 1873 he traveled back and forth from Bremen to New York. He started as a common seaman but by 1872 he was a helmsman. The helmsman is the person who steers the ship. He was not listed on the Bremen Crew Lists after 1873.
For more detailed information on Berend's years at sea go to Berend Petermann At Sea Johann Berend Petermann made 12 tours at sea. I am not sure that he always arrived at the destination the Sailors Registry indicates.
Berend Petermann finished his tour at sea on May 12 1873. By 1879 he was a helmsman living in Elsfleth, a port on the Weser River. The Weser is one of the major rivers in Germany. It flows north through the major port cities of Bremerhaven and Bremen. However, the river is rather shallow and during periods of drought was not navigable near Bremen. Elsfleth lies about midway between the two cities. "Sea-going ships may ascend to Elsfleth, though Bremerhaven is the chief port for large vessels."Berend would return to the States about 10 years later with his wife and small son.
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Collection of Maggie Land Blanck, The World's Work, April 1908, New York Harbor circa 1873 | |
What is the difference between a ship, a bark, a brig and a schooner?
To learn the difference between a ship, a bark, a brig, and a schooner go to Norwegian Heritage Mittelsburen and Hoyerswege In the sailors register from 1859 to 1861 the residence of Berend Petermann was Ganderkesee with the exception that in October 1859 he listed Mittelsburen. Mittelsburen was a village outside Bremen. From 1867 to 1873 his residence was listed as the hamlet of Hoyenswege with the exception of October 1872 when he listed Ganderkesee. Hoyerswege is a hamlet in the town of Ganderkesee. There was a guest house at the Old Flemish Road in Hoyerswege as early as 1816. In 1849 the inn was run by Johann Berend Menken. Emigrants from Sudoldenburgishein spent the night in the hay loft at the guest house circa 1859 as they made their way to Bremen to embark for America. See Hof Hoyerswege
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Move to Elsfleth While he was giving addresses in Ganderkesee and Hoyerswege from 1859 to 1873 Berend Petermann was obviously spending a lot of time at sea and traveling around the world. The last Bremen seaman's record for Berand Petermann was in 1873. J. Berand Petermann had a son born in Elsfleth in 1879. Elsfleth was/is a seaport at the confluence of Hunte and Weser rivers. At the birth of his son, Johann Berend Peterman was listed as a helmsman.
Johann Bernard, a Child of Johann Berend Petermann and Sophie Steuer, born 1879. Johann Berend Petermann and Anna Sophia Steuer had a son Johann Bernard born 2 months before their wedding. See Children of Johann Berend Petermann and Anna Sophia Steuer below.
Marriage of Johann Berend Petermann and Sophia Steuer, 1879, Elsfleth Germany Petermann, Johann Berend, steuermann (helmsman) of Elsfleth son of Johann Christopher Petermann (can't read word) heuerling (hired man) of Ganderkesee and Gesihe Margarete nee Engelbart, born in Ganderkesee 1843 December 9 and Anna Sophia Wilhelmine Steuer, daughter of Otto Christian Wilhelm Steuer (Cannot read occupation) of Elsfleth and Rebecke Margarethe Sophia nee Auffahrt born 1857 November 20 1879 Elsfleth, November 9 Note: There is something else written at the bottom of this record that I cannot read. It refers to Ganderkesee. There is no similar notations on the other marriage records on the same page.
Note: The records indicate that Johann was fourteen years older than Sophie and that Sophie and Johann had a son, Johannes Bernard, two months before the marriage, see baptism of Johann below.
Children of Johann Berend Petermann and Sophie Steuer
Other information: For more information on John Petermann either go to John Petermann now or at the bottom of the page.
Other information: For more information on Meta Petermann after her marriage to Percy Land either go to Meta Petermann now or at the bottom of the page.
Other Information: For more information on Annie Petermann either go to Annie Petermann now or at the bottom of the page.
Immigration of Johann Bernard Petermann and Sophie Steuer The exact date of immigration is not known. They were in Brooklyn at the time of Christian's birth in April 1883. Probable dates of immigration for Bernhard and Sophia are:
There is no listing for them in Germans to America, a reference index that lists many Germans who immigrated to the United States between 1875 and the late 1800s. There is no listing for them on the Castle Garden web site at www.castlegarden.org Johann Berend Petermann Auswanderer Oldenburgische Gesellschaft fur Familienkunde e. V. (Oldenburg Society for Family History) lists Johann Berend Petermann in their "Auswanderer" pages. Some of the information comes from my web site but the enlightening part is the date and place of birth of J. Berend's father.
Petermann Johann Berend
1843 - 1909
Petermann in the Brooklyn Directory Berend Petermann in the Brooklyn directory 1884:
"Benjamin" Petermann butcher home 189 ConoverThis was their address at the birth of Christian in July 1884. In 1881 Henry M. E. Thorman was listed as a "provisions dealer" at 206/208 Conover. By 1884 Henry Thorman ran a pork processing and packing plant at this address. His establishment was destroyed by fire in July 1884. The stock, consisted of pork in barrels, in the course of preparation for curing, was almost completely destroyed. It was covered by insurance. In November 1884, Henry M. E. Thorman a pork butcher on Conover street, was sued in July 1884 to recover a promissory note for $30,000. He had used his Conover street house and lot as collateral. It is possible that Berend Petermann worked in the pork processing plant owned and operated by Henry Thorman. After the plant burned the Petermanns may have moved to Hoboken to find other employment. See Thorman
The Petermann's Move From Brooklyn to Hoboken, New Jersey Sometime between the birth of Christian in April 1883 and the birth of William in July 1884 the Petermanns moved to Hoboken. Hoboken lies just across the the New York harbor from Brooklyn. In the 1880s there was a ferry that ran between the two cities. There were no Petermanns or Steuers listed in the 1892 New York, Kings County Census, Ward 12., Red Hook, Brooklyn. This is the Ward where Christian was born in 1883. Petermann in the Jersey City Directory 1886: Petermann, Bernard, labourer, home 101 Park Ave Hoboken
The Petermanns in The 1885 New Jersey State Census The 1885 New Jersey census was taken for statistical purposes. Consequently, it does not contain much helpful genealogical information. However, it does establish that the Petermanns were living in Hoboken in 1885. The New Jersey census of 1885 lists the family of Bernhard Peterman in the first Ward in Hoboken as follows: "Bernhard", Sophia, John, Christian, and William Peterman.
Johann Berend "Bernhard" Petermann in the Jersey City and Hoboken Directory The directory was basically a telephone book before telephones. A small fee was charged to be listed. Not everyone was listed every year.
Bernhard Petermann was listed in the 1885-86 Directory at 101 Park Avenue, Hoboken. 1892 New Jersey directories Ancestry.com: John B Petermann, 65 Willow Avenue Hoboken, Occupation: laborer, 1892 1893: 127 Willow 1895: laborer, 36 2nd ave. Bernard Petermann, stevedore, h 36 2nd Street, Hoboken, 1898-99 Directory Bernard, Christ, and John Petermann were all listed at 36 2nd Ave, Hoboken in the 1909-10 Directory Bernard and Christian were listed at 32 2nd Ave, Hoboken in the 1910-11 Directory. Notes:
Naturalization of Johann (John) Berend Petermann On October 31, 1891, John Petermann made a Statement of Intention to become a US citizen in the Hudson County Common Pleas Court in Jersey City. There is no information other than his name, John Petermann, born in Germany and the name of a witness who had known him for five years, William Wise. He apparently never completed the naturalization procedure in this court. Before 1906 an applicant could file for naturalization is several courts. The process was the same, however, wherever one applied. Naturalization occurred in three steps:
In the case of John Petermann the first papers were filed, but there was no follow up. There is no Petition for Naturalization and no Certificate of Naturalization. Before 1922 only men over 21 could file for naturalization. Their wives and any foreign born children became citizens under their husband/father's naturalization. John Berend Petermann obviously though he was a naturalized citizen. He lists himself as naturalized in the 1900 United States census and in the 1905 New Jersey census. Surprisingly high numbers of immigrants did not become citizens. Studies from the 1890-1930 censuses show that only 25.7% of the population said they were naturalized. It would appear that less than that actually were naturalized, if there are others like John Berend who said they were naturalized when they weren't.
The Petermanns in The 1895 New Jersey State Census The New Jersey state census in 1895 was taken mostly for statistical purposes. However, it did yield the following information:
Information taken from the 1895 New Jersey census Ward 1, page 55. There is no address given in this census.
Death of Sophie Steuer Petermann 1899 On September 28, 1899, Sophia Annie Stuer Petermann, age, 42, occupation, housewife, birthplace, Germany, last place of residence, Hoboken, New Jersey, how long in this state, 14 years, place of death, 36 2nd Street, Hoboken, father's name, William, mother's name, Bertha, died on the 28th day of September 1899, cause of death, uramic poisoning resulting from nephritis, place of burial Flower Hill Cemetery. Nephritis is an inflamation of the kidney. Note: According to the information originally supplied by the Flower Hill Cemetery, in response to my request for the interment list of the burial of John Petermann, only Sophie and John are buried in the plot. However, on a return visit in August 2006 they told me that John Petermann, junior was also buried in the same plot. Apparently the confusion resulted from the difference of spelling between Peterman and Petermann.
The Petermanns in The 1900 Federal Census The 1900 federal census in Hoboken, New Jersey lists the family of Bernhard Petermann at 36 Second Street:
Notes:
The Petermanns in The 1905 Census in New Jersey The 1905 New Jersey State census list the family of John Petermann at 36 Second Street in Hoboken as follows:
This census has a few discrepancies:
The Petermanns in The 1909 Hoboken Directory
Death of Johann Berend Petermann, 1909 On May 19, 1909, John B. Petermann, age 63, died of chronic myocarditis and nephritis, birthplace, Germany, in the USA for 25 years, address, 1101 Washington St., Hoboken, place of death, St. Mary's Hospital, Hoboken, in the hospital for 20 days, parents, John and Gesicca (sp?) Petermann. John Bernard Petermann was buried in Flower Hill Cemetery, Hudson County, New Jersey on May 22, 1909. According to Flower Hill Cemetery:
No will listed by the New Jersey State Archives, August 2008
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Petermann Grave Flower Hill Cemetery
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This plot is in a very nice section of the cemetery with some impressive markers. However, there is no marker on the Petermann plot. The location of the grave is near the northeast corner of the abutting Hoboken Cemetery (marked HC with red arrow). PC (with red arrow) indicates the approximate location of the Petermann Plot. |
Information from Meta's Daughter, Helen Helen Land provided me with the following information:
Helen Land provided Justina Land Leler with the following information about her mother, Meta, in a letter dated Deptember, 1975: "To me she was a pioneer in life in Hauppague when she married--- from a heated, gaslighted, indoor plumbing etc home to rural living--- kitchen range + pot-bellied parlor stove for heat, no bathroom, kerosene lamps. They had their first automobile in 1911--- the second family in Huappague to own one. Meta and Annie, A Tunnel Walk Bud Land said that Meta and her sister, Annie, walked from Hoboken to New York in a tunnel. That tunnel would have to be the PATH tunnel between Hoboken and Manhattan. The first attempt to build a tunnel under the Hudson was started in 1874 and was abandoned in 1892 for financial reasons. In 1902 construction was restarted by the New York and New Jersey Railroads. Two tunnels were completed running side by side from Hoboken to Morton Street in Manhattan. These tunnels opened in 1908. They later became part of the PATH system.
Meta and Annie's Friends From Hoboken Meta and her sister, Annie, had a reunion in Smithtown with three childhood friends from Hoboken. The friends were Katherine (Tina) Bunger, Mildred (Millie) Rost and Ella Olsen. Unfortunately, the date of the reunion is not known, although it probably occurred in the late nineteen twenties or early nineteen thirties. There are photographs and a newspaper clipping recording this reunion. See Meta's Friends From Hoboken. Katharine Bunger made her Confirmation at St Matthew's Church in Hoboken, New Jersey on Palm Sunday 1901 along with Meta Petermann. Annie Petermann, Mildred Rost, and Ella Olsen were not listed on the confirmation program for Palm Sunday 1901 and must have been confirmed in a different class. To see a group of four photos of Meta, Annie and Tina circa 1905, go to A Summer Walk. Tina also visited with Meta and Annie at the beach and in Hauppague in the early 1900s. For pictures of these events See Relatives and Friends of Meta and Percy. Katherine Bunger Katherine Bunger marred William Heuer. 1915: Marriage per Heuer family tree ancestry.com 1930: 171 Park Ave, William Heuer 46, engineer, stationary, Katherine Heuer 42 Grace Heuer 13 Hanyatt Heuer 11
Olsen Rost Married Charles Benedix 1910: Jersey city, Charles Benedix 25 Mildred Benedix 23 Edward Benedix 1 1920: Charles Benedix 35 Mildred Benedix 32 Edward Benedix 12 Irving Benedix 5 1930: Charles A Benedix 45 Mildred Benedix 42 Edward C Benedix 21 Irving L Benedix 15 1940: Chas A Benedix 55 Mildred Benedix 52 Edward Benedix 31 Irving Benedix 25 During WWII Charles Alfred Benedix of 156 South St, Jersey City, born Jan 9, 1885, wife Mildred Benedix, worked for Mongomery Ward and company on Varick street in NYC. Death: Mildred Benedix SSN: 142-54-3098 Last Residence: 07307 Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey, United States of America Born: 10 Aug 1887 Died: Apr 1973 State (Year) SSN issued: New Jersey (1972)
Possible Relatives in either Brooklyn or Hoboken Relatively few people emigrated in isolation. People immigrated to a place where there were already other family members, friends or neighbors. In looking at the immigration of all the families I am researching, I am trying to find other family members who immigrated around the same time. It would seem likely that Johann and Sophie immigrated to Brooklyn because the knew people in Brooklyn. Since Hoboken is such a short move from Brooklyn, they might have moved to New Jersey independent of other family. I have not found any other Petermanns or Steuers who seem to be related to Johann Bernard and Sophie.
RELATED PAGES Petermann Connecting Page Berend Petermann at Sea Petermann in Ganderkesee Steuer, Sophie Steuer and her family in Elsfleth Auffarth Beke Margarete Auffarth born Hohenboken, Ganderkesee, Germany married Otto Christian Steuer. They were the parents of Sophia Steuer who married Johann Berend Petermann in 1879. John Bernard Petermann, the son of John Petermann and Sophie Steuer Christian Petermann, the son of John Petermann and Sophie Steuer Meta Petermann Land , the daughter of John Petermann and Sophie Steuer Percy Land and Meta Petermann Land and their Family Annie Petermann Wulpern, the daughter of John Petermann and Sophie Steuer Petermann Photos Steuers in Elsfleth Petermanns in Ganderkesee Pictures of Ganderkesee Pictures of Elsfleth Pictures of Bremen and Bremerhaven Pictures of Hoboken Pictures of Brooklyn Life in Red Hook Brooklyn The Hoboken Pier Fire June 30, 1900 There was a huge fire in Hoboken on June 30, 1900. It started on the North German Lloyd Steamship Co. piers and destroyed the piers, several ships and many small boats. Over 200 people lost their lives. Meta would have been 14 years old. The Petermanns were living at 36 Second Street. They were, at the most, one or two short blocks from the fire. For excerpts from the New York Times front page story of July 1, 1900, see Hoboken Fire
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