After 12 years I have now exhausted every route I can think of to trace where my German great grandfather came from, and would welcome any suggestions.
His name is Ernst Joseph Wieland, and the first record I have of him is on the 1881 census in Streatham (RG11-665-F69-P19) where he is a single lodger, age 23, bread baker, born Germany.
Next is his marriage to Theresia Bowinkelmann in 1886. He is a 31 year old bachelor, a confectioner and his father is Carl Wieland, a carpenter. He was living in Clerkenwell.
Then he is on the 1891 census in Mile End (RG11-665-F69-P19). He is married age 36, a baker born Germany. His wife is Theresia age 27 born Whitechapel, so I assume he came to England on his own and met her here. They have 2 boys and a girl.
Now we have the 1901 census in Walthamstow (RG13-1633-F139-P26). He is again married, age 36 and a commission agent. Birthplace is again Germany. He is still with Theresia, and they now have 5 boys, Joseph age 9 being my grandfather. The girl from 1891 had died later that year.
Then comes the 1911 census still in Walthamstow (RG14-09-6-90-09690_0051_03), still married and age 57 and he has reverted to baker confectioner, and birthplace Germany(Resident), nationality German. The 5 boys are still there, as is Theresia.
Next is the death of Theresia in 1927, where their youngest son is the informant; she was buried in a public grave in St. Patricks RC Cemetery, Leytonstone.
Then he died in 1932 aged 85. He was a Coffee House Manager and was living in Islington, although he died in Tooting Bec Hospital of cancer. I haven't found his burial, but I suspect he would too have been in a public grave, especially as his son and daughter-in-law (who was the informant) are also in public graves in St. Patricks, although he isn't there. Therefore there is unlikely to be a headstone to give me any more information.
He is only listed on one electoral roll (1893) but I guess as a German national he was registered by mistake. His wife appeared on the electoral role at the same address as him on her death in 1927, and for several years prior with their son and daughter-in-law.
I haven't found any likely candidates on any immigration or incoming passenger lists, and as I have no idea where in Germany he came from I don't know where to look next. Wieland is a fairly common name throughout northern Europe, which doesn't help. Going to Germany to look at records is unlikely to help without narrowing down the area.
There are no likely candidates for his father in the UK, so I assume he came to the UK on his own, between the censuses of 1871 and 1881.
Any idea where I can go next?
In anticipation,
Pete
His name is Ernst Joseph Wieland, and the first record I have of him is on the 1881 census in Streatham (RG11-665-F69-P19) where he is a single lodger, age 23, bread baker, born Germany.
Next is his marriage to Theresia Bowinkelmann in 1886. He is a 31 year old bachelor, a confectioner and his father is Carl Wieland, a carpenter. He was living in Clerkenwell.
Then he is on the 1891 census in Mile End (RG11-665-F69-P19). He is married age 36, a baker born Germany. His wife is Theresia age 27 born Whitechapel, so I assume he came to England on his own and met her here. They have 2 boys and a girl.
Now we have the 1901 census in Walthamstow (RG13-1633-F139-P26). He is again married, age 36 and a commission agent. Birthplace is again Germany. He is still with Theresia, and they now have 5 boys, Joseph age 9 being my grandfather. The girl from 1891 had died later that year.
Then comes the 1911 census still in Walthamstow (RG14-09-6-90-09690_0051_03), still married and age 57 and he has reverted to baker confectioner, and birthplace Germany(Resident), nationality German. The 5 boys are still there, as is Theresia.
Next is the death of Theresia in 1927, where their youngest son is the informant; she was buried in a public grave in St. Patricks RC Cemetery, Leytonstone.
Then he died in 1932 aged 85. He was a Coffee House Manager and was living in Islington, although he died in Tooting Bec Hospital of cancer. I haven't found his burial, but I suspect he would too have been in a public grave, especially as his son and daughter-in-law (who was the informant) are also in public graves in St. Patricks, although he isn't there. Therefore there is unlikely to be a headstone to give me any more information.
He is only listed on one electoral roll (1893) but I guess as a German national he was registered by mistake. His wife appeared on the electoral role at the same address as him on her death in 1927, and for several years prior with their son and daughter-in-law.
I haven't found any likely candidates on any immigration or incoming passenger lists, and as I have no idea where in Germany he came from I don't know where to look next. Wieland is a fairly common name throughout northern Europe, which doesn't help. Going to Germany to look at records is unlikely to help without narrowing down the area.
There are no likely candidates for his father in the UK, so I assume he came to the UK on his own, between the censuses of 1871 and 1881.
Any idea where I can go next?
In anticipation,
Pete
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