familienortslage
Family dwelling places

|Buchwäldchen|The Antipodean Grossers|

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I thought I'd just share with everyone, what I've discovered regarding our family genealogy, through the various and associated net-based services and helpful personnel, since my posting to the Schlesien-List list on 1st January, 2001.  Especially, in regard to our great-great-grandfamily of Albert & Rosina GROSSER, that settled in Bethany, in the Barossa Valley, South Australia, in 1841.

Fig 1.  The contemporary Grünberg region (now Zielona Gora), and Glogau (now Glogow)to the south-east.
[Detail from the SAGS map of Silesia]

At the commencement of this New Year my father, Leslie Maxwell Grosser was intrigued to see that no-one had discovered much information that provided geographical information on the residential location of our original emigrant GROSSER family, which had originated in Grünberg, Silesia (now Zielona Gora, Poland).  The last notarised address on the departure list, was of Altona, Hamburg ...as the GROSSER family, had been living with other emigrating Lutheran families, on  barges in the Hamburg harbour, for some weeks before departing Germany.

Taking-up the challenge, what I've found, is chronicled hereunder:
 

Tracing ancestors
The LSD International Genealogical Index, which had much conflicting
information regarding dates and genealogy ...due to the similarities of
the names of Father to Son, Sister to Sister, and Brother to Brother.
 
 

* There was intially one child, Amelia, born in Buchwälden, aka Buchwäld in 1826, which is near Lubin [formerly Lüben], Poland.

 

Fig's 2. & 3.  Karstenmeister Data for Buchwäldchen and Lüben Kreis Wappen

Fig 4.  Jauer Kreis Wappen

 

* The second child, Karl, is reputed to have been born in Bersdorf in 1827, near Jauer (according to records in Australia, which conflicts with Buchwäld in the IGI).  Given that this is some forty-odd kilometeres away, to the south and that they would have been travelling with a new baby and an expectant mother, relocating to a new city, ...I'm wondering if this relocation, ever occurred?

 
 

* As some five years later in 1832, the records show that the third child, Eduard was born ...back in Buchwäld!
 
 
 

* The subsequent fourth, fifth and sixth children of the family, Hermann, Traugott, Maria Magdelena were all born in respectively 1832, 1833, and 1835 in Bienowitz, laterly called Bienau.  Bienowitz was located near Liegnitz.
 
 

Fig's 5. & 6.  Karstenmeister Data for Bienowitz and Liegnitz Kreis Wappen

 

Fig 7.  The historic Liegnitz region (near Bienowitz), c.1871, showing Lüben (near Buchwälden) to the north and Jauer (near Bersdorf)to the south.
[Detail from the FEEFHS map of Silesia]

Tracing the locations of regional towns
As both Buchwäldchen and Bienowitz are towns that are not shown in any of the German/ Polish translations, it was extremely beneficial to find the Ort (town) lists in Schlesien.  The Kartenmeister Database was extremely helpful, for exacting location information, courtesy of Uwe-Karsten Krikhahn.  Notably, the Jewish records on Poland, also have been extensively revised and updated with the LDS-IGI and provide an interactive access to their records of Silesian families.

Although the FEEFHS map of Silesia, is the best I can find on the Net there is some evidence of a wonderful visual history of the regional mapping of central Europe available on the Net at various philographic, major commercial and auction sites.  Notably, the genealogy.net Site on Silesia does have wonderful Silesian maps, all of which I have consulted.  Although, there is a very simple and excellent indexed regional Silesian map, at the Silesian American Genealogical Society (SAGS) under development.  This has been particularly helpful for the Regions (Kries).  At the top of my wish list for the Silesian site at genealogy.net would be a two-way interactive map, which would allow one to click on the Regions and a hyperlink would take you to the Ort list for this Region.  Conversely, an Ort List, that would have a hyperlink back to that Region.

Between 1835 and 1841 the only official records are apparently the application for a permit to emigrate; so it is only speculation as to whether the family resided in Bienowitz or returned to Buchwäldchen?   Although, it appears from the records, that Karl Albert GROSSER (KAHG) had applied for a permit to emigrate to the United States of America, on Sept. 10th 1838, in Liegnitz but the records confirm he was from Buchwäldchen. One can only presume, he didn't leave immediately, due to finacial hardship?  It was only, after selling his property for 1100 thalers, he then re-applied for a permit to emigrate on March 20th, 1841 and then received the approved permit on March 23rd, 1841 (for himself, his wife and [then] five children), to emigrate to Australia under the guidance of Pastor Fritzche. Karl August GROSSER was absent, from their number, due to the pursuit of compulsory, military service.  Notably, Anna Rosina GROSSER's parents, followed their daughter to Australia, in 1845.

From W. Iwan's description ("To Australia because of their Beliefs" - see Bibliography) of the exodus on the barge journey along the Oder and Elbe, it appears that the Pastor Fritzsche, was instrumental in the organisation and deployment of the resources and personnel:

Saturday, 1st May 1841- After many delays the day of assembly was fixed on this day.  The meeting place would be Tschicherzig, using three barges on the River Oder to transport the emigrants to the port of Hamburg.  The people from Posen boarded a barge; those from Zullichau and Schwiebus and Meseritz in Posen the second, and the third was filled with emigrants from Grünberg Province Silesia, totaling about 270.  The journey was some 600km along the rivers and connecting canals of eastern and central Germany, following the route taken by their fellow believers, [previously] in 1838.

Conclusion
Unfortunately, I still don't have anything other 'approximate locations' of three townships (Buchwäldchen, Bienowitz and Bersdorf) within a number of km's, as there is little evidence on current maps, (that I can freely access on the Internet) that show anything ...other than their closest regional town.  Although, I am richer for finding more detail on our ancestors and their regional history. This information is just the tip-of-the-iceberg, but I do hope that it helps and encourages others, in focussing and persisting with their genealogical research.
 

Family Homepage: http://freepages.family.rootsweb.com/~rgrosser/
 

Feedback from Alfred Zahlten, aus the genealogie.net - Schlesien List, January, 2001:

Hello Richard,

All the places you referred to, are places you'll find in the road map of the Hoefer Publishing House, Map No. PL 006 (Mittelschlesien), ISBN 3-931103-12-9. The map is dual-language, Polish/German.
E-Mail: [email protected].
 

* Re: Buchwaeldchen/ Buczynka near Lueben, 148 inhabitants (1939) map A6, somewhat east between Lueben and Liegnitz.

* Re: Bienowitz or Bienau (starting from 1937)/ Bieniowice near Liegnitz, 447 inhabitants (1939) map A7, about 8 km, towards Liegnitz at the boundary between Liegnitz and Steinau.

* Re: Bersdorf/ Targoszyn near Jauer, 1074 inhabitants (1939), about 25 km in a southern direction and about 10 km before Steinau, you'll find appropriate for this area, on map A9.

Fig 8.  The contemporary Liegnitz region (now Legnica), showing Lüben (now Lubin) to the north and Jauer (now Jawor)to the south.
[Detail from the SAGS map of Silesia]

Further details, may be available (possibly from this list) from someone who may know the local topography?

Also the place called Schönwalde/ Budzow, near Franconia, Frankenstein, (that I've been researching and found some of the Großer Family), is located about 20 km north of Glatz/ Klodzko and approximately 100 km south away from Bersdorf/ Targoszyn, near Jauer.

(Although), the names of the Großer's from there, are not those you referred to.  I recommend, that you investigate in the church books of the area around Liegnitz and Lueben.

You'll find much greater detail there and certainly develop many further references.  You'll also find that there are church books and microfilms, available.  I have come very far in my personal research, on the Großer Family.

Much success and cordial greetings,
from Heidelberg,
Alfred.

- Dedicated to all of the Antipodean Grosser's -

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