Johann Gerken and Gesche Vajen Family

The Gen_Pluswin OFB Sittensen Database has the following entry:

Translation

(2919) GERKEN(Geerken), Johann (Lutheran) – Parents: G., Johann andBADEN, Adelheid (2918.1)
Born on 2 Nov 1743 in Hunhorn. Christened on 3 Nov 1743 in Scheeßel. Occupation: Vollhöfner in Hunhorn. Farm name / number :: Hunhorn, single-digit Hof. Died in Hunhorn. Buried in Scheeßel.
Church Marriage on 20 Nov 1761 in Scheeßel.
with VAJEN,Gesche(Lutheran) – Parents: V., Peter andRIEBESEHL, Trine. (7750.9)
Born on 10 Mar 1745 in Sothel. Christened on 12 Mar 1745 in Scheeßel. Died in Hunhorn. Buried in Scheeßel.

Children:

1. Engel (Lutheran) Born in Hunhorn. Christened on 18 Oct 1767 in Scheeßel. Died after 1812 in Wenkeloh. Buried after 1812 in Scheeßel. Church Marriage on 20 Oct 1789 in Scheeßel with Hans MEYER (5463)

2. Johann Peter (Lutheran) Born in Hunhorn. Christened on 2 Feb 1770 in Scheeßel. Occupation: Vollhöfner in Hunhorn. Farm name / number :: Hunhorn, single digit Hof. Died on 5 Jul 1821 in Hunhorn. Buried on 9 Jul 1821 in Scheeßel. I.Church Marriage on 20 Nov 1795 in Scheeßel with Engel BELLMANN (2937) II. Church Marriage on 27 Nov 1801 in Scheeßel with Margreta MEINKE (2937)

3. Anna Catharina (Lutheran) Born calculated 7 Jan 1773 in Hunhorn. Christened calculated. Jan 1773 in Scheeßel. Died on 11 Feb 1816 in Hunhorn. Buried on 13 Feb 1816 in Scheeßel. ((Died Single, age43 years 1 month 4 days))

As will be determinedin another post,Johann Gerken and Gesche Vajen had at least six addition to thechildren shown here.

JohannGerken and Gesche Vajen Marriage

The Scheeßel parish marriage record of Johann Gerken and Gesche Vajen is as follows:

The Ancestry Elbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database has the entry:

Johann’s father was Johann Gerken. Gresche’s father was Peter Fajen.

Johann Gerken

The Gen_Pluswin OFB Sittensen database entry states that Johann Gerken died in Hunhorn butdoes not include a date of death or burial. A search of the Ancestry Elbe-Weser Triangle databasedid not find a death/burial record for any male whose name and calculated birthdate (based on death age) approximately matched being born in 1743 andwho had died in Hunborn.

There is a Johann Gerken who died 19 Mar 1827 and was buried 22 Mar 1827 at Scheeßel. Hewas 82 years old so his birthdate was about 1745 which is close tothe birthdate of 2 Nov 1743 given in the Gen_Pluswin OFB Sittensen database entry. However, according to the Scheeßel parish record this Johann Gerken died in Lauenbrück -notHunhorn.

The Scheeßel parish death/burial record of this Johann Gerken is as follows:

The AncestryElbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database has the entry:

The Gen_Pluswin OFB Sittensen Database entrystates thatJohann’s occupation was a Vollhöfner [full time farm worker] in Hunhorn. Also,most of his children were born in Hunborn.

Daniel Oetjen wrote that the “record says he was buried with a sermon and died of old age (begraben mit einer Leichenpredigt, gestorben an Altersschwäche)” And, added the following comments:

“I don’t think our Johann Gerken is the one who died in Lauenbrück. If you look at the Scheeßel history book you can see there are several Gerken families in Lauenbrück and some members with the name Johann.

Chances are high our Johann Gerken died in Hunhorn, because it was usual that the new owners took care of the old owners when they grew old. In most cases the daughter or son was the heir on the farm. But even in these cases they made a contract to make sure the young people take care of the old people. These contracts even said how much coffee, meat and milk the old people had to get every week. Since the son of Johann Gerken took over the farm I think Johann himself died there as an Altentheiler on the farm, which means he was retired and his son had to take care of him because he inherited the farm.”

Johann’s wife had died 10 years earlier And, only two of Johann’ children were living at the time of his death. His daughter, Engel living in Wenkeloh, died 3 months after Johann died. His son, Harm, was living in Hunhorn when he died 4 years later in 1831. Lauenbrück is only about 5 miles away from Hunhorn. Johann had lived inHunborn but possibly by the age of 82 he had moved to Lauenbrück to livewith someone else who took care of him. Further research is required to fully resolve this issue.

Gesche Vajen

BIRTH 10 MAR 1745 • Sothel

The Gen_Pluswin OFB Sittensen Database entry states that Gesche Vajen was born on 10 Mar 1745 in Sothel. Christened on 12 Mar 1745 in Scheeßel.The Ancestry Elbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database does not include records for the years 1727-1745. So, no Scheeßel parish birth/baptism record could be found for 1745.

The above birth and baptism dates are consistent with his death/burial record which calculates that Gesche Vajen was born about 1745which is consistent withher death/burial record which calculates that Gesche Vajen was born about 1745.

DEATH 8 AUG 1812 • Scheeßel

The Gen_Pluswin OFB Sittensen Database entrystates that Gesche Vajen died in Hunhorn and she was buried in Scheeßel.

The Scheeßel parish death/burialrecord of Gesche Vajen is as follows:

The AncestryElbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database has the entry:

Name	Gesche Gerken
Death Age	67
Death Age	67
Event Type	Beerdigung
Birth Date	abt 1745
Death Date	8 Aug 1812
Burial Date	11 Aug 1812
Burial Place	Scheeßel, Hannover, Preußen
Spouse	Johann Gerken
Parish as it Appears	Scheeßel
Page number	88;89;103
Custodian	Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv, Standesort Stade
Film Number	1189539
City or District	Scheeßel
Household Members	Name Age Johann Gerken Gesche Gerken

Notes

1. Peter Meÿer and his family changed the spelling of their last name to Meier after they arrived in Missouri.
2. The AncestryElbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database,was searched for what could be learned.

The current chapter reports the findings on the children ofJohann Gerken and Gesche Vajen, grandparents of Anna.

Johann Gerken and Gesche VajenFamily

In a previous post, Anna Gerken Ancestors – Part IV-B  information on Anna’s father’s parents, Joachim Gerken and Gesche Vajen, and their marriage was presented. Included was a Gen_Pluswin OFB Sittensen database entry for the Johann Gerken and Gesche Vajen family but it does not include all of their children. The Elbe-Weser Triangle database was explored to verify the data and determine additional children.

Johann Gerken and Gesche Vajen Children

The following children have been found forJohann Gerken and Gesche Vajen:

Maria Gerken (1766-1767)

BAPTISM– 22 Oct 1766

The Scheeßel Church baptism record for Maria is:

The Ancestry Elbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database entry is:

Name:	Maria Gercken
Gender:	weiblich (Female)
Event Type:	Taufe (Baptism)
Baptism Date:	22 Okt 1766 (22 Oct 1766)
Baptism Place:	Scheeßel, Hannover, Preußen (Germany)
Father:	Johann Gercken
Legitimacy:	Ehelich
Parish as it Appears:	Scheeßel
Page Number:	311
Custodian:	Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv, Standesort Stade
Film Number:	1189538
City or District:	Scharmbeck (Osterholz) u Scheeßel

BURIAL– 22 Jul 1767

The Scheeßel Church death/burialrecord for Maria is:

Name	Maria Gerckens
Death Age	1
Death Age	9/12
Event Type	Beerdigung
Birth Date	abt 1766
Death Date	abt 1767
Burial Date	22 Juli 1767
Burial Place	Scheeßel, Hannover, Preußen
Father	Johann Gerckens
Parish as it Appears	Scheeßel
Page number	334;253
Custodian	Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv, Standesort Stade
Film Number	1189538
City or District	Scharmbeck (Osterholz) u Scheeßel
Household Members	Name Age Maria Gerckens Johann Gerckens

Maria was 9 months old when she died which gives a calculated birth date of about22 Oct 1766.which is almost 5years after her parents, Johann Gerken and Gesche Vajen, were married on20 Nov 1761.

Engel Gerken (1767-1827)

The Gen_Pluswin OFB Sittensen database has the following entry for Engel Gerken:

1. Engel (Lutheran) Born in Hunhorn. Christened on 18 Oct 1767 in Scheeßel. Died after 1812 in Wenkeloh. Buried after 1812 in Scheeßel. Church Marriage on 20 Oct 1789 in Scheeßel with Hans MEYER (5463)

BAPTISM -18 Oct 1767

The Gen_Pluswin OFB Sittensen database has that Engel Gerken was baptised on18 Oct 1767.

There is a Scheeßel Church baptism record for Engel on 18 Oct 1767 is:

The Ancestry Elbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database entry is:

Name:	Engel Heerde
Gender:	weiblich (Female)
Event Type:	Taufe (Baptism)
Baptism Date:	18 Okt 1767 (18 Oct 1767)
Baptism Place:	Scheeßel, Hannover, Preußen (Germany)
Father:	Johann Heerde
Mother:	Catrina
Legitimacy:	Ehelich
Parish as it Appears:	Scheeßel
Page Number:	331;250
Custodian:	Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv, Standesort Stade
Film Number:	1189538
City or District:	Scharmbeck (Osterholz) u Scheeßel

From theScheeßel Church record, Engel’s father’s last name appears to be Gerken and, he was from Hunborn. Her mother’s name whileinterpreted as “Catrina” looks somewhat like Gesche.

Marriage -26 Oct 1789

The Gen_Pluswin OFB Sittensen database has that Engel Gerken marriedon 20 Oct 1789 in Scheeßel with Hans MEYER.

There is noScheeßel Church marriage record for20 Oct 1789 in the Ancestry Elbe-Weser Triangle, database. There is aScheeßel Church marriage recordfor a Hans Meierand Engel Gereke on 26 Oct 1789 as shown below:

A magnified version of entry 12 is given below:

The Ancestry Elbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database entry is:

Name	Engel Gereke
Gender	weiblich
Event Type	Heirat
Marriage Date	26 Okt 1789
Marriage Place	Scheeßel, Hannover, Preußen
Father	Johann Gereke
Spouse	Hans Meier
Parish as it Appears	Scheeßel
Page number	31
Custodian	Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv, Standesort Stade
Film Number	1189539
City or District	Scheeßel
Household Members	Name Age Hans Meier Hans Meier Engel Gereke Johann Gereke

Engel’s father is listed as Johann Gerken from Hunhorn and the father of her spouse, Hans Meier, is Hans Meier from Wenkeloh. If Engel Gerken’s birth date was 18 Oct 1767, she was 22 years old when she married.

DEATH – 4 Jul 1827

There is a Scheeßel Church death/burial record for Engel Meÿer as is shown below:

Engel (Gerken) Meÿer – Death 1827

The Ancestry Elbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database entry is:

Johann Peter Gerken (1770–1821)

The Gen_Pluswin OFB Sittensen Database has the following entry for Johann Peter Gerken:

BIRTH–20 Feb 1770

The Scheeßel Church birth/baptismrecord for Johannis:

The AncestryElbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database entry is:

Name	Johann Peter Gerrads
Gender	männlich
Event Type	Taufe
Baptism Date	20 Feb 1770
Baptism Place	Scheeßel, Hannover, Preußen
Father	Johann Gerrads
Mother	Gesche
Parish as it Appears	Scheeßel
Page number	367
Custodian	Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv, Standesort Stade
Film Number	1189538
City or District	Scharmbeck (Osterholz) u Scheeßel
Household Members	Name Age Johann Peter Gerrads Gesche Johann Gerrads

Marriage 1 – 20 Nov 1795, Engel BELLMANN

The Scheeßel Church marriage record is:

The AncestryElbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database entry is:

Marriage 2 -27 Nov 1801, Margreta MEINKE

The Scheeßel Church marriage record is:

The AncestryElbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database entry is:

Name	Joh Peter Gerken
Gender	männlich
Event Type	Heirat
Marriage Date	27 Nov 1801
Marriage Place	Scheeßel, Hannover, Preußen
Spouse	Margaretha Meincken
Parish as it Appears	Scheeßel
Page number	213
Custodian	Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv, Standesort Stade
Film Number	1189539
City or District	Scheeßel
Household Members	Name Age Joh Peter Gerken Margaretha Meincken Joh Hinr Meincken

DEATH– 7 Jul 1821

The Scheeßel Church death/burialrecord is:

 

The Ancestry Elbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database entry is:

Name	Engel
Death Age	51
Death Age	51
Event Type	Beerdigung
Birth Date	abt 1770
Death Date	5 Juli 1821
Burial Date	9 Juli 1821
Burial Place	Scheeßel, Hannover, Preußen
Spouse	Johann Peter Gerken
Parish as it Appears	Scheeßel
Page number	112;113;57
Custodian	Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv, Standesort Stade
Film Number	1189540
City or District	Scheeßel
Household Members	Name Age Engel Johann Peter Gerken

Anna Catharina Gerken (1773-1816)

The Gen_Pluswin OFB Sittensen Database has the following entry:

BIRTH–7 Jan 1773

The Scheeßel Church birth/baptismrecord is:

The AncestryElbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database entry is:

DEATH–11 Feb 1816

The Scheeßel Church death/burialrecord is:

The AncestryElbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database entry is:

Name Anna Catharina Gercken Death Age 43 Death Age 43 Event Type Beerdigung Birth Date abt 1773 Death Date 11 Feb 1816 Burial Date 13 Feb 1816 Burial Place Scheeßel, Hannover, Preußen Father Johann Gerken Mother Gesche Fajen Parish as it Appears Scheeßel Page number 82;83;320 Custodian Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv, Standesort Stade Film Number 1189539 City or District Scheeßel Household Members Name Age Anna Catharina Gercken Gesche Johann Gerken

Harm Gerken (1775–1831)

The Ancestry Elbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database entry is:

Marriage – 22 Apr 1804

The Scheeßel Church marriage record is:

The AncestryElbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database entry is:

Name	Harm Gerken
Gender	männlich
Event Type	Heirat
Marriage Date	22 Apr 1804
Marriage Place	Scheeßel, Hannover, Preußen
Father	Johann Gerken
Spouse	Anna Lüdemanns
Parish as it Appears	Scheeßel
Page number	5;295
Custodian	Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv, Standesort Stade
Film Number	1189539
City or District	Scheeßel
Household Members	Name Age Harm Gerken Johann Gerken Anna Lüdemanns Cord Hinrich Lüdemanns

DEATH–3 Dec 1831

The Scheeßel Church death/burial record is:

The AncestryElbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database entry is:

Margreta Gerken (1779-1779)

BAPTISM– 13 Nov 1779

The Scheeßel Church record is:

The AncestryElbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database entry is:

Name	Margreta Geerken
Gender	weiblich
Event Type	Taufe
Baptism Date	13 Nov 1779
Baptism Place	Scheeßel, Hannover, Preußen
Father	Joh Geerken
Mother	Geshe
Parish as it Appears	Scheeßel
Page number	470
Custodian	Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv, Standesort Stade
Film Number	1189538
City or District	Scharmbeck (Osterholz) u Scheeßel
Household Members	Name Age Margreta Geerken Geshe Joh Geerken

BURIAL– 9 Dec 1779

The Scheeßel Church record is:

The AncestryElbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database entry is:

Name Margreta Geerken Death Age 0 Death Age 0 Event Type Beerdigung Birth Date abt 1779 Death Date abt 1779 Burial Date 9 Dez 1779 Burial Place Scheeßel, Hannover, Preußen Father Johann Geerken Page number 475 Custodian Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv, Standesort Stade Film Number 1189539 City or District Scheeßel Household Members Name Age Johann Geerken Margreta Geerken

Gesche Gerken (1780-1813)

BAPTISM –1 Nov 1780

The Scheeßel Church record is:

The AncestryElbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database entry is:

Name Gesche Gercken Gender weiblich Event Type Taufe Baptism Date 1 Nov 1780 Baptism Place Scheeßel, Hannover, Preußen Father Johann Gercken Mother Gesche Legitimacy Ehelich Parish as it Appears Scheeßel Page number 485 Custodian Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv, Standesort Stade Film Number 1189539 City or District Scheeßel Household Members Name Age Gesche Gercken Gesche Johann Gercken

MARRIAGE – 11 Nov 1803

The Scheeßel Church record is:

The AncestryElbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database entry is:

Name Gesche Gerken Gender weiblich Event Type Heirat Marriage Date 11 Nov 1803 Marriage Place Scheeßel, Hannover, Preußen Father Johann Gerken Spouse Johann Hinrich Bellmann Parish as it Appears Scheeßel Page number 6;7;265 Custodian Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv, Standesort Stade Film Number 1189539 City or District Scheeßel Household Members Name Age Johann Hinrich Bellmann Hinrich Bellmann Gesche Gerken Johann Gerken

DEATH -Aft. 1813

No Scheeßel parish death/burial records were found for Gesche Gerken. The date after 1813 was used because Gesche had a son born 23 Jan 1813.

Maria Gerken (1781-1806)

BIRTH–Abt. 11 Mar 1781

No Scheeßel parish birth/baptism records were found for Gesche.[2] Since Maria’s age at death was 24 years 9 months and 26 days her calculated birth date was about 11 Mar 1781.

DEATH–6 Jan 1806

The Scheeßel Church record is:

The AncestryElbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database entry is:

Name	Maria Gerken
Death Age	24
Death Age	24
Event Type	Beerdigung
Birth Date	abt 1782
Death Date	6 Jan 1806
Burial Date	9 Jan 1806
Burial Place	Scheeßel, Hannover, Preußen
Father	Johann Gerken
Parish as it Appears	Scheeßel
Page number	66;67;404
Custodian	Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv, Standesort Stade
Film Number	1189539
City or District	Scheeßel
Household Members	Name Age Maria Gerken Johann Gerken

Jochim Gerken (1783-1836)

BIRTH–1 Oct 1783

DEATH–20 Dec 1836

Jochim was presented in postAnna Gerken Ancestors – Part IV-A. When Jochim Gerken was born, his father, Johann, was 39 and his mother, Gesche, was 38.

Discussion

Johann Gerken and Gesche Vajen apparently had no children during the first 5 years of their marriage. Itis the possible thatJohann and Gesche had children that were not found in theScheeßel Church records.

Johann Gerken and Gesche Vajen then had nine children in 17 years.Jochim Gerken was the last of the children found[2] to be born of Johann and Gesche . Gresche was 38 years old when Jochim was born. So, there were probably no more children born to Johann and Gesche after Jochim.

Daughter Engel Gerken marriedHans Meÿerwho was the son of Hans Meÿer II (1726-1795) and Anna “Trine” Heitmann (1737-1796). See chapter Peter Meier Ancestors – Part VThis means that Anna Gerken was related to her husband Peter Meier as shown in the following chart:

Notes

1. The AncestryElbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database,was searched for what could be learned.
2. There were no Scheeßel birth/baptism records in the AncestryElbe-Weser Triangle database for the years 1764 and1781.