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
BIRTH 2 NOV 1743 • Hunhorn
The Gen_Pluswin OFB Sittensen database entrystates that Johann Gerken was born2 Nov 1743 in Hunhorn and he was christened on 3 Nov 1743 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, noScheeßel parish birth/baptism record could be found for 1743.
The Gen_Pluswin OFB Sittensen database birth and baptism dates areconsistent withhis death/burial record from which Johann Gerken’s calculated birth date is about1745.
DEATH 19 Mar 1827?• Hunhorn/Lauenbrück?
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:
| Name: | Johann Gerken |
|---|---|
| Death Age: | 82 |
| Death Age: | 82 |
| Event Type: | Beerdigung (Burial) |
| Birth Date: | abt 1745 |
| Death Date: | 19 Mrz 1827 (19 Mar 1827) |
| Burial Date: | 22 Mrz 1827 (22 Mar 1827) |
| Burial Place: | Scheeßel, Hannover, Preußen (Germany) |
| Parish as it Appears: | Scheeßel |
| Page Number: | 50;51;226 |
| Custodian: | Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv, Standesort Stade |
| Film Number: | 1189540 |
| City or District: | Scheeßel |
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 |
|
Notes
- Peter Meÿer and his family changed the spelling of their last name to Meier after they arrived in Missouri.
- 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 |
|
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:
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 |
|
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:
| Name: | Engel Meÿer |
|---|---|
| Death Age: | 59 |
| Death Age: | 59 |
| Event Type: | Beerdigung (Burial) |
| Birth Date: | abt 1768 |
| Death Date: | 4 Jul 1827 |
| Burial Date: | 7 Jul 1827 |
| Burial Place: | Scheeßel, Hannover, Preußen (Germany) |
| Spouse: | Hans Meÿer |
| Parish as it Appears: | Scheeßel |
| Page Number: | 54;55;228 |
| Custodian: | Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv, Standesort Stade |
| Film Number: | 1189540 |
| City or District: | Scheeßel |
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 |
|
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:
| Name: | Johann Pet Gerate |
|---|---|
| Gender: | männlich (Male) |
| Event Type: | Heirat (Marriage) |
| Marriage Date: | 20 Nov 1795 |
| Marriage Place: | Scheeßel, Hannover, Preußen (Germany) |
| Father: | Johan Gerate |
| Spouse: | Engel Bolleins |
| Parish as it Appears: | Scheeßel |
| Page Number: | 91 |
| Custodian: | Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv, Standesort Stade |
| Film Number: | 1189539 |
| City or District: | Scheeßel |
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 |
|
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 |
|
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:
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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:
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Harm Gerken (1775–1831)
BIRTH 6 NOV 1775
The Scheeßel Church birth/baptismrecord is:
The Ancestry Elbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database entry is:
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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 |
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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:
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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 |
|
BURIAL– 9 Dec 1779
The Scheeßel Church record is:
The AncestryElbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database entry is:
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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:
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MARRIAGE – 11 Nov 1803
The Scheeßel Church record is:
The AncestryElbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database entry is:
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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 |
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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
- The AncestryElbe-Weser Triangle, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1574-1945 database,was searched for what could be learned.
- There were no Scheeßel birth/baptism records in the AncestryElbe-Weser Triangle database for the years 1764 and1781.