John Short's Page

It all started with a desire to find out about my German ancestry, a subject that my father, born in England of German parents, would never discuss. I sclass'tl'tarted with my Grandparents wedding certificate, 1894 in London, my Grandfather's certificate of birth in Saxony and my Grandmother's confirmation certificate from Luisenkirche in Charlottenburg. There were also one or two other documents, which gave little or no genealogical details. Thus I knew that my paternal Grandfather came from Saxony, in the old East Germany, and that my Grandmother came from the Berlin area, neither of which were the easiest places to visit. However all this changed with the demise of the Berlin Wall and the East German regime in 1989. We have visited Berlin on two occasions (1990 & 1996) and Saxony in 1994 & 1996. On all three occasions we pleasantly surprised by the amount of help given to us by the Church Pastors in the East, and by the Luisenkirche Church Office in Charlottenburg. Original Record Books were made freely available to us for inspection, although as the older records are all written in the old Germanic Script they were difficult to read. Generally the older Pastors were able to read them for us, but on occasions the younger Parsons had to call on the help of an older resident of the village. Do not believe the popular statement that all Germans can speak English, in the East very few of them in the smaller towns speak English, and almost none at all in the countryside. They were however, happy to help us in German. Generally in the East the record books were kept by the Pastors in the Rectory, and storage conditions in some places could have been improved.

All of the information that has been gathered on my family tree is as a result of trips to Germany, and my research in Lincolnshire and at the Family Research Centre in London. I am a member of the Lincolnshire FHS and also of the Anglo-German FHS. Some details on my wife's tree have been passed on to me by other researchers, as a result of entries in Family Tree magazine, and my membership of the Devon FHS. I would like to place on record my thanks for all the help and information received from these sources.

1. My father - Hermann Otto Alfred SCHROTH changed his name by Deed Poll in 1922 to SHORT. Born 7th August 1897, the second but only surviving child of his parents, and died 4th September 1981.

2. Paternal Grandfather - Max Paul Otto SCHROTH born 1st May 1869, Reppen, Saxony, Germany, the fifth of 10 children, married 7th November 1894 in St.Pancras Regsiter Office, London, to Klara Dorothea Maria BOLLING. Otto (as he was known) was in France in 1891 and arrived later at an unknown date in England. He was a cabinet maker by trade working in Great Titchfield Street, London and was interned in the Isle of Man during the First World War. He was repatriated during 1916 to Berlin, and died there from illness on 1st March 1922. Buried Luisenkirche Friedhof, Charlottenburg.

3.Paternal Grandmother - Klara Dorothea Maria BOLLING born 27th February 1870, Charlottenburg, Berlin. Mother of Ernest Hermann Otto(10.12.1894 - 19.1.1898) & Hermann Otto Alfred Schroth. Dorothea (as she was known) died 7th Sept 1924, Charlottenburg and buried in Luisenkirche Friedhof, Charlottenburg. The Bolling family had a fruit & vegetable shop, believed to be at 54 Konigsweg, Charlottenburg.

4. Carl Heinrich Ernst SCHROTH, born 5th Feb 1835, Casabra, Naundorf, Saxony. Married 26th April 1863 in Liptitz, Saxony to Johanna Christiana WEISZHORN. Carl died 2nd August 1886 in Reppen, Saxony.

5. Johanna Christiana WEISZHORN, born 24th May 1838, Mannewitz, Liptitz, Saxony and died 25th July 1906 in Oschatz, Saxony. Mother of Christiane Ernestine Emma (23.7.1863);Emma Auguste Linna (25.10.1864);Friedrich Ernst Max (19.5.1866);Ernst Max Paul (19.2.1868);Max Paul Otto Schroth;Emma Linna Selma (5.7.1871);Linna Selma Alma(23.2.1874);Paul Otto Emil (22.7.1875);Otto Emil Hugo(3.6.1877) & Selma Alma Laura (9.10.1880).

6. Carl Hermann Ferdinand BOLLING, born 1st October 1842, Charlottenburg, Berlin. Married (1) 29th Sept 1867 in Luisenkirche, Charlottenburg to Clara Auguste Paula BÖHNKE; (2) Berta (1869-1952) Carl died 4th March 1925 and buried Luisenkirche Friedhof, Charlottenburg.

7. Clara Auguste Pauline BÖHNKE, born 30th May 1846 in Charite Hospital, Berlin. Mother of Friedrich Karl Albert (26.3.1866-10.9.1866); Maria Wilhelmina Pauline (19.12.1867 - 19.3.1952 in Canada); Klara Dorothea Maria Bolling; & Wilhelm August Hermann(20.4.1871-27.8.1871).

8. Johann Gottfried SCHROTH, born 24th June 1796, Casabra, Saxony. Married 5th June 1834 in Ganzig, Saxony to Johanna Christiana SACHSE. Johann died 13th Jan 1879 in Casabra.

9. Johanna Christiana SACHSE, birthdate unknown, died 9th May 1876 in Casabra,Saxony. Mother of Carl Heinrich Ernst Schroth, Anna Amalia (1839-1841) & Augusta Amalia (17.7.1843)

10. Johann Gottfried WEISZHORN, born 15 March 1800 Stauchitz, Saxony. Married (1) 31.10.1831 Johanna Rosina Mullerin (d.10.7.1831); (2) 22nd January 1832 in Liptitz, Saxony to Anna Christina DÖGIN; (3) Christiane Friedericke Krause. Johann died 10th February 1882 in Mannewitz, Liptitz, Saxony.

11. Anna Christina DÖGIN, born 10th February 1806 in Altenhof, Leisnig, died 28th February 1842 in Liptitz, Saxony. Mother of Friedrich Wilhelm (1.12.1832-24.8.1915),Chtristiana Wilhelmina (14.9.1834); Christiana Carolina (19.5.1836) & Johanna Christiana Weiszhorn.

12. August Friedrich or Friedrich August BOLLING, born c.1809/10. Married 19th July 1835 in Luisenkirche, Charlottenburg to Dorothea Luise Wilhelmina HOFFMAN.

13. Dorothea Luise Wilhelmina HOFFMAN, born 25th August 1811 in Charlottenburg. Mother of Carl Hermann Ferdinand Bolling.

14. Johann Friedrich Wilhelm BÖHNKE , unmarried father of Clara.

15. Charlotte Friederika WUCK, born 1st September 1818 in Lehnin, Brandenburg, unmarried mother of Clara Böhnke. Birth entry for Clara states that parents not married at time of birth, but father's name taken under rights by State Law.

16. Johann Friedrich SCHROTH, married 25th November 1788, Kiebitz, Saxony to Anna Maria MERZDORF. (Birth registered as Mertzdorff; Wedding registered as Merzdorf)

17. Anna Maria MERTZDORFF, born 11th October 1764 in Auerschutz, Kiebitz. Mother of Johann Gottlieb (12.12.1793), Anna Rosina (22.11.??); Johann Gottfried Schroth.

20. Johann Christian WEISZHORN, born c.1757; married Anna Rosina KOCHEN, died 17th June 1825 in Stauchitz aged 68yrs and survived by 4 sons & 3 dghtrs.

21. Anna Rosina KOCHEN, born Hahnefeld; died before her husband (1825). Mother of Johann Gottfried Weiszhorn, Johann Friedrich (11.4.1802), Johann Friedrich (29.7.1805), Johanna Friedrika (12.8.1808), Johann Gotthelf (12.3.1810) & others, names unknown.

22. Johann Georg DÖCHE, born 30th January 1775 Altenhof, married 30th November 1797, Tragnitz, Leisnig, Saxony to Anna Christina WINKLER. Died 25th September 1854, Altenhof , Saxony aged 79yrs 7m. 25d. 9hours.

23. Anna Christina WINKLER, born 9th June 1768 Fischendorf, Tragnitz, Saxony, died 1841 Altenhof aged 73yrs 2m 18days. Mother of Johann Andreas (5.10.1798); Eva Rosina (20.8.1800); stillborn dtr (1802); Johanna Rosina (29.6.1804-17.10.1891); Anna Christina Dogin; Rosina Maria (20.9.1808-4.6.1881); Johann Christian (16.9.1810) & Carl Gottlob (23.4.1812).

24. Carl BOLLING, married Christiane Friederica KRÜGER

25. Christiane Friederica KRÜGER born 22nd May 1783, Charlottenburg, Berlin, mother of August Friedrich Bolling.

26. Christian Gottlieb HOFFMAN, born 20th July 1783 Charlottenburg, Berlin. Married possibly twice (1) Dorothea Louise Paulen 22.12.1805, (2) Dorothea HILGERN (stated name of daughter in Church records).

27. Dorothea HILGERN, mother of Dorothea Luise Wilhelmina Hoffman.

30. Andreas WUCK, born 28/31 December 1791, Deetz,Brandenburg, married 1817 in Deetz to Marie Friederike BRIETSCHE. Died 3rd March 1839 Lehnin, Brandenburg aged 47yrs 2mos.3 days, survived by 2 sons & 3 dghtrs (all minors).

31. Marie Friederike BRIETSCHE, born 9th October 1794, died 14th August 1845 Lehnin,Brandenburg. Mother of Charlotte Friederike Wuck, Carl Friedrich (1.10.1820); Johann Ferdinand (6.5.1824); Carl Friedrich (1827); Charlotte Wilhelmine (1.4.1830); & one other daughter.

34. Andreas MERTZDORFF, born 4th October 1718 Auerschütz, Kiebitz, Saxony married ?? JOCH from Pausitz, Saxony. Father of Anna Maria Merzdorf.

42. Johann Georg KOCH, father of Anna Rosina KOCHEN

44. Johann Georg DÖCHE , married Anna Christina KÜSZIGEN, died pre July 1821

45. Anna Christina KÜSZIGEN, born 14 September 1740, Naundorf, Leisnig,Saxony, died 28th July 1821 Altenhof, aged 80yrs 10mos 2weeks, survived by 1 son & 1 dghtr. Mother of Johann Georg Döche.

46. Andreas WINKLER, born 17th February 1735, Fischendorf, Tragnitz, Saxony, married 23rd November 1757 to Rosina Christina ZINKIN.

47. Rosina Christina ZINKIN, mother of Rosina Elizabeth (9.2.1759); Susanna Elizabeth (27.2.1765); Anna Christina Winkler; & Andreas (1772).

50. Johann Friedrich KRÜGER, married 27th November 1772, Luisenkirche, Charlottenburg to Anna Dorothea WOLFFIN.

51. Anna Dorothea WOLFFIN,born in Segerfeld, mother of Christiane Friederica Krüger.

52. Johann Gottlieb HOFFMAN, a Bombardier in 2nd Field Artrillery Regt of Major von Meerkatz Company, married 21st October 1782 Luisenkirche, Charlottenburg to Maria Dorothea DITERICHEN.

53. Maria Dorothea DITERICHEN, mother of Christian Gottlieb Hoffman.

60. Andreas WUCK, father of Andreas Wuck (1791)

62. Friedrich BRIETSCHE, married Sophie FREYER, died before 10.9.1834

63. Sophie FREYER, born 1770, died 10th September 1834 aged 64, in Lehnin, Brandenburg survived by 2 sons & 2 dghtrs. Mother of Marie Friederike Brietsche, Johann Friedrich & one other son & daughter alive at time of death.

68. Hans MERTZDORFF, married Regina HANIKIN

69. Regina HANIKIN, daughter of ?? HANKE, mother of Andreas Mertzdorff

92. Andreas WINKLER, born 4th October 1692, Fischendorf Tragnitz, Saxony, married 8th November 1718 in Tragnitz to Maria KIESLING.

93. Maria KIESLING, born 9th August 1697 (4th of 12 children) Fischendorf, Tragnitz. Mother of Susanna (16.10.1719), Andreas Winkler (1735) and at least three others in between.

102. Michael WOLFF, a farmer in Segerfeld, father of Anna Dorothea WOLFFIN

106. Christian DITRERICH, father of Maria Dorothea DITERICHEN

184. Andreas WINKLER, father of Andreas Winkler

186. Georg KIESLING, born Fischendorf, Tragnitz, Saxony father of Maria Kiesling

The following surnames also appear on my extended Paternal family tree, although not in the direct line as shown above. They are generally husbands/wives of sisters/brothers of those listed above. They all relate to the paternal ancestral line, i.e. Saxony

19th Century - BERGMAN, CLAUSS, HENTSCHEL, SCHRAEBER, UNZA (Zschochau)

20th Century - BECKER (Halle), HEIMANN (Liptitz), MICHAEL (Zschochau), SCHMIDT