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Caroline Feige's Roots in Germany
Caroline
Feige was born on Monday, 22 February 1847 in Escherode, a small town
then located in the Kingdom of Hannover. Escherode was—and is—near the
large city of Kassel. Today, Escherode is in Landkreis Göttingen in the German state of
Niedersachsen.
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Escherode
was at the far southern end of the Kingdom of Hannover. It can be found
in the lower right corner of the map to the right. The cross above the
circle marking its location indicates the presence of a church.
Detail from 1856 map of Hannover, Braunschweig, Oldenburg
Geographisches Institut (Weimar, Germany)
David Rumsey Collection
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| Thirteen
days after her birth, Caroline was baptized on Sunday, 7 March 1847 at
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Escherode. The church is still active
today. (An
image
of Caroline Feige's baptism record as found in the Escherode
churchbooks can be seen here.)
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In this church in
Escherode, Caroline Feige and the five oldest of her siblings
were baptized. Also baptized here were her parents and three of her
grandparents.
The tower of the church may date to 900-1000 AD and probably served as a military tower and a place of refuge for the villagers.
Photo by Norman Hellmers, 1979 |
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Caroline
was the daughter of Johann Heinrich Feige (born 14 October 1817 in
Escherode) and Anna Elisabeth Hoffmeister (born 30 May 1819 in
Escherode). Caroline's parents were married in the church in Escherode
on 15 November 1840. Caroline was the fourth of eight children.
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In
Escherode, the occupation of Caroline's father was variously described
as a day-laborer [Tagelöhner] at the time of his marriage and later as a linen weaver [Leineweber]. Some time
after the birth of his sixth child, Sophie, on 21 October1851, Johann
Feige moved his family to Bentheim, also in the Kingdom of Hannover,
but nearly 150 miles distant from the family's ancestral home. The
reason for this dramatic move is not known, nor is the exact date. But
on 19 July 1857, the Feiges seventh child, Johanna Bertha, was born in
Bentheim. Three years later, their eighth and last child, Bernhard
Ferdinand, was born.
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Bentheim was at the far western
edge of the Kingdom of Hannover. In 1866, after the Austro-Prussian
War, Hannover was dissolved as an independent kingdom and was annexed
by Prussia and became the Province of Hannover. Today, Bentheim is in
the modern German state of
Niedersachsen.
Detail from 1856 map of Hannover, Braunschweig, Oldenburg
Geographisches Institut (Weimar, Germany)
David Rumsey Collection
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In
Bentheim, Johann Feige's position was that of court bailiff
[Gerichtsdiener]. How it was that a linen weaver in Escherode became
the bailiff in Bentheim is not known. He and his family lived in the
building, the Gericht,
that housed the court.
The Gericht (courthouse) in Bentheim
Photo by Norman Hellmers, 1979
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The
family was associated with the Evangelical Reformed Church in Bentheim.
Here Caroline's two younger siblings were baptized and Caroline was
confirmed on Sunday, 24 March 1861. Her older sister Elise was married
here and it was from here
that her parents were buried.
The present church building dates from 1696.
Photo by Norman Hellmers, 1979
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A sad event in the life
of the Feige family occurred in May 1868. The youngest daughter,
Johanna, then 10 years old, was playing with a girl friend by a well
near the courthouse. A stone arch fell on her and killed her
immediately. The story of this tragedy is told here.
Tombstone of Johanna Bertha Feige
Photo by Norman Hellmers, 1979
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When and for what reasons Caroline Feige determined to emigrate is not known. There were no known relatives in America, and of
the surviving children in her family, she was the only one to emigrate. The
story of her journey to New Orleans at the age of 21 is told in the
section titled: "To America."
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Go to next section: Feige Ancestors
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Return
to Feige Family History Opening Page
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