A week of research in Warren County, Missouri enabled me to answer many of the questions I had about the last few years in the life of my 3rd great grandfather, Fritz Duewel. One of the new things I learned, however, was difficult for me to understand: Fritz never owned any land. I know this because I painstaking examined every deed book from 1845 through 1880 and his name was nowhere to be found. It was only after his death about 1876 that his wife, Catherine, purchased the land they had farmed for more than 25 years. I struggled with this a bit, even questioning whether I had thoroughly searched through every possible record. He left no will either that I could find, confirming somewhat that he owned nothing of great value. How utterly perplexing!

My interest in genealogy began with a DNA test. But my obsession began with the Duewels. I needed to understand why my mother, who had amassed two volumes of family history, had left the Duewels pretty much untouched. The answer is, of course, that the information on them was sparse and required me to live in a courthouse for a few days digging for information. Plus, there’s the pesky last name and its multiple spelling variations. These folks were boogers to track down but I managed.

At this point, the only place that might have any additional information on Fritz and Catherine was Germany. I was fortunate earlier on to find a record of their marriage online so I knew the village of Bockhorst was my best hope.

But I am obsessed, not clinically insane. I don’t speak or read German so traveling to Germany to research people who lived 200 years ago seemed risky and a bit extreme even for me. So, I hired a professional researcher in Germany. I cannot do this for every German ancestor in my family tree; but, having come so far with the Duewels in America I could not pass up the opportunity to learn more about them if there was something to be learned. And, boy did I.

Johann Friedrich Düwel was born October 19, 1808 to parents Friedrich Wilhelm Düwel and Marie Elisabeth Brune. My researcher, Dr. Volker Jarren, explained that Fritz was born into a social class known as “Heuerlinge”. This is actually captured in the church records. According to Dr. Jarren, the “Heuerling” were poor farmers who lived as tenants on land they leased from others. To survive during the winter months, they maintained secondary occupations. Fritz’s father, for example, was also a “linen weaver”.

So the fact that Fritz never owned land is not so strange after all.

Dr. Jarren’s report is six pages long and filled with information that causes me to salivate just thinking about what else I might be able to learn about my other German ancestors. His rates were very reasonable. In fact, considering the price of a plane ticket, it was a wunderbargain to be sure!

Dear Santa….

Kenfolk: Tranthams
Relation: 3rd great grandfather
Common ancestors: Johann Friedirch “Fritz” Düwel’s parents, Friedrich Wilhelm and Marie Elisabeth (Brune) Düwel, are my 4th great grandparents