August Weinert Research
By Sandra Gardiner Blunck, August 5, 2020
Questions: Where was August Weinert born, when was he born and who were his parents?
Some think he was born in Roessel, Prussia on January 17, 1826 (a town in northeastern Poland today). Others think he was born in Festenberg, Silesia, Prussia on January 17, 1832.
Jacob and Anne Weinert are the parents of the August born in 1826. August’s mother signed her name to a letter as “Ann Heinrich” in 1868. Johann Gerhardt Weinert and Anna Lasskowsky are the parents of the August born in 1832.
Research history concerning August Weinert:
Reszel [ˈrɛʂɛl] (German: Rößel; Prussian: Resel or Resl; English: Roessel) is a town in the Warmia-Masuria province, in northeastern Poland today. In 1826 it was located in East Prussia, Prussia.
26 March 1858
Johann Weinert Marriage Record (Available on FamilySearch.org)
Johann Weinert (the brother of August Weinert) married Henrietta Magtentz (Mandanz) on March 26, 1858 in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The names of Johann parents are given as “Jacob” and “Anne.”
9 June 1868
Letter to Johann Weinert from his mother (in the possession of Paul Weinert of Falls City, Nebraska as of 2020)
A letter addressed to Johann Weinert, August’s brother, from his mother was written on June 9, 1868 from Roessel. The letter mentions 5 siblings: Johann, August, Jacob, Andreas, and “sister.”
An excerpt from the letter says, “August has also written a letter to us dated the second of June, 1868. He said that he is well. Last year big green grasshoppers destroyed his entire crop. He still lives in the same place and has seven children.
“Jacob arrived at August's place to visit him. August didn't recognize him at first but then their joy at seeing one another was indescribably great. August is pleased to say that Jacob had grown up into a very clever man, but he would not stay with him. He wants to emigrate to Australia. He is convinced he can make his fortune there . . . ”
“Ann Heinrich.”
1898
Death Notice
Newspaper death notice for August Weinert gives his birth date of January 17, 1826 (when calculated from information given).
Dec 1989
Audrey Kroksh Records
Audrey Kroksh, a granddaughter of August Weinert, gave her genealogical records to Sandra Blunck and Kent Gardiner. Her records includ information about August Weinert that she obtained from a researcher in Europe. The researcher’s records show August Weinert born in Festenberg, Silesia, Prussia on Jan 17, 1832 with parents of Johann Gerdardt Weinert and Anna Lasskowsky (married 9 Oct 1830 in Festenberg) along with many ancestors. The source for the records is: “Ev par rec for Festenberg” (Evangelical parish records for Festenberg).
Nov 1990
Johann Weinert 1828-1905
Don Weinert of Tulsa Oklahoma wrote a history about Johann Weinert called Johann Weinert 1828-1905. Don is Johann’s grandson and Johann is the brother of August Weinert. The 54 page history says, “Johann Weinert was born May 28, 1828 in the small village of Rossel, East Prussia. He (Johann) always spoke of himself as German, but when he was born Germany as we know it today did not exist.”
12 Oct 2001
Email from Paul Weinert to Kent Gardiner
From: Paul Weinert
Subject: Weinert family
To: K kgardin@ucla.edu
Dear Kent,
I have your letter of the 2nd of October in hand and find it interesting that we may be related. I cannot place Marjie Ingersoll in my mind. As I am sure you know, Weinert is not a common name but frequently found. I’ve been contacted by several people
who believe they may be related to our branch and we could find no evidence they were. Right now I am snowed under. I look after the family farm and we are in the midst of harvest. I am a retired public school teacher and also a retired ordained United Methodist minister. Tomorrow I have a funeral and this week-end will be filling I for an active pastor in two service. Next week I’ll get something to you which may be of help in placing our possible relationship. If we can establish this it would be very interesting.
I have a cousin in Glendale and this past January we stayed in Pasadena while visiting the area. We were between visiting my brother in Livermore and a sister in the Phoenix area. I am 71 years old. May wife and I will be celebrating our Golden Wedding Ann. in Feb. of the coming year . . . about the time I turn 72. We have five children ranging in age from 37-47. Just a brief word about the family . . . I can’t help myself. My great grandfather was August Weinert who was German, born in 1826 (he is sometimes confused with an August Weinert who was born in 1832) and came to this country in 1842 and the story in the family is that he did so at that time to avoid service in the Prussian army . . . of course about half the men who came to this country at the time were “draft dodgers.” August was born into a Catholic family and was sent to the convent to be trained in the priesthood but he ran away. He married Fredericka VanderSchaaf, a woman of Dutch birth (1932) in 1851 in Buffalo, NY. They came to Nebraska in late summer of 1859 with three girls, two of whom lived to adulthood. They buried a total of four children. Adult children were Fanny, born in 1853 in Buffalo and who married Frederick Scholl and died in 1922; Jennie (Jane) born in 1855 in Toronto, Canada and married Christian Hoffer and died in 1942; John Weinert born 1959 in Nebraska a couple of months after they arrived, married Anna Kaiser and died in 1925; Charles Weinert (my grandfather) born in 1861 in Nebraska, married to Mary Voegelein and died in 1941; Anna born in 1863 in Nebraska, married to August Ernst; Minnie born in 1865 in Nebraska, married to Edward Voegelein and died in 1941; August Weinert born in 1869 in Nebraska and married twice (my memory fails me on their names at the moment; and Louise born 1873 and married Clarence Wiltse. The twin of Louise died and another set of twins died at birth. August the elder died in 1898 in Falls City, Nebraska and Fredericka died in 1906 on a farm outside Falls City at the home of her eldest daughter.
As I said at the beginning, I had no intention of going this far but then get carried away. We’ll let the ‘dead bury the dead.” If any of these lines give you a hint of where you might fit in let me know. Some Weinerts came in through Canada and at least two brothers into Texas. The two brothers split up and one started a town by that name in Texas. The other brother settled in Sequin, TX and is rather well known in business and politics there. I have spent an evening with a grandson of the Weinert, TX family and can find no common ancestors though he is sure such is the case.
Warm regards, Paul Weinert
Sept 2003
August & Fredericka Weinert history
August & Fredericka Weinert history was written by Beth Weinert (wife of David Weinert, great grandson of August Weinert). In her history Beth says, “August Weinert was born January 17, 1826 in Roessel, Prussia to Johann Gerhard Weinert and Ann Heinrich Lasskowsky Weinert.”
Beth contacted many family members as sources for her history.
Sept 2015
Email to Kent Gardiner from Margie Ingersoll
“You have that August was born in Roessel. I don't think that is true but I think Beth, Marji and maybe others think it is Roessel. I think it is because the letter that Ann, August's mother wrote to him when he was in Nebraska indicates she is in Roessel then. When your Grandmother Emma or Aunt Audrey did their research, they have that August was born in Festenberg, Silesia, Prussia, which is now Twardogora, Poland. Last year I paid someone in Germany to find out where August was born, and I gave her both places Festenberg and Roessel. Her research has that he was born in Festenberg same as your grandmother or aunt had. However she gave me no copies of records, just a pedigree chart. You can do what you want to do there as I don't want to create waves.
You have that Fredericka was born in Amsterdam but it should be Dokkum, Friesland, Holland/Netherlands. Just to be specific, Fredericka was buried in Zion Cemetery in Falls City.”
July 2020
Paul Weinert
Kent Gardiner called Paul Weinert (grandson of Charles Weinert and great grandson of August) and asked him about where August was born. Paul said he remembered being told by his grandfather, Charles, that August was born in Roessel, Prussia.
Conclusions as of August 5, 2020 by Sandra Blunck:
Where was August born?
There appears to be a lot of confusion about where August Weinert was born. I believe there are two August Weinerts that have been confused as pointed out by the Paul Weinert letter. Audrey Kroksh paid a researcher who found an August Weinert born in Festenberg, Prussia with the same birth month and date of January 17, but he was born in 1832 and not 1826 as believed by family members. According to family knowledge August was Catholic and the August born in Festenberg is part of an evangelical church. There is no evidence or sources that suggest that August Weinert born in 1832 in Festenberg ever married Freekje (Fredericka) van der Schaaff.
According to family knowledge August Weinert was born in Roessel, Prussia. This information still needs to be confirmed with proper sources. Other evidence supporting Roessel as August’s birthplace would be Johann Weinert family believe he was born in Roessel and August’s mother wrote her letter from Roessel in 1868.
When was August Weinert born?
The obituary printed in 1898 is clear as well as the date on August’s grave marker and both of these along with family knowledge say he was born on January 17, 1826.
Who were August Weinert’s parents?
If August was born on January 17, 1826 then his parents are Jacob and Anne according to Johann’s marriage record. The letter from August’s mother names four brothers: Johann, August, Jacob and Andreas. This does not match the siblings for the August Weinert born in 1832 in Festenberg whose siblings are: Johannes, Anna Rosina, and Maria Gertrud.
August’s mother signed her letter as “Ann Heinrich” in 1868. We do not know why she used Heinrich.
New Entry
Kent Gardiner: Unfortunately there are many records on FS from Rosell in the 1700s but no birth records in the early 1800s.
2nd great grand parents Jacob Weinert -birth in Rossell, Prussia, Germany
Johann's wife -Henrietta Maglintz, birth 22/Feb/1837 in Grus Province of Pommern, Konigreich, East Prussia. She arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1853. She died 21/Apr/1923 Her parents -Frederick Maglintz/Magdanz, birth in Grus Province of Pommern, Konigreich, East Prussia
New Entry
Marjorie Intersoll: Kent “You have that August was born in Roessel. I don't think that is true but I think Beth, Marji and maybe others think it is Roessel. I think it is because the letter that Ann, August's mother wrote to him when he was in Nebraska indicates she is in Roessel then. When your Grandmother Emma or Aunt Audrey did their research, they have that August was born in Festenberg, Silesia, Prussia, which is now Twardogora, Poland. Last year I paid someone in Germany to find out where August was born, and I gave her both places Festenberg and Roessel. Her research has that he was born in Festenberg same as your grandmother or aunt had. However she gave me no copies of records, just a pedigree chart. You can do what you want to do there as I don't want to create waves.
