I am searching for information about my great, great grandparents, JOHN FRITZ (about 1826-1905) and MARY RITTWAGE (about 1827-1893) as well as their ancestors and their descendants. John Fritz and his wife Mary Rittwage migrated from Prussia to Canada about 1856. At the time of migration, John was probably known as Johan and Mary was probably known as Maria. Mary may also have had the names Hanna and Henreitte. By 1861 they were living in Brighton Township, Canada West. They soon settled near Smithfield, Brighton Township, Ontario, Canada and lived there for the rest of their lives.

John and Mary were possibly living in Saarow, Pomerania, Prussia at the time that they migrated. Now, Saarow is known as Sarowo or Zarowo. Sarowo is located in northwest Poland.

John and Mary had four children while they were living in Prussia. They were:

Franz August Fritz (1847- )
Friederike Wilhelmine Fritz (1849-1849)
Louisa Emilie Fritz (1851-1882)
Franz Ferdinand Fritz (1854-before 1920)

As well as Friederike, Franz probably died in Prusiia before his parents migrated.

My great grandmother, Lousia Fritz, married James Parr on 24 December 1868 in the Wesleyan Methodist Church, Consecon, Hillier Township, Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada. About 1871 they shifted to Sheridan, Chautauqua County, New York, USA. James was born and raised in Sheridan. Lousia probably died in Sheridan.

Franz Fritz became known as Frank in Canada. He married Emma Brown and by 1900 they were living in Jefferson County, New York, USA.

In Canada John and Mary had six more children. They were:

Mary Fritz (1856- )
Charles Fritz (1858-1926)
Edward Lewis Fritz (1860-1918)
William Frederik Fritz (1862-1908)
Albert Henry Fritz (1866-1881)
Sarah Ellen Fritz (1869-1933)

Mary Fritz married Nathan Fulford.

Charles Fritz married Ruth Vandervoort.

Edward Fritz married Minnie Davies.

William Fritz married Ida Grace Davies.

Albert Fritz probably did not marry.

Sarah Fritz married Robert Couch.

These six Fritzs and their spouses lived in Ontario all their lives.

The parents of Mary Rittwage were possibly Regina Netzel and Martin Ritttwage.

Mary Rittwage’s younger brother, Frederick Rittwage, and his wife Louise Marten migrated from Prussia in 1873 and settled in the Brighton Township.

I would really like to find out more about developments for my relatives before they migrated to Canada. Also I would like to find out about relatives who continued to live in Prussia.

Arnold Parr

arnold.r.parr@gmail.com