I am attempting to learn the last name of my great-grandfather who may have been living in the town of Blans when my grandfather was born in 1872. If there was a census taken around that time, then my g-grandfather "Wilhelm" from Lippe Detmold, Germany may have been enumerated in the same household along with my g-grandmother Karna Nilsson from Stehag, Sweden. The two had worked together in Holnis Germany on the Flensburg fjord. All I know about Wilhelm's identity is found on the baptismal certificate which can be found on his son Wilhelm's baptismal record from 1872. It is posted to the following Find A Grave memorial:

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=67...


So, if anyone has access to any German census databases which would have included Blans, Germany around 1872, please consider giving it a look. We just might find out what the full name is for this "Wilhelm from Detmold". Thank you so much. Tom Nelson, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A.

Hi

The censuses for Sønderborg County between 1860 and 1921 does not exist.

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Flemming Aasklint

Thank you so much for your reply. I am, of course, disappointed about the absence of any census records for the early 1870's in his part of Denmark/Germany but... if they don't exist then they don't exist!Since the town of Blans was part of Ulderup/Ullerup parish during that period could there possibly be any parish records which would go back that far and which would record who was living in the various homes during 1871-1872? I know that in Sweden, the Lutheran Church would send emmisaries around to each home and record the persons living there and report on whether or not they were studying the bible, etc. So if anyone could supply me with contact information for the Ullerup parish maybe I could see if they had what I'm looking for. Thanks to anybody who can help me solve the riddle of my great-grandfather's last name. Tom Nelson, U.S.A.

Hi Tom,

Just a thought. My guess is that your great grandfather was in the Prussian army stationed in Ullerup or Blans in the summer of 1871. Perhaps there is a military record in Germany. If so, and you can get it, look for a Wilhelm from Lippe-Detmold.

Sincerely,
Paul

Thanks for the tip, Paul. If I can, I'll try to look into that possiblility. Tom

Hi,

As it says that they (Karna and Wilhelm) where not married at the time of the birth. Wilhelm is only "udlagte barnefader" which means that he is probably only mentioned as the father because the mother said so, there did not need to be any "proof" of this.

If the man "accepted" to be the father, then he would need to pay money to the child. Then there would be records in the local archives for Ullerup for this arrangement, which might give you more info about Wilhelm.

Just an idea.

http://danishgenealogy.homestead.com/danishgenealogy.html