Having pretty much completed Family Tree Research for the Bentzien-Thode-Rudolph-Buchholz-Alm-Gronewald families in America, I am turning my attention to the Bentzien-Benzien family members (whoa, and other various last name spellings to boot) from the motherland Germany.Near as I can figure, my ancestors lived in the northeastern Mecklenburg-Vorpommern regions of Germany.Bentzien family members are most frequently found the records for Vilz, Hirschburg, Rostock, Graal-Muritz, Ribnitz, Dierhagen, Prerow, Barth, Wieck, Born, Grimmen, and Stralsund, though many other town names appear.
Gustav Adolph Benzien was born in about 1733 in Vilz, near Tessin. A German genealogist suggests that Gustav Adolph is most likely a descendant of Clawes Benzien, born about 1540and Marten Benzien born about 1610, both born in Vilz.This lineage cannot be substantiated due to lost or missing records.
However, the paternal pedigree from Gustav Adolph Benzien to Hermann Franz Carl Heinrich Benzien can be traced with documentation.The lineage is Gustav Adolph, Gustav Bernhard born 1754 in Vilz, Johann Friedrich Nicolaus born 1788 in Hirschburg, Johann Friedrich Christian Daniel born in 1832 in Graal-Muritz, and finally Hermann, my great-grandfather.
Born in 1858 in Teterow, Hermann Franz Carl Heinrich Benzien is the youngest son of Johann Friedrich Christian Daniel Benzien and Maria Friederike Georgine Muhrbeck.
In 1881 Hermann Franz Carl Heinrich Benzien immigrated from Germany via Baltimore to Milwaukee, having been recruited by Vilter Manufacturing. Great-grandfather Herman is listed in the Milwaukee City Directory as "Herman Bentzien" in 1882.Note the changes from his 1858 birth name of Hermann Benzien to Herman Bentzien.In 1882 there stands a single "n" in Herman and addition of the "t" in Bentzien.
Then in 1882, Herman's 50 year old, twice-widowed, mother Maria Friederike Georgine Muhrbeck-Benzien-Alm immigrated with her surviving daughter Martha Alm to join her son Herman in Milwaukee. Maria's first husband, Johann Friedrick Christian David Benzien, father of Hermann Franz Carl Heinrich and Gustav Wilhelm Johann Benzien. He died of consumption/TB at the age of 27. Johann Joachim Christian Alm was the second husband of Maria and father to Martha Alm. He was a sailor & died in heavy seas.Martha Alm married William Gronewald from Milwaukee.
Herman married Johanna Friedericke Christiane Burmeister in Milwaukee in 1884. Of their 5 children, only their son Paul John Bentzien survided to adulthood.Paul John (PJ) married Adela Thode and they had 3 sons, Richard Paul, Leonard Thode, and Robert Herman.I am the daughter of Robert, the youngest son.
Maria's older son Gustav Wilhelm Johann Benzien was born 1856 in Ribnitz.Gustav remained in Germany, married Caroline Alm, and had 8 children. Records suggest that The Gustav Benzien Family made Ribnitz their home for most of their lives.
I am in search of information for the 8 Benzien children of Gustav and Caroline Benzien, as well as their descendants.The 8 children, born between 1882 and 1895, are Martha Hermine Anna Albertine Christian, Emil Herman Adolph Wilhelm, Emma Frieda Marie Adolfine, Max Otto Alex, Bruno Adolf Magnus, Wilhelm Adolf Max, Erwin Carl, and Paul Hans.
I am also in search of information for "dead-end Benzien-Bentzien" folks.This means that I know their names and birth year or approximate birth year, and that is about it.Their names are Johann Friedrich Benzien (?), Christoph Friederich Benzien (1762), ), Gustav Nikolaus Andreas Benzien (1792), Joahnn Heinrich Wilhelm Bentzien (1828), Joachim Christian Friedrich Benzien (1835), Joachim Heinrich Gustav Benzien (1854), and Leslie Louis Benzien (1892-in England, but that is another twist).
Any information would be appreciated. I am also willing to share the information that I have. Thanks a bunch, Vicki
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