Birth of Johann Cornelius Jacob Jurgens

Johann Cornelius Jacob Jurgens is the immigrant ancestor for the Jurgens family. But let's begin with his parents.

The father was Cornils Jurgens, the one born about 1811. He was last found on the 1835 census living in Tetenbuell, Nordfriesland, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Thereafter he moved to Altona, which is located on the bank of the Elbe River adjacent to the city of Hamburg. Up until 1864, the harbor town of Altona was under the administration of the Danish monarchy and then became part of Prussia. In 1871, it became part of Germany and in 1937 was incorporated into the city of Hamburg. An important railway line between Altona/Hamburg and Kiel in the north was opened in 1844. 

Marriage Record

Cornils Jurgens married in Altona. His bride was Anna Catharina Magdalena Bock (see note below about the spelling of Bock). Here is their marriage record.

The marriage record of Cornils Jurgens and Anna Catharina Magdalena Bock

The translation of the marriage record is as follows. 

On 23 September 1855 became married the here living citizen and (Hoker) retailer Cornils Jurgens, legitimate born son of the deceased Cornils Jurgens in Vollerwiek and the deceased Gretje, nee Diercks to the spinster Anna Catharina Magdalena Bock, illegitimate daughter of Magdalena Drews in Quickborn and (angeblich) supposed/thought of Martin Bock. The bridegroom is 44, the bride in 30 years old. The proclamation was done here 13./14./15. Trinitatis (Sunday after Whitsuntide). The "O. Pr." permission is from 30th August 1855. 

From this document we gain important information. The bride is named as well as her parents' names. Her birthplace is given. The fact that she was illegitimate but received her father's family name is important. Cornils's occupation if given as a Hoker or retailer. More specifically, a Hoker is an old-fashioned term for a green-grocer or shopkeeper selling vegetables, fruit, and household items such as salt, sugar, flour, soap, matchboxes, and shoe polish. We also learned Cornils's parents are deceased, though we knew his father had remarried and Cornils was his only child from the first marriage. 

The town of Quickborn, the birthplace of the bride, is located on the northern outskirts of Hamburg and is now part of the greater metropolitan area of Hamburg. Quickborn derives its name from the old German words for "quick" (meaning alive or living) and "born" (referring to a spring or water source). It was part of Denmark at one time. Northwest of Quickborn is the Himmelmoor, an acidic wet bog of 1,490 acres used for peat farming. 

Birth Entry in Church Book

The birth entry for Johann Cornelius Jacob Jurgens was found in the church book of the Lutheran Church in Altona (Hauptkirchengemeinde). 

Birth entry in church book for Johann Cornelius Jacob Jurgens

Translation: Born 25 August 1856, baptized 16 November 1856, Johann Cornelius Jacob Jurgens, legitimate son of workman Cornelius Jurgens and Anna Catharina Magdalena, born Bock. Sponsors Johann Joachim Schmidt, Johann Jurgens, and Jacob Oehlers.

The mother's maiden name on this entry is written Bock, although on her marriage record Buck is clearly written. In Germany, Bock is more common.Bock is also the spelling on Johann's first marriage record. Getting further records is difficult because beginning in 1876 the registry office in Hamburg restricted access to records unless a person can prove that they are descended in a direct line from the person for which a birth document is requested.

Historical Photo of Altona

Altona, Germany

References

Marriage record from Standort der Archivalien, Kirchnkreisverband Blankenese, Niendorf under Penneberg, Kirchenbuchstelle, Iserbarg 1, 22559 Hamburg Abschrift.

Wikipedia for town histories.

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