Historical | Germany to 1875 | Emigration 1875-1876 | Wairarapa 1876-1900 | Manawatu 1900-1910 | Family 1910-1942 | Alves 1942-1995 | Post the 1995 Reunion | Bibliography | Postscript
Names
In this section "Germany to 1875", Carl (Jnr), Maria and all their direct ancestors are highlighted for ease of reference, in bold type. Also, the two Carl's - Carl (Jnr) and his father, Carl (Snr) - are thus identified to clearly distinguish them. The surnames Alve and Alfe respectively, have also been used to distinguish them, although it is noted that Carl (Jnr) was surnamed Alfe in his birth certificate. Throughout this book, Maria Theresia Alve (nee Mollers) is referred to as Maria. Carl and the family knew her as Theresia, witness Bill Busch's reference to her in the Foreword. However, her first name is used to avoid confusion between her and her daughter, Theresia and daughter-in-law Theresa Alve (nee Wagner). It was common practice to use second names e.g. "Mary" Busch and "Dolf" Alve.
Some Oral History and Speculation
Some New Zealand family members suggest that Carl(Jnr) Alve had Spanish ancestry. Certainly the name "Alve" has a Spanish ring to it although, as we shall see, it was not always spelled this way. Carl’s (Jnr) wife, Maria, reported this Spanish connection to her daughters. Carl (Jnr) himself shared very little information about his ancestry and German background with his children.
A more detailed strand of this family memory, again attributed to Maria, suggests that a Captain Alve sailed and fought with the Spanish Armada. This fleet was decisively beaten by the English in the Channel during 1588 and then severely battered by storms off the Hebrides (West Scotland) on the way home. History tells that of the Armada of 130 ships and 30,000 men, less than half returned home alive. If there is Spanish ancestry, nothing is known about the reasons why a member, or members, of the family might have moved north from Spain to Germany, if they were not Germans fighting for Spain.
European history records that Spanish, as well as French and Scandanavian troops were in Germany during the "Thirty Years’ War" (1618-1648). This protracted conflict began in an attempt to halt the spread of Protestantism. The Protestant religious reformation was sparked by the German monk-priest, Martin Luther, during the sixteenth century. This combined with other political and sociological forces to create great unrest throughout Europe by the beginning of the 1600’s. It is quite likely that a Spaniard could have found himself settling in Germany, whether intentionally or not at this time.
As a result of the Thirty Years’ War there was much social upheaval, as described by Diether Raff in his "A History of Germany from the Medieval Empire to the Present", The population, decimated by war, eked out a living in shattered towns and cities. Industry, trade and agriculture were devastated. Economic recovery was impeded by enormous debts and by hordes of beggars and discharged soldiers who roamed about pillaging the land. The century (1650-1750) that followed the Thirty years War saw the German principalities, duchies and states weakened politically and impoverished. The first Alve ancestors whom we can positively identify appear as this period ends.
A more detailed strand of this family memory, again attributed to Maria, suggests that a Captain Alve sailed and fought with the Spanish Armada. This fleet was decisively beaten by the English in the Channel during 1588 and then severely battered by storms off the Hebrides (West Scotland) on the way home. History tells that of the Armada of 130 ships and 30,000 men, less than half returned home alive. If there is Spanish ancestry, nothing is known about the reasons why a member, or members, of the family might have moved north from Spain to Germany, if they were not Germans fighting for Spain.
European history records that Spanish, as well as French and Scandanavian troops were in Germany during the "Thirty Years’ War" (1618-1648). This protracted conflict began in an attempt to halt the spread of Protestantism. The Protestant religious reformation was sparked by the German monk-priest, Martin Luther, during the sixteenth century. This combined with other political and sociological forces to create great unrest throughout Europe by the beginning of the 1600’s. It is quite likely that a Spaniard could have found himself settling in Germany, whether intentionally or not at this time.
As a result of the Thirty Years’ War there was much social upheaval, as described by Diether Raff in his "A History of Germany from the Medieval Empire to the Present", The population, decimated by war, eked out a living in shattered towns and cities. Industry, trade and agriculture were devastated. Economic recovery was impeded by enormous debts and by hordes of beggars and discharged soldiers who roamed about pillaging the land. The century (1650-1750) that followed the Thirty years War saw the German principalities, duchies and states weakened politically and impoverished. The first Alve ancestors whom we can positively identify appear as this period ends.
Johann Alfer & Anna Saszenbach
Johann Wilhelm Alfer was born probably between 1730 and 1740. His surname reflects the spelling used before 1820. Johann’s wife was Anna Catharina Saszenbach. Johann, a farm labourer (German: ackerslauten), and Anna had at least one child - Wilhelm Melchior Alfer - who was born in 1772 in the region of Wipperfurth near Dusseldorf and Cologne and south east of Huckeswagen, and east of the Rhine River. Johann died in 1788 while living at Kluppelberg. Information about Johann and Anna is contained in the marriage certificate of their son Wilhelm dated 1814. While it is likely that Johann and Anna had other children, no details of any have been found. The baptismal register of the Huckeswagen Catholic Church has been searched from 1760 to 1809 without any mention of an Alfe(r). Further research may locate the Alfer family, including brothers and sisters of Wilhelm and relatives of Johann and Anna in nearby localities.
The International Genealogical Index (IGI) mentions other people with the name Alfe (but not Alfer) living in this region. In particular a Johann Godfried Alfe was confirmed at Solingen in 1742. It is possible that he was a brother or cousin to Johann. Several others bearing the name Alfe have been located living at Dusseldorf during the first decades of the 1800’s. To date no relationship links have been found with these people.
The International Genealogical Index (IGI) mentions other people with the name Alfe (but not Alfer) living in this region. In particular a Johann Godfried Alfe was confirmed at Solingen in 1742. It is possible that he was a brother or cousin to Johann. Several others bearing the name Alfe have been located living at Dusseldorf during the first decades of the 1800’s. To date no relationship links have been found with these people.
Click Image to learn more about Hückeswagen
Wilhelm Alfer & Anna Lamsfusz
The western regions of Germany again found themselves involved in war following invasion by Napoleon’s French revolutionary forces during the 1790’s. The region east of the Rhine was occupied about 1802. With this occupation came the “Federation of the Rhine” which brought some needed unity to the many small states that characterised the politics of Germany. One significant consequence was that French administration meant more formal, state registration of births, deaths and marriages. From this period onwards there exist excellent records for genealogical research, as the following pages will show.
The French occupation lasted until 1813, but its influence continued considerably longer. In 1814 Wilhelm Alfer married Anna Elizabeth Lamsfusz in Huckeswagen. Wilhelm was employed as a cart driver and was living at Bundenberg. At the time of his marriage he was aged 42. It is not known if he was married previously.
Anna was a widow, whose first husband, Peter Frielingsdorf, had died in 1811, the two having been married only a year before in 1810. Both Peter (1765/66) and Anna (1786) were baptised in the Huckeswagen Catholic Church along with their several brothers and sisters. Anna was possibly the oldest of the family of Johann Wilhelm Lamsfusz and Catharina Gertrud Kemmering, that included: Joanny Wilhelmus Ferdinandus (1789), Anna Catharina Joanna Wilhelmina (1792), Petrus Wilhelmus (1795), Fridericus Wilhelmus (1798), Joan. Pet. Carolus (1801) and Petrus Joes. (1805). The name spellings are in the Latin of the Church Registers rather than in the German of the people. Johann was a day labourer at the time of Anna’s birth and he died in 1811.
It is not known, but probably unlikely that Anna brought any children into her marriage with Wilhelm. Their marriage certificate records that both their mothers were living at the time of the marriage and gave their assent. An interesting feature of their marriage certificate is the reference to the "Law Book of Napoleon", another sign of the earlier French occupation. The following is taken from this document:
"After I had perfectly convinced myself that the marriage sought for is not opposed by any legal obstruction, to the two engaged persons the sixth chapter of the law book of Napoleon was read out which deals with marriage, and the question was put to them whether it was their determination to mutually connect themselves in marriage. Both the engaged persons answered this question, 'Yes'. I have therefore in the name of the law declared Wilhelm Melchior Alfer and Anna Elizabeth Lamsfusz as a married couple, and made the present document about this action."
The above certificate and marriage were completed by Johann Georg Oules (probably a Frenchman), the Burgermeister of Huckeswagen. Anna’s brother Ferdinand Lamsfusz (see above) was a witness to the marriage, signing the certificate and indicating that he was employed as a cloth weaver at the time. The registers indicate that Ferdinand had married Maria Brandenberg in 1812.
The first half of the ninteenth century in Germany saw a rapid population explosion. This resulted from conditions similar to those experienced in England 50 years before with the coming of the industrial revolution. A consequence was unemployment in the villages and a movement of people to the cities where industry was increasingly being established. Wilhelm and Anna had at least four children during this period: Maria Catharina Carolina (1815), Furtina (1818), Carl Wilhelm (Snr) (1821) and Christina (1825). Each of their birth certificates records Wilhelm’s occupation as “day labourer”, indicating that the family lived close to the “breadline” with no secure employment.
By the time of Carl’s (Snr) birth in 1821 the “r” had been dropped from the surname - see extract from Carl’s birth certificate below.
The French occupation lasted until 1813, but its influence continued considerably longer. In 1814 Wilhelm Alfer married Anna Elizabeth Lamsfusz in Huckeswagen. Wilhelm was employed as a cart driver and was living at Bundenberg. At the time of his marriage he was aged 42. It is not known if he was married previously.
Anna was a widow, whose first husband, Peter Frielingsdorf, had died in 1811, the two having been married only a year before in 1810. Both Peter (1765/66) and Anna (1786) were baptised in the Huckeswagen Catholic Church along with their several brothers and sisters. Anna was possibly the oldest of the family of Johann Wilhelm Lamsfusz and Catharina Gertrud Kemmering, that included: Joanny Wilhelmus Ferdinandus (1789), Anna Catharina Joanna Wilhelmina (1792), Petrus Wilhelmus (1795), Fridericus Wilhelmus (1798), Joan. Pet. Carolus (1801) and Petrus Joes. (1805). The name spellings are in the Latin of the Church Registers rather than in the German of the people. Johann was a day labourer at the time of Anna’s birth and he died in 1811.
It is not known, but probably unlikely that Anna brought any children into her marriage with Wilhelm. Their marriage certificate records that both their mothers were living at the time of the marriage and gave their assent. An interesting feature of their marriage certificate is the reference to the "Law Book of Napoleon", another sign of the earlier French occupation. The following is taken from this document:
"After I had perfectly convinced myself that the marriage sought for is not opposed by any legal obstruction, to the two engaged persons the sixth chapter of the law book of Napoleon was read out which deals with marriage, and the question was put to them whether it was their determination to mutually connect themselves in marriage. Both the engaged persons answered this question, 'Yes'. I have therefore in the name of the law declared Wilhelm Melchior Alfer and Anna Elizabeth Lamsfusz as a married couple, and made the present document about this action."
The above certificate and marriage were completed by Johann Georg Oules (probably a Frenchman), the Burgermeister of Huckeswagen. Anna’s brother Ferdinand Lamsfusz (see above) was a witness to the marriage, signing the certificate and indicating that he was employed as a cloth weaver at the time. The registers indicate that Ferdinand had married Maria Brandenberg in 1812.
The first half of the ninteenth century in Germany saw a rapid population explosion. This resulted from conditions similar to those experienced in England 50 years before with the coming of the industrial revolution. A consequence was unemployment in the villages and a movement of people to the cities where industry was increasingly being established. Wilhelm and Anna had at least four children during this period: Maria Catharina Carolina (1815), Furtina (1818), Carl Wilhelm (Snr) (1821) and Christina (1825). Each of their birth certificates records Wilhelm’s occupation as “day labourer”, indicating that the family lived close to the “breadline” with no secure employment.
By the time of Carl’s (Snr) birth in 1821 the “r” had been dropped from the surname - see extract from Carl’s birth certificate below.
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Wilhelm died in 1830, leaving Anna a widow again with a young family to raise. We do not know their fortunes except that Maria married Joseph Feldmann in 1845 and that before he married, Carl (Snr) found employment as a cloth weaver, possibly through the influence of his uncle Ferdinand. Difficult social and economic times were looming which would have undoubtedly affected the family very much. With the industrialisation of Germany the small cottage industries could not compete with the growing number of large factories in the cities. Railways had arrived in the 1830’s, followed soon after by steam engines, power-looms, ovens and hydraulic presses. Employment was increasingly to be found in the cities and coal mines, away from the villages. The plight of the weavers in particular is recounted in the poetic song below which spread through the textile districts in 1844 and was incorporated into Gerhard Hauptmann’s play of the 1890’s “Die Weber” (The Weavers). It recounts in haunting terms the terrible effects the events of the 1840’s had on the victims of the industrial revolution in Germany. The Alfe family are likely to have been such victims.
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DIE WEBER
Hier wird der Mensch langsam gequalt,
Hier ist die Folterkammer, Hier werden Seufzer viel gezhalt Als Zeugen von dem Jammer. Ihr seid die Quelle aller Not, Die hier den Armen drucket, Ihr seid’s die ihm das trockene Brot Noch von dem Munde rucket. Ihr fangt stets an zu jeder Zeit, Den Lohn herabzubringen, Und andre Schurken sind bereit, Dem Beispiel nachzuringen. |
THE WEAVERS
This is where people are slowly racked,
this is the torture chamber, this is where countless groans evidence the depth of our pain. You are the source of the misery, that here afflicts the wretched, It is you who steal dry bread out of the mouths of the poor. You who are always prompt, to reduce our wage still further, while other scoundrels wait, to follow your dread example. |
Carl (Snr) Alfe & Sybilla Bosbach
Carl Wilhelm (Snr) Alfe was 24 when he married Sybilla Catharina Bosbach aged 21, a servant girl of Huckeswagen, on 1st February, 1846. Sybilla was born in 1825 at Cuerten, the daughter of Wilhelm Bosbach and Maria Catherina Orth. Her father, like Carl’s, had died prior to their marriage. It is recorded that Carl’s and Sybilla’s mothers both consented to the marriage.
Carl (Snr) and Sybilla had at least seven children whose births were registered at Huckeswagen between 1846 and 1862. Their first child, Rosette was born on the 19th August 1846. Carl Wilhelm (Jnr) whose family is the primary subject of this history, was born in 1849. Ewald (1851), Hubert (1854), Hugo (1856), Anna Maria (1857) and Ernst Albert (1862) followed. Hubert, Hugo and Ernst all died as infants, reflecting the harsh conditions of the time and probably, the poverty of the family. Just as diphtheria was a child-killer in New Zealand at this time, it may also have been in Germany and a factor in some of these child-deaths.
Carl (Snr) and Sybilla had at least seven children whose births were registered at Huckeswagen between 1846 and 1862. Their first child, Rosette was born on the 19th August 1846. Carl Wilhelm (Jnr) whose family is the primary subject of this history, was born in 1849. Ewald (1851), Hubert (1854), Hugo (1856), Anna Maria (1857) and Ernst Albert (1862) followed. Hubert, Hugo and Ernst all died as infants, reflecting the harsh conditions of the time and probably, the poverty of the family. Just as diphtheria was a child-killer in New Zealand at this time, it may also have been in Germany and a factor in some of these child-deaths.
Alfer - Alfe - Alve
We have noted above that the name change Alfer to Alfe occurred about the time of Carl's (Snr) birth registration in 1821. The change from Alfe to Alve came over several years before Carl (Jnr) came to New Zealand. His birth was registered Alfe, although his father signed Alve. The births of his two sisters (Rosette and Anna Maria) were also registered Alfe - see birth register extracts right, but his brothers were all registered Alve.
It seems that by 1860 Carl (Snr) was regularly using the name “Alve”. However Carl’s (Jnr) marriage certificate (1874) has Alfe, being the name in which his birth had been registered. Carl (Jnr) always used the name Alve in New Zealand, as far as we can ascertain. In the extracts right there is a record for Emma Alfer b.1860. We cannot establish that this was a child of Carl Snr and Sybilla. If she is then the 'Alfer' spelling continued longer than the argument above suggests. |
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Carl (Jnr) Alve & Maria Mollers
Sometime before his marriage to Maria Moellers in Gelsenkirchen in 1874, Carl (Jnr) moved north, probably to find employment. Industrialisation had created jobs in the growing Ruhr Valley urban centres, while making redundant those traditionally employed in cottage industries such as weaving - the Alves’ and the Mollers' trade. The Ruhr Valley was rich in coal which was mined extensively at this time. It may well be that by 1870 Carl (Jnr) was employed there as a coal miner.
Or, it may be that Carl was conscripted into the Prussian army before leaving the Huckeswagen area. The law required all men on reaching the age of 20 to undertake military service for three years and thereafter be a reservist. While there are many reports of 20 year olds not doing military service for a range of issues, Carl reached 20 in January 1869. Eighteen months later the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71 was fought and this required extra recruitment which makes it conceivable that Carl both trained for and possibly fought in this war. If this speculation is right, there is no mention of it in family records or anecdotes I have been aware of, then Carl may not have become a coal miner (Bergmann) until sometime in 1872 after military service, or later. Carl (Jnr) and Maria were married in St Augustine’s Catholic Church, Gelsenkirchen (about 100km north from Huckeswagen) on the 14th February (Valentine;s Day), 1874 by Father Schulte. (The picture at top of page represents the rebuilt St Augustine's, the original church having been destroyed by bombs in 1944.) Witnesses to their marriage were Carl’s brother Ewald Alve and Carl Leinsbach. At the time Carl was 25 and Maria was 17½. It is understood that court permission was required for the marriage because Maria was under-age and in the Church orphanage. Family tradition also tells that Carl (Jnr) visited the orphanage with Maria's brother who kind of "arranged" the match. The marriage ceremony is thought to have involved several couples (possibly 16) together being married in the one service. Carl (Jnr) is reported to have returned to work the day after he married!   Click Image to learn more about Gelsenkirchen or Bochum
The Mollers - Moellers FamilyMaria Theresia Mollers’ and Carl (Jnr) Wilhelm Alve’s marriage certificate records her parents as Wilhelm Mollers and Katharina Spahr. Wilhelm was a weaver. At the time of her daughter’s marriage, Katharina’s residence (or possibly her birth-place) is given as Beckum with the word "illegible" alongside in brackets. No residence is given for Wilhelm which may suggest he had died by the time of Maria’s marriage. Maria was living in an orphanage prior to her marriage. It may be that her father’s early death was the reason.
Maria had an older sister - Mary Catherine (1853-1895) - who possibly lived in the orphanage with her. Mary later emigrated to Illinois, USA - SEE BELOW FOR MORE.... Family tradition also tells that Maria also had a brother (possibly Rudolph) who was an explorer. He is thought to have disappeared without trace whilst among the Arabs. |
Marriage Certificate for Carl & Maria. They were married on Valentine's Day! |
Alve Family German Ancestors
Anna Maria Catherina Alve = Mary Busch (nee Alve)
Maria Catherine Herbers (nee Mollers) - USA Cousins
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Maria had an older sister - Mary Catherine (1853-1895) - who possibly lived in the orphanage with her. Mary later emigrated to Aurora, Illinois, USA. Her first marriage was to a man whose name was thought to be “Miller”. She had a second marriage to a Dutchman - John Herbers (1846-1908). They had at least six children: Deanna (possibly from her first marriage), Catherine, John, William, Tony (Antone) and, the youngest - Emma (married - Heiman) - who was two when her mother died.
Emma lived in Aurora, Illinois and her children were Harold and Dorothy. Emma has reported that her mother (Maria’s sister) had two brothers named Gerard and Albert. Descendants of Mary Herbers in the USA are recorded below. Some of these American cousins have corresponded with Alve descendants in New Zealand throughout this century. Gwen Davie (nee Purdom) corresponded with Florence Herbers (wife of Tony) in the 1920's and 1930's. Ivan Alve corresponded with Emma Heiman (nee Herbers) and more recently with Vera Burgess (nee Herbers). Ivan's daughter Theresa Flintoff (nee Alve) has had contact with Darlene Smith (nee Aldrich), grand daughter of Tony & Florence Herbers, and daughter of Ethel Aldrich (nee Herbers). Other family members have also corresponded. Information about Mary Herbers' descendants was supplied in 1992/3 by both:
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George Edward Herbers b. 1914 Grandson of Mary Catherine Mollers and son of Tony Herbers 
Antone and Florence Herbers and Family - 3 Jul 1927 With four of their children Children L-R: Mary (1921), Leroy (1926), Ethel (1922) & Ray (1924) |
