The Faulring family came to America in two separate groups. First, Peter and Elisabetha Faurling made the journey in 1852, and then the remainder of the family followed in 1853/54. To legally emigrate, the family needed to obtain permission from the Duchy of Coburg-Gotha, which largely hinged on completion of an obligatory two-year military service, for men, and settlement of any outstanding debts. This process, required of most emigrants from a German state, is typified by the experience of Faulring family. It is also important to note that families who came to America, like the Faulring family, needed a significant amount of money to pay travel expenses. Further, they would need some money to establish themselves after they arrived.
Peter and Elisabetha Faulring:
Papers obtained from the State Archive at Coburg show that Peter and Elisabetha applied to the Duchy of Coburg for permission to leave for America on May 29, 185262. Their application resulted in publication on June 9th of an announcement in the government newspaper shown below.
The announcement, in the lower portion of the image, reads, in translation:
One Johann Peter Faulring from Moggenbrunn intends, with his sister Margarethe Elisabethe Faulring from there, to travel to America soon, and possible claims should
be brought here within 8 days.
Coburg, the 4th of June 1852
Duchy of Saxony Office of Justice
Fleischmann
i. 21.
|
| Exit Permit |
Peter and Elisabetha were approved to emigrate on June 22, 185262. The image at the right shows the final entry in the official record pertaining to their application. This entry appears to be a copy of the Exit Permit given to Peter and Elisabetha. The two columns on the left are a description of their appearance and the column on far right is the authorization to emigrate, part of which could not be copied due to the tight binding.
Peter and Elisabetha left for America June 18525, probably before their permit was officially recorded. They likely traveled by train to Bremen, their port of departure, which might take a couple days. They sailed from Bremen about June 23rd, aboard the sailing ship Richard Anderson63, and arrived at the Port of New York on August 11, 185263, after 50 days at sea, along with 202 other passengers. The Passenger List gives Peter's occupation as Weaver. In 1852, there were no immigration facilities in New York, so passengers were deposited on the pier to fend for themselves. Arriving passengers would be accosted by a variety of vendors, offering food, lodging and transportation, some legitimate, others out to make a fast buck.
From New York City, Peter and Elisabetha would have traveled by steam ship up the Hudson to Albany and by train across the State to Buffalo. Why and how they chose to settle in the Town of Concord, Erie County is unknown. However, it is possible they knew someone who had already settled there and had some other information which influenced their choice.
Johann Friedrich and Family:
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Johann Friedrich Faulring also had to apply to the Ducal Government for permission to emigrate. In his case, however, the process was complicated because Johann Friedrich was a tenant farmer (bestander). This meant he had obligations to the Duchy of Coburg, from whom he rented land. Thus, in the spring of 1853, he requested release from these obligations. The image at the left show the last section of a contract issued on April 4, 1853, by the Immediate-Commssion for Domain-Discharge (Immediat-Commission für Domainial-Ablösungen). Note Johann Friedrich's signature on the bottom.
The contract included a Table outlining the various pieces of land (six in total) rented to Friedrich and amount of rent due through the end of 1853. The total came to 38 Florin 44¾ Ckreuzer, plus a fee of 17⅜ Ckreuzer. Upon payment of this amount, Friedrich would be discharged from any future obligation to the Duchy. The contract was certified by the Commission on April 22, 1853. On May 2, 1853, the Ducal Chamber and Rent Office implemented the discharge indicating that Friedrich had paid the required amount.
Johann Friedrich and family also applied for the normal emigration permit before leaving. Records show that they received their permit in October5, and they probably left for America in mid-November of 1853. The family sailed from Hamburg on November 20, 1853, and arrived in New York on January 9, 185463 after 51 days at sea. The Marine Intelligence column in the New York Times summarizes their voyage, as follows:
Monday January 9, 1956
Ship Herschel, (Hamb) Meyer, Hamburg 51 ds., mdse. and 264 passengers to Schmidt & Balchen. Jan. 3, lat. 29 30, lon. 67 40 +chr. -------- of Philadelphia,
with both masts gone, had jury masts rigged and was lumber loaded. The H has experienced heavy weather; lost starboard bulwarks, two jibs &c.
Clearly, crossing the Atlantic in the middle of Winter was not easy.
Note that the passengers were consigned to Schmidt and Balchen, who were probably ticketing agents for the ship and who might help with arrangements for land transportation.
After being dropped on the docks of New York City, the Faulring family made their way to Western New York, most likely be steam ship to Albany and then train to Buffalo. Surely, they were met by Peter and Elisabetha in Buffalo, who would have accompanied them on the final leg of their journey by wagon.
Return to Johann Friedrich and Anna Margaretha Faulring | Return to Peter Faulring | Return to Elisabetha Faulring