ROHDE / SOMMERFELD, Tragheim.

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I am seeking information on the family of Peter August SOMMERFELD born 9 March 1867 at Tragheim,
West Prussia. Peter August SOMMERFELD had an older brother Johann Georg SOMMERFELD and an older
sister Maria Elizabeth SOMMERFELD. Their parents were Georg SOMMERFELD and Justina ROHDE.

I have found proof of birth in Lutheran Church records for the children but no evidence of the parents.
At some point the entire family (I think) emigrated to south Russia. In 1912 Peter August SOMMERFELD
emigrated to Canada. I would like to speak with anyone with an idea on how I might go about finding
birth records for Georg SOMMERFELD and Justine ROHDE given they are not in the church registers
or from anyone else researching the SOMMERFELD surname.

Grant D. Sommerfeld
eMail address: gsommerfeld(at)shaw.ca

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As you may already know, there are Mennonite church records (1766-1899) for Tragheim, Kreis Stuhm,
West Prussia, now Tragamin, Poland.

As for south Russia, five Sommerfelds groups or singles are reported to have emigrated to Bessarabia (B)
and Odessa (O): Gottlieb and Michael (with Berta and Christina) from Schiletz Poland to Leipzig (B);
Gottfried from Poland to Arzis (B) in 1816; Andreas to Neu-Arzis (B); Johannes from Starkey Poland
to Güldendorf (O); and Johann in 1814 to Großliebental (O).
(Ref: 'The Emigration from Germany to Russia (1763-1862)' br Karl Stumpp, page 448) /
Karl Stumpp 'Die Auswanderung aus Deutschland nach Rußland in den Jahren 1763-1862'.)

"Village Coordinators" exist for all the Bessarabian villages listed and perhaps for the Odessa ones too.
Most if not all of the microfilm of St Petersberg Lutheran Consistory duplicate churchbook records
from circa 1833-1860's has been extracted for these villages. One of these village coordinators
may well have your family in their records. Contact GRHS (Germans from Russia Historical Society
of Bismarck North Dakota and join them if you are interested.

Keep in mind that German settlements in Volhynia (eastern Poland) were along one emigration route
from West Prussia to the Black Sea. Do not discount the possibility you will find some of the dozens
of Volhynian Sommerfelds are relatives too. Use the Website Index (a navigation link above and
below) to check your surname for them. Join the Wandering Volhynians of Vancouver, British Columbia,
to continue this research.

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