Grashoff Family Reunion
Posted by tchaffin in January 15, 2010
I hosted a Grashoff Family Reunion at my house on December 23. Unfortunately, we had very bad weather and a lot of people couldn’t make it, however, those that did had a wonderful time. We watched a power point presentation that Andrew made with lots of old family pictures. It was very nice to see everyone. We are planning to do this again this summer!
Harm Heinrich Grashoff
Posted by tchaffin in January 3, 2010
I have been attempting to “digitize” my documents and in doing so I was rereading some of the information that I got from the church in Germany about Harm Heinrich Grashoff and what do you know, it states he was a widow when he married Elizabeth Massemann. That means another wife somewhere and possibly children? So the suggestion of rereading old documents is in fact a good one!
Thanksgiving!
Posted by tchaffin in November 28, 2009
What a nice Thanksgiving celebration we had. All of our children were able to be with us for Thanksgiving. My siblings, their spouses and children also all attended. We were also able to spend time with cousin Sherri and Rusty and Doris and their families. Very nice holiday at Grandma Karol’s house! We have so much to be thankful for - and our families top the list!
Matzdorff Family Serendipity!
Posted by tchaffin in November 18, 2009
I was recently doing research on the Ancestry website because I added my family tree to the website. Imagine my surprise when I found Wilhelm Schluntz listed right above Sophie Westphal on the passenger list! Sophia age 30 and Wihlem age 24. They married June 4, 1867. November 6, 1966 Sophie and Wilhelm arrived together in New York on the Borussia. I wonder if the fact that they are listed together on that passenger list is significant. They were married in Illinois, so I wonder if they traveled together from New York. Did they know each other? I never would have found Wilhelm as he was listed as Wm Schluntz. The only reason I found him was because he was listed above Sophie! 
A new branch on my family tree!
Posted by tchaffin in November 8, 2009
On October 23, 2009, my daughter and her husband added a new branch to my family tree. My beautiful grandson, Jayce Theodor Morgan came into this world at 7:40 p.m. weighing 7 pounds and 13.3 ounces and 20 inches long.
The MATZDORF’S are found!
Posted by tchaffin in October 14, 2009
I received an amazing email from Lisa Louise Cooke regarding my Matzdorf ancestors. She got information from Baerbel Johnson on my Matzdorf family. Sophia and her children left from Hamburg, Germany on 18 November 1874. There last place of residence is listed as “Stralsund.” Stralsund is a large city in Western Pommerania with six Lutheran Parishs. It would make sense that they lived in a city because Carl was a brick mason by trade. This is amasing to me as my Grandmother, Alma Matzdorff Grashoff, did not even know where her father came from. I can not thank Lisa or Baerbel enough for this information! It gives me some place to go from here!
Let’s all join Dad in America!
Posted by tchaffin in October 6, 2009
Sophia, Carl (Charles), Augusta, Sigismund (Siegmund), Edward, and Annie Matzdorff all came over on the Holsatia 3 Dec 1874 to join husband and father, Carl, who had preceeded them to the US.
the ship Holsatia
Posted by tchaffin in October 2, 2009
Carl and Sophia Matzdorff
The Matzdorff family, including mother, Sophia, and son, Sigismund, came over on the Holsatia. This ship was part of the shipping line of Hamburg-American built by Caird & Co, Greenock, Scotland. It had an iron hull. According to the New York Passenger Lists, they were “between deck passengers.”
Sigiesmund Matzdorff
Posted by tchaffin in September 30, 2009
I was able to find Sophia and Sigismund Matzdorff entering the the country in New York on Decembre 3, 1874. Port of Departure Hamburg, Germany and Le Havre, France on ship named Holsatia.
My first post!
Posted by tchaffin in September 29, 2009
Hello World!
I believe I will use this blog to record my reseach. Hopefully I can remember what I have done then and not repeat the same efforts. Currently I am working hard on getting all of my information in a new genealogy program after having used Brother’s Keeper for a couple of decades. I have just recently found the passenger list for Sophia and Sigismund Matzdorff when they came over from Germany. Still no clues about where Carl, Sophia, or Sigismund were from in Germany / Prussia.
Teri's Family History Research
Join me in researching my and Brian's ancestors. Surnames include: Grashoff, Matzdorff, White, Fogleman, Chaffin, Stinehart, Wells, and Omvig. Genealogy is a life long passion of mine.
