Note #1:
Birth and christening records found under:
1. Germany, Preussen, Pommern, See Buckow-Church records
2. Poland, Koszalin, Bukowo Morskie (Slawno)-Church recordsKirchenbuch, 1656-1958
Taufen 1811-1870 Source Film #0351999
Parish Register Entry #1849-Note #2:
Steinort is probably a small farming/fishing community within 2-3 miles of Buckow now nonexistant or incorporated into Bukowo Morskie. Maps of era do not show the community, however, there were several other small communities which used the church in Buckow and which also are not identified on maps of the era.
Note #3:
Father is listed as Johann Ernst Gottlieb Bretall
Note #4:
The family is found as passengers on the ship "Smidt" which sailed from Bremen, Germany to New York, New York arriving 12 July, 1869. The listing is as follows:
Bretall, Ernest 51 M MSN
Wilhelmine 46 F UNK
Francis 18 M MCHT
Auguste 12 F UNK
Anna 7 F Child
William 11 M InfantThe "Smidt" was the only vessel owned by Captain Raschen, who commanded her, and his partners. She was an iron built vessel, built in 1868 by Johann Lange of Bremen and was probably the first ocean going steamer built in Germany. Her dimensions were 1672 gross tons, length 210ft x beam 39.5ft,one funnel, two masts, single screw and a speed of 9 knots. On her maiden voyage from Geestemunde on the River Weser to New York, she carried 766 passengers. She left Geestemunde on 4th April 1868 and did not reach New York until the 3rd May. She then sailed between Bremerhaven and NY until 1873. In 1869, she left Bremen on 11th Jan., Gravesend on 27th Jan. and did not reach NY until 5th March after meeting hurricane conditions which washed the bridge overboard and flooded the cabin and engine room. She was sold in 1874 to Sidenburg & Wendt of Bremen, her engines were removed and she was converted to a three masted barque. In 1896 she was abandoned at sea and was towed to the Azores and later to Hamburg where she was condemned. In 1897 she was scrapped at Briton Ferry, S.Wales. [Posted to the Emigration-Ships Mailing List by Ted Finch 2 August 1997]
Note #5:
The Bretall emigration date is listed as July, 1869 and the family is found on the 1870 Federal Census for Fillmore County, Minnesota living in the Township of Harmony (Harmony Twsp, Pg 5, Line 34). The family obviously went directly to Minnesota after their arrival in New York, NY. On the 1870 Federal census, it is obvious that there is a communication problem because Ernst is listed as "Bartal, Bartal A." Frank is still listed by his Prussia name, Franz, and is 19 years old. My father tells me that Frank intermittently spoke German with relatives even as late as the 1920's so German must have been their home language and probably accounted for this communication difficulty.
On the 1880 census Frank is still living at home, is 30 years old and is working on the farm owned by his father, Ernst. Frank married Wilhelmine Trende in 1881, Fillmore County, and they're next found on the Minnesota State Census, 1895 in Renville County, Melville Township with all their children through William. They are next found on the 1900 federal census of Minnesota for Renville County, Melville Township. Frank (Francis) is listed as the head of family, Willamine Trende listed as his wife, and all their children are born. The family lives in the same location on the 1910 census, however, Willamine is no longer listed as wife and is presumed dead.
Frank is next found on the 1920 census living in Hennepin County, Minneapolis with his son in law, Frank Kraft, his daughter, Minnie Bretall Kraft, their son, Douglas, and his two other daughters, Anna and Elsie. In addition, he has three boarders living with them in the house. Frank died in June, 1927, Minneapolis, Minnesota. His body was returned to Renville County and buried in the Moravian Cemetary near Bird Island, Minnesota.
Note#6:
(From Renville County)
We have some information on land records. "Farmers Directory of Melville Township". It lists Frank Bretall as owning 80 acres in Sec 17 of Melville and 80 acres in Sec 16 of Melville. It lists children: Annie, Ida, Henry, William, Elsie, and Agnes. This listing is from 1913. (Anna Wilhelmine-- Wife-- was deceased at this time so she was not listed.) It also lists that Frank had been in the county for 24 years as of 1913.
Anna Wilhelmine Auguste Trende
Note #1:
date of death 7-9-1902. This was the mother. She was 42 yrs, 6 mon, 19 days old. She died from "heart trouble". This is not Anna W. Bretell- 2-16-1886. Our record number
C-3-1.
Note#1:
Willie acted as witness to the marriage of Frank Kraft and Minnie Bretall in Renville County 1912.
Note#2:
Our records indicate William was the 7th child of father-- Frank J. Bretell (deceased at the time William's birth record was filed.) He was found in what is called our "delayed birth records". father's age at the time William was born was 43. Mother-- Whilimina Trende (deceased at the time record was filed.) She was 34 yrs old at the time of William's birth. William's birth record was filed in Minneapolis, MN on May 6, 1942. Our record number delayed birth book A-456
Note #1:
A picture of Agnes hangs in our house and is one of the chief motivators I had in exploring our family history.
The "Smidt" was the only vessel owned by Captain Raschen, who commanded her, and his partners. She was an iron built vessel, built in 1868 by Johann Lange of Bremen and was probably the first ocean going steamer built in Germany. Her dimensions were 1672 gross tons, length 210ft x beam 39.5ft,one funnel, two masts, single screw and a speed of 9 knots. On her maiden voyage from Geestemunde on the River Weser to New York, she carried 766 passengers. She left Geestemunde on 4th April 1868 and did not reach New York until the 3rd May. She then sailed between Bremerhaven and NY until 1873. In 1869, she left Bremen on 11th Jan., Gravesend on 27th Jan. and did not reach NY until 5th March after meeting hurricane conditions which washed the bridge overboard and flooded the cabin and engine room. She was sold in 1874 to Sidenburg & Wendt of Bremen, her engines were removed and she was converted to a three masted barque. In 1896 she was abandoned at sea and was towed to the Azores and later to Hamburg where she was condemned. In 1897 she was scrapped at Briton Ferry, S.Wales. [Posted to the Emigration-Ships Mailing List by Ted Finch 2 August 1997]
First husband: Johann Ernst Ludwig Bretaille, born Nov. 11, 1814. Son of Christian and Charlotta Dorothea Bretaille. He fathered Carolina Wilhelmina Bretaille(1841) then apparently died.
Ernst Wilhelm Boguslav Bretall
Note #1:
Birth and christening records found under:
1. Germany, Preussen, Pommern, See Buckow-Church records
2. Poland, Koszalin, Bukowo Morskie (Slawno)-Church recordsKirchenbuch, 1656-1958
Taufen 1811-1870 Source Film #0351999
Parish Register Entry #1849-Note #2:
Steino(a)rt is probably a small farming community within 3-5miles of Buckow now nonexistant or incorporated into Bukowo Morskie. Maps of era do not show the community.
Note #3:
Father is listed as Johann Ernst Gottlieb Bretall