On 20 January 1846, brig Gerhard Hermann arrived at Galveston. Among its passengers, there was the family of Johann Christian Ludwig Borchers' of Lüttringhausen, Kingdom of Hannover, Prussia, and the family of Georg Christian David Kensing's of Bad Münder. They left Bremen on 13 November 1845 and traveled for a few months.
The Borchers
- Sophia Dorothea Louise Borchers - wife,
- Hanne Justine Wilhelmine Sophia Louise - daughter - born 4 August 1823
- Johann Friedrich August - son - born 12 October 1826,
- Johann Friedrich Ludwig - son - born 5 October 1831.
Who was the fifth person? Possibly a baby Borchers. The adult sons of Mr. Borchers' were listed there as well:
- Christian, b. about 1819,
- Friedrich, b. about 1821,
- Johann, b. about 1822.
The Kensings
Georg Christian David Kensing - head - born 23 March 1795 in Beber, Springe, Bad Münder am Deister, Hameln-Pyrmont, Lower Saxony, Germany/d. 18 July 1847, Victoria, Victoria, TX.
- Henriette (Bremeier) Kensing - wife - born 2 May 1792, Beber, Springe, Bad Münder am Deister, Hameln-Pyrmont, Lower Saxony, Germany/ d. 1846, Indianola, Calhoun, TX,
- Heinrich Friedrich Ludwig "Adam" - son - born 6 June 1820, Hamelspringe, Bad Münder am Deister, Hameln-Pyrmont, Lower Saxony, Germany/ d. about 1846, Indianola, Texas.
- Johann Friedrich Heinrich - son - born 11 November 1822, Hamelspringe,
- Dorothe Friederike, Louise - daughter - born 18 March 1826, Hamelspringe/ d. 1846, Indianola, TX,
- Heinrich Friedrich Karl - son - born 30 July 1828, Hamelspringe,
- Christine Justine Louise Charlotte - daughter - born 26 November 1831, Hamelspringe.
Tragically, most members of both families - the parents and their children perished during the first months of their stay in Texas. Indianola and Victoria were their last stops on Earth in their lives.
Heinrich (Johann Friedrich Heinrich) Kensing, his wife Johanne (Hanne Justine Wilhelmine Sophia Louise Borchers), Heinrich's brother Karl and their sister youngest Christine Kensing left for Fredericksburg. At first, the young couple lived not far from the town.
On 19 July 1848, Henry was granted 640 acres of land (Fisher-Miller grant) north of the Llano River. He worked as a blacksmith (1). Three oldest children were born to the family there, a son died young:
- Johanna - born 14 October 1848 (2),
- Dorothea - born 23 March 1850 (3).
Christine, Henry's sister was married to John W. Braeutigam on 19 August 1850 (4). In the same year, on 29 October, Karl Kensing (Henry and Christine's brother) married Friedericke Reeh (5). Henry sold his land grant for $20 in 1851.
- Friedrich Heinrich - born 8 May 1853 (6)
- Sophia - born 4 October 1855 (7)
- Louise - born about 1858
Although both Henry and Johanna were raised in the Lutheran faith, they both joined the Methodist Church in Hilda on 28 August 1858. In 1860, the Kensings (parents: Henry and Johanna/children: Johanna, Dorothea, Friedrich, and Sophie) were registered during the Census. I am not sure why Louise was not listed then. maybe she was born after 1860? Anyway, they lived in Justice Precinct #1, Gillespie County (8).
Later, they all moved again, when Henry obtained 160 acres of land in Mason County. He was both a farmer and a blacksmith.
- Emma - born 3 January 1861, Hilda, Mason, TX (9)
- Minna (Wilhelmina) - born 28 December 1862, Hilda, Mason, TX (10)
On 26 July 1865, Henry and Johanna were coming back home from a visit at their relatives who lived at Beaver Creek. When the couple passed the hill called "Platt Kopf" (Flat Head) on the southern part of Mason County, the Comanches attacked them. Henry was scalped and killed instantly. Johanna (who was pregnant then) was drugged away from her spouse's body and cruelly assaulted, her body was horribly mutilated, she was also scalped and shot with an arrow.
Johanna was found, still alive, a few hours later. She was attended by the family of Konrad Welge. sadly, the lady passed away two days after the incident. Henry, Johanna, and their baby were buried on the land which belonged to Mr. Karl Kensing, Heinrich's brother.
What happened to the orphaned children of Henry and Johanna's I do not know. Probably, they were raised by their relatives/friends.
Johanna Kensing married Mr. Louis Krüger on 18 October 1869 (11). After the marriage, Johanna's younger sisters Emma and Mina lived with the young couple (12).
Dorothea married Mr. Heinrich Seipp on 4 January 1872 (13).
Friedrich Heinrich married Miss Mathilda Lemburg in 1873 - more about them in this post.
Sophia married Mr. Theodor Schmidt on 20 April 1875 (14).
Minna married Mr. Louis Schmidt on 26 November 1881 (15).
Emma married Mr. Friedrich Ludwig on 25 November 1882 (16).
UPDATE:
Here is the information provided by Ms. Lindy Bierschwale Haley and Mr. Steven Kensing, descendants of German Pioneers in Texas.
Lindy Bierschwale Haley: "Two of them (the children of Henry and Johanna's) were raised by my great, great grandparents Heinrich and Margarete Bierschwale. He was one of the two men who cared for Mrs. Kensing until she died. I’ve read that the women could not care for her because of the terrible smell of her mortal wounds.
The story of the Kensings is actually published in the book Fredericksburg, Texas, The First Fifty Years. The article is titled “ The Murder Of The H. Kensing Couple By Indians.” The book is copyrighted by the Fredericksburg Publishing Co. 1971. You might be able to find it at the Pioneer Museum bookstore" (in Fredericksburg).
Steven Kensing: "The two youngest girls were raised by the Heinrich Bierschwales.Heinrich was the trustee for the all the minor children
until they came of age. The eldest daughter, Johanne married Louis Krieger in
1869. They lived near Luckenbach. Heinrich and Johanna Kensing had moved on
from Squaw Creek to Beaver Creek near Hilda in 1865. His younger brother, Karl
and his wife Friedericke had moved from Liveoak Creek to Henry’s former home on
Squaw Creek. Henry had left the children at home and gone to Karl’s to get
Johanna and take her home. Both women were pregnant. The land on which the
attack took place was the Welge Ranch.
The
only son, Friedrich Kensing grew up in the Brandenburger home. Dorette married
Heinrich Seipp. Sophie married Theodor Schmidt. Louisa married Conrad
Bohlinger/Wilhelm Zurbregg. Emma married Frederich Ludwig. Mina married Louis
Schmidt, Theodor’s brother. They lived in Mason.
I think Leonard Passmore’s interview
with Carl Kensing is probably the oldest account (regarding the report on the killing of the
Kensing couple). It was published in J. Marvin Hunter’s periodical in 1924 I
believe. I wrote an article which Gerry Gamel posted in Mason News several
years ago. Those can be found by googling Henry and Johanne Kensing. Emma
Kensing Ludwig was the last surviving child of the murdered couple and her
obituary in Fredericksburg Standard mentions the account.
Several years ago Gillespie County Historical Assn. had an honorarium of the county’s blacksmiths. The speaker whose name I don’t recall posed a story I hadn’t heard before stating that some believed the murder was the work of the Hangerbunde who were Confederates killing German setters because they were anti-slavery. I told him that was preposterous as every accurate account indicated an Indian atrocity and the county militia known as the Minute Men of which Carl Kensing was a member actually retrieved the scalp of Johanna where the Indians were routed from their war dance."
Lindy and Steven, many thanks for your input.
More information on the tragic fate of Heinrich and Johanna's, and more about their children, in the article "Braeutigam-Kensing tales rife with woe".
Resources:
Geneanet.org
"Mason County Historical Book", Mason County Historical Society, Mason County Historical Commission, 1976.
1. "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXLK-XZB : 23 December 2020), Dorothy Kensing in household of Henry Kensing, Fredericksburg, Gillespie, Texas, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
2. "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVGP-VDBX : 7 August 2020), Dorothy, ; Burial, Bronte, Coke, Texas, United States of America, Fairview Cemetery; citing record ID 125323777, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
3. "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVL2-GXLD : 17 July 2020), Johanna Kensing Krieger, 1926; Burial, , ; citing record ID , Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
4. "Texas Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FX3B-YYF : 22 January 2020), Christina Kensing in entry for John W. Brentgam, 1850.
5. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-VMJ : 22 December 2016), Carl Kensing and Francesca Rech, 29 Oct 1850; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801.
6. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3QG-736 : 13 March 2018), Fred Henry Kensing, 07 Mar 1925; citing certificate number 11308, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,113,844.
7. "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK15-6WD3 : 23 July 2020), Sophia Kensing Schmidt, 1892; Burial, , ; citing record ID , Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
8. "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXFF-C59 : 11 November 2020), Henry Kensing, 1860.
9. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4LGD-9WN2 : 14 February 2020), Emma Kensing, 1861.
10. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L2Q-GPMM : 14 February 2020), Mina Kensing, 1862.
11. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-VJW : 22 December 2016), Louis Kriger and Johanna Kensing, 18 Oct 1869; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801.
12. "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXL5-FS4 : 2 January 2021), Emma Kensing in entry for Louis Krieger, 1870.
13. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-2G4 : 22 December 2016), Heinrich Seipp and Dorette Kensing, 04 Jan 1872; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801.
14. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-V2N : 22 December 2016), Theodor Schmidt and Sophie Kensing, 20 Apr 1875; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801.
15. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8T-9J9Y : 22 December 2016), Louis Schmidt and Minna Kensing, 26 Nov 1881; citing , Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,802.
16. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8T-9266 : 22 December 2016), Frederick Ludwig and Emma Kensing, 25 Nov 1882; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,802.
No comments :
Post a Comment