A subreddit about all things genealogy... provided it's not about living people. Check out our [FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/Genealogy/wiki/index#wiki_faq_.28frequently_asked_questions.29)!
Brick Wall
Hi! I'm hoping that someone might be able to help me navigate through the maze that is Silesian/Prussian records. I'm trying to find out more about my ancestors from Lower Silesia before they emigrated to Frelsberg, Texas in 1855. Specifically, I'm looking for birth/baptism and marriage records for my great, great grandparents Ernst and Clara Laake, in hopes that I can track down their parents, siblings, and so on.
-
Ernst Laake was born 11 July 1815 in Baerdorf, Silesia, son of Carl and Caroline Laake (who was possibly from Glogau, Silesia).
-
Clara (nee. Hilgner) Laake was born 11 May 1817 in Prussia, daughter of Johann Hilgner (another possible spelling is "Hilgen;" my records also indicate another possible related name of "Huebner") and unknown mother.
Ernst and Clara Laake married sometime during or before 1837, possibly in Gerlachsdorf, Silesia. Four of their five children were born in the Breslau region before emigration: Theresia Hilgner Laake (b.1837), Frank Albert 'Frantz' Laake (b.1842), Anna Angela Laake (b.1846), and Bertha Laake (b.1851).
The family was catholic, so I tried searching FamilySearch's "Germany, Prussia, East Prussia, Catholic and Lutheran Church Records, 1551-1992" collection, but found nothing. I've also tried State Archive Berlin, but their records don't seem to go back far enough. Could anyone suggest other public records sites should I should be trying? Is anyone a wizard in Prussian ancestry that has some good tips?
Sort by:
Best
Open comment sort options
Best
Top
New
Controversial
Old
Q&A
Please read this guide to familiarise yourself with Silesian genealogy resources and source types. The Familysearch collection you mentioned is not that useful for Lower Silesia (yet), unfortunately, as Familysearch is slow at indexing its record collection.
Bärdorf has a dedicated database here, showing several Laake and Laacke relatives. However, the author has not entered the 19th-century churchbooks yet, which is why you won't find Ernst in there. Familysearch also does not have the right years. Johannes Kaps, a German who made inquiries into the state of churchbook survival in the former German territories of Poland after the War, writes that the churchbooks have "likely survived", i.e. they should still be at the local parish.
By Gerlachsdorf, you probably mean Girlachsdorf (and most likely the one in Reichenbach county which is closer to Bärdorf). Familysearch has some of the churchbooks, but not the ones that would be relevant here. Johannes Kaps writes that they "likely survived", meaning they are likely still at the local parish.
The guide and family book database you linked are astounding 😲 I can't thank you enough. It's a bummer to learn that the churchbooks I need aren't digital yet, but I'll try sending the local parish church some snail mail.
Also thanks for correcting the spelling of Girlachsdorf, this is a great help. I imagine my records are misspelled either because spelling was historically so inconsistent or someone mis-transcribed it somewhere along the way.
Also, please contact the author of the Bärdorf database and send him everything you have on them so that he can fill the gaps a bit. You can get the email address by hovering over his name on the right side.
Oooh great tip! Thank you again, I really appreciate it.