Christian Friedrich Wilhelm Lemm was born in
Potsdam in the province of Brandenberg, on 20th October 1791.
His parents were Johann
Friedrich Wilhelm Lemm (a "gartner"
= small mixed farmer) and Christiane
Fräland. He was baptized
on
30 October 1791 at St. Nikolai church in Potsdam. Little is
known of his family or his early life. He is said to have served
in
Blucher's army at the battle of Waterloo and to have won an Iron Cross[1]. On 23rd April 1821 he
married Sophie Amalie Hoff at St. Nikolai church in Potsdam.
On his marriage record his occupation is given as "zimmergesell"
= journeyman carpenter.
Sophie Amalie Hoff was
born in Potsdam May on 12th 1798 was the daughter of Johann Christian Hoff and Dorothee Friderike Ziegelmeier.
Johann was also a "gartner". Sophie Amalie was baptized at St.
Nikolai church in Potsdam on 20th May 1798.
Wilhelm and Amalie had eight children: Henriette Sophie Amalie (1822-), Heinrich August Wilhelm (1823-1858), Karoline Sophie Amalie (1826-1901), Karl August (1828-1872), Maria Pauline Amalie (1830-1903), Heinrich Gustav (1833-1875), Karl Friedrich (1836-1840) and Adolph Robert. In 1848 Wilhelm
and Amalie and five of their children (Heinrich August Wilhelm,
Karoline Sophie Amalie (Lehmann), Karl August, Maria Pauline Amalie and
Heinrich Gustav) migrated to South Australia on
board the Leontine.
In South Australia, the Lemm family settled at
Hoffnungsthal. Wilhelm was naturalized
on November 24, 1852 when his occupation is given as farmer.
In 1853, Wilhelm and Amalie, most of their family now dispersed,
moved to New Mecklenburg, near Tanunda, SA to take up residence with
their daughter Karoline Sophie Amalie and son-in-law
Johann Gottlieb
Lehmann and their family.
Wilhelm died, aged 79, on 18th September
1871. Sophie died on aged 82 on 24th April 1881.
Both are buried at Schönborn cemetery (Gomersal).
Extracts from baptismal register for Christian Friedrich Wilhelm
Lemm and Sophie Amalie Hoff
Images from Schoenborn Lutheran Cemetery, Schmaal Rd,
Gomersal. Photos taken November 2008.
[1] The Ahrens Family compiled by Betty Mangelsdorf:
Munno Para, SA, 2003 (p 141)
[2] South Australians 1836-1885 editied by Jan Thomas,
South Australian Genealogy and Heraldry Society, Inc.: 1990 (vol 1, p
469)
Biography
