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Family Genealogy
Being only a distant relative, Johann Krohmann can surely bring history a little bit closer to home. View my Fan Chart for a visual explanation. -
Birth of Johann Krohmann
Johann was one of six children resulting from the marriage of his father Johann to Magdalene Helena Kost. He was born in Budenheim, Germany -
German Immigrant Ships Arrive in Australia 1855
There was a great need for “quality labour” in the Australian Colonies. Germans had been identified as a source of sturdy, hard-working settlers. Living condition of many families in Germany was poor due to overpopulation, famines, and civil strife – most notably the revolutions of 1848 - many desperate people were eager to improve their lot. Millions would uproot themselves and their families and embark on a one way voyage to the Americas, Australia and elsewhere. -
Johann' Krohmann's Father Dies at age 57
Wanting more than to tend vineyards or work at a winery, being a son of a large family, it appears that Johann longed for more security than possible in Germany at that time. He decided to try his luck and sought a new life with promise that hard work might bring success, if not in Germany, then Australia would be his goal.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_revolutions_of_1848%E2%80%931849 -
Johann immigrates to Australia
On the 5th of Octobet 1854 at the age of 25, Johann left from Hamburg, Germany to live and make a life in Australia. He made this very long voyage onboard the "Johan Caesar" and arrived on January 1st, 1855 at Port Adelaide, South Australia. -
Heinz Family Voyage to Australia
Eva Heinz and her family arrived in Australia on the S/S Williamsburg on the 19th of September 1855 together with Margaretha, Philip, and his parents, Philip and Appolonia as assisted immigrants. If this was coincidence or by design, being from the same town in Germany were Eva & Johann destined to meet in Australia? -
Clarence Town
Johann spent some time in Clarence Town, NSW located 193 kilometres (120 mi) north of Sydney, before travelling to the Hill End Goldfields. The locality is bisected by the Williams River. The township sits just to the west of the river from where it flows into the Hunter River at Raymond Terrace. But talk of Gold mining directed his next move.
https://placesandpics.com/locations/new-south-wales/clarence-town-nsw/ -
Move to Hill End
Johann had already built the timber slab and a small cottage around 1856. He was a wine merchant and had a small vineyard. This is where, after his marriage to Eva, the first of their 3 children were born! (So many years have gone by, but the cottage had been refurbished some time ago. Elisabetha lived there when she returned to Hill End. It is said that the Remnants are still standing today). The cottage is maintained by the NSW National Parkes & Wildlife Service & is Heritage listed. -
The Krohmann Cottage
The cottage had been extended into an L-Shape configuration. Now a historic site and hopefully still standing today. -
HILL END Story in 3 Volumes
These volumes contain many details of the Hill End gold mining times in Australia. Also available at:
https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/649110 -
Success in Hill End
Hard work and the promise for a better life became evicent.. Johann bought many parcels of land and his rights to mine gold were granted. Johann became a very rich man from his Gold Mine on Hawkins Hill, registered as
"Krohmanns Gold Mining Co". with a nominal capital of 80,000.00 Pounds. -
Marriage to Eva Heinz
Johann Krohmann married Eva Heinz in 1860 at Maitland, New South Wales. She was 14 years old! -
Map of Hill End showing Landholders
Map is not dated: Johann Krohmann's two Blocks are shown in Section 19John Heinz's Allotment is shown in portion 148. The Dorhauer Timber yard had not yet been established on the Kerr block opposite Short Street.
Krohmann. Heinz, and Dorhauer were related families and all from Budenhagen, Germany. -
Birth of their 1st child Elisabetha Krohmann
Elizabetha grew up and married Martin Ruppel on
Sep 7 1881 - in Hattersheim am Main, Hesse, Germany, the town where Martin was born. -
House in Australia with Eva Christine Diekob - Krohmann's Parents and her Mother & Brother Johann Heinz
Johann Krohmann & Eva Krohmann plus one other person standing at the entrance. -
Birth of Mary-Ann Krohmann
Mary-Ann married Wilhelm Würsdörfer who was born in Nauort, Westerwaldkreis, Rheinland Pfalz, Germany! They had 4 children. -
Death of Margaretha Enora Elizabeth Krohmann
Daughter of Johann & Eva Krohmann, born 1867
Buried at Clarence Town NSW Australia -
Johann Pledges Allegiance to Australia
I, John Krohmann do sincerely promise and swear, that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, as lawful Sovereign of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and of this Colony of New South Wales, dependent on and belonging to the said United Kingdom; and that I will defend Her to the utmost of my power against all traitorous conspiracies and attempts whatever, which shall be made against Her Person, Crown, and Dignity; and that.... signed John Krohmann -
More Land in Tambaroora
On 16th November 1870 he purchased land of 1 acre, 8 1/2 perches which was listed in Book volume CV!!, Parish of Tambaroora Folio 50. (Gov. Gazette 16/11/1870 Issue 279).
Also on 7th October 1871 it was reported tin the "Freeman's Journal" Sydney that he donated 100 pounds to aid in the erection of a Catholic Church in Hill End. -
Tambaroora
In 1871 Johann held land situated in Tambaroora of 11 3/4 perches being portion # 152 (Gov. Gazette 12/11/1872) and according to the Hill End land Occupancy Index 1869/70, he held allotments 1 and 3 in section 19. continued next page
https://www.heatgg.org.au/hill-end-story/brief-history/ -
Sydney Herald Morning Tribune
Three articles copied from excerpts now legible -
The Gazette reports
According to the Government Gazette dated 27th June 1871 he purchased allotment 6 in section 18 of the Hill End Town Map which in 1874 was owned by J. Bell and is beleived to be the original site of the Dorhauer Timber Yard before it moved to the Germantown Lane area. The appraised value being 6 Pounds. Heinrich Dorhauer either purchased the lot from John Krohmann or leased it from him. cont. -
Johann is appointed to the Board of Public Schools at Hill End
All three of Johann's children are listed in the Hill End School Register 1870 to 1872 -
Johann Krohmann Leaves the Colony
Johann Krohmann and Family return to the Country of their birth. -
Claims of extraordinary riches...
Scarcely credible finds in the claims of Paxton and Co. and Krohmann and Co. In the former it is said to be like breaking out clubs of gold.
The piece of stone, if it may be so called, weighed rather more than one hundred and fifty pounds and of that weight there were more than one hundred pounds weight of gold. Krohmann has also got upon a new vein, and is breaking out stone as rich as any he has ever had before.”
Johann Krohmann has purchased many additional parcels to be mined. -
Johann takes back German Citizenship
Upon his return to Germany, Johann was re-naturalized a German Citizen. It is then that he also became the Mayor of Budenheim. -
Johann, Eva and childen return to Germany in May 1872
Johann pledged that if they arrived safely he would commission this painting of the Stations of the Cross for the local church. The Images of the Krohmann Family can be seen in the background of this painting of the Station of the Cross. There is a circle around the image of his deceased wife, Eva. Their son Johann who died age 6, is depictied as an Angel.
Now hung in St. Remigius Church,Osthofen near Alzey, after being transferred from St.Pankratius at Budenheim. -
Property Shares
Johann was also one of 17 registered proprietors with 800 shares in the "Bald Hill MiningCompany which was registered on 1st October 1872. On 30th March 1872 he applied for alease on "South Hargraves" of 10 acres and paid rent of 19 pounds but let the lease lapsewhen he returned to Germany (Gov. Gazette 05/06/1874 -
A letter to Johann from the Catholic Church Committee
Dear Sir,
On the occasion of your departure from amongst the members of The Catholic Church Committee cannot permit you to leave without thus publically recording our deep sense of your sterling worth and the many benefits which this district has derived at your hands.
You have terminated (we trust only for a season) along career, energy and untiring energy and perserverance by a triumphant and richly deserved success. You .... cont. reading the original copy) -
Farewell Letter from Johann Krohmann's Employees
A very sincere letter expressing appreciation of generosity accompanied by a special gift of a silver Cup to have as a memory until he returns.... -
Painting of the Krohmann Family by Adolf Pfeiffer
Supplied by Bernhard Krauthausen
L to R > Mary Ann, Madeline (Lena), Elisabeth (Lissy), Eva, Johann jr, Eva Christina Maria,
Johann -
Birth of Susanna Krohmann
Susanna died May 16, 1874
Source: Williams Web Site managed by LAFAE2 -
Death of Eva Krohman
Obituary: EVA Krohman (HEINZ} (1845-1873) Eva married Johann Krohmann in Maitland, New South wales in 1860, and they had seven children, six of which were born in the Hill End / Tambaroora area. Their daughter Susanna was born in Budenheim Germany after they had returned there in 1873. Eva died on the 13th April 1873 in Budenheim, Germany, nine days after Susanna was born. -
Johann marries again - wife Elizabeth Ackermann
One year after the loss of Eva at age 27, Johann remarries. Elizabeth was born May 21 1841 in Budenheim, Germany. It is believed Elizabeth had been living in the Krohmann household as a nurse to Eva and the children. Johann & Elizabeth had three further children - Margaret Katharina, Adalbertus Augustus, Emma Margaretha Krohmann -
Birth of Adalbertus Augustus Krohmann
Son of Johann Krohmann and Elisabethae Ackermanm
Baptized Dec 10 1874
Source: Williams Web Site managed by LAFAE2 -
Emma Margaretha Krohmann
Emma died Oct 7 1876
Source: Williams Web Site managed by LAFAE2 -
Birth of Katharina Krohmann
Katharina died the same day in Budenheim, Germany
Source: Williams Web Site managed by LAFAE2 -
Birth of Emma Krohmann
Emma died 1878
Source: Williams Web Site managed by LAFAE2 -
Death of Son Johann Krohman
Johann was born in 1873 -
Margaret Catherine Krohmann
Margaret was born in Budenheim Germany
She was married on Jan 25 1899 to Claude Hill in Sydney Australia -
Elizabeth Krohmann returns to Australia
After Johann's Death in 1878, Elisabeth returned to Australia with two of her children on the ship SS John Elder which birthed in Victoria in 1881 where she spent two years at the Krohmann Cottage at Hill End. -
Birth of Albert Leopold Victor Dorhauer
Son of Heinrich Gottfried Theodor Dorhauer and Margaretha Dorhauer, born Heinz
Elisabeth witnessed his birth -
Elisabeth Krohman became a Citizen of Australia
Elisabeth went to Sydney and was naturalised an Australian citizen. She took the oath of allegiance on 22nd September 1904 -
Margaret Catherine Hill born Krohmann dies
Margaret died in Sydney, NSW, Australia -
Elisabeth Krohmann (born Ackerman) dies
Elisabeth had returned to the family home in Australia after Johann's death. She died in Paddington, Australia (possibly Sydney) -
Krohmann Legacy
The German Telephone Directory still lists many "Krohmann's" in the area around Johann's place of birth. His life was surrounded by family and close relatives, not only in his home environment but working together at the mines, building homes and giving of himself to Church and Community. Yes, Johann had become a rich man in Australia, but he was generous, much loved and respected by all who knew him. -
Genealogy Project at creating A Timeline to tell an ancestor's story! Most information featured in this timeline was gathered from stories written and published by members of Johann's immediate family!
If further collaboration were possible, I would love to do so in order to enter only correct facts. Cousins have spoken to me about what they heard about Johann's life, but more than 100 years later, none are old enough to be able to share first-hand knowledge.
References used:
All available Genealogical Websites- Ancestry & MyHeritage
Heinz Family History (google.com)
Krohmann Photo Album
The Goldfields Dorhauer Odyssey.get-16
Andrea Bentschneider- Historical Documents, Personalities, General
