Friedericke (Freda) Dorothee Westphal (Westpfahl)

1938 Freda Dittmer

This picture was taken in 1938 in Upton and sourced from Family Photos.

• Individual Picture Notes

• Birth Notes
  • It was originally believed by the family that Henry and Freda were both from Hanover, but in Henry's nationalisation application, he records Freda was born in 1870 in the "Free" town of Bremen, and came to England in or about 1881.
    
    She is believed to be the daughter of Christian Westpfhal.  The burial headstone reveals her full name as Freda Dorothy, and this full name ties in with an IGI record with DoB and Baptism.
    
    Cant find on 1891 census (but came to England 1881)
    Aged 22 on Marriage Cert of 28-2-1892
    Aged 31 on 1901 census
    Aged 41 on 1911 census
    
    If ages when married and died are correct, then Freda was born between 21 October 1869 and 27 Feb 1870
    
    
    Name: Friederike Dorothee Westpfahl
    Sex: Female
    Birth: 15 Feb 1870 Bremen, Bremen, Germany
    Christening: 29 June 1868 Bremen, Bremen, Germany
    Death: Deceased
    
    DOB confirmed on 1939 Register

• Death Notes
  • Lived in Idle, Bradford till the 1920's where she died of cancer about 1939.  Her body was returned to the Wirral.  She was buried in Landican cemetray in Birkenhead.
    
    Freda died at home of cancer of the Womb, while they were living in Bradford.  Her daughter Elsie stayed in Bradford to look after her until she died.  They also had a helper (Mrs Jenson).
    
    Harry had her body returned to Landican Cemetery where she was buried.  Mum had to organise the funeral buffet in Upton on her own.
    
    Burial Record 976
    Buried 23 Oct 1939, age 69
    Address: 6 Doctor Lane, Idle, Bradford
    Grave in CoE Section 8, number 820
    
    
    In Treasured Memory of
    FREDA DOROTHY,
    The beloved wife of
    HENRY DITTMER
    Passed away 20th October 1939
    Aged 69
    Peacefully sleeping, resting at last.
    Life’s weary trials and troubles are past.
    Also Henry, beloved Husband of above
    Died 25th January 1950
    Aged 82 years
    
    

• General Notes
  • Before Friedericke Dorothee Westphal (Freda) arrived in Liverpool, Henry Dittmer was lodging with Christian and Sophie Westphal in Everton, Liverpool in 1891. She came to England about 1881.
    
    Her father is recorded as Christian Westphal, a sugar refiner on her marriage certificate of 1892. However, the lack of a DNA connection to WESTPAHL from Bremen, it is possible she was adopted or otherwise taken in by her father for an arranged marriage to Henry Dittmer. This would also help explain my lack of "German DNA".
    
    When Freda’s father married in 1888 he was already 41, a sugar refiner and a “bachelor”, not a widower, so Freda may be “Friederike Wilhelmine Dorothee Siegener Klein”, christened 21 Dec 1875 at Bremen, the illegitimate daughter of Louise Elise Marie Siegener Klein.  There are three other Bremen birth records with parents Friederike Louise Kleine (or Friederike Keine) and Christian Friedrich Westphahl, but none for Friedericke.
    
    Freda arrived in the UK about 1881-82 but wasn't on the 1891 census, so may have returned with Henry to introduce her to his sister in Germany that year, before they were married, but I cant find any Immigration record on Ancestry.co.uk.  Her father however was in Liverpool in 1891.
    
    Married Henry (28-Feb-1892) in Liverpool, Lancashire while living a 2 Gt Nelson Street.  Freda used to work in service in a Big House in Liverpool when she was first married.
    
    Fred also worked part-time as a carer for Mrs Lindley, a cripple in a wheel-chair, at Cottingly Cliff, Bingley.  She was a smart, thin lady.  Her husband was some form of business man.
    
    She (and Henry) were recorded as German subjects on the 1901 census, and later, during WW2, there was concern in the family that they may be interned for the duration of the war.
    
    In 1911, "Fridericka" and Henry (42 & 41) had been married 19 years and were living at 56 Mossman Street, Windhill, Shipley with son Harry (18), born Liverpool.

Click here for details of Freda's family with Johann (Henry) Peter Heinrich Dittmer

¹ Nationalisation Application
² FamilySearch.org
³ Headstone - Freda & Harry Dittmer
⁴ Individual - Mum & Dad
⁵ Certificate - Marriage
⁶ Certificate - Birth
⁷ 1901 UK Census
⁸ 1911 UK Census
Source/Citation 1891 UK Census

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