“John (b 1776, d 27 Jan 1853) married Mary ? (b 1780, d 3 Jan 1860) John was born in Latham, Yorkshire but lived all his adult life in Bolton Lancashire. His occupation is described as 'Oil Sheet Worker' in the 1851 census, a 'Tarpaul Sheet  Maker' on Mary's death cert. and an 'Oil Cloth Maker' on his own death cert. During his time in Bolton he lived at 34 Crook Street and this is the address given on his death cert. John and Mary's children are: Sarah Ann (b 1803), Cornelius (b 1805), Jonathon (b 1810), Mary (b 1813), Ellen (b1815) and Benjamin (b1822).

I think I've located Latham as a small hamlet on the outskirts of Gomersal in West Yorkshire but as yet I haven't been able to find John's birth.

I am confused about one thing, I have another Jonathan, also born to John and Mary and also baptised at Moor Lane Baptist, but this one's date of birth is 21 Jan 1827. So there's a bit of sorting out to do!

I'll let you digest this lot to start with, let me know if I can help with anything more.

I live in Quorn, Leicestershire so researching in Yorkshire isn't easy. Where are you located?
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Yes, Benjamin did marry Patience Oldham daughter of Samuel Oldham of Stowe, Warwickshire. A further piece of information about Cornelius, he was married twice. The first time to Margaret Miller ( as recorded in the Moor Lane Baptist record) and then to Esther Scowcroft.

I have been told (although I haven't seen it myself yet) that Cornelius and Esther are buried in Darcy Lever, Bolton parish churchyard along with two sons and a daughter, Josiah (d 03/06/1846) age 5 years, Ephraim (d
23/02/1849) age 9 months and Sarah Ellen (d 18/09/1912) age 61 years. I believe these are children of the second marriage.
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Descendants of Christian Fredrich Dittmer


Generation No. 1

1.  CHRISTIAN FREDRICH1 DITTMER  He married MARIA LUISE BLIESENER. 
    
Children of CHRISTIAN DITTMER and MARIA BLIESENER are:
2.    i.    JOHN HENRY CHRISTIAN (CHRISTOPHER)2 DITTMER, b. 19 Jun 1845, Neu Massow, Pommern, Prussia, Germany; d. Abt. 1902, Liverpool.
    ii.    HERMAN DITTMER, b. Abt. 1857.


Generation No. 2

2.  JOHN HENRY CHRISTIAN (CHRISTOPHER)2 DITTMER (CHRISTIAN FREDRICH1) was born 19 Jun 1845 in Neu Massow, Pommern, Prussia, Germany, and died Abt. 1902 in Liverpool.  He married CATHAINE MARIA MARGARETTIA Bet. Oct - Dec 1874.  She was born in Germany.

Notes for JOHN HENRY CHRISTIAN (CHRISTOPHER) DITTMER:
In the census of 1881 the Dittmers are the only family in Lancashire with this surname- there was a border staying with them by the name of Herman Dittmer (possibly a brother?).

1881 census details as follows;

Surname        Given Names        Age        Sex        Position

Dittmer        Christian        36        M        Head
Dittmer        Margaret        24        F        Wife
Dittmer        Herman            24        M        Border
Dittmer        Dorothy            12        F        Daughter
Dittmer        Mary            5        F        "           "
Dittmer        George            2        M        Son
Dittmer        Christopher Frederick    3mths        M        "   "        

A problem with this is that Dorothy must have been the daughter froma previous marriage as Margaret is too young to have given birth to her.

By 1891 Christian (Christopher) is shown as a Sugar Boiler maker living at 45 Ascot Street.  No sign of Dorothy oin the Census form so she may have married in the interim, or I guess have died.

1901 Census- living at 13 Lambeth Rd , Kirkdale,
    
Children of JOHN DITTMER and CATHAINE MARGARETTIA are:
    i.    DOROTHY3 DITTMER, b. Abt. 1869, Liverpool,Lancs.
    ii.    MARY DITTMER, b. Abt. 1876, Liverpool,Lancs.
    iii.    GEORGE DITTMER, b. Abt. 1879, Liverpool,Lancs.
3.    iv.    CHRISTOPHER FREDERICK DITTMER, b. Abt. 1879, Liverpool,Lancs; d. 22 Aug 1917.
    v.    ALICE MARY DITTMER, b. Abt. 1876, Liverpool; d. Oct 1940, Liverpool.

Notes for ALICE MARY DITTMER:
Killed in enemy bombing raid in Oct 1940.

    vi.    FREDERICK DITTMER, b. Abt. 1881, Liverpool.
    vii.    HENRIETA DITTMER, b. Abt. 1887, Liverpool.
    viii.    LIZZIE DITTMER, b. Abt. 1883, Liverpool.
    ix.    WILHELM DITTMER, b. Abt. 1885, Liverpool; m. UNKNOWN, Bet. Jan - Mar 1901.
    x.    CHARLES DITTMER, b. Abt. 1897, Liverpool.


Generation No. 3

3.  CHRISTOPHER FREDERICK3 DITTMER (JOHN HENRY CHRISTIAN (CHRISTOPHER)2, CHRISTIAN FREDRICH1) was born Abt. 1879 in Liverpool,Lancs, and died 22 Aug 1917.  He married MAUD SEYMOUR.  She died 22 Aug 1917 in 115 miles NW by N from Eagle Island.

Notes for CHRISTOPHER FREDERICK DITTMER:
He was an Assistant Steward in the merchant marine and served on SS Verdi (Lamport and Holt Line), the vessel plied the Liverpool to New York route, she was torpedoed by U53 in the Atlantic on 22 Aug 1917- the vessel was built in 1907, 7,120 tons deadweight, and sank 115 miles North West by North of Eagle Island, 6 crewmen were lost, she was carrying general cargo when sunk, Christopher Frederick is included in the roll of honour in Liverpool Cathedral and there is a plaque on the Merchant Marine Memorial on Tower Hill.

The Captain of U53 was Hans Rose one of the top 10 U boat aces of WW1, he was responsible for over 200,000 tons of Allied shipping losses during WW1, his boat was surrendered to the French on 11 Nov 1918.  He went on to become one of the main U boat trainers in WW2.

Family stories tell that Frederick was killed trying to save another sailor after being torpedoed.
    
Child of CHRISTOPHER DITTMER and MAUD SEYMOUR is:
4.    i.    FREDERICK WILLIAM4 DITTMER, b. 27 Jun 1905, Liverpool; d. Jun 1988, Liverpool.


Generation No. 4

4.  FREDERICK WILLIAM4 DITTMER (CHRISTOPHER FREDERICK3, JOHN HENRY CHRISTIAN (CHRISTOPHER)2, CHRISTIAN FREDRICH1) was born 27 Jun 1905 in Liverpool, and died Jun 1988 in Liverpool.  He married MARY ELIZABETH NEWMAN.  She was born 19 May 1897 in County Meath, Ireland, and died Abt. 1990 in Warrington.
    
Children of FREDERICK DITTMER and MARY NEWMAN are:
    i.    FREDERICK JOSEPH5 DITTMER, b. 22 Jul 1927, Liverpool; d. Abt. 1970, Liverpool; m. JOAN.
5.    ii.    PAMELA ELIZABETH DITTMER, b. 15 Jan 1933, Liverpool.


Generation No. 5

5.  PAMELA ELIZABETH5 DITTMER (FREDERICK WILLIAM4, CHRISTOPHER FREDERICK3, JOHN HENRY CHRISTIAN (CHRISTOPHER)2, CHRISTIAN FREDRICH1) was born 15 Jan 1933 in Liverpool.  She married MARTIN DAVID BEARD 1959, son of REGINALD BEARD and IRENE HAMPSON.  He was born 15 Jan 1936.
    
Children of PAMELA DITTMER and MARTIN BEARD are:
6.    i.    TONY DAVID6 BEARD, b. 03 Jun 1959, Guernsey, Channel Islands.
    ii.    ANDREA ELIZABETH BEARD, b. 06 Mar 1964, Guernsey, Channel Islands.


Generation No. 6

6.  TONY DAVID6 BEARD (PAMELA ELIZABETH5 DITTMER, FREDERICK WILLIAM4, CHRISTOPHER FREDERICK3, JOHN HENRY CHRISTIAN (CHRISTOPHER)2, CHRISTIAN FREDRICH1) was born 03 Jun 1959 in Guernsey, Channel Islands.  He married ANNE CAROLINE HAWKER 30 Apr 1988 in Christchurch,NZ.  She was born 19 Oct 1962 in Christchurch, NZ.
    
Child of TONY BEARD and ANNE HAWKER is:
    i.    SAMUEL JAMES7 BEARD, b. 06 Jun 2002.

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