Family of Johann (Henry) Peter Heinrich Dittmer & Friedericke (Freda) Dorothee Westphal

Personal Details
- Johann (Henry) Peter Heinrich Dittmer
  
  1938 Henry Dittmer
  
  Johann, known as Henry, was born on August 17th, 1867 in Diersbüttel.²
  - Birth Notes
    - b 1867-8 in Hanover, Germany according to 1891 census, and also recorded as a "Nat. Brit. Subj."
      
      Aged 23 in Apr-1891 so must have been born after April 1867.
      
      Aged 24 when he married Freda, 28-Feb-1892, but his father was already deceased. Mum also remebers that the family came from Hanover.
      
      Aged 42 on 1911 census (and Freda 41)
      
      The probate records his name as "DITTMER Peter Henry" and his Naturalisation Certificate "Johann Peter Heinrich Dittmer". His nationalisation application (in the National Archive, Kew), also records his DOB as 17 Aug 1867, place of birth as Diersbuttel, as well as other information about perents etc. He submitted his birth certificate (issued 11 Aug 1886), so this information must have been verified. He must have applied for a new birth certificate from Amelinghausen to leave Germany, aged 19
      .
      DOB: 17 Aug 1867 (and of German parents)
      Place of Birth: Diersbuttel, Amelinghausen, Hanover, Germany
      Full Name: Johann Peter Heinrich DITTMER
      Fathers Name: Johann Heinrich DITTMER
      Mothers Name: Katherian Marie Magdalene KUHLMAUN
      
      1939 register confirms DOB as 17 Aug 1867.
  He died due to a respiratory problem and/or pneumonia, Broncho Pneumonia & Congestion Cardiac Failure, at the age of 82 on January 25th, 1950 in West Derby. His burial was in January 1950 at the Landican Cemetery.³⁴
  - Death Notes
    - Mum recalls he went to stay with relatives, and died in Belmont Hospital, Liverpool. He is buried with Freda in Landican cemetery (see references for picture).
      
      The death certificate records Henry's place of death as 42 Belmont Road, Walton. This was the West Derby Union Workhouse until 1865 which then became Poor Law Institution. In the 1930's it bacame Belmont Road Hospital run by Liverpool Corporation. In 1948 it bacame Newsham General Hospital, run by the Ministry of Health.
      
      The probate record shows he was living at 34 Bankburn Road, Tuebrook, Liverpool 13 before he was admitted to hospital.
      
      See the following link for further details:
      http://www.institutions.org.uk/workhouses/england/lancs/West_Derby_workhouse.htm
      
      Headstone Inscription:
      
      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
      
      Grave in CoE Section 8, number 820
      
      Death cetificate shows Henry was of 37 Devonshire Road, Upton. Henry was retired Corporation Labourer. The death was reported by his son H Dittmer (i.e.Harry) on 26th Jan 1850. The registrar was Jamie Jones.
      
      The probate records reveal much more information.
      The record text is as follows:
      DITTMER Peter Henry otherwise Henry of 34 Bankburn-road Tuebrook Liverpool 13 died 25 January 1950 at 42 Belmont-road Liverpool 6 Probate Liverpool 30 July to Harry Dittmer (the elder) engineer. Effects £231 15s 9d.
      
      Henry wrote his will 18-Oct-1948, only 15 months before he died. Perhaps he was terminally ill then! A copy of the will was obtailed from the Leeds Probate Office be me 14-July-2012.
  Friedericke (Freda) Dorothee Westphal
  
  1938 Freda Dittmer
  
  Friedericke, known as Freda, was born on February 15th, 1870 in Bremen and her christening took place there on June 29th, 1868.²⁵
  - 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
  She died from cancer, Cancer of the Womb, at the age of 69 on October 20th, 1939 in Idle. Her burial was on October 23rd, 1939 at the Landican Cemetery.³⁶
  - 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

Children
- Harry (Harold) Dittmer
  
  Harry Dittmer (circa. 1950)
  
  Harry, known as Harold, was born on January 28th, 1893 in Everton and his baptism took place there on April 12th, 1893.⁴⁷
  - Birth Notes
    
    Born: West Derby, Lancashire.
    Civil Registration List 2a p35_
    
    Harry was born on 28-Jan-1893 at 104 Opic Street, North Everton in the district of West Derby. His father was Peter Henry Dittmer (known as Henry), a sugar house labourer, and his mother was Frederica Dittmer, formerly Westpfhal.
    
    The birth was registered on 13-March-1893 by Geo. Hleaver (registrar). The 1939 register confirms the DOB.
    
    The 1911 censis confirms he was born in Liverpool.
    
    Name: Harry Dittmer
    Gender: Male
    Baptism/Christening Date: 12 Apr 1893
    Baptism/Christening Place: Holy Trinity, Liverpool, Lancashire
    Father's Name: Henry Dittmer
    Mother's Name: Fredericka
    Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I03147-6
    System Origin: England-EASy
    Source Film Number: 1656018
    Reference Number: item 5 p 68
  He died due to a respiratory problem and/or pneumonia, Bronchopneumonia & Cerebral arteriosclerosis, at the age of 73 on March 17th, 1966 at St. Catherine's (Tranmere). The funeral took place on March 22nd, 1966 at St. Marys (Upton). His cremation was on March 22nd, 1966 at the Landican Cemetery.⁸⁸
  - Death Notes
    
    Harry retired early due to ill health.
    He died, aged 73 at St. Catherine's Hospital Annex, Birkenhead.
    Occupation on death certificate was "Fitter and Turner".
    The death was registered on 18th March 1966.
    
    The death was recorded by his eldest son Harry, of 7 Woodcoate Bank, Birkenhead.
    
    He had a thrombosis in the leg and was in great pain. The doctor wanted to amputate, but he wouldn’t sign the consent form, so he was prescribed whisky instead. What a result! He survived many years after the thrombosis. Cause of death is unknown (Mum doesn't remember).
    
    DITTMER – March 17 peacefully in hospital of 37 Devonshire Road, Upton aged 73 years. Harry dear husband of Elsie, beloved father of Harry, Joan and Cliff. Service St Marys Church, Upton on Tuesday next at 11am,: Cremation at Landican 11:30am.
    
    Probate:
    DITTMER Harry of 37 Devonshire Road Upton Birkenhead died 17 March 1966 at St Catherines Hospital Annex Birkenhead. Probate Chester 11 May to Elsie Dittmer widow £3,493.

Johann (Henry) Peter Heinrich Dittmer & Friedericke (Freda) Dorothee Westphal

Personal Details

Children