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The drabridge family are not connected to me in any way.....

Peter

Actually Matthew - you've posted on a very old thread so doubt the original poster will be looking back now.

You could try making contact by clicking on Peterkinz' name to attempt contact that way.

actually the Drawbridges are my family and Gustavus Adolphus was the name of Louisa Drawbridges father ie the grandfather of this son of hers and Samuels..

Sarah and Peter What a great start to 2006! nell

....and have just realised (several bottles of Champagne later) that he cant be the one in America because there is a 12 year difference in ages - now to search for deaths under different spellings in 1837!! Peter

Well done Sarah. Where would we be without kind people like yourself? Happy New Year to all. Kathy

Hi All I love this site, it's like having a whole new extended 'family', and it has a real feel good factor when you can help some else out. So many people have helped me it was my pleasure to do the same. HAPPY NEW YEAR PETER, AND TO EVERYONE OUT THERE TOO!! Sarah

Round of applause for Sarah - great work. Gwynne

Well Done!! Isn't it great when a brickwall tumbles! (Wish mine would.) Happy New Year to you all.

I have pm'd Sarah to express my unbounded happiness at finding Gustav after 30+ years of searching. I really don't have words to express my appreciation for the kindness shown by a stranger. Thankyou Sarah!!!!!!!! Peter

OOhhh Sarah I'm sure Peter will do the same when he see's this message LOL Good detective work Zoe x

Hi Peter GUESS WHAT?? I went to the PRO at Kew, it took a bit of digging but I found your elusive Gustav! I looked in the muster books & pay lists for the British German Legion as you suspected that was how he came to England. There was only one entry for: G.A.KRAFT age 32 (as at 21st Jun 1855) Schumacher of Leipzig He was in the 1st Rifles (also known as 1st Battallion Rifle Brigade) My German is a bit rusty, but as far as I can remember a Schumacher is a shoemaker, and from memory thatwas the profession stated on one of his childrens marriage certificate?? You would have Laughed if you could have seen me when I found it, I was hopping from foot to foot with excitement. I took photocopies of his attestation papers, if you send me your snail mail address by PM I will happily post them to you. All the best Sarah

Hi Peter Just a thought, have you checked the passenger lists from the UK to the USA to see if you can prove a link?? I don't have access to Ancestry worldwide or I would do it for you. Sarah

If he was a bigamist it became hereditary - his son certainly was one - I have the 'marriages' for both him and his wife. (although their son described his father as 'soldier deceased' when marrying. Soldier he may well have been (can't find him on 1881) but deceased he certainly wasn't - he was breeding six children!

Perhaps your Gustav was a friend/neighbour of the Drawbridge family in Colchester and they asked him to be god father to their son and named the child for his godfather. (Though if your chap did turn out a bigamist later he wasn't a very good choice for godparent, bet they regretted the choice!)

You are right - the Drawbridge's are too respectable for my lot!! The wife isn't one of mine either. Rule taht one out! Peter

Found this drawbridge family with the Gustav A 1865 doesn't seem to be yours as father is a Samuel Annie Drawbridge abt 1870 Colchester, Essex, England Daughter Priory Street, Colchester St James, Essex, England Charles Drawbridge abt 1880 Colchester, Essex, England Son Priory Street, Colchester St James, Essex, England Christoher Drawbridge abt 1874 Colchester, Essex, England Son Priory Street, Colchester St James, Essex, England Florence Drawbridge abt 1877 Colchester, Essex, England Daughter Priory Street, Colchester St James, Essex, England George Drawbridge abt 1868 Colchester, Essex, England Son Priory Street, Colchester St James, Essex, England Gus A. Drawbridge abt 1866 Colchester, Essex, England Son Priory Street, Colchester St James, Essex, England Joseph S. Drawbridge abt 1864 Colchester, Essex, England Son Priory Street, Colchester St James, Essex, England Louisa Drawbridge abt 1839 London, London, Middlesex, England Wife Priory Street, Colchester St James, Essex, England May Drawbridge abt 1875 Colchester, Essex, England Daughter Priory Street, Colchester St James, Essex, England Minnie Drawbridge abt 1872 Colchester, Essex, England Daughter Priory Street, Colchester St James, Essex, England Samuel Drawbridge abt 1838 London, London, Middlesex, England Head Priory Street, Colchester St James, Essex, England Martha Rudkin abt 1861 Layer, Essex, England Servant Priory Street, Colchester St James, Essex, England Funny thing is the name seems soooo different to the rest of siblings Zoe

Seems like Gustavas Drawbridge is in West Ham in 1901 with a Martha he may have been in Wales on previous census..sorry can't access 1901 Zoe

Thanks - I will go for the US death cert - nothing to lose, and details of the mother might give clues. No doubt the USA closes for Xmas. The German one fits - I wish I had something that gave his actual date of birth!!! Will now look for drawbridges!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Peter

Hello again Just been trawling on the BMD site. Found something interesting - Birth DecQ1865 Gustavus Adolphus Drawbridge Colchester 4a 260 Maybe our Augustus had a mistress and this was a love child? Also found a birth on the IGI for Gustav Adolph Krafft b. 13 May 1838 and christened21 May 1838. Mother Henriette Freidrike Krafft in Sankt Georgen Berlin Staat Brandenberg Preussen batch C999123 1838-40