By Boat to Galveston
Ernst
The details of my trip fell into place gradually. At first I was going to travel down in August when an assortment of my grandmother von Rosenberg's relatives were gathering, and I was thinking about bicycling part of the route. Then the idea of December was raised which would have been 150 years to the month since the von Rosenbergs landed in Galveston. Finally the idea of timing the trip to coincide with the "cousins picnic" at which descendants of Ernst von Rosenberg would gather was suggested and the plan was set.
My uncle Dale, until recently the family historian, had done some research to determine the route taken 150 years ago. In doing so he dug up some old maps and some current maps to find both the original route and a current route approximate to the original route which would allow the use of an automobile.
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
Office of Coast Survey 1857
Then my father, also handy with a map, planned the logistics of getting to and from Texas, to and from the cousins picnic, in and around Austin, etc. So I was free to ponder other things and snap photographs unencumbered by thoughts of meals, lodging, and arrival times.
Our route was chosen so that we would take the ferry into Galveston from Port Bolivar. Thus we arriving in the city as had Peter Carl and his family, by water. While ferries had also transported my ancestors from Galveston Island to San Luis Island and then again from that island to the mainland of Texas, the ship from which my ancestors disembarked in Galveston was nothing so simple as a ferry. Their ship, the Franciska, was something similar to the Elissa which can be seen in Galveston today.
The Franciska had 22 sails (all of which were destroyed by a storm in the Gulf of Mexico), a hull of iron, and was (possibly) even fitted with an engine for steaming into and out of port. Upon seeing the Elissa, part of me wished that she instead of an automobile had brought me to Texas, but I wished less intensely when I read of another ancestor's journey.
Hermann Lungkwitz, his friend Richard Petri, and some of their relatives also made the trip from Germany to the United States in the mid 1800's. From the moment he stepped on the boat, Hermann was seasick, could not look at the ocean at all, and refused to eat. A blessed thing it was for him when a calm settled in over the ship, but as the calm days stretched on, the captain grew more and more frantic. At the captain's urging, all the passengers were gathered and the following words were prayed aloud:
"Dear Lord, Thou hast led us this far on our journey to freedom. Let not our hearts be discouraged nor let us be afraid. For we know Thou art with us in all things and will see us safely through this sea of torment."
As the words were spoken, a gentle breeze rocked the boat and they were on their way again.
While in Galveston I spent my time on the beach, eating, and sleeping, but 150 years ago the von Rosenbergs were a bit busier. In addition to recovering from the stormy approach to Galveston and preparing for the journey to the mouth of the Brazos River, William's sister, Johanna, was married to Herman Hellmuth.
Three months previous, the von Rosenbergs stopped in Potsdam to visit at the home of William's good friend Herman before continuing on their way to the port in Bremen. The group toured the beautiful gardens of Potsdam and spent afternoons and evenings singing and dancing at the Hellmuth home. Herman and Johanna became engaged, intending to marry in Bremen before sailing to Texas, but this was before they learned that Bremen law prohibited the marriage of emmigrants.