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		Osterstein Castle 
		
		
		
		
		
		location  
		According
		Wikipedia there are two Osterstein castles
		one is in the 
		town of Zwickau.  The river
		Zwickauer Mulde flows 
		through it but not the Elster
		river.   The castle 
		is in Gera.   The
		White Elster flows through Gera 
		so that must be the proper one since the invitation says the "Castle Osterstein on the Elster". The castle was
		rebuilt 
		1686-1735 so it was only completed 11 years before the wedding.  
		It is still listed as a major attraction in Gera. 
		Until their 
		branch of the royal line ended in 1802 the castle was the seat of the line
		
		of Reuss-Gera (Reuß-Gera
		in German) 
		A tower (the keep) is all that remains, the rest was largely destroyed 
		in World War Il. 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		 
			
			
		The brides 
		family is Reuss
			
		 (Reuß in German), 
		Reußen means of the lineage of Reuß.  The family is described as: 
			
			
			Counts and Misters von Plauen, 
			Misters Graiz, Cnannichfileld, 
		Gera,
		Schleiz and Lobenstein, etc. 
		 
			Plauen 50 KM South 
		of Gera 
		Graiz does not exist but 
		Greiz does, it is 30 KM south of Gera 
		Cnannichfileld may actually be
		
		Kranichfeld In which case it is 80 KM West of Gera 
		 
		
		
		
		Gera 
		is in the state of
		
		Thuringia and 
		is the third 
		largest city  
		in that state. It is also where the wedding was held. It is close to the 
		western border of Saxony.   
		It is where the wedding invitations were printed and is associated with 
		the bride’s family.     
			
			
			Schleiz 50 KM 
		south south west of Gera. 
		
		Lobenstein, Bad Lobenstein, 
		in the state of Thuringia, is 70 KM south south west of Gera 
		
		
		
		
		
		As a side note Reußen is also a tiny town 90 KM North of Gera 
		
		
		
		 
		There is an
		
		80 page book
		
		
		
		
		
		 about the bride's father's family history. "Herrn Heinrich des  XXV of the house of
		Reuß".  The book was 
		published in German by subscription for interested parties.  It is a 
		chronicle of the bride's family,  the royal family of Reussen von 
		Plauen.  This chronology begins in 1307.  Two sets of eyes could not 
		find any mention of Ludwig.  There were several Christiane Sophie 
		Henriettes born around the time of the wedding.  Most men in the family 
		were called Heinrich so it is difficult to distinguish who was who.  
		 
		
		  
		The bride's father was born 27 August 168? and died 13 March 1748. He 
		was married twice.  His first wife died in 1718.  He remarried in August 1722 
		to Sophia Maria and she is the mother of the bride.  
		 
		Most of the book dealt with births, deaths, exchange of 
		land and special monetary payments. 
		
		 One 
		bit of interesting information in it was that the city Gera was destroyed by fire on 18 
		September 1780, 26 years after our Ludwig immigrated to America.  Both 
		churches, city hall, jail, school and all other public buildings were 
		destroyed.  Just a few houses remained.  If Ludwig lived in Gera as it 
		is assumed from the invitation, all records would probably be lost. If 
		the papers escaped that disaster, they would have also have had to survive 
		the heavy 
		bombing of Gera during World War II.  The book is part of the
		Google Books Collection.  It 
		was published in 1811 in Leipzig, about 70 KM north north east of Gera.  
		1811 is just 9 years after
		the
		 
		end of that branch of the 
		royal line of
		Reuß-Gera 
		or in English, 
		
		Reuss-Gera.
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		 
		The Groom, 
		Count and Lord Frederick  
		Bodo   
		Described as 
		of H.R. Empire Count of Stolberg, Königstein, 
		Rochefort, Wernigeroda 
		and 
		 Hdrenstein, Lord Epstein, Munzenberg, Breuberg, Aigmont, Lohra 
		and Clettenberg  and Thro Kömigl. 
		Majesty in Pohlen and Churfurstl. Highness of Saxony, High appointed 
		position of major general and colonel over a foot regiment.  
		
		
		Stolberg, there are 3 of them discussed in detail 
		below.  The most likely one is 60 KM east south east of Gera and in 
		the state of Saxony. 
		
		Königstein It is in the state of Saxony 270 KM east 
		south east of Stolberg. 
		
		Rochefort.  The only Rocheforts I can find are in 
		France and Belgium. 
		Wernigeroda does not seem to exist but
		Wernigerode 
		(ending with an "e" not an "a") does exist.  It is about 250 KM 
		north east of Stolberg in the current state of
		Saxony-Anhalt.   
		The spelling in the original manuscript is clear. The last letter is an 
		"a".  I do not know if spelling changed or if this word refer to something 
		else. 
		Hohenstein, there are 2 of them.  One is about 250 
		KM north east of Stolberg near the Belgium border and the other is now 
		called 
		Hohenstein-Ernstthal and is about 15 KM north north west of Stolberg    
		 
		Lord Epstein.  There does not seem to be a town of 
		Epstein but it is an interesting name. The surname Epstein is one of the 
		oldest Jewish
		family names in 
		the Slavic 
		countries such as the Czeck Republic that is about 50 KM south of 
		Stolberg. 
		
		
		Munzenberg  a town about 15 KM north of Stolberg. 
		Breuberg 400 KM west south west of Stolberg  it is 
		a small town near Frankfurt 
		Aigmont  Not a city in Germany and not a very 
		common last name. 
		Lohra 
		370 KM west of Stolberg a little north of Frankfurt 
		Clettenberg is not a city in Germany but Plettenberg 
		is.  It is 400 KM west of Stolberg, and north west of Frnakfurt.  
		Could the first letter be a "P" rather than a "C"? 
		Thro Kömigl   
		I can not find anything on this. 
		Majesty in Pohlen and Churfurstl 
         
		Pohlen, Linda bei Weida 
		is 60 KM west of Stolberg. 
         Churfurstl 
		is more of a puzzle.  There is no city by that name. It is another 
		reference and title  
         applied to the upper classes 
		and aristocrats during that era. 
		 
		
		         
		I find “Chursurstl” in Google including one reference of “Pohlen 
		und Chursurstl” from 1756  
         but I can not figure it out.  I 
		can not even find the words "Pohlen" and Chursurstl" at the reference.
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		Stollberg: 
		The groom was H.R. Empire Count of Stolberg so I am assuming 
		he was from Stolberg.  Germany was not unified at this time so I 
		would think you would have to live close to what you were the count of.  
		There are three possible locations for Stolberg according to 
		Wikipedia. 
		 
		1) on the Western border,
		
		Stolberg (Rhineland)  (500 KM west of Gera, 
		where the bride was) 
		 
		2) In about the middle of the country, 
		Stolberg, Saxony-Anhalt (150 KM 
		north west of Gera) 
		 
		3) Just north of the western end of the Czech Republic, Stollberg which 
		is also called Stollberg/Erzgeb and Stollberg/Erzgebirge (60 KM east 
		south east of Gera)  in the Free State of Saxony now just called 
		Saxony.  It is the southern most state in what used to be East 
		Germany.  These
		are connected towns or perhaps one 
		town with about 12,000 inhabitants, 3,000 in 1834.  The spelling of 
		Stolberg is different, one "l" in the wedding papers and two on the map 
		but considering how lax people used to be with spelling I do not see 
		that as a problem since this is substantially closer 
		than the other 2, I will assume it is the correct one. 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		 
		 
		The Elster River 
		Elster a river that the invitation says the castle is on. There is the 
		black (Schwarze Elster) and the White (Weisse Elster)  The city of 
		Zwickau is not on either one although they both are in the same general 
		area.  The river that runs through Zwickau is the
		Zwickauer Mulde not the Elster.    
		The White Elster is about 20 KM west of Zwickau and runs through 
		Gera, the town where the invitations were printed and the town 
		associated with the bride’s family. 
		 
		The Black Elster is about 160 
		KM east north East of Gera so it is not likely to be the one 
		referred to. 
		The White Elster or Weisse Elster (German:
		Weiße Elster ) goes through 
		 Plauen,
		
		Greiz,
		
		Gera,
		
		Zeitz,
		
		Pegau and
		
		Leipzig. It flows into the river
		
		Saale in
		
		Halle.
		 
		 
		The Black Elstter, or Schwarze Elster, flows through the cities
		
		Kamenz,
		
		Hoyerswerda,
		
		Senftenberg,
		
		Lauchhammer,
		
		Elsterwerda,
		
		Bad Liebenwerda,
		
		Herzberg and
		
		Jessen. It flows into the river
		
		Elbe at
		
		Elster (Elbe), upstream from
		
		Wittenberg. 
		 
		 
		Unanswered Questions 
		 
		1) One would assume that a printer who got his name on the wedding 
		announcement would be fairly old and important enough to not be a likely 
		candidate to immigrate.  
		2) Was there any obvious political turmoil near
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		Gera 
		is in the state of
		
		Thuringia around 1754 
		when Ludwig immigrated. 
		3) 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		It is relatively well established that Ludwig died in 1792, 38 
		years after he immigrated to America in 1754. This would have been 46 
		years after the wedding 1746.  It is odd that someone who was important 
		enough to get his name on the invitation would live another 46 years.  
		 
		4) One would think that if our Ludwig was an accomplished printer, he would have 
		worked as one in this country.  It is possible that lack of skill with 
		English forced him into another line of work.    
		5) It would be useful to see if there is any connection between our 
		Ludwig and printing in the area he lived, York Co., Pennsylvania 
		possibly in Dover Township which since the early 1800s  has been 
		known Conewago Township or Newberry Township or York (town) in York 
		county. 
		5) It is possible that the two Freysingers are not brothers, one might 
		be a father or uncle. 
		6) Can any other data on 
		
		
		
		Christian Willhelm Freysinger be found in Germany. 
		7) 
		In the list for the groom's family connections there are a number of 
		puzzles.
			
				|   | 
				a) 
				
				
				
				
				Wernigeroda is 
		mentioned.  It does not seem to exist but
		Wernigerode 
		(ending with an "e" not an "a") does exist.  It is about 250 KM 
		north east of Stolberg in the current state of
		Saxony-Anhalt.   
		The spelling in the original manuscript is clear. The last letter is an 
		"a".  I do not know if spelling changed or if this word refer to something 
		else. 
				b) Clettenberg is mentioned. It is not a city in Germany but Plettenberg 
		is. It is 400 KM west of Stolberg, and north west of Frankfurt. 
		Could the first letter be a "P" rather than a "C"? 
				c) Thro Kömigl 
				is mentioned.   
		I can not find anything on this. 
				d) "Majesty in Pohlen and Churfurstl" is mentioned. 
         
				Pohlen, Linda bei Weida 
		is 60 KM west of Stolberg. 
         Churfurstl 
		is more of a puzzle.  There is no city by that name. It is another 
		reference and title  
         applied to the upper classes 
		and aristocrats during that era. 
		 
		
		         
		I find “Chursurstl” in Google including one reference of “Pohlen 
		und Chursurstl” from 1756  
         but I can not figure it out.  I 
		can not even find the words "Pohlen" and Chursurstl" at the 
         reference. | 
			 
		 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
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