I received a new marriage certificate copy in the mail today for what I suspected was my gg-grandparents, Johann THIELKE and Wilomene RATHKE. It was listed on the Wisconsin Vital Records site as Hans J M THIELK, but the spouse and dates matched up. It turns out that Hans can be used as a shortened version of Johann or Johannes, so there you go.
This was a good find since it listed two new surnames that I had not yet discovered, those of both of my ggg-grandmothers. I haven’t had a lot of luck in the past on getting the married couple’s mother’s surnames. It usually just lists it as their married name or it’s just left blank. Fortunately, this certificate had both of the listed.
Along with my gg-grandfather, my gg-grandmother is listed as Wilm. Holz C. RATHKE. This also helped cement it since I found out she was married previously to a Frank HOLZ and had immigrated over with that family. It lists Johann’s parents as Henry P THIELK, which I didn’t have. All of the information I have found (including his headstone and census) lists his name a Peter, so I’m assuming that is what the “P” stands for. Johann’s mother was listed as Maria D C SPECHT. I had his mother down as Marie, so that matches up, but I had no surname for her.
It’s lists Wilomene’s parents as Hermann RATHKE (which I have) and Fried. C. HENKE. I have her mother down as Friedericke from her headstone and census, but no last name.
Also, listed under “Witnesses” are a Frank HENKE and a William HENKE. I can only assume that these may be Friedericke’s brothers. Though, it’s possible that they’re some other relation, so I made notes in Rootsmagic to keep an eye out.
So, that was a productive vital record. It’s really nice to get those. Now to piece all of this new information together.
Congratulations on finding this new info! I always love it when I can do this. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to find new ancestors, as I’m at the point in my lines where they all lived before vital records were kept. It gets a little tricky from here on out!
Yes, I am very lucky that all of my ancestors have lived in Wisconsin back to at least my great-great grandparents. I have yet to do much outside of the country.
Henry Peter Thielke is probably the anglicised form of Heinrich Peter Thielke.
Thielke may also be spelled Thielcke, Thieleke or Thielecke.
Some googling for “Heinrich Peter” “Thielke” turns up genealogies that include Thielcke with “Heinrich Peter” in their name, in the Mecklenburg region.