German / Prussia / Pommern Genealogy Research

Vital Records from Pommern, Petersen

Researching Preußen, Pommern, Ancestors - Germany

The hardest part of researching Pomeranian ancestors is finding the records, then of course it’s off to deciphering the script.  So hopefully you paid attention in your German script courses.

Begin Your Research

As with most genealogy, we suggest you learn about your region.  So be sure to understand the history and territory of Pomerania. Pomerania, today, defines the Germany - Poland border and runs along the Baltic Sea, from Stralsund Germany to the Vistula River (near Gdansk Poland and is now Kolin (Pyrzyce) within the Stargard County in north western Poland.

Compiled Resources

The a3Genealogy researchers are offering a few of our favorite resources that may assist with this search.

Family Search.  The family search wiki on Pomerania Online Genealogy Records is a good resource to have when ferreting out this family tree. 

German Roots.com. Online German Genealogy Records and Databases.  Many online resources are listed.

Favorites

Vital Records: Census, Marriage, and Death records.  

Pommern Baptism Records

As Pomerania spanned to the far east side of Mecklenburg on the Baltic Sea, be sure to review the Mecklenburg-Schwerin Census Records at ancestry.com ($) and the Grevesmühlen, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany, Marriages, 1876-1920.  Death records: Grevesmühlen, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany, Deaths, 1876-1950. Grevesmühlen is one of the oldest towns in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Germany, Prussia, Pomerania Church Records, 1544-1945. 

Pommern Church Records

This collection has an index and images of the originals. Be sure to peruse both FamilySearch.org and MyHeritage ($). A portion of these records have been transcribed on ancestry.com ($) Pomerania, Germany, Parish Register Transcripts, 1544-1883.

Pomerania, Germany, Passenger Lists, 1869-1901. 

Passenger List

We encourage those with late arrivals. 1869 - 1901,  to review the ships originating in Stettin and Swinemünde (Szczecin and Swinoujscie in Polish). Remember your Danish ancestor may be found on the Stettin Passenger lists also. 

Other Resources

·         Germanic Genealogy Society: Pomerania page.

·         Family Search, microfilm #1496985, Kirchenbuchduplikat, 1794-1874, in German.  Film Description: Protestant parish register transcripts of births, marriages and deaths for Kordeshagen, Pommern, Germany; now Dobrzyca (Koszalin), Koszalin, Poland. 

·         Family Search, microfilm #896089 Kirchenbuch, 1752-1866 in German and Poland (indexed).  Film Description: Parish register of births, marriages and deaths in Kratzig, Pommern, Germany, now Kraśnik Koszaliński, Poland.

Kathleen Brandt

a3genealogy.com

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