Genealogy Forum UK

I am struggling to trace my ancestors in Silesia, Prussia/Germany.

My 2x great-grandfather, Richard Wolff, was born in Festenburg, Silesia, Prussia (Now Twardogora, Poland) on 7th April 1881. His parents were Sicbalus Wolff and Louise Richter. Wolff can also be spelt: Wolf, Woolf, Woolfe, or Wolfe. Richard Wolff came to the UK sometime between 1891 and 1901. My grandmother tells me that he travelled with his Uncle, but we don't know anymore than that. Both Richard and his uncle were hairdressers.

Richard Wolff appears in the 1901 census at age 19, living in Camborne, Cornwall with the Uren family as a hairdressers servant/apprentice. He then appears in Redruth, Cornwall marrying Bessie Thomas in 1904. Sometime between then and 1910, he moves to 22 Fore St, Babbacombe, Devon and sets up his own business as a hairdresser and tobacconist.

The 1910 business directory also lists a Eugen Moritz Wolff living at 47 Fore St (only a minutes walk from Richard's address), also with a hairdressing business. I suspect that this is the Uncle with whom Richard came to the UK with, but I am not 100% sure. Eugen was born in Wilhelmsdorf, Brandenburg, Germany in 1866, which would be about right for him to be Richard's uncle. Eugen's marriage certificate lists a Sebaldus Wolff as his father in 1899, but he was deceased at the time of marriage. Richard Wolff and Eugen both continue to live on Fore St until at least 1914, possibly until Eugen's death in 1916.

Richard Wolff's children, Frederick Maurice and Cora, were both born in Devon in 1905 and 1907 respectively. Richard was naturalized in 1933. It is only through his Naturalization Certificate that I know his birth place and parents names. Richard died in 1953.

I wish to trace Richard's parents in Germany, I estimate that they would have been born around 1840-50. I would also like to try and confirm that Eugen is infact Richard's uncle, and Sicbalus' brother. However, I cannot even find any information about the name Sicbalus, or even Sebaldus. Neither appear to be genuine names as far as I can tell.

I also wonder why they left Germany. Festenburg was known to be a fairly large Jewish settlement, but both Richard and Eugen left before WW1. Did Sicbalus and Lousie die when Richard was young? And, if Eugen is Richard's uncle, why isn't Richard living with him in 1901, instead of being a servant in Cornwall?

Any advise would be greatly appreciated!

Last things first. It wouldn't have been unusual for apprentices to be living with their employer in much the same way as servants 'lived in'. Eugen may not have been wealthy enough to support his nephew, he may himself have been living as a lodger/boarder and not necessarily on the premises where he plied his trade, do you have him in the 1901 census?

A quick google shows several sites that offer genealogical info/assistance for those with German ancestry.

I have Eugen living at his Fore St address in 1901, whilst Richard is living in Cornwall with the Uren family.

I have searched a few German genealogy sites and am still stumped. There are many Louise Richters, but absolutely zero results come up for Sicbalus and Sebaldus Wolff.

Could Sebaldus be named after the Saint? So Sebald may be a variation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Sebal ... _Nuremberg

Family Saerch have a couple of submitted Sebald Wolffs, though not yours.

Is this still a Brickwall, or have you solved it?

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