RandomFacts Marks

From 1836 to 1914, German settlers came to South Australia initially from the Prussian provinces of Brandenburg, Silesia and Posen. They were mostly farmers and tradespeople. These 'Old Lutherans' fled their homeland because the King of Prussia, Friedrich Wilhelm III, had decreed in 1817 that all his subjects must use his new worship book and join the Union Church, which he set up by combining the Lutheran and the Reformed Church. Those who did not obey this order could be fined, imprisoned, or have their belongings confiscated. In 1840 King Friedrich Wilhelm III died, and by the mid-1840s persecution of 'Old Lutherans' had gradually ceased. Although religious persecution in Prussia ended in the mid-1840s, Germans who feared the return of harassment continued to come to South Australia throughout the decade. By 1851 almost 7,000 Germans had come to South Australia. About half of these came as religious communities. The other half came in search of land or a higher standard of living.

Carl Christian MARKS

Carl (sometimes called Christian) was born on 27 July 1810 at Bomst, Posen, Prussia (now western Poland). His parents were Rudolph Benjamin MARKS and Hanna Beata GALPACH. He married Caroline Wilhelmine ROHRLACH in Prussia. Caroline was born 17th August 1817 at Brandenburg, Germany. Carl and Caroline emigrated in 1846 on 'Heerjeebhoy Rustomjee Patel' (often called 'HR Patel') in 1846. The ship departed from Bremen, Germany 27th June 1846 and arrived at Port Adelaide 29th October 1846. Travelling with Carl and Caroline were their three children Carl August (5yrs), Pauline Emily (3yrs) and Caroline Wilhelmine (infant).

Also travelling on 'HR Patel' was Caroline's parents Johann Wilhelm ROHRLACH (52yrs), Anna Dorothea GALPACH (49yrs) and their three children Paul Martin R (17yrs), Ernst Christoph (15yrs)and Otto Gustav (12yrs)

Carl was a tailor.
The family lived at Hahndorf.
Carl was naturalised 31 December 1848

Carl Christian MARKS died 7th August 1889 (79yrs) at Hahndorf South Australia. He was buried at St. Michaels Lutheran Church Cemetery, Hahndorf.
Caroline Wilhelmine MARKS (nee ROHRLACH ) died 30th July 1898 (80yrs) at Hahndorf and is buried at the Hahndorf Cemetery.

Note: several of the children were married at St. Michael Church, Hahndorf. Officially this church is St. Michaels Evangelical Lutheran Church, which explains the entries in some of the marriage records.

Children of Carl Christian MARKS and Caroline Wilhelmine ROHRLACH
(From the Topperwein Family Lists)

1. Carl August MARKS b. 25 Sep 1841 Blacksmith d. 3 Oct 1910 (Hahndorf Cemetery)
2. Pauline Emily MARKS b. 1 Sep 1843 Prussia m. Carl Wilhelm MATTNER d. 12 May 1930 (Bonney Flat Cemetery, Balhannah)
3. Caroline Wilhelmine MARKS b. 7 Jan 1846 Bomst, Posen, Prussia m. Johann Ernst KLEIN d. 8 Jan 1927 Frewville
4. Gustav Adolph MARKS b. 29 May 1848 Hahndorf d. 6 Apr 1950 (1yr) at Hahndorf, South Australia.
5. Louise Mathilda MARKS b. 17 Aug 1850, Hahndorf m. Johann Wilhelm Louis BAUM d. 8 Aug 1914, Upper Kensington.
6. Paul Benjamin MARKS b. 1854 d. 1854
7. Maria Elizabeth MARKS b. 1857
8. Theodor Traugott MARKS b. 21 Jun 1861, Hahndorf m. Emma Marie HEINRICH d. 6 Oct 1939 (78yrs) Hackney (West Terrace Cemetery)