Maria Magdalen (Graf) Zimmer (abt. 1838 - 1894)

Born about 1838 in German Empire

Wife of Michael Zimmer — married 1858 in Victoria, Australia

Descendants

Died 11 Dec 1894 at about age 56 in Melbourne East, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

Maria was born in 1838 in eastern Germany. She was the daughter of Johann Grafe and Hanna Paulisch.

She married Michael Zimmer in 1858 in Victoria, Australia. ^[1]

Michael and Maria were pioneer Wends that immigrated to Australia.

She passed away on 11 December 1894 in Victoria, Australia.

VIC BDM Records

Family name: GRAF Given name(s): Maria Event: marriages Mother's name / Spouse's name: ZIMMER, Michael Reg. year: 1858 VIC Marriage Reg. number: 1167/1858

Family name: ZIMMER Given name(s): Maria Magdalen Event: deaths Mother's name / Spouse's name: <Unknown Family Name>, Hanna Mother's family name at birth: PAULUSCH Father's name: <Unknown Family Name>, Grafe Johann Place of birth: Place of death: Melb E Spouse at Death: <Unknown Family Name> Age at Death: 56 Reg. year: 1894 VIC Death Reg. number: 14157/1894

Immigration To Australia

In the course of writing “In Search of a Home”, George Nielsen drew up notes on the first two generations of Wendish/Sorbian pioneers in Australia.

The following list provides a surname index and page reference for these Notes, as well as the name of the spouse. Copies of relevant pages and family surnames can be obtained from the Wendish Heritage Society Committee for the cost of the photocopying. The Society expresses its gratitude to the Lutheran Archives for making this copy available to it.

For the birth and death date and place, please refer to In Search of a Home by George R. Nielsen, 1977, pages 115–127. This book is available through Lutheran Bookshops in Australia.

Michael Zimmer and Maria Graf page 242

https://www.wendishheritage.org.au/research/a-z-wend-surnames-in-australia/

Wends

The Wends of Lusatia, an area in the Eastern part of Germany, make up the smallest group of the many Slavic races who include the Poles, Czechs, Russians and other Slavic peoples.

The German cities of Bautzen and Cottbus are the main centres for the Upper Wends [Bautzen] and the Lower Wends [Cottbus].

The Wendish language is closely related to Polish and Czech and is still the first language spoken by many Wends who live in villages in this area of Germany. Estimates vary, but there are maybe 30,000 Wends who still speak their native tongue.

The Wends have inhabited the area called Lusatia, for over 1,500 years, and in earlier times their territory was much larger and included Berlin, which was originally a Wendish settlement.

In Germany the name ‘Sorb’ is usually preferred to ‘Wend’ by the German people, but the term ‘Wend’ has usually been preferred in the English speaking countries where the Wends have settled, including Australia, Canada, South Africa and the USA.

https://www.wendishheritage.org.au/research/who-are-the-wends/

Sources

1. ↑ VIC Marriage Reg. number: 1167/1858

• Name confirmed from son Gustave’s VIC BDM Records