Person:Heinrich Bergmann (1)

Henry William Bergmann (also recorded as William Henry) was born Heinrich Willhelm Bergman who immigrated from Germany with his first wife Mary who died in Tasmania. He was born in Treppeln, Germany which exists now as a small town approximately 92 Kms ESE from Berlin and about 10 kms from the River Oder which has been the border between Germany and Poland since 1945. Treppeln was originally in a part of Prussia in the region known as "Neumark" about 9km from Krossen in the province of Brandenburg. It was part of the Deutsches Reich until 1945. After 1945 all districts east of the Oder were ceded to Poland and the town is now know as Trzebule in the district of Krosno Ordanski province Wojewodztwo Lubuskie. Heirnrich Bergmann is described as a tall, well built man possibly dark haired with a moustache. He was a stone mason and bricklayer by trade and could read and write. It seems that a good many immigrants from Germany settled in various parts of Australia in the 1800s including a number in Tasmania's Channel/Huon area. Names of births registered at this time show German sounding names although many were later anglicised. About the year 1860 Heinrich married Maria Bredehoft who was born in Schwarzenburg described as being near Stade. This town is about 77 kms in a straight line from Teppeln. It appears that Maria was in poor health ("lung disease") and was advised by the family doctor to go on a long sea voyage to a warmer climate so the decision was made to emigrate to Tasmania. At this time they were living in a two storey stone house in Bartholemaus Strasse, Hamburg. An elderly relative recalled the piles of household goods being piled on the footpath for nieghbours to buy before they left. Passage was booked on the barque "Figaro" of 346 tons. The Master was Capt Schultz and he had a crew of 12. They departed from Hamburg on 25 June 1870 and arrived in Hobart 26 Oct 1870 having traveled out as "steerage passengers". This is partially confirmed by records in the State Archives Office that the ship "FIGARO" arrived in Hobart on 26 Oct 1870 having departed Hamburg. It was customary at that time to only record "saloon" passengers individually. There are some 29 names listed of whom 11 are under 12 years of age. It is believed that in total 45 men 34 women and a large number of young children and babies embarked on the voyage from Hamburg. A Mrs Joyce Dudman of Burnie has a large wooden chest which contained all their worldly goods that accompanied them on the voyage. Maria died at Gordon in Tasmania in 18 June 1874 aged only 42. Also on the "FIGARO" was the Nickels family of Franz and Thiresa with their children Caroline (21) Josep (19) Paul (11) Auguste and Franz (9). Heinrich subsequently married Caroline Nickel (see details) and started another family.

Several other Bergman(n) records have been discovered who may be children of the first family. Richard Piere Bergman d Zeehan 16 Mar 1914 Oscar Eric Bergman d Zeehan 20 Oct 1914 was 34 when he married Margaret Watt in Zeehan in 1897. Frederick William Bergmann d Burnie 11 Feb 1924 He married Barbara Jane Moir in Launceston 27 May 1889. Both were recorded as Adult . Barbara Jane Bergmann d Launceston 27 Oct 1892 (wife of Frederick William)

Other records show; Ada Bergmann m Francis Eustace Phillips on 19 November 1901 at St Pauls Church Gordon,

1. ↑ Extracted from Registrar of Births Deaths and Marriages. Tasmanian Pioneers Index.

   Date obtained from documents found in the possession of Dulcie Oates (nee Bergmann).

2. ↑ Tas Federation Index
   1261/1904.