Karl (Carl) Ludwig August Emil Friese was born 24 May 1795 in Gerdauen, Ostpreussen (East Prussia) to Johann Gottfried Friese and Anna Dorothea Luise Grützner. He was actually baptized as Carl Ludwig and would later have August and Emil added in varying records. He was the first of 7 children born to the couple. Gerdauen was the name of the town during its rule under Prussians and is today called Zheleznodorozhny in the Kaliningrad District of Russia. It is not far from the border with Poland. Gerdauen was a military outpost and housed Infantry Regiment 16 from 1714-1720, Infantry Regiment 2 from 1721-1755 and Dragoon 6 from 1746-1806. At the time of Karl’s birth the Kürassier Regiment 3 was also there. Karl’s father was a shoemaker during most of his life and a master saddler in later years.

During Karl’s early years his family lost all 3 of the next children in infancy. The Napoleonic Wars undoubtedly affected his family as the Battle of Friedland in 1807 between French and Russian forces was only 24km away in a war that affected the surrounding country from both sides of the conflict. The Prussian Army, after its massive defeat in 1806 at Jena-Auerstadt, was in disarray and of little help to either side. The French mostly took over the military for what was left of the Prussian army. It was during this time span from 1804-1810 that the family must have decided to move away from the area (or were forced to due to the battle). Karl’s sisters Maria Elisabeth and Caroline Henrietta were both born in Gerdauen, the last in 1804. Then by 1810 the family was moving south and in Langefeld where brother, Johann, was born.

Both of Karl’s parents had died before Karl got married. At some point the family continued on to Engelstein (modern Węgielsztyn, Poland) near Angerburg (modern Węgorzewo, Poland). This was where Karl’s father died in 1823. No information as yet on Karl’s mother except that she was teased by this time since Gottfried was listed as a widower. Somehow, as yet unknown, Karl left this area of Ostpreussen and ended up in Erfurt by 1826 where he married Anna Margaretha Sieb in Heiligenstadt. Since there was no Prussian army regiment in Angerburg that got moved to Erfurt, it is assumed that Karl probably left after his parents died to journey to the west and end up in the Erfurt area. Further research is necessary. On marriage and baptismal documents recorded by the military parish at Erfurt, Karl is listed as a Sergeant in the Royal Prussian 32nd Infantry Regiment, 8th Company. Karl and Margaretha had 4 children at Erfurt: Magdalena Erdmuthe (1827); Adolph Louis Johann (1829); Johanna Henriette Margaretha (1832); and our ancestor, Johann Emil August (1835).

Sometime after 1835 Karl left the army. He took a job at Schulpforta as a schulaufwärter (watchman, school attendant/guard?). The family baptisms were recorded at the tiny village of Altenburg which is near the Saale River. There are several Altenburgs in Germany. This is the one that is closest to Schulpforta, where they probably lived, therefore the one where Karl’s family probably had the baptisms. The children born there were: Carl (1838), Emilie Wilhelmine (1839), Carl Adolph Emil (1841), Henriette Marie (1842) and a stillborn baby (1843).

Karl died only 2 years later, 18 April 1845, leaving his wife with no means of support. It is recorded that due to Karl’s service at Schulpforta she was allowed 20 thalern per year as Karl’s widow and 10 thalern for each of the 3 surviving children: Johanne, Emil August and Emilie.
©2023 Nancy L. Ratay

bef 1830 Erfurt
1830-1832 Koln Ulich
1832-48 Erfurt and Halle

Marriage record of Karl Ludwig Friese and Anna Margaretha Sieb gives the name of both parents for Karl and for Anna Margaretha.