Notes for: Johann Jochim Seitz
Surname SCHARMER / SEITZ and SYKES
It appear's that Johann may have used both the name SEITZ and SCHARMER when in Schleswig-Holstein, depending on the full interpretation of his baptism certificate Johann may not have had any legal right to the name SEITZ and instead should have adopted his mothers surname SCHARMER. Either way it would appear that he used both surnames or there was documentation in Schleswig-Holstein that he could be identified from as the document accusing him in 1883 of illegal emigration or not showing for military service named him as SEITZ, also known as SCHARMER.
In Australia I have found that the surname has varied in its spelling at various times and by various members of Johanns family. Some of the variations can be attributed to poor education on the part of the recorder or the provider of the information. Others are not so easy, some of the family had changed their surname to Sykes over a period of time and this has remained down the generations, whereas some have returned to the Seitz name, particulary of note is the monumental inscriptions on their graves.
The obvious spelling errors are in the birth registration surnames for Johanns children, SITZ, SYITZ and SRITZ.
The first indication that I have found of Johann Seitz using an english variation of his name was in the 1889 Sands Sydney Alphabetical Directory where he used the name John Sykes at Concord, this name appears again in later Directories up until 1930. He is then listed on the Electoral Roll as John Sykes prior to 1943 where it changes to John Jakim Seitz, I would think he used this name until his death in 1952.
Johanns son Alfred John Seitz had dual registrations for his birth, he was registered in 1884 as Alfred John Seitz and John Alfred Sykes. John Alfred Sykes used this name all his life but was interred under the name John Alfred Seitz.
There are so many changes in the SEITZ / SYKES names used by the family it becomes confusing and hard to compile a time line to try and identify when and why the name changed.
A story as told to me by my mother and which was obviously told to her was that at the start of the First World War and because Johann Jochim Seitz had a name that could easily be confused as being German and the hostility shown towards anyone who had a german name in Australia and to avoid Johann Seitz being placed in an Internment Camp the family changed the surname.
With the research documentation available today it is obvious that the SEITZ surname was being changed over twenty years before the outbreak of World War One, it could be that the name was simply changed to anglicise it, time may possibly reveal the true story.
Brief Geographical / Political Background - and I mean Brief
(sourced from the Internet from various web sites)
The Duchys of Schleswig and Holstein were never part of Denmark. However before 1864 the king of Denmark was also the Duke of Schleswig and Holstein. The governments of both Denmark and Schleswig- Holstein were in Copenhagen, but adminstrations were strictly seperated. It was in every way a binational and bilingual monarchy.
The official language for Denmark was Danish and for Schleswig-Holstein it was German. Only in the northen part of Schleswig ordinary people spoke Danish (or at least some dialects that tended to be more Danish than German). In 1864 all of Schleswig-Holstein became part of the new German Empire.
Now remember I said this was a brief background, anyone wanting to know more should do a net search, much has been written on the wars and carve up of the Duchys and countries in this region.
1859 - Born 16 September 1859 in Elmshorn Schleswig-Holstein.
Note: On the Baptism Certificate under the heading of "Surname of Child", the childs name appears as "Scharmer unehelich Spurius Seitz" which when translates roughly says " Scharmer illegitimate with no legal right to the name Seitz" this indicates that Johann was born illegitimate and had no legal right to the name of the father, instead he should have adopted the maiden surname of his mother. Remarks (Bemerkungen) on the Certificate from the Baptism Register states "1. Confined (?) By her mother, the widow Scharmer Loc Stuprationes: Hamburg. Johann's mother Anna Scharmer never married the father Carl Seitz, but it does appear that Anna did marry a Johann Thee on the 10 Apr 1859. Johann Thee appears as a godfather for Johann J. Seitz on the Baptism Certificate.
Chronological Notes
1859 - Christened 13 Nov 1859 in Elmshorn Holstein.
1876 - On the 27 September 1876 at the age of 17 Johann emmigrated from Hamburg Germany to Australia aboard the "Herschel". Many factors may have contributed to Johann making the journey to Australia, it is unknown if Johann had any siblings but his mother passed away at an early age of 40 in 1874 and he may have found himself alone, put with this the fact that the political scene was very unstable with compulsory conscription and on going factional wars and religious bigotry. What may have been an attractive alternative was the fact that german immigration to Australia was the third highest in the 19th century. With this in mind and favorable reports by those who had already arrived in Australia, and the enticement of subsidised or free passage migration strategies in place, he may have found it to his advantage to find a new life in a young country.
1876 - Occupation as a Landmann (Farmer)
1877 - On Friday the 12 January 1877 the "Herschel" birthed in Adelaide South Australia.
[Note: Johann J Seitz name does not appear on the Passenger list 1877 of arrivals in Adelaide South Australia but is on the passenger list of those who left Hamburg 1876. The error lays in the transcription of entries from one list to the other as both lists are identicial except for three entries, this includes Johann's name and the two persons either side of his name that have been omitted.]
[Note: Part of a Report in "The South Australian Advertiser " on Saturday January 13 1877 stated the ships details as follows - "743 tons. Under the Master J. Kammann, the Agents were Elder, Smith and Company. Passengers were Mr. Theodore Gluntz and Dr. Harch in the cabin and 302 persons in steerage. Her cargo on this particular trip varied from 80 cases of bitters, 300 tons of coal, 250 dozen bottles of beer, 2 casks of sardines to 12 bales of paper plus more".
This was the fifth of seven voyages made by the "Herschel" to Australasia. She was a Iron ship, 50.3 mts x 9.1 mts 5.79mts of the Rob. M. Sloman & Co. Line, and was the second ship to carry that name. Orginally a British ship the "Edith Byrne" built in 1865. ]
1877 - John stayed in Adelaide for two years before moving to Sydney NSW.
[Note: Source is from the Statutory Declaration made by John when applying for Naturalisation.]
1883 - I have found a document on the web which states that Johann Jochim Seitz (aka Scharmer) born 1859 was accused in 1883 in Schleswig-Holstein of illegal emigration or not showing for military service. This record had his employment as Seaman. The accusation made in 1883 means that was when the accusation was made not when he emigrated, Which leads me to think that if the accusation was made in 1883 it could be that he could not be found for military service. Johann Seitz emigrated in Sep 1876.
1883 - Resided at Concord Sydney NSW
1883 - Occupation - Labourer
1883 - Johann married Lucy Amelia Abbott on the 3 Mar 1883
[Note: There is only very basic information on the Marriage Certificate. Possibly a forced or rushed marriage as their first child Ada Seitz was born in Jul 1883.
1891 - At the time of the 1891 Census there were five related families residing in Concord Rd Concord. The 1891 Census District 96/A household #108 noted John Seitz as being the head of the family with 3 males and 4 females, Household #107 was William Abbott and his family of 1 male and 3 females, and in Household # 109 was Richard Morgan and his family - 3 males and 6 females. Joseph Morgan and his family - 6 males and 6 females, Frederick Morgan's family - 4 males and 2 females also appear in the Census. (Source is an Email from Clare Stapleton Concord on Richard Morgan file 17).
1904 - Occupation: Coal Lumper
1904 - Residence: 34 Bettington St Millers Point Sydney NSW
13 Jun 1904 - Application for Naturalization submitted.
18 Jun 1904 - John Joachim Seitz took the Oath of Allegiance before Stephen Murphy, a Police Magistrate for New South Wales.
1952 - John was living at 4 Windsor Road Padstow Sydney at the time of his death.
Funeral Notices -
SEITZ (Sykes), John Jochim. - July 20, 1952, beloved father of Jack Sykes, Millers Point, grandfather of Jack, Ted, joe, Gertie, Edna, Bill, Ray, Gloria, Laurie, and great grandfather of Jack Sykes, great great grandfather of Barry Hancock, in his 97th year. At Rest.
FEITZ (SYKES), John Joachim, - July 20, 1952 at his daughters residence, 4 Windsor Road Padstow, dearly loved father of Ada (Mrs Springfield), Jack, Elizabeth (Mrs Kyneur, decd), May (Mrs Leddy), Fred, Mary (Mrs Barnes), Thomas, William, Jim and Con, in his 97th year. At Rest.