From Freybes to Frieböse, Freibis, Frajbisz, and more
I have counted 95 different spelling variations of the Freibis surname, and that's not including obvious transcription errors such as Frieber or Freiberg. In order to simplify matters, I have chosen the most common or most recent variant for each family as the standard spelling. In my own family, the name is most often spelled Freibis and thus that is my default spelling.
Early lives of Johann and Franciska
Johann Gottlieb Freiboese was the son of Carl Gottlieb Freibis, a forester, and Constantia Ronke (Renka, Runke). He was born on 26 July 1797 in Barłomino (Barlomin) and was baptized a week later at Bolszewo (Bohlschau) Lutheran parish. He had at least one brother, Carl, who was two years older. He probably had other siblings but, due to missing parish records, we cannot know for sure.
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| Johann Gottlieb Friebies 1797 baptism, Bohlschau Evangelical parish |
Franciska Słowy was the third of nine children born to laborer Anton Słowy and Catharina Milke (Mylka, Mielke). She was born on 23 December 1797 in Robakowo (Robbakau), a village not too far from Barłomino. Franciska was baptized on Christmas Eve at Luzino Catholic parish. Her mother died when she was 14 years old; her father married second wife Catharina Kunz within the year and they had four more children. Seven of Franciska's siblings died as babies or very young children.
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| Francisca Słowik 1797 baptism, Luzino Catholic parish |
Johann Freibis was a day laborer. He was also something of a ladies' man who fathered two children before he was married—the first when he was just 17 years old. Johann's first son, Johann Bychowski, was born to Marianna Bychowska in Strzebielino on 23 December 1815 and was baptized at Luzino Catholic parish a few days later. Johann's second son, also named Johann, was born to his future wife Franciska Słowy on 21 May 1820 in Robakowo.
This map shows the parishes Bolszewo, Dzięcielec, Luzino, and Rozłazino and the villages Barłomino, Paraszyno, Robakowo, and Strzebielino.
View map here
View map here
Johann Freiboese and Franciska Słowy family
On 1 July 1822, Johann Freiboese married Franciska Słowy at Luzino Catholic parish. They were both 25 years old. Early in their marriage, they lived in Paraszyno, where their second and third sons were born. Johann's parents were probably also living in Paraszyno at that time. A few years later, Johann and Franciska moved to Robakowo, where Franciska's father lived.
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| Joannes Freybys - Francisca Słowikowa 1822 marriage, Luzino |
Johann was a Protestant and Franciska was a Catholic; neither converted to the other's religion. When it came to baptizing their children, they alternated between Catholic and Protestant parishes—that is, until their youngest two sons were born. Each of their names appears in the baptism registers of two different parishes! Regardless of where they were baptized, though, all of Johann and Franciska's sons were Catholics.
Children of Johann Freiboese and Franciska Słowy:
- Johann Freibis (Freiboese) was born on 21 May 1820 in Robakowo and was baptized in Luzino Catholic parish.
- Jacob Freibis (Frieböse) was born about 1823 in Paraszyno and was probably baptized in Dzięcielec (Zinzelitz) Lutheran parish.
- Carl Friedrich Freibis was born on 10 June 1825 in Parasyno and was baptized in Rozłazino Catholic parish. He died on 10 January 1826 in Robakowo.
- Joseph Freibis was born on 18 November 1826 in Robakowo and was baptized in Bolszewo Lutheran parish.
- August Freibis (Frebes) was born on 28 August 1832 in Lusiner Mühle (just outside Luzino) and was baptized in Luzino Catholic parish.
- Franz Anton Freibis (Frank Frabis or Fraibis) was born on 20 August 1835 in Luzino and was baptized in both Luzino Catholic parish and Bolszewo Lutheran parish.
- Carl Friedrich Freibis (Charles Frebes) was born on 19 March 1838 in Luzino and was baptized in both Luzino Catholic parish and Bolszewo Lutheran parish.
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| Francisca Freibuss née Słowy 1853 death record, Luzino |
Johann Freiboese died on 26 August 1850 in Robakowo at age 53. His wife Franciska died on 8 April 1853 in Robakowo at age 55. They were survived by five sons: Jacob, Joseph, August, Franz, and Carl.
Freiboese sons in West Prussia
This map shows where the Freiboese sons lived with their families in West Prussia. Green markers are in Żarnowiec parish parish (Kolkowo, Opalino, Wierzchucino); orange marker is Góra parish; green markers are in Luzino parish (Dąbrówka, Milwino, Robakowo); and blue markers are in Puck parish (Połchowo and Połczyno).
View map here
View map here
All six of Johann and Franciska's sons were married in West Prussia. Eldest son Johann Freiböse married Anna Wilkowska in Luzino parish in 1843. They lived in Milwino and had one son, Joseph, before Johann died in 1845 at only 25 years of age.
Jacob Frieböse married Anna Drawc, probably in Żarnowiec parish about 1848. They had seven children, four of whom died as children or babies. They lived in Opalino and later in Wierzchucino.
My ancestor Joseph Freibis married Paulina Abraham in Góra parish in 1851. After their marriage they moved to Połchowo in Puck parish. They had four children before Joseph died in 1862 at age 36.
August Frebes married Marianna Dürr (or Derron) in Strzepcz parish in 1857. They moved to Połczyno in Puck parish and then to Kolkowo in Żarnowiec parish. They had one son, Victor. Marianna died in 1861 and Victor in 1862.
Frank Frabis married Rosalia Schwan in Luzino parish in 1864. They resided in Robakowo, Luzino, and Dąbrowka. Their first three children were born in West Prussia.
Carl (Charles) Frebes married Julianna Pionke in Luzino parish in 1865. They lived in Robakowo, where their only son Johann was born. Charles and Julianna may have divorced.
Finally, if you are wondering whether we have any relatives descended from Johann Freiboese's first son, Johann Bychowski, the answer is no. Johann Bychowski married Franciska Schwichtenberg in Luzino parish in 1844. They had one son, Joseph, who died as a baby. Johann Bychowski died in Częstkowo in 1846 at only age 30.
Migration
Three of Johann and Franciska (Słowy) Freiboese's sons immigrated to the U.S., as did descendants of their other three sons who lived to adulthood. Of the branches that remained in West Prussia, some later migrated to other parts of Germany and some have descendants living in Poland today.
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| August Freiboese (Frebes) was the first to arrive. New York passenger lists, 25 March 1868; ship: New York. |
Detroit was the preferred destination for our Freibis family emigrants. August, Frank, and Carl all went to Detroit, as did Jacob's oldest son Johann. August and Carl soon moved to Washtenaw County, Michigan, but the rest remained in Detroit.
Joseph Freibis died in West Prussia, but his widow Paulina (Abraham) and their four children immigrated to Chicago.
Johann (junior) also died in West Prussia. His granddaughter Johanna (Freiböse) Rhode immigrated to Stephenson County in northwest Illinois (nowhere near Chicago). His son Joseph and granddaughter Theresa (Freiböse) Czervionke also came to Stephenson County but soon returned to West Prussia—Theresa's son Frank, however, remained in Illinois. Theresa and the rest of her family later migrated to Germany.
Most of Jacob Frieböse's family remained in West Prussia, later Poland. As mentioned above, son Johann (John) joined his uncle Frank in Detroit. Jacob's granddaughter Martha Rutha emigrated as a baby with her father and stepmother. Their family lived in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
This map shows where the Freibis families lived when they first immigrated to the U.S.: Oshkosh, Wisconsin; Chicago and Freeport, Illinois; Augusta, Detroit, and Willis, Michigan.
View map here
View map here
Johann Freiboese and Franciska Słowy had seven children, 35 grandchildren, and at least 75 great-grandchildren. Future posts will cover the families of Johann and Franciska's children in greater detail.
© TreeQuest: An Unexpected Journey 2017.
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