In Germans to America I found my immigrant ancestors from Allendorf an der Werra, Hessen-Nassau. In 1857Georg and Elisa Hottenroth came with children, Hanchen, Georg-M., Henriette, Ellevine, Anna-Elisabeth and Heinrich. The next person listed is Koster, Heinrich-F.(who later married the travelling companion Henriette Hottenroth.) I have an old handwritten record from the church (I think) that indicates that Martha Elisabeth Ruckert married Johann Heinrich Hottenroth but that he died in 1856. This old record lists all the above mentioned children and a couple more so I think this is the right family. Just the wrong adult male travelling with the mother and children. Does anyone have suggestions on what happened here? Georg is two years younger than Elisa. Did the younger brother marry the widow? Did the brother accompany the family to America to help out? Does anyone have access to records in Allendorf that could help me? Are there German customs on how young widows adapted in this situation? I cannot find Georg or Elisa in census records after arrival in NYC. The male children can be tracked eventually and they are all in the nyc area. Thank you for your help. LIsa Fox upstate NY Thanks for your help