This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: jebbythefish Surnames: Jansen, Peers, Biers Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.ceeurope.germany.schleswig.general/6378/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hello, I have been trying for some time to trace my family back to Germany/Denmark, but I seem to be hitting only dead ends. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how I should proceed. The information that I have to work with is this: Charles Jansen, born in Denmark in approximately 1829, immigrated to the US in 1850 via New York and died in Georgia. I cannot find him on the Hamburg Passenger Lists. His original name was either Carl, Niclaus, or Claas. Per the family bible, he was born on the island of Sylt. There is a reasonable match in Sylt (Claas Jansen, born 1829) but, in conjunction with the Sylt archives, I am unable to definitely prove that he is the correct person. Prior to immigrating, he married Catherine, who was born about 1829. Her mother's last name is Biers/Peers, so this may be her maiden name (or her mother remarried after her birth). They had a son, Herman Jansen, in December, 1850. In 1851, Catherine, her son, and her mother immigrated to New York. On the Hamburg Passenger Lists, they all stated they were from Uetersen. Unfortunately, a professional genealogist was unable to locate any records relating to them in Uetersen. I feel that my best bet is to find the christening record of Herman Jansen (since I have a fairly definite idea of his birthdate and name) and then work backwards from there. However, the only clue to his birthplace was the Hamburg Passenger List, and that turned up negative. Does anyone have any advice on how to proceed from here? I feel like I have exhausted all resources for information in the US, but I really don't want to just give up. The sources that I have used in the US are: family bible, graveyard records, church records, local newspaper articles, obituaries, military records, deeds, wills, coroner's inquests, passenger arrival lists, naturalization records, and address books. Outside of the US, I have tried the Hamburg Passenger Lists, Sylt Archiv, and the search in Uetersen. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.