My great grandfather, Johann Berend Petermann was born in Ganderkesee Germany in 1843. He spent 14 years at sea with the German merchant ships out of Bremen. Subsequently he married and had one child in Germany. The family immigrated to the United States circa 1880 and settled in Hoboken, New Jersey. His parents were Johann Christopher Petermann and Gesche Margrete Engelbart.

Gesche Margrete Engelbart was the daughter of Harmen Wilken Engelbart and Gesche Menkens. Gersche Menckens was born 30 October 1743, in Habbruegge, parents, Cort Menchens and Trine (Catherine) Osterloh.

Ahlert Mencke★ and ________

Birth: c 1575 Schlutter, Oldenburg, Germany

Marriage: Too early for parish records.

Children:

1. Hilmer Menke★ (1602-1674) and Beke ___________ ★

   Birth: Hilmer Mencke c 1602 Schlutter, Oldenburg, Germany

   Note: The Ganderkersee parish records start in 1637 - Year of birth based on age at death.

   Death: 02 FEB 1674

   Father: Alert Mencke Source Information: Film Number: 537977 & 537668

   Menkens, Hilmer born, 1602 Habbrugge ?? died 02 Feb 1674 Habbrugge ?? ?, Beke (Family Tree Maker Report)

   Marriage: Beke

   Too early for parish records.

   Death: Hilmer Menckes von Schlutter age 72 02.02 1764

   Children:

   1. Cord Menke★ (1633-1715) and Grete ________ Neelss (Nehls)★

      Birth: 1633 Schlutter, Oldenburg, Germany

      Note: The Ganderkersee parish records start in 1637 - Year of birth based on age at death - and LDS Search

      Kord Mencke Birth: 1633 Schlutter, Oldenburg, Germany Death: 26 FEB 1715 Father: Hilmer Mencke Mother: Beke Spouse: Grete Neelss Marriage: 17 MAY 1664 Source Information: Film Number: 537668 LDS

      Menkens, Cord born, 1626 Habbrugge died 25 Feb 1715 Habbrugge ?? married Nehls, Grete (Family Tree Maker, Report)

      Marriage: Kord Menken legitimate son of Hilmer Menkens from Schlutter and Grete of the deceased Eilert Neelss, nachgelassene witwe [posthumous widow] from Gebbbung 1664

      Birth of Grete _____ Neelss:

      Marriage of Grete _______ to Eilert Neelse:

      Death of Eilert Neelse: 1663 per Family Tree Maker

      Death of Grete Menkens: 15.06.1703 Grete, Cordt "Meenkens" Frau von "Happebrügge", 77 Jaher

      Death of Cord Menkens: 26.02.1715 Cord Menkens von "Habrugger" "frau ✟ 1703, 82 jahre

      Occupation:

      Residence: Habbrugge in 1667

      Children:

      1. Ellerd 15.02.1665 of Kord and Gerte Menkens (Ganderkesee Baptismal Index, June 2012)

      2. Hilmer Menke★ (1667-) and Anna Meyers Schwartings★

         Birth: Hilmer 02.03.1667 Menkens of Kord and Grete (Ganderkesee Baptismal Index, June 2012)

         Hilmer Mencke Birth: 02 MAR 1667 Habbruegge, Oldenburg, Germany Death: 29 APR 1725 Father: Kord Mencke Mother: Grete Marriages: Spouse: Anna Schwarting Family Marriage: 02 DEC 1697 Source Information: Film Number: 537668 LDS

         Marriage: Hillmer Menkens son of Cord Menkens of Habbrugge and Anna "seel." [deceased] Costen Schwartings wittwe [widow] from Habbrugge 02.12.1697 (GPR, June 2012)

         Note: This mean she was the widow of Costen Schwartings NOT born a Schwarting.

         The marriage of Costing Schwarting and Anna Meyers: September 10, 1678: Costen Schwarting legitimate son of Heinrich Schwarting and Anna the legitimate daughter of Jacob Meyers

         See Schwarting

         Children:

         1. Cordt Mencke★ (1700-1772) and Trine (Catherine) Osterloh★ (1697-1785)

            Birth: 1700

            05.04.1700 Cordt, Hilmer Menkens und Anna von "Happebrugger" 1. Cordt Menkens, ibid, 2. Johan ----- 3. cannot read.

            Cordt Mencke or Menckens Event(s): Birth: 06 APR 1700 Habbruegge, Oldenburg, Germany Parents: Father: Hilmer Mencke Mother: Anna Schwarting Marriages: Spouse: Triene Osterloh Marriage: 23 NOV 1724 Source Information: Film Number: 537668 LDS

            Marriage: CORD MENCKENS Marriages: Spouse: CATHARINA OSTERLOH Family Marriage: 27 NOV 1724 Ganderkesee, Oldenburg, Germany Husband Age at Marriage: 24 Wife Age at Marriage: 27

            Marriage: 23.11.1724 Cord Menckens son of Hillmer Menkens, Habbrugge and Trien Osterloh daughter of Dierk Osterloh, Immer (GPR, June 2012)

            Children:

            Initially I took information of the LDS IGI because the LDS microfilms for Ganderkesee are extremely hard to read, very fuzzy and over exposed. In June 2012 I was in Ganderkesee and got a copy of the baptismal index for the name Menkens. It revealed some minor and not so minor differences with the IGI records.

            Cord Menkens and Cathrine Osterloh were the only Cord and Catherine (variety of spellings) having children in this time period.

            1. Anna Margrete 13.03.1725 of Cord Menke and Catrin (Ganderkesee Baptismal Index, June 2012)

               ANNA MARGETE MENCKENS - International Genealogical Index Gender: Female Christening: 13 MAR 1725 HARBBREUGGER Oldenburg, Germany

               Death: 29 Jan 1746 IGI

               ANNA MARGARETHE MENCKENS Birth: 05 MAY 1727 Christening: 06 MAY 1727 Ganderkesee, Oldenburg, Germany Parents: Father: CORD MENCKENS Family Mother: CATHARINA OSTERLOH, LDS Submission

            2. Hillmer 05.05.1727 of Cord and Catrin Menkens (Ganderkesee Baptismal Index, June 2012)

               Hilmer Menkens 05 May 1727 Habbrugge Oldenberg, died 18 Aug 1842 IGI

            3. Dirk 10.06. 1729 of Cord and Catrin Menkens (Ganderkesee Baptismal Index, June 2012)

               DIERCK MENCKENS - International Genealogical Index Gender: Male Christening: 12 JUN 1729 Ganderkesee, Oldenburg, Germany

               DIERCK MENCKENS Birth: 10 JUN 1729 Christening: 12 JUN 1729 Ganderkesee, Oldenburg, Germany Parents: Father: CORD MENCKENS Family Mother: CATHARINA OSTERLOH

               LDS Submission

               Also listed with birth date of 10 Sept 1729 IGI

            4. Hinrich 08.06.1731 of Cord and Catrin Menkens. (Ganderkesee Baptismal Index, June 2012)

               HINRICH MENCKENS - International Genealogical Index Gender: Male Christening: 10 JUN 1731 Ganderkesee, Oldenburg, Germany

               HINRICH MENCKENS Birth: 08 JUN 1731 Christening: 10 JUN 1731 Ganderkesee, Oldenburg, Germany Parents: Father: CORD MENCKENS Family Mother: CATHARINA OSTERLOH

               LDS Submission

               Death: 25 Nov 1798 IGI

            5. Cathrina 22.07.1733 of Cord and Cathrina Menkens (Ganderkesee Baptismal Index, June 2012)

               CATHARINA MENCKENS - International Genealogical Index Gender: Female Christening: 25 JUN 1733 Ganderkesee, Oldenburg, Germany

               CATHARINA MENCKENS Birth: 22 JUN 1733 Christening: 25 JUN 1733 Ganderkesee, Oldenburg, Germany Parents: Father: CORD MENCKENS Family Mother: CATHARINA OSTERLOH

               LDS Submission

            6. Cord 29.02.1736 of Cord and Cathrine Menkens (Ganderkesee Baptismal Index, June 2012)

               CORD MENCKENS - International Genealogical Index Gender: Male Christening: 04 MAR 1736 Ganderkesee, Oldenburg, Germany

               CORD MENCKENS Birth: 28 FEB 1736 Christening: 04 MAR 1736 Ganderkesee, Oldenburg, Germany Parents: Father: CORD MENCKENS Family Mother: CATHARINA OSTERLOH

               LDS Submission

            7. Berend 20.11.1738 of Cord and Cathrine Menkens (Ganderkesee Baptismal Index, June 2012)

               BEREND MENCKENS - International Genealogical Index Gender: Male Birth: 20 NOV 1738 Habbruegge, Oldenburg, Germany

               BEREND MENCKENS Birth: 20 NOV 1738 Habbruegge, Oldenburg, Germany Christening: Death: Burial: Parents: Father: CORD MENCKENS Family Mother: CATHARINA OSTERLOH

               LDS Submission

            8. Gersche Menck(ens)★ (1743-) and Harmen Wilken Engelbart★

               Birth: Gesche 30.10.1743 of Cord and Cathrine Menkens (Ganderkesee Baptismal Index, June 2012)

               Gesce 30.10.1743 Habbrugge Cord Menkens u Catherine v. Habrugge, witnesses: Anna Catherine, Berend Petershagen Holtzvoigts Tochter v. K. K., Margrete, Johann Stalings Tocht v Harbrugge, and Marten Ludder Menchens Sohn v. d. Falckenburg (Ganderkesee Parish Records, June 2012)

               GESCHE MENCKENS Birth: 30 OCT 1743 Christening: 02 NOV 1743 Habbruegge, Oldenburg, Germany Parents: Father: CORD MENCKENS Family Mother: CATHARINA OSTERLOH

               LDS Submission

               Marriage: 25.06.1772 Ganderkesee, Harm Wilcken Engelbart witwer [widower] Brinks. z Schlutter to Gerche Menkens, Cord Menkens, Bauman z Habbrugge ehel Tocht (GPR, June 2012)

               Children: See Engelbart

            Death Of Cordt Mecke: 31 OCT 1772 Habbruegge, Oldenburg, Germany Burial:

            Death of Trine Osterloh Mencke:

      3. Grete 18.03.1669 of Kord and Grete (Ganderkesee Baptismal Index, June 2012)

      4. Kord Menke (1671-1741) and Becke Wieting

         Birth: Kord 06.04.1671 of Kord and Grete (Ganderkesee Baptismal Index, June 2012)

         Marriage: 17.11.1699 Cord Menckens son of Cord from Habbrugge and Becke Wieting daughter Hinrich Witing of "Haggebrugge" (GPR, June 2012)

         Kord Mencke Birth: 06 APR 1671 Habbruegge, Oldenburg, Germany Death: 08 JAN 1741 Habbruegge, Oldenburg, Germany Father: Kord Mencke Mother: Grete Neelss Spouse: Becke Wieting Marriage: 17 NOV 1699 Ganderkesee, Oldenburg, Germany Source Information: Film Number: 537943 Source Information: Film Number: 537668 LDS

         Menkens, Cord born 06 Apr 1671 Habbrugge died 08 Jan 1741 Habbrugge ?? married Wieting, Beke (Family Tree Maker Record)

         Wieting, Beke dob 03 Nov. 1671 dod 19 April 1741 Habbrugge (Family Tree Maker)

         Child: Cord Menkens Aug 1700 Habbrugge Oldenburg died 19 Feb 1755 Habburegge married Wuennecke Margrete Bremermann 04 Dec 1736 IGI

         Cord of Cord and Becke Menkens 00.08.1700 (Ganderkersee Parish Baptismal Index, June 2012)

   2. Alerd Mencke (1638-) and Tibbicke Neelss

      Alert Menkens of Hilmer and Beke 28.10.1638 (Ganderkersee Parish Baptismal Index, June 2012)

      Alerd Mencke Christening: 28 OCT 1638 Schlutter, Oldenburg, Germany Father: Hilmer Mencke Mother: Beke Spouse: Tibbicke Neelss Marriage: 12 SEP 1665 Source Information: Film Number: 537668 LDS

      Marriage: 1665

      Children:

   3. Hinrich Menkens 10.12.1641 of Hillmer and Beke (Ganderkesee Baptismal Index, June 2012)

      Hinrich Mencke Christening: 10 DEC 1641 Schlutter, Oldenburg, Germany Death: 21 FEB 1674 Father: Hilmer Mencke Mother: Beke Source Information: Film Number: 537668 LDS

   4. Hillmer Menckens (1646-1699) and Beke Lange

      Not listed in the Ganderkesee Baptismal Index, June 2012

      Hilmer Mencke Birth: 1646 Schlutter, Oldenburg, Germany, Death: 31 JAN 1699, Father: Hilmer Mencke, Mother: Beke, Spouse: Beke Lange, Marriage: 22 NOV 1681, Source Information: Film Number: 537668 LDS

      Marriage: 22.11.1681 Hilmer Menkens "jun" [the younger] of Schlutter to Becke of Hinrich Lange of Schlutter (GPR, June 2012)

      Children:

      1. Hinrich 11.12.1682 Hillmer and Becke Menckens (Ganderkesee Baptismal Index, June 2012)

      2. Becke 22.04.1686 of Hilmer Menckens and Becke (Ganderkesee Baptismal Index, June 2012)

      3. Hillmer 08.06.1690 Hillmer and Becke Menckens (Ganderkesee Baptismal Index, June 2012)

         Hillmer, Hilmer Menken 08.06.1690, (witnesses_ Hillmer Menken more Ho--brugge, can't read

         Marriage: Hillmer Menckens Schlutter son of Hillmer Menkens of Schlutter and Geshe Menkens of Menke Menkens from Landwehr 16.11. 1724 (GPR June 2012)

   5. Karsten Menkens (1647-1692) and Beke Neelss

      Karsten Menkens 19.09.1647 of Hilmer and Beke (Ganderkesee Baptismal Index, June 2012)

      Karsten Mencke Christening: 19 SEP 1647 Schlutter, Oldenburg, Germany Death: 16 OCT 1692 Father: Hilmer Mencke Mother: Beke Marriages: Spouse: Becke Neelss Marriage: 25 JUN 1672 Source Information: Film Number: 537668 LDS

      Children:

      1. Becke 04.09.1673 Karsten and Becke Menkens (Ganderkesee Baptismal Index, June 2012)

      2. Eilerd 07.02.1677 Karsten Menckens and Becke (Ganderkesee Baptismal Index, June 2012)

      3. Grete 01.02.1679 Karsten Menckens and Becke (Ganderkesee Baptismal Index, June 2012)

      4. Kord 24.02.1681 Karsten Menckens and Becke (Ganderkesee Baptismal Index, June 2012)

      5. Hille 13.08.1683 Karsten Menckens and Becke (Ganderkesee Baptismal Index, June 2012)

      6. Alcke 15.12.1686 of Casten and Becke Menkens (Ganderkesee Baptismal Index, June 2012)

      7. Gesche 28.09.1692 Castenc Menckens and Beke (Ganderkesee Baptismal Index, June 2012)

   Death of Hilmer Menke: 02.02.1674 Hagbu---- (hard to read) age 72 (Ganderkesee Parish Records Aug 2013)

2. Johann Mencke Birth: 1604 Schlutter, Oldenburg, Germany 27 APR 1674 Father: Alert Mencke Mother: Source Information: Film Number: 537977

Family Tree maker lists:
Name, date of birth, place of birth dated of death, place of death, spouse
Nehls, Eilerd 1620 Habbrügge ?? 19 Aug 1663 Habbrügge ??
Nehls, Grete 1626 Habbrügge ?? 15 Jun 1703 Habbrügge ?? Menkens, Cord

Nothing on http://gedbas.genealogy.net as of August 2013.

Beke Neelss married Karsten Menkens in 25 June 1672 (IGI)

Alerd Menkens married Tibbicke Neelss 1665 (IGI)

Heilke Neelse daughter of Gerd Neelss of Gruppenbuhren married Gerd Auffarth in Ganderkesee in 1665.

See Auffarth

Heilke NEELS, Birth 1711 Buerstel Ganderkesee Oldenburg marriage November 1732 Ganderkesee Oldenburg Harmen OSTERLOH Children: 1737 Arend OSTERLOH and September 1740 Toennies OSTERLOH (gedbas)