KEWITSCH / KIEWITSCH / KIEWICZ of DANZIG ( GDANSK ), PRUSSIA and GERMANY
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Earliest known Kewitsch 'ancestor' of John is his great x 4 grandfather: Johann KIEWITSCH, Organist.
Son of Johann Kiewitsch is Johann Jakob KIEWITSCH born in Tiegenhagen 1806. Postbeamter, Hobrist.
Son of Johann Jakob Kiewitsch is (Johann) Karl (Joseph) Julius KIEWICZ (KEWITSCH) 1835 - 1894 Geldbrieftrager, DANZIG. Trompeter/Organist.
The only people identified in the above photograph are Karl KEWITSCH (sitting) and his son Bruno Michael KEWITSCH, 1864-1936 Leeds, standing directly behind him. Bruno came to Leeds, England and married Annie Blakey in 1895. Other members of Karl's family are his wife Maria Berta KEWITSCH (nee LABUHN), 1836 - 1898,. his sons, Emil KEWITSCH and Max Joseph KEWITSCH, 1866 -1940 Elbing (married Johanna Meta Friederike MIERZWICKI in 1892), Reichsbahnobersekretar and daughter Gertrud KEWITSCH (missing face at left of photo?) Rechunugsratin, lived in Berlin-Steglitz.
Descendants of Karl are now mainly to be found in Germany. His great grandson Dr.jur.Rec Ewald Kewitsch kindly provided details of the German side of the family.
John's uncle, Alan Mitcham (born Kewitsch), carefully researched the history of the UK branch of the family. Bruno and Annie officially registered (as theirs) the birth of William Michael KEWITSCH (John's grandfather) in Leeds in 1902, but later in life, following an argument with his brother, he was told that he was "adopted" like his brother Charles Kewitsch / Blakey (Leeds, 1903-1989), who was the officially registered son of Laura Blakey, Annie's daughter by a previous marriage. William Michael Kewitsch is said to have been born in Scarborough to a theatrical couple and was delivered by Annie.
William Michael Kewitsch's sons, Bernard, John (and his sons), David and Alan all changed their names to Mitcham in the 1950s. His daughter Ruth Kewitsch changed her name by marrying William WELLS in 1946 (see pedigree).
FIRST GENERATION
1. Johann KIEWITSCH was an Organist.
He was married to Helene KNOBKE. Children of Johann KIEWITSCH and Helene KNOBKE were:
+2 i. Johann Jacob KEWITSCH.
SECOND GENERATION
2. Johann Jacob KEWITSCH/KIEWITSCH was born on 31 Dec 1806 in Tiegenhagen. He died in Danzig. He was a Postbeamter and Hobrist.
He was married to (Joh)anna Amalie (Amalia?) SCHIMSKI on 8 Sep 1833 in Feldbischof. Anna Amalie SCHIMSKI*(father Antonius Szinski)was born in 1814 in Alt-Schottland. She died on 5 Aug 1886 in Danzig. Children of Johann Jacob KEWITSCH and Anna Amalie SCHIMSKI were:
+3 i. Carl Joseph Julius KEWITSCH.
ii. Marie Therese KEWITSCH b.25 May 1857
*Schimsky researcher: Melinda NEWCOH@aol.com
THIRD GENERATION
3. Carl Joseph Julius KEWITSCH (also known as Johann Carl Julius Kewitsch)was born on 19 Mar 1835 in Danzig.
Note on back of photo: ' Carl Kewitsch Sergt. im pion. Batl No1 Ruckker aus dem Kriege 1866 '
Photo taken in Oppeln. He died on 14 May 1894 in Danzig. He was a Geldbrieftrager in Danzig. He was also known as Kiewicz. Carl was both a trumpeter and organist. Photo supplied by Dr Ewald Kewitsch.
He was married to Maria Berta LABUHN on 13 Oct 1857 in Danzig. Maria Berta LABUHN* was born on 8 Jan 1836 in Danzig. She died on 24 Oct 1898 in Danzig. Children of Carl Joseph Julius KEWITSCH and Maria Berta LABUHN were:
+4 i. Bruno KEWITSCH.
5 ii. Gertrud KEWITSCH was born in Berlin-Steglitz. She was a Rechnungsratin (book-keeper?).
+6 iii. Emil KEWITSCH.
+7 iv. Max Joseph KEWITSCH.
*Labuhn researcher:Kaj Ahlburg kahlburg@post5.tele.dk see database at http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Acres/6705/
Kaj Ahlburg has kindly informed us that in the Deutsches Geschlechterbuch, Band.126, Seite.54. Carl and Maria had another daughter Hedwig Kewitsch 17 Jan 1859 Danzig - 26 Jan 1932 Hannover. Also, Carl is listed in this book as Johann Carl Julius Kewitsch
FOURTH GENERATION
4. Bruno KEWITSCH was born in 1864 in Prussia (east of Danzig). He died in 1936 in Leeds. He was buried in 1936 in Killingbeck Cemetery, Leeds.
He was married to Annie BLAKEY in 1895 in St. Andrews Church, Leeds. Annie BLAKEY was born in 1864 in Lincoln. She was buried in Beckett Street Cemetery, Leeds. Annie had a child Laura Blakey. Children of Bruno KEWITSCH and Annie BLAKEY were:
+8 i. William Michael KEWITSCH (son by registration 1902. Believed to be the child of a music hall entertainer, Will/Bill Mitcham). William was delivered by Annie in Scarborough and then brought back to Leeds as her own child.
William also had 'brothers' Charlie Kewitsch [Blakey] b.1903 Leeds and George Kewitsch [Blakey] b.1906 Leeds, children of Laura Blakey
Charlie Kewitsch/Blakey c1972
(supplied by Alan Mitcham formerly Kewitsch)
6. Emil KEWITSCH was born in Hannover?.
He was married to ?. Children of Emil KEWITSCH and ? were:
9 i. Erich KEWITSCH.
7. Max Joseph KEWITSCH was born on 22 Feb 1866 in Danzig. He died on 22 Jan 1940 in Elbing. He was a Reichsbahnobersekretar.
He was married to Johanna Meta Friederike MIERZWICKI on 11 Oct 1892 in Danzig. Johanna Meta Friederike MIERZWICKI was born on 2 Apr 1879 in Danzig. She died on 23 Feb 1948 in Parchim. Children of Max Joseph KEWITSCH and Johanna Meta Friederike MIERZWICKI were:
10 i. Frieda KEWITSCH was born on 21 Aug 1893. She died on 14 Jan 1957.
11 ii. Alice KEWITSCH was born on 14 Nov 1902 in Danzig. She died on 6 Aug 1980 in Berlin-(Tempolhof?).
+12 iii. Bruno Karl Alexander KEWITSCH.
13 iv. Hildegard KEWITSCH died in 1982.
FIFTH GENERATION
8. William Michael KEWITSCH (later Mitcham)was born on 29 May 1902 in Scarborough to a theatrical couple (birth registered in Leeds to Bruno and Annie Kewitsch - the midwife). He died in 1973 in Leeds. He was buried in 1973 in Harehills Cemetery, Leeds.
He was married to Ethel DALLISON in 1924 in Leeds. Ethel DALLISON was born in 1903 in Worksop Vale, Notts.. She died in 1982 in Haydock. She was buried in 1982 in Harehills Cemetery, Leeds. Children of William Michael KEWITSCH and Ethel DALLISON were:
+14 i. Ruth KEWITSCH b.1925 Leeds
15 ii. Bernard KEWITSCH d.2003 Leeds as Bernard Mitcham
16 iii. David KEWITSCH. d.1987 Leeds as David Mitcham
+17 iv. John KEWITSCH.
18 v. Alan KEWITSCH.
am2847
ntlworld.com
Ruth Kewitsch
with brothers John and David and Aunt
Betty Dallison
12. Bruno Karl Alexander KEWITSCH was born on 5 Jan 1895 in Danzig. He died in 1945 in Berlin. He was a Lehrer (teacher).
He was married to Sophie SKONIECZNY on 22 Nov 1920 in Kottisck, Kr. pr. Stargard. Children of Bruno Karl Alexander KEWITSCH and Sophie SKONIECZNY were:
19 i. Max KEWITSCH was born on 21 Mar 1922. He died on 7 Mar 1926.
+20 ii. Dr Ewald KEWITSCH.
+21 iii. Gerhard KEWITSCH.
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