Henry Sheer Germany

[trelawn1984]

I found out via the census the other day that my 3xgreat grandfather was born in Germany. It seems to have been common knowledge that the family was German somewhere along the line although nobody knew more than that. The only information I have is that Henry Sheer was born somewhere in Germany around 1841 and was living in Ireland by 1869 when he married Margaret Lester. I would love to find out where he was born, who his parents were and when he came to Ireland. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance,
Amy

[Berlin-Bob]

Not a "hard information" but a thought for further searching:

I think his name could have been SCHIER.

SHEER in english sounds like the german name SCHIER.
SHEER would be spoken in german like SHARE in english, which would be written SCHÄR, SCHAER or SCHEER.

So if he came to Britain and said "my name is Schier" and the listeners heard SHEER, then that's what he was probably called from then on. 

HENRY was probably originally HEINRICH, so when searching in Germany, keep an eye out for these possible variations, in particular HEINRICH SCHIER

Bob

[aghadowey]

The place to start looking for records is Ireland- won't help with a location in Germany, when he came to Ireland or mother's name but his marriage certificate should list father's name and occupation-
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FYST-N23

Just in case you don't have them- some children of Henry Sheer & Margaret Lester born Ireland:
Henry Adam (1871 Belfast) https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FPYG-THK
Margaret Louisa (1873) https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FGPV-N75
Mary (1875 Dublin) https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F5WM-J7L
Stephen Jacob (1878 Dublin) https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FG6Y-MZH
Julia (1881 Dublin) https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FGX9-XS8

Possibly your Henry Sheer in Prison (1868 Dublin)-
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KM3L-MNN
and here (1868, for assault- possibly same offense as above)-
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KMQL-46F

[aghadowey]

Just filling in some more of the Irish details-

Baptisms
Mary 1875- http://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/details/0897a70343559
Margaret Louisa 1878- http://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/details/b2a2130345749
Stephen Jacob 1879- http://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/details/2092df0345985

Another child-
Eliza Philomena 1877- http://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/details/b5340d0344916

Baptism of a Lester child in 1868 with Henry Shears as sponsor (before his marriage to Margaret Lester)-
http://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/details/ec95910338925

Added- baptism of John E[d]ward Shire (parents Henry Shire & Margaret Lester) in May 1869
http://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/details/8b063a0339454

[aghadowey]

1911 census adds another son, James- very sad to see that Henry was a widower, had 10 children but only 2 living (which can't be correct since Henry Adam's still alive (below) so perhaps he meant 2 children living at home)-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Dublin/Wood_Quay/Bride_Street/63239
(and signature is 'Sheares')

Son Henry [Adam] born Belfast- in 1911-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Dublin/Kingstown_No__3/White_s_Court/93676

1901 census shows Henry with the 2 sons & daughter Julia- but his birthplace listed as Dublin city not Germany-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Dublin/Wood_Quay/Bride_Street/1345704

[trelawn1984]

Thank you all so much! I had some of the children but not all. Henry Adam is my dad's great grandad. Aghadowey, I believe Henry's place of birth is listed as Germany on the 1911 census but not on 1901. Berlin Bob thanks for the help with possible name translations. I'll keep at it so, first stop: prison records 

Amy

[trelawn1984]

Armed with berlin bob's suggestions of name variations I went and checked heinrich schier out on familysearch. I got two possibilities one of which was Heinrich Schehr born 1841 in Bavaria father listed as Jakob Schehr. One of my Henry's sons was Stephen Jacob and another was Jacob. I went to the GRO today and got Henry and Margaret's marriage cert and Henry's father is listed as Jacob. So a definite possiblity. Thanks for all the help and advice!

Amy.

[aghadowey]

Well, if it's the Heinrich from Rothselberg then my relatives only live about 5 miles away and I've probably driven through there! Small world   

[trelawn1984]

That's him! wow it is a small world. I've been to Germany a few times, where exactly is Rothselberg?


Amy