Gagen/Gegan & Schmeisser - German Ancestry

[Ropey]

Looking for any information for my G.G.G Grandparents Frederick Gegan & Eliza Schmeissen who were married in Cologne, Germany c1843-5 and gave birth to my G.G Grandfather William Gegan c1845-8 in Schmalkalden, Kurhessen (Prussia? back then - now Meningen, Thuringia, Germany) who migrated to Queensland (Family notes say 1863 from England as a sponsored migrant, deceased relative thinks 1855 after researching as well as 3 brothers (of William) also emigrating except to Russia (Hagen) & Nth America).

Haven't been able to clarify any of this (from family notes) except for William in 1875 and afterwards: includes a badly photographed naturalization certificate for 1875 (Gegan), his marriage to Teresa Mangan in 1875 (Gagan), birth of children and children attending school in 1885 (Geoghegan/Gagen) and his death in 1892 (Gagan/Gagen) which states parents names as above. I have found there to "Schmeisser"s listed around that area & similar years. I'm starting to think they all emigrated for good reason and possibly never find out.

Any information or ideas on what to try next would be appreciated!
Kelly

[davecapps]

If you subscribe to this site you should have access to the Schmalkalden records

https://www.archion.de/en/the-portal/

Search for Schmalkalden

Dave

[Ropey]

Thanks Dave,
Much appreciated!