We have traced my family back as far as a Henry Ferris b. in Hanover about 1832. By 1858, he had immigrated to NY where my great great grandfather and siblings were all born. According to my aunt, my great uncle claimed the Ferris' were originally of English and Scottish descent.

I know Hanover was closely tied and under British rule during the 17 and 1800s until 1837. I was thinking they left Hanover shortly after the British lost any political leverage.

I've searched without luck and was wondering if there are any Hanover censuses or British censuses of citizens living in Hanover

Although European history is one glorious muddle, I think it does help if one can get a few lines sorted out. Hannover was never under English (or British rule). At the end of the 18th century we got very fed up with Catholic kings and sent James II (son of Charles II) packing. However he had two sisters, Mary and Anne who were Protestant so the throne passed to Mary who was married to William, Prince of Orange (Dutch) who was not keen on being his wife's subordinate so they became joint monarchs. They died without heirs so the throne passed to Anne, married to Prince Charles of Denmark who had no ambition but to be his wife's husband. Despite endless miscarriages and about 11 living children, Anne outlived all her children, so when she died (1714) we were once again left facing Catholic heirs, the descendants of James, Charles (The Old Pretender) and Charles Edward (Bonnie Prince charlie, The Young Pretender). Not wanting them we turned to the next Protestant heir, a long way down the line, who was George, Elector of Braunschweig (Brunswick). He took the throne and reigned until 1727 but had little interest in England or English legislation and never learnt to speak English. He was folowed by three more Georges, William and Victoria all with very Germanic connections. Victoria married yet another German and spoke German as her home language.

Ferris is quite a common name and I would guess either of Irish or Scottish origin but there are no Ferrises in the telephone book for Hannover. I think the more likely explanation is that your family were in some sort of trade, of which there was a lot, and that your ancestor just happened to be born there because his parents were there at the time. It is just possible that there could be a record of foreign residents in Hannover at that time so why not write to the City authorities and ask? Hope this helps.

Thanks for the nice little rundown! I knew England didn't technically rule Hannover, but I hadn't had a chance to research the actual political connections.

Your theory makes sense, considering the Ferris in question, Henry, married a Mary born in Ireland. My great uncle apparently used to talk of how we were of Scottish descent, as well. The only thing that bothers me about it is that on the 1880 census, the only one that gives info on parents that Henry is present on, has both of his parents born in Germany as well. On the 1860 census he is just identified as a "laborer" and "grocer" on the 1880, hardly international trade. I'm thinking that maybe either his father or grandfather was involved in some type of trade that brought them to Germany and, since they were successful, created some roots.

I've tried contacting German city records halls in the past and have never received a response (although that could be chalked up to the whole confusion that was Prussia). Maybe I'll have more luck this time. Thanks!!

It is perhaps just as well that the Allies formally did away with Prussia - suggesting that Hannover was part of Prussia - you'd get lynched! The writer Hans Fallada is highly amusing about experiencing the icy reception his Hannoverian mother got from some of the aunts because she had married a man who actually worked for "those Prussians".

I do not think that you had to be in international trade to be wandering around Europe in the 19th century. I have a friend some of whose forebears were Germans who came here and settled at that time, and they were butchers and fishmongers. I agree that a record of both parents being born in Germany is a little odd - unless the mother was a German. Does her first name suggest that? If the family had settled in Hannover she could easily have been even if they still kept their English/Irish connections for the next generation to return to. Good luck.

Hi,

Usually migrants from Europe attended german Lutheran or Catholic churches, and I think you need to find the earliest church records which should give you the place where your relatives were born in Hannover. I have looked on this website for passenger arrivals but the earliest was 1850's
http://www.castlegarden.org/about.html

I have also looked on the UK national archive website for mention of a Fer(r)is in the British or Hannoverian army before 1850's - there are quite a few from Scotland, Ireland and England so perhaps you should visit the site yourself.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/search.asp

I also looked to see if your family were importers/exporters which would explain why one member of your family were in Hannover - I found a Ferris grocer in Truro cornwallin yr 1810, which is by the sea, plus a Henry Feris in Liverpool so there's a possibility if only yours were English

http://www.historicaldirectories.org/hd/

Good Luck,
Rena in England