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Zipfell Martin

  • Thread starter Thread starter Wendy
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Wendy

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My 4x great grandfather Martin Zipfell came to Birmingham from Germany. He married Maria Woller at St Martins in 1818 then after she died he married Ann Sprason in 1823. They had 4 children Mary Ann and Agatha married Arthur and William Yates yes they were brothers. Thomas died of T.B in his 20's and I think John went to America. Martin was a clock maker and is listed in Chapel Street, he died in 1834 aged 50 and was buried at St Martins. I found a book on the internet about Zipfel and Sons a family of clockmakers, they were mainly around Norwich. In the book there is a chapter The Zipfels of Birmingham which only contained the information I have. Has anyone got this family in their tree or heard of a clock made by the name Zipfell.
 
Zipfell

Hello:
As this seemed like a name that was not too common I thought I would do a quick check on the U.S.A. Immigration passenger list at www.ellisisland.org for John but there was only 1 Zipfell on the list travelling to the U.S.A. . A Frizt Zipfell and there is a quotation beside his name that makes it seem that he died intransit. Regards Isobel
https://www.ellisisland.org/search/...LL&first_kind=1&kind=exact&offset=0&dwpdone=1

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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Name of Passenger[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Residence[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Arrived[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Age on Arrival</B>[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Passenger Record[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ship Manifest[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ship Image[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1. [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Fritz Zipfell [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1895 [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]29 [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]View[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]View[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]View[/FONT]
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Hello Isobel, Thank you for taking the time to look...........ah well back to the drawing board! As you say with a name like this I can keep searching!
 
Well everyone this amazing site has done it again! I have now made contact with 'Jane Norwich' a distant cousin connected to my Zipfell and Yates family. Thanks Rod for this great site, we are both thrilled.
 
Great news Moma P I think it's so great when you find another family member and can find out a little more family info, I too have found out more info here than by trying on my own, it's a brilliant site.
​
 
Thanks Mariew, yes its so exciting when you can swap stories and photo's.
 
Re: Martin Zipfell

Martin ZIPFELL
I too have Martin ZIPFELL & Ann SPRASON in my tree.
My G.Grandfather’s sister, Minnie Gertrude EDWARDS, married Albert LANE who was the grandson of William YATES & Mary Ann ZIPFELL.
I also have details of an Ann ZIPFELL who was most probably another child of Martin & Ann ZIPFELL although I have not yet pursued the connection to the point of proving this. I shall be happy to let you have this information if you do not already have it.
Do you have further details regarding Martin’s origins in Germany and the death of Thomas who you say died of TB in his 20s?
I note that you are interested in the surname CALDECOTT – I am interested in CALDICOTT in particular relatives of Arthur Leonard born circa 1907 and Arthur his father. Thought I’d mention these just in case the family is the same.
Regards Ernie
 
Re: Martin Zipfell

Hello cousin Ernie:) yes we do have a connection. Martin was my 4x gt grandfather he had two daughters Mary Ann and Agatha who married brothers. My connection is through Agatha who married Richard Thomas Yates they married at St Martins in 1845 they had a son named Arthur Yates and his daughter Clarissa Yates was my grandmother. The Zipfell's were a family of clock makers who settled in Norwich and ran a successful buisnes. I am sure Martin was a member of this family as he had a clockmaking buisness in Chapel Street in Birmingham. A member of the Norwich family was John Zipfel who was born in the village of Lenzkirch which is near the Freiburg in the Black Forest area of Germany.I am assuming they all came from this village although I haven't confirmed this as yet. I have a book written by Alan Zipfel in 1987 about the Norwich family.
Thomas Zipfel died on the 28th Aug 1857 aged 22 it states Phythasis 3 years he died at Agatha's home in Eldow Street. His occupation was Brassfounder Jounrneyman. If you would like copies of the certificates send me an IM. Martin Zipfel died in 1834 aged 50 and was buried at St Martins.

My Caldecott (spelt with an e) family were on my mothers side and originated in Chester, so I don't think they were connected.
 
Re: Martin Zipfell

Ernie I have sent the certificates and St Martins information to your email. Let me know if they don't arrive
 
Re: Martin Zipfell

Wendy said:
Ernie I have sent the certificates and St Martins information to your email. Let me know if they don't arrive
Click to expand...

Hi Wendy,

I am new to this site so I hope i have replied in the right place. I am a descendant of Martin Zipfell and I am looking for any information available about him. I know he comes from Germany originally. He is my grt grt grt grt grandad. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks

Jayne

Names of interest: Zipfell, Yates, Shale, Sprason, Goodhead
 
Re: Martin Zipfell

Hello Jayne, Martin was also my gt gt gt grandfather he was born in the Black Forest area of Germany. He was a clock maker and had a shop in Chapel Street. I am decended from his daughter Agatha. Have you got the information on his marriages at St Martins he was buried there also.
 
Re: Martin Zipfell

Hi Wendy, thanks for replying. I am also a descendent from Agatha. Her daughter Emma who married Samuel Shale had a daughter Maria Shale. Maria Shale married Albert Cadden, they had a daughter Winifred Cadden who is my Grandmother. I had found some information on Martin being a clock maker but i did not know where his shop was. I have no information on him and I am tryng to find out as much as possible. I know it gets harder getting information the further you go back but its great to find another relative.
 
Re: Martin Zipfell

Wow hello cousin I am decended from Agatha she married Richard Thomas Yates they had a son Arthur Yates who married Eliza Howell their daughter Clarissa Yates was my grandmother. I think we have been in contact before on G R. I have just found out with the help of a member here that Richard and Agatha are buried at Witton as is one of their daughters Ann Hodgetts.
 
Re: Martin Zipfell

wend...you must be delighted to have found another rellie:) this is good news...

lyn
 
Re: Martin Zipfell

I'm chuffed for you Wendy. Your birthday/Christmas card list is growing!
 
Re: Martin Zipfell

Hi Wendy, I would be grateful if you have any details of whereabouts they are buried as I do not know Witton and any other details you may have regarding the Zipfell family. I think i remember you now from GR but it has been a long time since i have done any family history. I am now trying to remember what I found out before.
 
Re: Zipfell

Hello Jayne, I will sort out the info I have. I am hoping to visit Witton in the next week to find the grave so will let you know. The best find I have of late was this little booklet I bought off Ebay. The Birmingham Zipfell's are mentioned in the book. I have contacted the author but as yet have no more info. Maybe we could swap certificate info as this always confirms research information.:)
 
Re: Zipfell

Wendy said:
Hello Jayne, I will sort out the info I have. I am hoping to visit Witton in the next week to find the grave so will let you know. The best find I have of late was this little booklet I bought off Ebay. The Birmingham Zipfell's are mentioned in the book. I have contacted the author but as yet have no more info. Maybe we could swap certificate info as this always confirms research information.:)
Click to expand...

Hi Wendy, sorry I have not been on for a few days. The book sounds good and a good find too. I will have a look at what certificates I have got and let you know. Speak to you soon. Jayne:)
 
Re: Zipfell

Hi Jayne that would be great to swap certificate info. I have posted a photo of Richard and Agatha's grave on the Witton Cemetery thread.
 
Re: Zipfell
Amazing Forum and amazing thread. Thank to all who have contributed. However the last comment in this thread is from nearly 15 years ago. I hope somebody is still watching.
Martin Zipfell is my gt gt gt gt grandfather via Jane Yates and Agatha Lane. The name Zipfell was very common in villages around the Breisgau area and at the time that Martin came to Brum there were many upheavals (Napoleonic wars) in that area. Agatha Lane was the first female bus/tram conductress in Birmingham which caused an outcry. She is buried in Witton, along with most of my family,
M.Z. was a watchmaker as stated above, but I am also interested in what the other Yates & Lane family members did for a living in the 19th century.

I would be grateful for any documentary evidence relating to the lives of these people.
 
You may already no this but...

Richard Thomas Yates (Agatha's husband) was listed as a machinist in 1881 & a mechanic in 1891. The latter may be transcription error as he was again listed as a machinist on his probate.

William Lane (Jane's husband) was listed as a carpenter on the 1881, 1891 & 1911 (after re-marriage) censuses.

Frederick Walters (Agatha's husband) was listed as a jobbing carpenter in 1911.

Richard left nearly £3500 according to his probate.
 
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Thomas was their youngest son, Arthur James Draper was a son in law.

In 1891 Richard & Agatha were also living at 14 Leonard Road, with one daughter (Eliza) at no. 16 and another (Ann) at no. 8.
 
Thank you pjmburns and mws.
Most of what you wrote is news to me. I only knew that Frederick Walters was a carpenter because I inherited some of his tools, which I still use. There is another forum on this site discussing pockets of poverty, child-death and disease in 19th century Brum, and I wonder how these people lived, what were their hopes and fears. What were Martin Zipfell's reasons for coming to Birmingham, when did he come and where did he learn to make watches.
 
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Reactions: MWS
Richard Thomas Yates and Agatha Zipfell were my Aunt's (by marriage) Gt Gt Grandparents. I did some research on them some years ago but I suspect it was before BHF was hacked as I can't find the details now. However I have kept some photos but unfortunately can't remember where they came from!
Agatha Zipfell 3.jpg Richard Thomas Yates.jpg Richard Thomas Yates 2.jpg Richard and Agatha Yates Grave b.jpg

I've tried to make the gravestone legible but not succeeded too well!
 
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I have wacked the contrast up so the image looks pants, but it makes the text stand out a bit better.

Richard-and-Agatha-Yates-Grave-b.jpg
 
Sorrentine said:
Thank you pjmburns and mws.
Most of what you wrote is news to me. I only knew that Frederick Walters was a carpenter because I inherited some of his tools, which I still use. There is another forum on this site discussing pockets of poverty, child-death and disease in 19th century Brum, and I wonder how these people lived, what were their hopes and fears. What were Martin Zipfell's reasons for coming to Birmingham, when did he come and where did he learn to make watches.
Click to expand...

It's usually just guess work when trying to decide why an ancestor moved to different city/country. For most I suspect it would have been for better opportunity/work. Birmingham was a growing city with opportunities for both skilled and unskilled workers.

I suspect this would be the reason in Martin's case. Not knowing when he came to Bham can't really say where he learnt his trade but as he appears to be the only Zipfell in Bham at that time then I'd guess (again) he had learnt his trade before coming here.

There are a couple of family trees on familysearch for your ancestors (different lines) with photos on one. There are gaps and mistakes though.
 
And looking at Leonard Road and Carlyle Road where your relatives were living in the later half of the century, they weren't part of the inner city slums.
 
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