Bernhard GREEFF

Notes:

Teilhaber & Co, New York

Bernhard as well as his brother Emil lived with their families on Long Island in College Point, a small simple suburb of New york. They were partners in the firm "Greeff & Co." which their fathers started in 1857. The gardens of ther homes, near to the Sound were close together and separated only by the garden of Anton Rosingh.
He was a brother-in-law of both brothers Greeff, Emil's first marriage was to Emilie Rosingh. Being neighbours gave rise to a special bond between the families. The atmosphere in both houses was essentrially German, and until the world war only German was spoken at home. Both families always had German governesses. It was a real little German colony in College point. The family Adolf Erbsloh, who came from Barmen was very close to the Greeffs.
In the very musical family of Bernhard Greeff music was made every evening. The father played piano and the organ, the mother sang in a beautiful soft alto. In this way the children (born in America) learned all the wonderful German folk songs and childrens songs.
This was recreation for the men that had a streneuous working life, facing a long arduous journey early in the morning to the office in the city and back to their suburb in the evening.
Bernhard and his wife had an excedingly happy marriage and lived only for themselves and their children, to whom they were a shining example. Bernhards great goodness is shown by the fact that for about 30 years he played the organ in church every sunday, because the congregation was too poor to afford the services of an organist.

Bernhard married Helene Pauline ROSINGH on 19 Jun 1873 in Norden, Ostfriesland, Germany. Helene (daughter of Gerhard ROSINGH and Gebhardine VON GLAN) was born on 13 Sep 1845 in Norden; died on 20 Jul 1919 in New York, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Johann Gerhard William GREEFF was born on 22 Jun 1874 in College Point; and died.
2. Bernhard Emil Peter GREEFF was born on 3 Jul 1875 in College Point; and died.
3. Sophie Emily GREEFF was born on 18 Feb 1878 in College Point; and died.
4. Gebhardine Helene Dorothea GREEFF was born on 15 Sep 1880 in New York, USA; and died.
5. Dorothy Anna Antoinette GREEFF was born on 9 Feb 1882 in College Point; and died.
6. Gerhard Ernst ( Hugo, Hugh) GREEFF was born on 9 Dec 1884; died on 6 Apr 1933.

Notes:

Greeff Brecht & Co, Barmen

in the Huckenbach english translation by Greeff and Viljoen Johann Peter Died in Elberfield
The firm "Ehrenberg & Leuschner" was aquired by Joh. Peter Greeff (Bornefeld) in 1829 and promptly renamed "J.P. Greeff & G.W. Sohn".Apparently it was the son Joh. Peter Greeff (Bredt) who brought tribute to his father in this way. He was a member of the Concordia Society in Barmen in 1824 and must accordingly already have lived in Barmen at the time.

According to notes made by Joh. Peter in Dusseldorf the firm also produced other articles which were in demand in the market, e.g. snuff boxes, brooches, cuff links, tie pins, also brooches carved from horn and similar material.
The main thrust thoughout was the metal button manufacture which had gradually conquered the whole German market and was more and more supplanting the French articles in foreign markets.
The largest manufacturing centres were Barmen and Ludenscheid.

Joh married Sophie Emilie BREDT on 24 Nov 1827. Sophie (daughter of Joh. Peter BREDT and Charlotte SIEBEL) was born on 21 May 1806; died on 22 Mar 1863. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Slaufhere Baeinen.
The firm "Ehrenberg & Leuschner" was aquired by Joh. Peter Greeff (Bornefeld) in 1829 and promptly reanmed "J.P.Greeff, G.W. Sohn"
Apparently it was the son of Joh. Peter Greeff(Bredt) who brought tribute to his father in this way.


Johann Peter was a businessman in Elberfield on the Aue, but moved to Barmen in 1829.

In the reformed parish of Elberfield he was Scholarch for a period.
At his death in 1837 Joh. Peter Greeff left behind a flourishing factory.

Johann married Clara Wilhelmine BORNEFELD on 12 Jan 1802. Clara (daughter of Johann Daniel BORNEFELD and Christine MORIAN) was born in 1784; died in 12 June1860. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Peter owned "Greeff-Bredt & Comp." in Barmen and lived at no. 7 Reformed church street (today Zwingli street) In his private life he also called himself Greeff-Bredt.

He was elected churchmaster of the Reformed parish Gemarke in 1838,1851 and 1861.

In 1824 he joined the Concordia company and became it's director in 1849/50. In May 1849 he was a member of the Burgerwehr (Citizens Defence) that defended Barmen against the Elberfield Democrats.

For Descendants refer to the branch Greeff-Bredt.

Joh. married Charlotte SIEBEL on 25 Apr 1804. Charlotte was born on 21 Jul 1785; died on 17 Jan 1864. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Kauf u Handelshere Elberfeld.

Gottfried married Maria Sibylla VON CARNAP on 15 Mar 1763. Maria (daughter of Caspar VON CARNAP and Elizabeth WULFING) was born in 1740; was christened on 10 Nov 1740 in Lobich; died on 2 Apr 1807 in Elberfeld, Germany. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In the German text she is Sybilla Maria on page 38 and on page 49 she is Maria Sybilla. For the time being use Maria Sybilla.

Notes:

Married:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ruthann/german/gerparec.html
GERMAN PARISH RECORDS KARES-KARNATZ from LDS Micro fiche
Von CARNAP, Cibilla Maria relative- Gottfried Wilhelm GREEFF m 15 MAR 1763 State-PR, County- RHL, Town- ELBERFELD

Notes:

Citizen of Elberfield from 1775

Johann married Christine MORIAN in 15 June1782 in Luttringhausen. Christine (daughter of Johan Anton MORIAN and Klara MOLL) was born in 25 Aug 1755 in Luttringhausen; died in in Elberfield. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]