18. Johann Adam Henrich³ Buschdiecker (Johann Ernst Heinrich², Anton Caspar¹ Bussdiecker) (#927) was born 27 December 1792. Johann died 4 July 1855 at 62 years of age.

He married Maria Elizabeth Droop 16 May 1817. (Maria Elizabeth Droop is #932.) Maria was born 19 January 1793. Maria was the daughter of Johann David Droop and Margarthe Marie Elsmeier. Maria died 7 April 1856 at 63 years of age. Also spelled Maria Elisabeth Droop. Source: taken from records of St. Martini Kirche by Frau Buth, provided to Roy Busdiecker by Wolfgang Dreuse, 5 June 2003.

At 25 years of age Johann became the father of Ernst Heinrich Bussdieker May 19, 1818. At 34 years of age Johann became the father of Hermann Heinrich Bussdieker Mar 26, 1827. At 36 years of age Johann became the father of Florentine Marie Bussdieker Nov 12, 1829. At 39 years of age Johann became the father of Maria Elizabeth Bussdieker Dec 3, 1832. At 42 years of age Johann became the father of Johann Ernst Heinrich Bussdiecker 5 February 1835. My great-grandfather Johann Heinrich Bussdieker was born on 5th February 1835 in Sehlingdorf as son of the erbkotter* Heinrich Adam Bussdieker, b. on 27/12/1792 in Sehlingdorf and his wife, Marie Elisabeth Droop, b. on 19/1/1793 in Hustädte (my great-great-grandparents). He grew up with four other siblings. In the Family Book (Register) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church Assembly of Buer from 1855/56 I found the following entry about the family of my great-great-grandparents. In the very year of the entry my great-great-grandfather died (Date of death: 4/7/1855 in Sehlingdorf). The oldest brother of my great-grandfather, named Hermann Heinrich Bussdieker, emigrated to America. (provided by Friedrich Hensiek, 24 Feb 2003)

*Erbkotter can be translated loosely as "farm owner", but the word has shades of meaning that are important to its interpretation. The German word Erbe means "inheritance". A number of words meaning "farm owner" are compound words that include Erb-. In earlier times it was not ownership that was inherited, but rather the right to continue to live on and work the farms with the consent of the landowner. The landowner was a person of wealth who owned large holdings of land. More recently the owners of the farms were allowed to purchase their land, rather than continuing at the pleasure of an absentee landlord. (Key parts of this discussion are from Wolfgang Dreuse, whose history of Buer and the surrounding area may be seen at www.buer-us.de)

(Catherine Bushdiecker #938, 5/97) John Adam Henry

From Wofgang Dreuse, 5 June 2003: "The reason of inheriting to the youngest son was obvious: Because the farmers had to pay heavy taxes to the land owner every time they changed over to the next generation and everytime they married. Inheriting to the youngest son reduced the burden (every ca. 40 years instead of every ca. 25 years). The few free farmers in the Buer area had kept the old saxon habit of inheritiing to the oldest son. When the law passed in 1832 to free the farmers, the habit still remained in many cases. I do not know however what happened to the last 3 Bussdieker generations in Sehlingdorf. The Caspar Bussdiecker married in 1755 (on my second page) is possibly a cousin of Anton Caspar. He was a Heuerling (Roy: a hired hand). The sons who did not inherit had three choices: a) to marry a farmers daughter and take on her name b) to become a Heuerling c) to emigrate."

Johann Adam Henrich Buschdiecker and Maria Elizabeth Droop had the following children:

33 i. Ernst Heinrich⁴ Bussdieker (#933) was born May 19, 1818. Ernst died Sep 29, 18_6.

+ 34 ii. Hermann Heinrich Bussdieker was born Mar 26, 1827.

+ 35 iii. Florentine Marie Bussdieker was born Nov 12, 1829.

+ 36 iv. Maria Elizabeth Bussdieker was born Dec 3, 1832.

+ 37 v. Johann Ernst Heinrich Bussdiecker was born 5 February 1835.

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