1 Lüchow

We can trace the Heins in Uelzen for as many generations as records exist. But the next stage was short. The Heins were to live only one generation in Lüchow before circumstances moved them again.

On 01 May 1794, in St Johannis-Kirche, Lüchow, August Christoph Hein, son of Heinrich Ludewig Hein, Uelzen merchant referred to in the previous chapter, married Anna Dorothea Eilers, daughter of Lüchow merchant Georg Friedrich Eilers. August Christoph Hein was also celebrating his 28th birthday on his wedding day.

August was to live an active life in Lüchow as a merchant and Councillor, but his life was to be short, as he was to die at the young age of 41 in 1809.

However in this short life, August and Anna did become parents of seven children, all of whom were baptised in St Johannis-Kirche and most of whom survived to adulthood and success. These children were Maria Sophia, b. 1795, Margaretha Friederica, b. 1796, August Ludewig, b. 1798, Sophia Magdalena, b. 1800, Heinrich Ludewig, b. 1803, Georg Friedrich, b. 1805 and Carl Dietrich, b. 1807.

Of these the only one for whom we don't have a later record is Sophia, who may have died young in Lüchow.

After August's death it seems the entire family moved to Hamburg. Presumably life was tough in a smaller town, and Hamburg held more prospects.

What is Lüchow like as a town?

Lüchow is a small town, population just over 9000, 30km east of Uelzen, very close to the old East German border. Its name is interesting. There are a number of towns in the region ending in "ow". These names are survivors of the Polabian language, an extinct west Slavic language, maybe the most western.

In 1811 Lüchow was largely destroyed by a fire. The fire destroyed the church and most of the Duke's castle, except one tower, below, which survived.

St Johannis-Kirche is now rebuilt, in a more modern style as shown below.

Only one item was retrieved from the fire, the baptismal font which would have been used for the Hein children. It is still used.

The town is very attractive, with Tudor style (or probably more accurately Uelzen style) buildings. The Rathaus is in the centre of town.

And here is a view of the main street opposite the Rathaus.