4 Christine Hein

Johanna Christine Samuelline HEIN, (Christine Hein) born in Hamburg 1833, married Carl Julius Emil BÖHM, (Emil Boehm), Stepney, in 1855, three children, died Mount Gambier 1901.

1856 - First child Charlotte Auguste Christine born in Stepney

1860 - Second child Adolph Heinrich Friedrich Johannes born in Mount Gambier

1865 - Third child Gustav Emil Julius born in Mount Gambier

For more information on Charlotte, Julius and their families and descendants, click on their names. Adolph did not marry and is discussed on this page below.

As noted in Chapter 3 Christine Hein arrived in Adelaide in 1855 by means still unknown, at the age of 22. Shortly after, she married Emil Boehm in a private house at Stepney in a Lutheran ceremony. The house, at 37 Stepney Street, seen below in 2009, was that of a Mr Sickert, who had accompanied Emil to Australia in 1849.

The pastor was Andrew Kappler, from Hope Valley. Carl Julius Emil Boehm was described as 32 years, a mason, address Stepney. His father was Ludwig Boehm, joiner (carpenter), in Breslau, and Emil is the 3rd son of Ludwig. It says he was nine weeks in colony. The wedding took place on 20 October. Christine is described as Johanne Christine Samueline Hein, 22 years, and her father Friedrich Hein, pastry cook, of Hamburg. She is described as 3rd daughter of Friedrich, and in colony just 8 weeks. We have never been able to find evidence of the 2nd daughter, although there is an adequate gap. Maybe she died too young to baptise.

On the marriage certificate Emil is described as in the colony just 9 weeks. But as a young man aged 23, he sailed from Hamburg on 02 May 1849 aboard the Australia, with Mr Sickert, traveling via Rio de Janeiro, where the ship stayed for 20 days, and sailed on to Port Adelaide, arriving there on 10 September 1849. What he did in the meantime is unclear. Maybe he was in another colony, Victoria, at the Goldfields. He may even have returned to Germany after 1849, although there is no evidence of this. However there is a suggestion in Hamburg records he might have been there and known the family before 1849 when Christine was about 14.

As noted in chapter 3, their first child, a girl, Charlotte was to be born in Stepney in 1856, while they moved to Mount Gambier in 1858, where the remaining two children, both sons, were born.

Little is known about the lives of Emil and Christine in Mt Gambier. Emil continued as a mason, until it seems his hands were no longer up to it and he turned to book-keeping (see below). By 1868 he had become a member of `Mr West's Committee for Mount Gambier, Port MacDonnell and Tarpeena'. He led the Loyal Hope Lodge No. 23 to the Laying of the Foundation Stone on 12 February 1869 in his capacity as the Noble Grand of the organisation.

The following story in the Border Watch appears to refer to Adolph's accident.

Border Watch 9 Aug 1873

Accident. On Wednesday a young lad, son of Mr. Boehm, mason, obtained possession of an old pistol, loaded it with powder and swan shot, and was about to enter upon a shooting excursion. Ere his plans were completed, however, an accident befel him. The pistol went off at half cock, and a portion of the charge severely injured one of his hands. Surgical assistance was at once obtained, and under the care of Dr. Wehl the lad is progressing.

Emil was first to die, in 1884. It is not understood why he is said to be living in James Street as the Power Street property was owned by the family until 1943. Also, directories of people in South Australia describe him as a book-keeper from 1874 and his death certificate describes him as an accountant, which suggests ill health may have affected his ability for manual work after around 1873.

Death of Mr Boehm, Border Watch 21 May 1884

We have to record the death of Mr. C. E. J. Boehm, of this town, which occurred at his residence, James Street, on Saturday evening. Mr. Boehm had been a great sufferer for several years from asthma and other ailments, brought on, it is said, through the breaking of a blood vessel about nine years ago His demise was not, therefore, unexpected. Mr. Boehm was born at Breslau, Germany, on September 16, 1825, so that at his death he was nearly 59 years of age. He arrived in the colony in March, 1854, and has been a resident of Mount Gambier since 1858. The deceased leaves a wife and family, all the members of which have reached man's and woman’s estate, to mourn their loss. The funeral will take place at 2 o'clock this afternoon.

And Christine was to live a few more years, with address as expected at Power Street.

Death of Christine Boehm, Border Watch 17 Aug 1901

Mrs. JOHANNA CHRISTINE BOEHM, relict of the late Mr. C. E. J. Boehm, of Mount Gambier, died at her residence, Power Street, yesterday evening. The deceased had suffered for a considerable time from an incurable internal disease, and for about eight weeks was confined to her bed. She was born in Germany, and had attained the age of 68 years, she came with her husband to Mount Gambier about 44 years ago, and resided here ever since. Her husband died about 10 years ago, Mrs. Boehm leaves two sons Messrs, Julius and Adolph Boehm and one daughter, Mrs E.E. Boys, of Mount Gambier. The funeral is announced for Sunday afternoon.

Adolph

Little is known about Adolph. He did not marry, he went to live in Victoria, he changed his name to Charles Frederick. His occupation appears to be harness maker. He died in Seymour in 1931 and was buried in Springvale Cemetery in Melbourne.