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I just found out today, via a death certificate, that my ancestor, Maria (KLEGIN) BRAATZ, was born in Schoenwalde, Germany. Unfortunately, there are multiple Schoenwaldes across Germany today. Would there be a more specific Schoenwalde, Germany in either 1842 (her birth year) or in 1890 (her death certificate) that would make the most sense at that time?

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There are also multiple Schönwaldes across today's territories of Poland (historical region of East Prussia, Pomerania, Silesia, Posen...). You haven't any additional information?
Nope, marriage certificate just says Schoenwalde, Germany. It's new information to me. Though, I'm pretty sure they emigrated through Bremen, but who knows where they came from originally.
This is a typical problem. Census and immigration records often show very deficient informations as the place of origin for German, Jewish and Polish immigrants. the borders of Germany after World War 2 are completely different from these in the 19. century. You've checked the Bremerhaven Emigrants database yet?
http://www.dad-recherche.de/hmb/index_engl.asp
I have already found their passenger list info via Ancestry. It doesn't say where they were from, just that they left via Bremen and were going to Wisconsin.
Find them in all USA censuses & all county, state, newspaper & any other records. Do any of the sources indicate any province besides "Germany?" If you need pro' help with this, after all the free help is exhausted, email me directly: karlmsala@msn.com The German Genealogist (GW group) 1-602-503-0775 = 1-888-456-7252
The reprinted 1892 Atlas of the German Empire shows three places named Schoenwalde:
1. Schoenwalde am Bungsberg in Schleswig-Holstein, about 10 km east of Eutin. First mentioned 1240. Population 2,500.
2. Schoenwalde in Westpreussen/West Prussia, now Poland. Current name is Szemud, previously Szynwald. About halfway between Gdansk/Danzig and Lebork/Lauenburg. First mentioned 1311. Population 1,600.
3. Schoenwalde in Sachsen/Saxony, now Schoenewalde in Brandenburg. In Landkreis/Rural County Elbe-Elster. First mentioned 14th C. Population 3,500.

William and Mary said they were from Prussia in both the 1870 and 1880 Censuses (assuming I found the correct family in Dodge and Waupaca Counties). Schoenwalde #1 was not in Prussia until 1865-1866. #2 was in Prussia throughout the 19th C. I think #3 became part of Prussia in 1815.

As William and Mary were married and had children in the old country, I'd be willing to bet they were from the same vicinity, maybe even the same town.

As Michael Boscarato mentioned, Klegin is a rare name in Germany. Only 30 entries in the phone book. Definitely northern. No Klegins in Szemud, Lebork, or Gdansk.

John
Stuttgart, Germany
They were the William and Mary in Waupaca Co., not Dodge, as I've narrowed it down. Thanks for all the help.

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