WESSEL, WESSELL, WISSEL FAMILY
The Wessel Family that came to Maryland can be traced back to Engter, Germany which is near Bramish and Osnabruck, Germany west of Hanover, Germany. The other villages in the area were other Wessel's were born are Evinghausen and Schleptrup, Germany. The Church in Entger is St. Johannis Church which can trace its history back to 1229.The Wessel Family has an odd but not unusual beginning. Heinrich Jacob Sommerfruchte, born 25 Oct 1744 married a Anna Marie Catherine Wessel and because the Wessel Family has a higher standing in the community, he took her family name Wessel. This normally happened when a person married a person of higher station in the community.
Two Wessel brothers came to Baltimore, Maryland on 8 May 1878 on the "General Werder." They were: Hermann Heinrich Wilhelm "Will" Wessel; August Johann Hermann Wessel; Two other brothers also came to America: Hermann Friedrich known as "Herman" in America; and George Herman known as "George" in America.
The Wessel's of Maryland were farmers near Fulton in Howard County, Maryland. August Wessel owned "Montpelier Mansion" built circa 1740 by the Ridgley Family, one of the first families of Maryland.
Researching the Baltimore Wessel family is Herbert Wessel of Hampstead, MD, hwess@qis.net and Karl Lawrence Wessel of Great Falls, MT.
Another Wessel Family found in the US was Herman Wessel who arrived on 2 January 1885 on the "Waesland" from Antwerp, Belgium. He was 41 years old and gave his occupation as laborer from Germany and his destination Buffalo, New York. He was buried in Higginsville, Missouri near Kansas City, Missouri. This family is being researched by Robert Wessel of Old Hickory, TN. bobk4pr@bellsouth.net.
Me email is at the bottom of the home page for further information.