HISTORY OF THE REITMANN NAME :

The surname Reitmann is a derived from the German name Reitmeier. In southern Germany Reitmeier is a distinguishing nickname for a tenant farmer who farmed in a forest clearing (Middle High German 'riute'). In the north, a distinguishing nickname for a tenant farmer who farmed in a reedy location, from the Middle Low German 'ret' (reed).

Our Reitmann family including Senior & Wildish Small numbers by a name refer to personal number in listing eg JULIA ANNA ^3 REITMANN ~ see 3

GENERATION ONE :

1. ~ ~ ~ HEINRICH (HENRY) REITMANN was born around 1835 in Neuhaus, Hanover, Germany. Heinrich married JULIANA BERTA BEITZ. Juliana was born in 1843 also in Neuhaus, Hanover. Heinrich and Juliana arrived in New Zealand around 1865.

Children of HEINRICH REITMANN and JULIANA BERTA BEITZ were:

WILHEIM (WILLIAM) ² REITMANN, born around 1858 in Capetown, South Africa.

JULIANA (ANNIE) ³ REITMANN, born 1869.

MARY REITMANN, born in South Africa.

NEILS ANDREW ⁴ REITMANN, born 7 October 1870.

AUGUSTUS (GUSTAVE) HENRY REITMANN, who died 27 October 1873 aged 14 months and was buried at Shortland Cemetery (Plot 0181)

ERNEST AUGUST (MICK) REITMANN, born 3 June 1875 (BDM1875/2411). Ernest died 25 November 1929 and was buried at Shortland Cemetery (Public Plot 2684)

In 1870 Henry's occupation is listed as a Miner. In 1871 the family moved to Thames and bought a house on Lot 578 Baillie Street. At this time they had two sons and two daughters aged between one and thirteen years of age. In 1880 Berta bought the neighbouring property of Lot 577. Henry & Berta lived at this property (possibly other members of the family remaining at Lot 578) They established a grocers shop there from the early 1890s to early 1900s.

Henry died in Karaka, Thames, NZ on 4 September 1912 and was buried at Shortland Cemetery in Thames. Juliana died on 1 December 1915, also in Karaka, Thames. They were both buried at Shortland Cemetery in Thames (Plot 2682).

Also buried in this plot is a child Spencer George Clarence Reitmann who died 17 November 1909. I presume this is a grand-child of Henry and Juliana but have not made a positive connection at this stage.

GENERATION TWO :

2. ~ ~ ~ WILHEIM (WILLIAM) REITMANN (HEINRICH) was born around 1858 in Capetown, ex Hanover, Germany and was the eldest son of HEINRICH REITMANN and JULIANA BERTA BEITZ. William married SARAH SUSANNAH HEARD on 23 July 1890 at St Marks Church, Remuera, Auckland. Sarah was born on 5 April 1868 in Colchester, Essex, England and was the daughter of GEORGE HEARD and SARAH RATCLIFFE.

Children of WILHELM REITMANN and SARAH HEARD included:

BERTHA ISBELLA ⁵ REITMANN, born 17 June 1891 in Thames, New Zealand.

ETHEL MILDRED REITMANN, who died as an infant in May 1893 (BDM1893/839) and was buried at Shortland Cemetery in Thames (Plot 0180)

CLAUDE REITMANN, who died as an infant in May 1894 (BDM1894/2668) and was buried at Shortland Cemetery (also Plot 0180)

William died on 3 November 1918 in Auckland and Sarah (Sissie) on 26 August 1937 in Thames. She was buried at Totara Cemetery in Thames (Public Plot 013-0001)

3. ~ ~ ~ JULIANA (ANNIE) REITMANN (HEINRICH) was born in 1867 in New Zealand (BDM1867/13632) and was the eldest daughter of HEINRICH REITMANN and JULIANA BERTA BEITZ. Juliana married THOMAS FAULDS SENIOR. Thomas was Fisherman. He was born in 1865 in Auckland, New Zealand (BDM1865/28159) and was the youngest son of JOSEPH SENIOR and MARGARET ALLISON.

Children of ANNIE REITHMANN and THOMAS SENIOR were:

o MARY MARGARET SENIOR, born 1886. Margaret married ROBERT GEORGE FISHER in 1903 (BDM1903/2254)

o JEANNETTE (JANET) SENIOR, born 14 May 1889. Jeannette married WILLIAM GEORGE NORMAN in 1909 (BDM1909/8097)

o JOSEPH HENRY SENIOR, born 22 February 1892. Joseph married MABEL JANE HUNT in 1915 (BDM1915/2757)

o THOMAS BALFOUR SENIOR, born 17 October 1895. Thomas married FLORENCE KATHLEEN WELLS in 1923 (BDM1923/9690). He died on 9 March 1974.

o ALBERT SENIOR, born 1 May 1897; died 3 October 1974.

o EDWARD VICTOR SENIOR, born 22 January 1901. He married FREDRICKA FRAMEIN in 1933 (BDM1923/9690). Edward died on 25 September 1970 and was buried at Shortland Cemetery in Thames (Row 9 Plot 793)

Thomas died in Thames on 17 July 1922. Annie died on 23 February 1934 also in Thames. They were both buried at Shortland Cemetery in Thames (Row 9 Plot 793).

4. ~ ~ ~ NEILS ANDREW (NELSON) REITMANN (HEINRICH) was born on 7 October 1870 in Karaka, Thames, New Zealand and was the second son of HEINRICH REITMANN and JULIANA BEITZ. Neils attended Thames High School between 1881 and 1885 when he left to commence employment as a Miner.

In 1904 Neils married REBECCA MAY BARRINGTON (BDM1904/6241). Rebecca was born in 1883 in Masterton, New Zealand. After their marriage Neils became a Fisherman and he and Rebecca lived in Richmond Street, Thames.

Children of NEILS REITMANN and REBECCA BARRINGTON included:

GLORIA ESTHER BEELY ⁶ REITMANN, born 2 March 1907.

ETHEL GRACE MYRA REITMANN, born 1908 (BDM1908/5499)

HENRY NELSON BARRINGTON REITMANN, died 2 December 1909 aged under one year (BDM1909/6457). Henry was buried at Shortland Cemetery, Thames (Plot 2683)

ANDREW STANLEY BARRINGTON REITMANN, born 1910 (BDM1910/21237).

Nelson died on 30 September 1949 in Karaka, Thames. Rebecca died aged 29 years on 20 January 1912. They were both buried at Shortland Cemetery, Thames (Plot 2683)

GENERATION THREE :

5. ~ ~ ~ BERTHA ISABELLA REITMANN (HEINRICH > WILHEIM) was born on 17 June 1891 in Thames, New Zealand and was the daughter of WILHELM REITMANN and SARAH SUSANNAH HEARD. Bertha married GEORGE WILLIAM WILDISH on 31 December 1911 at St Andrews Presbyterian Church, Auckland and they had two daughters. George was born on 30 August 1889 in Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand and was the son of GEORGE THOMAS WILDISH and JANET GALBRAITH MORRISON.

Bertha divorced George when the children were young and the girls were brought up by their grand-mother, Sarah Susannah (Sissie) Reitmann. Bertha married BENJAMIN HARRY OXLADE in 1931. Eventually she settled in Sydney, Australia where she died on 28 November 1968.

> Refer to the WILDISH family for more information about the family of George and children of George & Bertha.

6. ~ ~ ~ GLORIA ESTHER BEELY REITMANN (HEINRICH > NEILS) was born on 2 March 1907 in Thames, New Zealand (BDM1907/6643) and was the daughter of NEILS REITMANN and REBECCA BARRINGTON.

Gloria married FREDERICK GUY PORTER in June 1929 in Auckland (BDM1929/11002) and they had a son also named FREDERICK GUY PORTER.

Gloria died on 4 April 1994 in Auckland, NZ. Her husband Frederick died on 13 July 1933 also in Auckland, NZ.

Please note that in keeping to genealogy publishing protocol I have not included information about later generations including living persons.
If you have a family connection please contact me for further information.

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