Hans Fredrick Carl Bottcher

Hans Fredrick Carl Bottcher

Male 1884 - 1955  (71 years)

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  • Name Hans Fredrick Carl Bottcher  [1
    • Sometime before the first World War, Wilhelm and Wilhelmina changed their and their children's surname from Bottcher to Burcher. I assume this was because Germans would not have been really popular around the time of the first world War. Hans's Christian name was changed to John.
    Nickname John Burcher 
    Birth 27 Jan 1884  Angermunde,Prussia, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2
    Gender Male 
    Immigration 22 Aug 1887  Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 4, 5
    Wilhelm Bottcher accompanied by his wife Wilhelmine and children Marie 5, Hans 3, Wilhelm 1 and Rodolph infant, sailed from London on the 28th June 1887 aboard the Bulimba, 3000tons, Captain Clarke and arrived at Brisbane, Queensland on the 22nd August 1887, 




    Queensland Assisted Immigration 1848-1912 - Ship Bulimba - Passengers Wilhelm Bottcher and Family.
    Queensland Assisted Immigration 1848-1912 - Ship Bulimba - Passengers Wilhelm Bottcher and Family.
    Wilhelm, accompanied by his wife Wilhelmine, children Marie, Hans, Wilhelm and Rudolph, sailed from London, England, aboard the ship Bulimba, departing 28th June 1887 and arrived at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on 22nd August 1887.
    The Brisbane Courier Newspaper - Monday, August 22, 1887
    The Brisbane Courier Newspaper - Monday, August 22, 1887
    This is a PDF copy of the newspaper printed on the day that Wilhelm, Wilhemina and their young family arrived in Brisbane aboard the ship "RMS Bulimba". A mention of the ships arrival is listed on page 4 column 1. Details of the voyage can be found in the following days edition of the news paper which is also attached to this page.
    Read about…
    Assisted Immigration 1848- 1912 - Ship Bulimba
    Assisted Immigration 1848- 1912 - Ship Bulimba
    This is the full passenger list of the Ship Bulimba including all its 1887 voyages from London England to Brisbane Queensland, Australia. The voyage that included Wilhelm Bottcher and his family, 28th June 1887 to 22 August 1887 starts on page 198 of the register and the family are located on page 212.
    The Brisbane Courier Newspaper, Tuesday, August 23, 1887
    The Brisbane Courier Newspaper, Tuesday, August 23, 1887
    This Pdf copy of the newspaper has the voyage of the RMS Bulimba printed on page 4 Column 1 (arrival) and page 4 column 3 (the voyage). It describes the journey from England to Brisbane. Read the newspaper and get a feel what Brisbane was like in 1887.
    Naturalization 23 Aug 1907  Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    Hans Frederick Carl Bottcher was Naturalized and Certificate of Naturalization No. 5019 dated 23rd August 1907 was issued 

    Application for Naturalization - Hans Frederick Carl Bottcher
    Application for Naturalization - Hans Frederick Carl Bottcher
    Hans Frederick Carl Bottcher was Granted Naturalization 23 August 1907 and Certificate of Naturalization No. 5079 was issued
    Death 27 May 1955  88 Baptist St Redfern, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Funeral 30 May 1955  319 Liverpool Road, Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    • John Frederick Carl Burcher (Bottcher) funeral was held at 10:30 am on Monday 30 May 1955 at St Andrews Chapel, 319 Liverpool road, Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia and at the completion of the service proceeded to the Rookwood Crematorium

    Burial 30 May 1955  Rookwood, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location  [9
    Person ID I2436  Tucker Family Tree | Bottcher family tree
    Last Modified 2 Aug 2022 

    Father Wilhelm August Christian Bottcher,   b. Abt Dec 1860, Kleinow, Brandenburg, Prussia, Germany Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 12 Feb 1928, Liverpool Hospital, N.S.W, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 67 years) 
    Mother Wilhelmina Louise Christine Dahn,   b. Abt 1860, new berlin, Germany Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 28 Mar 1904, Brown Street, St Peters, Sydney, NSW, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 44 years) 
    Marriage 18 Nov 1881  Blankenburg, New Berlin, Prussia, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F0700  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Rachel Young,   b. 16 May 1882, New Ross, Wexford, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 2 Jul 1964, West Ryde, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 82 years) 
    Marriage 30 May 1908  St Pauls Church of England Redfern, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location  [7, 10

    Marriage Registration of John f Burcher and Rachel Young
    Marriage Registration of John f Burcher and Rachel Young
    John Frederick Carl Burcher married Rachel Young 1908 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Registration 3912/1908
    Children 
    +1. Rita Wilhelmina Sarah Burcher,   b. 8 Feb 1909, 137 Cleveland St Redfern, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 23 Dec 1996, West Ryde, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 87 years)
    +2. John Humphrey Burcher,   b. 21 Feb 1915, 137 Cleveland St, Redfern, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 18 Nov 1950, 65 Constitution Rd, Dulwich Hill, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 35 years)
    Family ID F0716  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 21 Apr 2016 

  • Photos
    Hans Frederick Bottcher
    Hans Frederick Bottcher
    Hans Frederick Bottcher, Known as John Frederick Burcher
    Family of Hans (John) Bottcher and Rachel Young
    Family of Hans (John) Bottcher and Rachel Young
    John Humphrey Burcher Hans (John) Fredrick Bottcher
    Rachel Burcher (nee Young) and Rita Burcher

  • Notes 
    • Hans Frederick Carl Bottcher is the second child of Wilhelm and Wilhelmina Bottcher (n. Dahn). He was born on the 27th January 1884 at Angermunde, Brandenburg, Prussia (Germany).
      At the age of 3, He arrived in Australia aboard the ship "Bulimba" which arrived in Brisbane Qld on 22nd August 1887 along with his parents Wilhelm and Wilhelmina and his siblings Maria (Mary), Wilhelm (William) and Rudolph.

      On the 27th July 1907 he applied for Naturalization and it was granted on 26th August 1907. At this time he lived at 58 Union St Erskineville, New South Wales.

      He Met and Married Rachel Young, the daughter of John Young and Sarah Bale on 30th May 1908 at St Paul's Church of England, Redfern, New South Wales.

      Prior to his marriage to Rachel, he changed his name to John Frederick Carl Burcher. The German pronunciation of the Surname Bottcher is "Burr-cher".

      Rachel and John lived at 327 Riley Street just after they were married, but moved to Rachel's Parents place at 137 Cleveland Street Redfern where they stayed from 1908 to 1935. Their two children Rita Wilhelmina and John Humphrey Burcher were both born there.

      His main work in life was with the Tramways, working up through the ranks as Labourer, Ganger supervisor and then Ballast Guard. These occupations relate to the Maintenance of the tram line bed. The tram lines were laid on sleepers over ballast as a foundation. Hard wood blocks were then laid around the rails to form the road surface itself. He was mainly associated with the West Kensington Line, which had it's tram sheds and work shop on South Dowling Street, Kensington.

      He was a shy man and often bluffed his way through a difficult situation.

      Over time he became a good friend of Sir William McKell and some times wrote speeches for him. It was said he would go through his dictionary selecting the most impressive words to put into his letters and speeches. Sir William McKell was the Premier of New South Wales 1941 - 1947 and it's 12th Governor General 1947 - 1953.

      John developed a swollen gland in his throat which had to be removed, leaving a scar and altered the sound of his voice.

      On 3rd October 1923, John at the age of 39 was appointed a Justice of the peace in New South Wales.
      In 1925 & 1926 He represented the Australian Labour Party and was elected as an Alderman for the Redfern Ward on the Redfern Council.

      In 1936 the family moved to 26d Maddison Street, but after only a year, they moved to 88 Bathurst St Redfern.

      In his retirement, when he was well, he loved to sit in his back yard work shop at the rear of his home at 88 Baptist Street and talk to his friends whom often visited. In many ways, he was very much like his father Wilhelm, self educated, hard working and ready to help anyone who came his way.

      In 1955, John died at home of Cardiac failure.
      John and Rachel had two children, 7 Grandchildren, 16 Great Grand Children and 25 Great Great Grand children. [7]

  • Sources 
    1. [S419] Harvey and Gabriella Burcher.

    2. [S34] National Archives of Australia, 1907 (Reliability: 3).
      See attached aqpplication for certificate of Naturalization.

    3. [S135] The Brisbane Courier Newspaper, 22 Aug 1887, 4 (Reliability: 3).

    4. [S135] The Brisbane Courier Newspaper, 23 Aug 1887, 4 (Reliability: 3).

    5. [S381] Queensland State Archives, 22 Aug 1887, Series ID 13086 (Reliability: 3).
      Series ID 13086, Registers of Immigrant Ships Arrivals 1848-1912. Ship - Bulimba

    6. [S34] National Archives of Australia, 1907, NAA: A1, 1907/7299 (Reliability: 3).
      Se attached document

    7. [S419] Harvey and Gabriella Burcher (Reliability: 3).

    8. [S94] The Sydney Morning Herald, 30 May 1955, 18 (Reliability: 3).
      See attached Funeral notice published in the Sydney Morning Herald Newspaper, Monday 30 May 1955 on Page 18.

    9. [S94] The Sydney Morning Herald, 30 May 1955, 18 (Reliability: 3).
      See attached Funeral Notice

    10. [S4] New South Wales Government, NSW BDM, 1908, Reg. No. 3912/1908 (Reliability: 3).
      See attached New South Wales Marriages Transcription for John Frederick Carl Burcher (Bottcher) and Rachel Young.


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