Baldesberger von Frick AG

[ChristineMcmullen]

I recently discovered the my 2nd great grandfather, Michael Baldesberger, was born in Frick, Switzerland in 1817. Curious is anyone is searching the same surname or knows anything about Frick in 1840 - 50 when he departed.
Christine McMullen

[Peter.D]

Hi Christine,

Frick suffered from a series of crop failures in that period of time. As a consequence, many inhabitants emigrated to the US and elsewhere until 1850. The emigration was actively supported or even promoted by the community in order to relieve the expenditures for the poor.
There's a local history study group in place; I guess they have additional material on the emigration and perhaps even on your ancestor.

Peter

[ChristineMcmullen]

Thank you Peter. Farming in Pennsylvania must have been good to the family, as when I found the will of Michael Baldesberger he left $400 to each of his 4 sons in 1899 and the family farm remained in tack and handed down to the next generation.