Immediate family
Biography
He was known as Charles. He resided in Hamilton North, Victoria, Australia. Occupation: Shoe Repaire Charles and Friedericke immigrated to Australia on board the Sophie arriving on August 23, 1850. The Gerdtz family arrived in Australia upon the Sophie, a barque of 278 tons (272 tons according to `Migrant Ships to South Australia`) and 3 metres wide. The barque was registered in Hamburg in 1850 and its Captain was Capt. Matthias Wilcken. She departed Hamburg on April 28, 1850 and arrived at Adelaide on August 9, 1850 where she stayed for ten days before going on to Port Phillip where she arrived on on 23 August, 1850 with a cargo of bricks, hams, etc. The Sophie then departed Port Phillip on September 1, 1850 for Valparaiso. The Hamburg State Archives advise that Johann Gerdts occupation was that of `Schafer` (shepherd) and that all family members were born in Kiel. After arrival in Australia, Johann became a farmer. He was naturalised at Portland on April 9, 1859. His occupation on those papers was listed as Yeoman. He died suddenly on the morning of January 26, 1875 and an inquest was held at Hamilton later the same day. Evidence was presented to Dr. Wylie, Deputy-Coroner by Edmund Vialis, medical practitioner, who found that Johann had died from fatty degeneration of the heart. Other evidence was given by Frederika Gerdtz, wife of Johann, and William Thomson, nine year old grandson of Johann and Frederika, who lived with them. Frederika Gerdtz gave evidence that Johann had been healthy until lately when he had complained about his teeth and could not do much work. He went to bed the night before his death after supper and arose early the next morning, just before five o`clock and seemed quite well. He dressed himself quickly and went over the road with his young grandson William, to milk the three cows. He milked one cow and complained of not feeling well to William and asked him to fetch his grandmother. Frederika went over to Johann and tried to get him to rise up, but after trying in vain he said `ah mother!` and then died.
