Tatge Family History - from Dave Tatge
From an email exchange begun in February, 2003. George Tatge contacted me first, then put me in touch with his brother Dave, who is the one doing the family research. Clearly, this is a closely related branch of the Tatge tree; they also trace their ancestry to those bold Tatge brothers who emigrated from Germany to the US in the mid-19th century.
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The Tatge Family Name 
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Tatge house in Riepen, Germany
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Do I think the Tatje or Tatge name in Spain is connected - yes but I cannot prove it at this time.

The Tatje vs Tatge name is easy. My grandfather, Johann Henrich Christopher Tatge, told the family ( I have family documents ) where he lived, sailed from, name of the boat and captain. As you have heard of the connection with Napoleon and Philipp being one of his personal guards, it is in our family tree information directly from Christopher.  Also, the church records show both spellings along with the same story. The records also show the emigration to the USA of the family. It has been awhile since I read the information and I believe I am accurate in all that - but would like to re-affirm prior to posting.

The Tatge Family in Europe 
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Tatge house in Riepen, Germany
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I have tied three brothers together, immigrating in 1849-1850 from Germany, one of which was my great grandfather "J.H. Christopher Tatge"  the J.H.stands for Johann Heinrich.  They lived in a tiny village (still there - I visited) about 28 miles west of Hannover.  The name of the village is Riepen, a part of slightly larger community called Bad Nunnendorf.  So many of these villages are so small it is difficult to find a map that shows them.

Anyway, I do believe that most if not all Tatges in the US are directly descended from one of these three brothers. I have, in order of their births, Johann Conrad, Johann Heinrich Phillip, and Johann Heinrich Christopher.  Other information you listed is slightly different, but still hard to deny the connection.  I have Birth, Marriage and Death information directly from the Church dating back to 1695.  I do not have US customs records.  My Grandfather Christopher said he [his father?] sailed on the Weiland from Bremen.

The Tatge House in Riepen  
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Michael Tatge was raised in Riepen and knows the area very well, and since we did not speak German, he was very helpful. As the three of us walked through Riepen, I saw a house with the Tatge name on it. On my second visit to Riepen, I stopped as the owner of the house was working in the yard. Her name is Sebina Loff and she writes children's books (avail in the USA). I told her that I was sure that one of my ancestors built the house since the village is so small (I mean small - a couple blocks in each direction). She told me that the it is a very special historical house there and that it had a history going back to 1728 even though the date on it showed 1814.  She was very gracious and asked if I would like to see inside - I told her it would be like going to church - I was humbled and grateful. Very large (has been added on to) and 2-1/2 stories.  Most of the houses in the village are red brick and red tile roofs and look fairly new by comparison - this one is white and blue and really stands out.  She said the house had gone through several re-modelings.  She offered to look into the chronicles and send me information.

The next day I visited the church in Beckedorf, about 3 Km distance (nice Sunday ride to church in a buggy?) where all the records were kept. I spoke to the pastor and he promised to send me the information I requested - he did. It showed that Henrich Tatje (don't let the spelling bother you) was born in Rehren, Germany in 1696 and married Anne Catharine Kolling. All the records indicate an identifier of "Serial No. 34" for this family. Well that just happens to be the address of the house on Riepener number 34 coincidence? I don't think so. The village is so small and I had a great-how many? grandfather living in Riepen in 1814 - he would have been 44 years old.

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Site Last Updated - February 18,  2003
By Sharon Kahn