After her mother and brother died, Mary lived with her uncle, John Kruse. They realised that her mother Wilhelmina had wrongly given the cottage to Louise Schwerkolt, which was not in accordance with August Schwerkolt's will. In 1909, when Mary was 22, she and her uncle set sail on Seydlitz for Melbourne in order to gain title to her inheritance. They were successful in getting both the Mitcham and Northcolt titles transferred to her name.Coloured photograph at the 'Seydlitz' from Germany. Two masts at either end, funnel in the centrejack, mary, schwerkolt, mary, seydlitz

Pack of cards used by Mary Schwerkolt on her journey on the Seydlitz from New York via Bremen in 1908 to Melbourne to claim her inheritance. Bremer was the departure point for migrants leaving Germany.Complete set of (1-52) playing cards. Reverse has sailing ship and insignia in circle bottom left of crossed anchor and key. Writing at top: Norddeutscher, Lloyd, Bremen, at bottom right corner: New York, Baltimore Sud America Ost-Asien Australien. (53) Paper envelope (brown) in which cards were stored.whalen, rosalie, schwerkolt, mary, playing cards, games, seydlitz, bremen, new york, baltimore

Dress purchased by Mary Schwerkolt in 1910 on voyage to America via German and the Suez Canal in India. Mary was on the passenger ship Seydlitz. Her future husband Emil Jackschowsky was a crew member. They were married in the Orphan's Court of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania by Minister J.L. Fischer on April 15, 1912. Mary had delayed her departure to travel back on this voyage with Emil.Cream silk wedding dress. High neck with a stand up shaped collar in the Queen Mary style. Collar has cream silk embroidery of flower centre front and leaves either side and edged in crocheted silk finely. Front bodice has 2 pintuck pleats either side of embroidered central panel and pleats are edged by embroidered panels to bustline. Bodice is gathered into high waistband. Skirt is pintucked into waistband. Embroidery is a band around hemline. The embroidery design is Indian "mango" design. The back bodice has pintucks into collar and opened to below waistband with metal hooks & eyes. Box pleat at base of placket opening. 3.4 length sleeve has a panel at hem on front with embroidered 4 petal cross flower & leaves either side. Waistband lined with cotton & neckband lined with cotton. Hem is faced with satined cotton. Also a cream silk handkerchief.whalen, rosalie, schwerkolt, mary, jackschowsky, emil, jarosz, bettie, seydlitz, pennsylvania, fischer, j.l., minister, wedding dress, weddings, dress, india

Emil Jackschowsky was born in Insterburg (Prussia then Germany now Russia). He met Mary Schwerkolt aboard the 'Seydlitz' on its way to Australia. He was working as a ships steward. They married in Pittsburg in U.S.A in 1912. While visiting family in Germany he was conscripted. His son Walter was born in 1919. Emil became an American citizen in 1928. He died from heart disease in 1954 at the age of 71.sepia photograph with a framed picture of a man seated on an ornamental chair and dressed in a coat and bow tie.jackschowsky emil, insterrberg