The Leoke and Koik FamiliesFrom Estonia to America
Research

Research in progress

What has been established, what is still open, and where the answers might be found.

54 research questions: 10 answered · 27 partly answered · 17 open.

The research behind the history is still going. Each question below has an ID that also appears on the pages of the people it concerns. A question is answered when the record is in hand; partly answered when some of it is; open when the right source has not yet been found or searched.

Much of the work is in the parish books, estate revisions and household registers of the National Archives of Estonia, read online in its Saaga viewer; in the refugee files of the Arolsen Archives; and in American immigration and census records.

Appendix E · Further research sets out the main open questions in prose. Select a question below to see the evidence gathered so far and where to look next.

Leoke family · 19th century or earlier

  • LA-01Hans Leoke’s three older siblingsPartly answered

    Status: Partly answered

    The museum article says Hans was the youngest of four and the only one to survive. His parents married on 5 April 1838. The 1850 revision (24 July 1850) lists no children with them. So the children were born and died between 1838 and mid-1850, or one was born and died between 1850 and 1852.

    Source Where Status Notes
    Museum article on Hans Leoke L01 Found Gives "youngest of four".
    1850 revision, Alt-Woidoma L135 Found No children in July 1850.
    1857 revision SL-14 Found Only Hans survives.
    Viljandi Estonian baptisms, 1838–1852 EAA.1290.1.52 to.66 (one volume per year) To locate Look for Alt-Woidoma, Wardja, father "Jaak Leok/Löuk/Lõuk".
    Viljandi Estonian deaths, 1838–1853 Same volumes To locate Child burials. Kaddri's 1853 burial shows the format (L131).
    Viljandi Estonian births 1839–1851, deaths 1838–1848 (partial) EAA.1290.1.53–.65 Found Marri (b. 23 Sep 1841, d. 23 Jan 1843) and Rööt (b. 21 Aug 1844, d. 14 Jun 1848), SL-43 to SL-46. Rööt's baptism checked.
    The third sibling Jan–Oct 1838 births; 1852 births; 1849–52 deaths; Kõpu filial; gap pages To locate No other child of Jaak and Kaddri in the Estonian births 1839–51.
  • LA-02Kaddri Wardja’s baptism and parentsPartly answered

    Status: Partly answered

    The 1826 revision lists a daughter Kaddri, aged 8, in the household of Hans son of Matz, farm holder at Wardja Matzi. That matches Kaddri's age at death and her maiden name. Her baptism would confirm the link.

    Source Where Status Notes
    1826 interim revision SL-04 Found Kaddri 8, Ann 6, Greth 4; parents Hans (30) and Marri (39).
    1816 revision SL-03 Found Hans son of Matz, farm holder aged 20, wife Marri 29. Kaddri not yet born.
    Marriage 1838 SL-17 Found "Wardja Kaddri Wardja".
    Viljandi baptisms c. 1816–1818 Not in the 4.1 metrical series, which starts in 1834 To locate Look for older Viljandi books in other EAA.1290 series or in the consistory duplicates (EAA.1253?). Check Saaga's list for EAA.1290 before 1834.
    Kaddri's baptism, about Jan 1818 Viljandi metrical books before 1834 [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] Research note: Saaga's EAA.1290.1 series starts in 1834 (.1–.47 do not exist). Household book EAA.1290.1.526 gives her birth as 8 Jan 1818. Enquiry to the National Archives drafted in the research notes.
  • LA-03The Leoke line before PeetPartly answered

    Status: Partly answered (Peet found)

    Source Where Status Notes
    1816 revision (fragment) SL-03 Found Jaak son of Peet, 36 in 1811. Andres son of Peet came "from No. 125".
    1811 revision (Karula and Vana-Võidu together) EAA.1865.3.282/19 Partial Skimmed. It has no surnames, so the family has to be traced by the farm numbers in the 1816 list.
    1795 revision EAA.1865 (5th revision subfond) To locate Peet's household; Jaak would be about 19.
    1782 revision EAA.1865 (4th revision subfond) To locate
    Hans Leoke b. 1796 at Võhma L128 Found No longer a candidate for Jaak's father. Could be a cousin; test against the revisions.
    Origin of the surname (Lõuk/Leoke) — To locate Surnames were given about 1820–1835. Look for a farm or place called Lõuk near Alt-Woidoma.
    1811 revision, Wardja Matzi family No. 99 EAA.1865.3.282/19 imgs 24–25 (SL-90, SL-91) Found Research note: Peet, brother of the household head Jaan, aged 64 in 1795 (b. about 1731), d. 1803; sons Jaak (20 in 1795) and Andres (9). The household head Jaan's son Hans was farm holder until 1813 (L-037, L-038).
    1782 and 1795 Alt-Woidoma revisions EAA.1865 [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] Not in Saaga (EAA.1865.5.71/.72 are Schloss Fellin, a different estate; don't use them). Ask the National Archives.
    Jaak's sons after 1826 1834 Alt-Woidoma list EAA.1865.3.284/7 img 26 (SL-141) Found Research note: Jaak, Peet's son, "Loeuk" †1819; Jürri moved "nach N. [Tennasilm?]", Hans in 1833 "nach N. Cawelecht" (Kavilda?), Jaak "vide № XC". Greth (49 in 1826) not on the 1834 farm page.
    Other Peets and Matzes of 1811 (to avoid confusion) 1811 list img 3–4, 29 [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] Research note: a Peet of Kirka (75 in 1795, †1802) and a "Tönnis, Matz's son" lodger at Wardja Matzi (d. 1829) are different men.
    Hans, Jaak's son (L-007), after 1833 Uue-Kavilda (Neu-Kawelecht) 1834, EAA.1865.2.59/19 img 2–11, 13 [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] Research note: remark reads "1833 nach N. Cawelech[t]"; Uue-Kavilda is in Puhja parish, Tartumaa. Men's pages (150 men): no Hans, Jaak's son. Vana-Kavilda and the 1837–48 forms not searched.
    Jürri, Jaak's son (L-006), 1834 remark EAA.1865.3.284/7 img 26 Found Research note: "nach N. Tenasil[m]", agreeing with his 1835 arrival from Neu-Tennasilm.
  • LA-04Hans’s parents, their marriage and deathsAnswered

    Status: Answered

    People: L-008, L-009, L-010

    • Hans's baptism, 4 Jan 1853: L129.
    • Kaddri's death, 22 Aug 1853: L131.
    • Jaak and Kaddri's marriage, 5 Apr 1838: SL-17.
    • Jaak's death, 7 Oct 1867: SL-19.
    • The 1834, 1850 and 1857 revisions: L133, L135, SL-14.

    Remaining detail: the museum article calls Jaak the "manor carpenter", but the revisions call him a lodger or laborer ("L."). Both can be true; nothing has been found to settle it.

  • LA-05Uncle Jürri Leoke’s family; is Jaak Lõuke (1839–1909) his son?Open

    Status: Open

    Source Where Status Notes
    1850 revision, Nuija Jahn SL-08, SL-09 Found Jürri, wife Madde, children Reet, Kaddri, Ann. Son Jaak is not visible on the page read; check again.
    1857 revision, Nuija Jahn SL-13 Found Jürri 49, son Jaak 18; second wife Reet.
    Viljandi household books L101–L113 Found Jaak Lõuke b. 1839 "at Nuia", wife Mari Niggol, children Ann, Jaan, Jüri.
    Baptism of Jaak, c. 1839 EAA.1290.1.53 (1839) To locate Would prove the link.
    Jürri's marriages and deaths Viljandi metrical books To locate
    Jürri's children's baptisms EAA.1290.1.53 No. 338 (SL-47);.61 No. 262 (SL-48) Found Jaak b. 19 Sep 1839 at Saare Annusse (not Nuia); Ann b. 9 Sep 1847 at Nuia. Link to Jaak Lõuke (1839–1909) still a hypothesis (birth year fits; the household books say born Nuia).
    Is the Löuk b. 1839 at Pedi Nuja (.529 img 214) Jürri's son Jaak = Jaak Lõuke (1839–1909)? Household books.529 img 214 (SL-105),.532 img 625 (SL-59),.559 img 106 (SL-175); banns 1861.503 img 163 (SL-176); deaths 1909.555 img 284 (SL-177); baptism.53 No. 338 (SL-47) Found Research note: yes (about 95%): same birth date 19 Sep 1839 in all, banns name Jürri as father, same wife Mari Niggol (b. 25 Nov 1837, m. 13 Jun 1861); died 8 May 1909 aged 69. Children Ann (1870–96), Jaan (1875–78), Jüri (1878–1934). Jürri d. 7 Aug 1867; second wife Rööt Muhul (b. 1822, m. 1852).
    Jürri's death and marriages in the registers Viljandi deaths.84 img 49–51 (1867); marriages;.503 (1852) [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] Research note: not found in the ranges read (see report).
  • LA-06The Wardja family further backOpen

    Status: Open

    Source Where Status Notes
    1816 and 1826 revisions SL-03, SL-04 Found Hans son of Matz came "aus Nº 7?" in 1816; the research reads the number as probably 71 (earlier read as 75; uncertain).
    1795 and 1811 revisions EAA.1865 To locate Matz's household.
    Marriage of Hans and Marri Before 1816 To locate Before the 1834 series; needs older books.
    Hans Wardja, aged 55, Wardja Matši, d. 6 Nov 1846 (dysentery) EAA.1290.1.60 file 42, deaths No. 317 Lead Possibly Kaddri's father (L-102).
    Hans, Matz's son, in 1811 EAA.1865.3.282/19 img 18, family No. 70 (SL-93) Found (probable) Research note: Matz, Tönis's son (b. about 1762), sons Mert and Hans (7 weeks old in 1795); grandfather Tönis (b. about 1714, d. 1801), farm read "Tari Johani". So Hans took over Wardja Matzi after 1813 and the farm name is not his family's. Check the 1816 "aus No 75/78" digit and the rest of the 1811 list.
    Mats Wardja's household 1864–77 EAA.1290.1.529 img 237 (SL-103) Found Kaddri's brother Mats (b. 1815), wife Ann (b. 1828, m. 1846), six children. Ann may be the godmother "Ann Wardjamets" of 1853.
    Where Hans, Matz's son, came from; Matz and Mert after 1811 1811 list EAA.1865.3.282/19 (img 2–3, 18–20, 22, 28–29, 33–39); 1816.283/5a img 2, 15; 1826.283/13 img 12, 15, 41; 1834.284/7 img 26; Neu-Woidoma changes list.283/4 (SL-141, SL-142) Found in part Research note: the 1816 remark is "aus Nº 7?" (71 preferred, = 1811 No. 70). The 1811 numbering suggests Nos. 1–77 are Neu-Woidoma (Karula), so Matz's family No. 70 was probably on Neu-Woidoma, not Alt-Woidoma (medium). Hans Wardja's household read in full for 1826 and 1834 (a fourth daughter b. about 1830). Matz and Mert not on the Wardja Matzi pages 1826/1834; no death year found. the research.
    Neu-Woidoma (Karula) revisions 1811–1834 for Matz, Mert and family 71 EAA.1865.3.282/19 img 4–18, 20, 39;.283/4 img 2–7;.283/13 img 130, 143 (SL-150 to SL-153) Partial Research note: no estate heading in 1811 (one list, 1226 men). The estates were divided in 1822; Alt-Woidoma's farms all had 1816 numbers ≥ 79, so family 70/71 was in the Neu-Woidoma block (medium-high). Neu-Woidoma 1826 and 1834 lists are not in Saaga. No Matz, Mert or Tönis in the changes list (img 2–7; img 8–22 not read line by line).
    Neu-Woidoma (Karula) 1850 and 1858 lists EAA.1865.3.288/3 (143 img);.293/2 To locate Research note: Mert (about 58 in 1850); family "Taar" (1850 img 3) may be the Tari farm.
  • LA-07Mari Tõllasepp’s birth and parentsAnswered

    Status: Answered (next generation open)

    Born 5 May 1867 according to the grave register. The museum article calls her "a farm girl". A Töllasep family (the sons of Tönis) lived at Alt-Woidoma in 1850–57, on the same estate as the Leokes.

    Source Where Status Notes
    Grave register L02 Found 5 May 1867.
    Viljandi baptisms, 1867 EAA.1290.1.84 (already loaded in the browser) To locate Look for Tõllasepp/Töllasep around May 1867. If she isn't there, try Paistu or Tarvastu.
    1858 revision, Töllasep households SL-13, SL-15 Found Ado, Jurri and Michel, sons of Tönis; Hans son of Tönis in 1850.
    Ado (Aadu) Tõllasepp's birth Viljandi baptisms To locate The museum article says he was Mari's "young" brother.
    Household books for the Tõllasepp family Viljandi household books, 1860s–1900s To locate
    Mari's father's name: "Mari Jaani t. Leoke" (Mari, Jaan's daughter) in the 1945 missing-persons notice Eesti NSV Teataja Lisa no. 2, 11 Dec 1945, p. 9, entries XV–XVIII (DIGAR 232025) Lead Probably Mari Tõllasepp herself, which would make her father Jaan. Test against the 1867 baptism.
    Mari's baptism, 1867 EAA.1290.1.84, image 16 (p. 14), births No. 178 (SL-21) Found the research, checked 19 Oct 2026: b. 23 Apr 1867 O.S., Rangilaski, Alt-Woidoma; parents Jaan Töllasep and Kaddri; godparents Marri Orrik, Marri Töllasep, Ado Orrik.
    Töllasep family in the 1850 revision EAA.1865.3.288/4, image 28 (p. 26), family 126 (SL-22) Found Tönis Töllasep (d. 1842) and sons Jahn (b. c. 1807, to the manor servants), Ado, Jurri, Tõnõ, Hans, Michel. Jaan = Jahn? Low–medium.
    Jaan and Kaddri's marriage (Kaddri's maiden name) EAA.1290.1.504 image 13, 1863 No. 42 (SL-33) Found the research, checked: 7 Apr 1863 O.S. Jaan (b. 22 May 1840, son of Jaan and Marri) and Kaddri Orrik (b. 14 Oct 1842, daughter of Ado and Rööt, Orrika Hinno). Refutes the "eldest son of Tönis" hypothesis.
    Ado Tõllasepp's baptism EAA.1290.1.86 image 19 (file 00020), No. 161 (SL-34) Found b. 27 Jun 1869 O.S., Kangilaski. Also an unnamed child, Mar 1866 (SL-35). No other Töllasep births 1864, 1865, 1868, 1870.
    Manor servants (Hofsleute) lists, 1858 revision EAA.1865.3.293/3 To locate Would show Jaan's household.
    Parents of Jaan Töllasep (Jaan and Marri) and of Kaddri Orrik (Ado and Rööt) in the revisions EAA.1865.3.288/4 (1850) and 293/3 (1858), Alt-Woidoma To locate Look for Kangilaski and Orrika Hinno households.
    Death of the 1866 child EAA.1290.1.82, deaths To locate
    Deaths of Jaan and Kaddri Tõllasepp EAA.1290.1.349 img 46, No. 85 (SL-55); EAA.1290.1.556 img 141, No. 294 (SL-56) Found the research, 20 Oct 2026: Jaan d. 11 Apr 1907 O.S., Kangilaski, aged 66, fever; Kaddri d. 26 Sep 1919, Võidu, aged 76, old age.
    Tõllasepp family plot kalmistud.ee, Viljandi Old Cemetery, Pauluse XI 146-8 Found Research note: Jaan (1840–1907), Kadri (Orik) (1842–1919), Jaan 1806–1863 and Mari (Peia) 1810–1880 (probably Jaan's parents, L-123, L-124), Tõnis 1871–1904 (L-128), Leili Maria 1908–1928.
    Mari's other siblings Sponsors 1888–1896 (SL-50 to SL-52); grave register Lead Tõnis (L-128, probable); Kadri and Anna Tõllasepp (U-012). Next: Viljandi births Aug 1871 (Tõnis) and Nov 1874 (Kadri).
    Death entries of Jaan the elder (Nov 1863) and Mari (Dec 1880) Viljandi deaths, EAA.1290.1.77 (1863) and.322? (1880) To locate Would confirm the grave-register link and give ages.
    Church-book entries for the grave-register people SL-84 to SL-88 Found Research note: Tõnis bapt. 29 Aug 1871 (parents Jaan and Kaddri), d. 12 Apr 1904; Kadri b. 27 Nov 1874 (daughter of Jaan and Kaddri; L-129, probably Kadri Kutsar 1874–1912); Jaan the elder d. 6 Nov 1863, aged 57, married; Mari d. 30 Dec 1880, widow, 70 (grave register 27 Dec). "Peia" is not in her death entry.
    A boy Jaan Tõllasep, Kangilask, d. Mar 1866 EAA.1290.1.82 file 00048, No. 61 (SL-89) Lead Age unclear (7 years or months?). Test against L-127 and the 1863–65 births.
    Her son Hans's biography, c. 1923 ERA.1608.1.570 image 2 (SL-111) Found Research note: "Ema: Mari Jaani t. Tõllasepp, Vana-Võidu": a third, independent record that her father was Jaan.
    Maiden name of Marri, wife of Jaan Töllasep the elder Viljandi marriages 1839, EAA.1290.1.53 img 34, No. 34 (SL-143); household books.518 img 100,.526 img 3 (SL-144, SL-145) Found Research note: married 21 May 1839 as "Peia Marri Peia"; born 1 Jul 1810, probably daughter of Johann Pei of Peia farm (b. 1777; medium-low). Children of Jaan and Marri: Jaan 1840, Kaddri 1842, Marri 1844, Tõnis 1849. Her 1810 baptism not searched.
  • LA-08Hans and Mari’s marriage, 1885Answered

    Status: Answered

    Source Where Status Notes
    Museum article L01 Found Married 1885; he was 32 (the article says 33).
    Viljandi marriages, 1885 EAA.1290.1.327 To locate Should name Mari's father and farm.
    Household book page of Hans's family L101–L113 Found Check whether the marriage date is noted.
    Marriage of Hans Löuke and Mari Töllasepp EAA.1290.1.327 image 41 (index No. 85); EAA.1290.1.504 image 211 (No. 109) (SL-24, SL-26) Found the research, checked: married 1 Dec 1885 O.S. (13 Dec N.S.); betrothed 7 Nov; banns 10/17/24 Nov. Hans schoolmaster at Alt-Woidoma (place word probably "Schule"); Mari of Kangilaski, aged 18; her parents Jaan and Kaddri both living, his both dead.
  • LA-09Hilda’s Meomüttel and Paltser ancestryPartly answered

    Status: Partly answered

    Source Where Status Notes
    Household books, Viljandi manor L114–L127 Found Three generations of Meomüttels.
    Jüri Meomüttel and Ann Paltser's marriage, 24 Dec 1885 EAA.1290.1.327 Found See the row below (SL-25, SL-27).
    Paltser household pages L120, L121 Found Not yet linked to Ann.
    Hilda's baptism, Sep/Oct 1896 EAA.1290.1.338 Found See below (SL-28).
    Jaak Meomüttel and Kaddi Rund's marriage, 1860 EAA.1290.1.74 Found See below (SL-29, SL-30).
    Jüri Meomüttel and Ann Paltser's marriage EAA.1290.1.327 image 42 (No. 90); EAA.1290.1.504 image 212 (No. 115) (SL-25, SL-27) Found 27 Dec 1885 O.S. (8 Jan 1886 N.S.), not 24 Dec (that was the betrothal, 12 Dec O.S.). Ann b. 24 May 1857, father Hans Paltser †, mother Mari.
    Hilda's baptism EAA.1290.1.338 image 29, No. 232 (SL-28) Found b. 20 Sep, bapt. 20 Oct 1896 O.S., Kivistik, Viljandi manor; sponsors include Hugo Paltser.
    Jakob Meomüttel and Kaddri Rund's marriage EAA.1290.1.83 image 27 (No. 60); EAA.1290.1.503 image 119 (No. 67) (SL-29, SL-30) Found 15 May 1860 O.S., Kudewitte. Jakob son of Jaan (mother Kaddri †), b. 24 Dec(?) 1841; Kaddri daughter of Jürri Rund † and Marri, b. 6 Mar(?) 1835. Not in.74, which is the Kõpu filial only.
    Baptisms of Jüri (1861), Ann (1857), Jakob (1841), Kaddri (1835) Viljandi metrical books To locate Next step back.
    Baptisms of Jüri (1861) and Ann (1857) EAA.1290.1.75 image 24, No. 351 (SL-36); EAA.1290.1.71 image 15, No. 155 (SL-40) Found the research. Jüri bapt. 19 Nov 1861; Ann ("Anno Paltzer") of Wirro Lauri, bapt. 2 Jun 1857.
    Jakob Meomüttel's baptism (24 Dec 1841) EAA.1290.1.55 (Dec 1841, entries 364–404) and.56 (Jan 1842, entries 1–34) [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] Continue in 1842 from entry 35; check the Kõpu filial.
    Kaddri Ruud's baptism (about 6 Mar 1835) EAA.1290.1.49, entries 101–165 [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] Continue with entries 1–100 and 166+, 1834, 1836. Surname usually Ruud (farm Rudi).
    Jakob and Kaddri's other children EAA.1290.1.80,.82,.86 (SL-37 to SL-39) Found Marri 1864, Kaddi 1866, Ann 1869, all at Rudi.
    Jakob Meomüttel's death and household entry EAA.1290.1.330 img 46, No. 140 (SL-57); household book EAA.1290.1.533 img 360 (SL-60) Found Research note: d. 12 Jun 1888 O.S., Kiwistik, aged 47. The household book gives his birth as 24 Jun 1841 (bapt. 29 Jun), which conflicts with the 24 Dec reading of the 1860 list and explains the failed December search.
    Jakob's baptism, June 1841 EAA.1290.1.55, late June 1841 To locate Settles June against December.
    Hans Paltser's death and household entry EAA.1290.1.326 img 43, No. 73 (SL-58); EAA.1290.1.533 img 447 (SL-61) Found d. 26 Mar 1884 O.S., aged 57; b. 27 Sep 1827. Wife Mari née Naar, b. 12 Mar 1823; daughters Mari 1854, Ann 1857, Liisa 1860, Kadri 1863–1897.
    Deaths of Kaddri Ruud and Mari Paltser Viljandi deaths 1899–1912 (.341–.349),.556; household book.557 To locate Both alive at the close of.533 (1899). Viljandi deaths 1898 (.340) searched: not there.
    Graves kalmistud.ee, Viljandi Old Cemetery Found Research note: Jüri jr 1893–1938 and Minna (Teng) 1888–1963 (II 26-6); Marri 1864–1943 and Ann Ott (Meomuttel) 1869–1904 (VII 104-5); Liisa Paltser 1860–1960 (VIII 113-9a). No grave for Jakob, Kaddri, Jüri sr or Ann (Paltser).
    Death notices for Jüri Meomüttel (1927) and Ann (1940) DIGAR newspapers To locate DIGAR is behind a "verify you are human" check: the compiler to pass it once, then an agent can search.
    Jakob Meomüttel's baptism EAA.1290.1.55 img 14, No. 214 (SL-80) Found Research note: b. 24 Jun, bapt. 29 Jun 1841, Kudewitte; parents Jaan Meok(müttel) and Kaddi. Settles June vs December.
    Mari Paltser née Naar's death EAA.1290.1.555 img 281, 1909 No. 37 (SL-81);.557 img 367 (SL-82) Found d. 19 Feb 1909 O.S., aged 85.
    Jüri Meomüttel's death entry EAA.1290.1.556 img 265, 1927 No. 163 (SL-83) Found d. 22 Jul 1927, aged 65, bricklayer.
    Kaddri Ruud's death Household books.533,.557 [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] She moved to "St Petri" (1898 or 6 Sep 1900); which congregation is unknown. Not in the Viljandi books searched.
    Ann Meomüttel's baptism re-read; Ann Ott's death SL-39; EAA.1290.1.555 img 201 Found / [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] Born 4 Mar 1869, bapt. 16 Mar (matches the grave register). Her 18 Feb 1904 death is not in the Viljandi deaths. Marriage to Ott not yet searched.
    Kaddri Ruud's move to "St Petri", 1898 Tartu Peetri household book EAA.3150.1.690 p. 245 (SL-146); index.746 img 75 Found Research note: Tartu St Peter's, from Apr 1898, with son Jaak; perhaps back to Viljandi country parish Oct 1900. Death not found (search Tartu Peetri deaths.753 and Viljandi.555/.556).
    Ann Meomüttel's marriage Household book.533 img 360 Found (note only) Research note: "cop. 1892 17/I(?) Jüri Ott". Marriage entry and her 1904 death not found (Viljandi.549 and Tartu Peetri.83 partly searched).
  • LA-10Hans’s childhood, schooling and confirmation, 1853–1872Partly answered

    Status: Partly answered

    Source Where Status Notes
    1857 revision: Hans aged 5 at Saare Annuse with godfather Michel Rambek SL-12 Found
    Museum article: Arumetsa and Viljandi parish schools, Karula peat works, 1872 certificate L01 Found
    Viljandi confirmation register, about 1868–1870 EAA.1290 To locate Confirmations are usually listed in the metrical book or a separate register.
    Teacher's certificate, 1872 Viljandi district school records To locate Low chance of survival.
    Confirmation EAA.1290.1.532 img 625 (SL-59) Found Research note: confirmed at Fellin 21 Feb 1871, aged 18 (household-book note, medium-high). No separate confirmation register exists for the 1860s–70s.
    Household books 1852–64 and 1864–77 EAA.1290.1.526 img 43 (SL-104);.529 img 238 (SL-102) Found With his father at Wardja Matsi; no guardian or move noted after 1867.
    School records (Viljandi parish school, Arumetsa) Saaga rural school documents; Vana-Võidu municipal archive EAA.3439 [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] / Lead No Viljandi school fond in Saaga. EAA.3439.1.145 (revision copies 1857–83) and.147 (1874 family list) only sampled.

Leoke family · Early 20th century, to about 1920

  • LB-01Births and baptisms of Hans and Mari’s sonsAnswered

    Status: Answered

    Source Where Status Notes
    Household book (birth dates and places) L101–L113 Found
    Jaan, 2 Nov 1886, at the schoolhouse EAA.1290.1.328 img 21, No. 258 (SL-49) Found Bapt. 14 Dec 1886; sponsors include Aadu Töllasepp and Hans Löuke.
    Hans, 5 Nov 1888 EAA.1290.1.330 img 22, No. 300 (SL-50) Found Bapt. 18 Dec 1888. No death annotation.
    Peter, 21 May 1892, at Suure-Kõpu EAA.1290.1.334 img 17, No. 130 (SL-51) Found b. 9 May 1892 O.S. = 21 May N.S., Alt-Woidoma-Luisenhütte; bapt. 14 Jun. Settles the date ("2 May" was a misreading).
    Elmar Oswald, 27 Jul 1896, at Suure-Kõpu EAA.1290.1.338 img 44, Köppo section No. 45 (SL-52) Found Bapt. 1 Sep 1896; Great Köppo Luisenhütte.
    Adolf Jakob, 22 Jul 1901 EAA.1290.1.343 img 24, No. 172 and img 54, deaths No. 145 (SL-53, SL-54) Found Home baptism 27 Jul; d. 28 Jul 1901 O.S., aged 5 days.
    Household book 1877–1899 EAA.1290.1.532 img 625 (SL-59) Found All five sons, with Adolf's death cross.
  • LB-02Hans’s teaching and business career: dates and placesPartly answered

    Status: Partly answered

    Source Where Status Notes
    Museum article and Sarapuu (2007) L01 Found The full Sarapuu article in Viljandi Muuseumi aastaraamat 2007 is To locate (DIGAR).
    Shop-move poster M001, M074 Found Which move it records is unknown.
    Viljandi address books and newspapers (Sakala, Viljandi Teataja) DIGAR To locate Advertisements give dates of moves.
  • LB-03Peter Leoke and Elizabeth, 1892–1924Partly answered

    Status: Partly answered (Elizabeth probably née Porfireff)

    Source Where Status Notes
    English and Estonian Wikipedia web Found
    1943 declaration of intention US02 Found Marriage 2 Jun 1921, Moscow.
    Estonian Foreign Ministry personnel file ERA.957 (Välisministeerium) To locate Check the ERA catalogue (AIS).
    Vironia fraternity album Korp! Vironia publications To locate
    War of Independence service record ERA.495 and others To locate Estonian War Museum and ERA.
    Elizabeth's maiden name Moscow 1921 marriage; US records To locate
    Tallinn address sheet TLA.1376.1.134, sheet 312836 (WEB-12) Found Research note: Peeter, Foreign Ministry, at Viru 22-3 from 16 Nov 1921 ("from Germany") to 30 Sep 1924, then to Sweden. Godfather to Pilvi, Jan 1922.
    Elizabeth's papers at the New York consulate, 1924–25 ERA.1608.1.808 img 2–8 (SL-113) Found Research note: "Elisabeth Leoke-Porfireff", b. Moscow 23 Jun 1893, actress and drama student; maiden name probably Porfireff (medium). Peter called himself unmarried on his own forms 1925–28.
  • LB-04Elmar Oswald’s education and service, 1913–1920Partly answered

    Status: Partly answered

    Source Where Status Notes
    Confirmed 1913 L101–L113 Found
    Business training ("Diplom-Kaufmann") School and commercial-college records (Riga, Tallinn?) To locate
    War of Independence service ERA personnel files To locate He married in January 1919, under martial law.
    Career outline: War of Independence; studies in Tartu and Tallinn; Bank of Estonia official (Tallinn, Viljandi) Album Academicum Universitatis Tartuensis 1918–1944, quoted in the WWII refugees database (2024.wwii-refugees.ee), the compiler 19 Oct 2026 (R25) Found "Kk-õp" probably means commercial studies; check the full Album Academicum entry (matriculation number, faculty, years).
    University of Tartu student file EAA.402 (University of Tartu) To locate The Album Academicum entry implies one exists.
  • LB-05Hans Leoke the younger, 1888–1945Partly answered

    Status: Partly answered (Largely answered (New York consul 1922–30)

    Source Where Status Notes
    Household books (communion 1921–25) L101–L113 Found
    Civil registers 1926–1940 (marriage?) ERA/EAA civil registration (perekonnaseisuaktid) in Saaga To locate
    Occupation, residence, marriage, children Address books, newspapers To locate
    "Lived abroad"; acting consul in the USA in the 1920s Sarapuu, Viljandi Muuseumi aastaraamat 2007, pp. 184–214, at p. 210 (PDF) Found Research confirmed the wording: "Neist viimane oli 1920. aastatel Eesti Vabariigi konsuli kt USA-s" ("the last of these" = grammatically Hans). No source is given and no other source names any Leoke as consul; it may be meant for Peeter.
    ISIK; Archives of Estonians Abroad; Soviet gazette 1945–57 (missing and dead declarations) the research notes [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] No Hans Leoke.
    Memoriaal.ee; WWII refugees database (wwii-refugees.ee); Volksbund; Arolsen — To locate The agent couldn't search these script-driven sites: the compiler by hand.
    Repression-victims database, search "Leoke" memoriaal.ee [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] 19 Oct 2026. Three entries, none ours: Georg-Eduard Lõoke (1891 Kavastu), Johannes Leoke (1900 Peningi), Kustav Lõoke (1885 Jõgeva).
    Baptism entry and household book (death annotations) SL-50; EAA.1290.1.532 p. 1332 [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] Research note: no death note.
    Grave registers kalmistud.ee; Find a Grave [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] Research note: no Hans Leoke b. 1888.
    Sarapuu's sources Jaan Leoke's notes on the family and his account of Hans's life, Estonian Literary Museum, EKLA f. 224, m. 22:10 and m. 20:15 Lead Probably the source of "1888–1945". Enquiry drafted in the research notes for the compiler to send.
    Russian army, 1914–17 ra.ee "Eestlased Esimeses maailmasõjas" To locate Sarapuu (p. 194): the younger sons "were taken into the World War".
    Tallinn address sheet TLA.1376.1.134, sheet 312802 (WEB-13) Found Research note: Hans Leoke b. 1888 at Viru 22-3, Tallinn, 10 Jul 1924 – 6 Apr 1925, then left for Sweden.
    Swedish records 1925–1945 Swedish population registers, Sveriges dödbok, Riksarkivet [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] in part Research note: not in the Stockholm Rotemannen register; Riksarkivet blocked by a human check. Lead now weak: Sweden was a stopover on the way to New York.
    His own biography, c. 1923 (Estonian Literary Society reply to the New York consulate) ERA.1608.1.570, images 2–3 (SL-111) Found Research note: born Vana-Võidu schoolhouse 5 Nov 1888 O.S.; mother "Mari Jaani t. Tõllasepp"; unmarried; schooled in Petrograd; War School; artillery volunteer sent to Vladivostok, fled to Japan; trading houses in the East Indies; back from Java 1919; to America, consulate staff from 1921; NYU 1921; named to carry out the consul's duties in summer 1922; pamphlet "Republic of Esthonia: Facts about Esthonia" (1923).
    Officer's service file 1917–1930 ERA.495.7.2663 (SL-112) Found the research, images 2, 4, 5, 34–37 read: photo; reserve ensign 1920; Tallinn police 7 May 1925: "in America, serves there as Estonian consul"; Consulate General, 1860 Broadway, New York, 6 Nov 1930. So Sweden in Apr 1925 was a stopover. Images 3, 6–33 not read.
    Consulate handover Köstner → Leoke, Jun–Jul 1922 ERA.1608.1.51 (SL-114) Lead Description only.
    Appointment as consul to New York, 1924–25 ERA.1578.1.150 (Washington legation) Lead Not digitised: reading room or a written request.
    Passports and visas of Hans, Peter and Elisabeth, 1924–29 ERA.1608.1.808 (SL-113) Lead Only image 2 seen. Highest priority.
    Tartu University student file "Leoke, Hans (matr. 261)" EAA.2100.1.7455 (SL-115) Lead Probably his.
    Stockholm Rotemannen register; svenskagravar.se; WWII refugees database; Find a Grave; US Death Master File the research notes [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] 20 Oct 2026. Riksarkivet census and death index blocked by a human check (not passed).
    Passport and visa file; rest of the officer's file; consulate files; Tartu student file ERA.1608.1.808, ERA.495.7.2663, ERA.1608.1.570, ERA.1608.1.51, EAA.2100.1.7455 Found Research note: acting consul from 22 Jun 1922 to at least Jun 1924; passport No. 10 (6 May 1924); back to New York on S/S Stockholm 20 Apr 1925; from 1926 not consul; LaBelle, Florida in 1926; 106 W. 120 St in 1927; last trace 3 Nov 1930. Photograph as an ensign (1920) in the Tartu file (SL-147).
  • LB-06Jaan Leoke: Leipzig, the archive library and heirsOpen

    Status: Open

    Source Where Status Notes
    Family memory of Leipzig Sarapuu 2007, pp. 190–191; Hans's letter to Jaan, 19 Jun 1913 (EKLA f. 224, m. 18:6) Found Hans planned in 1913 to send Jaan to Leipzig; the war ended the plan. Whether Jaan went is not stated.
    Sale of the archive library; heir "J. Keng" Sarapuu 2007, pp. 209–210; Jaan's letter to the Ministry of Education, 1929 (EKLA f. 224, m. 43:24) Found in part Sold in parts; "the Leokes' heir J. Keng" finally liquidated it. Who J. Keng was is still open: try the 1936 Viljandi business directory (DIGAR) and EKLA f. 224.
    Lending library sold, 1933 EKLA f. 224, m. 92:10 (sale agreement, Elmar Leoke and Taavet Mutsu) Lead Elmar and Jaan owned it after 1919 (Sarapuu p. 206).
    Jaan's marriage (if any) Viljandi registers To locate Hugo Leoke's father was "Johannes" (LE-07).
  • LB-07Identifying people in the museum photographsOpen

    Status: Open

    Source Where Status Notes
    1910 family photo, VMF 176:92: Jaan and Hans, left or right? IL:family_1910 Found Ask the museum.
    1873 schoolmasters photo: is Hans in it? M024 Found Ask the museum.

Leoke family · Pilvi’s and Elmar’s early lives, about 1919–1940

  • LC-01Virve’s birth and baptism, Tallinn 1919–20Answered

    Status: Answered

    Source Where Status Notes
    Household book: born 7 Dec 1919 Tallinn, baptized 18 Jan 1920 IL:leoke_household_1919 Found
    Tallinn baptism register, 1920 Tallinn congregations' 1920 baptism registers To locate The congregation is not known.
    The Tallinn images in Family\Tallinn (TLA.1359.2.44,.46,.64) L409–L412 [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] the research, 19 Oct 2026: membership-book entries for three other Leoke families; no Elmar Oswald, Hilda, Virve or Pilvi.
    Tallinn identity-card register, 1939 TLA.186.1.881 image 46 (SL-41) Found Virve's first ID card, 17 Feb 1939; it cites Viljandi family register vol. 7 p. 16 for her (confirms the page). No baptism details.
    Virve's baptism TLA.1358.2.59 img 23, Tallinn Jaani III, 1920 No. 4 (SL-107) Found Research note: b. 7 Dec 1919, bapt. 12 Jan 1920 at home (household book: 18 Jan); parents still registered in Viljandi; six sponsors.
  • LC-02Pilvi’s baptism, Tartu 1922, and her godparentsAnswered

    Status: Answered

    Source Where Status Notes
    Household book: baptized 12 Jan 1922, Tartu St Paul's no. 208 IL:leoke_household_1919 Found
    Tartu St Paul's (Pauluse) baptisms, 1922 EAA (Tartu Pauluse fond) in Saaga To locate Entry no. 208 should name the godparents and the parents' Tartu address.
    Pilvi's baptism EAA.5357.1.101 img 258, Tartu Pauluse 1922 No. 5 (SL-106) Found Research note: b. 27 Nov 1921, bapt. 12 Jan 1922 in church by Pastor Habicht; sponsors Marta Paris, Minni Meomüttli (probably aunt Minna), Peeter Leoke (uncle). "No. 208" in the household book is not the register number.
  • LC-03Where the family lived, 1919–1940, and why Tartu and TallinnPartly answered

    Status: Partly answered

    Source Where Status Notes
    Household book: communion in Viljandi 1921–25; address Tartu 11 L101–L113 Found The penciled communion years cover Peter too, who was abroad, so treat them with care (worksheet S1).
    Arolsen card: last address Baltischportstraße 42, Tallinn L201, L204 Found
    Tallinn and Tartu address books (aadressraamatud) DIGAR / National Library To locate
    Tallinn congregation household books, 1926–1944 TLA To locate
    Family memory — Ask the family Which years did Pilvi remember in Viljandi? (worksheet F2, S1)
    Where they lived: Tallinn from 1935 (AS Eesti Kunstsarve Tehased); later Räpina (paper mill, horticultural school) Album Academicum Universitatis Tartuensis 1918–1944, quoted in the WWII refugees database (2024.wwii-refugees.ee), the compiler 19 Oct 2026 (R25) Found Places Pilvi's teens partly in Räpina, not only Tallinn.
    Family registers: Kõo vald vol. 3 pp. 331–334; Viljandi town vol. 7 pp. 14–17 (Elmar, Hilda, [Virve?], Pilvi) Estonian National Archives (family registers, 1926–1940s) To locate Not in Saaga; ask the National Archives. The refugees database cites them; the pages themselves should give addresses and moves. Virve is probably on p. 333 / p. 16.
    Viljandi town residents' list 1936 (ERA.3077.1.629) SL-32 [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] Only Jaan Leoke (Tartu 11, since 1920). Elmar Oswald, Hilda and the girls were not Viljandi residents in 1936, which fits Tallinn from 1935.
    Tallinn identity cards (TLA.186); Tallinn address bureau (TLA.1376); Viljandi street lists 1937–41 (ERA.3077.1.2029,.2126,.2136) Saaga Lead From the research; not opened.
    Tallinn identity-card registers and alphabets 1935–39 (TLA.186.1.881,.939–.942) SL-41, SL-42 Partial Virve and Pilvi got Tallinn ID cards on 17 Feb 1939, so they were in Tallinn then. Elmar and Hilda are not in the 1935–39 alphabets; pre-1935 district alphabets only partly searched. No house book for Paldiski mnt. 42.
    Tallinn address sheets, 1921–1926 TLA.1376.1.134 (WEB-11 to WEB-14) Found The brothers used Viru 22-3 in turn: Peeter 1921–24, Hans 1924–25, Elmar (student) Jan–Feb 1925, Jaan 1925–26. No sheets for Hilda, Virve or Pilvi. Tartu Pauluse household book: no entry for Elmar's family.
  • LC-04The 1933 divorce and what followedOpen

    Status: Open

    Source Where Status Notes
    Household-book note: marriage dissolved by the Tallinn–Haapsalu district court, 10 May 1933 L101–L113 Found
    Court file Tallinn–Haapsalu rahukogu, ERA To locate
    Remarriage, 1933–1944 Tallinn civil registers 1926–40 To locate In 1944 they registered in Germany as a married couple.
    Divorce, 10 May 1933 Saaga court records [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] The Republic-era Tallinn–Haapsalu court is not in Saaga. Enquiry drafted in the research notes.
  • LC-05Pilvi’s and Virve’s schooling and workOpen

    Status: Open

    Source Where Status Notes
    Viljandi girls' gymnasium (Hariduse 2) School archives and yearbooks; Viljandi Museum To locate
    Pilvi's dates at school and the name she used — Ask the family Worksheet F2.
    Virve's bookkeeping training; Pilvi's typing work in Tallinn Arolsen cards L204, L207 Found Employers not yet known.

Leoke family · The Second World War, 1940–1945

  • LD-01The Leokes in Tallinn, 1940–1944Open

    Status: Open

    Source Where Status Notes
    1941–44 residence registrations Tallinn City Archives (TLA) To locate
    Employment (Pilvi typist, Virve bookkeeper, Elmar economist) Arolsen cards Found Employers unknown.
    Last Tallinn address, Sep 1944: Paldiski mnt. 42 Eesti NSV Teataja Lisa no. 2, 11 Dec 1945, p. 9, entries XV–XVIII (DIGAR 232025) Found Soviet declaration that Elmar Oswald, Hilda, Virve and Pilvi had been missing since 22 Sep 1944; certificates issued 12 Oct 1945 to "Mari Jaani t. Leoke".
    1940–1944: Räpina? (deputy director and chief accountant of the Räpina paper mill before leaving in 1944) Album Academicum Universitatis Tartuensis 1918–1944, quoted in the WWII refugees database (2024.wwii-refugees.ee), the compiler 19 Oct 2026 (R25) Lead The Soviet 1945 notice gives the last address as Tallinn, Paldiski mnt. 42. Dates of the Räpina years unclear.
  • LD-02The voyage out, September 1944Partly answered

    Status: Partly answered

    Source Where Status Notes
    Arrival at Gotenhafen 22 Sep 1944 L204 Found
    Meie Elu 1987 on the Wartheland IL:meie_elu_1987 Found
    Lists of ships reaching Gotenhafen on 22 Sep (Hansa, Minden, Wartheland) Hintzer and others Found So the ship is not proven (worksheet F1).
    Arolsen CM/1 forms; US A-files (where they left from) Arolsen; USCIS/NARA To locate
    Passenger or evacuation lists Bundesarchiv; Estonian Self-Administration records To locate Probably none survive.
    Ships arriving at Gotenhafen on 22 Sep 1944 Historisches Marinearchiv voyage database (citing the Gotenhafen naval war diary); Kallas in Kultuur ja Elu; Meie Elu 1987; Schwoerer Found Research note: Wartheland (about 3,500 refugees, almost all civilians, left Tallinn 20 Sep), Minden (about 1,500, mixed with troops; arrived 15:50), Hansa (mostly soldiers and wounded). Moltkefels, Lappland, Nordenham and Messina went to Danzig; Moero was sunk; Malaga arrived 24 Sep. Ranking (judgement): Wartheland about 50%, Minden about 30%, Hansa 5–10%.
    Passenger lists; WWII refugees database; Tallinn address sheets 1944 Online [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] No list names the Leokes; the refugees database has no ship data for them; no 1944 Tallinn address sheets for the family.
    Arolsen CM/1 forms, DP Commission and visa files, A-files Arolsen; NARA; USCIS To locate Would name the ship or port. Draft enquiries to Arolsen and to the refugees-database team in the research notes (not sent).
  • LD-03Virve’s death and grave, 1945Partly answered

    Status: Partly answered

    Working conclusion (19 Oct 2026): Virve was very probably killed when low-flying Allied aircraft machine-gunned a crowded passenger train near Mörlbach on 26 Feb 1945. The family remembers that she died in an attack on a train, and local accounts describe exactly such an attack at Mörlbach that day. No source yet names her among the victims.

    Source Where Status Notes
    Death certificate and death lists L301–L305 Found Mörlbach, 26 Feb 1945, "killed in an air raid".
    Family memory: killed in an attack on a train the compiler, 19 Oct 2026 Found Confirmed with family.
    Local accounts of the train attack Königshofen 1945, ed. M. Weber (BoD, 2020): L306 (epub), L307 (extracts with translation) Found Three accounts (H. Greifenstein; Berta Bauernfeind; editor's note quoting Pastor Dannhaimer of Mörlbach): train strafed for almost half an hour; soldiers, Soviet POWs and civilians aboard; one carriage, two barns and a house annex set on fire; many dead and wounded; Pastor Hermann Bauernfeind of Königshofen killed. No Estonians named.
    368th Fighter Group mission reports, Feb 1945 368thfightergroup.com PDF, p. 90, Oprep A No. 363 (WEB-09) [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] T-17c, 20 Oct 2026: "This group did not execute any missions" on 26 Feb 1945. The 368th is ruled out. Remaining XIX TAC candidates: 358th, 362nd, 371st, 373rd FGs and the 10th Photo Reconnaissance Group.
    Which unit attacked USAAF Combat Chronology (Family\US Records\GOVPUB-D301 PDF, p. 633), 2/26/45, Ninth AF: "Weather limits ftr operations to armed rcn flights in Aschaffenburg-Wurzburg area by XIX TAC." Partial Checked 19 Oct 2026. The only Allied fighter activity recorded for the area that day, so XIX Tactical Air Command is the likely attacker (inference). The group is not named: try AFHRA mission reports or XIX TAC fighter-group histories (354th, 358th, 362nd, 365th, 367th, 368th, 371st, 405th, 406th FGs).
    Mörlbach burial register 1945 (victims of 26 Feb) Archion: Mörlbach "Trauungen; Bestattungen 1889–2022" (ID 333051) and alphabetical burial index (ID 333056) To locate Digitised. A 1-month Archion pass costs €19.90 and covers this and the Windsheim register: the compiler's decision.
    Any report by Pastor Dannhaimer Landeskirchliches Archiv Nürnberg (parish reports 1945); local history of Gallmersgarten / Steinach Lead
    Mörlbach civil death register: others killed that day Gallmersgarten registry office To locate
    Further burial registers covering 1945 Archion: Steinach a.d. Ens Bestattungen 1927–2010 (ID 333017); Burgbernheim Bestattungen (ID 333350) To locate T-17b. Covered by the same Archion pass.
    Windsheim burial register, 1934–45 Archion: Bad Windsheim "Bestattungen 1934–1945" (ID 205067) To locate Digitised; same €19.90 pass. Should give the burial date and perhaps the cause of death.
    Grave 110a: does it survive? Bad Windsheim cemetery (Lutheran parish; old sections A–G); Volksbund grave search To locate Bilingual letter to the cemetery office drafted in the research notes (address to fill in). Volksbund search needs a browser: the compiler.
    "Steinbach" or Steinach? German Wikipedia: Gallmersgarten, Mörlbach, Steinach Found No Steinbach in the municipality. Almost certainly Steinach b. Rothenburg, the junction for the Treuchtlingen–Würzburg line and the branch to Bad Windsheim.
    Volksbund war-graves search, surname Leoke volksbund.de Gräbersuche [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] 19 Oct 2026: no hit (the site offered its search-request form). Civilian foreign dead may not be indexed; the cemetery-office letter remains the route.
    Other XIX TAC groups, 26 Feb 1945 Online search [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] No online mission reports for the 354th, 358th, 362nd, 371st, 373rd FGs or 10th PRG. AFHRA microfilm: XIX TAC daily intelligence summaries reel B5937 frames 1742–1878; morning summaries B5907/B5907A; 100th Fighter Wing reel C0104 frames 1591–1849; 373rd FG reel B0349 frames 2214–2283.
    SHAEF Communiqué No. 325, 27 Feb 1945 eucmh.com transcription Found "a troop train near Würzburg" attacked by fighter-bombers on 26 Feb. Consistent but not specific (Würzburg is about 45 km away); also lists First TAF targets, so XII TAC groups (27th, 50th, 86th FGs) can't be excluded. Check against the NARA original before citing.
  • LD-04Hans the younger’s death, 1945Open

    Status: Open

    Source Where Status Notes
    Repression databases (Memento, Okupatsioonide repressiivpoliitika uurimise riiklik komisjon), Estonian War Museum lists web To locate Died in a Soviet camp? In the army?
    Volksbund grave search (if he died in German service) web To locate
    Viljandi household book after 1940 EAA.1290 household books To locate
    Death date 24 Jun 1945 ra.ee WWI database record 74346, sourced only to Geni Lead Research note: no place, no source; birth date there (19 Nov) is wrong, so treat with care. the compiler can open the Geni page in a normal browser to see its source.
    New York City death index / certificates 1945 NYC Municipal Archives; FamilySearch "New York City Municipal Deaths"; Reclaim the Records To locate Now the likeliest place. Spellings: Leoke, Leocke, Looke, Lõoke, Loeke; Hans, John, Johannes. Draft letter in the research notes. the research.
    1940 US census, New York — To locate the research.
    Jaan Leoke's notes on Hans EKLA f. 224, m. 20:15 Lead Probably Sarapuu's source for 1945.
    New York City deaths 1862–1948 (free index) German Genealogy Group [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] Research note: all boroughs, exact, wildcard and soundex; every L200 and every "Hans" in 1945 checked. He may have died outside New York City.
    Ellis Island manifest, S/S Stockholm 20 Apr 1925; Florida 1925–26; Vaba Eesti Sõna obituaries of Peter — To locate the research leads.
  • LD-05Mari and Jaan in Soviet Viljandi, 1944–1959Partly answered

    Status: Partly answered

    Source Where Status Notes
    Book-stall photograph, about 1950 MU06 Found
    Grave register (deaths 1954, 1959) L02 Found
    Contact with the family in America — Ask the family Worksheet S8.

Leoke family · Refugee years and America, 1944 onward

  • LE-02Pilvi’s emigration, 1947Answered

    Status: Answered (details open)

    Source Where Status Notes
    Pan Am manifest, 30 Nov–2 Dec 1947 US10 Found Line 17. US address "487 S. [B/H]ackley Drive, Wichita, Kansas"; annotated that lawful permanent residence was created later under Sec. 4 of the DP Act ([number withheld]).
    Windsheim departure list L208 Found
    Sponsor and visa basis A-file [number withheld] To locate Why Wichita? Who was at that address?
    Whether anyone traveled with her — Ask the family Worksheet S17.
  • LE-03Elmar Oswald and Hilda in America; their deathsPartly answered

    Status: Partly answered

    Source Where Status Notes
    Manifest, General W. M. Black, 1948 US05 Found Manifest no. 16, lines 2–3. (Earlier cited as US09; the descriptions were swapped.)
    Death records ("1972" for Elmar is unverified) California Death Index; SSDI; FamilySearch To locate
    Graves Forest Lawn and others; Find a Grave To locate
    Obituaries Estonian exile newspapers (Vaba Eestlane, Meie Elu, Vaba Eesti Sõna) via DIGAR; Los Angeles Times To locate
    "[number withheld] Chicago 7-1-55" note US09, p. 182 (not L212) Found Pencilled between Hilda's line and Roman Lenczyckj's; Lenczyckj was going to Chicago. Whose A-number it is is unproven.
    Family memory of Elmar's death — Ask the family Worksheet S13.
    Elmar Oswald's death: Feb 1972, California sortedbyname.com (indexes of the SSA Death Master File, Numident, BIRLS and Clark County marriages) Found the research, checked. An Ancestry public tree gives 26 Feb 1972, Los Angeles: confirm in the California Death Index.
    Hilda's death: 30 Jun 1988, residence ZIP 91306 (Winnetka/Canoga Park, LA); SS claim 21 Dec 1959 sortedbyname.com (indexes of the SSA Death Master File, Numident, BIRLS and Clark County marriages) Found the research, checked. Born 2 Oct 1896, which agrees with 20 Sep 1896 O.S.
    Elmar Oswald's naturalization California federal naturalization records (indexed on Ancestry) Lead
    Elmar Oswald: died 26 Feb 1972, Los Angeles; 1951 in Los Angeles; 1956–65 assistant head of the budget section, Sierra Army Depot, Herlong; retired 1965 Album Academicum Universitatis Tartuensis 1918–1944, quoted in the WWII refugees database (2024.wwii-refugees.ee), the compiler 19 Oct 2026 (R25) Found Confirms the death date.
    Exile register cards (ERA.4942.4): Elmar, Hilda, Pilvi L214–L216 Found Windsheim, Oberntiefer(?) Str. 562; Munich Warner-Kaserne Apr 1948; Los Angeles 1950 ("844 N. Normandie(?)", low).
    1950 census 1950 census, LA ED 66-1226 sheets 12–13 (WEB-01, WEB-02) Found Elmar O. (53, janitor at a savings bank) and Hilda (53, keeping house) at Peter's, 138 Witmer St.
    Find a Grave memorials (Peter, Elmar Oswald, Hilda) findagrave.com To locate Bot check blocks the compiler: the compiler by hand.
  • LE-04Peter Leoke in AmericaPartly answered

    Status: Partly answered

    Source Where Status Notes
    1943 declaration of intention US02 Found Carpenter; entered at Blaine by car from Vancouver, 26 Mar 1943; last foreign residence Tallinn. Why Tallinn, if he was in North America from 1924?
    Naturalization petition US District Court, Los Angeles (NARA Riverside) To locate
    1925 Ameerika Eestlane; New York Estonian clubs DIGAR; Wikipedia Found
    1930, 1940 and 1950 US censuses FamilySearch / NARA To locate
    Death 22 Apr 1973; Forest Lawn grave Find a Grave; California Death Index To locate
    Death Master File: born 21 May 1892, died Apr 1973; SSN issued in New York sortedbyname.com (indexes of the SSA Death Master File, Numident, BIRLS and Clark County marriages) Found the research.
    1950 census 1950 census, LA ED 66-1226 sheets 12–13 (WEB-01, WEB-02) Found Peter, 57, head, married, naturalized, not working; Elizabeth not in the household.
  • LE-05US immigration and naturalization filesOpen

    Status: Open

    Source Where Status Notes
    A-files: Pilvi [number withheld], Elmar Koik [number withheld], and [number withheld] (Hilda's or Roman Lenczyckj's; see LE-03) NARA (Kansas City) catalogue; otherwise a USCIS Genealogy Program request To locate Each must be checked separately (worksheet S9).
    Elmar Oswald's A-number US05, US09, L212 To locate Not on any of them (US05 gives only travel document I-697573).
    Naturalization petitions US District Court, Los Angeles To locate
    NARA catalogue search: Leoke, Koik, Pilvi, and [number withheld] / [number withheld] / [number withheld] catalog.archives.gov [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] 19 Oct 2026: no A-file or naturalization entry for our people. Request A-files from NARA Kansas City or the USCIS Genealogy Program: the compiler.
  • LE-06Pilvi and Elmar’s marriage and life togetherPartly answered

    Status: Partly answered

    Source Where Status Notes
    1952 declarations of intention (married 22 Dec 1951, Las Vegas) US03, US04 Found
    Marriage record Clark County Recorder, Nevada (online index) To locate
    How they met — Ask the family
    Clark County marriage certificate, recorded 28 Dec 1951 sortedbyname.com (indexes of the SSA Death Master File, Numident, BIRLS and Clark County marriages) Found The US03/US04 declarations give 22 Dec 1951. Probably ceremony 22 Dec, recorded 28 Dec; the certificate itself would settle it.
    Pilvi in 1950 1950 census, LA ED 66-1226 sheets 12–13 (WEB-01, WEB-02) Found Single, 28, group-insurance clerk and typist at a porcelain manufacturer, living with her parents at Peter's.
  • LE-07Hugo Leoke and other exile Leokes: related?Open

    Status: Open (Probably answered)

    Source Where Status Notes
    Hugo's DP card (b. Tallinn 1929, father Johannes, mother Wilhelmine) L501–L503 Found
    Tallinn baptisms, 1929 TLA To locate Who was Johannes? Jaan Leoke (L-012)?
    Tallinn membership book: Johannes Leoke, son of Gottlieb (U-008) L411 [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] Research note: wife Emilie Rosalie née Bergmann; the child born in Tallinn in July 1929 was a daughter. Not Hugo's father on present evidence, and not Jaan (L-012).

    KOIK

    | Hugo Leoke: born 29 Jun 1929 Tallinn; US Army 6 Jul 1949 – 30 Apr 1953; died 31 Jul 1984; SSN issued in New York | sortedbyname.com (indexes of the SSA Death Master File, Numident, BIRLS and Clark County marriages) | Found | the research, checked. Parents "unknown" in Numident. | | Johannes Leoke, b. 18 Mar 1900 Peningi (Harjumaa), son of Hinrik and Mari; Tallinn worker, Kungla 53; arrested 1949; d. 1966 | memoriaal.ee | Lead | A Tallinn Johannes of the right age to be Hugo's father (b. 1929 Tallinn). One identifier only; check the Tallinn family register (Tallinn vol. 68, p. 51) for a wife Wilhelmine and a son Hugo. | | Hugo's family-register entry: father Johannes b. 1900, mother Vilhelmine b. 1905 (Tallinn vol. 22 p. 561) | WWII refugees database (2024.wwii-refugees.ee), the compiler 19 Oct 2026 (R26) | Found | | | Johannes Leoke, b. 18 Mar 1900 Peningi, son of Hinrik (U-010) | memoriaal.ee | Found | Very probably Hugo's father, so Hugo is not Hans's grandson. Confirm via Tallinn register vol. 68 p. 51. | | Heinz (Hans) Leoke, b. 22 May 1891 Tallinn, US merchant officer (U-011) | NARA NAID 230106752, 61751317 (WEB-03, WEB-04) | Found | Probably unrelated (born Tallinn). |

Koik family · 19th century or earlier

  • KA-01Märt and Mari Koik of Vana-KaristePartly answered

    Status: Partly answered (Largely answered (marriage and deaths found)

    Source Where Status Notes
    Paistu household books (named as Peeter's parents) K301–K309 Found
    Vana-Kariste (Alt-Karrishof) soul revisions, 1834, 1850 and 1858 EAA.1865 (Pärnu county, Halliste parish) To locate Ages, household, and Peeter's siblings.
    Halliste household books, Vana-Kariste K12, K13 Found
    Named at Peeter's marriage, 1875 EAA.1286.1.358 img 49 (SL-63) Found "Märt, Mari".
    Their deaths Halliste deaths EAA.1275.1.542 img 20 (1874 No. 95) and img 103 (1885 No. 117) (SL-121, SL-122) Found Research note: Märt d. 26 May 1874 at Euseküll, aged 53; Mari d. 31 Jul 1885 at Carlsberg, aged 65½. Euseküll deaths were entered in the Halliste register; the research had passed over No. 117.
    Vana-Kariste revisions 1826, 1834, 1850, 1858 EAA.1865.3.171/11,.172/4,.173/2,.174/4 (SL-94 to SL-99) Found Research note: Märt (b. about 1822) was the youngest of four sons of Hans Koik (b. about 1780, d. 1826–34) and Kert, Endrik's daughter (b. about 1781), at farm Kama Peter (1826, 1834); at Sönni 1850; at Kordimatsi 1858 with his brother Peter's family. Surname already "Koik" in 1826.
    1816 and 1811 revisions EAA.1865.3.171/4 (1811) [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] No 1816 list for Vana-Kariste in Saaga; 1811 (no surnames) only sampled.
    Märt and Mari's marriage Halliste marriages EAA.1275.1.530 img 29, 1845 No. 12 (SL-120) Found Research note: 22 Mar 1845 O.S.; Marri Riig, 26, born at Lobbine; Märt 24; his parents Hans and Kert dead. Mari's parents not yet noted (re-read).
    Hans Koik's death, Aug 1826 – Mar 1834 Pre-1834 Alt-Karrishof death lists, EAA.1275.2.7 images 300–306 To locate Research note: image 301 not there; image 302 has a "Koiksare Hanso … Lena" (unchecked); images 302 (lower half) to 306 to read. the research.
    Hans Koik's death Halliste 1834, EAA.1275.1.102 img 45, deaths No. 46 (SL-157) Found Research note: "Altkarris, Hans Koik, Wirths Vater", d. 25 Jan 1834 O.S., buried 30 Jan, aged 58 (about 54 by the revisions), Hitzfieber. Not in the pre-1834 Alt-Karrishof burial lists (EAA.1275.2.7 viewer 299–306).
    Marri Riig's parents and family 1845 marriage (SL-120); revisions 1826 (SL-161), 1834 (SL-162), 1850 (SL-163, SL-164); release list 1826 (SL-160) Found Research note: father Peter Riig, Jaak's son (b. about 1797), mother Els (b. about 1800, dead by 1845); brothers Jaan, Endrik, Märt, Peter. The family lived at Leppiko, not Lobbine (Lobbine is only her birthplace as written in 1845).
    Marri's baptism (about 1818/19); her mother's death (1834–45); Peter Riig's death and second marriage Halliste registers To locate the research.
  • KA-02Peeter Koik and Els: births, marriage and deathsAnswered

    Status: Answered (Els's parents and grandfather found)

    Source Where Status Notes
    Paistu household books K301–K309 Found Els b. 27 Sep 1844 at Õisu (wrong: see her baptism); married 1875 in Paistu.
    Paistu marriages, 1875 EAA.1286.1.358 img 49, No. 17 (SL-63); index.298 img 28 (SL-64) Found Research note: 16 Mar 1875 O.S. Peter Koik, bachelor, 33, of Alt-Karrishof, son of Märt and Mari; Els Rantsus, of Euseküll Kildi, b. 24 Sep 1844, daughter of Henn and An.
    Els's baptism EAA.1286.1.75 img 25, No. 285 (SL-65) Found b. 24 Sep, bapt. 1 Oct 1844 O.S., Euseküll; parents Henn and An Rantsus.
    Peeter's baptism, Halliste EAA.1275.1.109/.110 (1841–42) and 1849 To locate His age is in conflict: 33 at marriage (b. c. 1841/42), 46 10/12 at death (b. c. Mar 1849). Halliste births 1841 entries 79–126 scanned at low resolution only.
    Peeter's death EAA.1275.1.565 img 60, Jan 1896 No. 1 (SL-69) Found the research, checked: 6 Jan 1896 O.S., lodger at Ilbaku, Alt-Karrishof, aged 46 10/12, consumption; buried 9 Jan.
    Els's death (after 1927) Karksi household book to 1932 (K01): no note; Estonian civil death registers 1926–1940; DIGAR death notices To locate Beyond the digitised church books. Karksi cemetery is not on kalmistud.ee.
    Graves kalmistud.ee [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] Research note: no Peeter or Els Koik of these dates at Halliste, Paistu, Helme, Tarvastu, Saarde or Viljandi.
    Peeter's birth EAA.1275.1.169 img 18 (SL-79) Found the research, checked: b. 7 Feb 1849, Sönni, Vana-Kariste. Fits his age at death; the "33" at marriage is an error.
    Els's death EAA.1276.1.340 img 74, Karksi deaths 1926 No. 7 (SL-108) Found Research note: d. 9 Mar 1926 at Karksi manor, aged 81 5/12; buried Karksi new cemetery.
    Els's parents in the Euseküll soul revisions 1834, 1850, 1858 EAA.1865.5.106 img 6, 22; EAA.1865.3.213/7 img 37; EAA.1865.3.216/4 img 38 (SL-124 to SL-127) Found Research note: Henn Rantsus, Margus's son (b. about 1813), at Kurwitze (1850) and Kümmo (1858); wife Ann (b. about 1822); children Els, Johan (about 1848), Reet (about 1852), Marri (about 1855). Henn's father Margus, Peter's son (b. about 1753), at Nachsepp, dead by 1834.
    Henn and Ann's marriage, Paistu about 1840–44 (Ann's maiden name) Paistu marriages To locate Not yet searched.
    Henn Rantsus and Ann's marriage Paistu 1843 marriages EAA.1286.1.74 img 37–38 (all 79 entries) [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] Research note: no Rantsus. 1841 (.72), 1842 (.73), 1844 (.75), 1845 (.76) not searched.
    Henn Rantsus and Ann's marriage Paistu 1841, EAA.1286.1.72 img 46, No. 15 (SL-174) Found Research note: April 1841, "Henn Rantsus mit M. An Arrak": Ann probably née Arrak (medium; check the banns and Haupt-Register).
  • KA-03Juhan’s baptism, 1881, and his brothersPartly answered

    Status: Partly answered (Largely answered (five sons)

    Source Where Status Notes
    Halliste births, August–September 1881 K15–K19 [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] He wasn't born in Halliste.
    Paistu baptisms, 1881 (baptized 13 Sep) EAA.1286.1.304 img 15, No. 162 (SL-67) Found Research note: b. 19 Aug, bapt. 13 Sep 1881. Godparents still to transcribe.
    Jaak's baptism, 1884 EAA.1286.1.307 img 8, No. 93 (SL-68) Found b. 17 Mar 1884.
    Peeter jr's baptism EAA.1286.1.298 img 4, births 1875 No. 29 (SL-116) Found Research note: b. 16 Jan, bapt. 23 Jan 1875 as Peter Rantsus, illegitimate son of Els, two months before the marriage.
    A brother Hans, b. 2 Feb 1877 EAA.1286.1.300 img 3, births 1877 No. 22 (SL-117) Found Research note: new son (K-025), legitimate; godfather Knecht Hans Koik. The household book's "2 Feb 77" beside Märt is Hans's date.
    Märt jr's baptism (probably 12 Apr 1878) Paistu births 1878, EAA.1286.1.301 [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] in part Research note: images 4–15 (entries 26–140) not there; images 2–3 and 16–25 still to read.
    Deaths of Hans (1877) or Märt in Paistu Paistu deaths 1877 and 1878 [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] Research note: whole years read; no Koik child.
    Other children 1879–1887; Paistu personal books ("Koik" at inv. 2188 p. 294; 2189 pp. 49, 381–382; 2190 p. 174; 2191 pp. 67–68, 339) Paistu births and deaths 1879–87; index EAA.1286.1.386 To locate the research lead. the research.
    Brothers Peeter, Märt and Jaak: later lives Halliste household books To locate
    Märt jr's baptism, 1878 Paistu births 1878, EAA.1286.1.301 img 25, No. 240 (SL-165) Found Research note: b. 12 Apr 1878, Euseküll Hof, a late entry at the end of the year. Baptism day read 21 Apr (register) vs 29 Apr (household book).
    Paistu household book, Peter Koik's family EAA.1286.1.382 (inv. 2190) img 188, p. 174 (SL-166) Found Research note: sons Peter 1875, Märt 1878, Johan 1881, Jaak 1884; no daughters; no Hans b. 1877 (K-025). Hans b. 1846 (K-005) on the next line confirms he was Peter's brother.
    Paistu deaths 1879–1887 EAA.1286.1.302–.310 (all death pages) [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] Research note: no Koik child of Peter and Els, so Hans (b. 1877) did not die in Paistu in those years.
    Paistu births 1879–80, 1882–83, 1885–86; other personal-book hits (inv. 2189 pp. 49, 63, 381–382, 391; 2191 pp. 68, 339–340; 2192 p. 134) EAA.1286.1 To locate the research.
  • KA-04Other Vana-Kariste Koiks and the origin of the namePartly answered

    Status: Partly answered (hypothesis narrowed)

    Source Where Status Notes
    Saarde household books (Jaan b. 1842) K601–K607 Found
    Halliste household books K11–K13 Found
    Vana-Kariste revisions, 1811–1858 EAA.1865.3.171/4,.171/11,.172/4,.173/2,.174/4 Found the research, the research.
    Koiga farm, Holstre manor, Paistu (surname theory) Holstre revisions; place-name sources To locate
    Nationwide Koik name index R11–R23 Found
    Other Vana-Kariste Koiks; "Koiksare" farm 1834 and 1858 revisions (SL-98, SL-100, SL-101) Found / Lead Märt's brothers Endrik, Peter and Hans (K-021 to K-023); Hendrik (b. about 1844, son of Hans) may be U-004. A farm "Koiksare" lies next to the Koiks' farm in 1834 and 1858: a possible origin of the surname (check place-name sources). Märt Kuik b. 1808 (wife Tina) is a different man.
    Origin of the surname EKI place-names book (KNR), KNAB, Maa-amet place-name register; Rahvusarhiiv catalogue (Schwanenberg farm plans, EAA.3724.4.853) Found (hypothesis) Research note: Koik is an old Estonian personal name or byname (1241 Koic, 1441 Koicke, 1489 Hinrik Koyke), the source of place names such as Koigi and Koigu; medium-high that the surname goes back to it. Koiksaare farm (Vana-Kariste; still on the register) probably means "Koik's island", so the farm is more likely named after the name than the reverse (from the farm: about 25%). No "Koiga" farm is recorded; the nearest is Koigu (Vardi, Paistu parish). The dialect word koik (bunk, roost; in Mulgi "small poor grain") is not the source (very low).
    Kama Peter and Koiksaar in 1811; every Koik/Kuik household 1826–1850 EAA.1865.3.171/4 img 16 (SL-132);.171/11 img 3;.172/4 img 27;.173/2 img 15, 59–62 Found Research note: in 1811 Hans (later Koik) was a farmhand (Knecht) at Kama Peter, 32, with sons Hindrich and Peter; no "Koik" forename or byname there or at Koiksaar; no Koik lived at Koiksare before 1850 (its families took Kink). The Kuik family 164 is a different family: "aus XLIV" was a misreading of LIV (Marro), so there was no second Hans at Kama Peter. In 1826 the estate had one Koik and two Kuik households. Surname: personal-name/byname origin about 55–60%; farm-name (Koiksare) origin down to about 15–20%.
    Koik and Kuik at Uue-Kariste, 1826 EAA.1865.3.171/10 img 3 (index) (SL-134) Lead Research note: Koik family CIX (Mert, Ans, Jaan; Blatt 20 and 25) and Kuik LXXIX (Indrik, Jaak, Mert, Peter; Blatt 63). Main pages and the 1811 and 1834 Uue-Kariste lists not read. the research.
    Surname-giving (release) lists 1822–26, Pärnumaa 3rd parish court EAA.931.1.17–.24,.108 (Saaga, tid=183; _purl.php?shc=EAA.931.1.NN) Found Research note: "Hans Koik" 44, wife Kert Koik, children Tina, Hans, Els, at Kammapeter, in the list handed in 18 Jan 1825 (.22 img 15; SL-138): the earliest record of the name. Alt-Karrishof farm holders already had surnames in Jan 1823 (.18 img 6), so Koik was probably taken 1822–23. Kammapeter held three households with three surnames (Jein, Murro, Koik); Koiksaar's had others. The lists give no reason for the name. Not read:.17 beyond img 4,.20,.21,.23,.24,.108. Draft enquiry to the National Archives in the research notes.
    One clan or several? Uue-Kariste and Halliste Koiks Uue-Kariste 1826 (.171/10 img 25), 1834 (.172/3 img 22, 28); Halliste household books vol. 291 pp. 66–68, 245 (.546 img 69–71, 252); Alt-Karrishof 1858 (.174/4 img 15–18) (SL-148, SL-149) Found in part Research note: our Vana-Kariste household gives exact births (Hendrik 1803, Peter 1806, Hans 1815, Märt 1821); U-003 Jaan b. 1842 is Peter's son, U-004 Hendrik b. 1844 probably Hans's son. The Uue-Kariste Koiks are a separate family (Märt about 1768, wife Lena; son Hans the Halliste bell-ringer); about 70–75% the name was taken independently. Kuik kept distinct by the clerks. Correction to Research note: Kuik LXXIX is on Blatt 12/21, 29, 35. Not read: vol. 292 p. 27 (Jaan Koot/Koik b. 1798), vol. 299 p. 88, Karksi index, 1850 lists for Endrik.
    Release lists 1826 for the Koik sons EAA.931.1.24 img 28, 29, 31 (SL-159, SL-160) Found in part Research note: "Kutscher Endrik Koik" 21; "Peter Koix" 18 at Leppik (probably K-022); no Koik at Kammapeter or Koiksaar on img 31. EAA.931.1.20 and.23 not read (loose bundles, no index).
    1825 vs 1826 ages of Hans Koik's children EAA.931.1.22 img 15; EAA.1865.3.171/11 img 35 Found Research note: "Hans 9" (Jan 1825) is right (b. 12 Sep 1815); the revision's 11 is the 1816 age plus ten. Tina 19 vs 11 unresolved (low).
    Koiksaare before 1826 (farm-name test) 1811 revision.171/4 img 16 (SL-132); Wackenbuch 1805–06 EAA.567.3.240 img 2, 5, 6 (SL-168, SL-169); Schwanenberg plans EAA.3724.4.853 sheets 3–5 (SL-170) Found in part Research note: two Koiksaar farms (1811 Nos. 45, 46) directly after Kama Peter (44); all three in Dorf Maerraste in 1805–06; Koiksaar a farm name by 1795; no Koik byname at Nos. 44–46 in 1811. Farm-name route judged about unchanged (15–25 %); "Koiksaare" reads most simply as "Koik's island", so Koik was probably a man's name first.
    1782 and 1795 Alt-Karrishof revisions; Swedish-era land revisions Saaga EAA.1865; AIS; digar.ee [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] Research note: Halliste not in Saaga for 1782 or 1795; no Swedish-era revision online (Dunsdorfs map volume on digar.ee is library-network only). Enquiry to the National Archives drafted, not sent.
    Estate maps 1787, 1839, about 1844, 1857 ra.ee/kaardid ids 22393; 22860, 220425–6; 13866; 7985, 246328, 246330, 246564, 246649 To locate Research note: search for Kama Peter, Koiksaare, Merasto (1860s Nos. 29–31).
  • KA-05Marie Karoline Purtsak’s familyPartly answered

    Status: Partly answered (baptism and parents found)

    Source Where Status Notes
    Margin note naming her father Peter Purtsak K01 Found
    Her baptism EAA.1275.1.480 img 8, No. 142 (SL-66) Found Research note: b. 22 Jul 1884 O.S. (birth, not baptism), Friedrichsheim, Halliste; bapt. 5 Aug; parents Peter Purtsak and Anno.
    Purtsak household books Halliste To locate
    Linda Alice Lond née Purtsak, b. 27 Jan 1912 Vana-Kariste, daughter of Jaan (b. 1870) and Emmi; deported 1949 memoriaal.ee Lead Jaan Purtsak (1870) may be a brother of Marie Karoline (b. 1884, daughter of Peter Purtsak).
    Marie's parents at her marriage, 1907 EAA.1275.1.563 img 240 (SL-76) Found Peter and Anu, both living; she born at Friedrichsheim. Purtsak godparents (Martin 1910, Ann 1908) are probably her siblings (U-013). A "Peter Purtsak" d. 1918 (EAA.1275.1.566 img 60, No. 75) is not yet checked.
    Purtsak household, Mõisaküla Halliste household book EAA.1275.1.547 (vol. 292) p. 81 = img 87 Found the research (checked by the coordinator): head Jaak Pursak b. 16 May 1809; his 2nd son Peter b. Dec 1852, d. 12 Nov 1914, with wife Anno and daughter Marie Caroline (b. 22 Jul 1884, m. Nov 1907 Juhan Koik). The other "children" the research listed are Peter's siblings.
    Peter Purtsak's death, 1918? Halliste deaths EAA.1275.1.566 img 60, entry 75 (SL-128) [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] probably Research note: that Peter was b. about Dec 1865, too young to be Marie's father; same village.
    Older Purtsaks (Kaarl b. about 1802; Jaan b. about 1818 and Kadri; Peter b. 1839) EAA.1275.1.547 p. 82 (img 99); Abja EAA.1275.1.552 img 92 (SL-130, SL-131); index EAA.1275.1.568 img 51–52 Lead the research. Index entry vol. 298 p. 278 is.557 img 259.
    Peter and Anu's marriage, about Feb 1883? Halliste Estonian marriages EAA.1275.1.532 img 188–195 (1882; 1883 entries 1–28) [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] in part Research note: no Purtsak. Rest of 1883 not read; Anno's birthplace "Pernaküll/Pernau" (uncertain) suggests another parish.
    Anno as a widow, Karksi 1922 EAA.1276.1.341 (vol. 986) img 171 (SL-155) Found Anno b. 17 Nov 1860, widow, in Karksi from 7 Jan 1922.
    Index entry vol. 298 p. 278 EAA.1275.1.557 img 259 (SL-156) Found Kirbla: Märt Purtsak b. 28 Nov 1840; possible relative, not Marie's parent.
    1907 marriage place "Neu-Bornhusen" EAA.1275.1.553 img 1 Found Research note: Neu-Bornhusen = Kaubi estate. "Friedrichsheim" (1884 baptism) still unidentified.
    Anno's maiden name and family Halliste births 1860, EAA.1275.1.526 img 205, No. 265 (SL-171); household book vol. 298 =.557 img 8 (SL-173) Found Research note: Anno Erg, b. 17 Nov, bapt. 4 Dec 1860, Pernaküll, daughter of Märt Erg (farm holder) and An; grandfather Hendrik Erg b. 1797; siblings Els, Kert, Jakkan. Strong (date and village match).
    Peter's baptism Halliste births EAA.1275.1.524 img 579, No. 329, Dec 1852 (SL-172) Found Research note: father Jaak Purtsak, mother Marri. The household-book head also reads "Jaak" on re-check (the earlier "Jaan" was a misreading).
    Peter and Anno's marriage, 1883 Halliste Estonian marriages.532 img 192–206 (1883 entries 1–76; 1884 most entries); German-form 1883 list in.479 img 15–17 (entries 1–40) [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] Research note: no match. Dates in the household books: "Febr 83" (Peter's line) and "28 Aug 83" (Anno's family line, medium-low). Still unread: 1884 entries 14–15, 23, 29–31, 39 on; 1880–82; German list 41 on; Karksi.258,.320.

Koik family · Early 20th century, to about 1920

  • KB-01Juhan and Marie’s marriage, 1907, and homes until 1920Answered

    Status: Answered

    Source Where Status Notes
    Karksi household book (married 13 Nov 1907, Halliste) K01 Found
    Halliste marriages, 1907 EAA.1275 To locate
    1920 intake sheet (Penuja, Vana-Kariste) K801–K803 Found
    Halliste marriages, 1907 EAA.1275.1.563 img 240, No. 110;.555 img 74, No. 60 (SL-76, SL-77) Found Research note: 18 Nov 1907 O.S. (not 13 Nov), Halliste church; he a lodger at Paloja, Abja, 26; she a maid of Neu-Bornhusen, 23.
    Homes 1907–1918 Children's baptisms (SL-72 to SL-75) Found Abja, Palua/Paloja farm (1907–08); Alt-Karrishof, Lesmendi farm (1910–12); "Penneküla … Kerner"(?) (1918).
  • KB-02Births of Ida (1908), Peter (1912) and August (1918)Answered

    Status: Answered

    Source Where Status Notes
    Karksi household book K01, K02 Found
    Halliste baptisms, 1908, 1910, 1912 and 1918 EAA.1275 (find where Halliste 1908–1918 is held: series 4.1 ends at 1907) To locate Exact places and godparents; settles Ida's birth date (5 Jun or 5 Nov 1908).
    A sixth child, Martin Household book EAA.1275.1.546 img 70 (SL-70) Found Research note: Martin, b. May 1910, d. 21 Jul 1919. Death entry: Halliste deaths 1914–26 (EAA.1275.1.566), not yet checked.
    Ida's marriage K01 Found 22 Dec 1929, Johan Töder(?), Halliste.
    Baptisms of Ida, Martin, Peter, August EAA.1275.1.561 imgs 129, 167, 212;.562 img 77 (SL-72 to SL-75) Found Research note: Ida b. 5 Nov 1908 (not 5 Jun); Martin b. 7 May 1910, drowned 21 Jul 1919 (SL-71); Peter b. 30 Jan 1912; August b. 14 Oct 1918. All with godparents.
  • KB-03Juhan’s First World War service, 1915–1918Open

    Status: Open

    Source Where Status Notes
    1920 intake sheet: private, 1915–1918 K801 Found
    Russian imperial army records; Estonian War Museum; ERA call-up lists ERA; RGVIA (Moscow) To locate Hard to reach. Estonian call-up lists of 1915–17 are the most realistic source.
    "Eestlased Esimeses maailmasõjas" crowd-sourced index (198,030 person records) ra.ee/ilmasoda To locate Name search needs a browser: the compiler. Pärnu and Viljandi county call-up lists are in EAA fonds 316 and 317. The War Museum has no WW1 soldier database.
    WWI index ra.ee/ilmasoda, search "Koik" (all 87 results) ra.ee/ilmasoda Lead Juhan Koik, Vana-Kariste vald: militia list (maakaitseväelaste nimekiri) EAA.316.1.502, image 66. Also Peeter Koik, Vana-Kariste, EAA.316.1.489 image 51 (his brother?); Martin Koik b. 28 Nov 1895 Vana-Kariste (call-up EAA.316.1.360 images 114–115; pension EAA.316.2.149 images 249–250); Penug Koik, Vana-Kariste, EAA.316.1.507 image 7; Mart Koik, Karksi, EAA.316.1.494 image 52. Open in Saaga.
  • KB-04The move to Karksi and the land reform, 1920–21Partly answered

    Status: Partly answered

    Source Where Status Notes
    Linda born at Karksi in June 1921 K01 Found
    Karksi land-reform files (54 settler holdings) ERA land-reform fonds To locate Did Juhan apply for land?
    Karksi residents' list 1924–27 (ERA.3446.1.77, image 60) SL-31 Found Juhan's household living at Karksi manor ("Mõisa"), previously registered at Vana-Kariste; his widowed mother Els (b. 1844) listed beside them.
    Karksi land-reform files ERA.62 (Ministry of Agriculture, land department) [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] Research note: only Vastsemõisa and Tarvastu digitised for Viljandi county.
    When the family reached Karksi manor Martin's death entry (SL-71) Lead Martin drowned "at Karksi manor" in July 1919 (place reading medium), a year earlier than the 1920–21 move recorded elsewhere.

Koik family · Pilvi’s and Elmar’s early lives, about 1919–1940

  • KC-01Elmar’s childhood, schooling and scoutingPartly answered

    Status: Partly answered

    Source Where Status Notes
    UNRRA review and questionnaire K706, K715 Found
    Karksi-Nuia school records; scout membership lists Local archives; Viljandi Museum To locate
  • KC-02Elmar’s siblings, 1920s–1940sOpen

    Status: Open

    Source Where Status Notes
    Karksi household book to 1932 K01, K02 Found
    Karksi household book after 1932 EAA.1276 To locate Marriages, moves and deaths.
    Civil registers 1926–1940 (marriages) Saaga To locate
    Geislingen list with other Koiks K719 Found Are any of them siblings?
    Ida's marriage EAA.1275.1.564 img 103, 1929 No. 54 (SL-109) Found 22 Dec 1929, Johan Põder (b. about 1904), farmer of Hundimaa, Vana-Kariste. Põder household sheet EAA.1275.1.546 img 159 (SL-110) not yet read.
    Halliste marriages 1930–38 EAA.1275.1.564 To locate Not scanned for Peter, August or Linda.
    Marriages of Peter, August and Linda Koik, 1930–40 Halliste marriages EAA.1275.1.564 (runs to March 1940, though titled 1922–1930): img 104–139, 140–145 (top), 177–184 read [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] in part Research note: no Koik marriage with parents Juhan and Marie in the entries read ("Kokk" entries 1938–39 are another family). Img 145 (lower half) to 176 (rest of 1933 to Aug 1938) not verified: the likeliest place; the research.
    Põder household sheet (SL-110) EAA.1275.1.546 img 158–159 (p. 154) Partial Research note: no Koik or Ida in the parts read; remark columns unread. Lead: Peeter Põder (parents Hans and Liina, Vana-Kariste) m. Melanie Kornit, 25 Mar 1933 (.564 img 139, No. 6) — possibly kin of Johan Põder (K-024).
    Soviet-era Karksi household books 1945–46 EAA.M-136.1.35–.52 Blocked Research note: sub-volumes redirected to the login page during the archive's announced maintenance (21 Oct 22:00 – 22 Oct 02:00); retry.
  • KC-03Juhan’s and Marie’s later lives and deathsOpen

    Status: Open

    Source Where Status Notes
    Karksi household book after 1932 EAA.1276 To locate
    Karksi and Halliste cemeteries kalmistud.ee [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] Research note: Karksi cemetery is not on the register. Johan Koik 1896–1992 (Halliste, K21) is not Juhan. Lead (low): Hans Koik 1881–1953 with Anna 1892–1967, Paistu V 15.
    Karksi household book to 1932 K01 (EAA.1276.1.341 p. 524) [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] Research note: no death note for Juhan, Marie, Ida, Peter, August or Linda to 1932.
    Death notices DIGAR newspapers, 1932–1944 To locate Behind a human check; the compiler to pass it once.
    Soviet-era deaths, 1945 onward ZAGS records (ERA/EAA) To locate
    Last record of Juhan and Marie Ida's marriage, 22 Dec 1929 (SL-109) Found Both living.
    Karksi/Halliste registers after June 1926; civil registers 1926–40 Saaga [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] Research note: the church registers in Saaga end in June 1926, the Karksi household book in 1932/33; civil registers are not online.
    Soviet-era Karksi household books 1945–46 EAA.M-136.1.35 to.52 Lead Would show Juhan and Marie if alive in 1945. Not yet opened.

Koik family · The Second World War, 1940–1945

  • KD-01Elmar in Tallinn, 1942–1943Partly answered

    Status: Partly answered

    Source Where Status Notes
    Questionnaire: locksmith; work book 5 Oct 1942 K707 Found Employer unknown.
  • KD-02Elmar’s mobilization and unit, 1944Partly answered

    Status: Partly answered

    Source Where Status Notes
    UNRRA review: mobilized 2 Feb 1944, Estonian Military Drivers' School K709, K710 Found
    Screening board: "grenadier in [?] Estonian Div", "SS" K708 Found
    German personnel records (formerly WASt; since 1 Sep 2025 Bundesarchiv, Abteilung Deutsches Reich, Berlin-Tegel; Waffen-SS files at Berlin-Lichterfelde) Bundesarchiv To locate Unit, wounding and hospital records. Request letter drafted in the research notes; expect to be asked for proof of death and of relationship.
    Estonian War Museum and ERA records of the 1944 mobilization ERA To locate
    Lists of Estonians in Finnish and German forces 1940–45 (R14–R16): "In the German army, soldier, 3. Estonian Volunteer Brigade Field-Battalion" WWII refugees database (2024.wwii-refugees.ee), the compiler 19 Oct 2026 (R24); ERA.R-64; ERA.R-67.2.7,10; ERA.R-165.1.5,87; ERA.R-165.1.112 Found Probably the field replacement battalion of the 3rd Estonian SS Volunteer Brigade, which became the 20th Waffen-Grenadier Division in early 1944 (context, to check). The cited ERA files are worth requesting.
  • KD-03Elmar’s wounding and hospitals, 1944–1945Partly answered

    Status: Partly answered

    Source Where Status Notes
    Questionnaires (Vaivara 1 Jul 1944; Pilsen, Marienbad, Regensburg) K707, K710 Found
    Lazarett records Bundesarchiv To locate
  • KD-04The Koik family in Estonia, 1940–1945Open

    Status: Open

    Source Where Status Notes
    Deportations of 1941 and 1949; arrests Memento lists; ERAF (Estonian National Archives) To locate
    Peter (b. 1912) and August (b. 1918): military service 1941–44 Estonian War Museum; Volksbund; ERA To locate
    ISIK; Archives of Estonians Abroad; Soviet gazette 1945–57; Memento PDFs (partial) the research notes [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] No Juhan, Marie, Ida, Peter, August or Linda Koik. Memento lists cut off before K.
    Memoriaal.ee repression database; Sakalamaa ei unusta parish volumes (Karksi) Memory Institute; National Library terminals To locate the compiler by hand; a draft enquiry to the Memory Institute is in the research notes.
    Repression-victims database, search "Koik" (36 of 40 entries read) memoriaal.ee (the search works from a link, but results load by script, so open it in a browser) [SEARCHED: NOT THERE] 19 Oct 2026. None of our direct line (Juhan, Marie, Ida, Peter, August, Linda, Elmar). Same-area Koiks worth noting: Elmar b. 1921 Paistu, son of Johann (U-009, found by the compiler); Nikolai b. 1891 Karksi, son of Jüri (1858) and Mall, Cross of Liberty holder, d. 1941 in Sevurallag; Anna (Sõrmus) b. 1882 Karksi, daughter of Jaan (1848); Lena Ivask née Koik b. 1874 Vana-Kariste, daughter of Hendrik and An (= U-004). Theodor-Rudolf Koik (b. 1888 Türi) is the one we decided not to add.

Koik family · Refugee years and America, 1944 onward

  • KE-01Elmar’s DP years: screening and appeal, 1945–1949Partly answered

    Status: Partly answered

    Source Where Status Notes
    Arolsen file (K701–K719) K701–K719 Found
    Military Appeal Board decision (referred 28 Jun 1947) Arolsen; NARA (US Army screening records) To locate
    IRO CM/1 file Arolsen To locate Ask Arolsen for the full file.
    Full Arolsen file for Elmar Koik Arolsen Archives online enquiry To locate Enquiry drafted in the research notes.
    Exile register card (ERA.4942.4.6 img 2125) K720 Found Driver; from Tallinn; Geislingen 24.08.46(?); 24.VII.49 departure (to New Orleans?), low confidence.
  • KE-02Elmar’s emigration and El Centro, 1949Partly answered

    Status: Partly answered

    Source Where Status Notes
    IRO list, arrival card, Times-Picayune K718, US01, US11 Found
    Passenger manifest, USAT General R. L. Howze, New Orleans, Sep 1949 NARA; FamilySearch To locate
    Work at El Centro and the move to Los Angeles A-file [number withheld] To locate
  • KE-03Elmar’s later life in Los AngelesOpen

    Status: Open

    Source Where Status Notes
    Naturalization, work, death California records; family To locate / Ask the family
  • KE-04Contact with family left in Soviet EstoniaOpen

    Status: Open

    Source Where Status Notes
    Letters, parcels, visits Family papers Ask the family Worksheet S8.
  • KE-05Other Koiks in exileOpen

    Status: Open

    Source Where Status Notes
    Geislingen camp list with other Koiks K719 Found Identify them.
    Arolsen online name search for "Koik" Arolsen To locate