The oldest ancestor for this line is Friederich Blome, who was from Hoyerhagen, Hanover. It is a very small town in the northern part of Germany. Family lore says that his father in law was a soldier in the Napoleonic Wars, fighting with General Bluechner at the Battle of the Sunken Road. Perhaps his name was the Heinrich Handefeldt who signed Henry Blome's baptismal certificate.
Family lore says that Friederich emigrated because he didn't like Bismark and was afraid his sons would be drafted to fight. The ships they sailed on was powered by both steam and sail. Henry, my great-grandfather, paid for his passage by being the ship's cook (and his granddaughter, Louise attests to the fact that he was an excellent cook). The wooden shoes he wore on the voyage are still in posession of the family
Additional information on the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will be added as they are found. For more information on these generations, please go to Ruedger, Foster, and Related Families at WorldConnect.