This entry in the parish register of Roßdorf says that Johann Adam Giegengack and Anna Margaretha had a son baptized on March 26, 1750: Johann Valentin. The redeeming evidence that Johann Valentin Giegengack comes from Roßdorf.
Many have been searching in the past decades to find this lacking information. In 1972 Helmut Giegengack from Chemnitz wrote to Johan Gigengack in Holland: "I find it very interesting, what connection exists between the German and Dutch Giegengacks ... '. Johan had been searching the answers on this question already in 1954. More recently the tour group that visited Copenhagen in October 2008, was also looking for the 'Missing Link'. Eventually a tip from researcher Christian Hoske put us on the right track.
The churchbooks of Roßdorf (Thüringen) were found to contain the little pieces of information to finish the puzzle: the German, Dutch and American Giegengacks all come from Kleinschmalkalden.
In retrospect, we understand why it was so difficult to find the link. Namely, Moritz Giegengack from Kleinschmalkalden has moved around 1658 from Kleinschmalkalden to nearby Roßdorf. There he founded a large family. One of the descendants is Johann Valentin Giegengack who in 1771, being a young man, ended up as a soldier in Copenhagen. His son Johan Christian undertook a great journey starting in Denmark, through Germany and ending in the Netherlands. Johan Christian Gigengack is the ancestor of all Dutch Gigengacks.
There is still a wealth of material in the region Schmalkalden-Meiningen. To continue genealogical research your support is crucial. We therefore request you to sponsor further research with a contribution to our family bank account or by PayPal.
We are happy to inform you about an exciting new discovery done recently. Researcher mr Rainer König from Kleinschmalkalden found at our request that the name Gi(e)gengack appears in the records of conscript soldiers already in 1543! This is great news that we of course like to share with you.