Mateus Eduard Berggrün was born 1816, baptized Aug. 20, 1816, at the evangelical reformed church in Birzai/ Lithuania.
Mateus Eduard received the love and talent for music from both sides of his parents. His father, Johann Daniel Berggrün and his maternal grandfather Johann Daniel Gerhardt were cantors and organists. Mateus maternal great-grandfather Crétien Weller was a cantor at the ev. reformed french church in Judtschen, East Prussia.

He married Amalie Caroline Berggrün born Schmidt on Oct. 18, 1836 at the evangelical reformed church in Birzai. Amalie Caroline was born in Mitau, now Jelgava/ Latvia, she was the daughter of master tailor Carl Andreas Schmidt and his wife Caroline Schmidt born Burkardt.

The children of Amalie Caroline and Mateus Eduard Berggrün:

1. Emilia Berggrün born Jan. 21, 1837, baptized Feb. 29, 1837 at the Sodeliskiai Manor/ Lithuania.
Godparents: JP Emilia Berggrün ( aunt, wife of Karl Berggrün), JP Karol Treyz, Wilhelm Treyden, JP Anna Aramowicz, Ludwig and Elisabeth Romeiko

2. Adolf Eduard and Karl (Karol) Berggrün born Dec. 20, 1838 in Velikionys/ Lithuania, baptized Jan.1, 1839 at the evangelical reformed church in Birzai. Karl passed away anywhere from 1839 to 1841. 
Godparents: Maria Frederika and K.K. Dauksa ( aunt and uncle), Karolina Lüdke, Miachel K. , Pauline Naumann,

3. Mathilde Theodora Berggrün born Nov. 9, 1840 in Vilnius/ Lithuania.
Godparents: Augustina Martens, Josef Ludwikiewicz

4. Wladislaw Rudolf Berggrün born Nov. 22 1842 in Svobiskis/Lihuania, baptized Jan. 24, 1843 at the evangelical reformed church in Svobiskis.
Godparents: Pastor Alexander Paszkiewicz, Konstancya Paszkiewicz, WP Anna Mikszewicz, WP Wladislaw Mikszewicz, JP Xamsy Balczewski, WP Viktorya Mikszewicz

5. Theodor Eduard Berggrün born March 11, 1845 in Svobiskis/ Lithuania,
baptized May 3, 1845 at the evangelical reformed church in Svobiskis.
Godparents: WP Jan Achmatowicz, WP Konstanzya Paskiewicz, Pastor Alexander Paskiewicz, Lady Eva Feldmann

6. Antoni Leopold Berggrün born Feb. 28, 1847 in Svobiskis/ Lithuania,
baptized March 2, 1847 at the evangelical reformed church in Svobiskis.
Godparents: JP Antoni Malachowski, Malwina Czyzowna.
Antoni ( Antanas) Leopold continued the family tradition and became an organist at the evangelical reformed church in Papilys/ Lithuania. 

Like others before him, Mateus Eduard, followed the calling and studied to become a teacher. In 1831, being 15 years old, he was send to Vilnius to attend school for the next four years. While in Vilnius he stayed with his cousin Augustine Martens. Her husband, Ludwig Martens was cantor and organist at the ev. reformed church in Vilnius. During the time he was Ludwig’s student and sophisticated his skills playing the organ. After a decade of studies and education a teaching position became available, he moved the familie, his wife Amelia and their children to Svobiskis.

Mateus Eduard Berggrün - the teacher
According to the Svobiskis chronicle, Mateus Eduard Berggrün ( Edvardas Bergriunas) was the teacher from 1843 - 1853.
He was described as educated and of German origin.
The first two students were his children ( Emilia and Adolf ) . Their curriculum was studying the catechism, reading, and writing German and Russian, plus arithmetic and calligraphy. During the school year 1850/51 the school had 12 students and the following year there were 21. During the school year 1851/52 ( chart below ) , 11 students learned reading in Lithuanian, 9 - in Polish, 12 - in Russian and 3 - in German ( Adolf, Wladislaw and Theodor ), 10 students learned arithmetic and 14 students learned calligraphy. It is not completely clear in what language students practiced calligraphy, but it is assumed that the wrote in the same language that they learned reading. In the school report Mateus Eduard Berggrün listed and graded each student classes , behavior, talents and diligence. 

Great empathizes and focus was taken by Mateus Eduard to give his children education.
School records were available at the archive from 1843 to 1852. 
Emilia     (the student, 1843 – 1848, 6 years)
Adolf     (the student, 1846 – 1851, 6 years)
Wladislaw     (the student, 1849 – 1852, 4 years)
Theodor     (the student, from 1851/52)

Below a report of the school year 1851/52. Student list: 3. Adolf Eduard Berggrün, 4. Wladislaw Rudolf Berggrün, 20. Theodor Eduard Berggrün, signed bottom right - Eduard Berggrün

1948 was a year of great sadness. On July 16, 1848 Amalie Caroline, the wife of Mateus Eduard died of a fever. His youngest son Antoni Leopold being only a little over one year old. In the following years he raised his children by himself.

On Feb. 26, 1856 Mateus Eduard married Karolina Dauksa, born in 1931, daughter of Adam Dauksa at the evangelical reformed church in Svobiskis. Mateus Eduard and Karolina had five children.

1. Anna Alexandra Berggrün born March 25, 1857 in Svobiskis, baptized April 8, 1857 at the evangelical reformed church in Svobiskis
Godparents: Alexander Paszkiewicz, WP Anna Mikulicz, JP Jerzy Jodynski, WP Konstancya Paszkiewicz, JP Wladislaw Norejko, JP Amiela Müller

2. Edmund Eduard Berggrün born Nov. 16, 1958 in Svobiskis, baptized Nov. 31, 1858 at the evangelical reformed church in Svobiskis.
Godparents: JP Cypryjan Szczepkowski, P Zofia Steigert

3. Leonard Julian Berggrün born Nov. 1860 in Svobiskis, baptized Jan. 1, 1861 at the evangelical reformed church in Svobiskis
Godparents: Ferdinand Zerarden, Ejfrozyna Filipowicz

4. Constantin Adolph Berggrün born May 31, 1863 in Zeimelis

5. Malvine Berggrün born Feb. 5, 1865 in Konstantinov, Vaškai

Please click on each picture to view the church records