Maria Anna Henrichsdorff

http://genealogics.org/getperson.php?personID=I00572554&tree=LEO

BIOGRAPHY Maria Anna Henrichsdorff was born in Danzig on 17 July 1828, daughter of Johann Carl Friedrich Henrichsdorff and Marie Angelika van Almonde. Maria married Adalbert von der Marwitz on 17 August 1847 in Danzig. Adalbert was the son of Friedrich von der Marwitz and Wilhelmine von Mellenthin.

Maria was the heiress to an important liquor distillery in Danzig. One of their products is the legendary Goldwasser, where you actually drink gold leaf in something that tastes very similar to Grand Marnier. She was a very wealthy woman, and felt it would last for all of her family, and therefore, decided that the property in the brewery would be split equally among all descendants until the end of time. As a result, in the 21st century, all descendants have a tiny share and voting share of what is now a small, but still existing brand, now run under the Hardenberg liquor label. The full annual profit, as administered by a descendant, is used every year in its entirety for the 'Lachstag', a day-long party where all these descendants get together and eat and drink at the expense of their common ancestor, remembering things, and celebrating genealogy.