Johann Goedems married on February 14, 1820 in Wadrill, Saarland to Magdalena Hassler. Magdalena was born on November 22, 1795, in Wadrill. In December 1828 the family decided to immigrate to Brazil. According to the "Kaiserlisch Brasilianische Bureau" of the Imperial Consulate of Brazil, Johann boarded the ship "Olbers" along with 767 others, under the name of John Goethems.Passenger List: "Namen derjenigen Colonisten, welche gegenwärtig vor dem bunten Thor logieren", Imperial Consulate of Brazil. He travelled in the company of his wife and his 4 children:
