Sears traveled from Halle, where he was studying at the University of Halle, to Hamburg, and baptized Oncken, Oncken's wife and five others in the Elbe on April 22.
Sears traveled from Halle, Germany, where he was enrolled at the University of Halle, to Hamburg, Germany, and performed baptisms for Oncken, Oncken's spouse, and five other individuals in the Elbe River on April 22.