Saturday, May 24, 2014

Resources for Finding Church Records in the City of Baltimore

For Baltimore births and deaths prior to 1875, research in church records is necessary. There are several wonderful resources that can guide your search for relevant church records.

Two books by author Edna A. Kanely have been assisting researchers for years in locating Maryland church records. A Directory of Maryland Church Records, sponsored by the Genealogical Council of Maryland and published in 1987, provides a “comprehensive summary of the location and availability of Maryland church records.”[1] This book covers about 2,600 Maryland churches.

Ms. Kanely’s other book, entitled Directory of Ministers and Maryland Churches They Served, 1634-1990, can help you determine the associated church of a particular minister. As an example, a newspaper marriage announcement or a civil marriage record may provide the name of the minister that married your ancestral couple.[2] By consulting Kanely’s Directory, you can determine what church or churches the minister may have served and the associated time period(s). With that information, you can determine the availability of the records in A Directory of Maryland Church Records.




[1] Edna A. Kanely, Directory of Maryland Church Records (Silver Spring, Md.: Family Line Publications, 1987), v.
[2] The City of Baltimore has civil marriage records starting in 1851 when Baltimore became an independent city. Prior to 1851, the marriage records would be found in Baltimore County.

Debra A. Hoffman, "Resources for Finding Church Records in the City of Baltimore," Ancestral Leaves, posted 24 May 2014 (http://ancestralleaves.blogspot.com : viewed [date]). [Please feel free to link to the specific post if you prefer.]


Saturday, May 17, 2014

New German Genealogy Guide


Author James Beidler has published a new German genealogy guide. From The Family Tree site, http://www.shopfamilytree.com/the-family-tree-german-genealogy-guide-group :

"In this book, you’ll learn how to:
Retrace your German immigrant ancestors’ voyage from Europe to America
Pinpoint the precise place in Europe your ancestors came from
Uncover birth, marriage, death, church, census, court, military, and other records documenting your ancestors’ lives
Access German records of your family from your own hometown
Decipher German-language records, including unfamiliar German script
Understand German names and naming patterns that offer research clues

You’ll also find maps, timelines, sample records and resource lists throughout the book for quick and easy reference. Whether you’re just beginning your family tree or a longtime genealogy researcher, the Family Tree German Genealogy Guide will help you conquer the unique challenges of German research and uncover your ancestors’ stories."

If you are starting to research your German ancestors, this beginning guide will help get you off on the right track!


Debra A. Hoffman, "New German Genealogy Guide," Ancestral Leaves, posted 17 May 2014 (http://ancestralleaves.blogspot.com : viewed [date]). [Please feel free to link to the specific post if you prefer.]

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Mortality for 3 June 1897 in Baltimore, Maryland

My last post illustrated how some newspapers would also post a listing of deaths that had occurred over several days. This one provides that information again for a different day.

The first step is to decipher the Fraktur print and then translate it from German to English as shown below. I enlarged the image, so that I could determine each letter and then used Google Translate to translate it from German to English.

“Todesfälle,” Der Deutsche Correspondent (Baltimore, Maryland), 3 June 1897, p. 2, col. 3; microfilm NP 2267, Central Library, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore, Maryland.

Todesfälle
Am 1. Juni August Beder, 71 Jahre alt.
Am 1. Juni Bernard Schaffeld, 42 Jahre
alt.
Am 31. Mai Herbert Abrams.
Am 31. Mai Gertie Hunger.
Am 30. Mai Christian Fischer in Orange-
ville, Baltimore-County, 19 Jahre alt.
Am 30. Mai Samuel Lürz.

Mortality
On June 1, August Beder, 71 years old.
On June 1, Bernard Schaffeld, 42 years
old.
On May 31, Herbert Abrams.
On May 31, Gertie Hunger.
On May 30, Christian Fischer in Orange-
ville, Baltimore-County, 19 years old.
On May 30, Samuel Lürz.


Debra A. Hoffman, "Mortality for 3 June 1897," Ancestral Leaves, posted 14 May 2014 (http://ancestralleaves.blogspot.com : viewed [date]). [Please feel free to link to the specific post if you prefer.]

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Mortality for 1 June 1897 in Baltimore, Maryland

My last post demonstrated the value in German-language newspapers by showing a death notice. This week illustrates how some newspapers would also post a listing of deaths that had occurred over several days. 

It is important to first decipher the Fraktur print and then translate it from German to English as shown below. I enlarged the image, so that I could determine each letter and then used Google Translate to translate it from German to English.

 “Todesfälle,” Der Deutsche Correspondent (Baltimore, Maryland), 1 June 1897, p. 2, col. 3; microfilm NP 2267, Central Library, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore, Maryland.

Todesfälle
Am 30. Mai Minnie Edlinger, 66 Jahre
alt.
Am 30. Mai Latimer Hoffmann.
Am 29. Mai William Lewis Eckhardt.
Am 29. Mai Joseph [Elinoft?], 84 Jahre alt.
Am 29. Mai Joseph [Kess?].
Am 29. Mai Edward [L?]insenmeyer, 70
Jahre alt.
Am 29. Mai Dr. Samuel Wolf, 48 Jahre
Alt.
Am 27. Mai Elisabeth Wolf, 52 Jahre alt.

Mortality
On May 30, Minnie Edlinger, 66 years
old.
On May 30, Latimer Hoffmann.
On May 29, William Lewis Eckhardt.
On May 29, Joseph [Elinoft?], 84 years old.
On May 29, Joseph [Kess?].
On May 29 Edward [L?]insenmeyer, 70
years old.
On May 29, Dr. Samuel Wolf, 48 years
old.
On May 27, Elisabeth Wolf, 52 years old.



Debra A. Hoffman, "Mortality for 1 June 1897," Ancestral Leaves, posted 4 May 2014 (http://ancestralleaves.blogspot.com : viewed [date]). [Please feel free to link to the specific post if you prefer.]