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.

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[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.]

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.]

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.]

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.]

Death Notice of Joseph Casper Miller

German-language newspapers can provide valuable genealogical information, such as this death notice for Joseph Casper Miller:

“Es starb [Joseph Casper Miller],” Der Deutsche Correspondent (Baltimore, Maryland), 3 June 1897, p. 2, col. 3; microfilm NP 2267, Central Library, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore, Maryland.

Es starb

Plötzlich am 1. Juni 1897 am Schlagfluss Joseph

Casper Miller im 25. Jahre seines Lebens.

Die Beerdigung findet heute, den 3. Juni,

Morgens [19?] Uhr, von seiner letzten Wohnung, Kr.

19, Süd-Arlington-Avenue, aus und dann nach der

vierzehn heiligen Rothhelfer-Kirche statt, wo ein

Todtenamt für das Heil seiner Seele celebrirt wird.

It died

Suddenly, on June 1st, 1897 of apoplexy Joseph

Casper Miller in the 25th year of his life.

The funeral will be held today, June 3rd,

in the morning 9 o’ clock, from his last residence, No.

19 South Arlington Avenue, and then to the

Fourteen Holy Martyrs Church, where a

requiem mass will be celebrated for the health of his soul.

[Thanks to Susannah Brooks for her assistance in this translation.]


Debra A. Hoffman, "Death Notice of Joseph Casper Miller," Ancestral Leaves, posted 26 April 2014 (http://ancestralleaves.blogspot.com : viewed [date]). [Please feel free to link to the specific post if you prefer.]

53rd Annual OGS Conference in Sandusky, Ohio

If you are a German researcher looking for an educational opportunity, consider attending the 53rd Annual OGS Conference. It will be held this year from Wednesday, April 30th through Saturday, May 3rd.

On Thursday, Warren Bittner is conducting a workshop entitled "Introduction to German Church Books." Warren will cover the basics of German church books providing examples, including the common vocabulary terms.

On Friday and Saturday, there are Ethnic tracks that contain lectures that cover a variety of topics, such as Polish records, Czech roots and Jewish genealogy.

With its African-themed venue, it looks like an exciting and educational adventure. For more details, see www.genex2014.org.


Debra A. Hoffman, "53rd Annual OGS Conference in Sandusky, Ohio," Ancestral Leaves, posted 4 April 2014 (http://ancestralleaves.blogspot.com : viewed [date]). [Please feel free to link to the specific post if you prefer.]

Have you experienced genealogy serendipity?

Do you have those "close encounters" with your ancestors. Every once in a while I feel the nudge and have an experience that convinces me they are pushing me to continue researching their lives and telling their stories!

This week as I was volunteering at the Columbia Family History Center, a man came in looking to talk with me about his German ancestors. We quickly realized that we descend from the same couple...my 6th great-grandparents, Jacob Demaree and Magdalene Terras.

I had a breakthrough on this family in January 2013 when I was attending the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. I conducted research at the Family History Library in their microfilmed German church records and found records for my Braun family back to about 1750. What a great week!

I can see after this week's encounter; however, I need to get to work again. They are not satisfied with my slow progress and want me to continue where I left off!

Sophia Braun (my 4th great-grandmother and a descendant of Jacob and Magdalene Demaree) is shown in the colorized photo above. I shared it with Maureen Taylor today, who indicated it was probably made from two daguerrotypes. So, if anyone out there sees this and has those in their possession, please contact me. I would love to see the originals.


Debra A. Hoffman, "Have You Experienced Genealogy Serendipity," Ancestral Leaves, posted14March 2014 (http://ancestralleaves.blogspot.com : viewed [date]). [Please feel free to link to the specific post if you prefer.]