For a lighter note, I thought we might look at the Hebron Communion Lists. First, let’s look at some of the less common names, for example, Elisabeth Alstap (once), Maria Baccon (once), Margretha Baedl (once), Dorothea Barde (once), or Anna Battern (once). [Please remember that all names may have been read incorrectly.]
Still in the B’s, Christina Bauer came twice. On a name such as this, one wonders if the name might have been Farmer, but at the church she was entered as Bauer. They did do things like this. For example, we have both David Braun and Rosina Brown (each once). Same family?
Anna Brett (twice) and Anna Prat (thrice) are probably the same person. Elisabeth Clerke, or Clarck, came four times. Dorothea Darr was obviously Dorothea Garr. In the same vein, Tanner is sometimes Danner, and even Dan. Tanner itself is abbreviated on many occasions as Tan.
Rosina Dikins came once. A few Doser/Dossers came, namely Daniel, Elisabeth, Friederich, and Heinrich, but never more than once for each of them.
Nancy Dodge and I had debated a name that we read with some difficulty as Isem or Isom. Andreas Mielke convinced us that it was meant for the name Eastham, which does occur five times. The name Flaid is probably Floyd.
Elisabeth Gut came once. A very strange name was Rheuhema Hernton. The surname was probably Herndon, but the given name is unusual. I suspect it was a woman who may have been born a Schmidt.
Some of the names were very hard to read, and I had to add a question mark after Peter Hösrig. I also had to add a question mark after Gorg and Margretha Kirster. Among the people I did not immediately recognize was Johannes Küster (twice). There were more reading difficulties with Elisabeth Mehuse and Margretha Neust. Maria Niehbäncks was Maria Millbanks, I believe.
Georg Printz came once. One of the best attendance records was set by Christian Rungo who hardly missed a communion service from 1790 to 1812.
If anyone can shed light on the individuals here, I would appreciate hearing what is known. Thirty-six times I transcribed the name Christian Rungo and every time I would ask myself, "Who is he?" It got so I would start greeting him as Christian, Chris, or Christopher. Perhaps he left no descendants, since no other Rungo name appears, which would be shame, since he left so many records.
(13 Sep 01)
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.