John Blankenbaker's Germanna History Notes

Note 1481

Dr. Schmahl urges you to "Put Some Flesh on the Bones of Your Ancestors. (6)" There are many sources of records that might be able to do this.  It will take some serious digging to do this though.  He cited an example of an estate inventory record which read in translation:

Inventory of the estate of the late Philipp Brehm, in his life, citizen and Master Cooper and Beer Brewer here in Flonheim.  Done at Flonheim, April 3, 1786.  He died on the 29th of May leaving the following heirs behind.  A son, Johann Henrich Brehm, citizen and Master Cooper and Beer Brewer at this location.  A son, Johannes Brehm, also citizen and Master cooper and beer brewer at this location.  The children of his deceased daughter Catharina Philippina, wife of the also deceased Johannes Stumpff, in his life citizen and baker at this location, namely:  1. Justina Elisabetha, wife of Johann Christoph Schäffer from this location;  2. A little son of Anna Christina, the deceased wife of Michael Dörrchuck of this location, by the name of Johann Friederich Dörrschuck;  3. Philppina, the wife of the Master glazier of Jacob Messinger of this location;  4. Augustin Stumpff, a Journeyman shoemaker, currently absent;  5. Maria Elisabethsa Stumpff, unmarried.  Johann Burckhardt Stofft was appointed guardian of Johannes Stumpff’s children.

Upon request of the heirs an inventory of the estate of the deceased was made today.  It will be soon be sold in a public auction and the profits will be distributed among the three branches.

That was the sixth item on Dr. Schmahl’s list.  The difficulty for Americans is that they generally lack an ability to read the records which contain information of this type.  And an increasing number of Germans, already a large percentage, cannot read the old script either.  It may pay you to "Learn the Old Script" (7), especially if you have many German ancestors.

I skip now to the eighth item on Dr. Schmahl’s list which is, “Be Sure to Visit the Cemetery of Your Ancestor’s Hometown.” It has been mentioned here that you will learn nothing from the tombstones.  So why visit the cemetery?  You will always find people there tending the flower plots.  They are often interested in history and families.  Don’t expect that one of them will know anything about your family, but they may know someone who knows someone , who does know something about your family. "Start Networking. (9)" Many people are interested in American genealogy and want to know more about what happened to people who immigrated.  Be prepared to trade information.  Take a written summary of your families. "Surprises are to be expected.  Be prepared for cultural differences. (10)" Things are done differently in Germany.
(24 Sep 02)