In Gemmingen, where I am studying the Baptismal Register starting in 1694, it was very typical to give the place where a man lived. The most common one, of course, was Gemmingen, which was expressed by the word "allhier". But many people came from other areas, especially the sponsors. So the writer would enter their location, such as Schwaigern or Brackenheim. I have had some difficulty in finding some of these names, and part of the problem may be that the name is not spelled correctly. Still, it is good to have a map available. Remember that the sponsor probably had to walk to the church so he couldn't be from too far away.
Occupations are common but many do not have an occupation for the father or the sponsors. So far, I have Schulmeister, Schuhmacher, Schmid, Pastor, Soldat, and others. Again, spelling may be a minor problem.
Telling an uppercase letter from a lowercase letter is not easy. No consistent rule is used for capitalization.
The particular writer has about three styles for the letter " C ". Some of the " C's " are of a normal height and location. I have seen a " C ", though, which goes into the line above and into the line below. When the words in those upper and lower lines are being read, the interference can be troublesome. I am having trouble telling the " C " from the " L ".
The " T " is a troublesome letter for me as I do not have a clear image of what it should look like. I think that I have seen several variations on it which makes it hard to form the image of what it should look like. Some day I may make a rogue's gallery so that I can have sheets of paper with examples of the letters. The " T " page will be interesting. The letter " U ", as in Ursula, is easy enough. The letter " V " occurs lots of times in the Gemmingen church book because the von Gemmingens were prominent in the church. Not only did they have their children baptized there, they were often sponsors for other members of the congregation. I have commented that the sponsors did not seem to be related to the parents, at least to the father. But the von Gemmingens couldn't get God to come as a sponsor so they had to use von Gemmingens. One problem with writing the " v " is that it, like the " W " is sometimes lazy and sort of runs downhill to the right.
The " Z " looks like a " Z ", as in the Zimmerman family (not ours), who brought children to the Gemmingen church.
Today, I made a break-through as I was confusing a lowercase " f " with an uppercase " E ". By reading some names with an " E " will make them look better; at least, they will have a vowel.
This will be the last note for a few days as we going down to Tennessee for the reunion there.
(12 Sep 03)
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