Item Info

Scripts/Text: Fraktur
Language: German
Weiser Number: 468
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Laid paper; watercolor; ink
Watermark: Six-pointed star with S&C [John Shryock and Thomas Johns]
Transcription:

Tauff=Schein.
Dießen beyden Ehegatten, als: \ [blank] und seiner ehelichen Hausfrau \ [blank] geborne [blank] ist ein [blank] zur Welt gebohren, im Jahre unseres \ Heylandes [blank] den [blank] Tag [blank] \ Dieße [blank] ist gebohren im [blank] Caun= \ ty, in dem Staate [blank] in Nord=Amerika; \ und ist getauft worden und erhielt den Namen \ [blank] den [blank] ten Tag [blank] im \ Jahr unsers HERRN JESU [blank] von Hrn \ [blank]

Die Tauf=Zeugen waren: [blank]

Ich bin getauft, ich steh’ im Bunde, Durch meine Tauf mit meinem GOTT! \ So sprech ich stets mit frohem Munde, in Kreuz, in Trübsal, Angst und Noth. \ Ich bin getauft, deß freu’ ich mich, Die Freude bleibt ewiglich.
Ich bin getauft, ob ich gleich sterbe, Was schadet mir das kühle Grab? \ Ich weiß mein Vaterland und Erbe, Das ich bey GOTT im Himmel hab: \ Nach meinem Tod ist mir bereit Des Himmels Freud und Feyer=Kleid.
Ich bin getauft in deinem Namen, GOTT Vater, Sohn und heil’ger Geist; \ Ich bin gezählt zu Deinem Saamen, Zum Volk, das Dir geheiligt heißt; \ O! welch ein Glück, ward dadurch mein; Herr, laß mich deßen würdig seyn.

[in upper left]
Wann wir kaum gebohren werden \ Ist vom ersten Lebenstritt \ Bis ans kühle Grab der Erden, \ Nur ein Kurtz gemeßner Schritt. \ Ach, mit jedem Augenblick, \ Weichet unsere Kraft zurück; \Und wir sind mit jedem Jahre, \ Allzureif zur Todtenbahre.

[in upper right]
Und wer weiß in welcher Stunde, \ Uns die letzte Stimme weckt. \ Denn Gott hats mit seinem Munde \ Keinem Menschen noch entdeckt. \ Wer sein Haus nun wohl bestellt, \ Geht mit Freuden aus der Welt; \ Da die Sicherheit hingegen \ Ewigs Sterben kann erregen.

[in oval frame]
Gedruckt u. zu haben in Chambersburg \ bey Heinrich Merklein.
 

Translation:

Baptismal Certificate.
To these two married people namely [blank] and his lawful wife [blank], born [blank] a [blank] was born into the world in the year of our Savior [blank] on the [blank] day [blank]. This [blank] was born in [blank] County, in the state of [blank], North America, and was baptized and received the name [blank] on the [blank] day of [blank] in the year of our Lord Jesus [blank] from Mister [blank].

The sponsors were: [blank]

I am baptized, I stand united with my God through my baptism. I therefore always speak joyfully in hardship, sadness, fear and need. I am baptized, that’s a joy for me. The joy lasts eternally.
I am baptized, and when I die, how can the cool grave hurt me? I know my fatherland and legacy that I will have with God in Heaven. After death, Heaven’s garment of joy and celebration is prepared for me.
I am baptized in your name, God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. I am counted as one of your seeds, to a people that you blessed. O! What fortune for me! Lord, let me be worthy of it!

[in upper left]
Scarcely born into the world, it is only a short measured pace from the first step to the cool grave in the earth. O with every moment! Our strength diminishes, and with every year we grow more ripe for the bier.

[in upper right]
And who knows in what hour the final voice will awaken us, because God has not revealed this to anybody yet. Who tends to his house will depart from the world with joy. Because surety, in contrast, can provoke eternal death.

[in oval frame]
Printed and to be had in Chambersburg from Heinrich Merklein.
 

Category: Birth and Baptismal Certificate (Geburts und Taufschein)
Media Type: Letterpress Prints
Source: Rare Book Department
Notes:

Hand-colored; printed form. The main text in Fraktur is in the center of the document. Two verses in Fraktur are in the upper corners. In the upper center is an angel holding two branches. On the right side is a woman in a long dress. She is standing next to a pedestal with a vase with flowers. On the left side are two children holding birds. Behind them is a house. In the lower corners are bunches of fruit, including grapes, a watermelon, apples and pears. In the lower center is an oval frame with the imprint, an American eagle, and a child that is reading a book. Next to him are a sun and a moon.

Associated Names: Shryock, John
Bibliography:

Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1997) vol. 2, pp. 42-43.

Creation Place Town/Township: Creation Place Note:Based on location of printshop
Region/County:Franklin
City/Town/Township:Chambersburg
State/Province:Pennsylvania

Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): ca. 1815
Image Dimensions Width: 31.8 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 1142
Creator Name: Anonymous - Decorator
Heinrich Merklein (active 1815-1817) - Printer/Publisher