Item Info

Scripts/Text: Fraktur
Language: German
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Wove paper; watercolor; ink
Transcription:

Geburts= und Taufschein.
Diesen beyden Ehegatten, als Jacob \ Wehler und seiner ehelichen Haus= \ frau Maria eine \ geborne Buhs ist eine Tochter \ zur Welt geboren, den 5. Tag May \ im Jahre unsers HErrn 1837 Diese Tochter ist \ geboren in Hamelton Taunschip in \ Adams Caunty, im Staat Pennsyl \ vanien in Nord=Amerika, und ist getauft worden \ und erhielt den Namen Maria \ den 5 Tag November \ im Jahr unsers Herrn 1837 von Hrn. Ziegler
Die Taufzeugen waren Casander Sahrbach.

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, des freu ich mich, \ Die Freude bleibt mir ewiglich.

Ich bin getauft in deinem Namen, \ Gott Vater, Sohn und heilger 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!

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 Feyerkleid.

[in upper left]
Wann wir kaum gebohren werden \ Ist vom ersten Lebenstritt \ Bis zum kühlen Grab der Erden \ Nur ein kurz gemeß’ner Schritt. \ Ach! mit jedem Augenblick \ Gehet unsre Kraft zurück; \ Und wir sind mit jedem Jahre \ Alle reif zur Todtenbahre.

[in upper right]
O! wer weiß, in welcher Stunde \ Uns die letzte Stimme weckt, \ Denn Gott hat’s mit seinem Munde \ Keinem Menschen noch entdeckt. \ Wer sein Haus nun wohl bestellt \ Geht mit Freuden aus der Welt \ Da die Sicherheit hingegen \ Ew’ges Sterben kann erregen.

[along lower border]
Baltimore, gedruckt und zu haben bey Joh. T. Hanzsche, No. 69 Nord=Libertystraße, und bey J. G. Hanzsche, Union=Arcade, Marsch=Marktplatz.
 

Translation:

Birth and Baptismal Certificate.
To these two married people, namely Jacob Wehler and his lawful wife Maria, a born Buhs, a daughter was born into the world on the 5th day of May in the year of our Lord 1837. This daughter was born in Hamilton Township, in Adams County, in the state of Pennsylvania, in North America, and was baptized and received the name Maria on the 5th day of November in the year of our Lord 1837 from Mr. Ziegler.
The sponsors were Casander Sahrbach.

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!

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.

[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.

[along lower border]
Baltimore, printed and to be had from Joh. T. Hanzsche, No. 69 North Liberty Street, and from J. G. Hanzsche, Union Arcade, Marsh Marketsquare.
 

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

Hand-colored; hand-lettered; printed form. The main text and verses in Fraktur as well as a rose are within a rectangular frame in the center of the document. Two additional verses in Fraktur are in rectangular frames in the upper corners. The imprint in Fraktur is along the lower border. In the upper center is an eagle with a shield, a bunch of arrows and a branch. On each side is an angel. The one on the left is holding a lyre and a wreath. The one on the right is holding a lyre and a bird. Below each angel is a tree with two birds. In the lower corners are two small trees with fruit. In the lower center are two baskets with a variety of flowers. Above them are two bunches of flowers and a vase with flowers. The entire document is enclosed by a decorative border. For the Taufschein of Maria's sister, see FLP 1181.

Associated Names: Ziegler
Bibliography:

Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1999) vol. 5, p. 57.

Secondary Place Town/Township: Geographic Coverage State/Province:Pennsylvania
Geographic Coverage City/Town/Township:Hamilton Township
Geographic Coverage Note:Based on location of birth
Geographic Coverage Region/County:Adams

Creation Place Town/Township: Creation Place Note:Based on location of printshop
City/Town/Township:Baltimore
State/Province:Maryland

Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): 1833
Image Dimensions Width: 37.5 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 1180
Creator Name: Johann T. Hanzsche (active c. 1825-1846) - Printer/Publisher
Johann G. Hanzsche (active c. 1833-1840) - Printer/Publisher
Anonymous - Decorator
Anonymous - Scrivener