Item Info

Scripts/Text: Fraktur; German script; Roman print
Language: German
Weiser Number: 296
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Laid paper; watercolor; ink
Watermark: C B
Transcription:

Diesen beyden Ehegatten, als Jacob Gruber und \ seiner Ehelichen Hausfrau Eva Eine geborne Mayerin ist ein \ Söhnlein zur Welt geboren, als Adam Gruber ist zur Welt geboren im Jahr un= \ sers HErrn JEsu 1798 den 20ten Tag December um 9 Uhr Vormittag \ im Zeichen de [blank]

GOTT gebe Gnad, Kraft und Stärke, daß dieser Adam Gruber in der Furcht zum Lob und Preiß des Herrn, möge aufwachsen und \ zunehmen in groser Begierde der vernünftigen lautern Milch, das ursprüngliche Heil der Seelen zu suchen, nach abgelegtem Glaubens=Bekäntniß und Er= \ käntniß der Sünde durch wahre Reu und Buße, vor der Christlichen Gemeinde, zur geistlichen Wiedergeburt der heiligen Taufe befördert, und von \ Imanuel Schultz Prediger und Diener des Worts, nach Christi Befehl, Matth, 28, v: 19. getauft, und in den Gnaden=Bund \ Gottes einverleibet worden. Dieser Adam Gruber ist, als ein Glied in die Gemeinschaft der Heiligen, durch das Bad der Wie= \ dergeburt und Erneuerung des Heiligen Geistes, wie St. Paulus lehret, Titum 3, v. 5, 6, 7. in der Luderischen Kirche ist auf= und \ angenommen worden, den 20 ten Tag Januari 1799 und durch den wahren Glauben an unseren Erlöser JEsu Christo, des \ so theuer erworbenen Verdienstes, der himmlischen Freuden, und der ewigen Seeligkeit Erben eingesetzet. Mithien vergiß nicht wie der \ Apostel Paulus, Col. 1. v. 12. 14. die Pflicht beschreibet. Saget dank dem Vater der uns tüchtig gemacht hat, zum Erb= \ theil der Heiligen im Licht, u. s. w. \ Tauf=zeuge Adam Gruber und seine Ehfrau Sarra \ Dieser Adam Gruber ist geboren und getauft \ in America, im Staat Pennsilvanie \ in heidelberg Taunschip Bercks Caunty, \ Friederich Speyer.

[In heart on left]
Ich bin getauft, ich steh im Bunde, \ Durch meine Tauf mit meinem Gott, \ So sprech ich stets mit frohem Munde, \ In Creutz, in Trübsal, Angst und Noth. \ Ich bin getauft, des freu \ ich mich!
Die Freude \ bleibet ewig= \ lich.

[In heart on right]
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, das Feuer= \ Kleid.

Translation:

To these two married people, namely Jacob Gruber and his lawful wife Eva, a born Mayerin, a son was born into the world, namely Adam Gruber was born into the world in the year of our Lord Jesus 1798, the 20th day December at 9 o’clock in the morning in the sign of [blank]

May God give grace, power and strength so that this Adam Gruber may grow up in the spirit of praise and honor of the LORD, and eagerly consume the true milk, to search for the original salvation of the souls after his profession of faith and realization of sin through sincere repentance. Before the Christian congregation he was brought to the spiritual rebirth of the holy baptism, and he was baptized by Imanuel Schultz, preacher and servant of the Word, according to the command of Christ, Matthew 28:19, and he was included into God’s covenant of grace. This Adam Gruber was, through the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, as St. Paul teaches, Titus 3: 5, 6, 7, admitted and accepted as a member of the community of the holy into the Lutheran church on the 20 day January 1799 and through the true faith in our savior Jesus Christ is taking part in the dearly bought rewards of heavenly joys and the eternal blessedness of the earth. Do not forget the way in which the apostle Paul, Colossians 1:12, 14, described the duty to give thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light, etc. Sponsor Adam Gruber and his wife Sarra. This Adam Gruber was born and baptized in America, in the state of Pennsylvania, in Heidelberg Township, Berks County. Friederich Speyer.

[In heart on left]
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 heart on right]
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, the garment of celebration, is prepared for me.

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

Hand-drawn; hand-colored; hand-lettered; printed form. The main text in fraktur, with blanks infilled by hand in German script, is within a large heart in the center of the document. Two verses are in hearts below it. The large heart is flanked by two inward-facing figures in colorful dress and holding flowers. In the upper center are two inward-facing lions. The smaller hearts are each flanked by a bird and a mermaid, surrounded by various types of flowers. For another example of this printed edition, see FLP 736.
 

Associated Names: Speyer, Friederich
Bibliography:

“Georg Friederich Speyer” in Russell D. and Corinne P. Earnest, Papers for Birth Dayes: Guide to the Fraktur Artists and Scriveners (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1997), 2^nd ed., vol. 2, pp. 722-725.

Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1997) vol. 2, pp. 194-195.

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

Creation Place Town/Township: Creation Place Note:Based on location of printshop.
Region/County:Lancaster
City/Town/Township:Ephrata
State/Province:Pennsylvania

Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): ca. 1801
Image Dimensions Width: 33.5 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 267
Creator Name: Friederich Speyer (active c. 1774-1801) - Decorator
Friederich Speyer (active c. 1774-1801) - Scrivener
John Baumann (1765-1809) - Printer/Publisher