Item Info

Scripts/Text: Fraktur
Language: German
Weiser Number: 501
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Wove paper; watercolor; ink
Transcription:

Geburts= und Taufschein. \ Diesen beyden Ehegatten \ Als: Thomas Killmer \ und seiner ehelichen Hausfrau Rebecca Killmer \ eine geborne Leisen ist eine \ Tochter zur Welt gebohren, den 18ten Tag \ Märtz im Jahr unsers Herrn, 1834 \ Diese Tochter ist geboren in Tolpenhacken \ Township Bercks Caunty, im Staat \ Pensilvania in Nord=Amerika, und ist \ getauft worden und erhielt den Namen Carolina \ den 9 ^ten Tag May \ im Jahr unsers HErrn 1834 von Hrn Pfarr Leimbach \ Die Taufzeugen waren Lidia Zeller.

[on eagle’s banner]
E PLURIBUS UNUM

[in upper left]
O, wer weis, 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, \ Ewiges Sterben kann erregen.

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

[in lower center]
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 heiliger 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 Feyer=Kleid.

Translation:

Birth and Baptismal Certificate
To these two married people, namely Thomas Killmer and his lawful wife Rebecca Killmer, a born Leisen, a daughter was born into the world, the 18^th day March in the year of our Lord 1834. This daughter was born in Tulpehocken Township, Berks County, in the state of Pennsylvania, in north America, and was baptized and received the name Carolina on the 9^th day May in the year of our Lord 1834, from Mr. Pastor Leimbach. The sponsors were Lidia Zeller.

[on eagle’s banner]
E pluribus unum

[in upper left]
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 upper right]
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 lower center]
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 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, 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.

[in bottom center]
Allentaun, Penn. Gedruckt und zu haben bei Gräter und Blumer

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

Hand-colored; hand-lettered, printed form. The central text is within a frame in the center of the document. Three verses within frames are below it. Two additional verses within rectangular frames are in the upper corners. The main text is flanked by two large inward-facing angels with lyres, one holding a wreath and the other with a bird. A spread-winged eagle, with a banner in its beak is in the upper center. In each of the lower corners are two birds perched on a leafy tree. A small urn with flowers is below the verses in the center.

Associated Names: Zeller, Lidia
Provenance: Henry S. Borneman

Bibliography:

Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1998) vol. 1, p. 172.

Secondary Place Town/Township: Geographic Coverage State/Province:Pennsylvania
Geographic Coverage City/Town/Township:Tulpehocken 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:Lehigh
City/Town/Township:Allentown
State/Province:Pennsylvania

Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): ca. 1833
Image Dimensions Width: 40.5 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 148
Creator Name: Anonymous - Decorator
Anonymous - Scrivener
Augustus Gräter (1803-1863) - Printer/Publisher
Alexander Blumer (1806-1842) - Printer/Publisher