Item Info

Scripts/Text: Fraktur
Language: German
Weiser Number: 332
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Laid paper; watercolor; ink
Transcription:

Tauf-Schein

[main text]
Elisabetha ist geboren in Grünwitsch Taunschip \ Berks Caunty, Im Jahr 1818 den 29sten September \ Ihre Eltern sind der Ehrsame Martin Zettelmaier \ und seine Ehefrau Catharina und ist getauft worden \ vom alten Luth Pred Doct Fr Miller der Kirche Liba \ non in Windsor Taunschip B C Ihre Taufzeugen sind \ der Ehrsame Andras Reinhard und seine Ehe= \ frau Sarah in Albany Taunschip B C Penselvany \ Gott erhalte diß Kind und laß es seelig werden wünscht der Prediger

[in and below oval frame above main text]
Ich bin getauft, Ich steh im bunde, Durch meine Tauf mit meinem Gott, So= \ sprech ich stets mit frohem Munde, In Trübsal, angst und Noth, ich bin getauft \ Deß freu ich mich, die freude bleibt mir ewiglich, Ich bin getauft ob ich gleich sterbe \ was schadet mir das kühle grab, ich weiß mein vaterland und erbe, = \ Daß ich bey Gott im Himmel hab, nach meinem Tod ist mir bereit, \ Deß Himmelsfreud und feuer kleid, ich bin getauft in deinem Namen, Gott, Vater \ Sohn und heil’ger geist, ich bin getauft in d ich bin gezählt zu deinem Saamen Zum Volk das dir geheiligt heißt =

[below main text]
= O welch ein glück ward dadurch mein Herr laß mich dessen würdig sein.

[in heart]
Wann wir kaum geboren wer \ ist von unserm ersten Lebens \ Tritt biß ins kühle grab der erden \ nur ein kurtz gemessner schritt, \ und wir werden auch mit Jedem \ Jahre allzu reif zur toden \ bahre und wer weiß wann \ uns gottes stimme \ weckt dan gott \ hats mit seine \ m munde=

[next to heart]
keinem noch entdeckt.

[contnued on reverse]

Translation:

Baptismal Certificate

[main text]
Elisabetha was born in Greenwich Township, Berks County, in the year 1818, the 29th of Septemer. Her parents are the honorable Martin Zettelmaier and his wife Catharina, and was baptized by the old Lutheran preacher Doctor Fr[iedrich] Miller of the church Lebanon in Windsor Township, B[erks] C[ounty]. Her sponsors were the honorable Andras Reinhard and his wife Sarah of Albany Township, B[erks] C[county], Pennsylvania. God preserve this child and let it become blessed, is the preacher’s wish.

[in and below oval frame above main text]
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.

[below main text]
O! What fortune for me! Lord, let me be worthy of it!

[in heart]
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. And who knows in what hour the final voice will awaken us, because God has

[next to heart]
not revealed this to anybody yet.

[continued on reverse]
 

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

Hand-drawn; hand-colored; hand-lettered. The main text in Fraktur within a rectangular frame is in the center of the document. The verses in Fraktur are in and below an oval frame in the top center, and within and next to a heart in the lower center. The text is surrounded by leafy, flowering vines as well as star-shaped flowers. The entire document is framed by a decorative border. For the reverse of this item, see FLP 345v.
Formerly known as the Smoke Church Artist, Friederick Miller served several Lutheran congregations, though primarily the Smoke Church (also known as St. Paul’s Church and Lebanon Church) in Windsor Township, Berks County.  For another example of his work, see FLP 1210.
 

Associated Names: Zettelmaier, Martin
Provenance: Henry S. Borneman

Bibliography:

“Smoke Church Artist” 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. 708-709.

Russell and Corinne Earnest, “FRAKTUR-FEST II: A Tribute to Richard S. Machmer,” in Der Reggboge 41, no. 2 (2007): 8-11.

Creation Place Town/Township: Creation Place Note:Based on location of birth
Region/County:Berks
City/Town/Township:Greenwich Township
State/Province:Pennsylvania

Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): ca. 1820
Image Dimensions Width: 20.8 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 345
Creator Name: [Friederick Miller (c. 1749-1827)] - Decorator
[Friederick Miller (c. 1749-1827)] - Scrivener