Item Info

Scripts/Text: Fraktur
Language: German
Weiser Number: 97
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Laid paper; watercolor; ink
Watermark: Levan
Transcription:

Elisabetha \ Eyer \ Des Philipp Henrich Eyers und seiner Ehe = \ lichen Hauß=Frau Elisabetha, Geborne Rothrock \ ihre Tochter ist auf diese Welt Geboren worden \ den 5ten Julius 1802. Und ist den Nächst=folgenden 7ten \ August Getauft worden Taufzeugen waren Philipp \ Darrand und seine Eheliche Hauß=Frau Sussanna.

Ich hab bey Meiner Tauf Der Sünd und Teufel abgesagt, Und bin so \ bald darauf durch Christi Blut von sünden Rein, \ Ins Lammes=buch Geschrieben ein Daselbst \ auch auf Mich kam durch solche Tauf \ und Neu=geburt, der schöne Chri= \ sten Nam, bekenn auch Jetzt mit Herz \ und Mund, ich sey ein Christ zu aller Stund.

Translation:

Elisabetha Eyer, of Philipp Henrich Eyers and his lawful wife Elisabetha, born Rothrock, their daughter was born into this world the 5^th of July 1802. And on the following 7^th of August was baptized. Sponsors were Philipp Darrand and his lawful wife Sussanna.

In my baptism, I renounced sin and the devil, and was therefore soon cleansed from sin through Christ’s blood, am written into the Lamb’s book. This came to me through such baptism and rebirth, the beautiful Christian name now also professes with heart and mouth that I am a Christian at all hours.

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

Hand-drawn; hand-colored; hand-lettered. The text in Fraktur is in the center of the document. It is surrounded by eight stars, five birds, and various leafy, flowering vines. The child’s name is written in particularly prominent letters. See FLP 376 for an unfinished version of this design. Johann Adam Eyer never married, but probably was related to the father, Philipp Henrich Eyer, named on the certificate. Eyer taught school in Bucks County, followed by a brief period in Lancaster and then Chester Counties. From c. 1792-1800 he taught in Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County. Around 1800, Eyer and other family members moved to Hamilton Township, Northampton County (now part of Monroe County), where he taught until c. 1820.

Associated Names: Rothrock, Elisabetha
Provenance: Henry S. Borneman

Bibliography:

“Johann Adam Eyer” 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. 1, pp. 256-260.

Frederick S. Weiser, “IAE SD, the Story of Johann Adam Eyer (1755-1837),” in Ebbes fer Alle-Ebber, Ebbes fer Dich (Breinigsville, Pa.: Pennsylvania German Society, 1980), pp. 437-506.

Lisa Minardi, "Quill & Brush: An Introduction to Pennsylvania German Fraktur," in Framing Fraktur: Pennsylvania German Material Culture & Contemporary Art, ed. Judith Tannenbaum (Philadelphia: Free Library of Philadelphia, 2015), published on p. 27 as fig. 13. 

Creation Place County: Creation Place Note:Based on design characteristics and artist’s location
Region/County:[Bucks or Northampton]
State/Province:[Pennsylvania]

Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): ca. 1805
Image Dimensions Width: 25.6 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 377
Creator Name: [Johann Adam Eyer (1755-1837)] - Decorator
[Johann Adam Eyer (1755-1837)] - Scrivener