Item Info

Scripts/Text: Fraktur
Language: German
Weiser Number: 476
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Wove paper; watercolor; ink
Transcription:

Geburts= und Taufschein. \ Diesen beyden Ehegatten, als: Johann \ Heinrich Fuhrmann und seiner ehelichen Haus= \ frau Elisabeth eine \ geborne Baumann ist eine Tochter \ zur Welt geboren, den 13ten Tag Mertz \ im Jahre unsers HErrn 1832. Diese Tochter ist \ geboren in Manschester District in \ Carroll County, im Staat Maryland \ in Nord=Amerika, und ist getauft worden \ und erhielt den Namen Elisabeth Rachel \ den 2ten Tag February \ im jahr unsers HErrn 1834 von Hrn. T. Geiger \ Die Taufzeugen waren Christine Baumann

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 sein!
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 Feierkleid.

[in upper left]
Wann wir kaum gebohren werden \ Ist vom ersten Lebenstritt \ Bis ins kühle Grab der Erden \ Nur ein Kurtz 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 bottom]
Baltimore, gedruckt und zu haben bei Joh. T. Hanzsche, No. 30 Market=Street, zwischen der Frederick und Harrison St. 
 

Translation:

Birth and Baptismal Certificate.
To these two married people namely Johann Heinrich Fuhrmann and his lawful wife Elisabeth, a born Baumann, a daughter was born into the world on the 13th of day of March in the year of our Lord 1832. This daughter was born in Manchester District, in Carroll County, in the state of Pennsylvania, in North America, and was baptized and received the name Elisabeth Rachel on the 2nd day of February in the year of our Lord 1834 from Mr. T. Geiger. The sponsors were Christine Baumann.

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 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 bottom]
Baltimore, printed and to be had from Joh. T. Hanzsche, No. 30 Market Street, between Frederick und Harrison Streets
 

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 in Fraktur and a rose are within a rectangular frame in the center of the document. Two verses in Fraktur within rectangular frames are in the upper corners . In the upper center is an eagle with a shield who is holding arrows and a branch in its claws. On the sides are two inward facing angels. The one on the left is holding a lyre and a wreath, and the other one is holding a lyre and a bird. Below them are trees with two birds perched on them. In the lower center are two baskets with flowers, two bunches of flowers and a vase with flowers. In the lower corners are two trees. The imprint in Fraktur runs along the lower edge. The entire document is framed by a decorative border.

Associated Names: Hanzsche, Johann T.
Bibliography:

Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1999) vol. 5, p. 61.

Secondary Place Town/Township: Geographic Coverage State/Province:Maryland
Geographic Coverage City/Town/Township:Manchester District
Geographic Coverage Note:Based on location of birth
Geographic Coverage Region/County:Carroll

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): 1842
Image Dimensions Width: 38.1 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 774
Creator Name: Johann T. Hanzsche (active c. 1825-1846) - Printer/Publisher
Anonymous - Scrivener
Anonymous - Decorator