Item Info

Scripts/Text: Fraktur; German script
Language: German
Weiser Number: 507
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Laid paper; watercolor; ink
Transcription:

Geburt und Tauf=Schein. \ Diesen beyden Ehegatten, als: Georg \ Wehrly und seiner ehelichen Hausfrau \ Eva geborne Huwerin ist eine \ Tochter zur Welt gebohren im Jahr unsers Herrn \ Jesu 1810 den 12 ten Tag Mertz \ Diese Tochter ist gebohren, in Catorus \ Taunschip in York Caunty, im Staat \ Pinsylvanien in Nord=America; und ist ge= \ tauft worden und erhielt den Namen Anamaria \ den [blank] Tag [blank] im Jahr un= \ sers Herrn Jesu [blank] von Hrn. Melsheimer \ Pfarrer getauft \ Die tauf=Zeugen waren Michael Meckly und seine \ frau anamaria

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, 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 Feyerkleid.
Ich bin getauft in deinem Namen, \ Gott Vater, Sohn und heil’ger 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!

Härrisburg, \ Gedruckt bey John S. Wiestling.

[penciled in lower right corner]
J D Wehrly

[in left heart
Wann wir kaum gebohren werden, \ Ist vom ersten Lebenstritt \ Bis ins kühle Grab der Erden, \ Nur ein Kurtz gemeßner Schritt. \ Ach! mit jedem Augenblick \ Gehet unsre Kraft zurück, \ Und wir sind mit jedem \ Jahre, Allzureif \ zur Todten= \ bah= \ re.

[in right heart]
Und 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 hinge= \ gen, Ewig’s sterben kann \ erre= \ gen. 
 

Translation:

Birth and Baptismal Certificate.
To these two married people namely Georg Wehrly and his lawful wife Eva, born Huwerin, a daughter was born into the world in the year of our Lord Jesus 1810, on the 12th day of March. This daughter was born in Codorus Township, in York County, in the state of Pennsylvania, in North America, and she was baptized and received the name Anamaria on the [blank] day in the year of our Lord [blank] from Mr. Melsheimer, pastor. The sponsors were Michael Meckly and his wife Anamaria.

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. O! What fortune for me! Lord, let me be worthy of it!

Härrisburg, printed by John S. Wiestling.

[penciled in lower right corner]
J D Wehrly.

[in left 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.

[in right heart]
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.
 

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 as well as a cherub holding two branches are within a rectangular frame in the center of the document. It is flanked by two angels. In the lower left is a cherub with a letter sitting in clouds, and in the lower right is a cherub playing a harp. Two verses in Fraktur are in hearts in the upper corners. In the upper center is an eagle with a shield, arrows in its claw, and a branch in its beak. In the lower center is a variety of fruit, including grapes, apples, pears, and a rose hip.

Another copy of this printed edition is extant for a sibling, Salmi Wehrly, born March 14, 1803, in the collection of the Archives of the Evangelical and Reformed Church in Lancaster, PA.

Associated Names: Wiestling, John S.
Provenance: Scott Francis Brenner

Bibliography:

Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1998) vol. 3, p. 26.

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

Creation Place Town/Township: Creation Place Note:Based on location of printshop
Region/County:Dauphin
City/Town/Township:Harrisburg
State/Province:Pennsylvania

Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): ca. 1814
Image Dimensions Width: 41 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 776
Creator Name: John S. Wiestling (1787-1842) - Printer/Publisher
Anonymous - Decorator
Anonymous - Scrivener