Item Info

Scripts/Text: Fraktur; Roman print; Roman script
Language: English
Weiser Number: 454
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Wove paper; watercolor; ink
Transcription:

Certificate of Birth and Baptism.
To these two Parents: as John Will \ and his Wife Hanna a born \ Byrd was born a Son the \ 6th Day of February in the year of our \ Lord 1823 This child was born in [blank] \ in Shenandoah County, in the state \ of Virginia in North-America; was \ baptised by the Rev. Paul Henkel and \ received the name of Aaron Will \ Witness present at the act of the \ holy Baptism: the Parents \ P. H. A. Ueberfeldt

[on the left]
‘Twas the commission of our Lord \ To teach the nations and baptise; \ The nations have received the word \ Since HE ascended to the skies. \ Repent and be baptis’d he said, \ For the remission of your sins; \ And thus our sense assists our faith, \ And shows us what his gospel means. \ Behold what condescending love \ JESUS on earth displays! \ To babes and sucklings he extends \ The riches of his grace! \ He still the ancient promise keeps, \ To our forefathers giv’n; \ Young children in his arms he takes, \ And calls them heirs of heaven. \ “Permit them to approach” he cries, \ “Nor scorn their humble name; \ For ‘twas to bless such souls as these, \ The Lord of angels came.” \ We bring them, Lord, with thankful \ hearts, \ And yield them up to thee; \ Joyful that we ourselves are thine - \ Thine may our offspring be. \ Kindly receive this tender branch, \ And form his soul for God; \ Baptize him with thy spirit Lord, \ And wash him with thy blood.

[on the right]
PROCLAIM,” said Christ. “God’s \ wondrous grace \ To all the sons of men; \ He, who believes and is baptis’d, \ Salvation shall obtain.” \ Let plenteous grace descend on those, \ Who, hoping in this world, \ This day have publicly declar’d, \ That Jesus is their Lord. \ With cheerful feet may they go on, \ And run the Christian race, \ And in the troubles of the way, \ Find all-sufficient grace. \ And when the awful message comes, \ To call their souls away, \ Jesus, with us thou always art, \ Establish now the sacred sign, \ The gift unspeakable impart; \ And bless thine ordinance Divine, \ Spirit divine, descend from high, \ Baptizer of our spirits Thou, \ The sacramental seal apply, \ And witness with the water now. \ Oh! that the souls baptiz’d herein, \ May now thy truth and mercy feel \ Arise, and wash away their sin - \ Come, Holy Ghost, their pardon seal. 
 

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

Hand-lettered; on printed form. The main text in Roman print with blanks infilled in script is within a rectangular frame in the center of the document. The hymn is in two columns on either side. In the upper corners are two putti, the one on the left in clouds with a horn and a letter, and the one on the right holding two branches. In the upper center is a flower and a garland. In the lower corners are two outdoor scenes with people. At the left is a woman seated on a bench and sewing. Next to her is a man who is watering pots of flowers. At the right are four children, one with a basket of fruit and one standing in water. A third boy is carrying the fourth on his back. In the lower center is a floral garland with a bow. The entire document is enclosed by a decorative border.
The hymn is by Isaac Watts (1674-1748). Frederick S. Weiser attributed the printing of this certificate to Daniel Lange of Hanover, c. 1825. Klaus Stopp attributed it to an unknown printer in York or Adams Counties, Pennsylvania or possibly Maryland. The woodcut of the flying putto in the upper right appears on works by Lange from about c. 1813-1824 and the woodcut of the reclining putto appears from 1825-c. 1846. This is one of only two known extant copies of this edition. For the other copy, see FLP 322.
 

Associated Names: Will, John
Bibliography:

Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1997) vol. 1, p. 105.

Secondary Place County: Geographic Coverage State/Province:Virginia
Geographic Coverage Note:Based on location of birth
Geographic Coverage Region/County:Shenandoah

Creation Place County: Creation Place Note:Based on design characteristics
Region/County:[York or Adams]
State/Province:[Pennsylvania]

Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): ca. 1830
Image Dimensions Width: 25 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 1144
Creator Name: Anonymous - Printer/Publisher
Philip H. A. Ueberfeldt (active c. 1815-1833) - Scrivener
Anonymous - Decorator