Item Info

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

Geburt und Tauf=Schein.
Diesen beyden Ehegatten, als: Samuel \ Groß und seiner Ehefrau \ Magdalena geborne Millerin ist \ eine Tochter zur Welt geboren im Jahr \ Christi 1823 den 5ten Tag Mertz Diese \ Tochter ist geboren in Dover Taunschip \ in York Caunty, im Staat Pennsylvania \ in Nord=America; und ist getauft worden und er= \ hielt den Namen Louise \ den 4 ten Tag May im Jahr un= \ sers Herrn 1825 vom Ehrw. Hrn. Helfenstein
Die Tauf=Zeugen waren Johannes Groß frau \ Christina

5. Ich bin getauft in deinem Namen, \ Gott Vater, Sohn und heiliger Geist! \ Ich bin gezählt zu Deinem Saamen, \ Zum Volk, das Dir geheilig’t heiß’t. \ O! welch ein Glück ward dadurch mein! \ Herr, laß mich dessen würdig seyn!

Harrisburg, \ Gedruckt bei Johann S. Wiestling. \ 1820.

[in heart in upper left]
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 heart in upper right]
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.

[in heart in lower left]
4. \ 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 be= \ reit, \ Des Himmels Freud \ und Feuerkleid.

[in heart in lower right]
3. \ Ich bin getauft, ich steh’ im Bunde, \ Durch meine Tauf mit meinem Gott! \ So sprec ich stets mit frohem Munde, \ in Kreuz in Trübsal Angst u. Noth. \ Ich bin getauft, des freu’ ich \ mich, Die Freude bleibt \ mir ewiglich.
 

Translation:

Birth and Baptismal Certificate.
To these two married people, namely Samuel Groß and his wife Magdalena, born Millerin, a daughter was born into the world in the year of Christ 1823, on the 5th day of March. This daughter was born in Dover Township, in York County, in the state of Pennsylvania, in North America, and was baptized and received the name Louise on the 4th day of May in the year of our Lord 1825 from the honorable Mr. Helfenstein. The sponsors were Johannes Groß [and] his wife Christina.

5. 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!

Harrisburg, printed by Johann S. Wiestling. 1820.

[in heart 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 heart 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.

[in heart in lower left]
4. 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 heart in lower right]
3. 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.
 

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, a verse and the imprint in Fraktur are within a rectangular frame in the center of the document. Below the main text is a scene from antiquity, with a woman holding a wreath over a seated boy with a book. Behind them is a temple topped with the bust of a man. Below the verse is a pair of birds on a branch. Four verses in Fraktur within hearts are in the corners of the document. In the upper center is an eagle behind a shield with a branch in its beak and arrows in its claws. On the sides are two angels. The one on the left is holding a wreath. The one on the right is holding a lyre and a bird.

Associated Names: Wiestling, Johann S.
Bibliography:

Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1998) vol. 3, p. 33.

Secondary Place Town/Township: Geographic Coverage State/Province:Pennsylvania
Geographic Coverage City/Town/Township:Dover 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): 1820
Image Dimensions Width: 40.9 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 1174
Creator Name: John S. Wiestling (1787-1842) - Printer/Publisher
Anonymous - Scrivener
Anonymous - Decorator