Item Info

Scripts/Text: Fraktur; German script
Language: German
Weiser Number: 449
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Laid paper; watercolor; ink
Watermark: Amies & Co.
Transcription:

Tauf=Schein \ Diesen beyden Ehegatten, als Jacob Dewald und seiner Ehelichen \ Haus=Frau Maria eine gebohrne Mengelin ist eine Tochter zur Welt \ gebohren namens Maria im Jahr unsers Herrn Jesu 1802 den 26ten \ Tag Marz um 8 Uhr [blank] im Zeichen de [blank] \ Diese Maria ist gebohren und Getauft in America, Im Staat Pensilvanien Caunty Berks \ Taunschip Medencreek Obegemelde [blank] ist Getauft worden den [blank] \ von dem Pfar Pauly Tauf=Zeugen Magtalena Dewaldin \ Wann wir kaum gebohren warden, ist vom ersten Lebenstritt bis ins kühle Grab der Erden, Nur ein Kurtz gemessener Schritt. Ach mit jedem Augenblick! \ Gehet unsre Kraft zurück, und wir sind mit jedem Jahre, allzu reif zur Todtenbahre; Und wer weiß in welcher Stunde, uns die letzte Stimme weckt: \ Dann 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; Ewigs Sterben kan erregen. \ Ephrata: bey \ J. Bauman. 

[in heart on left]
Ich bin getauft, ich steh’ im Bunde, \ Durch meine Tauf, mit meinem Gott! \ So sprech’ ich stets mit frohem Munde; \ In Creutz, in Trübsal, Angst und Noth, \ Ich bin getauft, des freu’ \ ich mich, Die Freude \ bleibt mir ewig= \ lich.

[in heart on right]
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, das Fey= \ erkleid.

Translation:

Baptismal Certificate
To these to married people, namely Jacob Dewald and his lawful wife Maria, a born Mengelin, a daughter was born into the world, named Maria, in the year of our Lord Jesus 1802 the 26th day March at 8 o’clock [blank] in the sign of [blank]. This Maria was born and baptized in America, in the state of Pennsylvania County Berks Township Maidencreek Township. Above mentioned [blank] was baptized on the [blank] from Pastor Pauly. Sponsors Magtalena Dewaldin.

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. 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 on left]
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.

[in heart on right]
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.

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

Hand-colored; hand-lettered, on letter-press printed form. The central text is within a large heart in center of the document. Two birds, with a pot and flowers, are below the text within the heart, above the imprint. The baptismal verses are in two hearts in the lower corners, and a vine with a bird protrudes from them. Two springing deer are in the lower corners. The large heart is flanked by rosettes, flowering vines, and tulips.

Associated Names: Pauly
Provenance: Henry S. Borneman

Bibliography:

Klaus Stopp, Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans (East Berlin, Pa., 1997), vol. 2, p. 206.

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

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

Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): ca. 1808
Image Dimensions Width: 33.5 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 104
Creator Name: Anonymous - Decorator
Anonymous - Scrivener
John Baumann (1765-1809) - Printer/Publisher