Item Info

Scripts/Text: Fraktur
Language: German
Weiser Number: 460
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Laid paper; watercolor; ink
Transcription:

Diesen beyden Ehegatten, als: Daniel \ Peter und seiner ehelichen Hausfrau \ Catharina eine gebohrne Siegriedten ist ein\ Sohn zur Welt geboren; im Jahr unsers Herrn 1810 \ den 7ten Tag Hornung, und getauft den 11 ten Maertz von \ Herrn Joh: Gobrecht, Prediger und Diener des Worts nach Christi \ Befehl, Matth. 28, 19. Wobey ihm der Name Daniel \ gegeben ward. Die Taufzeugen sind: Kasper Peter und \ dessen Frau Elisabet. \ Dieser Daniel ist geboren und getauft in Amerika, im Staate \ Pensylvanien, Northamton Caunty, Heidelberg Taunschip.

Wenn wir kaum gebohren werden, ist vom ersten Lebenstritt bis ins kühle Grab der Erden, Nur ein kuz gemeßner \ Schritt. Ach! mit jedem Augenblick gehet unsre Kraft zurück, und wir sind mit jedem Jahr reif genug \ zur Todtenbahr; und wer weiß, in welcher Stunde uns die letzte Stimme weckt: Denn Gott hats \ 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.

[in left heart]
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 Feyer=Kleid.

[in right heart]
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 bleibet ewiglich.

Translation:

To these two married people, namely Daniel Peter and his lawful wife Catharina, a born Siegfriedten, a son was born into the world, in the year of our Lord 1810, the 7^th day February, and baptized the 11^th of March by Mr. Joh. Gobrecht, preacher and servant of God’s Word, according to Christ’s command, Matthew 28:19, when the name Daniel was given to him. The sponsors are Kasper Peter and his wife Elisabet. This Daniel was born and baptized in America, in the state of Pennsylvania, Northampton County, Heidelberg Township.

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 left heart]
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 right heart]
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 in fraktur, with blanks infilled by hand, is within a circular frame in the center of the document. Two verses are in hearts in the lower corners. From them protrude flowers with a bird sitting on top. In the upper corners are two inward-facing angels playing trumpets. In the upper center is a face or sun with emanating beams of light. In the lower center is a pot with leafy stems of foliage. The entire document is enclosed within a decorative border.
For other copies of this edition, see FLP 268 and 1053.

Associated Names: Siegfriedt, Catharina
Provenance: Henry S. Borneman

Bibliography:

Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1997) vol. 1, pp. 94-95.

Secondary Place Town/Township: Geographic Coverage State/Province:Pennsylvania
Geographic Coverage City/Town/Township:Heidelberg Township
Geographic Coverage Note:Based on location of birth.
Geographic Coverage Region/County:Northampton [now Lehigh]

Creation Place Town/Township: Creation Place Note:Based on probable location of printshop.
Region/County:[Berks]
City/Town/Township:[Reading]
State/Province:Pennsylvania

Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): ca. 1807
Image Dimensions Width: 32 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 263
Creator Name: Anonymous - Decorator
Anonymous - Scrivener
Anonymous - Printer/Publisher