Magenheim CastleCleebronn, Germany
The joy of microfilm records....
I have a number of reels of microfilm on Neckargemuend, Germany on permanent loan from the Family History Center in the Chicago Heights Family History Library. The church records of those reels of microfilm are invaluable. I have found births, baptismal, marriage, and death records on many, many of my Sommer and Rusch ancestors.
In December, 2009, I discovered that my 4th Great Grandfather Johann Michael Sommer married in Neckargemuend, Germany, however, he was a resident of Cleebronn, Germany.
That information lead me to a new location to investigate. I was keeping my fingers crossed that there would be some information available so I could continue my family research. Lucky for me there is!Below is the 1795 marriage record of Johann Michael Sommer and Anna Margaretha Schmidt that lead me to Cleebronn, Germany.
The translation reads as follows:1795
On the 28th of April, the unmarried, prospective local citizen and baker Johann Michael Sommer, born in Cleebronn in Wurttemburg's greater district of Brackenheim, and Anna Margaretha, unmarried legitimate daughter left behind by the deceased local citizen and master butcher Johann Valentin Schmidt, were married here in the church after posting three banns and receipt of the Dismissorial.
One description of Dismissorial is: written permission to get married by another Reverend in another community.
This translation was completed by N. Grossman, a professional German researcher/translator, December of 2009.
So, last Thursday I reviewed the first of two reels of film on Cleebronn, Germany that I had requested. I must have copied twenty some records in about 2 1/2 hours of work. Plus, there is so much more on this particular reel of film. From a marriage proclamation in Cleebronn on Johann Michael's first marriage, I believe I discovered the name of his mother and father. There are also at least nine possible sibling baptismal records, several death records, which may include Michael's grandparents. That information would take my research back to my 6th great grandparents! Oh how I wish there were photographs!
The records I discovered have been scanned and sent to N. Grossman. I cannot wait to go back to the FHC and continue my research and hopefully, find even more connections and ancestors!
1 comment:
Congrats to you Pam! There's nothing quite like finding an ancestral village and then finding out the LDS has filmed there. It's really like hitting the jackpot, isn't it?
I remember those days and wish I had more ancestral villages to find!
Enjoy!
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