Church Records From Großbreitenbach, Germany

Gustav Adam Nicol Günther Römhild.

Born 29 September 1840 in Großbreitenbach, Germany

Gustav is Peter's maternal Great-great Grandfather.He imigrates to Americain 1854 at the age of 15.  He begins his family in New York City, but moves later to Philadelphia. 

Churh record here

Page 739 und Getaufte 1840
#60 Gustav Adam Nicol Günther Römhild (ausgew[andert] nach Amerika) New York. [Emigrated to New York.]

Der Vater: Adam Nicol Römhild, Mahlmuller allhier. Getraut den 20. November 1839. Des Getaufte ist des 1. Kind 1.Ehe. [Mahlmuller here, married 20 Nov 1839. The babtized child is the first of the first marriage.]

Die Mutter: Wilhelmine Regine geborne Forkel. Es ist ihr 1. Kind 1. Ehe. [Maiden name Forkel. This is the first child of first marriage.]

Born 29 September früh 2 Uhr. Taufte 18 Oct in der Kirche. [Born early at 2 a.m. Baptized in the church.].

 

Die Taufzeugen: [Godparents, witnesses]

1. Adam Dietzel, Lurschmidt in Dörnfeld.
2. Günther, des Mahlmullers Johann Heinrich Römhild's Sohn allhier. [Günther, son of the miller Joh. Jacob].
3. Jonanne, des Schneidersmeisters Johann Jacob Forkels Tochter allhier,. [Master Tailor's daughter]
4. Johann Nicol Rißland, Scholssermeister allhier. [Master Locksmith?]


Comments:

Note how the names of people are written with a more Latin script than the Deutschschrift used for all the other words!

This particular church has several different witnesses or godparents.  Since children are  named for the godparent rather than the parent, this may explain the multiple first names for many of the children. I do not yet know where the name Gustav came from.

Gustav's mother and grandfather are named Forkel as opposed to Forckel in his parents wedding.  I do not yet know which spelling predominates.

The family relationships of the godparents should be helpful in sorting out the family clans.  There were over 40 Römhild weddings in the 1800s in Großbreitenbach.

Amazingly, the church in Großbrreitenbah had a photograph of an adult Gustav collected as part of a school jubilee.  This is the only known photo of Gustav.