Item No: frk01161

Title:
Birth and Baptismal Certificate (Geburts und Taufschein) for Elias Nicholas

Category:
Birth and Baptismal Certificate (Geburts und Taufschein)

Creators:
Scrivener: Elizabeth Borneman Dieterly (1798-1871)
Decorator: Elizabeth Borneman Dieterly (1798-1871)
Printer/Publisher: Henry August Hütter (1800-1824)
Printer/Publisher: Friedrich Wilhelm Hütter (1800-1824)

Creation Place:
Town/Township: Easton
County: Northampton
State/Province: Pennsylvania
Note: Based on location of printshop

Creation Date: 1827

Physical Description: Leaf

Dimensions: 32.8 cm x 40.6 cm

Material: Wove paper; watercolor; ink

Media Type: Letterpress Prints

Language: German

Scripts/Text: Fraktur; German script

Associated Names: Dieterly, Elizabeth Borneman; Hütter, Friedrich Wilhelm; Hütter, Henry August; Lang, Catharina; Lang, Maria; Lang, Peter; Miller, Henrich; Nicolas, Elias; Nicolas, Johannes ; Nicolas, Maria; Welton, C.

Secondary Places:
Town/Township: Haycock Township
County: Bucks
State/Province: Pennsylvania
Note: Based on location of birth

Notes:

Hand-drawn; hand-colored; hand-lettered; printed form. The main text in Fraktur with blanks infilled in German script are in a heart in the center of the document. Two verses in Fraktur within small hearts are in the lower corners. The large heart is surrounded by several birds perched on leafy vines with flowers. The vines grow from heart-shaped plant containers. In the upper center and below the small hearts are stars. Notations in English regarding the confirmation and baptism are on the reverse (1161v). The certificate was printed c. 1822 but not filled out until 1827.

Transcription:

Geburts= und Tauf=Schein.
Diesen beyden Ehegatten, als Meister Johannes Nicolas und seiner ehelichen \ Haus=Frau Maria eine geborne Langin ist ein Sohn zur Welt gebohren, Na= \ mens Elias im Jahr unsers Herrn Jesu 1823 den 18 Tag \ August um [blank] Uhr [blank] im Zeichen de [blank] \ Dieser Elias ist Gebohren und Getauft in America, im Staat Pennsyl= \ vanien, in Bucks Caunty, in Haycock Taunschip, \ Obgemelde dieser Elias ist Getauft worden den [blank] von \ HERRN Henrich Miller Tauf=Zeugen waren Peter Lang \ und seine frau Catharina

Wurde Comformirt und aufgenommen in die Lutherische Gemeinde von C. Welton \ Im Jahr Christi A. D. 1839

Wann wir kaum gebohren werden, ist vom ersten Lebenstritt bis ins kühle Grab der Erden, Nur ein kurz gemessner \ 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: \ 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 hingegen; Ewig’s Sterben kann erregen.

Gedruckt bey H. und W. Hütter, Easton.
Verfertigt von \ Elizabeth Dieterly \ 1827.

[in lower left]
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 \ Feyerkleid.

[in lower right]
Ich bin getauft, ich steh im Bunde, \ Durch meine Tauf mit meinem Gott \ So sprach ich stets mit frohem Munde \ in Creutz, in Trübsal, Angst und \ Noth. Ich bin getauft, deß \ freu’ ich mich, Die \ Freude bleibet \ ewiglich.
 

Translation:

Birth and Baptismal Certificate.
To these two married people namely Mister Johannes Nicolas and his lawful wife Maria, a born Langin, a son was born into the world, named Elias, in the year of our Lord Jesus 1823, on the 18th day of August at [blank] o’clock [blank] in the sign o [blank]. This Elias was born and baptized in America, in the state of Pennsylvania, in Bucks County, in Haycock Township. Abovementioned Elias was baptized on the [blank] by Mister Henrich Miller. Sponsors were Peter Lang and his wife Catharina.

Was confirmed and admitted into the Lutheran congregation by C. Welton in the year of Christ A.D. 1839.

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.
Printed by H. and W. Hütter, Easton.
Prepared by Elizabeth Dieterly, 1827.

[in lower left]
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 lower right]
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.
 

Bibliography:

Cory M. Amsler, ed., Bucks County Fraktur (Kutztown, Pa.: Pennsylvania German Society, 1999), pp. 246-248; published as fig. 202.

Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1997) vol. 2, p. 84.

Subjects:

• Animals
• Birds
• Flowers
• Hearts (Symbols)
• Leaves
• Stars
• Vines

Source:
Rare Book Department