I have some questions for the esteemed list. My knowledge of German is rather limited but my ability to "read" the old handwriting is improving daily. In reading through some of the church records from Bliedersdorf, I have run across some terms with which I could use some help, viz.:
1) "nat�rlichen Blattern"
I wonder what kind of pox this is. Most likely not smallpox, I think, because there were no other persons dying of this at the same time.
2) "Brinksitzer"
I see this used in the same document that also uses the term "h�usling". How are these two different?
3) "Altentheiler"
Is this some sort of retiree?
4) "im hause getraut"
seen at the end of a marriage record. Does this mean that they were married at home? Any other common phrases seen in marriage records?
Many Thanks,
Brad
"natürlichen Blattern" would be common measles.
"Brinksitzer" is often defined as a cottager who lives on the edge of a
village near a grassy hill called a brink but there are other similar
definitions. A "Häusling" is a day laborer or cottager.
An "Altenteiler" is a retired man. Usually living with children who have
taken over.
"im Haus getraut" means, as you said, married at home.
I would advise that you purchase "German - English Genealogical Dictionary"
by Ernest Thode. Probably available at Ammazon or Barnes & Noble.
Good hunting,
Paul Scheele
Brad,
Paul pretty much answered your questions. I would add that a brinksitzer
was equivalent to what Americans in the old west used to call "squatters".
They built their homes on the small strips of land between cultivated fields
and had no legal claim to the land.
Don Roddy
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