I traveled back to southern New York state with my mother for a sad reason: the memorial services of my maternal grandmother. After a sad morning service, several of us went to my Uncle's home to reminisce and talk about happier times while looking through boxes of family photos and documents. We were able to quickly locate the trunk in the basement. It had seen better days, and had some mold and water damage, and was being used to store a few deteriorating blankets and items (none which seemed connected with Elizabeth necessarily). But we dusted it off and brought it upstairs for some photos.
It was a simple wooden trunk with metal handles and keyhole. (Didn't locate the key, but didn't matter as it was not locked anyway.) It was stamped or stenciled simply with her name, port of departure (Bremen), port of arrival (New York), name of vessel (die Werra) and date of departure (16 September) of 1885.
Just as exciting though, was locating the Pfeil family bible, which despite missing the first several pages (likely a few blank pages which may have contained writing) and parts of Genesis, held handwritten family information in both the front and back, and a few dried, pressed leaves in between the pages. Mold and moisture had started to deteriorate the book, and the pages had separated from the spine, but I brought it back home with me to Colorado, and did my best to gently dust and clean the exterior cover and the front and back interior and edges of the pages so as to delay further damage. I also made sure the book got a few days in the sun but in the dry Colorado air so I think I have probably killed much of the mold and mildew and delayed further deterioration for now. Next step will be looking into preservation and storage.
But first, the written pages! Here are photographs of the writing on those pages. (I am going to do my best over the coming days to transcribe and translate what I can make out, filling in the captions below.)
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| "Lisbeth und Heinrich Pfeil zu ihrer Confirmation von Frau von Gemmingen, Damhof 1875. Wilhelm Ludwig Gärtner geboren am Dienstag Nachts 10 Uhr 4. November 1890. Heinrich Joseph Gärtner geboren am Donnerstag Morgens um 5 Uhr 15. Dezember 1892." Translation: "Lisbeth and Henrich Pfeil, for their Confirmation, by Mrs. Von Gemmingen, Damhof 1875. Wilhelm Ludwig Gartner born on Tuesday night, 10 November 1890. Heinrich Joseph Gartner born on Thursday morning 5 o'clock December 15, 1892." [Notes: Special thanks to the help of several individuals on the German Genealogy Group on Facebook who translated and also offered historical context. I learned that Frau von Gemmingen was likely Julie von Gemmingen, wife to Ernst Ludwig von Gemmingen and that it was the custom for wealthier ladies of estates like that on Dammhof, to give a small gift like a Bible to children on their Confirmation. Secondly, wanted to note that the Heinrich mentioned above died shortly after birth. Elisabetha would later have another son who was given the same name.] |
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| On this page appears to be recipes for preserving meat: 100 Pfund Fleisch; 8 Pfund Salz, 1 Kwart Melasse; 2 aunses Saltbiter; 1/2 Pfund Sote; Kellen Wasser (100 pounds of meat, 8 pounds of salt, 1 quart molasses, 2 ounces saltpeter, 1/2 pound sote?; Kellen water) 16 Pfund Fleisch, 1 Stab Salz, 1/2 Steg? Satz?; 3 diespun Pfeffer; 1 diespun Ailspeis? (16 pounds of meat, 1 rod salt, 1/2 steg satz, 3 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon Allspice?) |
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| 1 William Ludwig Gartner gaboren den 4 November am Dienstag Nacht 10 Uhr / 1890. 2 Schalle Anton Gartner / geboren am Samstag = morgens um 5 Uhr am / 21. September 1894. 3 Heinrich Josef Gartner geboren am 20 Dezember / am Sontagmorgens um / 5 Uhr 1896. Translation: 1 William Ludwig Gartner born the 4th of November on Tuesday night 10 o'clock 1890. 2 Schalle (Charles) Anton Gartner born on Saturday morning at 5'oclock at the 21st of September 1894 3 Heinrich Josef Gartner / born on 20th December on Sunday morning at 5 o'clock 1896 |
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| On this page: Ludwig Pfeil gaboren am 22 Marz 18 Elisabetha Pfeil gaboren am 10 August Anton Pfeil gaboren am 23 Marz 1859 Heinrich Pfeil gaboren am 26 Februar 1861 Elisabetha Pfeil gaboren am 26 Februar 1861. Rosina Pfeil 1 Mai 1877 Translation: Ludwig Pfeil born on 22 March 1818 (other records state 23 March 1828 was his birthdate) Elisabetha Pfeil born on 10 August (year is missing, worth noting also that other records show a different date in August for her birth) Anton Pfeil born on 23 March 1859 Heinrich Pfeil born on 26 February 1861 Elisabetha Pfeil born on 26 February 1861 Rosina Pfeil 1 May 1877 |
We also found a number of old photos, negatives and documents stored in cardboard boxes in my Uncle's basement. Some of them we have not identified, but are may be descendants of Elisabetha and her husband. I am scanning many of them now, so stay tuned!
