Deciphering Records
Church Records
It is not uncommon to find spelling inconsistencies based on geographical and other differences, so researchers should check surname variants. Baptisms can give quite detailed information in German, sometimes including the towns of origin of the parents and occupations. Marriages commonly provide the dates of marriage banns, marriage date, and names of the bride, groom and witnesses. Often the maiden name of the deceased or of the spouse is given and if they are from outside the community, a place name may be given.
Death Notices
Every researcher knows that obituaries and death notices can yield essential information. Death notices in German newspapers are no exception, in fact they can sometimes
provide unexpected information. For researchers who do not know German, however, the main problem is the language barrier. Despite this, it is quite possible to decipher death notices with a few key tools, some background information, and a little practice.