Random inspiration, when contemplating ancestral research

It is always remarkable to me, the moments of serendipity, when I'm pondering my family history. Through a mix of hard work and these events, over time I have come to know that I'm getting research help from the other side.

One simple instance of this happened today. Taken alone, it may not even seem noteworthy to the genealogical novice, but I knew it was a communication from the divine.

As I was sitting at my computer, wondering what genealogy lead or genealogy site to click on next, and while not following anything about the Schilling family, I had a very small thought that I should go to ProQuest and search the Baltimore Sun. I dismissed it for a moment as my own wishful thinking, but it seemed different than my own thinking so I then went to the page. I had the thought to type a certain string of words, and the name Schilling. There I found two articles that I do not recall ever seeing before about my great great grandparents Thomas and Margaret Schilling.

They were simple news articles. In one, Thomas told a pier diver that she must ask permission before jumping (he was a watchman at the pier). In the other, Margaret was named as the President of a local Women's Club. No big new genealogy finds, just a small glimpse into the lives of some of my most elusive ancestors.

I was happy that I followed the impression and felt peaceful about having found the articles.

Extract from one article:

Doebel/Debler/Doebler from Schwäbisch Gmünd to Baltimore

Last July I wrote "I forgot to look for my great grandmom." That was a post about reviewing my genealogy, and finding a couple lines that I had overlooked, ripe for further research. I said I would write again about it, and so here I go.

On one of those lines, my research has been very successful.

My 5th great grandmother Barbara Doebel was born in 1829 and immigrated to Baltimore, Maryland from Nandlstadt, Oberbayern, Bavaria (Germany). When I found some of her relatives on some microfilms of Baltimore church records, I got her parents names. I think I got one more generation off of FamilySearch.org because of names someone else shared on the tree. Anyhow, that is where I was in researching that family until this year. Between July and now, we were able to extend several of Barbara's lines a few more generations in microfilmed Nandlstadt town/family-book records. 

It took a few months because I ordered the microfilms I needed through the FamilySearch Catalog to be sent from their library in Utah to a local branch where I live. A few times I had the wrong film because the books spanned multiple films and it was not clear which one had which families.  

When the films arrived each time I got an email letting me know, and I drove to the library to look at them. I photocopied and then scanned into the FamilySearch Family Tree all the relevant records, as I typed in the new names that I was finding.

After going through all the relevant records for Nandlstadt, I analyzed the records for next steps. The Nandlstadt records only took the families to a certain point. The Doebler surname had various spellings in the original records, and I will use various spellings too. The earliest Doebler in my line, in Nandlstadt records, had listed the town that this earliest Doebler was from: Schwäbisch Gmünd, Niederbayern, Bayern, Germany

See that record [click here].

Using the same kinds of microfilmed town/family-books for Schwäbisch Gmünd, the line could be traced all the way into the 1500's before the paper trail ran out. Now, that is a good example of having research success after overlooking clues on my tree for a few years.

An intro to my DNA and the tests I've been taking

DNA testing has been around for a long time and the general public probably thinks of uses such as: paternity testing, ancient anthropology, and forensic science.

In about the year 2000, DNA testing for genealogy began to be popularized when Family Tree DNA began offering tests specifically for that market. Then in perhaps 2007 Ancestry.com either began or improved their DNA test marketing. At that early stage they were offering Y-DNA tests. To understand all this it is important to understand there are 3 main types of genealogy DNA tests. Y-DNA (usually you must choose STR or SNP markers though STR is more common for genealogy purposes), mtDNA, and autosomal DNA.

In 2008, I took my first DNA test, the Ancestry.com Y-DNA 33 STR marker test. I came up with 2 close matches that were both surnamed McCormick just like me. Because Y-DNA goes father to son only, it follows the straight paternal line and having a McCormick match is precisely the surname match I would have expected. We began to email each other, but because of the difficulties of Irish genealogy we have not been able to document our cousin relationship. I also found out that my paternal line is in haplogroup R1b.

mtDNA was not quite as developed as Y-DNA at first for genealogy, but in 2010 I ordered my first mtDNA test. My matches with that were not particularly useful for anything, but I found it interesting to know that my straight maternal line is in the H haplogroup.

That same year I also got Ancestry.com's upgrade from 33 STR markers to 46 markers for my Y-DNA test. I still matched the other two McCormicks on my list exactly, except for one marker.

So far you may be thinking, "Why would anyone take a DNA test when all they get is this?" Well, some people don't think it is worth the money. That is up to you, but I am all for using DNA to help with genealogy. I look at is as a long term investment for a few reasons. 1) As more people test, more matches may appear. 2) The money we spend on DNA testing helps these companies stay in business and therefore funds progress in the science. 3) This may help others who are adopted or otherwise will benefit by seeing you as a match when they test.

The next tests I took were the autosomal DNA tests with Family Tree DNA and Ancestry.com. I will discuss those next.

I forgot to look for my great grandmom

I am in a state of disbelief. How could this happen? How could I forget her?

I'm always thinking about genealogy, investing significant amounts of time and money to find my own ancestors, and carefully thinking through the problems. How could I have completely forgotten to look for my great grandmom? She is actually my 4th great grandmom (Veronica Schuermer), but that is no excuse because I have a large 9 generation chart on my wall which I often stop to look at. There she is, one of the remaining lines that stops before the chart stops--my questioning gaze almost ignores her, I set her aside.

I remembered that I had worked on her husband's (Blasius Grein) line not long ago and figured I did not have the information I needed to go any further. I knew that I had extended her husband's line, but just assumed that I did not know where she was from and there is not much to do when you don't know where someone is from. At some point, I found that she and her husband immigrated together with the same surname. That means they got married before coming. Somehow I forgot about this important fact, and was still assuming that I did not know where she was from. When I wrote my July 4th list of immigrants, I started thinking about it again. When I finally realized that Veronica was probably from some place near her husband--if not the same town--I pushed the thought to research her aside, thinking I must have already looked at her husband's town (or else, how could I have found his ancestors?). And, if I looked at her husband's town, I must have looked for her. Although I could not remember doing it, I knew I couldn't have overlooked such a task--at least I thought I knew that.

It turns out that I never did look at the Boxtal, Germany microfilms--a realization that I only had today. I ordered the films a few days ago, but did so still thinking that I was going to be "more" thorough this time, and make sure I take my time in looking for Veronica--not just Blasius' family. I did not realize all of this until I searched my digital genealogy folders, and my e-mails for all mention of the surname Grein. There was very little to be found, and certainly nothing that indicated I had ever searched the Boxtal microfilms. I still had a hard time believing it. How could I possibly forget to look for my great grandmom? I think about my ancestors all the time, and who I can find more about--especially any immigrant lines that are not documented yet.

Then I started to put the pieces together. I read a post that I wrote back in August 2011. My parents and I ordered some films for a close-by town in early 2011 because we knew someone named Blasius Grein appeared there. Many Greins were in those films, but within a few months I found that our Blasius Grein was actually part of the "Germany, Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898" collection on FamilySearch.org. That collection revealed that he was from Boxtal. I actually used extractions on FamilySearch to extend the line multiple generations, but it said nothing about Veronica. At the time, I may not have known she was married to him before they moved to the USA. I never ordered the films. I was in college at the time, and became sidetracked. I suppose that I was satisfied with the extracts, and over time I forgot exactly what I had done. In 2012 I visited the Family History Library (FHL) in Salt Lake City, Utah several times, having much success. At no point during that time did I decide to look at the Grein microfilms. I am not sure why. Perhaps because of the major success for finding other new names, or forgetting about it.

What makes it even more perplexing is that I've spent a couple thousand dollars this year to hire experts in countries of origin and towns that have not been filmed by the LDS FHL. It has been very successful, with hundreds of direct ancestors resulting. I believed that I had exhausted the resources for my German immigrant lines, as far as what has been filmed for Germany and available through the FHLC. This was all based on faulty memory.

I'm not sure that Veronica will be from Boxtal, but at least now I am not working on false assumptions anymore when it comes to her. I know that I can at least start with Boxtal and then look at surrounding parishes. At least now I am back on track.

I have a very similar story that happened to me with another immigrant line, where I never did order the films. This other example was another one that I started to review because of writing my July 4th list. I realized that I had overlooked it so many times, thinking that I must have already viewed the films or something. Needless to say, I've ordered that film too.

I'll let you know how it goes. Moral of the story: even if you are a genealogist 24/7, you might be forgetting one of your relatives. Pull out a 9 generation chart, make a detailed list of certain types of people that you like to research (immigrants, military, etc), and then carefully verify that you really have pursued all the leads that you think you did.

My Immigrant Ancestors: A detailed list

Note: All names link to the individual in FamilySearch Family Tree for more information, and a photograph (if available). A free account will be needed. Several New England lines on my tree end before reaching an immigrant. Those and some of the very distant, or uncertain immigrants have been left off the list. When a family came together, I list the youngest person in my direct line as the immigrant.

I hope that this increases visibility of these names so that if a cousin ever searches for one of these names they will find it. I also want to make the point for July 4th, that our nation is made of immigrants. In process of making this list, I have already thought of some new research questions. Have a list on your blog? Leave a link in the comments section.

Paternal

• Samuel McCormick, born 1831/1834, 3rd great grandfather;
  Ireland (Strabane, County Tyrone), through Philadelphia ~1849, settled in Burlington, New Jersey;
  have photo
• Margaret Caldwell, b.1836/1840, 3gg;
  Ireland, through Philadelphia before 1850, settled in Burlington, New Jersey;
  married Samuel McCormick, 16 October 1864;
  have photo
• Robert Hosie, b.1826, 3gg;
  Scotland (Abbey Paisley, Renfrewshire), New York 1833, s. New York and Massachusetts;
  have photo
• Elizabeth MacGregor, b.1826, 3gg;
  Scotland (Busby, Renfrewshire), through New York ~1839, s. Massachusetts;
  m. Robert Hosie, 16 August 1846;
  have photo
• John Philip Ament, b.1835, 3gg;
  Germany (Heuchelheim, Gießen, Hessen), New York ~1837, s. Oneida, New York;
  m. Eva Esch;
  have photo
• Barnhard Esch, b.1802, 4gg;
  France (Hunsbach, Bas Rhin, Alsace), New York bef.1833, s. Oneida, New York;
• Margaret Mathias, b.~1800, 4gg;
  Germany/France, New York bef.1833, s. Oneida, New York;
  m. Barnhard Esch

Maternal

• Thomas Schilling, b.~1820, 4gg;
  Germany (Pommersfelden, Franconia, Bavaria), Baltimore bef.1845, s. Baltimore, Maryland;
• Margaret Hahn (Anna Margaretha Hahn), b.1818, 4gg;
  Germany (Pommersfelden, Franconia, Bavaria), Baltimore bef.1845, s. Baltimore, Maryland;
  m. Thomas Schilling, 11 August 1845
• Henry Lindemann, b.1835, 3gg;
  Germany (Oberramstadt, Hessen), Baltimore aft.1863, s. Baltimore, Maryland;
• Catherine Schuchmann, b.1840, 3gg;
  Germany (Oberramstadt, Hessen), Baltimore aft.1863, s. Baltimore, Maryland;
  m. Henry Lindemann, ~1863
• Conrad Grauling (Konrad), b.1820, 4gg;
  Germany (Bleichenbach, Oberhessen), Baltimore bef.1850, s. Baltimore, Maryland;
• Christina Pabst, b.1826, 4gg;
  Germany (Bobenhausen II, Hessen), Baltimore ~1846, s. Baltimore, Maryland;
  m. Conrad Grauling
• Frank Dunkes (Franciscus, Franz), b.1810, 4gg;
  Germany (Wallnsdorf, Berching, Oberpfalz, Bayern), Baltimore bef.1851, s. Baltimore, Maryland;
• Maria Anna Wipfelt, b.1821, 4gg;
  Germany (Memmelsdorf, Bamberg, Bavaria?), Baltimore bef.1851, s. Baltimore, Maryland;
  m. Frank Dunkes, 6 July 1851
• John F. Hanna, b.1848, 3gg;
  Ireland, Baltimore ~1867, s. Baltimore, Maryland;
  m. Catherine Schumann
• Conrad Schumann (Johann Conrad), b.1808, 4gg;
  Germany (Roßdorf, Darmstadt, Starkenburg), Baltimore 1836, s. Baltimore, Maryland;
• Mary Martha Huebner, b.~1828, 4gg;
  Germany (Melkendorf?), Baltimore ~1849, s. Baltimore, Maryland;
  m. Conrad Schumann
• Henry Ripke (Johann Heinrich), b.1818, 4gg;
  Germany (Langforden, Oldenberg), Baltimore bef.1852, s. Baltimore, Maryland;
• Elisabeth Vaske (Anna Elizabeth), b.1828, 4gg;
  Germany (Essen, Oldenberg), Baltimore bef.1852, s. Baltimore, Maryland;
  m. Henry Ripke, 15 February 1852
• Henry Bewig (Heinrich Johann Friedrich Julius Böwig), b.1845, 3gg;
  Germany (Obersickte, Braunschweig), Baltimore 1853, s. Baltimore, Maryland;
  m. Katherine Hecker
• John Jacob Hecker (Johann Jacob Christian Hecker), b.1816, 4gg;
  Germany (Gellershausen, Waldeck), Baltimore bef.1845, s. Baltimore, Maryland;
• Catherine Lückel (Charlotte Catherine Elisabeth Christine), b.1819, 4gg;
  Germany (Braunau, Bad Wildungen, Waldeck), Baltimore ~1845/50, s. Baltimore, Maryland;
  m. John Jacob Hecker
• Daniel Dougherty, b.~1826, 5gg;
  Ireland (Donegal), Baltimore bef.1847, s. Baltimore, Maryland;
• Mary Ann Carr, b.~1828, 5gg;
  Ireland (Donegal), Baltimore bef.1847, s. Baltimore, Maryland;
  m. Daniel Dougherty, 30 October 1847
• Rosa Steil (Teresa Rosa), b.1850, 4gg;
  Germany (Nandlstadt, Oberbayern, Bavaria), Baltimore bef.1860, s. Baltimore, Maryland;
  m. John Thomas Dougherty
• Blasius Grein, b.1825, 4gg;
  Germany (Boxtal, Wertheim, Mosbach, Baden), New York 1852, s. Baltimore, Maryland;
• Veronica Schuermer, b.~1830, 4gg;
  Germany (?Mosbach, Baden), New York 1852, s. Baltimore, Maryland;
  m. Blasius Grein
• Albert Davis-Tebens, b.1831, 4gg;
  Germany (Wiesteling/Zwisterich/Schwistering/Wistering, Hanover), Baltimore bef.1854, s. Baltimore, Maryland;
• Mary Reinhard (Anna Maria Aloysia Reinhard), b.1830, 4gg;
  Germany (Hochstadt am Aisch, Bavaria), Baltimore bef.1854, s. Baltimore, Maryland;
  m. Albert Davis-Tebens, 22 January 1854

Please leave a comment if you suspect you are related to any of these.

A Fan Chart Idea: My ancestors colored by year discovered

Not long ago I got the idea to color a fan chart by the year that our family discovered each of our direct ancestors. I got this printed for free by GenealogyWallCharts at RootsTech and decided it was time to do some coloring.

Red: 1999-2003 (starting, what we got from family)
Black: 2004
Yellow: 2005
Blue: ~2008
Brown: 2010
Purple: 2011
Orange: 2012
Green: 2013

I used some memory, dates on scanned documents, and upload dates to help narrow down when each ancestor within 9 generations was found. It might not be the right year on a few because I didn't want to spend too much time, but it gives a good general idea.

I thought this chart would be encouraging as well as do the usual job of reminding me what lines I should work on next. This way I can quickly see that success has been a process over the past several years. It reminds me that I should keep at it, and it takes time. It reminds me of the times that each name was found and the good memories surrounding it. Some few of these people have not been sourced beyond doubt, but most have.

After doing genealogy for more than 10 years, I am often surprised that the miracles just keep happening. Seeking our ancestors with patience and faith continues to lead to many miracles.

My Dunkes ancestry - breaking down the bricks

In this post, I outline the records (with transcripts) and analyze the data for the immigrant Dunkes family of Frank Dunkes and Maria Anna Wipf in 1800s Baltimore, Maryland. This may be of some interest to those learning about analyzing records, but is more for those who might be related.

This is one of the families that I hope to find ancestors for this year, although I am currently dependent upon the German repositories of the records to respond to my requests.

Margaret Dunkes - Baptism 1853
[left page] 64 | 28 Febr. | 1 March | P. Hiturander? | Margaritha | Franciscus Dunker | Nürnberg in Bavaria
[right page] Anna Müphelt | Memmelsdorf in Bavaria | Margaretha Sering? | legitimate

Frank Michael Dunkes - Baptism 1855
[left page] 112 | 8 April | P. Wissel | Franziscus Michaelis | Franziscus Dunkes | Wallersdorf, Bavaria |
[right page] Anna | Memmelsdorf, Bavaria | 5? April | Michaelis Sandner? |

Frank Dunkes - Baptism 1857
[left page] 43 | Aug. 23 | P. Jos. Muller | Franciscus | Franz Dunkes | Wallersdorf () Bava/ |
[right page] M. Anna nee Wipf | Memmelsdorf (Bamberg I) Bav. | Aug. 22 | Michael Landner |

Michael Dunkes - Church Marriage 1877
[left page groom] 67 | 15 Jan. | P. Eberhardt | 3 | Michael Dunkers | 22 | Franciscus Dunkers + Maria Schlot* |
[right page groom] Baltimore Md. | ? | [blank] | Bregitta Walbelich | [blank] | [blank] |

Franz Dunkes - Church Interment 1881
[left page] 18 | died Jun 29 bur. Jul. 1 | Franz Dunkes | Wallersdorf, Bav. | 71 an. 19d [born 10 June 1810]
[right page] [disease] | Omni Sacramenta | St. Alphonsus Cemet. | E 78

Frank Dunkes - Death Certificate 1881
most of the certificate is illegible on the microfilm
Place of Burial: St. Alphonsus Cem.
Date of Burial: July 1st 81
Undertaker: M. [Michael] Franz
Place of Business: 280 Canton
Note: Sometimes undertaker/funeral home records reveal additional insights.
The undertaker can be found on the city directory as a furniture dealer.
"The casket industry originated in the United States in the 1800s. The city funeral director, known as the undertaker, usually operated a furniture store in addition to selling caskets."
http://blog.southerngraves.net/2007/11/undertakers-coffins-furniture.html

"Mary" Dunkes - Death Certificate 1885
Date of Death: Feb 14th 1885
Full Name of Deceased: Mary Dunkes
Age: 63 Years, 2 Months, 10 Days [born 4 December 1821]
Widow
Occupation: Housekeeper
Birthplace: Foreign
Duration of Residence in the City of Baltimore: 35 years [immigrated 1850]
Place of Burial: St. Alphonsus
Date of Burial: Feb. 17th
Undertaker: [Leonhardt Kurz] ?
Place of Business: S. Bond St.
Note: Leonhardt Kurz appears as an undertaker at 277 s Bond in the Baltimore directory for 1884.

Maria Dunkes - Church Interment 1885
[left page] 11 | 14 Febr. | 17 Febr. | Maria Dunkes | Bamberg Beiern | 63y |
[right page] tremar | Omni Sacr. [all sacraments] R. P. Hilger | St. Alph. | Lot N. 73 ? E |

Frank Dunkes - Reinterment 1926
from St. Alphonsus to Most Holy Redeemer
3 reinterments
names listed as Frank, Anna, and Frank
dates and ages appear to be wrong, but they were moved

Questions:
What is Maria Anna Müphelt Wipf Schlot* Dunkes correct name?
Data by year
1853 child's baptism: "Anna Müphelt"
1855 child's baptism: "Anna"
1857 child's baptism: "M. Anna nee Wipf"
1860 US Census: "Maria"
1870 US Census: "Mary"
1877 child's marriage: "Maria Schlot*"
1880 US Census: "Mary"
1885 death cert.: "Mary"
1885 interment: "Maria"
1926 reinterment: "Anna"
Checking occurances of each surname on Google
Memmelsdorf Müphelt: none
Memmelsdorf Wipf: several
Memmelsdorf Schlot*: yes for Schlot, but that means chimney in German
I think that perhaps Maria Anna is actually Maria Anna Wipf.
In that record, "nee" indicates a maiden name.
If she was married before we can understand at least one of the other surnames.
Hypothesize that both Frank and Maria Anna were both married before.
George, who was born in about 1845 in Bavaria, could have been from a previous marriage for Frank
There was an 8 year gap between George and Margaret (who was born in Baltimore)
When a man is more than 10 years older than his wife, it is a plausible sign of a previous marriage
Maria Anna had her first known child with Frank in 1853: she was 32, old enough for a prior marriage
Frank and Maria Anna were from towns 100 km (1.5 hour drive apart)
They (because of this distance) probably didn't meet until Baltimore

All records except her interment give Memmelsdorf as her place of origin.
Bamberg is the larger area near Memmelsdorf
What is Frank Dunkes place of origin?
All records give Wallersdorf, Bavaria except Margaret's baptism which gives Nürnberg.
Nürnberg is the larger city near Wallersdorf

Amanuensis Monday: Elers / Ehlers Civil Birth in Ober-Sickte

Thanks to the members of the "Germany/Prussia Genealogy Research" FamilySearch Community on Facebook for their generous help in providing this transcription.

Who is this record about?
My 4x great grandmother, Henrietta Ehlers, came to Baltimore, Maryland with her husband (Frederick Bewig) and 7 children. After years of researching Baltimore records, and the help of a friend, we found her place of origin as Obersickte, Braunschweig, Germany. This past week, with the help of FamilySearch's microfilm collection we now have the names of her parents.

Zivilstandsregister, 1808-1811

author:	Sickte (Obersickte, Braunschweig). Bürgermeisterei

Transcription:
Am vierundzwanzigsten September 
Morgens acht Uhr im Jahre Eintau-
sendachthundertundzehn zeigte mir 
dem Superintendenten, Prediger und Civil-
Beamten der Gemeinde Sickte im Canton
[page break] 
Cremlingen des Oker? Departements Johann 
Friedrich Conrad Gille, der Schuster und 
Brinksitzer v. Obere Sickte Johann 
Heinrich Elers, fünfunddreissig Jahr 
alt, ein Kind weiblichen Geschlechtes an, 
welches am zweiundzwanzigsten diesen 
Monats Morgens zwischen acht und neun
Uhr geboren war. Er erklärte, daß 
er Dasselbe mit seiner Ehefrau Johan-
ne Elisabeth geborene Rüscher, fünf-
undzwanzig Jahr alt, erzeugt habe 
und ihm die Namen Anne Dorothee 
Henriette geben wolle. Diese Erklä-
rung und Vorzeigung geschah in Gegen-
wart des Ackermanns und Meiers 
aus Obere Sickte Johann Heinrich 
Pape, neununddreißig Jahr alt 
und der Kothsasse in Niedern Sickt 
Johann Heinrich Borneike, 
dreiunddreißig Jahr alt. Ich nahm 
hierüber diese Urkunde auf, die 
ich vorlas, unterschrieb und von den 
Zeugen unterschreiben ließ. (signatures)
Johann Friedrich Conrad Gille
Johann Heinrich Pape
Johann Heinrich Borneike

Direct translation:
On September twenty-fourth 
eight o'clock in the morning one thou-
sand-eight-hundred-and-ten showed me,
Superintendent, preacher and civil
Officials of the municipality Sickte in Canton
[page break]  
Cremlingen the Oker? Department Johann
Friedrich Conrad Gillespie, the shoemaker and
Brinksitzer from Upper Sickte Johann
Heinrich Elers, thirty-five years
old, a child of female sex,
which on this twenty-second
Month, morning between eight and nine
o'clock was born. He explained that
The same, he and his wife Johan-
ne Elisabeth born Rüscher, twenty-
five years old have produced,
and his name Anne Dorothee
Henriette would give. These declara-
tion and presentation happened in counter-
presence of the farmer and Meier
from Upper Sickte Johann Heinrich
Pape, thirty nine year old
and Kothsasse in Niedern Sickt
Johann Heinrich Born Eike,
thirty-three years old. I took
here on this document, which
I read, signed, and the
Witnesses had to sign.
 
Readability translation:
At the twenty-fourth of September of the year One-thousand-eight-hundred-and-ten in the morning at eight o´clock reported to me, the superintendent, priest and civil-servant of the community Sickte in the county of Cremlingen of the Oker? of the Departement Johann Friedrich Conrad Gille, the shoemaker and farmer (brinksitter) of Obersickte Johann Heinrich Elers, thirty-five years old, and reported the birth of a child of female sex, which was born the twenty-second of this month, in the morning between 8 and 9 o'clock. He declared, that he fathered this child with his wife Johanne Elisabeth nee Rüscher (Ruescher), twenty-five years old, and that he wants to give the child the names Anne Dorothee Henriette. This declaration and explanation happened in presence of the farmer from Obersickte Johann Heinrich Pape, thirty-nine years old and the farmer (cottager) in Niedersickte Johann Heinrich Borneike(?), thirty-three years old. I wrote this certificate which I read, signed and let sign by the witnesses.
Johann Friedrich Conrad Gille
Johann Heinrich Pape
Johann Heinrich Borneike 

Extract:
person born: Anne Dorothee Henriette
birth date: 22 September 1810
father: Johann Heinrich Elers
age: 35
residence: Obersickte
occupation: shoemaker and farmer (brinksitter)
mother: Johanne Elisabeth Rüscher
age: 25

Notes:  
The word "Brinksitter" is difficult to translate. It is somebody sitting on the Brink. But what is the Brink. The Brink is the border of a field or the protective wall of the village or the land outside the protective wall or unused land somewhere. Of course, these people are not really sitting on that wall… Especially craftsman were Blinksitter. Their main job was, what they do as craftsman and additionally they had a small land where they do work as a farmer. - Jürgen Niebecker

Read about Germany Civil Registration on the FamilySearch Wiki.