Printed fraktur taufschein (B&BC in German) for Michael Ruthisill, born Aug. 17, 1808 and baptized Aug. 30, 1808 by Pastor (Gotthilf Henry Ernestus) Muhlenberg at the Lutheran Church in Manheim Township, Lancaster County. Parents were Philip and Susanna (Schreiner) Ruthisill and the sponsors were Michael and Catharina Ruthisill (grandparents?).
Certificate printed by Lancaster printer Benjamin Grimler in 1803. Penwork & decoration attributed to the "Ruffled Tulip Artist" by the Earnests (9-14-98). See object file for info.
Printed on laid paper, fraktur has a large central heart and two smaller hearts at bottom with verses in German in each. Large heart has main text, with blanks filled in by scrivener/artist in red ink. 1/4-inch-wide yellow border around perimeter. Hand-drawn floral motifs surround the large heart: large tulip-like flowers at top and bottom center, flowering vine at sides and smaller flowers above small hearts and within large heart. Colored in red, green and yellow.
The "Ruffled Tulip Artist" was working circa 1799-1813. He drew distinctive ruffles around large and folky tulips and infilled in German on printed three-heart forms, of which seven are known - all birth & baptismal certificates.
Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth & Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans, Vol. III, p. 128.
Ellis and Evans, History of Lancaster County, p. 498.
Earnests, Papers for Birth Dayes, Vol.II, pp. 659-60.
Provenance
Donor reports his wife has Rudisill ancestors. He and his wife received this fraktur with instructions to sell the piece upon their demise in order to pay for funeral expenses. The fraktur was never sold, even now that his own wife has died. See genealogy of Rudisill family in file, given by Lisa Garrett, cousin of donor's wife. Lisa says donor died in 1998.
Condition when received: Entire piece buckled, pasted onto brown Kraft paper. Multiple tears and losses, especially at center of right and left sides; tears and small hole at center. Some foxing, general soiling, and water damage to colors in vining at sides. Color smears and fingerprints, esp. at top and bottom floral device. Small tears and curling at most edges.
At present: Conserved, matted and placed in sealed package by Marilyn Kemp Weidner in 1999 for $1,553. Framed by Lancaster Galleries.
Object ID
G.98.27.1
Notes
Four other copies of Grimler's printed certificate known, according to Klaus Stopp (The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans Vol. III, p. 128). Three of these were filled out for Warwick Twp. residents;the other for a Manheim Twp. resident. This 1803 print preceded Grimler's partnership with brother Henry which opened in 1804. From 1799-1812, when Lancaster was the seat of State government, the two brothers were employed by the Legislature to do the State printing. Benjamin was elected to the Lower House of the Assembly in 1824 and died in 1832.
See Rudisill genealogy in file, given by Lisa Garrett. It states John Michael Rudisill was born 17 Aug 1808 and died 8 Nov 1843. He married Maria Magdalena Kurtz on 17 May 1829, daughter of Conrad Kurtz and his wife Susanna Barbara Erb.
Large 8" x 10" color transparency in object file.
Place of Origin
Manheim Twp.
Role
Artist
Credit
Gift of Daniel S. Kauffman, Heritage Center Collection
Located on North Queen Street at the corner of Orange Street.
Petition allowed.
Signers of Petition: John Musser, Samuel White, Abraham Carpenter, Henry Carpenter Jr., William Bausman, Peter Gonter, Frederick Reinert, W. B. Ross, Peter Shindel, Pete Miller, Joseph Hubley, Charles Herbst, Samuel Fordney, William Eberman, Samuel Humes, Samuel Carpenter, Adam Metzger, B. Grimler, Nathaniel Lightner, William Dickson, Thomas R. Jordan.
1 Item, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Located between Lancaster and Lititz, on the road to Maytown and Marietta.
Formerly occupied by George Ross Jr.
Petition allowed.
Signers of Petition: Henry Landis, George Grosh, John Slater, Christian Hoober, John Leib, Jacob Leib, James Crawford, Christian Grub, George Rukel, and four others.
1 Item, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Located on the turnpike road from Lancaster to Marietta, about a mile and a quarter Lancaster.
Petition allowed.
Signers of Petition: John Neff, Henry Carpenter Jr., Henry Slaymaker, Samuel Slaymaker, Philip Messenkop, Henry Reigart, Christian Carpenter Jr., Georg Weiler, Hugh Wilson, John Kauffman, Dan Reigart, James Humes, William Dickson, Thomas R. Jordan, and one other.
1 Item, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Located on the south side of the Lancaster and Middletown Turnpike.
Built and owned by Henry Bear Jr.
Formerly occupied by Jacob Lutheiser.
Signers of Petition: Henry Bear, Andrew Kauffman, Jacob Kauffman, John Swar, John Kauffman Jr., Henry Becker, George Gamber, Michael Musselman, Abraham Kneisly.
1 Item, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of Petition: W. B. Ross, Jacob Sherer, Samuel Carpenter, H. Lechler, Milher Schaum, Jacob Dorwart, Michael Gross, Thomas R. Jordan, Cas. Shaffner Jr., Jacob Slough, Peter Klein, Philip Messenkop, A. Wilhelm, Adam Metzger, George Matter, J. long Jr., P. Long, Hinkle, Jeremiah Mosher, Jacob Fordney Jr., Nathanael Hantsch, David R. Barton, Samuel White, Hugh Wilson, William Hamilton, Jacob Lindy, Henry Slaymaker.
1 Item, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of Petition: Jacob Hoover, Joseph Gonder, [signature in German], Robert Spencer, John [Ridgough], Abraham Sides, J. B. Thompson, Jacob Fritz Jr., John Moore, Benjamin Barr, John Steady, Benjamin B. Gonder, Israel Fritz, Charles McClune, John Row, Isaac Girvin, John Maynard, James [McPlume], Benjamin Bower, Samuel L. Morrison, James Graham, James Warren.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of Petition: Jacob Hoover, George Haughman, Jacob Fritz, George Hoffman, Joseph Gonder, Joseph Bowman, William Black, Daniel Potts, Andrew Charles, John Stoner, Isaac Girvin, Abraham Keagey, William Russel, James McPhail, [J. B. Groff].
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of Petition: Jacob Hoover, George Haughman, William Black, Andrew Charles, James McPhail, Daniel Potts, Benjamin Barr, George Diffenbach, John McAllister, George Hoffman, Robert Evans, Joseph Gonder, Joseph Bowman, Jacob Bower, Samuel Bower.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
