Birth & Baptism Certificate, hand done in pen & ink and watercolor, executed on wove paper in German, attributed to Abraham Brubaker (1760-1831), blanks not infilled (never used).
Fratkur has wide ruled border filled with "wave" decoration. Within is a large heart made with elongated leaves alternating with little circles. Inside heart is text done in red ink. "Geburts und Taufschein" is above heart. First three nouns of text have initial letters decorated with stripes. Lower section of heart is partitioned off with six lines of religious verse done in black and red.
Above heart are three flowers with black leaves. Lower corners have large standing multicolored birds holding a carnation sprig. A large vining unopened tulip fills in this space on each side.
A watermark of "S. B." with large open letters with serifs is at center. This appears to be the watermark of Samuel Boyer of Oley Twp. in Berks Co. A history (PM-22 in American Watermarks) states Samuel Boyer listed as a papermaker in 1832, although the Boyers were generally merchants and possibly had paper made for them. Example on p. 181, fig. 837, matches watermark on Brubaker fraktur; it is from a Lancaster Co. document dated 1807.
Abraham Brubaker (former "Huber Artist") was from a Mennonite family and active c. 1790-1829. He was one of the most prolific artists working among the Mennonites. A small percentage of his work were BBC's (which included baptism, a non-Mennonite practice) such as this example.
Clarke Hess, an expert on Mennonite arts, suggests this was executed circa 1815
European "Lettre de Bapteme" is a hand-done fraktur on off-white laid paper, mounted within a window mat. This is a baptismal letter in German script, dated 1811. Most others of this form were printed, not freehand. A running vine of tulips and other flowers -- colored with red, green and blue -- is captured by two line borders, a red outer one and a blue inner line border. At top center of flower border is a heart and another at bottom center. Each has writing within. Small handwritten inscription written later along top above red line border. Middle is illegible; at far left is "Decede / Wolff Jean George" and at far right is "83 ano 8 m. 19 j." The French word "Decede" means deceased.
Centerfield of fraktur has German script text, divided at midline by a thin line border. The text begins: "Werde Fromm und mach le gross werde deiner Eltern..." The child was born April 22, 1811 and baptized April 30, 1811.
Mittelhausbergen, France (just outside town of Strasbourg)
Fold lines, two vertical and two horizontal, with some tears and breakage at intersections of fold lines. General soiling with some foxing; various scattered dark brown to light brown stains. Top has small hole to left of center and at right of center is a break at fold line. One inch down from right top corner at edge is a semi-circular brown stain with edge nick. Streaked line stain near bottom left corner. Colors are still vivid.
Object ID
G.02.10.1
Place of Origin
Mittelhausbergen, France
Credit
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. David T. Mininberg, Heritage Center Collection
Fraktur birth certificate for Lydia Glasz / Glass, daughter of Leonard Glass and wife Christina, nee German. Hand drawn and colored on paper. Unusual confronting women with yellow dresses and red parasols flank central textblock within border. Tree of life above textblock; undulating plant w/ flowers sit on shelf at sides. Triple-line outside border.
German text translates to "Lydia Glasz daughter of Leonard Glasz and his wife Christina a born German. Was born 25th day of Jan. in the year of our Lord 1811.
Some buckling of paper overall. Some bleeding of ink, causing brown marks around letters; also in entire upper left corner. Small 1.4" brown streak below the word "Christina" in center panel.
Condition report of 1986 by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts in Phila. in file. No documented treatment. Matted and framed in 1996 by conservator Brian Howard.
Object ID
P.77.12
Notes
Similar to designs of Plate #61 in Weiser & Heaney, Penna. German Fraktur of The Free Library of Phila., v.1.
Research: Ancestry.com gives the marriage of fraktur recipient Lydia Glass to John Kempfer on 20 Nov. 1828 in Ephrata at the Bethany United Church of Christ. Husband John was born 19 Feb. 1809, died 4 April 1865. Lydia died 24 June 1853. Their daughter Elizabeth Kempfer (1836-1909) married David Rudy Buch (1834-1925) and lived in Lititz.
Ancestry also gives the 1810 Census in Earl, Lancaster Co. that lists Leonard Glase with 4 household members under 16 yrs., 1 at 16-25 yrs., and 2 over 25 yrs. Total of seven in home. Lydia was born the following year in 1811.
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Gift of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Copper pint measure or mug. Straight sides taper in toward mouth with rolled lip edge. Strap handle anchored with 2 rivets at top; one at base. Keyed seam beneath handle. Some tinning remains on interior.
Handle is stamped "(E)ICHHOLTZ". Letter "E" is partially hidden at top.
Provenance
Purchased by Gunnions at Conestoga Auction circa March 1986.
Heritage Center purchased from Gunnion Antiques Aug. 1986
Tom Ryan, The Worlds of Jacob Eichholtz., pp. 1-3 and 82.
Henry Kauffman, American Copper and Brass, p. 119.
Height (in)
4.5
Width (in)
4.5
Diameter (in)
3.25
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2013-11-18
Condition Notes
Interior worn with some corrosion. Handle split below top left rivet. Small to significantly larger dents on sides and bottom. Some scratches from general wear. Surface has been polished and lacquered. Some polish residue visible at both the rolled lip and rolled base.
First "H" and "T" of "ichholtz" are very worn.
Object ID
P.86.3
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Heritage Center Collection, Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation.
A writ of habeas corpus is a procedure for obtaining a judicial determination of the legality of an individual's custody. This collection includes petitions for writs of habeas corpus and the writs themselves, showing the names of petitioners, persons to be brought to court, nature of dispute or alleged crime, dates of writs and accompanying documents, names of judges, and names of persons that the writs are filed against. Petitioners include indentured servants, Freedom Seekers, free persons of color, convicted prisoners, those awaiting trial, relatives of prisoners, parties in child custody disputes, and relatives of army recruits and draftees.
A writ of habeas corpus is a procedure for obtaining a judicial determination of the legality of an individual's custody. This collection includes petitions for writs of habeas corpus and the writs themselves, showing the names of petitioners, persons to be brought to court, nature of dispute or alleged crime, dates of writs and accompanying documents, names of judges, and names of persons that the writs are filed against. Petitioners include indentured servants, Freedom Seekers, free persons of color, convicted prisoners, those awaiting trial, relatives of prisoners, parties in child custody disputes, and relatives of army recruits and draftees.
A writ of habeas corpus is a procedure for obtaining a judicial determination of the legality of an individual's custody. This collection includes petitions for writs of habeas corpus and the writs themselves, showing the names of petitioners, persons to be brought to court, nature of dispute or alleged crime, dates of writs and accompanying documents, names of judges, and names of persons that the writs are filed against. Petitioners include indentured servants, Freedom Seekers, free persons of color, convicted prisoners, those awaiting trial, relatives of prisoners, parties in child custody disputes, and relatives of army recruits and draftees.
A writ of habeas corpus is a procedure for obtaining a judicial determination of the legality of an individual's custody. This collection includes petitions for writs of habeas corpus and the writs themselves, showing the names of petitioners, persons to be brought to court, nature of dispute or alleged crime, dates of writs and accompanying documents, names of judges, and names of persons that the writs are filed against. Petitioners include indentured servants, Freedom Seekers, free persons of color, convicted prisoners, those awaiting trial, relatives of prisoners, parties in child custody disputes, and relatives of army recruits and draftees.
Lancaster County Archives has Habeas Corpus dockets:
1799-1978, ten volumes, record of writs of Habeas Corpus written.
1895-1983, 43 boxes, original petitions.
Notes
LancasterHistory is committed to preserving and providing access to materials chronicling Lancaster County's heritage. As a historical resource, this document reflects the racial prejudices and actions of the era. In order to maintain the historical integrity and context of collection items, LancasterHistory does not censor historical documents or edit language, titles, or organization names when transcribing original content.
Additional Notes
Or Barto.
Person of color.
Petitioner: Bristo.
Filed against: Atlee, William P. His occupation: jailor.
Boyd, Samuel.
Record of entry.
Testimony of Samuel Boyd.
Affidavit.
Habeas corpus, includes answer, copy of warrant, and discharge.
4 items, 4 pieces
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please use digital images and transcriptions when available. Original documents may be used by appointment-contact research@lancasterhistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Images have been provided for research purposes. Please contact research@lancasterhistory.org for a high-resolution image and permission to publish. There is no fee for publication.
Credit
Courtesy of Lancaster County Archives and LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Case Number
38.000
Classification
RG 01-00 2313
Description Level
Item
Custodial History
Digitization of this document was funded by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, PHMC Appl ID # 202010016624, 2020-2023.
