…bringing our past into the future
Nathan Zipfel 
Vital Records in Pennsylvania Birth, death and marriage (Vital Statistics) records were mandated by the Commonwealth to be kept by counties first in 1853. The attempt was a failure. The attempt was a failure undoubtably as much due to the cost imposed on the counties as the difficulties in travel and communications in those days. … Read more
Veterinarians of Berks County Submitted by Bonnie Blau. Source: Morton Montgomery’s History of Berks County, Pennsylvania, 1909 edition, pp. 104-5. From the beginning of the first settlements until the year 1889, the practice of medicine and surgery in connection with domestic animals was carried on without any legal restrictions. Farmers and men of experience, who … Read more
The Stage Coach Source: Morton Montgomery’s History of Berks County, Pennsylvania, 1909 edition, pp. 33-34. Contributed by Bonnie Blau. The first coach in New England began its trips in 1744. The first stage line between New York and Philadelphia (then the two most populous cities in the Colonies) was established in 1756. The trip was … Read more
Thompson Register Report First Generation 1. WILLIAM THOMPSON. Born About 1400 in Dumbarton, Scotland. Died 26 Jan 1456/1457 in England. He married ??? ???. Born About 1405 in Dumbarton, Scotland. They had the following children: 2 i. JOHANNES VAN KIRK THOMPSON Second Generation 2. JOHANNES VAN KIRK THOMPSON. Son of WILLIAM THOMPSON & ??? ???. … Read more
Womelsdorf This booklet was in my Mother’s (Anna May Lines Lilley) possession, and quite possibly belonged to my Grandmother (Hattie Siegfried Lines). It has no cover. There is no flyleaf with the date of publication, nor the compiler’s name. I have copied it as written, in the same page format. It is quite small, 4″x5″. … Read more
The Strauss Family The Strauss Family Source of marriage record is Evangelisch-Reformiert Kirche Burbach (Siegen) kirchenbuch, LDS film #0597051 21 August 1761 – “The honorable David Strauss from Freien Diez, Dutch musketeer, according to documents presented by Cornelius Strauss, a captain’s master; and his fiance Anna Maria Philippina, legitimate daughter of Christian Roffer, a miner … Read more
Tracing the Path of James Webb, 1737-1808 From Pennsylvania To Virginia And Kentucky Prepared by Emrick A. Webb – May, 1994 Revised December, 2004 In Collaboration With Robert Keyes James Webb, born 3 March 1737 in Exeter Township, Berks County, PA, was one of the nine children of John Webb and Mary Boone. The Webbs … Read more
The William Coleman Family Contributed by Kathy Dix. The family of William Coleman (1757-1819) and Catherine Lebo (1757-1825): William drove a stagecoach from Philadelphia to Reading, settled in Reading to raise his family of eleven children. He acquired a stagecoach line and eventually the Eagle Hotel. He is listed serving as a Lieutenant in the … Read more
Burials Under the Chapel at Trinity Lutheran Church, Reading, PA The names of the people who are buried under the site of the chapel are listed on two white marble slabs. These slabs are set in the wall of the chapel and face the graveyard at Trinity Lutheran Church, Reading, PA. A number of headstones … Read more
Tombstone Inscriptions at St. John’s (Hain’s) Church Cemetery Note: The following text includes some annotations by the submitter. Some sources identify the location of this cemetery as Wernersville. For some additional burials at Hain’s cemetery, see the other Hain’s Church Cemetery listing. 1735-1911 The list of tombstone inscriptions which follows was prepared by Henry Beckley … Read more