…bringing our past into the future
Nathan Zipfel 
Edwin R. Snyder vs. Michael Freehafer Edwin R. Snyder vs. Michael Freehafer} In C.C.P. of Berks County, No. —, March Term 1881 (c. March 6, 1881) Prothonotary will please issue capias in case against Defendant. Returnable to March Term 1881. Very Respectfully, Daniel James Ermentrout To Amos Weiler, Esq. prothonotary Memoranda. Sheriff will take bail … Read more
Drumheller Joe Drumheller All Drumhellers in the United States appear to be descendants of one of three immigrants, who were themselves related.I feel this somewhat unique circumstance presents the opportunity to give a rather complete overview of the immigrants and their families; which I have attempted to do in the attached file. Drumheller Families in … Read more
Epidemics In case you ever wondered why a large number of your ancestors disappeared during a certain period in history, this might help. Epidemics have always had a great influence on people and thus influencing, as well, the genealogists trying to trace them. Many cases of people disappearing from records can be traced to dying … Read more
History of Berks County Written by J. Lawrence Getz, Reading, PA. Berks county (named after Berkshire in England, where the Penn family held large landed estates) was originally formed from parts of Philadelphia county east of the river Schuylkill, and from parts of Chester and Lancaster west of the same river, by an act of … Read more
Historic Burial Places Preservation Act Source: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Historic Burial Places Preservation Act, Act of 1994, P.L. 141, No. 22. AN ACT providing for the preservation of historic burial places and tombs, monuments and gravestones; and imposing penalties. The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows: Section 1. Short title. … Read more
Glossary Following are common terms that you might find during your genealogical research: Term Description ABSTRACT Summary of important points of a given text, especially deeds and wills. <!– ACRE See measurements. –> ADMINISTRATION (of estate) The collection, management and distribution of an estate by proper legal process. ADMINISTRATOR (of estate) Person appointed to manage … Read more
German Migration to America In the book “In Search of Your German Roots” (Genealogical Publishing Co, Inc. Baltimore, MD 1987) Angus Baxter gives several reasons for German immigration to North America. According to him, the first mass entry of German colonists was in 1683 to Germantown, PA. (It totaled 13 families.) German settlement really commenced … Read more
Executor/Executrix Notices Executor/Executrix Notices from local Berks County newspapers Name of Decedent Decedent’s Residence Executor/Executrix Attorney Source Arnold, George H. Reading Sallie Arnold, 1865 Cotton Street None Named Reading Eagle, 25 Nov 1926 Baum, Daniel Muhlenberg Twp. Thomas Baum and Daniel Baum, Jr. None Named Reading Eagle, 30 Jan. 1869 Beck, John G. Reading William … Read more
Everyname Index to the Autobiography of John Christian by Geoffrey Barnard Davis, © Adams Albert, Judith Allen, Emma Hughes Althouse, Ellen Badger Barnard, Christine, Romig Barnard, Milton Everett Barnard, Sandra Romig Binkley, Henry Birkenbine, John Bogert, Elise Bowden Bohny, Nicholas Boltz, Esther June Bonaparte, Napoleon Bright, David Bright, Michael Buckley, Patricia Ann Butler Christen, Anna … Read more
Eister, Eyster, Aister, Oyster This article is about my maternal grandfather’s EISTER ancestry in SE Pennsylvania. The surname for this family first appears in America as AISTER, is modified to OYSTER through several generations, in some clans becomes EYSTER, and my own line ends up as EISTER. According to immigration documents, Johann Jacob Aister, my … Read more