RAPPENAU EVANGELISCHE KIRCHENBUCH: 1731-1802

The second church book of the Evangelisch Church of Rappenau (now Bad Rappenau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany) dates from 1731-1802. An inscription on the old cover indicates that this parish register replaced the first volume (1652-1731) because it was full. The church book includes seven sections in 561 pages: 1) ab. Anno 1654, 2) Kiftengen, 3) Taufregister, 4) Confirmationsregister, 5) Eheregister, 6) Todenregister, and 7) Haftmallregister.

This transcript was prepared from a microfilm copy of the church book. The film was obtained through the Family History Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The columns in the transcript are the same as those in the original document, with the addition of a final column entitled "Page." This column was included because no effort was made to reproduce the text exactly on the same pages as the original document. Occasionally the volume contains entries that span the width of the page rather than being recorded in the normal, multi-column format. Generally these one-column entries were used for Mennonites and members of the von Gemmingen family.

All information from the church book was included in the transcript except symbols pertaining to day of the week and specific minor exclusions in each register as discussed below. Spelling and punctuation reflect the original text. Illegible text is represented by a blank "_____"; questionable word transcriptions are denoted by a question mark "?".

Because of the length of the volume, the transcript for each register is presented in 10-year increments. The original volume does not contain such separations.

The Taufregister (Birth Register) contains four columns with primary information: Tag (Day), Name, Eltern (Parents), and Taufzeugen (Godparents). The time of birth and baptism; the occasional reference to the church celebrations, like a particular saint's feast day or events like Easter and Pentecost; and the name of the baptizer and his parish, when given, were not included in the transcript.

The Tag column contains the birth date (nat.) and the baptismal date (renat.). Children usually were baptized within a day or two of birth. A sickly child often was baptized immediately after birth by the midwife; pastors sometimes formally baptized infants who survived a few days later. Notations on these emergency baptisms may appear in any column.

The Name column, or occasionally other columns, sometimes includes a death date or the "+" symbol. Usually this indicates that the individual died shortly after birth, but this is not always the case.

The Eltern and Taufzeugen columns often contain considerable personal information on the mother, father, and each of the godparents. Commonly, residence, citizenship, marital status, religion (if not evangelisch), and occupation are presented for all men mentioned in these columns. The husband or father of all female godparents also is included. Illegitimacy of infants, sometimes naming the father, usually is discussed in the Eltern column.

In early 18th century Rappenau, men usually were selected as godparents for boys and women were chosen for girls, although this pattern begins to change around 1800. In most families the same sets of godparents usually were used for all children, even if the godparent no longer lived in Rappenau. Some individuals were chosen as godparents in their late teens after confirmation. When these young godparents married, their spouse usually was added as a godparent for children of the opposite sex. Brothers and sisters of the infant's father and mother served as godparents infrequently. Often 3-4 families shared most of the same godparents, suggesting long friendships, that are reinforced by the godparent bond.

Confirmationsregister

Each group of confirmations is preceded by a heading, that usually identifies the date and sometimes the name of the person performing the confirmation. The number of columns in the Confirmationsregister varies. Two columns, Nomina Confirmatum (Name of the Confirmed Person) and Nomina Parentum (Name of the Parent, usually the father) are always present. Until 1753, two additional columns record the age of the confirmed person. After this time, the birth date of the confirmed person usually appears after the name.

The Eheregister (marriage register) contains four columns with primary information: Dies (Day), Sponsus (Husband), Sponsa (Wife), and Actus (Act).

The Sponsus and Sponsa columns contain marital status and personal information on the groom, the bride, their fathers (if the groom or bride has never been married), and the deceased husband of widows. Commonly, residence, citizenship, and occupation are presented for all men mentioned in these columns.

Information included in the Actus column often indicates the type and location of the marriage ceremony, frequently citing biblical passages on which the sermon was based. Sometimes a proverb appears beneath this description. Research has not yet determined if these proverbs present the key text from the sermon. Ceremonies uniting couples known to have been intimate before marriage often include penitential sermons and usually are conducted "in the quiet." One very unusual marriage of this kind in 1742 joined four couples. Occasionally two couples, usually brother and sister, were married in the same ceremony.

Marriages usually were performed after three proclamations, often a week but sometimes only a day apart. The ceremony usually occurred in the bride's parish, and often the marriage was proclaimed and registered in the groom's parish as well. First marriages usually occured for women after age 20 and men after age 25. Very few individuals in Rappenau remained single for their entire life.

Todenregister

The transcript of the Todenregister (death register) includes five columns: Dies Obitus (Day of Death), Persona Desunta (Deceased Person), Genus Morbi (Cause of Death), Aetas (Age), and Sepultura (Burial). The transcript is scheduled to be completed in 2000.

The Persona Desunta column often contains considerable personal information. Commonly, residence, citizenship, marital status, religion (if not evangelisch), and occupation are presented for all men included in these columns, even when they are mentioned as fathers or previously deceased spouses.

The Sepultura column often indicates that burials were performed at 10 a.m. or noon and may contain information about the text for the burial sermon.