A life lived

Daniel, 10 April 2026

Geburts- und Taufscheine ‘birth and baptismal certificates’ were ways that our Pennsylvania Dutch ancestors recorded their existence. At first handdrawn and colored, then printed with woodblocks, and finally mass produced by larger printing houses. They range from folk art to Victorian design.

The one I have for you today from the Tuliptree Collection is, at first glance, a printed run-of-the-mill birth and baptismal certificate. It records the birth of Jonathan to Michael and Elisabeth Schmidt on January 2, 1800 in Albany Township — a place known to folks thereabouts as the Eck, the ‘corner’ in northern Berks County. Often, that’s where these certificates end, but on the reverse is more.

An unknown hand continued Jonathan’s story in neat old German script. We learn that he was confirmed on the Lutheran side of a union church by Pastor Moyer. He was married to Catharine Hermony, daughter of Philip, on June 7, 1824 by Pastor Zulch. And that they had 10 children, 6 sons and 4 daughters.

Jonathan was a successful farmer, living the entirety of his life in Albany Township. He died at the age of 73. His remains rest at New Bethel Union Church, the Rosenthal or Corner Church, in rural Kempton, Berks County — in the shadow of the Blue Mountain’s Pinnacle, or Zinnekopp.

Another hand did some simple math in pencil on the reverse as well. Jonathan’s tombstone includes the number of years, 46, that he was married to Catherine and the unknown hand likely used the information on the certificate to get the necessary numbers.

Not recorded on the sheet are the sad times. Although Jonathan and Catharine had ten children, most died young. Daughter Louise was only a few months old when she died, probably due to one of the many 19th century ailments that claimed so many children. Jonathan Jr., Alfred, and Ellen all died in their 20s. For Jonathan to live to the ripe age of 73 in the 19th century was well beyond the average life expectancy, but that meant that he had to watch most of his children die. Only four are listed in his will as beneficiaries of the estate. Then again, he lived long enough to live in his daughter’s home surrounded by seven grandchildren.

This certificate started the story of Jonathan Schmidt. And I’m sure the story was full of happiness and sadness, of joy and worry, of working the Berks County soil.