Based on my past experience with US records. Most showed Germany for my Alsace family instead of France which was technically correct at the time in a few instances. If they showed France and Germany in different listings I would certainly  think they were from Alsace or Lorraine. That would have helped me tremendously even though I knew the family likely originated in Pfaffenhoffen.     You didn't list which census had them listed as from Germany, but I would still consider Alsace. Perhaps including that info and their appoximate dates (or actual dates if you have them) would help. Sometimes the obituaries will have the town name even if spelled wrong.     For my ancestor Engenheim, Germany was listed, but I could not find an Engenheim, Germany. It turned out to be Ingenheim, Alsace, but the birth date listed was wrong.  Regards, Dave Subject: Re: [A-L] Hartmann To: [email protected] Message-ID: <[email protected]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII On Fri, 8 Jul 2011 18:25:32 +0000 LARRY and PAULA HARTMAN <[email protected]> wrote: > I am trying to find out where Jacob Hartmann was born and his parents names. > A U.S. census says Jacob was born in Germany (wasn't Alsace-Lorraine > considered France at the time?) and that his father was born in France. My ancestors came to the US from Alsace in 1846, 1856 and in 1872. Every census they changed their answers (as Alsace changed ownership). First they told the enumerator they were from France, then the next census they said they were from Germany, then France, etc. -- Todd Carnes <[email protected]>