Eve wrote: I have some Alsace documents from the early 1800s about my family. Naturally they are difficult to read, doubly so since I am not fluent in French. I have found some resources online with common words used in these documents, but I am stuck. One of the documents is a death record. . . Eve, It depends what you mean by early. If I remember the documents at the beginning of the century are all hand written. Later they are forms with blanks the official filled in. Below is a format I created when I translated death documents. It is from 1839. The items in bold type are different for each death record. Based on what I have from my ancesters, it is routine to list the ages and professions of declarers. They were often but not always relatives of the deceased. Hope this is a help. Bob Teitelbaum *********************************************** Village of Valff, District of Schlestat. The 30th day of the month of October 1839, at 9:00 in the evening. Certificate of Death for Bloch, Lazar age 80 years died the 30th October 1869 in Valff at 9 o’clock in the morning, profession merchant, born in Valff, department of Bas Rhin, living in Valff. was married to the late Schwab, Marie the legitimate son of the late Bloch, Moise; merchant; who was born in Valff lived in Valff department of Bas Rhin and of the late [no name listed], who was born in Valff and lived in Valff, department of Bas Rhin. By this declaration made to us by Bloch, Aron age 33 years, profession of horse trader living in Valff who is said to be the son of the deceased and by Bloch, Moise age 40 years profession of merchant living in Valff who is said to be nephew of the deceased, and after reading have signed. Certified by us Bordan,B??. doing the functions of the Civil Officer of the State, after we were assured of the death by the mortuary. Signed by the Mayor and Witnesses.