Hi Bob, Thanks for the reply. Here's a little more info...I received the letter recently (2005) from a distant cousin who originally received it from another distant cousin in 1987. The lady that originally wrote the letter in 1987 got the information from her father's files. He was born in 1893 and died in 1985 and according to the letters had the family traced back to the 1500's. Here is the part of the letter that mentions the American Consulate... "...Julian I'van Fisher and Rebecca I'llean (Irvington) Fisher were married in 1754 - from the Landgraves of Hesse-Cassel, Germany. Julian I'van Fisher is a son of Jewish parents which reflects back as far as the 13th century, pure Jewish ancestry. Born in 1701 in the Landgraves of Hesse-Cassel, Germany. He married Rebecca in 1754 in the Landgraves of Hesse-Cassel, Germany. The marriage record is 18,182 - page 165 Section A. The American Consulate Letter File -Private 18,542 and Section 54 gives the ascendency is pure Jewish blood as far back as the 13th century...." [Julian and Rebecca Fisher are the parents of John, Jacob, and Emeritus - all three of whom were Hessian soldiers.] When Nelda suggested I try the Consulate in New York (thanks Nelda!), I went looking for it on the internet and found a website... http://www.germany-info.org/relaunch/info/missions/consulates/newyork/newyork.html Click on Information Services --> Consular Services --> Other Consular Services --> Genealogy. I assume that when he did his research that he used the Consular's Services and did not go to Germany, so maybe when the letter says "The American Consulate Letter" that was just his way of documenting it. I don't know for sure, but sure would like to see that letter if is does indeed exist. I am also still looking for the originator of the letter who has since moved (she would be about 77 now) because she also mentioned in it that she had her father's files put into a storage area because she didn't think anyone else was interested. Stacey ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob Brooks" <rcbrooks@pivot.net> To: <AMREV-HESSIANS-L@rootsweb.com> Cc: <stacey.23@insightbb.com> Sent: Saturday, July 16, 2005 5:49 PM Subject: Re: [HESSIAN] American Consulate Document Question > Stacey -- > > There is something "fishy" with this report of a letter from the "American > Consulate." Remember, America -- The United States of America -- didn't > exist until the peace of 1783 and until 1789 there was only an interim > government. In 1754 every the "original states" were provinces/colonies of > Great Britain. > > Given that the letter is correctly identified, then the date of the letter > is extremely important. This sounds like something to do with immigration. > Many of the records of the various "Hessian" soldiers who served in America > 1776-1783 stated the soldiers' religion -- I have seen Catholic, Reformed, > Evangelist, and rarely Jewish all enumerated. I may be naive but ask "Why > would the American government be interested in Jewish roots going back to > the 13th century." The letter sounds like something from the 1930s or very > early 1940s where a German-Jew was attempting to seek religious asylum in > the USA. When Germany & the USA declared war, the US Embassy and all the > consular offices in Germany were closed. > > Old "American Consulate" letters would be found in the National Archives > somewhere in the State Department collections. Embassies and Consular > office records doubtless will be organized by issuing Embassy/Consulate and > date of issue. Somewhere you should be ablle to identify the Consulate > involved. > > Bob Brooks > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Stacey Maddox" <stacey.23@insightbb.com> > To: <AMREV-HESSIANS-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Saturday, July 16, 2005 3:32 PM > Subject: [HESSIAN] American Consulate Document Question > > > > Hi, > > > > I have recently received a letter from a distant cousin who's father had > > researched my Hessian ancestor (Fisher) as far back as the 13th century. > > However, I've only been able to get names back 3 generations. Anyway, the > > letter says that my 4th Great-Grandparents were married 1754 in the > > Landgraves of Hesse-Cassel, Germany and documentation giving "American > > Consulate Letter File" with the record number, page number, and section > > number. It also says that the ancestry is pure Jewish blood as far back > > as the 13th century and that is documented in "American Consulate Letter > > File" with a private number and section number. > > > > How would I go about getting copies of these American Consulate Letters? > > > > Thanks, > > > > Stacey > >