I am new to this list and to researching German records. I have spent 20 + yrs researching English lines but have never been able to follow my mothers German line. A Canadian birth certificate of one of his sons lists my mothers father, August George Birn as being born on Dec 11 1878 in Hielbron Wurttemberg. The newly opened Canadian immigrant database has him arriving in Canada in 1904 from Liverpool. Is there anybody that can point me in the right direction of where to start in Germany. I am not able to come up with any Birns surnames in Germany. I would appreciate any direction or help. I have also been sent a photo of the Birns family outside a home in Europe..a huge longshot but would anybody be willing to look at the photo and suggest date or location ...perhaps by the kind of cloths worn by the family or such. All in all, a family of mystery. Any help gratefully received. Vicky Hannam Canada

Hi, The records, if they exist, will be in the Standesamt in Heilbron. See http://members.cox.net/hessen/hsstory.htm for details about researching in Germany. However, you should check with the Family Search Library in Salt Lake City UT before going overseas. http://familysearch.org :-) Don