Dear Listers, I was told by my German relatives that high German was spoken by those who were over 5'11", and low German was spoken by those under 5' tall. One can easily make a case for middle German, in these circumstances. Until we figure this out, I am looking for Andreas and Adam Sebastian who came to America (Louisville, KY) from Bavaria about 1857. The Ohio River flooded in 1937 and wiped out all court house records, so I have no idea whom they no longer swore allegiance to. Their Catholic Church in Louisville lost or threw out its burial book for 1874, when Adam, my ggf, died. I personally inspected the files, so I know it is not in its place. Perhaps if there were a Bavarian census in 1850, I could find these men because they were born about 1830. I believe they spoke low German, but I am six feet tall, blond and blue-eyed. I speak High English. Tom the bewildered