Tony, As to history, I know nothing. I have learned some information from reading the Church Registers, reading those companion pages and doing some < google.com > searches under searche words such as < baden + history >. And, anything I might have kept in my mind probably wouldn't be of much value in your search. I believe the towns around Oberkirch before the formation of the Grand Duchy of Baden were within the Bistum Straßburg which makes their history somewhat different from the nearby towns where I have an interest as those other towns were within the Habsburg lands of the Vorderösterreich. Different ownership. Remember the Grand Duchy was formed in August 1806, a result of Napoleon redisigning the face of Europe. A good map of the pre-Grand Duchy era is at < http://www.genealogienetz.de/reg/BAD-WUE/Landkarten/bad1771g.gif >. The Bistum Straßburg is explained in German at < http://ortenau.speedyspace.de/ >; look on the left side for Herrschaften and click on Bistum Straßburg. For your time period, before 1750 to 1850, you have to think in two ways. The full Grand Duchy was not formed until 1819 but the ecclesiatical territories had disappeared before the 1806 date. If my memory is close, this happened in 1803 when Baden became an Electorate of the Holy Roman Empire, then when the Empire was dissolved in 1806 Baden became a Grand Duchy of the Confederation of the Rhine. Before 1803, the towns of the Bistum would have been subservient to the Bishop. Your answer for before 1750 ends with 1803 and starts again for 1803 to 1850. However, keep in mind that there was contact between the people of the Margraviate of Baden-Baden, of the Habsburg Vorderösterreich lands, of the Bistum Straßburg, of the nearby Hessian lands and of the many other lands of that area of what became the Grand Duchy. There were marriages across those "country" boundaries. One major difference might be that in the Bistum, in addition to town records, there probably are some Kloster records; again something I would not know in certainty as my involvement has only been minor in this Bistum area. Tony, not an answer for you but maybe a start. djweber [email protected] ---------------------------- > Would you know of any history to be found of the Oberkirch area before > 1750 to 1850? Maps of that particular area of that time as well? > I have been reading everything I can get my hands on but nothing yet of > that particular area during that time frame. >

DJ, You have been a great help in explaining my situation. I understand that my time frame is divided between several different situations that evolved during those 100 years. I feel like I need to study the history of each of these different time frames to understand what I am trying to look for. My Fetz family left Oberkirch, Baden in 1831. I have never heard of the reason that they left the country but do understand that they were facing a harsh situation with two sons of the age of 17 and 15 years. And a daughter of 19. I will attempt to learn in great detail of the history of the area of Oberkirch and how each little hamlet surrounding them played a part. As well as the military and economic conditions that existed during these different periods of history. Again DJ, I may have to bend your ear for more and more suggestions as to how to proceed. Hope you do not get tired of me probing and prodding you for more? Thanks ....Tony ----- Original Message ----- From: "djweber" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, June 11, 2005 10:23 PM Subject: Re: [Ortenau] Thiergarten > Tony, > > As to history, I know nothing. I have learned some information from > reading > the Church Registers, reading those companion pages and doing some < > google.com > searches under searche words such as < baden + history >. > > And, anything I might have kept in my mind probably wouldn't be of much > value in your search. I believe the towns around Oberkirch before the > formation of the Grand Duchy of Baden were within the Bistum Straßburg > which > makes their history somewhat different from the nearby towns where I have > an > interest as those other towns were within the Habsburg lands of the > Vorderösterreich. Different ownership. > > Remember the Grand Duchy was formed in August 1806, a result of Napoleon > redisigning the face of Europe. A good map of the pre-Grand Duchy era is > at > < http://www.genealogienetz.de/reg/BAD-WUE/Landkarten/bad1771g.gif >. The > Bistum Straßburg is explained in German at < > http://ortenau.speedyspace.de/ > >; look on the left side for Herrschaften and click on Bistum Straßburg. > > For your time period, before 1750 to 1850, you have to think in two ways. > The full Grand Duchy was not formed until 1819 but the ecclesiatical > territories had disappeared before the 1806 date. If my memory is close, > this happened in 1803 when Baden became an Electorate of the Holy Roman > Empire, then when the Empire was dissolved in 1806 Baden became a Grand > Duchy of the Confederation of the Rhine. Before 1803, the towns of the > Bistum would have been subservient to the Bishop. > > Your answer for before 1750 ends with 1803 and starts again for 1803 to > 1850. However, keep in mind that there was contact between the people of > the Margraviate of Baden-Baden, of the Habsburg Vorderösterreich lands, of > the Bistum Straßburg, of the nearby Hessian lands and of the many other > lands of that area of what became the Grand Duchy. There were marriages > across those "country" boundaries. > > One major difference might be that in the Bistum, in addition to town > records, there probably are some Kloster records; again something I > would not know in certainty as my involvement has only been minor > in this Bistum area. > > Tony, not an answer for you but maybe a start. > > djweber > [email protected] > ---------------------------- >> Would you know of any history to be found of the Oberkirch area before >> 1750 to 1850? Maps of that particular area of that time as well? >> I have been reading everything I can get my hands on but nothing yet of >> that particular area during that time frame. >> > > > > ==== DEU-BAD-ORTENAU Mailing List ==== > A list of Historic and Current towns of the Ortenau can be found at < > http://ortenau.speedyspace.de/ >. > > ============================== > Jumpstart your genealogy with OneWorldTree. Search not only for > ancestors, but entire generations. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13972/rd.ashx >