Dear Listers, In order to keep geographic history in mind as I record my greats, I like to use the geographic place name proper for the time frame. So for my husband's ggrandmother, Rosine ZACHARIAE, born in Erfurt in 1816, I record the place as Erfurt, Provinz Sachsen, Preussen. In my notes, I record the present place as Erfurt, Thüringen, Germany. But her father, Johann Jacob Z. was born in Erfurt in 1790, and his father, Johann Heinrich Z. in Erfurt in 1746. Checking my trusty old Webster's Geographical Dictionary, and my old Brittanica, as well as the new Brittanica on line, I assume that in those years Erfurt was part of the Electorate of Mainz, from 1664 until 1802. Was it considered part of the Holy Roman Empire, or would some other designation be better? Any ideas? LaVerne researching HEINEMANN, KAHL, PIETSCHMANN, ZACHARIAE in Thuringia. ltboehmke@aol.com

LTBoehmke@aol.com wrote: > > Dear Listers, > In order to keep geographic history in mind as I record my greats, I like to > use the geographic place name proper for the time frame. So for my husband's > ggrandmother, Rosine ZACHARIAE, born in Erfurt in 1816, I record the place as > Erfurt, Provinz Sachsen, Preussen. In my notes, I record the present place > as Erfurt, Thüringen, Germany. Both specifications are right. > But her father, Johann Jacob Z. was born in Erfurt in 1790, and his father, > Johann Heinrich Z. in Erfurt in 1746. > > Checking my trusty old Webster's Geographical Dictionary, and my old > Brittanica, as well as the new Brittanica on line, I assume that in those > years Erfurt was part of the Electorate of Mainz, from 1664 until 1802. I don't find the word Electorate, but I know that Erfurt belonged to the archbishopric of Mainz at that time. Erfurt and Mainz still today have the same city arms. > Was it considered part of the Holy Roman Empire, or would some other > designation be better? Yes, also the parsonic principalities in Germany belonged to the Holy Roman Empire (up to his end in 1806). > Any ideas? Every day. * Dieter