Thanks Patricia for the wonderful explanation of the compilation of church records. I got to thinking about Albrecht and Barbara Thoma who first show up in the records in 1685 with the birth of johannes even though the records started in 1648. The mystery -- where were they before this? This young family with the almost 3 year old son and a pregnant wife had to relocate in 1788 when the nine years war engulfed their area. Did Albrecht go with them or did he stay to defend his new home? There is a 6 year gap between the child born in 1788 and the next child. Was their home destroyed during the destruction that took place in the area. When did they got to go home? Then I got to thinking about the other families in Neuenburg -- the Blankenbaker's, the Scheibles , Schlucters and Fleishmans. What is the first record for them in these church records. I can only assume that Albrecht and Barbara married not long before the birth of Johannes in 1685 because there is no record for any other children previous to him getting married or a death in the church records and they apparently married elsewhere. Did the other four families arrive about the same time? Did they travel together? Take care. Marilyn