The short version of the question: do any church records exist for Groß Zimmern prior to 1640? LDS microfilm covers the town pretty well beginning in 1640 and onward, and by good luck and many weeks perusing the film I've found that I have a number of ancestors there (surnames include Störger/Störcher, Dressel, Breidenbach, Dietrich, Herbert). But going back earlier in Groß Zimmern doesn't appear possible from microfilm. Does anyone know whether there are local archives in Hesse Darmstadt that might contain records earlier than 1640 and, if so, whom I might contact to do more research? I've found some of my folks in microfilm of other towns nearby (Spachbrücken, Groß Umstedt, Reinheim) but it's pretty occasional. Groß Zimmern is the town I'd really like to research further back, if possible. Suggestions would be most welcome. Regards, Debra MacLaughlan-Dumes http://sakionline.net/familypage

Dear Debra, > The short version of the question: do any church records > exist for Groß Zimmern prior to 1640? You can find the beginning of church recors in Hesse-Darmstadt by looking up the "Praetorius" at the german GenWiki. Groß-Zimmern could be found at: <http://wiki-de.genealogy.net/Kirchenb%C3%BCcher_und_Standesregister_f%C3%BCr_alle_Wohnpl%C3%A4tze_im_Land_Hessen_%281939%29/062> You can see that there are no church record prior to 1640. Herzliche Grüße Ernst-Peter(Winter)