I am wondering if someone can help me. I understand that it is beneficial when researching German ancestors to know the parish they came from but unfortunately, I don't. My ancestor, JACOB BRAUN and MARTHA (WENZEL) BRAUN were both born in Hesse Cassel, Jacob in Sept. 1824 and Martha in Apr. 1822. They were of the Reformed faith. Jacob was a scissor grinder. His naturalization papers as well as the Phila census only state Hesse Cassel as their place of birth. They immigrated to America and Phila in particular in the early part of 1847. I have not found them on the passenger lists, however. They married here on Dec. 25, 1847 in a Reformed Church. The church was formerly United High German Evangelical "Calvinist" Reformed. I don't know if that gives any clue to anything at all. Other family names were Heinrich and Conrad Braun and Martin Wenzel, I think. I keep playing with the towns of IBA and OBERKAUFUNGEN, but don't know why. It is only a gut feeling. I don't read German so my problem is compounded by that fact. Can any one help me. I would really appreciate it. Thank you.