In a message dated 3/4/2004 9:01:00 AM Eastern Standard Time, HESSE-D-request@rootsweb.com writes: I recently got a list from Darmstadt, Germany, which included my greatgrandfather and 2 generations of his ancestors. I know that the following is his birth date, but what is the rest? *23.09.1824 rk 2.Kind=1. Sohn Bensheim I know that Bensheim was the town where he was born. Hi Helen: "rk" might mean "roemisch-katholisch" = Roman Catholic. The rest: second child, first son. Paul C. Miller