This is a great resource for everyone, I really appreciate the people who have gone before and are willing to share their knowledge and experiences. I have followed my father's ancestors back throught the graces of the Catholic Chruch and the Census. Now I have a problem trying to figure where they originated in what is now Germany. The family was staunchly Catholic here in the States. In many of the early Census, 1850 to 1870, the country of origin was listed as Hesse, Koer Hesse, and Hessen Castle. I know about the smaller dutchy being on the loosing end of a war, being absorbed into a larger country. What I am wondering is would there still be Catholic Churches in an area predominantly Lutheran? Where can I find a map of Hesse of the time period of 1845-1855? How large of an area was Hesse, the size of Rhode Island or Ohio? Somewhere in between? Thanks for your help. In US, Palentine, and Alsace-Lorriane: Hergenroether/Harkenrider, Holzinger, Kinder, Crum, Geeting/Guthing, Sonner/Sanner, Eberly, Ambrose, Mattias/Matthews In US: Eddingfield, Byrd, , Besser, Correll/Gorell, Douglass, Vail, Cartwright, McCorkle, Bevins, Ruddle, Cailey, Rodeheffer --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? vote.yahoo.com - Register online to vote today!