Horst, > > The term "Kurhessen" always referred to what was the > "Kurfuerstentum Hessen;Kassel (Cassel)" until 1866. > Thank you very much for sharing the information about Kurhessen. When I was at the National Archives, I got a copy of the enlistment papers for my GGGF, Peter Euler, for his service in our Civil War. One of these was a copy of his Volunteer Enlistment document from 1863. At that time, he said that he was born in Heefursteen, Germany. I have not been able to find such a city in present day Germany, nor do I get any hits when I do a web search on Heefursteen. Obviously, I could be misreading the script, but it does *look* like Heefursteen. Is it possible that what looks like Heefursteen was actually a misspelling or alternate spelling for Kurhessen or Kurfuerstentum? Any of you kind German researchers know what/where Heefursteen, Germany, from 1860, is today? Or what looks like "Heefursteen" might have actually been? Thanks for any insight any of you can provide on this question, Trent Eyler <eyler@cox.net>

"Heefursteen" is most likely a misspelling of Kurfurstentum (with an umlaut over the first "u") The prefix "Kur" indicates that the prince was one of the "electoral princes" who elected the Holy Roman Emperor "furstentum" translates into English as "principality" There were two ways of referring to Electoral Hesse: as "Kurhessen" or as "Kurfurstentum Hessen" The initial "K" in the word must look like an "H" while the initial "u" like a pair of "ee"s a not uncommon problem David Rorer ----- Original Message ----- From: "Trent Eyler" <eyler@cox.net> To: <HESSE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, April 30, 2004 10:53 AM Subject: [HESSE] Kurfuerstentum Hessen;Kassel or Kurhessen or Heefursteen > Horst, > > > > > The term "Kurhessen" always referred to what was the > > "Kurfuerstentum Hessen;Kassel (Cassel)" until 1866. > > > > Thank you very much for sharing the information about Kurhessen. > > When I was at the National Archives, I got a copy of the enlistment > papers for my GGGF, Peter Euler, for his service in our Civil War. One > of these was a copy of his Volunteer Enlistment document from 1863. At > that time, he said that he was born in Heefursteen, Germany. I have not > been able to find such a city in present day Germany, nor do I get any > hits when I do a web search on Heefursteen. > > Obviously, I could be misreading the script, but it does *look* like > Heefursteen. Is it possible that what looks like Heefursteen was > actually a misspelling or alternate spelling for Kurhessen or > Kurfuerstentum? > > Any of you kind German researchers know what/where Heefursteen, Germany, > from 1860, is today? Or what looks like "Heefursteen" might have > actually been? > > Thanks for any insight any of you can provide on this question, > > Trent Eyler > <eyler@cox.net> > > > > ==== HESSE Mailing List ==== > Going on Vacation? Longer than 4 days? Go to > http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/DEU/HESSE.html > to unsubscribe >