In a message dated 6/2/2005 1:00:36 PM Eastern Standard Time, NIEDERSACHSEN-D-request@rootsweb.com writes: Vital records are not and never have been kept at either the national, state or provincial level in Germany. In Germany, vital records are kept strictly at the local level. So before you can proceed, you are going to have to do additional research in the U.S. and find out exactly which city, town, or village in Brunswick the Barnstorff family was from. Robert.. I know that my great-grandfather Louis Krohling/Kroehling came to the United States from Munden (now known as Hann-Munden) and my great grandmother Johanna Christiana Doebeling was born in Einbeck, both of which, I believe, are in current Lower Saxony. Both were Lutheran. Can you suggest parishes that I might contact to obtain informationon their families? Thanks for any help. Bill