This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: Atreegrowsinbrooklyn Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newyork.counties.westchester/7224.1.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I checked some ship manifests on ancestry and found a Joseph Schmerbach in two instances returning to NY. One was born in 1876 and returned to Brooklyn in 1902. Born a US citizen. Notation says he was meeting his uncle Louis Fels (Fels could be short for a longer German name). This could mean that his mother did the notary thing to give her son's birth as a US citizen credence since the document mentioned that the priest who baptized him was affirming his US citizenship. The document might have everything to do with getting her son US legitimacy as a citizen. You didn't mention what year the son was born in. There is also a Joseph Schmerbach, born in 1860, who is returnng to the US but listed as a German. There is no notation of family members other than the fact that he was returning in 1879. This was before Ellis Island and they didn't ask the name of who the person was meeting in the US. If you know the son's birth year, it may help to narrow it down since this is an unusual name. There is also a naturalization index card for a Joseph Schmerbach dated Oct. 19, 1854 in Brooklyn. The witness for this card is Egnert Holzer. There is also a passport application for a Sophie Schmerbach on ancestry. This would mean she was a US citizen traveling to Europe or other countries. I also noted that the name Schmerbach was associated with Jewish Transmission Records. Hope this is of some help. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.