To tell you the truth, I'm not sure that a visit would provide a lot of help. The current church is a large brick one (if I remember correctly). The church does have an office with staff though I'm not sure of the hours - you may have to make a phone call. There is a newer portion and an older portion to the cemetery. Let's say you are facing the church and cemetery from the road (since I'm not sure of the directions there) - the old cemetery would be to your far right and the current church to your left. I believe that the old church was to the right beyond the cemetery near a stream; I was there during growing time so couldn't see much beyond the trees. Many years ago my dad and I visited the church - we were fortunate that the caretaker was there that day and apparently was the son of the previous caretaker. I guess like many old cemeteries, that one had fallen on hard times - they had taken all the stones out in order to clear out the brambles et al, then set the remaining stones back in - which would explain why the remaining stones are set in pretty straight lines. It is not a large cemetery; you could walk the entire cemetery in maybe 15 minutes if you were pausing to look at all the stones in both older and newer sections. The old portion alone might take about 5 minutes. Why my interest? My 4th ggrandfather is supposed to have been buried there. There are church records available - I can't remember if I looked through them at the PA State Library in printed version or if I looked through them on microfilm version. Since my notes are hand written, I probably used microfilm . You might get them through a Mormon library or via interlibrary loan or through the Evangelical Church Historical Society in Lancaster. I know I did not view them at the church though they may have a copy there. My Ludwig Bretz is supposed to have died in 1807 and been buried there (according to a family history published in 1890 when some of the grandchildren would still have been living). Unfortunately, there were no records for a 10-15 year period of time around 1807, although I found him and his children attending church prior to that date so I know he was affiliated with it - in fact, his land was right across the road from the church. I found nothing that remotely looked like his headstone. Other than church records, I don't know that they have any burial records; when I was there last during business hours, I did not have time to stop in for any research as I was showing an out of town cousin where his ancestors had lived and were buried. I need to go up to the church for a visit as I would like to place a marker to mark his resting place and in honor of his Rev War service (in Capt Weaver's company from my prior message today - see Barbara, I continue to make progress on emptying my inbox!). Also if your ancestor died in the early days, remember that his stone might have been in German script, using the old red sandstone and by now be buried deep under the dirt or broken into many pieces. Andy, I live in Harrisburg at the north end of the city (off Route 39 if you look at an atlas) and as I recall it would take at least half an hour to get to the cemetery which is near Millersburg on the western edge of Dauphin County. I live perhaps 15-20 minutes from the PA Turnpike that is near I83 where it joins I283 on the east shore. So you would probably need to allow a minimum of 45-60 minutes to get up there - it is not via any major roads. I'd have to check my atlas to get the specific directions. And if you are near Millersburg, keep in mind that they have a working ferry boat across the river - you might want to take a ride across and back. There is an historical society in Millersburg - I've never visited it but I think it may be worth a trip though I don't know their hours; one can never tell what records they might have. If you are looking for a more recent burial record at the cemetery, they may have them at the church. There are several Lutheran churches in that area and I suspect that there might have been a circuit riding preacher who visited several of them. I have looked in the cemetery at Salem (I think) to no avail. Andy, have you checked the internet for the phone number? The church is not located in a town, it is on the open road across from farmlands so a street address will do little good; the area is called Killinger. Again as I recall, the church is about 5-10 miles out from Millersburg - the road turns off from in town and is a bit tricky to spot. If you want directions for a July trip, let me know and I can be more precise. Hope this helps with your trip planning. Joan Bretz ----- Original Message ----- From: "Andy Andrelczyk" <czyk25@comcast.net> To: <padauphi@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, June 18, 2007 12:03 PM Subject: Re: [PADAUPHI] Lykens Valley Lower Reformed Church (David'sReformed) > Hi Joan, > > No, I didn't receive any answers to my questions. I'm going to Philly in > July and would like to visit the cemetery if it is still there. Any help > would be appreciated. > Thank. > Andy >

Joan, I have some of St Davids records, also Salem, near there as well, your Bretz,s went to both, have baptims etc. 1775 for a Daniel in st Davids but have some for Ludwig and Anna Bretz, 1788 to 1811. also found where Ludwig jr.son of Ludwig and Susanna Bretz, born in upper paxton twp. 11/1/1775 died 1/17/1828, buried at davids. he was married to Anna Mayer, 6 children, 4 boys and 2 daughters. Bill ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joan Bretz" <jbretz1@earthlink.net> To: <padauphi@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, June 18, 2007 2:32 PM Subject: Re: [PADAUPHI] Lykens Valley Lower Reformed Church (David'sReformed) > To tell you the truth, I'm not sure that a visit would provide a lot of > help. The current church is a large brick one (if I remember correctly). > The church does have an office with staff though I'm not sure of the > hours - > you may have to make a phone call. There is a newer portion and an older > portion to the cemetery. Let's say you are facing the church and cemetery > from the road (since I'm not sure of the directions there) - the old > cemetery would be to your far right and the current church to your left. > I > believe that the old church was to the right beyond the cemetery near a > stream; I was there during growing time so couldn't see much beyond the > trees. Many years ago my dad and I visited the church - we were fortunate > that the caretaker was there that day and apparently was the son of the > previous caretaker. I guess like many old cemeteries, that one had fallen > on hard times - they had taken all the stones out in order to clear out > the > brambles et al, then set the remaining stones back in - which would > explain > why the remaining stones are set in pretty straight lines. It is not a > large cemetery; you could walk the entire cemetery in maybe 15 minutes if > you were pausing to look at all the stones in both older and newer > sections. > The old portion alone might take about 5 minutes. > > Why my interest? My 4th ggrandfather is supposed to have been buried > there. > There are church records available - I can't remember if I looked through > them at the PA State Library in printed version or if I looked through > them > on microfilm version. Since my notes are hand written, I probably used > microfilm . You might get them through a Mormon library or via > interlibrary > loan or through the Evangelical Church Historical Society in Lancaster. I > know I did not view them at the church though they may have a copy there. > My Ludwig Bretz is supposed to have died in 1807 and been buried there > (according to a family history published in 1890 when some of the > grandchildren would still have been living). Unfortunately, there were no > records for a 10-15 year period of time around 1807, although I found him > and his children attending church prior to that date so I know he was > affiliated with it - in fact, his land was right across the road from the > church. I found nothing that remotely looked like his headstone. Other > than church records, I don't know that they have any burial records; when > I > was there last during business hours, I did not have time to stop in for > any > research as I was showing an out of town cousin where his ancestors had > lived and were buried. > > I need to go up to the church for a visit as I would like to place a > marker > to mark his resting place and in honor of his Rev War service (in Capt > Weaver's company from my prior message today - see Barbara, I continue to > make progress on emptying my inbox!). Also if your ancestor died in the > early days, remember that his stone might have been in German script, > using > the old red sandstone and by now be buried deep under the dirt or broken > into many pieces. > > Andy, I live in Harrisburg at the north end of the city (off Route 39 if > you > look at an atlas) and as I recall it would take at least half an hour to > get > to the cemetery which is near Millersburg on the western edge of Dauphin > County. I live perhaps 15-20 minutes from the PA Turnpike that is near > I83 > where it joins I283 on the east shore. So you would probably need to > allow > a minimum of 45-60 minutes to get up there - it is not via any major > roads. > I'd have to check my atlas to get the specific directions. And if you are > near Millersburg, keep in mind that they have a working ferry boat across > the river - you might want to take a ride across and back. There is an > historical society in Millersburg - I've never visited it but I think it > may > be worth a trip though I don't know their hours; one can never tell what > records they might have. If you are looking for a more recent burial > record > at the cemetery, they may have them at the church. > > There are several Lutheran churches in that area and I suspect that there > might have been a circuit riding preacher who visited several of them. I > have looked in the cemetery at Salem (I think) to no avail. > > Andy, have you checked the internet for the phone number? The church is > not > located in a town, it is on the open road across from farmlands so a > street > address will do little good; the area is called Killinger. Again as I > recall, the church is about 5-10 miles out from Millersburg - the road > turns > off from in town and is a bit tricky to spot. If you want directions for a > July trip, let me know and I can be more precise. > > Hope this helps with your trip planning. > > Joan Bretz > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Andy Andrelczyk" <czyk25@comcast.net> > To: <padauphi@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, June 18, 2007 12:03 PM > Subject: Re: [PADAUPHI] Lykens Valley Lower Reformed Church > (David'sReformed) > > >> Hi Joan, >> >> No, I didn't receive any answers to my questions. I'm going to Philly in >> July and would like to visit the cemetery if it is still there. Any help >> would be appreciated. >> Thank. >> Andy >> > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > PADAUPHI-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >