Thanks Bill. Where did you get the records? I don't know if I realized it or not but you say Jr was born in Upper Paxton in 1775 which would help place the time they moved up from near Lancaster. And I don't know that I realized he was buried at the church - which means there are at least two stones I need to try to locate. Oh and by the way, I believe it was Anna Moyer he married - don't know if you made a type or the records did. Joan ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Dietrich" <dietrichpa@wtvaccess.com> To: <padauphi@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, June 18, 2007 6:13 PM Subject: Re: [PADAUPHI] Lykens Valley Lower Reformed Church (David'sReformed) > 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 >> > > > > ------------------------------- > 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 >