Hi All,.. Thank you all for all the help. Frankenthal does seem like the stronger possibility, in 1627 wasn't the east side of The Rhine part of Pfalz? Would it have included Darmstadt?...... The family name I am inquiring about is BECHTEL. Georg BECHTEL from Eppstein to Edigheim in 1627, then to Oppau in 1681, This is an excerpt from a book about the history of Oppau. This Georg's gr'dau or gr'gr'dau married my gr'gr'gr'gr'grandfa. Isaac Hoffmann in Oppau in 1779, Their gr'dau Rosina Hoffman came to America in 1837 & she married Jerome ERB. Jerome ERB was born in Germany in 1816, I have not been able to locate an area in Germany for him. The ERB who came over in early 1700's were from Alsace, but I am not sure about mine. I need a lot of help on thiis. Any suggestions would be gratefully accepted.... Elaine ERB McBride