There is a small town named Allenfeld about 45 miles south of a large city named Koblenz in the Palatinate which was considered to be in Prussia for a period. See http://europe.mapquest.com/directions/europe.adp?do=nw&go=1&r=&aoh=&aot=&aof=&1a=&1c=Koblenz&1s=Rheinland%2dPfalz&1z=&1n=Koblenz&1y=DE&1l=0B%2bPyZCXzAMnWSQlPRt2%2bw%3d%3d&1g=z2Sqp2c3fdA%3d&1v=CITY&2a=&2c=Allenfeld&2s=&2z=&2y=DE&2l=&2g=&2pn=&2pl=&2v=&2ffi=&2ex=&2n= The Koblenz I'm speaking of is in the modern state of Rheinland-Pfalz. Allenfeld appears to not have a website although various sources state it is a municipality meaning it is not a part of another city. That it is a municipality is surprising because it appears to be a tiny place. I don't see where FHL has films for this Allenfeld. More important, the surname Dorter does not appear in the modern Germany online phone book. There are 42 listings for Dörder/Doerder (oe = o with umlaut). The d and t in that position would sound alike so the names are likely the same. I don't see any names that resemble Melsine. Knowing your ancestor's religion might help at some point. If you think this a good lead, I would switch over to one of the Palatinate (Pfalz in German) or the Rheinland-Pfalz list and ask further. Good hunting, Paul (a kind soul) +++++++++++++++++++++++ >> I do hope some kind soul can help me find this birth of CHARLES DORTER >> b. 1832 Coblenz, Allenfeld (that's what it looks like but I am open to >> any suggestions what exactly the place may be). He was the son of >> Phillip Dorter and Frederica Melsine. >> cheers Marilyn from Western Australia