> Von: dschmutz@es.com[SMTP:dschmutz@es.com] > Gesendet: Dienstag, 18. Januar 2000 19:12 > An: SWITZERLAND-L@rootsweb.com > Betreff: [SWITZ] Billeter's data on Rufer from Jegenstorf, BE - some > questions ans wered > > Dear Anna: > > The Billeter information in SwissGen's SSD may be accessed by going to: > http://iseli.simplenet.com/ch-names/ > and requesting the data on Rufer. <snip> > According to the data for Rufer in SSD, Billeter only researched the Rufer > surname in the village of Jegenstorf, canton BE, all the way back to 1550. <snip> > So, by now, you are probably wondering why Billeter did research in > Jegenstorf, but it is not mentioned in FNBS 1940. Well, to tell you the > truth, Jegenstorf is not mentioned in FNBS 1989 edition either. > The parish of Jegenstorf consists of the villages of Jegenstorf, Ballmoos, Iffwil, Oberscheunen, Mattstetten (!), Muenchringen, Urtenen (!), Zauggenried and Zuzwil (!). I have marked with (!) the three villages where RUFER have held citizenship since before 1800 (FNBS 1989). So this is the likely explanation : Billeter has researched RUFER mentioned in the Jegenstorf church records, though they might not have been citizens of Jegenstorf (Dave mentioned as an additional possibility, that the Jegenstorf line had existed, but was extinct before about 1935, which would also be possible). Where from did I get the information about Jegenstorf ? Verzeichnis der Kirchenbuecher des Kantons Bern (Index of canton Bern church records) by Peter W. Imhof "Arbeitshilfen fuer Familienforscher in der Schweiz" #8 published by SGFF in 1997 ISBN 3-908222-04-4 This book is a MUST for anyone trying serious research in canton Bern - even if your German is limited : there is very little introductory text; most of it is tables, which will be more or less self-explanatory irrespective of your language. It may be ordered from the SGFF Document Sales Office http://swiss.genealogy.net/SGFF-lit.html for sfr 30 (some $ 20) plus postage - don't know whether there is a cheaper (postage !) source overseas. Most of the Bern church records have been filmed by LDS - the few not filmed are also listed in this book (with details re time frame covered and the like). Good luck with your further research - Wolf ---------------------- Wolf W. Seelentag, PhD, e-mail : wolf@swissmail.com Reherstr. 19, CH - 9016 St. Gallen, Switzerland Tel (home) : +41-71-2885121 Fax : +49-89-2443-91987 Tel (work) : +41-71-4942233