I am indexing and, with my limited knowledge of German, trying to translate the family history one of my distant cousins compiled ["Betscharts von Muotathal," Kanton Schwyz, ca. 1480-present -- will do lookups!]. Here's some translation questions that have arisen from doing this. Answers to any or all are appreciated! :) * Regierundgesüchtiger. Regierund is "government" and gesüchtiger is "addicted," but what do they connote when you put them together? Dictatorial? Rigid? Controlling? Here's the context: Amman Hans, wie er genannt wurde, war ein grober [grosser?], unbescheidener und regierundgesüchtiger, bissiger Mann gegen Geistlichen und Weltlichen, gegen welche er kein Respekt hatte. Trotzdem war er Richter gewesen. I know it's not complimentary -- see my sig line for the tentative translation. Fortunately for me he is a distant cousin and not a direct ancestor. * Hof. Translates as "yard," but if that's the case, then several of my cousins owned yards. Whoopie. (On the other hand, it seems as though every time someone buys a house, it is noted. Is it that big a deal in Switzerland to own your own home?) * Wirtspatent. Seems to have something to do with restaurants. My great-great uncle Xaver seems to have inherited the "Wirtspatent" from my great-great grandfather, but he is also said to have inherited the restaurant itself at a later date. * Schreinerei. Schreiner is a carpenter, I know, but I'm not sure what a Schreinerei would be... * Heimen vs. Haus. What's the distinction? Is a "Heimwesen" a country home? * Alpfahrt. * Landwirtschaft -- I can't figure out if this is a farm or a real estate business or something else all together. * Matt. Turns up several times: Buobenmatt, Hausmatt... * Güter. "Er besass Vaters Güter." * Er [Josef Martin Betschart, 1761-1844] war der letzte Kastenvogt des Landes Schwyz. Der Kastenvogt hatte die Aufgabe den Kasten "Kriegskasse" zu bewahren. I know the first sentence means "He was the last Kastenvogt of Schwyz," and the following sentence has something to do with his duties as Kastenvogt, but beyond that... Also: does anyone know why Schwyz (if not the entire country) abolished the office of Kastenvogt? I have GOT to learn how to read German, at least... :) Joann Betschart (Lunzä Schützenhaus) | http://www.c-zone.net/merlaan "Amman Hans, as he was known, was a crude, immodest, rigid, bitter man who had no respect for either clergy or the laity. Nevertheless, he was a judge." -- Brief biography of Hans Betschart (ca. 1580-1650)