Friends-- I have an old Swiss document, in German, that I need help translating. I've been unable to find meanings for some of the words, and part of it is handwritten in old Germanic script. Furthermore, I have no idea what the purpose of the document is. I would greatly appreciate it if someone could help me translate it, the handwriting, and/or help me understand what it is (or direct me to someone/where that could). I've transferred the document below, or you can view it at www.angelfire.com/pa5/kanton_bern/kantonbern_page1.jpg and www.angelfire.com/pa5/kanton_bern/kantonbern_page2.jpg (anyone interested simply in viewing this Swiss document from the 1850s might be interested in clicking on these links). Italics indicate the parts that were handwritten; the ? before a few words takes the place of a printed letter I can't determine: **** Kanton Bern ?mtsbezirf Interlaken Kirchgemeinde Brienz Auszug aus dem Taufregister Tom. V. Fol. 59. und dem Admissionsregister Tom. III. Fol. 31. 1831 den 4 Decemb wurde zu Brienz getauft, und a"uf heil. ????? 1847. zum Genusse des heil. ?bendmahls admittirt: ein ehelichen Melchior, geboren den 1 Decemb 1831. Eltern {Melchior Schild, ??????? hel. zum Brienzw"yler, {C"atharina H(?)"uber, ???????? hel. zum Gr"und, Rg. Meiningen. Zeugen {Peter Schild, zum Brienzw"yler, {Peter Schild, Peter? zum Brienzw"yler, {Elisabeth H(?)"uber, geb. Streich, zum Unterfl"uh, Rg. Meiningen. F"ur getreuen ?uszug bezeugt Z"u Brienz den 19ten M"arz 1859. Der Pfarrer des Orts: S. R"urber(?) Die ?echtheit obstehender Unterschrift bezeugt _______den__ten_______18__ Der Regierungsstatthalter: (on the back) Der Staatsschreiber des Kantons Bern bezeugt die ?echtheit des jenseitigen Siegels und der Unterschrift des Herrn Regierungsstatthalters von Bern, den___ten_______18__ Der Staatsschreiber: Auszug aus dem Lauf: und ?dmissions:Register der Kirchgemeinde Brienz f"ur Melchior Schild. **** Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. The Melchior Schild who is the subject of this document was my great-great-great-grandfather. The paper was found recently among my great-grandmother's long-stored effects. Melchior, a poor farmer, emigrated from Neuchatel in 1899 when he was 68 and his wife 60. I'm also looking to connect with those researching the Schild family. Christi