In a message dated 10/8/2002 12:02:32 AM Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] (Christi Timm) writes: > I've just acquired a family document from St. Imier, but it's written in > French, and I wonder if someone could help me translate it. I know the > second document is a marriage certificate; what is the first one? It seems > to be a birth certificate. > > Hello Christi: This is the gist of the two documents. Some of the words seem to be misspellings, and perhaps someone else on the list can fill in the blanks: Swiss Confederation, Canton Bern, Switzerland, Department of St. Imier Extract from the birth registry: On April ?, 1885, at 7:30 in the morning, Arnold Ariste Borner was born in St. Imier at Rue du Stand (street name), legitimate son of Arnold Borner, profession ?, from Rickenbach (Solothurn), living in St Imier; and Anna Suzanna, born Schild, from Brienzwyler (Bern). The document is dated April 9, 1885 (which may also be the date of birth, above) followed by the signature of the civil official. The chancellor's office of Canton Bern attests to the validity of the seal and the signature of the prefect (chief administrator). The second document: French Evangelical Church of New York: I, the undersigned, declare that on April 21, 1906, in the French Evangelical Church in New York, I celebrated the marriage of Mr. Ariste Arnold Borner, age 21, born in St. Imier, Switzerland, and Miss Julia Sophie Domers, born Besson, born in Valleyres-sous-Mance (Vaud) Switzerland. This marriage was registered in the city hall (Board of Health of Manhattan Borough) in the city of New York; Henri L. Grandlienard, pastor of the French Evangelical Church of New York. Hope this helps. Paul C. Miller