Hello everyone, I am new to the list - last I checked a few years ago, this list didn't exist. I have a lot of information on the Trace family from Crawford Co. and Berks Co, PA. in the 1750-1850 timeframe. My line comes from Germany where the name was Dres and anglicized to Trace and it is my belief that most, if not all, all the Berks/Crawford County, PA Trace's come from this line. The references to Langenschwann Twp below are incorrect - it should be Longswamp - the translation from German to English was incorrect. (or so I have been informed) Some of the PA Traces (my line) moved to MN about 1855 - as I recall without digging out the books. I can send anyone that wants them a couple MSWord docs. My GGrandmother (b1880) was a Trace and became interested in genealogy in the 1920's and was able to talk to a few of the "old timers" that were still around, providing many interesting stories. Word Doc samples below: Sample 2 has my early line but branches off in the mid 1800's. hope some of this helps, mike sample 1: The immigrant ancestor of the Pennsylvania Dres family was Conrad Dres, a tailor, who was born 4 March 1728, in Aich, in the Württemberg District of Germany. Conrad's family had lived in Aich at least since 1613, when a son of one Hans Dres, and his wife Anna, was baptised according to the parish register of the Evangelische Kirche. From these registers, we find all of the records of the family of Conrad Dres extracted to date from German sources. The reference for the film is: LDS Film #1056613 citation: "Parish Register of baptisms, marriages, burials, confirmations and family registers for Aich, N'urtingen, W"urttemberg, Germany. Evangelische Kirche Aich, N"urtingen, Kirchenbuch 1679-1966." sample 2: FIRST GENERATION 1. Johann Georg DRES. He was married to Agnes in Germany. Johann Georg DRES and Agnes had the following children: +2 i. Conrad DRESS. SECOND GENERATION 2. Conrad DRESS was born to Johann Georg and Agnes Dres on 4 Mar 1727/28 in Aich, Wuerttemberg, Germany. He was a tailor. He emigrated on 27 Sep 1746 from Philadelphia. He arrived on the "Ann" Galley on Sept. 27,1746. By 1765, he was residing in Longswamp Township, Berks County, according to the record of his Naturalization which took place in Philadelphia on September 22 of that year. He died between 29 May 1790 and 14 Jun 1790. He was married to Catharina SCHUESTER on 23 Apr 1750 in St. Michaelis Lutheran Church in Philadelphia, PA. Conrad DRESS and Catharina SCHUESTER had the following children: +3 i. Dewalt (Theobald/Deobald) DRESS. <-------- MY LINE 4 ii. John DRESS was born about 1756 in Langenschwann Twp. (now Longswamp Twp.), Berks CO, PA. 5 iii. Matthias DRESS was born about 1757 in Langenschwann Twp. (now Longswamp Twp.), Berks CO, PA. 6 iv. George DRESS was born about 1759 in Langenschwann Twp. (now Longswamp Twp.), Berks CO, PA. February 19,1787 - Valentine Trace owned 70 acres in Berks County. May 25, 1809 - George Trace owned 72.156 acres in Berks County. (May be Valentine's old farm after the survey.) 7 v. Elisabeth DRESS was born about 1761 in Langenschwann Twp. (now Longswamp Twp.), Berks CO, PA. 8 vi. Michael DRESS was born on 18 Feb 1762 in Longswamp. THIRD GENERATION 3. Dewalt (Theobald/Deobald) DRESS was born about 1750 in Langenschwann Twp. (now Longswamp Twp.), Berks CO, PA. He died by 04/02/1790. Langenschwann Twp. became Langswamp Twp. in 1761. Theobald and Elisabetha were members of the Dutch Reform Church. After Dewalt (Theobald) died, John, Jacob, Catherine, and George, along with Catherine's husband, Peter Brown and members of his family, decided to migrate westward to Crawford CO from Berks CO. This took place in 1803. Their sister and brother, Elisabeth Dres Majer, and Abraham Dres, stayed in Berks County. Abraham took over the family farm. He was married to Elizabeth/Elisabetha CARL (daughter of Theobald CARL and Anna Maria MEER) about 1774. Elizabeth/Elisabetha CARL was born on 20 Oct 1752 in Longswamp. She was born to Theobald CARL and Anna Maria MEER. Dewalt (Theobald/Deobald) DRESS and Elizabeth/Elisabetha CARL had the following children: 9 i. Abraham DRESS was born on 11 Jun 1785 in Longswamp. He died on 7 Mar 1834. He was buried in St. Michael's Luthern Cemetary in Germantown Twp.. +10 ii. George DRESS/TRACE. +11 iii. Catherine/Catharina DRESS. +12 iv. Elizabeth DRESS. +13 v. John DRESS. +14 vi. Jacob DRESS/TRACE.