Read Old Scripts
Reading ancient scripts: I learned this autodidactically. Autodidactically, in this case, means through doing. Then as now, there are people who write more beautifully and those who write less beautifully. And there are scripts that are easy to read and those that are difficult to make out. Furthermore, there are sources that are better and those that are less well preserved. In my opinion, a textbook-like learning of “ancient” script is not possible, as there is no such thing as “the” ancient script. Different styles differ depending on the era. I have included a few examples from some different periods:
1930
1904
1877
1828
1751
1709
1650
1565
1483
1485
1481
1930 (from the marriage register Großheppach):
| 2. | Schmid, Eugen Friedrich, Maria Margretha g[eborene] Ehman[n] | Mezger hier ev. Näherin, hier, ev. | Karl Friedr. Schmid, Wittwer hier. Christiane Frieder., g[eborene]. Schwägler Johannes Ehmann, Stein- hauermeister, hier Paulina, g[eborene]. Häcker, | led. led. |
means in English:
| 2. | Schmid, Eugen Friedrich, Maria Margretha born Ehman[n] | Butcher here | Karl Friedr. Schmid, widower here. Christiane Frieder., born Schwägler Johannes Ehmann, stone carver, here Paulina, born Häcker, | unmarried unmarried |
1904 (from the marriage register Großheppach):
| 2. | Karl Sophie | Wgtr. Jungfrau | Johannes Sigle, |
Means in English:
2. | Karl Sophie | wine maker virgin | Johannes Sigle, Citicen and wine maker, curch administrator as well Friederike gb. Durst II, 827 [= reference to family register] Johann Melchior Klopfer, wijne maker, Katherine Friederike born Daiber I, 481. [= refence to family register] |
1877 (from the marriage register Großheppach):
Gottlieb
Dorothea | B[ürger]. u.
ev[angelisch]. | + Gottlieb Ellwanger, Wgt. Georg Michael Plazz, bauer |
Means in English:
Gottlieb
Dorothea | Citicen and protestant. | + Gottlieb Ellwanger, wine maker. Anna Maria born Würtele I. 278. Georg Michael Plazz, farmer in Birkenweißbuch. Anna Maria born Wolf. |
1828 (from the marriage register Großheppach):
| Georg Matthi- as Schanbacher. mit Margaretha geb[orene]. Reichert. | B[ürger]. u. W[eingärtner]. allh. | Johann Georg Schanbacher, B[ürger]. u. B[auer]. Bernhard Reichert, B[ürger]. u. W[eingärtner]. in |
Means in English:
| Georg Matthi- as Schanbacher. with Margaretha born. Reichert. | Citicen and wine maker here | Johann Georg Schanbacher, Citicen and farmer. Bernhard Reichert, Citicen and wine maker in |
1751 (from the marriage register Großheppach):
| d[en]. 30. Aug[ust]: /4 | Jacob Siegle, Burger und Schumacher alhier, Wittwer, mit Anna Catha= rina, Johannes Baurens, Burgers und Weing[ärtner]. alh[ier]. ehel[iche]. u[nd]. ledigen Tochter |
Means in English:
| On 30. Aug[ust]: /4 | Jacob Siegle, Citicen and shoe maker here, widower, with Anna Catha= rina, Johannes Baurens, citicen and wine maker here legitimate and unmarried daughter |
1709 (from the Großheppach death register):
d[en] 12. Marty ward ein Elender Tropff begraben, Namens Albrecht Weller, Rudlolph Wellers gewesenen burger allhie hinterlaßner Ehl: Sohn, atat: gegen 42 Jahr, hat Sich das letzte Jahr bey seiner Schwester, Hanß Jerg behen weib auffgehalten, ist also von derselbigen liderley tractiert worden.
Means in English:
on 12 March has been buried a poor boy, named Albrecht Weller, surviving legitimate son of Rudolph Weller which was citicen here [means father already died], about 42 years old, lived the last year at his sister, Hanß Jerg behen wife, was hit by the same disease.
1650 (from the marriage register Großheppach):
| Den 19. Febr[uar]. | Seind offentlich eingesegnet worden, der Erbar Jung Gesell, Hanß Halb von Beüttelspach, vnd Anna Vrsula, Löfflerin. |
Means in English;
| On 19 February | Were publicly blessed the respectable bachelor Hanß Halb from Beutelsbach, and Anna Ursula Löffler. |
1565 (from the marriage register Großheppach):
Jtem den 3 Nouembris ein Ehe
vsgeruff[en] Ciliac Rebman, Margre=
tha Caspars Schmid[en] verlasne
Witfrau beede vo[n] Grossen Hep
pach anno [15]65
Means in English:
Aswell on 3rd November a marriage
proclaimed Ciliac Rebman [and] Margare-
tha, widow of Caspar Schmid.
Both from Großhepp-
ach, in the year 1565
1483 (from the Großheppach inventory book):
Hanns Löffler Schuldthaiß,
Zins[t] außer Ain morgen wisen
Jnn Wagwisen Zwischen Caspar
Treybern Vnd Hanns Schert=
lin Allt gelegen, Oben An
Vz Vayhinger, Vnnd vnden
vf den weg Stossende
Fünfzehen Schilling
Means in English:
Hanns Löffler mayor,
charges interest from one acre meadow
in the cadastral “Wagwisen” between Caspar
Treybern and Hanns Schert-
lin, the old, On the upper side at
V[inzen]z Vayhinger, and on the lower side
at the road
15 Schilling
1485 (from the Großheppach inventory book):
Vo[n] Zinß vnd gilt der pfar[r] zü grossen=
Heckbach erneüwert vor aine[n] gantzen
gericht in dem Jar alß ma[n] zalt nach
crist geburt M iiiic lxxxv [1485]
Means in English:
About interest and funds which is about the parish at Groß-
heppach renewed infront of the whole
court in the year which is count after
Christ birth 1485
1481 (from the Großheppach inventory book):
Jtem der Jung lang Hensin git all Jar
vß He[r]vß ai[ne] Halben morgen
wingartz, gena[n]t der pfad ist an
stösser oben an walther meßners
wingart vnd darneben Hanß bon-
holtz winga[r]t git Conlin wernher
Means in English:
Aswell the jr. long Hans will give every year
from one half acre
vineyard, named as “The Path”
hits on the upper side to Walther Meßners
vineyard and the side on Hanß Bon-
holtz vineyard property Conlin Wernher
Since people in the past wrote more or less according to what they heard or learned, dialectal influences are often evident. It is therefore helpful to be familiar with the respective dialect.
Abbreviations are aswell often used. Learning these autodidactically is sometimes difficult or even impossible. The standard work “Taschenbuch für Familiengeschichtsforschung” (Pocketbook for Family History Research) and the small but extremely effective work by Jörg Heinrich and Martin Klöpfer on “AAbkürzungen und Schriftbesonderheiten …” (Abbreviations and Writing Special Features..) are particularly worth mentioning here. You can find the corresponding reference in the bibliography.