The need for Earlier Records

As previously noted, the databases used in this research begin in 1809. Earlier records such as marriage and birth records are not available to determine relationships between family members. Future research will require finding and getting access to earlier records.

Oldest Documented Kirmse

According to Karl Heinz Weidenbruch in his paper, The Kirmse’s in Altenburger Land, notes that one of the oldest documented Kirmse’s is Caspan Kirmse who is mentioned in a 1446 invoice . Around that time there was also a monk named Kirmse in the Bergerkloster, a  Monastery at Altenburg.. Weidenbruch also notes that Dr. Horst Nehrlich (1913-1990) documented ancestors of the Kirmse family in Gerstenberger going back to the1480s.

Church Records

According to FamilySearch Germany Church Records, the practice of keeping parish registers evolved slowly. Lutheran churches in general began requiring records around 1540. Catholics began in 1563 and by 1650 most Reformed parishes began keeping records. Most are housed in central church archives or state archives, not at the local church.

Project of the working group “Altenburger Land”

A project of the  Altenburger Land working group of the AMF (Association for Central German Family Research) titled “Extended register of church registers” has the objective of collecting the church register data of the Altenburger Land and surroundings in tabular form and to create a central church book database with search and filter function, from the beginning of the church books until 1808.

Civil Register Records

Civil registers are government-kept records of births, marriages, and deaths. Civil registers can now be found in the local Standesamt, which is either in the registry office or town hall. Copies of civil registers have to be sent to the district registry offices. Records before 110 years ago for birth registers, 80 years ago for marriage registers, 30 years ago for death registers are preserved with the state archives.

According to the Meyer’s Gazetteer:

The following locations are where Rositz related records are kept:

• The Civil Registration Office (Standesamt) is located in Rositz Sa.-A. itself.
• The Lower District Court (Amtsgericht) is located in Altenburg.
• The District Military Command (Bezirkskommando) which maintains military records is in Altenburg.

The following locations are where Monstab related records are kept:

• The Civil Registration Office (Standesamt) is located in Monstab Sa.-A. itself.
• The Lower District Court (Amtsgericht) is located in Altenburg.
• The District Military Command (Bezirkskommando) which maintains military records is in Altenburg.

The following locations are where Großröda related records are kept:

• The Civil Registration Office (Standesamt) is located in Monstab Sa.-A.
• The Lower District Court (Amtsgericht) is located in Altenburg.
• The District Military Command (Bezirkskommando) which maintains military records is in Altenburg.

Compiled Town Records (Ortssippenbuch or Ortsfamilienbuch)

An Ortssippenbuch (town lineage book) or Ortsfamilienbuch (town family book) generally includes birth, marriage, and death data for all persons found in the local records during a specified time period, compiled into families. If one is available, it can act as an index or guide to finding the original records. Sources may include the local parish registers, civil registration records, court and land records, and sometimes published material.

• A search of Genealogy,net Online Family Books found none that included Kirmse and/or Kratsch family names.
• According to the GenWiki Local Family Book of Thuringia, the Family Book Kriebitzsch (Kriebitzsch, OFB) (Kriebitzsch is only about 2 miles from Rositz as the crow flies) includes both Kirmse and Kratsch family names. However, the book appears to only cover the time period 1809-1875 which is the same as the databases that have been used in this research.

Information Source

More detailed descriptions of where to find and what to expect from German records are provided by:

• How to Find Birth, Marriage, and Death Records for Thuringia, Germany
• Germany Church Records 
• Ortsfamilienbücher on Genealogy.net

Digital Archive of the Thuringian Municipal Archives

Digital Archive of the Thuringian Municipal Archives is a joint project of Kommunalarchive Thüringens, represented by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Kommunalarchive in the Landesverband Thüringen of the Association of German Archivists. The archives of Thuringia have a rich network of city, community and district archives, which preserve extensive archival sources for the development of their territorial communities and thus secure the historical heritage of their regions. In addition to files, official books, documents and newspapers also image sources are presented. The digitized stocks and pamphlets of the individual archives can be searched using a search function.

Discussion

Online records before 1809  were not found in this research project. However, as noted above there are indications that such records do exist and are being put into digital form.

• The “Extended Register of Church Registers“ project of the AMF Altenburger Land working group will probably be the best future source of church birth, marriage, and death records before 1809.
• The Information System of the Archives of Thuringia will be explored in the future.