References to a Genealogist From Both Thuringia, Germany, and the USA

© Francesca Marvulli / Fotolia.com

Yes, such a reference in old German font and written with real ink is, what every genealogist in the whole world (... not just in Germany and the United States of America) would love to receive to honor his or her genealogy work. It's a pity this illustration is just a beautiful pic matching the theme of "references" and not a letter to me.

My reference number 1 for my job as a genealogist in Germany: sent from the United States of America. For your convenience, it's displayed in a proper and easier to read font below this.

29 November 2013

Dear Christian,

For many years, a group of Schreppels in the United States wanted to know more about our German ancestors. Several generations had tried unsuccessfully to find more infor­mation. We did not even know how our Schreppels were related. I only had two docu­ments that provided some of their names and a village called Buch in Saxe-Meiningen (Thuringia). I really had very little knowledge of my family until I met you via email.

Christian, you have extensively researched our Schreppel family. Without you, we would not know about 14 Schreppel immigrants, who were all related, and chain-migrated to America from 1850-1870. You provided family group sheets and church records detailing the Schreppel families back eight generations to 1622.

I asked you so many questions, and you always recommended other documents providing the answers, such as castradal maps, land records, county records, German histories, im­migration records, village histories and so much more. These documents shaped the story of our 14 brave immigrants.

I am now writing a book on these 14 Schreppel immigrants and have already written over 100 pages. I could not have written this book without the superb genealogical work of you, Christian. Thank you so much.

You are an expert genealogist, and your research is important to the American or German who desires to get a true picture of their ancestors in Germany. If I can ever be of assis­tance in recommending you to others, please feel free to contact me.

Best Regards,

S.P.

I myself meanwhile after many years as a genealogist or – if you prefer – as a family researcher, don't get goose bumps anymore when I see such photos as the one above. But I promise you: If your genealogy leads you to the USA, and the chances are not even bad, and you hold such a photo of your family in your hands for the first time, you will get them! The goose bumps.

A second reference for my research as a genealogist in Germany. If you are currently learning German, it's easier to read the letter in the following text below in a proper font. However, if you do prefer a translation, scroll down even further and you will find a translation for your convenience.

28.11.13

Lieber Herr Hoske,

vor fast vier Jahren erteilte ich Ihnen meinen ersten Auftrag zur Recherche bzgl. meiner Vorfahren. Bei diesem Auftrag ist es nicht geblieben, sondern es wurden bis heute immer mehr. Und dabei wird es auch nicht bleiben.

Eine Recherche wird mir in besonderer Erinnerung bleiben, obwohl es noch andere interessante Verbindungen gibt. Das Ergebnis dieser einen Nachforschung war meine Bluts- und gleichzeitig auch Seitenverwandtschaft zur Familie von Dr. Martin Luther. Dessen Großeltern sind nun auch meine Großeltern bzw. ist Dr. Martin Luther mein Cousin, wenn auch „nur“ 1. Grades in 13. Gen. Und durch

Ihre Hilfe ist alles lückenlos nachweisbar.

Nun wird es endlich Zeit, mich – auch außerhalb unseres persönlichen und sehr netten Kontaktes – bei Ihnen herzlich für Ihr Engagement zu bedanken.

Sie haben meine höchste Anerkennung. Ihr Sachverstand, die außerordentlichen Leistungen und die Recherche-Ergebnisse sind unübertroffen. Ich bin jedes Mal begeistert, wenn ich Ihren Bericht, die Datenblätter und die Fotos erhalte.

Ich kann Sie als sehr hervorragenden, zuverlässigen und genau recherchierenden Genealogen nur empfehlen.

Freundliche Grüße aus Erfurt

M. W.

Dear Mr. Hoske,

almost four years ago I asked you for a first research to check on my ancestors. It didn't stop with that first account. However, it developed more and more. And it won't stop here.

I will always remember one special research in particular, although there are more interesting connections. The result of this specific research was my blood relationship and in addition a side relationship to the family of Martin Luther. Martin Luther's grandparents are my grandparents now as well, respectively is Dr. Martin Luther, my cousin, even if he is "only" first time removed in the 13th generation. And with your help, it is now documented without a gap.

Now it's finally time, to say thank you for your dedication – as well outside our personal and very heartily contact.

You have my highest appreciation. Your expertise, the exceptional accomplishment, and your research results are unmatched. I am excited every time when I receive your report, the data sheets, and the photos.

I can just recommend you as a very exceptional, reliable and exactly researching genealogist.

Best regards from Erfurt

M. W.

Genealogy, ancestry, family research ... three terms, but the same passion. If you find photos like this one above, you just don't photoshop them before you put them on your website. No way. Every bend, every scratch, every stain ... all of that is authentic and needs to stay.

A third reference for my service as a genealogist in Germany: Already a long time ago, the Bachs in Heilbronn, Southern Germany were excited to meet me. For your convenience, if you are a little expertised in German, the letter follows in a clear easy to read font. For those, who are more interested in the content, not in the adventure to guess what the German might tell, it will follow in English, too.

12. Oktober 2011

jo-i

Ihre Recherche für uns

Sehr geehrter, lieber Herr Hoske,

wir sind bei Zacharias angekommen. Was für ein Abenteuer bisher. Sie hatten uns ja damals vorgeschlagen, in Erfurt weiterzusuchen. Und wir hatten uns überlegt, ob wir das selber tun sollten. Oder ob wir Sie bitten. Wir haben unsere ersten Erfahrungen in Stuttgart gemacht ... ich denke, es war nötig, um damit besser einschätzen zu können, wie viel Energie nötig ist, um weitaus mehr Unterlagen durchzusehen, als damals im Kirchenarchiv Stuttgart bereitstanden.

Wir baten Sie, für uns zu forschen – Sie taten es – und wir sind begeistert. Das wollen wir heute einmal „loswerden“. Wir baten ja auch, das eine oder andere Foto zu machen und Wichtiges zu dokumentieren. Ich kann mich erinnern, von „Schnappschüssen“ gesprochen zu haben. Was Sie uns zusandten, ist eine nie erwartete Qualität an Expertise und an tollen Fotos. Welche Schärfe, welche Brillanz! Ich schätzte damals den Aufwand für uns auf etwa viermal die Zeit, die Sie brauchen würden, um dasselbe Ergebnis zu erreichen.

Falsch war meine Berechnung! Um es deutlich zu sagen: Wir hätten Dokumente in den Händen gehalten, denen wir überhaupt nicht angesehen hätten, was sie für Schätze auf unserem Weg in die Vergangenheit bergen. In diesem Zusammenhang ganz lieben Dank für das Foto des Heirats-Eintrages von Johann Sebastian Bach in Dornheim. Es war nicht explizit Teil unserer Wünsche, aber aus dem Briefing wussten Sie und erinnerten sich, dass dieses Dokument, vom Original fotografiert, für mich von unermesslichem Wert sein würde. Ich hätte den Namen definitiv nicht erkannt, ich hätte ihn überlesen.

Wir sind auch begeistert von Ihrem Engagement, der Präzision bei Ihrer Arbeit, der objektiven Einordnung des Gefundenen, der übersichtlichen Zusammenstellung und nicht zuletzt, weil für uns wirklich von Bedeutung: Ihre faire Abrechnung.

Ich freue mich auf die nächsten gemeinsamen Schritte und auf ein Kennenlernen irgendwann in Eisenach. Ein ganz besonderes Dankeschön für eine ganz hervorragende Leistung. Und bevor ich es doch noch vergesse: lieben Dank, dass Sie das alles immer so zeitnah umsetzten ... Sie wissen ja, die spannenden Dinge können am wenigsten warten.

Herzliche Grüße nach Eisenach

Ihr Peter Bach jr.

Your Research for Us

Dear Mr. Hoske,

we managed Zacharias. What an adventure so far. You suggested back then to research in Erfurt. And we thought about, whether to do it ourselves. Or whether we should prefer to ask you. We made our first experience in Stuttgart - I believe that was necessary, to have a better judgment, how much energy is necessary, to check on many more records than we did in Stuttgart.

We asked you, to do the research for us – you did it – and we are excited. That is what we just want to "transfer" to you today. Plus, we asked you to take one or another photo and document important details in that way. I do remember, I said "snapshots". What you sent us, is a never expected quality of expertise in many photos. What a sharpness, how brilliant they are! I estimated the time you would probably need at a level of four times the time, we would have needed, to get to the same amount of results.

But my math was wrong. Just to make it clear: we would have had documents in our hands on which we wouldn't even have discovered, what treasures they actually are. Treasures on our way into the past. Telling this, we want to say thank you for the wedding record of Johann Sebastian Bach in Dornheim. It wasn't part of our request, but remembering the briefing you knew, that this document, being photographed from the original, would be priceless for us. I would definitely not have recognized the name, I would have read over it.

We are as well excited about your engagement, your precision of your work, your objective classification of what you found, your summary in writing and last but not least, what is really important for us ... your fair billing.

I am looking forward to our next common steps and a personal get together in Eisenach in the future. A very special thanks to you for your exceptional work and to make sure I don't forget to mention this finally: Thank you so very much that you accomplished all our request always very fast ... you well know, the exciting things in life just can't wait.

Cordially regards to Eisenach

Yours Peter Bach, Jr.

A last "photo treasure" on this website from me – from your genealogist in Eisenach, Thuringia, Germany – for you. No, the kids didn't find that funny back then: to be costumed and to have taken photos just for us "treasure hunters". Did you realize, that folks on photos from back then, a long, long time ago, never smiled or laughed on a photo like this?!

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C.A. Hoske ... Your Genealogist / Family Researcher in Thuringia / Germany