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From: John Blankenbaker <>
Subject: [GERMANNA] Various Interesting Tidbits
Date: Thu, 01 Nov 2001 19:57:43 -0500


Topic I

Sandi Yelton sent me this note and permission to forward it.

"The Free Press," a Shenandoah County weekly newspaper has a column each
week entitled "Pages from newspapers past." The column features an old
picture submitted by area residents and includes items from county
newspapers of the past. The column began several years ago with items from
around 1820 and now features items in the late 1860s. The following caught
my attention in
view of your latest Notes:

"Apr 15, 1869
We learn from a gentleman in Edinburg that a company of northern miners
are prospecting for silver in the mountains a few miles from that place.
They have discovered an old mine containing evidence of the existence of
this precious metal."

(Edinburg is located in central Shenandoah County just west of the
Massanutten Mountain.)

It was precisely because Francis Louis Michel thought he had found silver
on the branches of the Potomac that there is a Germanna. Had he not thought
so, there would have been no Germanna and this note would not have existed.


Topic II

The November issue of Beyond Germanna was mailed October 29. I do not know
if there will be a delay in the mail. One article discusses the difficult
time the German Lutheran Church (Hebron) in Madison County, VA went through
as they converted from the use of the German language to the English
language. A short note gives more details on what may be the earliest
appearance of the Planckenbühler surname. This was in 1577 at a time when
most men did not have surnames in Austria. Another article discusses the
Tanners in the communion lists at Hebron Church. The George Rector family
is discussed by Barbara Rector Hill. Another article discusses the agrarian
classes in central Europe. Finally, there is a surname list for the year 2001.


Topic III

I promise to reply in the near future, to the extent that I can, to Andreas
Mielke's questions.


Topic IV

Both Andreas and I would love to see a copy of the agreement made by Johann
Justus Albrecht with the Protestant pastors in Siegen in 1711. Best of all
would be the original document in German or a good copy of it. Next best
would be a translation in English. I believe that I have read the English
translation somewhere but I cannot locate any material now which has this.
Is anyone aware of where the original or an English translation may be found?

John Blankenbaker

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