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Archiver > OSTFRIESEN > 1998-12 > 0913463276-01


From: Zella W Mirick< >
Subject: [OSTFRIESEN-L] Re: OSTFRIESEN-D Digest V98 #245 Oldersum records
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1998 06:47:56 EST


Annette,
Yes, there are a few lucky people out there that have ancestors from
villages for which an OSB has been compiled. Please realize that OSB's
are a rather new phenomena. Before 1980 there were very few of these.
Woquard was the first and only for many years. It was published in
1939. Timmel was done in 1961 and Barstede in 1962. Seven were done in
the 1970's. Everything else has been done after that. These are a
wonderful source. The later ones are even cross indexed to other OSB's.
It is good to remember that they are also a secondary source, and are
subject to error. They are extracted works. That means you are not
looking at the original source. You are using what someone else has
read, deciphered and then printed. Although the work has been done
carefully and painstakingly, you can see where errors might have crept
in.
To do your own primary research requires that you read the script,
understand a bit of German, comprehend the patronymic naming system and
have the patience of Job.
But it can be done. The LDS (Mormans) have microfilmed many of the
original church and civil registers and some emigration lists. Oldersum
has many of its records filmed.
If it makes you feel any better, many many more villages in Ostfriesland
do not have OSB's than do.
I can trace ancestry back to 50 ( yes, 50) Ostfriesen villages, 5 have
OSB's, and I have been doing this for more than 20 years, even before
many of the village records were microfilmed.
Good luck. Ostfriesen research can be done, even without an OSB.
Zella

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