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For more information, see [[Germany Church History|Germany Church History]] and [[Germany History|Germany History]]. | For more information, see [[Germany Church History|Germany Church History]] and [[Germany History|Germany History]]. | ||
=== Duplicate Church Records === | === Duplicate Church Records === | ||
'''Use duplicates, where available, to supplement parish registers that are missing or illegible. ''' | |||
*Concerns about war or fire destruction led authorities in some areas to require the pastor to create a copy of each year's baptism-, marriage-, and burial entries. Most begin in the late 18th century. | *Concerns about war or fire destruction led authorities in some areas to require the pastor to create a copy of each year's baptism-, marriage-, and burial entries. Most begin in the late 18th century. | ||
*After the defeat of Napoleon in 1812, local governments often found it helpful to have access to the birth-, marriage-, and death records kept by the clergy. Soon local pastors were required to provide the town administration with a yearly copy of these records. | *After the defeat of Napoleon in 1812, local governments often found it helpful to have access to the birth-, marriage-, and death records kept by the clergy. Soon local pastors were required to provide the town administration with a yearly copy of these records. | ||
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*Most are housed in '''central church archives or state archives''', not at the local church. | *Most are housed in '''central church archives or state archives''', not at the local church. | ||
Keep in mind that duplicates often differ slightly from the originals. | |||
*Baptisms, marriages, deaths, and sometimes confirmations for each year are '''grouped together year by year,''' instead of being grouped by record type over a longer time period. | *Baptisms, marriages, deaths, and sometimes confirmations for each year are '''grouped together year by year,''' instead of being grouped by record type over a longer time period. | ||
*Community members belonging to a '''minority religion''' may not be recorded in the majority faith's original church books. Instead they may only be included in the Kirchenbuchduplikat, labelled as "birth register" rather than "baptism book." | *Community members belonging to a '''minority religion''' may not be recorded in the majority faith's original church books. Instead they may only be included in the Kirchenbuchduplikat, labelled as "birth register" rather than "baptism book." | ||
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