Catholic church records of Westphalia & Prussia (going online in April 2017)

+28 votes
4.3k views

The diocese of Münster, located in Northrhine-Westphalia (Germany) is going to get their church records online for free at http://icar-us.eu/en/cooperation/online-portals/matricula/.

Starting at Apr 18, 2017 the following digitized images of the original catholic church records, beginning in alphabetic order by the name of the parishes, will be published:

  • baptism records (with a 120 year retention period),
  • marriage records (with a 100 year retention period),
  • death records (with a 100 year retention period),
  • confirmation records (with a 110 year retention period)

These records cover parishes from Westphalia (and the former western part of the Kingdom of Prussia), see below.

This is an important step, since until now, one had to be physically present at the archive to get the information---and pay for copies of these records. The above retention periods originate from german law restrictions.

Archive of the Diocese Münster: http://www.bistum-muenster.de/index.php?cat_id=20562

Münster @ Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany: https://www.google.de/maps/place/M%C3%BCnster

Source of this news: http://www.bistum-muenster.de/downloads/Amtsblatt2017/Nr-06-2017.pdf (in german)

in The Tree House by Jochen Oberreiter G2G6 Mach 1 (15.7k points)

The records of the following parishes (format: <parish name/town/city>, <name of church>) will be published:

  • Ahlen, St. Bartholomäus
  • Albersloh, St. Ludger
  • Altenberge, St. Johannes d. T.
  • Appelhülsen, St. Mariä Himmelfahrt
  • Asbeck, St. Margareta
  • Ascheberg, St. Lambertus
  • Bevergen, St. Mariä Heimsuchung
  • Bockum, St. Stephanus
  • Borghorst, St. Nikomedes
  • Bösensell, St. Johannes d. T.
  • Coesfeld, St. Lamberti
  • Darfeld, St. Nikolaus
  • Datteln, St. Amandus
  • Dornick, St. Johannes d. T.
  • Dorsten, St. Agatha
  • Drensteinfurt, St. Regina
  • Elten, St. Martinus
  • Ennigerloh, St. Jakobus d. Ä.
  • Eppinghoven, St. Johannes Ev.
  • Everswinkel, St. Magnus
  • Feldhausen, St. Marien
  • Freckenhorst, St. Bonifatius
  • Goch, St. Maria Magdalena
  • Haffen, St. Lambertus
  • Haltern, St. Sixtus
  • Harsewinkel, St. Lucia
  • Havixbeck, St. Dionysius
  • Heek, St. Ludgerus
  • Heiden, St. Georg
  • Hembergen, St. Servatius
  • Herzfeld, St. Ida
  • Hiltrup, St. Clemens
  • Hoetmar, St. Lambertus
  • Holthausen, St. Mariä Geburt
  • Horneburg, St. Maria Magdalena
  • Horstmar, St. Gertrudis
  • Hövel, St. Pankratius
  • Ibbenbüren, St. Mauritius
  • Kalkar, St. Nikolai
  • Langenhorst, St. Johannes d. T.
  • Mesum, St. Johannes d. T.
  • Metelen, St. Cornelius und Cyprianus
  • Milte, St. Johannes d. T.
  • Münster, Katholische Studentengemeinde (KSG)
  • Münster, Liebfrauen (Überwasser)
  • Münster, Magdalenenhospital
  • Münster, St. Aegidii
  • Münster, St. Bonifatius
  • Münster, St. Clemens
  • Münster, St. Joseph (Dominikanerkirche)
  • Münster, St. Lamberti
  • Münster, St. Martini
  • Münster, St. Mauritz
  • Nienborg, St. Peter und Paul
  • Nordwalde, St. Dionysius
  • Nottuln, St. Martinus
  • Ochtrup, St. Lambertus
  • Oelde, St. Johannes d. T.
  • Ottenstein, St. Georg
  • Raesfeld, St. Martin
  • Rheine, St. Dionysius
  • Rinkerode, St. Pankratius
  • Spellen, St. Peter
  • Straelen, St. Peter und Paul
  • Stromberg, St. Lambertus
  • Südlohn, St. Vitus
  • Vreden, St. Georg
  • Wadersloh, St. Margareta
  • Warendorf, St. Laurentius
  • Weeze, St. Cyriakus
  • Westerholt, St. Martin
  • Wolbeck, St. Nikolaus
Jochen, Thanks so very much for this list.  Do you know if there are Lutheran lists in Germany in the same era? Most of my known German relatives were born Lutheran and some converted to Catholic when they reached the USA.

Most protestant church records are now published via Archion which is unfortunately not free.

Thanks Helmut, for your considerate answers that are CORRECT. The problem here is, indeed money. You're a good friend to have.
I've no access to Archion either, sorry.

But you can subscribe to the Westfalen mailing list (http://list.genealogy.net/mm/listinfo/westfalen-l). It is free, bilingual (english/german) and there are a bunch of members that have access to Archion and may look up information if one asks for. The more detailed information you can provide to them (= less search for them), the greater is the chance to get a positive feedback.
THANKS, JOCHEN, again!!

Does the above cover any of the following areas please? My understanding of German geography is quite confused!

Feilbingert, Rheinland-Pfalz, Deutschland

Bingert, Bayern, Germany

Bingert, Rheinland-Pfalz,Germany

Lauterecken, Pfalz

Ebernburg, Pfalz, Bayern, Germany

Ebernburg, Rheinpfalz

Meisenheim, Pfalz

Eckweiler, Pfalz

Lohnweiler, Kusel, Pfalz

Eckweiler, Rheinland, Germany

Rheinpfalz, Holy Roman Empire

Eckweiler or Daubach

Bechtolsheim, Rheinland-Pfalz

 

 

Hi Sharon,

unfortunately not.
Rheinland-Pfalz lies in the south-west corner of Germany (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:Rhineland-Palatinate,_administrative_divisions_-_de_-_colored.svg). Bayern is south / south-east (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:Bavaria,_administrative_divisions_-_de_-_colored.svg).

The above list covers just a part of Westphalia, which lies in western / north-western germany.

Jochen
Sharon, hi again! Germany's history is complicated so no wonder confusion reigns.  Last weekend I pulled out a book that I hadn't looked at in years. It was a portfolio size and had maps that were two page spreads covering Europe in huge and significant spans of time. The boundaries of the nations changed with every map. Such was this Europe over time. It is an Atlas of Western Civilization. D Van Nostrand and Company, Princeton NJ and others (no date). It's full of b/w photos of major architectural sites (mainly religious), the principals of Euro history, photo IDs and a lot of text. The maps are in color, and show among other things how specific towns stayed alive or died throughout history. I spent hours with it. And will spend more. Very satisfying hours.
Hi Jochen!

Very good news that the Münster parish records are now online.  I notice that only parishes A-E are available so far.  Is there a time line for when the rest will be posted? My particular interests are Südlohn & Vreden -I'm guessing it might be a while before these are available!

barb

@barb

Statement from 2017-06-09:

The first 72 parishes of the diocese, starting from Ahlen to (until now) Füchtorf are online. In the coming months until the end of 2018, all the church records of the approximately 300 parishes will be available on the Internet.

http://www.bistum-muenster.de/index.php?mySID=7859b3b594ffb76cdcafb82a4ec6f027&cat_id=21578&myELEMENT=339942

Have you tried to search GEDBAS (http://meta.genealogy.net/) for the surnames in question? For an english version of the GEDBAS search engine, choose the second link at the left side ("Sprache wählen") and set it to english.

Cemetary "St. Antonisheim" of Vreden: http://grabsteine.genealogy.net/namelist.php?cem=1015

Thanks Jochen! I found the register of several ancestors from Borghorst, Steinfurt.

But I am curious about a “m” written beside some births registers. Any one knows what it means? “Moortus”?

I am still searching for Hannover and Langenhagen registers. Some site tip, please?

Thank you again!
Thanks for sharing!
Hi Carlos,

can you provide a link to a page showing this "m" in question?

Hannover is also online at Matricula. Search for places: http://data.matricula-online.eu/en/suchen/
"Moortus" sounds to me like latin for death or dead body

Yes may be, but "mortuus" is already an interpretation of a written single "m", as I read it from Carlos' message. Usually a cross was written to indicate child mortality.

It can also be "männlich" (german for male) as opposite to "weiblich" (german for female).

 

Sounds like an awesome book. I need to look for that one! Thanks!

Sharon
I understand what you are saying about the 'M' question, Jochen
Thanks everyone! You are very helpful. I am pretty sure that 'm' is related to childs that perished before baptism, some kind of 'baptism post mortem'. An exemple is available at http://data.matricula-online.eu/en/deutschland/muenster/borghorst-st-nikomedes/KB005_1/?pg=87 register from 30.jan.1790 - Maria Anna Hülse (sister of my grand-grand-grand-grand-father).
Hi Carlos,

yes it seems that the "m" stands for child mortality. But the register itself is a baptism register, so I would conclude that the infant died after the baptization, not before (as you said "baptism post mortem").

There should be an corresponding entry in the death register.
Jochen, you are right again! Maria Anna passed away on oct. 1796 (http://data.matricula-online.eu/en/deutschland/muenster/borghorst-st-nikomedes/KB008/?pg=15) I was not able to translate the 'causa mortis'.

Thanks for your help!
She died from (of?) Variola (= english smallpox, german Pocken).

Hi Jochen! 

I am very anxyous about the archives of

  • Südlohn, St. Vitus
Could you tell me when it will be released?
Danke!

Hi Carlos,

the archives will be released by alphabet, currently the diocese of Münster is online from "A" to "R", so it should go online with the next batch. I can not provide an exact date, as I don't know it, but my rough guess would be one to three months.

You may check for yourself from time to time by searching at http://data.matricula-online.eu/en/suchen/? or checking the Map.

Note: Südlohn is very close to Winterswijk (Netherlands), so it may be a good idea to cross check the nederland archives as well for any family members.

 I will keep looking time to time at Data Matricula.

Thanks for the tip of look Winterswijk archives but I don’t see Netherlands at http://data.matricula-online.eu/de/bestande/

Thank you again!

Carlos

@Carlos: Südlohn-St.Vitus is now online: Südlohn (St. Vitus) @ Matricula

Many thanks!!! I was eager to see this archives!

About the Dutch registers, I did not found the books of Winterswijk. They belong to what “province/state”? Searching in the history, I learned that parts of west Germany were annexed to dutch Spain (for some dacades). I think Südlohn among them. Do you know who hold the books of this period?

Vielen Danke noch mal!!!!
It's been a long wait for Suedlohn parish records but worth it. In only a few hours many ancestors have been located.

Can these records be downloaded or only linked?

Now deciphering occupations in the various scripts.

Look forward to records for Vreden and Weseke

Are there any plans to extend the project to other areas in North Rhine-Westphalia?

Winterswijk records also had several BDM documents for ancestors born in these three Westphalian towns.

Thanks

Can these records be downloaded or only linked?

It can be downloaded, but you have to use an addon for your browser. There may be a bunch of capable addons, personnaly I'm using uBlock Origin (which is an adblocker). There is a function/tab to see all network requests, which reveals also the URL of the record image itself. It has a form of "http://img.data.matricula-online.eu/image/<LongIndividualHashTag>/?csrf=<HashTag>&ctrl=<HashTag>" and is quite long.

Are there any plans to extend the project to other areas in North Rhine-Westphalia?

Maybe, since Matricula is continues growing and new parishes decide to cooperate with them.
But I can't answer this seriously, as this decision depends on each diocese / parish. For NorthRhine-Westphalia, there is another resource, which covers the non-church part (maps, estates / assets, public government records, etc.): http://www.archive.nrw.de/lav/index.php

The extent of online content is very limited, and it really hard to find the correct records. Most of the records can only be read if you show up personally (you have to be in the archive itself), and as far as i know, you have to pay for copies.

Hi Jochen

UBlock Origin worked perfectly. Thank you. One very happy researcher!

3 Answers

+5 votes
How big an area is this? Will similar records be released in the future for other parts of Germany?

Thanks!
by Living Troy G2G6 Pilot (174k points)

I think it will cover Münster and its surrounding parishes, detailed information is not available at this time, we have to wait until after mid-April. See http://www.bistum-muenster.de/index.php?cat_id=15111 for a map of the diocese.

Parts of Bavaria (= the diocese of Passau) is already online at Matricula.

I have no idea if other regions will follow. I think every german diocese could handle this differently, so I would not put my money on it!

I have ancestors whose records sometimes list as Prussia. But no familiar town or village name is on my list. Nonetheless, this is very good news for many of us here. Thanks a million, Jochen! You are a champ for being so alert to the possibilities of sharing this information and what it can mean to someone!

Roberta, thanks, you're welcome!

"Prussia" covered, at it's peak, half of northern central europe (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prussia#/media/File:Prussiamap.gif). Münster lies north of Essen on above map, and was only a very small part of the whole.

But you may have a look at GEDBAS (http://meta.genealogy.net/) and enter either the family name (field "Nachname:") or the town name ("Ortsname:"). Start the search be clicking on "Suche starten".

It searches a dozen of databases (adress books, headstones, passenger lists, WWI and WWII casuality lists, obituaries, etc.), maybe you are lucky.

How do you determine the diocese location for Haldenwang which is in the Oberallgaeu district (Bavaria)?

There is a wiki called "GenWiki" which covers most of the german cities/towns in terms of genealogical infos.

The entry of Haldenwang: http://wiki-de.genealogy.net/Haldenwang_(Allg%C3%A4u)

Under point 3.2 it reads that the catholic church of Haldenwang, "St. Theodor" belongs to the church district "Kempten" of the diocese/bishopric "Augsburg". There is also an index of the available church registers (they are not online available).

I have read that the Family History Libraries (FHL) of the Church of the Latter Days' Saints (LDS, Mormons) may have records of the bishopric Augsburg, but I haven't checked that.

You may also look at https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Bavaria_Online_Genealogy_Records.

got it, thanks!
Thank you! Those links sound great!

Sharon
Thank you so much for all the great links, Jochen.  My Laske family is all from OberSchliesien, Prussia, which as you know is now Poland.  I found some great info on the genealogy.net.
+4 votes
this is great for my research as I have Catholic ancestors from Northrhine-Westphalia,and prussia that I have never been able to find a record for.
by Veni Joyner G2G6 Mach 2 (25.5k points)
+5 votes
Thank you for posting this Jochen. I look forward to researching this.  My German side is the most difficult to take back further in Westphalia, in the Paderborn region.
by James Stratman G2G6 Pilot (102k points)
Some Catholic church records are available through FamilySearch. There are several rolls for my ancestor's small town in Hesse-Darmstadt, covering baptisms, deaths, and marriages (Taufen, Tote, Heiraten) from about 1780-1880. They're digitized, but can only be viewed at an LDS Family History Center.
Thank  you for that information. I had no idea that some of their digitized records for Germany/Prussia could only be viewed at their Family History Center. I thought that only applied to microfilm records.
Yes, some digitized records can't be viewed from home. I searched the catalog on the FamilySearch site by location (I searched for Munster bei Dieburg, Hessen) and two types of records came up - one being "Church records."  Clicking on that pulled up "Katolische Kirchebuch," and when I scrolled down, there were several kinds of records listed, all with the symbol for digitized microfilm, but with a little key above it (accessible only at an FHC or affiliated library). But that's OK - I actually enjoy going there, and the volunteers are always very kind and helpful.
That's interesting.  after using familysearch for about a dozen years I finally went looking for my nearest FHC which I discovered was only a short distance (5 mins by car) from where I live. I went there only to discover that the centre had closed the previous week and was in the process of moving to a new facility about half an hour away. :-( wasted opportunity

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