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They attended a recent program led by writer and lecturer James M. Beidler. The event was sponsored by Kreutz Creek Library, in partnership with the Kreutz Creek Preservation Society and Historic Wrightsville.
Sylvia Sonneborn went armed with two questions regarding her ancestors, George Hott and the Krise/Kreis Family.
She knows Hott arrived in America in 1738 but would like to “jump the pond,” meaning she wants to learn more about Hott's early life in Germany.
The problem, she said, is that in Germany the records have been retained in the little communities where people lived, unlike other countries that have a repository with family records.
“He (Beidler) suggested I take the names closest to his (Hott's) on the immigrant list and search them to try and locate a community where they came from. Chances are that he came with some friends, whose names would be listed either before or after his,” she said.
In finding more on the Krise/Kreis family, Beidler advised Sonneborn to consider all the possible spellings of the name and check them for links to
“I really enjoyed the program,” she said.
Jack Sonneborn has 10,000 names in his database, including a link to Chester Arthur. Sylvia Sonneborn has found 50,000 names that link to her ancestors.
In addition to tracking down their own ancestors, they volunteer their time at the Family History Center helping others find their family roots.
The Family History Center
About a dozen volunteers at The Family History Center, 2110 Hollywood Drive, Spring Garden Township, stand ready to help.
Part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, or the Mormon church, the Family History Center has a variety of resources available, including connections to the genealogical records gathered and stored at the church's headquarters in Salt Lake City. The genealogical collection contains millions of names and is the largest of its kind in the world, Sylvia Sonneborn said.
The Family History Center will hold a free genealogical conference in April 2008, she said.
The center, under the direction of John and Bonnie Morningsong, welcomes those with an interest in learning more about their ancestors, she said.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Call 846-4539 for details.
Head to the Heritage Trust
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW about the York County Heritage Trust:
· All of the trust's sites are open to the public. Information about fees, hours and services are available at http://www.yorkheritage.org.
· The trust is a private, nonprofit organization.
· The trust is made up of The Historical Society Museum and Library, the Colonial Court House, the Gates House, the Plough Tavern, the Bobb Log House, the Agricultural & Industrial Museum, the Bonham House, the Fire Museum and York Murals.
· Reach the trust by phone at 848-1587, by
e-mail at info@yorkheritage.org or by fax at 812-1204.
Source: http://www.yorkheritage.org
