What's New at the Berks County PAGenWeb Site

December 31, 2006

• Updated the Surname Register
• Added a new lookup volunteer for St. John's (Host) Church on the lookup volunteer page

December 24, 2006

• Updated the Surname Register
• Added a few tombstone photos to the Zion Windsor Castle Cemetery records (Smith, Rothermel, Wagner)
• Added a couple of obituaries (Berger and Henne)
• Added burials at Hetzel's Church Cemetery, Pine Grove Twp., Schuylkill Co.

December 17, 2006

• Updated the Surname Register
• Added deed between John Haak and George Bryfogel
• Added more obituaries

December 10, 2006

• Added three deeds: Henry H. Manderbach (Philip Foreman estate) to Isaiah (or Josiah) Schweitzer, Peter Beam to Philip Foreman and Andreas Haag to Michael Werlin
• Added more names to the Aulenbach cemetery records
• Added a few more names and photos to the Fairview Cemetery page
• Updated the Surname Register

December 3, 2006

• Added some additional names and tombstone photos to the Fairview Cemetery page
• Added some additional tombstone photos to the Union Cemetery in Engelsville page
• Added deeds: John W. Gault to Samuel B. Kerst and George Kerst to Henry Frees
• Added the Proprietary Return for Robinson (Robeson) Township, 1768
• Added selected marriage records from the records of Rev. Benjamin G. Welder by brides and by grooms
• Added selected marriages from Trinity Lutheran Church of Reading by grooms and brides
• Updated the Berks and Schuylkill Marriage indexes for brides and grooms
• Added news clippings for Berks and Schuylkill Journal (November 6, 1847, January 6, 1849, October 18, 1862, November 29, 1862, January 3, 1863, February 6, 1864) and Reading Eagle (June 9, 1884, September 5, 1900, September 6, 1900, June 29, 1927, August 5, 1929).
• Added more obituaries
• Updated the Administrator notices page
• Added a link to a genealogy forum offering to do free lookups on the Volunteer Lookups page
• Added links to die Lebanon Volks-Zeitung marriages (pre-1885), Lebanon County Marriages (1885-present), and Goshenhoppen marriages (1741-1819) on the marriage index page
• Added a link to obituaries from Lebanon County newspapers/sources to the deaths index page
• Added a link to baptisms performed at Rosenthal New Bethel or Corner Church, Albany Township and Goshenhoppen on the birth/baptisms index page
• Updated the surname register
• Added a link to the library index page for a genealogical dictionary and abbreviations
• Reorganized the marriage index page
• Reorganized the birth/baptisms index page
• Reorganized the deaths index page

November 26, 2006

• Added a page from Our Church Paper, vol. 3, no. 1 (January, 1890)
• Added an article about the Rhoads family of Berks co.
• Added some burials at Union Cemetery, Engelsville, Boyertown
• Added more records and tombstone photos to the Amityville-St. Paul's Cemetery page
• Added some information about the Sterner family
• Added selected marriage records from St. Peter's Methodist Episcopal Church, Reading (listed by groom and by bride)
• Added selected baptismal records from St. Peter's Methodist Episcopal Church, Reading
• Added selected death records from St. Peter's Methodist Episcopal Church, Reading
• Added an estate record for Valentine Witman
• Updated the Fairview Cemetery page with more names and photos.
• Added Churches served by T.T. Iaeger
• Updated the T.T. Iaeger Marriages pages (brides and grooms)
• Added selected baptisms from the records of Rev. Z.H. Gable

November 19, 2006

• Added the last will and testament of Nicholas Bunn
• Added a list of names in the biographical index in the Book of Biographies
• Updated the surname register

November 12, 2006

• Added a roster of Co. H. 151st Regt., P.V.
• Added a biography of Emanuel Berger
• Added more obituaries
• Updated the surname register

November 5, 2006

• Added a link to the Long Schwamp (Longswamp) Day Book of Pet C. Dalman (1843) on the Items of Interest page
• Added a link to the Afro-Lumens project on the Items of Interest page
• Corrected the address for Bethel Evangelical Church Cemetery
• Added a tombstone photo and listing for Elizabeth Freed (Fairview Cemetery)
• Updated the surname register
• Added estate records for Henry Haag and Daniel Berger

October 29, 2006

• Added some obituaries
• Updated the estate record of Christina Haag
• Added estate records for Sarah Haag and Percival Haag
• Added Last Will and Testament of Hermonous Sassamanhausen

October 22, 2006

• Added Bible record of John George Haag
• Added estate record for William Haag
• Added Last Will and Testament of Christina Haag
• Added estate record for Valentine Keely, Sr.
• Added Last Will and Testament of Daniel Dennis
• Added Last Will and Testament of John Keely (1822)
• Added estate record for Jacob Keely Sr. (1840)
• Added Last Will and Testament of Henry Engel (1808)
• Added Birdsboro Cemetery with a few listings and pictures
• Added tombstone pictures for some Lesser burials on the Zion Windsor Castle Cemetery page
• Added deed between John Christian Berger and Daniel Berger
• Updated the surname register

October 15, 2006

• Added some offsite cemetery links to the Cemetery index page (Christ Lutheran Church Cemetery, Stouchsburg; Laureldale Cemetery; and cemeteries in Lebanon, Schuylkill, Berks and Dauphin counties)
• Added two cemeteries: Pricetown Cemetery, Pricetown, Ruscombmanor and St. John's Church Cemetery, Ruscombmanor
• Linked names on the cemetery name index pages for Plough Lutheran Church Cemetery, Robeson Township (see the Cemetery index page for links to the name indexes
• Updated the surname register

October 8, 2006

• Added selected baptisms from Alsace Lutheran Church, Muhlenberg; Alsace Lutheran Church, Reading; Covenant Methodist Episcopal Church, Reading; and Evangelical Lutheran Salem Church, Alsace
• Added selected marriage records of Rev. Thomas T. Iaeger by groom and by bride
• Updated the surname register

October 1, 2006

• Added selected marriage records from the First United Church of Reading, listed by grooms and brides
• Added a history of Strausstown
• Updated the Aaron S. Leinbach baptisms file
• Added selected baptisms from the records of St. Peter's Catholic Church, Reading
• Added selected baptisms from the private records of Charles Augustus Pauli
• Updated the surname register

September 24, 2006

• Added an updated Hubere genealogy report
• Added St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Cemetery, Geigertown, Robeson Twp (aka Old Forrest Cemetery)
• Added selected baptismal records of Rev. B.D. Zweizig
• Added selected baptismal records of Rev. Aaron S. Leinbach

September 17, 2006

• Added miscellaneous Berks Co. births (Miller, Mueller, Muller)
• Added a picture of Blue Mountain Zion Church and a small bit of history
• Added three obits (Brunner, Hallman, Kauffman)
• Added some funeral records of Rev. Aaron Leinbach
• Added selected Berks Co. marriages by groom and bride
• Updated the surname register

September 10, 2006

• Added one new obituary (Schearer)
• Added estate records for George Mohr and George Ritter
• Added Descendants of George Mohr
• Added Philip Jurger genealogy report
• Added Nicholas Runckel genealogy report
• Added selected baptisms from Spies Church
• Updated the Morgantown Methodist Episcopal Church Cemetery, Morgantown page with additional records
• Updated the Charles Evans Cemetery records with new names and tombstone photos (Frees and Reber)
• Added the following cemeetery records: Alleghenyville Cemetery, Brecknock Twp. (A-K and L-Z); Kissinger Union Cemetery, Spring Twp.; Old Cemetery, Birdsboro; Plough Lutheran Church Cemetery (A-G, H-M, N-S, T-Z)

September 3, 2006

• Added some confirmations of Rev. Mabry L. Herbein
• Added some marriage records of Rev. Augustus L. Herman
• Added records for the following cemeteries: Alleghany Church Graveyard(A-K and L-Z), Brecknock Twp.; Gehman's Cemetery, Adamstown; Frieden's Cemetery, Robeson Twp.; private cemetery on Route 73; Breidenstine Cemetery
• Added more obits
• Updated the surname register
• Added selected death and baptism records of William J. Kershner
• Added a newsclipping from New York Mercury, November 21, 1763
• Added some news clippings from the Boyertown/Berks County Democrat, January 12, 1901.
• Added estate records for George Clevenstine, Johan Heinrich Clevenstein, Jeremiah Engelhart, Gabriel Hiester, Yost Hiester, Peter Kinert, Deitrich Marshal, Daniel Weitzel (1892), Daniel Weitzel (1888), Harrison Weitzel, Isaac Weitzel, Isaac Weitzel (1912), Jacob Weitzel, John Weitzel, Michael Weitzel, Peter Weitzel, Rebecca Weitzel, Reuben Weitzel, Jacob Wolf (1808), Jacob Wolf (1865), John S. Wolf, Mark Wolf, Paul Wolf

August 27, 2006

• Added abstracts of estate records for "John Rhoads"
• Added St. John's Community Church Cemetery, Centerport, Center Township. Note: This appears to be similar to the St. John's Cemetery listing already on this site. However, some of the names are spelled differently and there are some additional names in the new version.
• Added estate records for John Sands Jr., Amos M. DeTurk, Levi Haas, Nathan Haas, William F. Marquett
• Added more obits
• Moved the Davidheiser cemetery record from the Amityville cemetery page to St. Paul's Cemetery, which is across the street.
• Added Fisher tombstone photos to the Fairview Cemetery page
• Updated the surname register
• Reformatted the Boyertown Mennonite Cemetery and Boyertown Union Church Cemetery listings

August 20, 2006

• Added a new listing for Elverson United Methodist Cemetery (Chester County--but just across the border from Berks Co.)
• Added Fisher burials to the Fairview Cemetery list
• Added one obituary (Davidheiser)
• Updated the surname register

August 13, 2006

• Updated the surname register
• Added more obituaries
• Added some burials for Salem Belleman's Graveyard

August 6, 2006

• Updated the surname register
• Added more obituaries
• Added marriage certificates for Harvey Jonas Miller-Lottie E. Guinther and Harvey G.W. Miller-Louisa S. Zuber
• Reformatted Bethel Evangelical Church Cemetery, Bern Church Cemetery, Bernville Burial Grounds, St. John's Cemetery, Centreport, private burial ground on David Becker estate, private burial ground on George Berger farm

July 30, 2006

• Added an article from The Check Collector, a publication of the American Society of Check Collectors (re: Receipt, Peter Schütz to Christoph Shmith)
• Corrected Receipt, Peter Schütz to Christoph Shmith
• Added selected baptisms from Oley Hill Church (Herb surname)
• Updated the Good Shepherd Cemetery page (annd also corrected the spelling of the name)
• Reformatted the Fairview Cemetery page and added tombstone photos.
• Added more obituaries
• Updated the surname register
• Added a petition for guardianship from Barbara Hebner.
• Added estate records for Johannes Friehafer and John Freehafer

July 23, 2006

• Added some obituaries
• Added deed from Frederick Wambeck to Abraham Wanger, et al.
• Replaced the old Fritz cemetery page with a new page in a new format and added cemetery photos.
• Updated the Tulpehocken Valley Pioneer Homesteads with church information

July 16, 2006

• Added a map of Tulpehocken Valley Pioneer Homesteads, 1723
• Added the following deed extracts. Many are recorded in Northumberland county, but they mention Berks County folks, so I posted them:
  • Henry M. Muhlenberg to Jacob Fisher - extract from deed
  • Jacob Fisher to Adam Fisher - extract from deed
  • Jacob Fisher to John Foree - extract from deed
  • Jacob Fisher to John Fisher - extract from deed
  • John Adam Fisher - extracts from deeds
• Added wills for the following people:
  • John Jacob Fisher
  • John Adam Fisher
  • Margaret Fisher
• Added Articles of Agreement between Adam Fisher and George Fisher
• Updated the Surname Register
• Updated the obituaries.
• Updated the Gertrude H. Lorah record in the Aulenbach Cemetery records.
• Reformatted the following cemetery records:
  • Amityville Lutheran Cemetery
  • Klein Burial Ground
  • Good Shepherd Cemetery
  • Moll Burial Ground
  • Memorial Mausoleum
  • Stump Burial Ground
  • DeTurck-Rothermel Graveyard
  • St. Paul-Klopp Union Church Cemetery
  • Ulrich Cemetery in Maidencreek and Ontalaunie

July 9, 2006

• Added additional records and tombstone photos for St. Gabriel's Cemetery and Oley Cemetery
• Added a new list for Amityville Cemetery
• Updated the Bertholdus Hubere/Huber/Hoover genealogy
• Added more Aulenbach cemetery records and split the four files into many smaller files.
• Updated the Surname Register

July 2, 2006

• Updated the Surname Register
• Added Daniel Helffrich Bible Records
• Added records and tombstone photos for Sassaman, Herman, Helffrich Cemetery, Maxatawny

June 25, 2006

• Added marriage application information for Samuel J. Weiler and Caroline E. Ganzhorn
• Added a photo of the Earlville Tavern now called the Flying Dog Inn on the photos page
• Added a link to a site containing Berks county gravestone photos on the cemetery index page
• Updated the Surname Register
• Made a correction to the John Frederick Seybert/Sivert page
• Added will of Nicholas Klee/Kleh and Nicholas Stump

June 18, 2006

• Updated the Mikayla J. Ruiz record on the Strausstown Union Cemetery page
• Added an aditional tombstone photo for St. Joseph (Hill) Cemetery, and revised the note regarding the burials on the page based on new information.
• Added a picture of the Yellow House Inn on the photos page (bottom of page)
• Added files for John Frederick Seybert/Sivert, Levi K. Mohr,
• Updated the Christian Merkel family tree
• Added deed between Levi K. Moore (Mohr) and Henry Eames (Emes)
• Updated the Volunteer Lookups page
• Updated the Surname Register

June 11, 2006

• Added a couple of burials and tombstone photos for St. Joseph (Hill) Cemetery
• Add a link to the Boyer family of Orwigsburg, PA on the family index page
• Updated the Volunteer Lookups page
• Updated the Surname Register

June 4, 2006

• Added a link to the Seven Years War site on the Military index page
• Added a listing of geographical abbreviations used in probate and estate files in Berks co.
• Added township dates of erection
• Added letter from Samuel Bechtold to his brother John, including images of the pages.
• Updated the Surname Register

May 28, 2006

• Added more pages from the Official Program of the 175th Anniversary of the Founding of Reading
• Updated the records for St. Michael's Cemetery in Birdsboro, including some tombstone photos
• Added a few cemetery records and tombstone photos for Zion M.E. (aka Zion Mennonite), and St. Gabriel's
• Added Records of J.M. Batteiger, Justice of the Peace
• Added deed between George Kerst estate and Jonathan Jones
• Added deed between David Rutter and Mathias Levergood (Douglass township school deed)
• Updated the Surname Register
• Updated the Lookups page - Diana Quinones is unavailable for the next couple of weeks.
• Added links to St. Gabriels transcriptions and Church of Christ transcriptions (partial) on the cemetery index page
• Added a link to the Amity Heritage Society on the Links to Genealogical Societies page

May 21, 2006

• Added cemetery records for St. John's Host (Old) Cemetery
• Added a link to the Berks Genealogical Society on the Land Records index page. They have some warrantee maps online.
• Made a correction to the John George Reiff genealogy
• Added a few tombstone photos for some burials in Charles Evans Cemetery and St. John's, Gibralter:
  • St. John's Union Church, Gibralter, Robeson Township (A-F)
  • St. John's Union Church, Gibralter, Robeson Township (G-K)
  • St. John's Union Church, Gibralter, Robeson Township (L-Z)
• Updated the cemetery indexes.
• Added a petition for the creation of Amity township
• Updated the Surname Register
• Added many obituaries
• Updated the Genealogical Societies links page
• Add estate records for Jacob Bunn, George Kerst (1827), and Frederick Houck
• Added cemetery records for Oley Cemetery, Spangsville, in 4 files:
  • Oley A-E
  • Oley F-H
  • Oley I-R
  • Oley S-Z
• Added cemetery records for Zion UCC Cemetery, Windsor Castle, in 4 files:
  • Zion UCC A-F
  • Zion UCC G-K
  • Zion UCC L-R
  • Zion UCC S-Z

May 14, 2006

• Updated the Obituary index with a link to a searchable database of Civil War era obituaries
• Updated the Land Records index with a link to the Warrant Register at the PA State Archives
• Added an Obligation (names Daniel Stine Daniel Hollenbach and Michael Bayer)
• Added an estate record for Abraham Brower
• Added 3 obits (Derr, Geiger, Wells)
• Added more records for Aulenbach Cemetery
• Updated the cemetery name indexes

May 7, 2006

• Added more pages from the Official Program of the 175th Anniversary of the Founding of Reading (more to come...)
• Added a genealogy report for John George Reiff
• Added a will for Peter Umstead
• Added an obituary for Henry Bitler
• Updated the Surname Register

April 30, 2006

• Added some pages from the Official Program of the 175th Anniversary of the Founding of Reading (more to come...)
• Created an index to the book transcriptions on the site
• Added a burial list for St. Paul's Mission Church (Birdsboro/Douglassville area)
• Updated the cemetery indexes
• Updated the Surname Register
• Added an email address for the Hereford Township Heritage Society

April 23, 2006

• Updated the burials at for St. Michael's Cemetery in Birdsboro (the new items are in the second table on the page
• Updated the Aulenbach Cemetery list (with a couple of Palm and Wheeler burials)
• Updated the cemetery indexes
• Added a Receipt, Peter Schütz to Christoph Shmith
• Added an estate record for Francis Wenrich
• Added minutes from the Journals of the Select and Common Councils, January 2, 1884 and January 14, 1884
• Added an ordinance instructing the City of Reading to reimburse Col. John Arthur
• Added Appendix 43 and Appendix 44, which are referenced in the minutes of the Select and Common Councils
• Updated the Surname Register

April 16, 2006

• Added an estate record for Martha Wenrich
• Added Catechumens of Northkill Church, March 29, 1884
• Added 4 Yerger wills (see the will index)
• Added a list of baptisms for Christ Church in Tulpehocken Township
• Added a link to Hill Cemetery--AKA St. Joseph's (Hill) Lutheran or St. John Hill U.C.C--(searchable database)on the Cemetery index page
• Updated the Pleasant View cemetery listing
• Updated the Surname Register
• Added three deeds: Barbara Moyer to Michael Moyer, Riah Gilson to Joseph Lacey, and Moses Stubblebine to Joseph Lacy

April 9, 2006

• Added cemetery records for Sinking Spring Cemetery and Spies Church Cemetery
• Updated the cemetery indexes
• Updated the Surname Register
• Added some obituaries (Kautzman, Orr, Reedy, Sweitzer)
• Added selected baptisms recorded at Schwarzwald Reformed Church (Exeter), First Reformed Church of Christ (Reading), St. Luke's Lutheran Church (Reading)

April 2, 2006

• Added a couple of obits (Moothard and Muthart)
• Updated the Surname Register

March 26, 2006

March 19, 2006

• Added partial list of burials at Bright Cemetery
• Added a partial list of burials at Robeson Lutheran Church
• Updated the cemetery indexes
• Added will of Henry Schneider
• Added an obit for Henry Schneider
• Added a link to county formation maps

March 12, 2006

• Added Different surname spellings found in Births, Baptisms and Marriages by Milton K. and Luella E. Blatt
• Added a partial list of burials at Morgantown Methodist Church Cemetery
• Updated surname register
• Updated Lookup Volunteers list
• Added Marriages at Belleman's Church, 1824-1900
• Added more obituaries

March 5, 2006

• Added Albrecht-Fouse indenture
• Updated the Surname Register

February 26, 2006

• Added a link to Pennsylvania Soldiers in the Spanish American War
• Added a few more obituaries
• Updated the Surname Register

February 19, 2006

• Updated the main page and the About Me page.
• Added Remonstrance of Inhabitants of Berks County from the "Memorials against calling a convention" chapter in the Pennsylvania Archives
• Added A Return of the Troops Commanded by Major Asher Clayton (June 1, 1764)
• Added Revolutionary War muster rolls and related papers from the Pennsylvania Archives
• Added 16 muster rolls for the War of 1812
• Added naturalizations for the period 1750s to 1773
• Updated the Surname Register
• Moved the 1883 pensioners list to a General Military folder since pensioners were from both the War of 1812 and the Civil War
• Added a note and a tombstone photo to the Isaac Stoudt obituary.
• Added a few more obituaries

February 12, 2006

• Added a Tax Assessment for Reading, 1785
• Added Caveat Books 1-5 for 1748-1784 and a couple of minutes from the Board of Property. These are posted in the Legal section.
• Added a list of the names appearing on the plaque at Schwarzwald United Church of Christ Cemetery
• Updated the Executor Notices and the Auditor Notices
• Added a new link on the Maps index page for township warrantee maps for 1860.
• Added a few more obituaries

February 5, 2006

• Add a new section for Tax records that includes the returns and assessments for Reading for the years 1780, 1781, and 1784.
• Added the pension record for Ephraim Ruth
• Updated the military index page with links to the Civil War Soldiers and Sailor System web site, the Pennsylvania in the Civil War web site, the Pennsylvania Volunteers of the Civil War web site, and the Pennsylvania State Archives ARIAS web site
• Added a Leaver record to the Fairview Cemetery page.
• Corrected the street address for the Berks Co. Genealogical Society on the Links page
• Updated the Surname Register
• Added some photographs believed to be the Edward F. Yeich Sr. family
• Added a few more obituaries
• Added additional notes on the Shappel surname
• Updated the lookup volunteers list

January 29, 2006

• Updated the Surname Register
• Added Berks county men who died on the "South Carolina" on December 19, 1782
• Added more obituaries and updated the obituaries index page

January 22, 2006

• Added a letter from the Pennsylvania Archives to Mrs. Phyllis Schappell
• Added deed between John Reedy to Christian Freehafer
• Added deed between Jacob Petry to Joseph Alter and Balser Smith
• Added deed between Jacob Petry to John Hepler
• Added deed between Jacob Petre to John G. Repplier
• Added History of Jacob Shopbell
• Added deed for Windsor Township property surveyed for Eberhard Shoppell
• Added more obituaries
• Updated the Surname Register
• Added a newsclippings for the Reading Eagle, October 17, 1901 and October 24, 1941
• Added partial listing of burials at St. Paul's Church Cemetery in Lobachsville (mostly Weidner)
• Added partial listing of baptisms from Salem Reformed Church, Spangsville (Weidner)
• Added partial listing of baptisms at St. Paul's Church in Lobachsville (mostly Weidner)

January 15, 2006

• Updated the Surname Register
• Added more obituaries--mostly Weidenhammer
• Added Descendants of George William Beard
• Added estate records for Peter N. Fidler, Elizabeth Fisher, Anna Lamm, and Henry Long
• Added cemetery records for Hunter Cemetery and a private cemetery on the Heyman Bertolet farm

January 8, 2006

• Added a link to the Bechtel Family Association under the family index
• Added biographies for George Barr, Jacob Barr, John Barr, and John Bortz

January 1, 2006

Happy New Year!!!

• Added History of the First Reg't Pennsylvania Reserve Cavalry (Note: Many names are mentioned throughout the book, but the rosters are listed at the end of the book.)
• Added a case list for September 15, 1958 in the Quarter Sessions Court
• Updated the Divorce Notices
• Added biographies of the following: Jonathan Bruestle, J. Dondore, Henry Groby, George A. Grove, Adam Gruver, Philip Gunckel, Charles Hunter, James B. Hunter, William Kreitzer, Isaac H. Reiter, Frank J. Riegel, John Riegel, Jonathan Schell, William W. Shoemaker, Emanuel Shultz, John Henry Stamm, John Treon
• Added more obituaries
• Added will of Jacob Mock and Rebecca Mock
• Added the John Freehafer Bible record
• Added a link to the Jacob Mock (of Union Township) descendant tree on the family page
• Updated the Surname Register

Previous What's New Editions

• What's New for 2004-2005