Re: Naturalization and passenger list
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In reply to:
Naturalization and passenger list
Sandra Miller 6/17/12
Hi Sandra
All BDM records in Germany are kept strictly at the local level.Until the early 1870s all records were kept by churches only.So you will need to know the exact place where the person you are researching was born and also what religion he was eg. Catholic, Protestant.(and the denomination like Lutheran, Reformed or other).Once you know that have a look if that township has a church with a church (it is possible that if the place was very small the residents may have gone to a church in the nearest larger township).Also look at the Church of the Latter Day Saints (LDS) site or visit a LDS reading room nearest to you to see if that particular church had their records micro fiched my them.If yes they can get the relevant LDS micro fiche sent to their reading room for you to study.Another thing to remember that his name when he left Germany would have been WILHELM HEINRICH NICKEL.
You can try writing to the church in English.Quite a few people in Germany can understand and speak English these days.
Good Luck, hope you can progress in your search.
Renate Jurgens