Johann "Martin" Finkbeiner
Hello all,
Just wanted to use this opportunity to correct an error that has been floating around for decades! There is not one record that gives the name of Johannes Finkbeiner (son of Tobias) as Johann "Martin". His name was Johannes...that's all. The late Bob Finkey and I discovered that the 1798 tax list for Cumberland County, PA listed the name "Martin" Finkenbinder. We supposed that our ancestor was named "Johann Martin" rather than the obvious...it was recorded in error by a careless clerk. Since that time, we discovered dozens of records pertaining to Johannes, including his confirmation record. In EVERY instance, he was recorded as simply "Johannes" or (if by an English clerk) "John". I find it beyond belief that he could have been baptized as Johann Martin and then been recorded simply as "Johannes" by the Pastors of Trappe, Ephrata, New Holland and several Churches in Cumberland County (who were Germans and understood the "call" name) as well as Civil records in Lancaster and Cumberland Counties, and then decided to share his "true" name of "Martin" with a tax collector in 1798 only to return to Johannes/John immediately afterwards! So, for those of you who may have recorded his name in your records as "Johann Martin", I urge you to correct this to Johannes. There are many Johann Martin Finkbeiners in Germany, and I believe it to be confusing as well as incorrect. I was "there" when the myth was born, and Bob and I liberally shared our records with many family members, unwittingly spreading the error. Since then, those relatives have shared with others and so forth. As we prepare to honor the family of Tobias (including Johannes) at the 2002 Reunion, we should make every effort to correct such inconsistencies. Thanks to all, and see you at the Reunion! Dale
More Replies:
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Re: Johann "Martin" Finkbeiner
Marie 8/20/00
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Re: Johann "Martin" Finkbeiner
Dale J. J. 8/21/00
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Re: Johann "Martin" Finkbeiner
Judy Stewart 8/24/00
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Re: Johann "Martin" Finkbeiner
Dale J. J. 8/27/00
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Re: Johann "Martin" Finkbeiner
Paula Chodacki 9/12/00
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Re: Johann "Martin" Finkbeiner
Judy Stewart 9/16/00
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Re: Johann "Martin" Finkbeiner
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Re: Johann "Martin" Finkbeiner
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Re: Johann "Martin" Finkbeiner
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Re: Johann "Martin" Finkbeiner
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Re: Johann "Martin" Finkbeiner