Dear Mrs. Heppe, Your name was given to us as a reference for help with geneology in Germany. I am researching some relatives of mine from Nentershausen, near Bad Hersfeld, Bebra, and Sontra from between 1830 and 1855. I have letters sent to my great aunt from my great grandfather around 1864 to 1868. Also I have a birth certificate for the same great aunt of 1837 and a marraige certificate from 1855, both recorded at Nentershausen showing her as from Tannenburg, the castle near Nentershausen. Referenced in the above documents is her father and mother, Burkhardt and Martha Meissner, and as god-mother the wife of the lord of the manor at Bassarode or similar spelling. Martha Elizabeth married a man named Motz or Mootz in 1855 in Nentershausen. Her father is listed as Burkhardt Meissner, shaafenmeister, a master shepard. He was probably born around 1815 or so. My great grandfather is the brother of the aforementioned subject, Martha Elizabeth Meissner and he immigrated to southern Illinois around 1858. We have all of the information on him that we need but his birth certificate MAY be found in the same time period at Nentershausen records. His name is Louis Meissner. So far we have been to Nentershausen and checked the grave yard and we plan on going to Nentershausen on Sunday, tomorrow, to visit the Tannenburg and attend the Evangelical Church and query the pastor about the location of any records that might be appropriate.We also talked to the people at the rathaus and they only have records as far back as 1875 or so. They suggested that there might be more in archives in Marburg and we are planning on going there Monday or Tuesday. We did extensive touring of the Meissner NaturPark area and there seem to be a few villages referencing Meissner in their name. We are staying at Gobels Hotel through July 20 in Rotenburg a.d. Fulda, room 1107. We have a mobile phone with a UK number of 011 44 7525 994107. We also have a rental car and have been to Kassel and got your address from a lady at the Info kiosk at the Kassel rathaus. She said that you were English so I am not trying to translate as it would only confuse us! I am also assuming you provide geneological assistance for a fee. Please let us know if you are able to help us in any way. Please feel free to call or contact us at any time. Thank you. Sincerely, Mark and Ann Meissner mark-meissner@sbcglobal.net ann_meissner@presidiohill.org