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Thank you Karen:

I am trying to keep my excitement in check. With apologies for my wordiness, in view of what you've written I'd be grateful for any thoughts on the following:

The mentions of "Altenberg" and "Wetzlar" were in a 1959 letter (family lore also mentioned "Wetzlar" as being where the family lived in the 17th and 18th century). However, the 'stammbaum' brought over to the US from Germany in 1881 does not mention either place, but only says (in the first entry) that on February 15, 1679 Hans Casper of Hönningen (which I assume is different from "Höningen") married "Catharina Hiesigär (Schloßmagd)."

My conclusion had been that the old document's parenthetical reference to "Schloßmagd" meant that Catharina was a handmaid in a castle. In thinking about your explanation of "Altenberg," would you concur with that? If so, could that have been the Castle "Schloss Burg" or perhaps "Burg Hohensolms"? (I've read that the Swedes laid siege to Schloss Burg during the 30 Years War). Or, would the stammbaum's reference to "Schloßmagd" more likely simply be a place name description akin to "der alte Berg."

Any thoughts on this would be most welcome, as it would open the door to some new understanding of geography and history regarding of my oldest known ancestors. Thank you again.

The image below is from a 1959 letter's reference to a shared 17th century ancestor, Hans Casper, from Hönningen (not "Höningen,"  correct?).

My feeble deciphering/translation skills are thrown by the elevated letters immediately preceding the words "Rhein" and "Wetzlar."

My specific difficulty is making out the nature of the reference to "Altenberg" -- is it Altenberg as an area, or a town (which would be hundreds of km away), or is it a reference to the "Altenberg Abbey" which is near Wetzlar?

I would be most grateful for any assistance in deciphering and translating.  Thank you.

Examining mysteries of great-great grandma's 19th century involvement with another family in Germany (Geissen?).

I would be most grateful for assistance deciphering writing on back of photo. Many thanks.

Hello:
Regarding inquiry above it appears the jpg regarding Lorenz fell off. Now attached to this.