Germany, Saxony, Church Book Indexes - FamilySearch Historical Records

''Germany Saxony’’

What is in the Collection?
This collection will include index cards to christening, marriage, and burial records kept in churches from 1600-1900. In 1616, a resolution required all parish clergy to keep a separate book to record names and events which took place in their parish district. During the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) record keeping may not have been as consistent, or records from previous years could have been lost or destroyed. Keep in mind that these are just index cards to the church records, meaning that the images that go with it are for these index cards and not of the actual church records. The images also tend to use genealogical symbols that stand for the event that occurred. This collection of card indexes to church records includes a number of localities in Saxony, Germany, including Bärenwalde, Brehme, Chemnitz, Culitzsch, Deutschneudorf, Dippoldswalde, Dittersbach, Dresden, Ebersbrunn, Glösa, Göda, Grossgrabe, Hennersdorf, Hermsdorf, Hormersdorf, Krummenhennersdorf, Leuben, Liebenau, Nassau, Neuhausen, Neumark, Pirna, Pretzschendorf, Reichenberg, Reichstädt, Rottmansdorf, Stangengrün, Zschaitz, and "verschiedene Pfarrämter."

Sample Images
Click on images for a larger view. Birth records may contain the following information: Marriage records may contain the following information: Death records may contain the following information: Burial records may contain the following information:
 * Birth date
 * Place of birth
 * Name at birth
 * Parents’ names
 * Parents’ residence
 * Gender
 * Date and number of record
 * Date and place of event
 * Name of bride and groom
 * Residence
 * Age of bride and groom
 * Names of parents
 * Names of witnesses
 * Date and place of death
 * Name of deceased person
 * Age or birth date
 * Cause of death
 * Marital status
 * Name of spouse (if applicable)
 * Date and place of death
 * Name of cemetery
 * Name of deceased person
 * Age or birth date

How Do I Search the Collection?
When searching, it is helpful to know: Fill in the requested information in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information in the list to what you already know about your ancestor to determine if it is the correct family or person. You may need to compare several persons in the list before you find your ancestor. ‘’’ Search by Name by visiting the [insert the URL Collection Page:]’’’ ‘’’ View images in this collection by visiting the [insert URL Browse Page:] ‘’’ To browse by image: To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒ Select the 'Parish and Alphabetic Range' category which takes you to the images.
 * Your ancestor's name
 * Age and or residence
 * An estimated event year
 * A relative’s name

What Do I Do Next?
Whenever possible, view the original records to verify the information and to find additional information that might not be reported. These pieces of information can lead you to additional records and family members.

I Found Who I was Looking for, What Now?

 * Use the age in the record to find an approximate birth year, which will help you find their other records.
 * Use the information in each record to find additional family members.
 * Repeat this process with additional family member’s records to find more generations of the family.

I Can’t Find Who I’m Looking for, What Now?
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 * Try viewing the original record to see if there were errors in the transcription of the name, age, residence, etc. Remember that their may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * Collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relations that can be verified by records.
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality in an area search.
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist during the periods our ancestors lived in. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images.
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names. Try searching for these names as well.

Citing this Collection
Citing your sources makes it easy for others to find and evaluate the records you used. When you copy information from a record, list where you found that information. Here you can find citations already created for the entire collection and for each individual record or image. Collection citation: Record citation (or citation for the index entry): Image citation: