19TH CENTURY BIRTH AND BAPTISM CERTIFICATE FRAKTUR
CHARLES FURRY NEWMANSTOWN LEBANON COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA
A fantastic Pennsylvania historic birth and baptism certificate / fraktur from Newmanstown, Lebanon County, PA. This authentic document dates to 1886. What makes this particular document unusual is the fact that it is handpainted watercolor. It displays beautiful angels on either side, birds on the bottom, and a cherub alight on clouds with a floral garland on the top. All of these subjects are mixed media—done in print with hand water paint color added by the artist. [Virtually all frakturs manufactured after approximately 1830 were printed documents as opposed to hand penned and colored.]
This fraktur was printed by a small printer that combined old and new techniques. It is an excellent example of mid to late 19th century mixed media fraktur decoration. Printed by Eagle Book Store, Reading, PA, it was then painted in with vibrant water colors, and hand penned by a local fraktur artist. His signature, Charles B. Smith, is located in the lower center of the document box.
This birth and baptism certificate is for Charles Daniel Furry a son of Daniel C. Furry and wife Emma C. daughter of Lorenz and Leah Tbach born on the 12th day of April 1886 in the village of Newmanstown, in the county of Lebanon in the state of Pennsylvania and was baptized on the 19th day of June 1887 by the Reverend D. C. Keneble.
It is believed that this Furry family is a descendent of John Furry, a native of Europe, who came to America in 1727. In 1744 he located in Tulpehocken Township, Berks County, on a tract of 346 acres of land. He had two sons and two daughters (Michael, John, Rosina, and Catharine).
John Furry, a son of the forebear, settled on the west side of the Susquehanna river (at Catawissa in 1782). Four sons and two daughters were born to him, the sons being John, Jonas, Lawrence, and Henry. On July 26, 1782, a part of Indians made a descent upon the German settlement, the exposed condition of which invited attack. The three older sons, John, Jonas and Lawrence, were absent, having gone for flour to the mill at Sunbury. On their return they found their parents and sisters killed and scalped. The brothers buried their household goods and farming implements in the ground and returned to Reading. Years afterward Jonas and Lawrence Furry were in Montreal, and there formed the acquaintance of Henry Furry, a prosperous trader. The similarity of names was once noticed. His identity as their brother was readily established. He described to them the tragic death of their parents and sisters and the brutal treatment he had received on the journey with his captors to Tioga. At that place he was ransomed by a Frenchman, and treated by him with kindness and consideration.
The family held the first reunion in 1904 and the fourth in 1908. A D. C. Furry of Newmanstown, PA, and a Mrs. Charles Furry of Lebanon, PA, were on the Executive Committee.
PRICE: $195
