ViewMate - Image Archive, Image 114489 - Translation - German - Germany - Birnbaum (now Miedzychod) - Levy


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Information

Picture

Question

Category: Translation - German
Approval Date: 5/13/2026 4:13 PM
Family Surname: Levy
Country: Germany
Town: Birnbaum (now Miedzychod)
Date of Image: 1848

Click the picture to enlarge

The document is the death certificate of my great-great-great grandfather Joseph Meyer Levy who died on 22 January 1848. The documents were prepared at the Birnbaum Court and are currently in the State Archive. My main interest is finding the names of any relations such as father, son etc, who exactly is Alexander Levy, and the age at death so I can work back to year of birth.

Response

5/14/2026 12:21 AM

Here’s part of the page, Peter. This is the text at the upper right:

+++

Recorded at Birnbaum, 24 January 1848
Alexander Joseph Lewy 30 years old, a merchant here, Jewish, appeared and declared:
As shown in the certificate of 22 January by Dr Gottheil that was received, my father Joseph Mayer Lewy died here of hydrothorax at the age of 75 years at 10 o’clock on the evening of 22 January. He leaves a wife and six adult children. He [unclear, probably “made”] a will.
[unclear] [unclear] [unclear]
Alexander J Levy

Verhandelt zu Birnbaum den 24ten Januar 1848
Es erscheint der Handelsmann Alexander Joseph Lewy von hier, 30 Jahre alt, jüdisch, und sagt:
Nach Ausweis des einlangenden Attestes des Dr Gottheil vom 22 Januar ist am 22ten Januar Abends 10 Uhr mein Vater der ?...edinger? Joseph Mayer Lewy in einem Alter von 75 Jahren an der Brustwassersucht hier verstorben. Er hat eine Frau und sechs großjährige Kinder hinterlassen. Er hat ein Testament ?gemacht?
??? ??? ???
Alexander J Levy

+++

Translated by Robert Rosenbaum (Ashland, Oregon)
Freelance translator and interpreter
M.A. in Translation and Interpretation (German-English), Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
rosenbaum.robert@gmail.com

5/14/2026 12:26 AM

PS. Correction: the death occurred on 21 January. (That one numeral is written sloppily, but it has to be the 21st.)

5/14/2026 12:30 AM

PPS. There is an illegible word immediately before “Joseph Mayer Lewy” that seems to end in ...edinger. It might be an occupation (though I can’t imagine which) or a proper adjective meaning “from a place called ...edingen”. Perhaps another volunteer can decipher it.

5/15/2026 1:35 AM

Hello,
To me, the word immediately before "Joseph Mayer Lewy" is "Ausgedinger," which is an occupational term meaning "retiree." The word looks slightly odd because the diacritic normally written above the letter "u" in Kurrentschrift is either missing or linked to the letter "s" immediately following.

Also, the three words near the end of the paragraph look like "Vorg[elesen] geneh[migt] u[nd] unter[schrieben]," which is a generic legal statement of certification meaning "read allowed, approved and signed."

ViewMate Posting VM 114489

Submitted by Peter Skyte

Learn more about our organizational leadership, mission, and values. There are numerous opportunities to get involved yourself!

Search millions of records from around the globe, including more than 4 million records related to the Holocaust, and more than 4.2 million burial records. Records are continually added each month - check back often for new information!

Discover your ancestral town, explore geographic/regional based sections of the JewishGen site (Research Divisions), and explore what daily life was like for your ancestors - and what we can learn from them today.

Enhance your research with online classes and dozens of helpful articles. University students can apply for the Bennett & Robin Greenspan L'dor V'dor Legacy Program, and those "out of school" can help preserve Jewish Heritage in Poland with unique study & volunteer experiences.

Connect with tens of thousands of other JewishGen members via the Family Finder, Discussion Group, Facebook Group, and ViewMate. It's a great way to share success, ask questions, and stay informed of the happenings throughout the Jewish genealogical community.

The JewishGen site is offered as a free public resource. However, it costs a lot of money to maintain and expand our services. If you are in a position to do so, please consider a contribution today - your support will make a difference!

ViewMate Posting VM 114489

Submitted by Peter Skyte