FINE FRAKTUR BIRTH RECORD FOR MICHAEL HAVERSTICK, PROBABLY LANCASTER OR DAUPHIN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, CIRCA 1817

This birth certificate records the birth of Michael Haverstick III on August 22, 1817, to parents Michael and Magdalena (Heiny) Haverstick. Michael III later moved to Farmington, Iowa, where he died in 1849. The Haverstick family originated in America with immigrant Michael Haverstick I, who arrived in 1741. He settled in Lancaster County along the Conestoga Creek between Wabank and New Danville. This Michael served in the American Revolution, rising to the rank of colonel, and died in 1793 at age 75. His son Michael Haverstick II (1789–1828) was born in Lancaster County but died in Erie County, Pennsylvania. The 1810 census records Michael Haverstick (likely Michael II) in Conestoga, Lancaster County, but by the time of the 1820 census the only Michael Haverstick is listed in Halifax Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. This birth record for Michael III was thus likely made in either Lancaster or Dauphin counties. It is embellished with imagery likely inspired by the War of 1812, including two soldiers wearing contemporary military uniforms and bearing long guns with fixed bayonets, a striped flag, and a cannon.

Sotheby’s wishes to thank Lisa Minardi for her assistance in researching this fraktur. Minardi is the executive director of Historic Trappe, home to the new Center for Pennsylvania German Studies.