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The objective of this research is generally to extend my Kirmse Family Tree and in the short term to identify the relationship with a DNA predicted 3rd cousin. The focus has initially been on learning more about the families of my 3rd-great grandfathers, Christoph Kirmse and Michael Kratsch.

Prior research had been limited to exploring microfilms of the Rositz church records. These records were available for the 1809 to 1875 time period. In 1875, recording vital statistics of a community became a civil responsibility. With the newly digitized Altenburg Land church and civil records, the exploration can be expanded.

A quick count of Ancestry record abstracts available for Christoph Kirmse shows 230+ that are in Germany, most of whom are located in the current day Altenburger Land. There are a similar number of records available for Michael Kratsch not including alternate spellings. So a more focused search was undertaken.

Since Christoph Kirmse lived in Fichtenhainichen, an initial focus was on the Evangelische Kirche Rositz (AG. Altenburg) records. And, since Michael Kratsch lived in Grossröda another focus was on the Evangelische Kirche Monstab (AG. Altenburg) records. Also, records from other nearby villages and parishes were included if they contained Kirmse and Kratsch surnames.