God's Blessings as a Greeting!
Dearly and Much Beloved Brother, Michael Keinadt:
Since we, on the fifth of April of 1769, received a communication from you,
and learned from it that you have become a prosperous man in this world and
possess much wealth, at which we all heartily rejoiced, and do from ouir
hearts desire to be with you too - but we think we shall never again meet in
this world, we will still take occasion and as you desire write you also in
return how it is and fares with us always. 

And first we shall tell what relates to our aged father. He is still living,
as long as God wills it. But he is a very old man; he is really the oldest
person in our place. He has lived to see counting in your eight, 57
grand-children, and 24 great-grand-children. And his age is about 87 years,
and he can still get about as he did many years ago. As regards his
livelihood, he has in his advanced age never suffered want; but it is our duty
and obligation to support him as well as we can, and we shall do it too as
long as he lives. And since you give him that which is yours, he is, as we are
also, obliged to thank you, and we from the heart return praise and thanks to
you, and wish that God may for the future send his rich blessing upon you and
yours, and wish that it may be well with you and yours here in time, but also
above all in eternity. 

Further we write concerning the Schmidt boy, whom you mentioned in your
letter. He was not sister Margaret's boy, neither any of our kin, nor from our
region. In many years, too no one has moved away. We think that if one might
wish to move away, he would not venture to make it known; but one is answered,
"Stay in the country and make a support honestly."  

Further, you also desire to know how matters are in our part of the country.
Of this not much is to be said, because it is too tedious to relate. Still we
will say that for several years now it has been well with us. We have generous
peace, thanks be to God, and besides years of plentiful crops; but yet along
with these hard times for the poor and the middle-class people. Since it is a
time of so high prices with us, when one wishes a Simry of grain, he must at
present time have 30 kreuzers, and for whatever one wishes to buy he has to
pay a high price. 

You may wonder why everything should be dear since it has been said we having
fruitful years. The cause of this: the population is increasing very much, and
the estates are growing smaller. Upon an estate which fifty years ago a father
possessed entire, there the children now have it. One has four to five,
another six to seven children upon one estate our father has owned, and must
try to obtain our piece of coarse bread on it. Also we are in those two
stations in life - the poor and the middle-class - just where bodily need
soonest reaches men. For want often effects many in our region, even in our
community, in our neighborhood. For there are many poor who have to eat and
purchase their livelihood with great difficulty, and still pay right well for
everything. However, it is still good that one can still have everything he
may desire. We will then thank and give praise to Him who rules all things for
all that He daily does for us, since He yet daily opens His hand in favor and
fills all to satisfaction, and has compassion on everything that lives upon
the whole earth. 

Further we will add what happened to Casper and some of his comrades, owing to
their going to the forest. About eight years ago the Prince of Hechingen made
complaint to the Prince and Duke of our land that they entered his forest so
often and were doing him much damage. And since there was war at that time and
our Duke was about to take the field, he took Casper away from wife and
children, and also some of his comrades: George Bart who sends you his fine
compliments, also Hss. George Flad Schmidt, and John Mante wanger and Philip
Raster Zimmermann, also Ludwig Mattes, Schmidt, who made your acquaintance in
Wesel. These six men had at that time to leave wife and children and were
placed amongst the Dukes body of hunstmen as ridesmen, and with some thousands of men had to take the field and go out our country into the Saxon Territory and into the Prussian, and they were about 150 leagues distance from us, and spent so many days of their life there. Finally, they little by little came
fortunately home again. After all, if it had not been for homesickness, they
would have had for the most part pleasant days. 

Further we know nothing more that is necessary to write, except that you are
heartily greeted by us all, and we wish that these few lines may find you all
well. And if our desire is to be realized, write to us likewise again by good
opportunity how continue to get along. And since Martin Keinadt and his
son-in-law, John Bitzer, are wondering whether you do not know something about
Gottlieble, if you know anything of him, tell him that his wife died a year
ago. And when you write to us, report to us for Gottlieble how it is with him,
because his people are wondering; also about Jacob Ringwald, since his friends
too wonder that you do not write even of every one who in your country. 

Further we know of nothing but that we ever remain, Your most faithful
friends. 
Sinabune, Oestmettingen, April 16th, 1769.
That this is true, the subscribers testify, Casper Keinadt, Conrad Keinadt,
Martin Keinadt, Johannes Ringwald. The name of him who wrote this is young
George Bossch, the son of Anna Maria. 

Translated for the 1894 family reunion in Waynesboro VA by  Reverand Jacob S.
Koiner who had attended Theology school in Germany.