This letter is addressed to Mr. George Dute, Blakriver, Lorain
County, State of Ohio, Nordamerica. It was translated mostly by
me, with some help from Erwin Biskup of Sacramento. The address
is the most legible thing about it. It's from Martin Dute, in
Rockensuess parish near Rotenburg. George has probably previously
written to his brother Anton in Rotenburg suggesting that Martin
come to America. Martin seems to be trying to talk George into
advancing him some money so he can get to America, where quite a
few other people from Rockensuess have been going. This year his
own sister is going. He seems to want to come for economic
reasons. He's a day-laborer, and every year the trip gets more
difficult for him to make. He's got a family of six. His oldest
daughter Katherina is George's godchild, and she never stops
talking about going to Anerica. He seems to be able to scrape up
enough money to get to New York, at least. He has a brother
Heinrich who has been in America 10 years whom he hasn't heard
from in three years. The "brother in Rotenburg" referred to three
times here must be George's brother Anton Dute.
     There was a Martin Dute (1812 - 1865) who lived in a
sandstone house at 8263 Oberlin Rd. outside of Elyria, Ohio which
was taken down and may someday be reconstructed by the Amherst
Historical Society. He had a son Henry who had children Henry,
Adam, Kathryn and Lydia. These last two were the last occupants
of the house, and they both died in 1972.
     The letter goes:

                                  Rockensuess -- 4ten April 1846

     Lieber Gevatter  und Frau Gevattern!
     Dear   Godfather and      Godmother,

 Aus unser hiesigen Gemeinde reisen in diesem Jahre
 From our  local    parish   travel in this   year

 8 Familien ungefaehr 43 Koepfe stark,  hinueber   zu
 8 families about     43 heads  strong, there over to

 Euch nach Nord=America,  selbst meine Schwester
 you  to   North America, my sister herself

 reiset  mit,       wodurch      Jhr diesen Brief erhaltet.
 travels with them, which is how you're getting this letter.

 Da    du  lieber Gevatter  so gut geschrieben hattest
 Since you dear   Godfather so good have written

 an deinen Bruder  in Rotenburg, so war ich
 to your   brother in Rotenburg, so was I

 und meine Frau selbst    Willens   in diesen
 and my    wife ourselves of a mind in this

 Jahre mit  unserer Familie hinueber zu Euch zu
 year  with our     family  to come across to you,

 kommen, denn    du  weistt ein Tageloehner hat
         because you know   a   day-laborer has

 hier   seine  Last   und es wird fast   mit  jedem
 here   his    burden and it gets almost with each

 (next page)
 Jahre schlimmer. Meine alteste Tochter  Katherina, Eure
 year  worse.     My    oldest  daughter Katherina, your

 Pathe,    wird in diesem Jahre confirmirt und hoert
 godchild, will be confirmed this year    and

 nicht auf von Euch zu sprechen und wuenscht sich stuendlich
 never stops talking about you  and wishes every hour she could

 zu Euch.     Aber mein Vermoegen reicht   nicht          hin bis
 be with you. But  my   fortune   suffices not   (for us) to

 zu Euch gelangen zu koennen, den es sind unser 6 Seelen.
 reach you,                   because there are 6 of us.

 Das Ueberfahrtsgeld bis Neujork gedaechte ich wohl
 The passage-money to New York I thought well

 heraus zu bringen.  Solltest du  wuenschen, dass wir hinue-
 to obtain here.     Should   you wish,      that we come

 ber zu Euch kommen und glaubtest du, dass ich es dort
 over there to you  and if you think, that I would be better

 besser bekommen sollte, so    sei so gut und schreib mir
 off there,              then  be so good and write   me

 recht bald    Antwort und bemerke ob du mir
 right soon an answer  and say     if you want

 so viel Geld  vorschiesten willst um bis zu Euch
 to advance enough money to me     to come all the

 gelangen zu koennen, so   wollen wir uns unter Gottes
 way to you,          then we want        with  God's

 Beistand-,        kommendes Jahr auf die Reise begeben.
 assistance, (the) coming    year on the  trip to embark.

 Was  unsere uebrigen  Verhaeltinsse betrifft, so sind wir
 Concerning our remaining conditions,          so we are

 (next page)                                  wuenschen
 jetzt Gottlob noch  Alle  recht gesund   und      auch dass dies
 now praise God still all  right healthy  and wish also that this

 Schreiben Euch recht gesund  und wohl antrifft.
 writing   finds you right healthy and well.

 Mein Bruder  Heinrich, welcher nun 10 Jahre drueben    ist hat
 My   brother Heinrich, who  has been over there 10 years now has

 schon seit drei Jahren nichts  von sich    hoeren lassen. Kannst
 already for three years let nothing be heard of himself.  If you

 du uns wohl naehere Nachricht ueber ihn geben, so
 could give us some nearer news on him,

 soll es uns sehr freuen.     Von deinem Bruder  in Rotenburg
 it would make us very happy. From your  brother in Rotenburg

 soll ich Euch viele Mal gruesten, und wenn du  vielleicht
 I should many times greet you,    and if   you maybe

 an mich nicht allein schreiben willst, so schreibe an deinen
                                                        Bruder
 want to write not just to me alone,   then write to your brother

 in Rotenburg, gieb mir aber jedenfalls genaue   und sichere
 in Rotenburg, but give me in any case  accurate and certain

 Nachricht, wor auf ich mich verlassen kann. Meine Frau
 news,      on which I can rely.             My wife

 meine Kinder und ich gruesten Euch alle viele Tausend
 my children  and I   greet    you  all  many  thousand

 Mal.   Lebe bis   auf naehere Nachricht recht wohl, dies
 times. Live until     nearer  news      right well, this

 wuenscht
 wishes

                 Dein
                 Your

                                 treuer Freund und Gevatter
                                 true   friend and Godfather
 Rockensuess -- 4te April 1846.
                                 Martin Dute

The heading of the letter implies that George is Heinrich's
godfather, but the closing implies just the opposite. The term
"Gevatter" seems to have been used rather loosely in those days.