Timoshka (asker) Apr 24, 2021:

I believe the "Kerschprocente," as well as the "Gebühren" and "Rückerstattung der Fracht," were all credited to the balance due by the seller, as the total of these amounts was deducted from the total cost. "Fees" and "reimbursement of (excess) freight" seem clear enough. Thus, the "Kerschprocente" must be another type of deduction or rebate that reduced the total price. I'm now convinced it was a "cash percentage [deduction]," i.e. Barzahlungsrabatt in modern German. I am 100% sure that "Kersch" has nothing to do with "Kirche." These church records run from 1871 to 1938, and the word "Kirche" has been used literally hundreds of times in them--always spelled correctly as "Kirche." There would be no reason that some variant or dialect form would be used in one single instance. At the same time, there are dozens and dozens of slightly Germanized English words used in these records.

Elisabeth Kissel Apr 23, 2021:

@ Johanna and David Just an idea ... maybe the church had a building fund or something similar, and the money was allocated from there? In that case, 'procente' might be translated with 'contribution' instead of 'cost'.

David Hollywood Apr 22, 2021:

and the "procente" would seem to refer to how much etc.

David Hollywood Apr 22, 2021:

even if that is the case, cost would work IMO

Timoshka (asker) Apr 22, 2021:

@ Johanna Timm and David Hollywood If Kersch is "pfälzisch" dialect, then I don't think it would fit in this small, rural parish in Nebraska. Almost all of the members were from Oldenburg in the far north of Germany. Throughout these records (even in the small sample I provided above), many English words are used. That is why I was considering "Kersch" as an attempted phonetic spelling of English "cash."

David Hollywood Apr 22, 2021:

agree with Johanna that "Kersch" is probably "Kirche"

Timoshka (asker) Apr 22, 2021:

If "Kersch" is a corruption of the English "cash," then maybe it does refer to some sort of Barzahlungsrabatt?

Timoshka (asker) Apr 22, 2021:

@ philgoddard Indeed. The writer explains how the total cost breaks down, and then adds that a total of $84.31 is deducted from the cost, namely $57.50 in "fees," $19.11 for "reimbursement of freight," and that elusive $7.70. I've been trying to think of ANYTHING that could fit...but with no luck. I toyed with the idea that it might be a percentage for payment in CASH (Kersch?), but then it does say they paid with a draft, which cost them an extra 40 cents! Frustrating...

philgoddard Apr 22, 2021:

For what it's worth, if you look at the numbers, the Kerschprocente appears to be a credit, discount, or other deduction that reduces the cost of the bells.

Johanna Timm, PhD Apr 22, 2021:

Kersch=Kirche? Dialekt pfälzischer Einwanderer (Kerschprocente-Abgaben an die Kirche)

https://weinfachberater.der-ultes.de/2009/05/02/paelzisches-...