We now know for sure what the mystery document is, that turned up unexpectedly at Buxton Pavilion Gardens. (See https://recordoffice.wordpress.com/2013/06/27/what-does-this-document-say-how-did-it-end-up-in-buxton/). It’s the birth certificate of a very well-travelled missionary (http://en.messianicjudaismwiki.com/wiki/Jonas_Theodor_Meyer).
Archivist Juliane Galle, based in Dublin (and who is, I should add, available for freelance work), responded to our request for an explanation of the document with the following transcription and translation.
Der frühere Lehrer, jetzige Licentiat der Theologie
Theodor Jonas Mayer
ist in hiesiger Stadt am dreißigsten Januar einstausend achthundert und achtzehn (30 Januar 1818) ehelich geboren; Das wird aus dem Grund der von den Vorstehern geführten Gemeinde-Geburtsliste seinem Antrage gemäß hierdurch obrigkeitlich unter dem Stadtsiegel bescheinigt.
Crivitz, den 24sten August 1850
Der Magistrat Rönnberg
The former teacher, now Licentiat of Theology
Theodor Jonas Mayer
Was In this town on thirtiest January eightthousand eighthundred and eighteen (30 January 1818) legitimately born: this is therefore noted in the by the principals kept Birthregister of the county according to his application authoritatively under seal certified.
Crivitz, 24 August 1850
[signed] The Magistrate Rönnberg
Our fullest thanks go to Juliane. We are still unsure of what Mayer/Meyer’s birth certificate was doing under the kitchen floor, though! Perhaps that part of the mystery will remain unsolved…
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