I recently discovered from the marriage record of my 4th great-grandfather, Christian Jacobus Schmeltzer (b. around 1728) that he was from Korbach, based on his marriage record. He married Caecilia Esser in Efferen, Cologne, Rheinprovinz, Prussia, Germany on 21 Apr 1765 (Catholic) and they raised a large family in Hürth, Erftkreis, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany with many descendants that stayed in that area. His death certificate doesn't name his parents or place of birth. I'm struggling with how to research records in Korbach for him. It appears that the area was predominantly Protestant and wondering why he would have moved 150 miles away to Hürth. I don't know what year he made the move but am aware that there was a battle that took place in Korbach in 1860 as part of the 7-year war. I'd love input on how to search this, as well as theories on why he might have made the move. Could it have been based on his religion (could he have been protestant and changed religion with his marriage?), or on the war that was taking place in Korbach? I guess I'm just looking for better-educated guesses as I don't know much about the history of the area. thanks