Origins of the Putlechow
After reading
the information about the names Pittelkow, Pettelkau, Pittelkau and Püttelkow, which
you can find at this page, you will understand that which few researchers of
Pettelkau ever knew of its actual origins. Please understand, however, that the
name is “Prussian” in its metamorphosis as the people Pettelkau (inclusive of
all spellings) lived in Prussia and/or Poland from shortly after its adoption
in the 13th century by a human, to a time a little more than 50
years ago. So, we the people believe that we are in fact of Old Prussia just as
so many others have believed that we were throughout all of Prussia’s recorded
history. Too, much of that history is steeped in a culture developed through
centuries of living and associating with the people of all of its surrounding
countries to include that which was left behind by the Tartars in their
attempted conquest of Europe.
The family
Pettelkau of Prussia began with a vassal of the Count von Schwerin of
Mecklenburg (Germany) in the 13th century when the Count recorded
the name of the family that had taken the name from its estate. Theodericus de
Putlechow inherited the surname from his forefathers just as we do today. Was
it the recorded in the year 1230 “Pvtelkowe, Johannes II or Reinfridus IIII”,
ancestors at the village Püttelkow and possible grandfather of Theodericus, who
took the name of his estate (the Gemarkung) as his own surname or some much
earlier ancestor of theirs who performed the act? Theoderich, with the
permission of Count Nicholaus sold the estate near Wittenburg in the year 1282
and with his family immigrated to Ermland, in Old Prussia, where he established
the fiefdom, estate and village of Pettelkau. So, now we know that Theodericus
had an original German surname and the title “Vassal” long before he arrived in
Ermland. In addition we now know that he was a noble above the social position
of Knight or Baron and was of a station just below that of Count. Until the
Mecklenburgische Document Nr. 1637 was discovered in 2002, many researchers of
Prussia and the Pettelkau family had concluded that the name as well as the
family was of Old Prussian origins, although in 1901 the Ermlandische
researcher Victor Röhrich concluded
that the family Pettelkau was of German rather than Prussian origin. Victor’s argument is attached here for
your reading. You will notice that he made the same error as others before him
by assuming that this odd name is of Prussian rather than German origin and
that Theoderich assumed the name from the Prussian estate rather than the
Mecklenburgische estate.
From
the book, “Ermland’s Politische und Nationale Stellung….” Published in 1873, we
find that fourteen families of some notoriety immigrated to Ermland at the same
time and together established a country named Ermland. These families were:
Bulow, Borow, Bruland, Buch, Cowal, Heileberg, Hunderthufen or Hunderthuben,
Palfstein, Pöttelkau, Rutenberg (Rastenberg),
Rufien (Roffen), Scriptor (Schrieber), ßaltenhaun, Wilbenberg. Each of these
families became first citizens of what was still “Old Prussia” in the 13th
century.
The Birth of the Name
|
Mecklenburgisches
Urkundenbuch Dokument Nr. 1637 1282. 27. Juli Wittenberg |
From the Mecklenburg Document
Book
1282. 27th July. Wittenburg. [Document] 1637 |
|
Nicholaus,
in Gottesgnaden Graf von Schwerin, entbietet allen Betrachtern des
vorliegenden Dokumentes im Namen Jesu Christi einen Gruß. Damit jene
Angelegenheiten, die sich in der Zeit vollziehen, nicht mit der Zeit auch
zugleich verlorengehen, pflegt man, sie durch die Aussage der Zeugen und das
schriftliche Zeugnis festzuhalten. Daher tun wir es auch den Anwesenden wie
auch den Nachkommen kund, das der Präpositus des Nonnenkoventes zu Zarrenthin
rechtskräftig und gegen gebührenden Preis das Dorf Püttelkow mit dem anliegenden
Land sowie den Wäldern oder Hainen, Wiesen, Weiden, Feldern und Grenzlinien
von Theoderich, der den Namen dieses Dorfes, so wie er es besaß, trägt, gegen
200 Lübecker Mark für die Nutzzwecke des erwähnten Klosters erworben hat. In
der Absicht, den Vorteil und den Gewinn des oben erwähnten Klosters zu
vermehren, erklärten wir unsere freiwillige und uneingeschränkte Zustimmung
zum betreffenden Erwerb, der vorschriftsmässig vollzogen wurde. Damit die
dort dem Gott geweihten und immer dienenden Personen uns und unsere Erben um
so eifriger in Erinnerung behalten möchten, haben wir dem erwähnten Kloster
das Dorf Püttelkow für den ewigen Besitz freiwillig übergeben, das kraft
entsprechender Verkaufsrechte erworben wurde. Wir behalten uns freilich
besonders jene Jurisdiktion vor, die wir in den Gütern aller Vasallen
ausüben. Um all diese Verordnungen als dauerhaft und beständig zu erhalten,
haben wir befohlen, das vorliegende Dokument herauszugeben, dem durch unser
Siegel Kraft verliehen worden ist. Zeugen dieser Akte sind die Ritter: Wipert
von Melenteke, Hermann von Bluchere, Anton von Tribowe, Hermann von Warscowe,
Nicholaus Vos, Erich von Parlin wie auch andere zahlreiche vertrauenswürdige
Zeugen. Dies geschah und wurde
gegeben zu Wittenburg A.D. 1282, 27. Juli. |
Nicholaus,
by the grace of God Count of Schwerin, sends greetings in the Lord Jesus
Christ to all perusing this page [document]. It is usual to endorse by the
words of witnesses and to record in writing those deeds which are enacted at
a given time, lest with the passage of time they fall into oblivion. Hence it is our wish that it be known to
all, both those alive now and to future generations, that the prepositor of
the convent of the consecrated [persons] of Tsernentin has purchased the
estate of Putlechow along with the adjacent agricultural lands and woods or
groves, meadows, pastures, and fields, [right up to and including] the
boundaries and limits, from Theodoricus who is named after the said estate,
as he held it, at a justified and reasonable price of two hundred Lübeck marks in money [cash], for the use of the said
convent. Therefore we, wishing to promote the welfare and advancement of the
congregation in this convent, have issued our full and voluntary consent to
this purchase, which was transacted [lawfully] pursuant to the provisions.
And in order to have our own memory and that of our heirs perpetuated by the
persons consecrated to God abiding in the said convent and thereby serving
Him all the more diligently, we hereby freely consent to the perpetual tenure
by the said convent of the property known as the Putlekow estate, the title
to which was conveyed in a lawful sale.
However we reserve for ourselves the special jurisdiction we have over
all of the properties of our vassals. We have ordered the issue of this deed,
endorsed by our seal, for the strict and steadfast observance of all of the
provisions herby laid down. The witnesses hereto are Wipertus de Melenteke,
Hermannus de Bluchere, Antonius de Tribowe, Hermannus de Warscowe, Nicholaus
Vos, and Ericus de Parlin knights, and sundry other trustworthy persons.
Given and done at Wittenburch, in the year of the Lord one thousand two
hundred and eighty-two, on the sixth day before the calends of August [July
27th]. [Translator’s note: the names of the
persons and places have been preserved in the translation in the original
spelling presented in the Latin transcript, except for “Lübeck” and
“Schwerin”, which occur in the original in their adjectival forms but have
been modernized to their 20th-century counterparts in German.] |
Note: See the bottom center of the following map for the location
of the village Püttelkow. You will also see Schwerin to its northeast and
Zarrentin (Photo)
to its west.
In
2002 - Barbara Czopek-Kopciuch wrote from Krakow, Poland in
answer to a request from Hans Pettelkau:
|
Sehr geehrte Herr Petelkau, |
Dear Mr. Hans
Pettelkau |
|
Ich bedanke mich herzlich für die Informationen,
die ich von Ihnen kriegte. Meine Meinung nach ist Ihr Name ein deutscher Name
preussischer Herkunft. Der Familienname ist gleich den Ortsnamen Pettelkau.
Der ON selbst ist seit XIII Jhd bekannt: de Pokilkow (1296); de Pötlickow
(1297); Pottelkow, Dorf 1311; Putlekowe 1319; Puttilkow 1361; de Putilkow
1362; Petlekau 1378; Pütlekow 1378; Pottelkaw 1425; Pettelkow 1550; Petelkau
1615; Petelkeim 1656; Pettelkau 1796-1802; Potlikowo aoder Pytelkowo –
Pettelkau 1946; Pierzchały – Pettelkau 1951. Das ist ursprünglich
preuss. Name
* Putilik-ōw-s, im 17. Jhd ergänzt durch
kaimis ‘Dorf’; das Suff. ist –ōw-. Zugrunde liegt ein PN *Putilas oder
*Putiliks, vgl. lit. pùteles ‚Schneeball’, pùtelis ‚dicker Mensch’, pùtelis
‚Birkhahn, -huhn, Viburnum’, lit. PN Pùtelis, Pūtys, zu pũsti
‚lassen, loslassen; eilen, jagen’, pùsti, pùto ‚schwellen, quellen’. Heute:
Pierzchały, ein neuen Namen, seit Ende des II Weltkrieg. Der preussische Name war
eingedeutsched als Puttelkau und diese Form wurde später ein Familienname.
Solche Namen zeigen, dass der Mensch stammte aus dem Dorf mit solchen Namen.
In historischen Dokumenten gibt es auch die Namen den Leute: Theodoricum de
Pötlickow (1297); Nycolai de Putikow 1362; Cl;aus Pottilkaw 1364; Claaaus
Puttelkowe 1375; Lodewik Putilko 1376; Peter Potilkow 1397; Augustinus
Pottilkaw 1418; Augustin Puttilkaw 1427; Austin Pottilkaw 1434. Ich weiss
nicht, ob Sie diese Formen Haben. Das zeigt, dass Ihr Name richtig alt ist. |
I cordially thank you for the
information which I received from you. In my opinion your name is a German
name of Prussian origin. The surname is equal to the place name Pettelkau.
That one is well-known since XIII Jhd: de Pokilkow (1296); de Poetlickow
(1297); Pottelkow, village 1311; Putlekowe 1319; Puttilkow 1361; de Putilkow
1362; Petlekau 1378; Puetlekow 1378; Pottelkaw 1425; Pettelkow 1550; Petelkau
1615; Petelkeim 1656; Pettelkau 1796-1802; Potlikowo or Pytelkowo. Pettelkau
1946; Pierzcha.y. Pettelkau 1951. The original Prussian Name is * Putilik.w
s, in 17. Jhd completes through kaimis Dorf.; the Suff. is..w -. a pn is the
basis * for Putilas or * Putiliks, viz. lit. „pùteles snowball”., pùtelis =
“thick human being”, pùtelis Birkhahn, = ”black rooster”, Viburnum., lit. Pn
Pùtelis, P.tys, too p.sti lassen, release; hurry, hunt, pùsti, pùto
schwellen, pour. Today: Pierzchaly, a new name, since the end of World War
II. The Prussian name was Germanized as
Puttelkau and this form became later a surname. Such names show that humans
originated from the village with such names. In historical documents there
are also the names of people: Theodoricum de Poetlickow (1297); Nycolai de
Putikow 1362; Cl;aus Pottilkaw 1364; Claaaus Puttelkowe 1375; Lodewik Putilko
1376; Peter Potilkow 1397; Augustinus Pottilkaw 1418; Augustin Puttilkaw
1427; Austin Pottilkaw 1434. I do not know whether this documentation
accredits the name, in that it would prove that your name is correctly old. I hope that this
information is what you need. |
Warmien ~ Ermland
Bishops, Vassals, Priests, Knights,
Peasants and Slaves
"In
1226, the Teutonic Knights, an Order of Roman Catholic Priest Soldiers, were
asked by Conrad of Mosovia, a Polish Prince who ruled the middle Vistula River Basin,
to drive back the pagan Prussi [Prussians]. The knights obliged,
and kept East Prussia for themselves. They not only built castles to
control the country but also introduced German settlers and developed
ports."
The invasion of the land of the Borussi (Latin) or Prussi
(German) people began at the northeastern corner of Prussia at a place named
Memel and in the southwest from Pommerellen, part of what had earlier been
Kassubia, a place much like that of Prussia except more fertile for farming.
Memel was a center for industry in the southern Baltic area and was shared by
the people of Livonia, Lithuania and Prussia. At the onset of the conquest in
1230 the knights came from Livonia (Livland or Latvia), a country that they had
conquered sometime earlier. The area of Danzig (Gdansk, a part of Kassubia) up
to the border with Prussia had been taken by the knights in 1209 securing for
them a military foothold in the west and northeast of Old Prussia. Moving from
Memel southwestwardly along the coast, the knights invaded what was to become
Königsberg, Braunsberg, Frauenberg and Tolkemit. From the southwest came the
knights from across the Weichsal River into Pomesanien and Kulmerland building
fortifications, churches and monasteries (Deutscher Houses) as they came. It
took the Deutscher Orden 53 years (until 1283) to conquer
the Old Prussians.
For some years prior to the actual invasion, Priests of the
Church went into the country to convert as many of the heathens as possible to
Christianity. They had many conversions from Paganism but found that the
heathens would take part in the rituals of both religions. This religious
behavior, together with their cultural behaviors towards their Christian
neighbors, the Mosovian and other Polish subjects, must have made the decision
to use military action to convert the heathens an easy one.
At the time of the creation of the several diocese, the
Bishops and leaders of the Deutscher Orden not only divided the country of Preussen
into religious segments but created secular states and fief’s with civil as
well as religious governments. The
state of Ermland, unique among all of the states of Prussia, maintained its
identity as a Roman Catholic Diocese from 1230 to 1773 even though it had been
invaded and taken over by Poland and Lithuania in the thirty years war ending
in 1466 at Thorn in Kulmerland (which also ended the reign of the Teutonic
Knights). You will find in this family history that the first Pettelkau person,
Theoderich de Potilkow, played a significant roll in the initial development of
the Civil Government of Ermland.
THE PAPAL
ORDERS and VATICAN COURT
ORDERS AWARDED BY THE HOLY SEE
OR FOUNDED BY PAPAL BULL
http://www.chivalricorders.org/vatican/teutonic.htm
Der
Deutsche Orden
Ein
paar Bilder
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Styx/5329/ostpreussen/bilder/Bilder01.htm
Die
Endersch-Karte des Ermlands von 1755
http://members.tripod.de/wm727/ke/Ermland1755.htm
The Church at
Pettelkau
http://www.people.freenet.de/braunsberg/pettelkau-k.JPG
The Church at
Frauenberg
http://www.people.freenet.de/braunsberg/frauen-haff.JPG
The Church at
Frauenberg (front view! Awesome!)
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/4046/fkirche.html
The Church at
Frauenberg (back view! Awesome!)
http://www.people.freenet.de/braunsberg/frauen-dom-tur.JPG
The Church at
Wormditt
http://pomoerium.com/regiones/wormditt/wormditt.htm
ORB Online Encyclopedia, Religion/The
Military Orders
THE
TEUTONIC ORDER
http://kuhttp.cc.ukans.edu/kansas/orb/encyclop/religion/monastic/opsahl1.html
The
Pagan Prussi
At the time of
the conquest of Kulmerland and Ermland, the Christian view of the universe was
a simple one. Satan and his demon minions inhabited that which is found below
the surface of the earth. Humans lived at the surface where was a layer of
earth, water, sky and fire. Above the layer of fire was the heavens inhabited
by God and his angels who made that which was at the earth layer or above work
properly. Satan and his demon crew did what they could to interfere with Gods
good work by influencing man to obey natural law or law not made by the
Christian church.
About twenty
years ago I purchased a Coat of Arms for the name Pittelkau from a company
dealing in heraldry. When it arrived I was somewhat surprised by the green
garden “snakes” coiled about ¼ of the shield. I thought to myself, now what the
devil do snakes have to do with the name Pittelkau? Later on I read somewhere
about the Old Prussians being referred to as the snake, or dragon people,
people of the worm. Until this point in my research I have avoided writing
about the Pagan Prussi and who they were, but would like to leave the reader
with some knowledge of a people with the same requisites as all other people
with a single difference, that of religion and some very bad habits. To the
Teutonic Knights and the Christian Church, the Prussi were Pagan Heathens.
People who could be enslaved or executed should they not agree to become
Christian.
“Romuva is the name of the most
important sanctuary of the Prussians”
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/2810/romuvawhatis.html
“Sacred
Serpent is named after the zaltys or zalgtis: a revered [and harmless] grass
snake, indigenous to the Baltic lands of East Prussia.” http://www.mythinglinks.org/euro~west~wicca.html
Regardless of
the religious implications of the Heathen and the Christian living in the same
space during the inquisition, the German Knights and Princes of the Holy Roman
Empire held a certain respect for these Old Prussians that is evident to this
day. For proof of this I refer to the garden snake that appears on the Wappen
(Coat of Arms) for Prussia, both old and new, and the dragon that appears on
the same for the city of Wormditt, in Kreis Braunsberg, East Prussia. As well,
the Coat of Arms for both East and West Prussia and Posen bear an Old Prussian
together with a Teutonic Knight. I suppose that the greatest respect that was
paid to the Old Prussians by the German invaders was that they were immediately
accepted as German when they became Christian and the invaders accepted the
word “Prussi” as a permanent part of their own identity. This kind of thinking
was caused too by the German immigrants to Old Prussia who together with the
Old Prussian people created a new Prussian culture that was inclusive of all of
the people living together in a hostile environment.
Although
Christian, Prussi would not cast off their Pagan ways and this created a
conflict between themselves and their German neighbors. In addition, Prussi who
had undergone the transformation from Pagan to Christian had to be treated the
same as Germans. This means that they would have to be paid for foodstuffs,
horses, sheep or other property. The knights could not just confiscate as they
could from a non-Christians. The Prussi did not initially understand the
concept of money and continued their reliance on a barter system based on the
trade value of one cowhide. The common person of northern Prussia relied on the
barter system well into the 19th century, money being used only by
wealthy landowners and government personnel to include the princely hierarchy.
The Old Prussians
lived totally off the land and worshipped that which provided food, water,
shelter and grass snakes. Since food was abundant from the many rivers, lakes,
forests and the Baltic Sea they seldom went hungry and were able to reproduce
to a population of about two million. (This increase in population has to be
somewhat attributable to the German settlers brought in during the period 1226
to about 1450) They made beer and liquor from barley and formed hunting parties
to hunt the European Buffalo as well as Wild Boar. Since garlic grows
abundantly in the wild, it was used for soup and for flavoring the meat and
fish that was a part of every meal. These folks lived in permanent structures
built of stone, wood and thatch. The Prussi were horsemen to the very end,
being buried with their favorite animal in a hill of dirt at one of their holy
places. The Teutonic Knights still exist as an organization of the Catholic
Church with its headquarters in Vienna, Austria and serve those in need of
sustenance and comfort. Historians of Prussia estimated that the last Prussi
walked Mother Earth in 1700. Considering that truth usually lies where you find
it, this may be true and then again it may not be the absolute truth as there
was cohabitation (marriage) between the German settlers and Old Prussians and
so some trace of their DNA must still exist in the descendants of the people of
this area of the world.
Land was given to the
Old Prussians who became Christians and a sense of land ownership slowly became
part of the cultural norm. In some cases the vassal Prussi could become
Teutonic Knights. If they did choose to become part of the invaders culture
they would first have to prove their noble birth and then become a Roman
Catholic Priest and give their oath of celibacy. Not much of a choice for men
who lived a lifestyle of absolute liberty.
To
the Victors - the Spoils
-
The First Pettelkau of Prussia -
Some of the following is
taken from the book “Preussische Regesten, Bis Zum Ausgange Des 13.
Jahrhunderts”, 1973, by Georg Olms Verlag, Hildesheim – New York. This is a
reprint of the book that was originally published by Dr. M. Perlbach in 1876
Königsberg Prussia.
It was during the reign of Bishop
Heinrich Fleming I of Ermland that the Old Prussians surrendered to the
Deutschen Orden and life began anew for the many new Christians. For the
Pittelkau clan in existence today, the first Pettelkau was “Theoderich”
who officially became Dietrich von Pötlickow sometime before 1282. Dietrich
is mentioned in the records of Bishop Heinrich the 1st in connection
with the villages of Pettelkau, Tromp, Lunau and Dittersdorf (in what was
centuries later to become part of Prußia) in 13th century Ermland as
the von Pokilkow or as Dietrich. In several documents, Dietrich
von Pötilkow (Pettelkau) is referred to as the “Honored One or Favored One”
(the actual Latin to English translation tends more to the word “mighty” than
the previous two words used by various translators). We have yet to discover
why he, a vassal, was considered the “honored one” and favored with the gift of
a vast estate, a fief in a location of cultural, religious and militarily
strategic importance to both the Old Prussi and the Christian.
Although the name Dietrich von
Potilkow does not appear often in the records of the church, the few times that
it does are signals that he was a member of a class of people who presumed
privilege in Ermland. As master of a fief he was the absolute master of the
land and all that grew on it to include the people. Owing his fealty to the
Bishop of Ermland meant that his master was the church and canon law, the law
of the church and God and he had to insure that his people, both Prussian and
German followed that law as well.
From page 384 of the Namen Regesten is found Pettelkau (Pokilkow)
1174. 84. v. v. Dietrich. [These two numbers, 1174 and 84 (1184) reference the
entry numbers of the contracts that are written on the right.] At page 357
under “Dietrich” is found D. von Pettelkau, erml. Vasall.
|
Der Vasall von
Ermland |
The Vassal of
Ermland |
|
1296.
II. Id. Sept. 12. Sept. Braunsberg. Bischof Heinrich von Ermland
verschreibt dem Ritter Rupert 100 Hufen nebst dem Patronat über die daselbst
zu errichtende Kirche zwischen den Gütern des von Pokilkow,’) dem
großen Bruch, dem Feldern der Preußen Trompe und Schroyte und der Bistumsgrenze
bei Curwen,’) die eventuell bei den Hufen des Ritters Dietrich von Ulsen
ergänzt werden sollen, gegen. Kriegsdienst mit zwei Reitern, 4 Mark Wachs, 2
Kölner Pfennige mit 16 Freijahren und völlige Freiheit von den Kulmer
Maassen. Zeugen: Ritter Dietrich von Ulsen, Albert des Bischofs Bruder,
Ger(ko), Kirst(an), Alex(ander), Gebrüder, Otto von Russen, Wiebort, Hermann
Scriptoris. Cop.
in Frbrg. Mon. Worm, l, n 96. Reg. n. 179.’) Pettelkau bei Schalmei,’) Curan
bei Mühlhausen. 1174 1297.
II. Cal. Mai. 30. Apr. o. O. Bischof. Heinrich von Ermland bestätigt
dem Cristan von Lichtenow, dem Schwiegersohn seines verstorbenen Bruders
Gerhard die Schenkung über die Hälfte von Woysen als Mitgift seiner
Tochter, zwischen den Bächen Narus und Baudo’), gegen die Kulmer Maasse, 2
Mark Wachs, einen Kölner oder 6 Kulmer Pfennige. Zeugen: Jo(hann) Leinkini,
Hermann, Bartholomäus, Pfarrer Ebirhard von Braunsberg, Domberren, Albert des
Bischofs Bruder, Nicolaus von Wildenberg, Ritter Dietrich, Otto von Russin,
Hermann Scripter, Arnold Schütz. Cop.
in Frbrg. Mon. Worm. I. n. 99. Reg. n. 182.’) Dittorsdorf bei Frauenburg.
[1182] 1297.
VIII. [1]. Mai. 8 Mai. o. O. Derselbe verschreibt dem Albert die
Felder Worlauk und Ober-Lun und das Zwischen den Besitzungen Dietrichs von
Pötlickow und des Preußen Trumpe gelegene Gebiet:’) gegen Dienst mit
einen Ross, die Kulmer Maasse, zwei Mark Wachs, einen Kölner oder 6 Kulmer
Pfennigs. Zeugen: H(ermann), Bar(tholomäus), Eberhard Pfarrer in Braunsberg
(Domherren), Albert des Bischofs Bruder, Gerko und seine Bruder Kristan und
Alexander, Hermann, Scriptor, Jordan. Cop.
in Frbrg. Mon. Warm. l. n. 101. Reg. n. 184. ‘) Die Orte sind Lunau Pettelkau
und Tromp bei Braunsberg [1184] |
1296.II.ID.12.
Sept.
Braunsberg, the bishop Heinrich von Ermland prescribe to the knight Rupert
100 Hufen including the patronage of the church who will build at the same
place between the Estate of the von Pokilkow, the great breakage, the
fields of Preussisch Trompe and Schroyte and the border of the bishopric near
Curwen, which will possibly be complete at the border of the Knight Dietrich
von Ulsen, in return for war service, with two horseman, 4 Mark Wachs, 2
Kölner Pfennige, with 16 years free of taxation and total freedom of the
Kulmer Maassen. Witnesses: Knight Dietrich von Ulsen, Albert the bishops
brother, Ger(ko), Kirst(an), Alex(ander), Gebrüder, Otto von Russen, Wiebort,
Hermann Scriptoris. Cop.
in Frbrg. Mon. Worm, l, n 96. Reg. n. 179.’) Pettelkau bei Schalmei,’) Curan
bei Mühlhausen. 1174 1297.II.Cal. Mai.30. Apr, o.O. The
bishop Heinrich von Ermland certifies the Christian von Lichtenow, the son
in-law of his deceased brother Gerhard, the donation of about the half
from Woysen as dowry of his (Place
declaration): Dittorsdorf near Frauenburg. Cop. in Frbrg. Mon. Worm. I. n. 99.
Reg. n. 182.’) Dittorsdorf bei Frauenburg. [1182]
Cop. in Frbrg. Mon. Warm. l. n. 101.
Reg. n. 184. ‘) Die Orte sind Lunau Pettelkau und Tromp bei Braunsberg [1184] [The placenames are Lunau, Pettelkau
and Trompe near Braunsberg.] |
The dictionary meaning of VASSAL: 1. In the feudal system, one
who held land of a superior lord by a feudal tenure; a liegeman or feudal
tenant. 2. A dependent, retainer, or servant; a slave or bondman. 3. servile.
The book titled “The Order of Things by Barbara Ann Kipfer” lists
Medieval Europe, Feudal System (manorial system) as King (all land ultimately
held by him), Vassals/Nobles (held land from the king and in turn leased it to
lesser nobles, etc.), Lesser Nobles, Dukes, Counts, Knights (mounted warriors
who were granted a fief to support themselves and their entourage), Squire,
Seigneur or Suzerain (lord of the manner), Villeins and serfs (held land from
the lord of the manner and surrendered their freedom and were bound to the
fief, worked for the lord, paid rent and dues to him), Free peasants or freemen
(lived on the fief and paid rent and dues to the lord).
Note: we can see from certain of
the privileges translated for our
purposes that the Lord of the fief, the Vassal or knight had the authority and
the obligation to enforce the law by beheading, de-handing, etc.
In the case of Dietrich, his
feudal lord was specifically the (1) Count of Schwerin and (2) the Bishop of
Ermland and the law as created by the masters of Old Prussia during the 13th
century. Dietrich von Pötilkow was a Christian and abided by the law of his
masters.
Places
Named Putlechow and Pokilkow
Important to us is that the name
Pettelkau was derived from the Mecklenburgische place (Gemarkung) "Putlechow"
which is understood to be the name of a particular piece of property with all
of its contents. During the years that passed between 1282 and 1794 when the
Prussian "Landrecht" fixed peoples surnames and instructed the
churches in how to record births, the name of the individual people as well as
the village Pettelkau in Ermland, was spelled in a number of ways depending on
who was doing the listening and the writing. Bishop Hermann of Prague, the leader
of the Kollegiatstift of Ermland, himself renamed the estate and village of
Pötlickow to “Pöttelkau” in the year 1341 leaving some to continue misspelling
what he had tried to clarify for centuries to come. The original spelling of
the name of the village as well as the man is Putlechow in Mecklenburg
(1282) and as documented in 1296 Ermland, Pokilkow. So, the name of the
persons and of the villages varied from Petelkau, Petelkaw, Pötilkow to
Puttelkow, Pökilkow, Poetilkow, Petlekau, and Petelkeim, finally settling on Püttelkow
in Mecklenburg and Pettelkau in Warmia.
Village Pettelkau: At the spot where the church now stands
on this fief of his, was (before the Christians came) a pagan gathering place
for some cultural purpose other than religious. Not known is what was done at
these gatherings. The position of the land is that it lay between pass-bad and
the Braunsberger City Forest to the north, and included Felhau, Knorrwald,
Lunau by Braunsberg and Tromp. The estate Pötilkow was a fief of Ermland, Theodor
its master. By 4 April 1311 the village of Pötilkow was completed and was said
by the Bishop of Ermland to need a permanently assigned Parish Priest. Sometime
before 1341 the entire estate was sold or somehow transferred to the ownership
of the Ermlandische Kollegiatstift. In
1341 Bishop Hermann of Prague decided to turn this place into a Christian holy
place by gathering together the many shrines that people had erected throughout
the district to one place that he named Pöttelkau.
Dietrich
placed in the former gathering place of the heathen Prussi, the town of
Pötilkow, named for himself. He brought in settlers, as was his duty, and built
the Parish Church that was dedicated to the Holy Mother of Christ. This duty,
placed on him by Bishop Heinrich Fleming I before 1296, and was completed by
04.04.1311. The church became a place of pilgrimage for Christians, even though
the distance from any populated area precluded any great number of pilgrims
from visiting.
Geo-politically, the place names
have changed many times over the years. For the most part, Old Prussia became
Ermland (drawing is of boundaries in 1243) and Samland. Combined, the two
Diocese or Cantons, became Königsreich, Prussia, which later became East
Prussia. At the end of World War II [Potsdam Conference, 1946] it became
Kaliningrad, Russia and part of Poland. Fortunately, the part of East
Prussia where the village of Pettelkau is, is in Poland. The village
Pettelkau has been renamed Pierzchaly after the Polish Knight Pierzchala and its
county or Kreis Braunsberg, Branievo.
Known is that
the church at Pettelkau was given to the Convent at Braunsberg and the Sisters
maintained it for many years. During the last days of World War II there was a
great battle between the advancing Russian Army and the defending German Army.
The village was totally destroyed and the church damaged. The church, except
for the Communist Poland years when it was used as a warehouse and fell into
disrepair, has been continuously a Parish Church for about 700 years. The
church has undergone extensive repair and is once again what it was intended to
be. Missing are the wall paintings and ancient carvings that once adorned the
walls and their niches. See the chapter titled Gut and Ort Pettelkau for
further information about the church and village.
Dietrichs
Neighbors (1289)
To the west of
Gut Pettelkau near the village of Heinrichsdorf was the property (100 Hufen) of
the Knight Dietrich von Ulsen (Olsen). To the southwest was the Gut (100 Hufen) of Knight Rupert Miles who
shared borders with Dietrich von Pötilkow as well as Knight Dietrich von Ulsen.
To the immediate east at Schalmei was Albert Fleming, Knight, with 144 Hufen
and Conrad Wendepfaffe, Knight with 144 Hufen. To the northeast lay the hill
Grünenberg that fell to the equal ownership in 1/3rds, in1289 to Conrad
Wendepfaffe, Albert Fleming and Johann Fleming, all Knights, “praise God”! And,
to the direct north was Knorrwald, Fehlau and the estate Zagern. All of these
individuals were masters of fiefdoms who had the power to act independently to
try lawbreakers and put down rebellions by Old Prussian peasants.
The following
document, No. 96 of the Codex Diplomaticus Warmiensis (CDW), is a part of the
Privilege of Tiedsmannsdorf
-Vettersdorf that was used to grant Theoderich his Ermlandische estate.
This document is the one referred to, in its Latin form, as that which gives
Theoderich the estate. It is not. According to Victor
Röhrich, the original documents are part of the Ermlandische Privilege
Book maintained by the office of the Bishop of Ermland. The survey for the
Estate Pettelkau was dated 8 May 1296 and the deed to the estate 16 June 1296.
Although this document does refer to the Pettelkau Estate, this document gives
Knight Rupert Miles his estate and is his deed. It forms the southern and
southwestern part of the border of the fief and estate Pöttelkau. Number 159
has been thought to be of some importance to the place Pettelkau as the date
coincides with the dedication of the village church. This document is for a
land sale at the northern border of the estate Pettelkau at “Fehlau”, just
north of Knorrwald, and gives the new owner the rights of the master of a
fiefdom.
|
No. 96. 1296. 12 September. Braunsberg. – Beschreibung des Bischofs Heinrich von
Ermland für den Ritter Ruprecht über 100 Hufen Wald. Nach der
Abschrift 1) im liber priv. antiq. des Bischöflichen Archivs Frauenburg. C.
Nr. I. fol. 11-12 |
No. 96. 1296. 12 September. Braunsberg. – Description of Bishop
Heinrich of Ermland giving the Knight Ruprecht Miles more than 100 hooves of
lands. After copy 1) in the Book of Privileges of ancient times in the
Bishops Archives of Frauenburg. C Nr. I. Ch. 11-12. |
|
Im
Namen des Herrn, Amen. Wir Heinrich, Bischof von Ermland, möchten
allen, denen dieses Schreiben vorgelegt worden ist, kundtun, dass wir in der
Absicht, die Ausbesserungen an der durch die Feinde des Kreuzes Christi
gänzlich verwüsteten Kirche möglichst mit allem Eifer zu fördern und, ohne
eine andere günstigere Möglichkeit zu finden, dieser Kirche Hilfe zu leisten,
sind wir nur noch imstande, an die von ihr (dieser Kirche) geleerten Orte
Leute einzuladen, die mit entsprechendem Dienst die betreffende Kirche vor
den erwähnten Verfolgern zu verteidigen wissen. Deshalb auch, mit dem
sorgsamen Blick darauf, dass der edle Herr Rupert der Ritter, unserer
Kirche ergeben und treu, für die vorhin erwähnten Dienstleistungen und den
Schutz geeignet sein kann (dies ist uns nämlich nicht nur aus der öffentlichen
Meinung, sondern auch auf Grund eines festen Wissens bekannt), haben wir ihm
und seinen rechtmäßigen Erben 100 Hufen zum ewigen Besitz, deren Grenzen und
Lage wir der Reihe nach bestimmen möchten, mit Wäldern, Feldern, Gewässern,
Bächern, Wiesen, Weiden, Gebüsch, mit allen Nutzungen, Fischereien und
Jagden, mit dem Baurecht von Mühlenplätzen, mit den kleineren und größeren
Gerichten, mit gepflasterten Straßen, Wegen und unwegsamen Stellen, nach dem
culmischen Recht und Erbrecht verliehen, mit der Anweisung, er mit
Gottesgnade auf den oben erwähnten Hufen eine Kirche stiften und mögen Herr
Ruprecht und seine rechtmäßigen Erben hierüber das Patronatsrecht haben. Um
darüber hinaus der Absteckung von Grenzpunkten, Grenzsteinen oder Grenzen
halber jedem Streit, Fehlgehen und Zweifel vorzubeugen, seien diese, so haben
wir beschlosen, in dem vorliegenden Schreiben genannt. Ausgegangen sei
zunächst von der Grenze (dieses Besitzes) in Pokilkow [Pettelkau,
Pierzcha³y] am großen Sumpf; von dort aus geht es weiter an den Grenzen der
preußischen Gemarkungen Trumpe [Grosstromb, Tr¹bki] und Schroyte
[Schreite,Skrojty], bis hin zu unserer Grenzen, unser Land von dem der Brüder
trennen, sodann rücken wir unseren Grenzen beim Dorf Curwen [Kurau,Kurowo]
näher; dort gilt es, zu den ersteren Grenzen zurückzukehren und sich an den
Weg am Sumpf zu halten. Sollte allerdings die Anzahl der erwähnten 100 Hufen
wegen der Dichtigkeit der Wälder oder nutzloser Sümpfe nicht erreicht
werden, dann ist der fehlende Maß durch eine an den Hufen des Herrn Dietrich
von Ulsen, des Ritters und unseres Lehnsmannes, vorgenommene Vermessung
vollständig zu ergänzen. Der erwähnte Herr Ruprecht oder anderer seiner
Erben, der im Besitz der betreffenden Hufen sein wird, möge uns und unseren
rechtmäßigen Nachfolgern gegen alle Feinde der genannten Kirche innerhalb der
Diözese mit zwei Wallachen und zwei Wehrleuten, wie es für dieses Land üblich
ist, beistehen, sooft er von uns oder von unseren Nachkommen zu diesen
Dienstleistungen aufgefordert sein sollte. Darüber hinaus hat er zur
Anerkennung der Herrschaft und der Freijahre zwei Talent Wachs mit einem
Gewicht von vier Mark sowie zwei kölnische Denare zu erlegen; von den übrigen
Leistungen, und zwar von der Pflug- oder Hackenpflug-Arbeit und der Getreide-Abgabe
(die erwähnten Hufen sind nämlich oft ganz |
In
the name of our Lord, amen. We Henry, by the grace of God bishop of Warmia
Church, wish to inform all who were submitted this document that intending
with all fervor to assist the repairs of the above mentioned church, which
has been totally devastated by the persecutors of the Christ's cross, and not
being able to find a better solution to aid that church, we can only invite
to that abandoned place people who will be able by providing suitable
services defend that church against the above mentioned persecutors.
Therefore, having considered that the noble man knight Rupert, arduous and
faithful to our church, is and may be suitable for the mentioned services and
defense ( it is known to us not only from public opinion but also from
trustworthy sources ) we have delivered in hereditary tenure to
him and his legitimate heirs by virtue of Ius Culmense and hereditary law a
hundred ³an's (1 ³an = 17 to 24 hectares) the boundaries and location of
which we intend to describe in turn including woods, fields, waters, streams,
meadows, pastures and thickets in addition to the right to usufruct and
utilization, freedom to fish, hunt, and build mills, with lower and higher
courts, with cobbled roads and paths, roads and wilderness. In addition we
recommend to God's grace that a church be founded on these ³ans and that the
mentioned master Rupert and his legitimate heirs shall have ius praesentandi
( the right to appoint a vicar) there. Moreover, not to incite any disputes,
doubts or infringements while delineating boundaries, setting up
boundary stones, or marking boundaries we decided to list them all in this
present writing. First we should start with the boundary in Pokilkow
[Pettelkau, Pierzcha³y] by a large marsh and from there proceed along the
boundaries of Prussia fields Trumpe and Schroyte to the boundaries separating
our and our brothers' land and then to the boundaries in the village of Kurów
where you have to turn back to the first mentioned boundaries going
along (road) the marsh. However,
if the number of the ³an's cannot be acquired in full due to the density of
the woods or utilizing of the marshes, then supplement the lack making
measurements around master Theodoric de Velsen's, a knight and our liegeman,
³an's. Whereas the mentioned master Rupert and all his heirs holding this
land shall serve us and our successors and (come out) against any assailants
of the church within the boundaries of the diocese with two geldings and
armed men according to the custom of this land whenever they are called by us
or our successors in connection with these services. In addition, as a
token of sovereignty and the right to exemption from vassalian services, he
shall give us two talents of wax weighing four grzywna's (about 840 grams)
and two Cologne denarii. As far as other performances are concerned like
plough-service or grain delivery (the mentioned land is actually completely
forested and waste) the said master Rupert and his legitimate successors
shall be entitled to perpetual exemption. However, in regard to the tribute
of horses, wax and denarii they shall be exempt from them for a period
of fifteen years commencing with the date of the present document. And as it
is our intention that this endowment of ours contributing to the clearing of
the totally forested land and to its population shall serve without any
detriment the glory of the Lord and prosperity of both the church and our
successors, we ordered the present document to be drawn up, confirmed with
our seal and by the following witnesses: Master Theodoric, a knight from
Vlsen, our brother Albert, brothers Ger, Kirst and Allex, Otton of
Rüssen, Wicbert, Herman the son of the scribe and many other trustworthy men.
Done on Sptember 12, 1296 A.D. in the town of Braniewo (Brunsberg). |
|
No. 159. 1311. 4. April. Frauenburg. – Bestätigung eines durch Heinrich
Sweperhme geschehenen Kaufes von sieben Hufen in Sawers (Zagern) durch das
Domkapitel von Ermland. Nach der Abschrift 1) im Privilegienbuch F.
des Domkapitels in Frauenburg fol. 5-6. |
No. 159. 1311. 4. April. Frauenburg. – Confirmation of the
purchase of seven hooves of land, taken place by the authority of Heinrich
Sweperhme, in Sawers (Zagern) by the Cathedral Chapter of Ermland. After copy
1) in the Privilege Book F. of the Cathedral Chapter in Frauenburg. Ch. 5-6. |
|
Im
Namen des Herrn, Amen. Jeder Kaufs- und Verkaufsvertrag tritt gewöhnlich dann
in Kraft, falls die Rechtsakten, die ewig dauern sollten, durch
Bestätigung der Zeugen und kraft der Urkunde Unterstützung gefunden haben.
Deshalb möchten wir, Heinrich der Probst, Herrmann der Dekan und das gesamte
Domkapitel von Ermland, allen Anwesenden und denjenigen, die noch kommen, wie
auch jedem Einzelnen kund tun, dass die vorsorglichen und ehrwürdigen Männer
Hening von Wirbin und Mathias, als de Lubke genannt, dadurch, dass sie sich
in unserer Gegenwart gestellt haben, zugunsten des ehrwürdigen Mannes
Heinrich, als Sweperyme genannt, in unserer Anwesenheit und bewußt auf 7
Zinshufen, gelegen innerhalb der Güter des oben erwähten Kapitels und
gewöhnlich als Sawers [Zagern,Zawierz] genannt, gegen einen bestimmten
Geldbetrag, und zwar dreieinhalb Hufen gegen zweiundzwanzig Mark von Hening
und dreieinhalb Hufen gegen vierundzwanzig Mark der
(Umlaufwährung). Verzicht geleistet haben, unter der Bedingung,
dass Heinrich selbst und seine Erben, d.h. rechtmäßige Nachfolger, diese
Hufen nach dem culmischen Recht zu in Erbeigentum besitzen, zusammen mit den
vier Goldsolidi nach dem kleineren Gericht und einem Drittel nach dem
größeren, dessen Pönale, d.h. Strafe das Abschneiden einer Hand oder die
Enthauptung vorsieht, mit vollem Recht auf alle einem Dorfschulzen
zustehenden Nutzungen, mit Ausnahme jeglichen in diesem Land zutage
geförderten Berggutes. Der genannte Heinrich und seine Nachfolger dagegen
haben uns und dem ganzen bereits erwähnten Kapitel alljährlich zum Fest des
hl. Martin des Bischofs ein halbe Mark (der Umlaufwährung). Zins für jede
Hufe zu entrichten. Wir dagegen, die wir die obigen Güter im Namen der Kirche
unmittelbar in unsere Oberhoheit nehmen, haben wir in Anerkennung des in
unserer Anwesenheit abgewickelten Einkaufs, der Abgabe und der
Verzichtleistung als rechtmäßig und rechtkräftig, auf die Bitte der beiden
(Männer) hin, dem oben genannten Heinrich Sweperyme den Besitz der erwähnten
sieben Hufen, wie sie innerhalb ihrer Grenzpunkte und Grenzen bestimmt worden
sind, verliehen. Diese 7 Hufen sind in der Breite und der Länge ihrer Grenzen
und Grenzhügel bestimmt und abgesteckt, von den Gütern des Heinricht de
Steyneke den Bach Seria [Passorge,Pas³êka] aufwärts, dann bis zu dem Gut
Velow [Fehlau, Wielewo] an der Grenze des Dorfes Pottelkow [Pettelkau,
Pierzcha³y] bis zu dem als Weideland der Stadt Brunsberg [Braniewo]
angesetzten Landstrich. Zur Bestätigung dieses Rechtsaktes haben wir ihm
(Heinrich) das vorliegende, mit dem Siegel des Kapitels bekräftigte Schreiben
ausgegeben. Gegeben auf dem Schloß unserer Herrin (Frauenburg) am 4. April
Anno Domini 1311 in Anwesenheit der folgenden ehrwürdigen und edlen Herren:
Alexander von Bludow [Bludau, B³udowo], Konrad de Borow, Bernhard de Vlsen
und Jordan de Schofsberg (Vasallen), Eberhard de Frauenburg [Frombork],
Kristian de Kylien [Kilie], Ditmar de Betkendorf [Biedkowo]
Dorfschulze, Piotr von Krakau, Hening de Sodis, Jan de Syrien und Hermann de
Lippa Bürger von Frauenburg und viele andere vertrauenswürdige Zeugen. |
In
the name of our Lord, amen. As every contract of sale or purchase becomes
effective if acts of law, which should last forever, are supported by
witnesses and certified in writing. Therefore, we Henry, Provost Hermann, the
dean and all the Chapter of the Warmia Church wish to make known to all
those present and those in future as well as to each of them individually
that provident and venerable masters Hennig of Wirbin and Matias called de
Lubke appearing in our presence sold and turned over and in our presence
knowingly relinquished for the benefit of reverend master Henry called
Sweperyme seven ³an's, given in tenancy, located on the estate of the above
mentioned Chapter and commonly called Sawers for a specified sum of money.
Henning three and half ³an's for twenty two grzywna's (currency used in
medieval Poland and equivalent to a German mark)and Matias three and half
³an's for twenty four grzywna's of currently used coin on condition that this
land is held by Henry himself and his heir that is his legitimate successors
as hereditament by virtue of Ius Culmensis in addition to four gold
solids by virtue of a minor court and a third part by virtue of a major court
where the penalty is chopping off a hand or beheading. He shall also enjoy
the unlimited right to utilization and usufruct as is due to a village
administrator apart from any minerals excavated from this land. Moreover, the
above mentioned Henry and his successors every year on the day of Saint Martin
the bishop shall pay us and the chapter a half of a grzywna of
currently used coin from every ³an by virtue of tenancy. Whereas we who in
the name of the Church take direct sovereignty over this estate
on the request of both masters acknowledge the concluded in our presence
sale, transfer and surrender to be valid and legal and we
have put the said Henry Sweperyme in possession of the mentioned seven
³an's as they have been described within their boundaries together with their
boundary marks. These seven ³an's have been delineated along the length and
breadth of their boundaries and landmarks proceeding from the lands of Henry
de Steyneke up the stream Seria, then to the estate called Velow, along the
boundary of the village Pottelkow [Pettelkau now Pierzcha³y] up to the area
assigned for pastures for the town Brunsberg [now Braniewo]. In order
to consolidate this act of law we issued to him (Henry) the present writing
validated with the seal of the Chapter. Done in the Castle of Our Lady (Frauenburg
now Frombork) on April 4, 1311 A.D. in the presence of the following worthy
and noble men: liegemen Alexander de Bludow, Konrad de Borow, Bernhard de
Vlsen and Jordan de Schofsberg, Eberhard de Frauenburg, Krystian de Kylien
and Ditmar de Betkendorf, a village administrator, as well as Peter of
Kraków, Heninh de Sodis, Jan de Syrien and Hermann de Lippa burgers from
Frombork and many other trustworthy witnesses. |
Note: The hill Grünenberg may have been named from
the person Dietrich von Groninge, aka Dietrich von (Theodericus. Tetricus)
Grüningen, Landmeister of Livland, Preussen and Deutschland. Please be aware
that the spelling of names differs from entry to entry throughout the
Preussisch Regesten and other documents. Certainly, there was no prescribed way
to spell anything until later in the historical timeline when places and then
people were given proper names by the learned ones who were generally priests,
monks and Canon Lawyers. [Grünen in English is “turn green with envy”. Berg
=mountain. Perhaps it was just named Green Mountain?] The hill Grünenberg was
of special religious significance to the Old Prussians and was the site of some
warfare between the opposite sides in the debate over who should rule over this
particular place.
The
Pettelkau Family
Theoderich von
Potilkow had at least two sons, Johannes and Tylo. Both sons gained their
citizenship in Frauenburg by 1320 and left the Pettelkau lands to reside at its
castle. Johannes wed with a daughter of Gerhard Fleming who was the founder of
the “Woman Castle” (Frauenberg) but left no children to inherit his estates.
Where Tylo went, what family he created, or what estates he owned is unknown at
this time. Because various individuals are named at various times throughout
the history of Prussia, it is assumed that Theoderich did leave descendants who
in time created each of us. If this did not happen, then there was perhaps a
brother of Theoderich who was a fellow immigrant to Ermland who left descendants
or Old Prussians who lived on the estate Pettelkau, assumed the name of the
estate as given it by Theoderich, the man, and therefore there could be several
progenitors. Indications are, however, that there have never been people named
Pettelkau, by any of the names, at the village Pettelkau since Johann and Tylo
moved to Frauenburg sometime before 1320.
Incidentally,
Gerhard Fleming was the brother of Bishop Heinrich I and Johannes Fleming, the
founder of Braunsberg. There are seven people named Fleming in the book
Preussische Regesten, all of them came from Lübeck in Holstein, northern
Germany. The book indicates that the original name for Fleming is Flamingus.
The Fleming names mentioned are: “Albert, Christian, Gerhard, Heinrich Bischof
von Ermland, Johann Bürger von Lübeck, Johann”, and a woman “Walburg”. Albert,
Gerhard, Heinrich, Johann and Walburg are siblings. Johann Bürger von Lübeck may be the father of this group of
siblings. Christian is an unknown at this time. A daughter of Gerhard Fleming
wed with Johann von Pötilkow, Bürger of Frauenburg. So, the first recognizable
female name in the Pettelkau clan is ?????? Fleming von Pettelkau who was wife
to Johannes von Pettelkau.
The following
document is a court order to Johannes von Pottelkow to exercise his right to
commercially fish on the Baud River. You will notice that the government wants
it’s share, 1/3 of the catch. This document has long been that pointed to by
earlier researchers that proves the marriage of Johann to the daughter of Gerhard
Fleming and his as well as Tylo’s citizenship in Frauenburg. You will notice
that the daughter is “von Sankau”. Whether this simply means the woman of
Sankau or if she had gained another name is not known. Another important note
is that a woman was able to inherit ownership of an estate from her father.
|
1320 Johann and
Tylo von Pottelkow |
1320 Johann and
Tylo of Pottelkow |
|
315-316
(1320) Pers.
fr. Hermannus Commendator domus elbingensis. Thymmon et bertholdus (locatores).
– Testes. Fr. Conradus de Warin, vicecommendator de elbingo, fr. beringerus
de Meldingin et fr. H. de swerstete socii nostri. Loca.
villa Monsterberch. 315) 1320.
10 November. Nr. 205. Das
Domkapitel von Ermland verschreibt an Johannes von Pottelkow, Bürger in
Frauenburg, die Hälfte des Wehrs im Baudeflusse, das er durch seine seine
Frau – (von Sankau) – geerbt, mit demselben Rechte, wie es einstGerhard,
Schulz von Frauenburg, erhalten. Johannes hat das Wehr zu bauen, die zum
Fischfange nöthigen Geräthschaften zu besorgen und den dritten Thiel des
jedesmaligen Fanges dem Domkapitel abzuliefern. Auch steht es ihm frei,
zwischen dem Haffe und diesem Wehr noch andere anzulegen. Niemand dürfe weder
beim Ausflusse der Baude in der Länge eines Morgens, noch auf beiden Ufern
des Flusses in der Breite eines Morgens Fischereigeräthschaften aufstellen.
Datum Anno incarnacionis domini Mº cccº xx. iiijº Idus Novembris. Pers. Jordanus prepositus, Harmannus
decanus. ─ Johannes de Pottelkow civis in frowenburg. Gerhardus quondam
scultetus in vrowenburg. ─ Testes. Jordanus de Schofesberg, Henricus de
Ronenfeld, Johannes dietus de Schilyen, Tylo de Pottelkow. Loca. obstaculum nostrum in aqua bauda. |
315-316
(1320) Pers.
fr. Hermannus Commendator domus elbingensis. Thymmon et bertholdus
(locatores). – Testes. Fr. Conradus de Warin, vicecommendator de elbingo, fr.
beringerus de Meldingin et fr. H. de swerstete socii nostri. Loca.
villa Monsterberch. 315) 1320.
10 November. Nr. 205. The
cathedral executive committee of Ermland orders Johannes of Pottelkow,
citizen of Frauenburg, owner of the half part of the weir (fish pens) in the
Baude river, which he inherited from his wife - (von Sankau) -, with the same
law that was used earlier to grant Gerhard the Mayor of Frauenburg the same
rights. Johannes must build the weir, provide all parts for fishing and give
the third part from every catch to the cathedral executive committee. It is
free for him to build more than this one weir between the coast and this
weir. Nobody can fish within one acre of the river estuary and the same law
grants him the same rights for both sides of the river. Pers. Jordanus prepositus, Harmannus
decanus. ─ Johannes de Pottelkow civis in frowenburg. Gerhardus quondam
scultetus in vrowenburg. ─ Testes. Jordanus de Schofesberg, Henricus de
Ronenfeld, Johannes dietus de Schilyen, Tylo de Pottelkow. Loca. obstaculum nostrum in aqua bauda. |
So far we have found names related
to Pettelkau as far west as Kratzig, Kr. Köslin, Pommern, (Pommerania) and as
far south as Bromberg, Posen, Prussia. [All now in Poland] As the
Pettelkau settled in their new villages and had children, the various scribes
entering the newly christened child in the book spelled their names
differently. Those that moved west predominately became Pittelkow and
those to the south named Pittelkau and sometimes Peddelkau. Surprisingly
enough some families have maintained the name Pettelkau throughout the
centuries of its existence even though individuals changed the name spelling as
they moved from place-to-place or lived within shouting distance of a relative
who spelled their name differently.
Influencing the spelling of the
name are the languages of Old Prussian (Prussi), German, Polish, and Kashubian
(Cassubian), a minority Polish language used in Kulmerland, Pommesania and what
eventually became West Prussia. Predating these cultures was the
Kuyavian Culture of 3000 B.C. Knowing that it is quite impossible to
trace any family tree to the neolithic period and the settlements of
Northwestern Poland, this researcher would settle for a definite link between
the people Pettelkau and the Dietrich von Pötilkow of 1296 Pokilkow.
In the year
1855, in Hirschfeld, Kr. Preussische Holland, East Prussia came a bride named
"Pittelkowski" (her father a “Pettelkau”) and a man, found in Villa
Otteraue, Kreis Bromberg with a birth date in 1698 who had the name of Pytkow
at birth and children named Pittelkau; Obviously, the place in which they lived
had some influence on the spelling of the name. For more information one must
take a good look at this sites name page to see how names were changed by
physical location, as it would affect pronunciation, gender, and perhaps a lack
of an ability to write what a person would hear enunciated. In 2002, a search
of the German telephone directory resulted in finding the name Püttelkow eight
times. Where this particular name was
derived from is not known right now but might be discovered during some future
research. The important thing to remember about the name is that it is an
ancient Mecklenburgische place name taken as his own by the man Theoderich, was
moved and became acculturized to Old Prussia, was moved to various German and
Polish sub-cultures in the region, changed many times, and has been born by
many honorable descendants for more than 700 years.
The “PITTELKOW” of POMMERN
It is our belief
that the Pittelkow of Pommern arrived there as both soldiers and immigrant
farmers, builders, etc. in the 14th century, although they may have
arrived there in the 15th century when the German Nobles of Prussia joined with
the Poles and Lithuanians in a rebellion against the Orden. It is most
interesting to see that in this area the surname actually maintained its purest
form, considering the “kow” syllable. During the later years of this rebellion
(1453) we have a clue as to the existence of a Pittelkow participating in the
rebellion in Kulmerland, particularly in Thorn, now Torun, so we know that
there were some of our ancestors present in this area at a still early period
in the names history. On the inserted map of the Ordens invasion of Pommern you
can clearly see that the invasion forces came primarily from Mecklenburg (German
Knights) in the west and Kulmerland (Teutonic Knights) in the southeast.
In 1312, while
acting in defense of the Kloster Doberan from a hostile enemy of Rostock,
Mecklenburg, Johannes Butlecowe lost a horse worth 14 marks and sought
payment for the horse from the Kloster. The Person Register for the
Mecklenburgische-Urkandan Buch, volume XI, identifies Johannes as
"Püttelkow: Butlecowe (Büttelkow), Johann, Baur in Diedrichehagen
3520, S635. The entry comes from the Schadenregister for the Kloster Doberan
with an entry date of 14 March 1315 that includes a notation that the
original is in the "Haupt-Archive zu Schwerin". What we do not know
is who this Johannes is. Is he the son of Theodericus, who was Johannes, or
another Johannes von Butlecowe of Mecklenburg? If the latter is the case, then
the Püttelkow and Pittelkow people of Pommern may well have arrived there from
both Kulmerland and directly from Mecklenburg, therefore being of more than a
single progenitor.
Note: In 2002, the places Diedrichshagen and
Doberan are near the city of Rostock in the northeastern corner of
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
More
information about the names we hold as our own!
700 Years of Culture
The
people’ became farmers, carpenters, fishermen, ship captains, lumbermen,
horsemen, and soldiers for the Counts and Kings of Poland, Prussia, Russia and
Germany. They tilled the soils and
worked the fields in Mecklenburg, Pommern, East Prussia, West Prussia, Posen
(South Prussia) and in Poland for the Tsar of Russia. Their lives were ruled by
the seasons and the severity of wind, rain, ice, floods, sun and drought. Their
loyalties and allegiances lay with their neighbors to whom they could call on
to deliver a child, build a home, or harvest a crop and a god whom they both
feared and trusted to provide them with the necessities of life.
In the beginning
the master of the fief, operating under Roman law, had the right to behead or
chop off the hand of any law-breaker. As time went on the kinds of legal
actions that drew blood relaxed a great deal but the people being disciplined
to live in such a culture maintained values that were filled with strict
obedience to any master. Please consider that the family of Pettelkau (by any
other name [1453]) that lived on the south bank of the Weichsel River for at
least 400 years, lived under Polish government rule for at least 300 years of
it. Their family that lived on the north bank of the river lived in Poland as
well, but came under the control of West Prussia long before the folks on the
south bank. It is apparent that these changes in government changed the rules
under which these folks lived for so many generations. For example, take a good
look at the meaning of the "Hand- und Spanndienste", below.
There were major
differences in the socio-cultural conditions as well as living accommodations
from village to village let alone differences based upon the whim of the local
ruler, whether he be a Pole, Prussian or Russian. Some villages were actually
given great freedom to have their own laws based upon the culture from whence
they came but were often not allowed to create a separate church or worship in
their own way. Often, the most learned school teacher would double as the
pastor and “prayer meetings with other religious services” would be held in the
school house or in the local “prayer house” if one was available. This did not
in any way change the citizens obligation to pay church tax and register their
births, deaths and marriages at the local church regardless of its religious
denomination.
Initially, the people who lived
in this area of Thorn and Bromberg came from the Netherlands and Old Prussia
(East Prussia) and some from both places were Mennonites, others Catholic. This
Mennonite, Dutch subculture was part of the culture that our family lived in
for very many years in the area of Thorn. The map titled “Die Holländerdörfer
in der Thorner Weichselniederung” is aptly named, neiderung meaning low ground
or in this case translated as the settlements of the Dutch in the Weichsel
River valley near Thorn. The Hollanders as well as their neighbors, the
Pettelkau and other families, built dikes and other works to contain the
flooding river as well as farming, logging, lumber, boat building, flax
growing, milling and flax cloth making, etc.
This URL leads to a map of 1651
Poland, Kingdom of. By clicking on it,
individual map segments will enlarge. This map contains all of the places that
our people lived at between the immigration of Theoderich to Ermland in or
about 1282 to at least the time after the end of World War I (1919) when many
of our people went west to Germany after the Treaty of Versailles returned much
of Posen and the Vistula/Weichsel River valley to Poland. Those that stayed
after 1919 would have went west or east in 1945/46 with the exception of those
folks who became Polish citizens with Old Polish names like Pelka and Pelko and
Pittelkowski, if any. http://www.muzeum-polskie.org/Poland_AD_1651.htm
At this time in our history church registers were just coming into use on a
regular basis. Almost all of the entries were hand written in Latin, although
some were in Polish or German Schrift.
There were many nationalities
represented in Prussia. Some were descendants of the ancient races of
Kashubian, Old Prussian, and of the French Huguenots, Scottish, Norsemen,
Dutch, Russian, German, Polish, Russian, Jewish, Austrian and many others. If there were enough of them and they had been
specifically recruited to work in a specific area, there would be a village
constructed especially for them so that they would be able to maintain their
language as well as the cultural values that they brought with them to this new
place. Sometimes the group would be there initially on a contract basis and end
up staying after so many generations had past that no one knew where they came
from originally. For example, in the case of the Pittelkau who lived in the
Villa Otteraue, a Dutch community, they spoke Plattdeutsch and were all “Evangelistic”
in their religion, having services at home and in the school building by a
minister of their own choosing, but they would grudgingly obey the Polish and
Prussian law and pay tribute to the Roman Catholic Church in Schulitz to which
they were legally bound. They were so
well adapted to the Dutch subculture that no one knew they were Old Prussian or
something other than Hollander. Others that came individually as immigrants
would work to obtain their citizenship in a specific village. Some of these folks
would never gain new citizenship, maintaining their citizenship in the village
of their forefathers for many generations after their move.
Since I began this project I
have often thought about what our old folks might have thought about their
nationality and what government they might have thought that they owed
allegiance to, if any. If I had to make a guess, I would think only to their
God and their village and their fellow villagers, although during some periods
of time to the District Managers as appointed by the King of Poland or Prussia.
I doubt very much that there existed a view of the world that included events
and territories not visited or described in the Holy Bible.
Dorfwillküren
Pg
57 of Aus der Geschichte von Schulitz und den umliegenden Dörfern
Posen 1936 – by Dr. Philipp Rudolph
[Dr. Rudolph describes this as a
protocol]
|
Im übrigen
mischte sich der Grundherr nicht in die Verwaltung des dorfes, sondern
überließ es den Bauern, sich nach arteigenen, von ihnen selbst aufgestellten Verwaltungs-
und Rechtsgrundsätzen zu regieren. Diese warne in den sogenannten
Dorfwillküren oder Dorfordnungen niedergelegt. Wir besitzen aus den ältesten
Zeiten aus unseren Holländereien keins dieser Dorfgesetze. Sie haben aber
bestanden und stimmten jedenfalls, da unsere Holländer aus der Thorner
Niederung kamen, mit der bis heute im Thorner Archiv erhaltenen Dorfwillkür
von Neu-Schillno aus dem Jahre 1562 über-ein 30).
Wir haben aber auch eine aus dem Jahre 1797 stammende Willkür von Otteraue,
die in Anpassung an die veränderten Verhältnisse nicht mehr ganz mit den
ältesten Willküren übereinstimmt 31). Die
Hauptgrundsätze der alten Holländerverfassung sind aber auch noch in ihr rein
erhalten und deren durch Jahr-hunderte erprobten Wert. Die Otterauer
Willkür, vom Schulmeister fein säuberlich nieder-geschreiben, wurde am 1.Mai
1797 der versammelten Nachbarschaft vorgelesen und durch Unterschrift aller
Bauern rechtskräftig gemacht 32). 30) Schmidt a.a.O. S. 348 f. Heur S. 124
f. 31)
Die im Privatbesitz eines
Otterauers sich befindliche Willkür ist zum ersten Male für diese Arbeit
ausgewertet Worden. Eine wortgetreue ähnliche Willkür besteht noch für
Steindorf, ebenfalls im Privatebesitz. Für die übrigen Dörfen waren bisher
keine Willküren zu finden. 32) Die damaligen Wirte waren: Karl
Golnick, Johann Brandt, Daniel Hammermeister, Jakob Müller, Peter Dobslaff,
Peter Schallhorn, Daniel Pittelkau, Heinrich Dahlke, Adam Schallhorn,
Heinrich Lüdtke, Jakob Lüdtke, Adam Witt, Petter Witte, Paul Rosenke, Paul
Pollatz, Peter Schwenke, Peter Brandt, Johann Adam, Andreas Schmechel,
Heinrich Pollatz and Heinrich Schroeder. |
In all other
respects the government mixed not into the administration of the village, but
left it to the farmers to govern themselves with administrative and legal
rules characteristic of their culture and set up by them. We possess from the
oldest times (from our Holländereien roots) these village laws so called the
Dorfwillküren. These laws have been in effect and agreed to by the villagers
since the time that our Dutchmen came from the Thorner valley until today
with the arbitrariness of “New Schillno”
which were received in the Thorner archives in the year 1562 30). In addition, we have from the year 1797 new
conditions that changed the Dorfwillküren by the citizens of Otteraue. Those
in favor of this adjustment to the law no longer agreed completely with the
oldest Willküeren 31). In addition, there
were those principal reasons that changed the old “Holländerverfassung” but
caused it to be kept still in its purist form because of its centuries of
tested value by the members of the community. The Otterauer
statutes were written out by the schoolmaster and readied for a meeting of
the citizens on 1 May 1797. At this meeting of the people of the village and
neighborhood, the laws were read out and agreed to by the signature of all
the farmers 32). 31)
The community of Otteraue
is made up of private properties governed by a protocol [a constitution] that
allows the community to govern itself. A literal, similar protocol still
exists for Steindorf, likewise in private possession. For the remaining
Dörfen we so far have found no Willküren (protocol). 32) Die damaligen Wirte waren: Karl
Golnick, Johann Brandt, Daniel Hammermeister, Jakob Müller, Peter Dobslaff,
Peter Schallhorn, Daniel Pittelkau, Heinrich Dahlke, Adam Schallhorn,
Heinrich Lüdtke, Jakob Lüdtke, Adam Witt, Petter Witte, Paul Rosenke, Paul
Pollatz, Peter Schwenke, Peter Brandt, Johann Adam, Andreas Schmechel,
Heinrich Pollatz and Heinrich Schroeder. |
The people of the Schulitz area
and all of Prussia and Poland were very religious. Religion played an important
part in their everyday life. I have learned that later in the life of the Schulitz
area, some people who lived in and near Stadt Schulitz went across the Weichsel
River to attend the evangelical church in “Gurske”. This was because the
Catholic Church (until 1834) in Schulitz had its services in Polish and many of
the people did not speak Polish, they spoke German and Plattdeutsch. In
Preussisch Holland and Hirschfeld where many Pittelkau and Pettelkau people
once lived, came Calvanists from France to repopulate an area that needed
farmers in the 16th century. So here we have three religions,
Catholicism, Lutheranism, and Calvinism colliding in one small area. No doubt
that the solution to socialization was to move or learn to live together with
differences of religious opinion or to go somewhere else.
The meaning of
"Dorfwillkür":
This document is a protocol or constitution that regulates the lives of the
people living in the village and must be agreed to by all of the citizens. It
says, for example, that no villager can keep sick cows or horses, do not hire
away your neighbors day laborer, keep your fences up so that your cattle cannot
destroy your neighbors garden and fields, take care of orphans, and if you are
infected with the plague, you must leave the village. Signing the Dorfwillkuer
was done at the age of 25 after having completed “Hand- und Spanndienste”, the
signing of which made you a full “first” citizen of the community. The
Dorfwillkür was read to the villagers whenever a new mayor was elected and when
new citizens were added to the village rolls. The reading of the town laws was
a great event that when read, all citizens had to sign the book acknowledging
that they would obey the communities laws. This book of laws was also a
register of citizens that was maintained by the town mayor in a box titled
“Lade”.
Meaning of "Hand- und Spanndienste": In the beginning, the farmers had a
Land-Lease Act that forbade them from working for the lord of the manor. If the
lord (Landed-Proprietor) asked for help, the farmers would help him
(voluntarily) and he would repay them with a dinner. As time went by, the lord
gave no dinner. The next Land-Lease Act said that the farmer must work
many days in the year for the lord. Since the Lord owned the land that the
farmers farmed, and leased it to the farmers for a small fee, you could say
that the Labor for the Lord was an additional, mandatory tax.
Daniel Pittelkau, [the authors Great Grandfather] was the Grundbesitzer
[Landed Proprietor] at Ort Getau in the 19th century. Although we do
not know what the extent of his property and rights may have been, we might
believe that it was sufficient to warrant some free labor from his
sharecroppers. At the same time, there
were many other Pittelkau’s that did not share in Daniels rights and therefore performed
some Hand- und Spanndienste Labor for other Landed-Proprietors. This can be
seen in an entry for another Daniel Pittelkau, who at age 25 in 1796 had
completed his service to the boss and could then become a citizen of Otteraue.
Citizenship then gave him the right to wed and have children who could also
become citizens of this community.
When the Deutscher Orden first came to Prussia they arrived in the
Weichsel River basin where the most fertile ground in all of the Prussia’s is
located. There a farmer could place a seed in the ground and something would
grow for him. Farmers in this area could produce far more food in a year than
it would take to feed their families and their laborers. In other parts of the
Prussia’s the land was not so good. Some of it only fit for grazing cattle or for
growing trees. In other parts near the Baltic Sea, the rivers would produce an
abundance of fish but other provisions would be scarce. When the conquerors
arrived at one time or the other, they would recruit farm labor from other
parts of Europe and settle them in one place or the other. Often these farmers
did not have the know-how to make things grow in their knew environment. In the
beginning the Orden allowed Old Prussians and Kashubians, the natives of the
land, to remain and from them the immigrants learned how to make things grow.
When the Poles and the Russians expelled the millions of Germans in 1919 and
1945 many of the farmers who were recruited did from outside the Prussia’s did
not know how to make things grow in this new environment of theirs. I
understand that many are still learning and that farmers have been recruited
from nearby Lithuania to farm some of the tougher pieces of ground.
It was in all of these places that the leadership of the villages and
the political subdivisions would provide whatever bribe they could offer their
tenant farmers, laborers, lumbermen, and skilled workers like tanners and
millers, in order to keep them working in these home places, so they would not
accept a better offer from somewhere else. As the industrial revolution
provided new ways of producing things without such intensive labor it became
more difficult for people to gain employment. This was especially true for
young men and women in this north central European environment. In the old days
they would only have to stay with their occupational trainer or wait to be
recruited for another location within Prussia or a nearby state like Poland or
Russia. After about 1850 as young folks began to come of age some decided to go
to America and try their luck there.
The Pittelkau’ that came to
America were carpenters, farmers and lumbermen here too. The children of the immigrants did some
logging and got involved with some of the technical industries of their day but
many ended up back where their roots are, on the farm. To sweat during work in
America is no different than to sweat during work in Prussia, Poland, or
anywhere else! Farm work is hard work for anyone who performs the tasks that
get the seeds in the ground, crops growing, harvested, sold and transported.
Some farmers were a little more fortunate than others because they had the
resources to mechanize the tasks, whether through the hiring of labor or
purchase of another horse and plow.
During my research I discovered
too, as do all researchers of this area, that mothers do not always claim the
still-born or those who die as infants as their children, even though they
might show up as a child that is properly baptized at birth or given an
emergency baptism because of impending death. Sometimes these children who were
given their last rites actually lived and grew up to become responsible adults
or people who really mess up the church register entries for researchers like
me. As well, there were naming rules that demanded, for instance that the first
male child be named after the grandfather or girl child after the grandmother
and etc. Since these kinds of rules do not hold true in every family, some
confusion exists in defining whom to look for as an ancestor who contributed to
the gene pool.
Having to learn new rules for
daily living every few years must have been quite traumatic for some of these
folks. In fact, some of the cultural changes that were forced upon them by
their governments were enough to make many folks give up and move somewhere
else. Even as far away as America………..
It was in the period of the middle 19th century that our
people began leaving the homelands to go to America, Brazil and other places.
This was a time when there was no more Poland as it would be divided between a
new Prussia that included the German states and Russia. Both countries
autocracies led by men with absolute power over the people who just wanted to
raise their crops and babies to adulthood. This URL leads to a map of 1871
Prussia, complete with all of the names of the Prussian States. http://www.dhm.de/lemo/objekte/karten/D1871/preussen.html.
©
Copyright 1999-2002 by
Harlan Pittelkau, Lacey WA (USA)
Hans Pettelkau, Brüggen/Niederrhein (Deutschland)
Document Research at the Archive of Berlin by Kurt Pittelkau, Berlin