1731 Settlement Contract for Mucsi
The
Archives of Tolna County (megye) retain the original 1731
urbarium. The Archives web page can be found online here:
http://www.c3.hu/~tolnalev.
This translation was made from a copy of the original hand
written document received in December 2006. Charles Amman
transcribed the difficult old German script from pages with
bleed-through into a readable text and forwarded the copy on 23
March 2012. Nick Tullius translated the German text into the
English equivalent and forwarded the text on 25 March 2012.
Editorial comments are included in parentheses to clarify the
text or to identify towns by their current names.
1731 Contract with the Village Muzÿn
23 Sept. 1731
As the village
of Muczin (Mucsi) most obediently found it appropriate for its
improved wellbeing and decided to agree to a main contract with
the gracious feudal Lords, on the date shown at the end, decided
the following:
First, the named
village pays for the land already in its possession next to
Patten (Papd) and Hörtelem (Hertelend), then for the arable
fields (e.d. of) Czebrek (Csibrak) whose pastures will not be
damaged, then for the wine tavern and butcher shop, every year
four hundred and sixty Gulden in cash, namely half of it to be
delivered every half year on (e.d. the feast of Saint)
George and (e.d. the feast of Saint) Michael, but in case that (e.d.
another) gentleman would acquire
Czebrek (Csibrak)
in a given time period, they will receive instead from the named
high Lords the acres from
either Duzy (Duzs) or other divided lands or as much as their
product is worth in payment to the debtor.
Second, they
will not have to pay as usual for every third house and other
buildings sold or bought among themselves, but when strangers or
newcomers are buying, the feudal Lords will be paid for every
third house.
Third, they will
be excused from payment for (e.d. grazing) on the lands
exclusively belonging to them at Czebrek (Csibrak) but if they (e.d.
graze their cattle) on land other than
Czebrek (Csibrak) then they
have to pay the usual to the feudal Lord.
Fourth, if someone
wants to build a new house, he will receive the necessary wood
without payment, but he shall leave a forest area of three
Joch (e.d. acres) untouched.
Fifth, the
feudal Lord reserves for himself the right not to let anyone
leave the village without his prior approval.
Sixth, that also
the wine and tobacco a ninth portion must be delivered to the
feudal Lord.
Seventh, they
also oblige themselves to work ten days each year (e.d. for the
feudal Lords), those who own animals with their animals, those
without animals with their hands, whenever the feudal Lord
wishes.
Eighth, the high
Lord reserves for himself the right to penalize and judge for
all trespasses and debts.
Ninth, the
disputed acres between Muczin (Mucsi) and Szavoth (Zavod) shall
be divided in such a way that of those already cultivated each (e.d.
side) will receive one half, but those cleared of forest and
bushes will be left to the side that performed the work.
Tenth, the high
feudal Lord will allocate to every miller and hunter three day
Joch (e.d. acres) and also three Joch of hay meadows, but if
they demand more and as many as a farmer,
then they shall pay for them as much as a farmer.
Eleventh, they
are being permitted to have their wine storage and (e.d.
vineyards) and plums in the village, but under this contract no
fruit can be distilled under penalties established consequently.
For better
security, two
identical copies were prepared and in the usual way signed,
sealed, exchanged and enacted - Högÿes
the 23rd of September 1731.
Baltzer
Hohmann, mayor
As
councillors: Johanes
Weber,
Johanes Jahn,
Johanes Schwab
