Monetary Rent Sale

On 14 February 1441, Diederich Springorum sold a yearly rent of half a mark from his house and farm in Bochum, located behind the Bungener house, to Karden von Beckum. The sale was made with the explicit consent of his wife Karden and his sons Baten and Johann, as required to protect family and inheritance rights, and was formally confirmed before the Bochum magistrate Wennemar Paskendal and other witnesses. This document is particularly important because it is the earliest record in which Diederich appears and, at the same time, clearly identifies his wife and children, making it a key source for understanding the earliest documented family relationships within the Springorum lineage.

Transcript

Original

Ick, Diderick Spryngorum, bekenne und betüge oppenbaer in dissen breyve, dat ick myt vulbart ynd myt guden willen Carden, myner echten husvrowen, und vortmer myt guden willen Baten und Johans, myner kinder, hebbe verkofft — stedes, vestes ersfkopes ersflik — Carden van Bekem eyne halve marck geldes jarliker gulde gudes geldes, as to Boichem genge und gheve is, ute myme huse und hove, gelegen achter des Bungeners huse, dar ick nu ter tyd ynne wonachtich sy, und vart ute mynen sementliken ersfliken gude.

Hijr synt over und ane gewesen dedingeslude und wincopeslude, myt namen Wennemar Paskendal, schulte to Boichem, Diderick dar Boven, Hinrik op me Dijcwalle und Gherwinus dey scholemester und mer guder lude genoich. Und des to meren tüge — heb ick gebeden Wennemar Paskendal, schulten vurscr., dat hey syn segel vor uns an desen breyff hevet gehangen.

Datum ao. Dom. M°CCCC°XLI primo in die S. Valentini martyris. (Siegel ab.)

Translation

I, Diederich Springorum, publicly declare and attest in this letter that I, with full knowledge and with the good will of Karden, my lawful wife, and further with the good will of Baten and Johann, my children, have sold - firmly, securely, and irrevocably - to Karden von Beckum one half-mark of money as an annual rent in good currency, as is customary and given in Bochum, from my house and farmstead situated behind the Bungener's house, where I currently reside, and from all my inherited property.

Present and participating as negotiating parties and witnesses were: Wennemar Paskendal, magistrate of Bochum: Diederich dar Boven; Hinrik op me Dijcwalle; and Gherwinus the schoolmaster, along with many other good people in sufficient number. And for further testimony, I have asked Wennemar Paskendal, the aforementioned magistrate, to affix his seal to this document on our behalf.

Dated in the year of our Lord 1441, on the first day [14 February] of St. Valentine the martyr. (Seal missing.)"

Persons involved

Diederich Springorum
Role: Seller; issuer

Note: Sells an annual rent of one half-mark secured on his house, farmstead, and inherited property.
Karden
Role: Spouse giving consent

Note: Her approval is explicitly stated because the sale affects marital and hereditary property.
Baten Springorum
Role: Heir giving consent

Note: Provides consent to prevent future inheritance disputes over the encumbered property.
Johann Springorum (der Ältere)
Role: Heir giving consent

Note: Confirms acceptance of the transaction from the perspective of future inheritance rights.
Karden von Beckum
Role: Buyer; rent-holder

Note: Acquires the legal right to receive one half-mark annually from the specified property.
Wennemar Paschendael
Role: Magistrate; witness; sealer

Note: Acts as magistrate of Bochum and affixes his seal to authenticate the charter.
Diederich dar Boven
Role: Witness

Note: Present to attest to the validity of the transaction.
Hinrik op me Dijcwalle
Role: Witness

Note: Confirms the act as a credible bystander.
Gherwinus
Role: Witness

Note: Identified as the schoolmaster, lending social authority to the testimony.

Monetary Rent Sale

Sale of an Annual Monetary Rent from a House in Bochum

Transcript

Original

Translation

Persons involved

Sources