Charter of Sale of a Hereditary Annual Rent

In June 1473, Bernt van Dungelen and his wife Else sold a hereditary annual rent of four and one half guilders, secured on their mill, meadows, and other landed property in the jurisdictions of Essen and Bochum. The rent was acquired by Elisabeth van Brunkhorst, Johanne van Herbruggen, and Dideriche van Twyngenborch, acting as lawful representatives of the late Engelbert Mocken, and was payable annually on St. Martin’s Day. Because part of the pledged property lay within the jurisdiction of Bochum, the transaction was confirmed and sealed before the courts of both Essen and Bochum, with judges from each court affixing their seals.

Transcription

Original

Nr. 16 – 1473 Juni 12 (op saiersdach nâ dem hilligen plimstdach)

Johan van Sevenar, richter to Essende, bekundet, daß vor ihm im Gerichte, da er ein recht geheget Gerichte saß in Stede und Stuhle des Gerichtes zu Essende, Bernt van Dungelen bekannte für sich und Elsen, seine eheliche Hausfrau, die ihm in dieser Sache vollmächtig war nach Inhalt eines Gerichtbriefes, besiegelt von dem Richter zu Boichem, und vor ihren beiden Erben, daß er der Elisabeth van Brunkhorst, Proistin zu Reilinchusen, Johanne van Herbruggen, Kanoniker zu Essende, Wenemar Becker und Dideriche van Twyngenborch, als Handtreuen des seligen Engelberten Mocken, eine jährliche Erbrente von viereinhalb Gulden, zu bezahlen mit siebenundzwanzig kölnischen Weißpfennigen, aus seinem Erbe und Gute, nämlich aus der Mühle vor dem Penekamppe und aus den Wiesen in dem Raide und aus dem Kampe, wie das gelegen ist, ferner aus der Wurt, da Köyfelt und Ruerbroick auf wohnen, so wie diese im Gerichte zu Essende gelegen sind, zu heben, zu bohren, zu schuldrichtig zu bezahlen und binnen Essende in ihrer sicheren Freiheit zu liefern, auf der vorgenannten Verkäufer und ihrer Erben Angst, Kosten, Schaden und alle Eventur, jährlich und alle Jahre auf Sankt Mertens Tag, des heiligen Bischofs, im Winter.

Falls die Rente am Verfallstage nicht gezahlt wird, verbleibt den Käufern zum Pfande der Mockershoff im Gerichte zu Boichem gelegen und alles sonstige bewegliche und unbewegliche Hab und Gut der Verkäufer.

Zeugen: Johan Buttenbroick und Johan ten Plancken, zwei gehuldete Vronen, Didericus Bloemynck, Johan Springorum, Johan Becker und Goissen Smet, Gerichtslude.

Der Richter siegelt.

Bernt van Dungelen verspricht, alle Punkte dieses Erbkaufes zu halten; er siegelt für sich und Else, seine Frau. Da ein Teil seiner Güter im Gerichte zu Boichem belegen ist, hat er Matheus van der Hembecke, Richter zu Boichem, gebeten, von Gerichts wegen seine Einwilligung zu diesem Vertrage zu geben und mit dem Gerichtssiegel zu siegeln. Dieser siegelt gleichfalls.

Original, Pergament, Siegel anhängend.

English Translation

No. 16 – 12 June 1473 (on Saturday after Holy Pentecost)

Johan van Sevenar, judge at Essen, declares that before him in court, where he was holding a lawfully convened court in the place and seat of the court at Essen, Bernt van Dungelen appeared and acknowledged, for himself and for Else, his lawful wife, who in this matter was duly authorized by him according to the terms of a court letter sealed by the judge of Bochum, and on behalf of their two heirs, that he owes to Elisabeth van Brunkhorst, provost at Reilinchusen, Johanne van Herbruggen, canon at Essen, Wenemar Becker, and Dideriche van Twyngenborch, as lawful representatives of the late Engelbert Mocken, an annual hereditary rent of four and one half guilders, to be paid with twenty-seven Cologne white pfennigs, from his inheritance and property, namely from the mill before the Penekamp, and from the meadows in the Raide, and from the field known as the Kamp, as these are situated, further from the homestead where Köyfelt and Ruerbroick reside, insofar as these lie within the jurisdiction of the court of Essen, to be raised, collected, and duly paid, and delivered within Essen in their secure freedom, at the risk, cost, damage, and all contingencies of the aforementioned sellers and their heirs, yearly and every year on St. Martin’s Day, the holy bishop’s feast, in winter.

If the rent is not paid on the due date, the buyers shall retain as pledge the Mockershof, situated in the jurisdiction of the court of Bochum, and all other movable and immovable goods and property of the sellers.

Witnesses: Johan Buttenbroick and Johan ten Plancken, two sworn court officers; Didericus Bloemynck; Johan Springorum; Johan Becker; and Goissen Smet, court men.

The judge affixes his seal.

Bernt van Dungelen promises to observe all points of this hereditary sale; he seals for himself and for Else, his wife. Since part of his property lies within the jurisdiction of the court of Bochum, he has asked Matheus van der Hembecke, judge at Bochum, to give his consent to this contract by authority of the court and to seal it with the court seal. This he likewise does.

Original, parchment, with seals appended.

Persons involved

Johan van Sevenar
Role: Judge; sealer

Note: Judge at Essen who presided over the court session and affixed the court seal.
Matheus van der Hembecke
Role: Judge; sealer

Note: Judge at Bochum who gave formal consent and sealed the charter because part of the property lay in Bochum jurisdiction.
Bernt van Dungelen
Role: Seller

Note: Sells a hereditary annual rent of four and one half guilders secured on his property.
Else
Role: Wife; co-obligor

Note: Gives legally required consent and is bound together with her husband and heirs.
Elisabeth van Brunkhorst
Role: Buyer; rent holder

Note: One of the purchasers entitled to receive the hereditary annual rent.
Johanne van Herbruggen
Role: Buyer; rent holder

Note: Participates as co-owner of the hereditary rent.
Dideriche van Twyngenborch
Role: Buyer; rent holder

Note: Co-beneficiary of the annual rent.
Engelbert Mocken
Role: Deceased original party

Note: The buyers act as his lawful heirs ("handtruwen salligen Engelberten Mocken").
Johan Buttenbroick
Role: Sworn court officer

Note: Serves as a sworn court officer (Vrone) and witness.
Didericus Bloemynck
Role: Witness

Note: Member of the court community attesting the act.
Johann Springorum (der Ältere)
Role: Witness

Note: Appears as a court witness confirming the legality of the transaction.
Johan Becker
Role: Witness

Note: Attests to the court act.
Goissen Smet
Role: Court man

Note: Participates as part of the judicial body (Gerichtslude).

Charter of Sale of a Hereditary Annual Rent

Sale of a Hereditary Annual Rent on Property in Essen and Bochum

Transcription

Original

English Translation

Persons involved

Sources