Doorpost from 1802 house.	Stone Barn on Lusebrink.	Lusebrink fields.

History of Bals-Lusebrink Farm

(The following test is a translation of the chapter Bals-Lusebrink from "11f0 Jahre Schmerlecke, 833-983"

Bals-Lusebrink

About the “Lusebrink” or the little “Lohhof” at Schmerlecke.  “Brink” means rise or little hill.  “Ludwig” is like “Louis” in French, and people around here still use the short form “Lutz”.  From this combination of words, one may assume that “Lusebrink” means something like “Ludwigs hill”.  In any case the name is over one thousand years old.  It is quite possible that this is where the three farms were that the Emperor Ludwig gave to Duke Rihdac on April 1, 833.  As has been mentioned in a previous chapter about the history of the village of Schmerlecke, there was a big and little farm called Lohhof.   The little Lohhof was situated on the “Asprunge” (named geological fault) near the Lusebrink.  It was a “Lehnsgut” (property held in fee) of the Benninghausen Cloister, which had bought it from a certain Thomas von Schmerlecke in the year 1339.  Around 1500 the farm belonged to Thonyes de Wellige (or Wildige).  After his death the farm was divided against the will of the Cloister.  Half of it went to Symon Wellige, son of Thonyes, land the other half to Heinrich Thies (or Theyβ, or Thyas).  The appraisal records of 1536 indicate that a Symon Weilige was taxed at 3 Guilders.  Almost 30 years later his son Johann paid only 1 ½ Guilders, but at the same time a Baltz Thies paid 4 Guilders.  In contrast, Heinrich Thies only had to produce 2 ½ Guilders back in 1536.  One must assume that the farm was divided around this time.  Perhaps the Heinrich Thies mentioned in the tax records may be the original ancestor of the Bals-Lusebrink family known to us today.  This assumption cannot be proven with certainty, however, there are many logical grounds for it.

Note:  (The spelling is known to have been different at various times during the last centuries.  This has been demonstrated for the name “Bals”, which could be written with “tz”, “z” or with “s”.  Josef Bals (1885 to 1930) was the first to use the “s” when the first child of his second marriage was born.  Today the name is found in the village with “s” or with “z”, even though they are from the same origin).

There is a document dated 1582 in which the Benninghausen Cloister agreed to the sale of some parcels of land.  The owner of the farm is given as Baltz.  Therefore the name has maintained itself on the farm in the line of male descendents for 400 years.  This is very unusual and is only duplicated in Schmerlecke on the Hense farm.

In the state archives in Münster there is a bundle of over 200 pages of files about the farm under discussion; mainly receipts for fees, consents to marriages and etc.  It would be beyond the limits of this chronicle to include all of the particulars.  These documents mention a Jürgen,  a Tonnies, and a Johannes Balz in the period of the 18^th century.  Some interesting excerpts are worth publishing, as they mirror the life of a farming family in Schmerlecke two hundred years ago.  Since life was certainly similar on other farms, this account is a partial experience of village history.

It was the year 1802.  The owner of the farm at that time, Johann Heinrich Baltz, was behind in the fees for the farm.  These also seemed to him to be too high.  Therefore he petitioned for a delay of payment and a reduction of the lease.  In his declaration he called attention to the fact that he was a bondsman to the Benninghausen Cloister.  He had a house which included living quarters as well as stalls for horses and cows, a barn, a bathhouse, a brewery, and a stable.  The buildings belonging to the farm had earlier been part of the village.  But he had rebuilt his farm on one of his fields outside the village.  Only one of his farm buildings remained standing in the village which he had a garden of 1 1/8 acres (1.5 Morgen;  1 Morgen = approx. 0.75 acre), 75 acres of fields, 4 ½ acres of meadow and pasture land, and 3 ¾ acres of wood for felling.  The buildings were all made of wood, but the construction was not yet completed.  The building left in the village had originally been used for storage and was now quite old.  The fields were mostly together, but a small part, about 5 ¼ acres were in “Schmerlecker Feld”.  The soil was very rocky.  The annual lease just to Benninghausen required 31 bushels of rye, 31 bushels of barley, and 34 bushels of oats.

(The decorative frame of the “Great Door” was saved from fire and is installed in the current house on Lusebrink.  It is dated 20 June 1802 and the carving speaks of rebuilding on the place of our ancestors.)

His brother Theodore had neither done his service nor paid his redemption.  Note:  (All the children of the farm were bondsmen of the Benninghausen Cloister.  When someone left the farm to live on another farm which did not belong to Benninghausen, he first had to redeem himself from the cloister for 19 or 20 Taler.)  Besides that, he himself had served for his married brother Franz Anton, who had also paid 19 Imperial Taler for his redemption in 1801.  A married sister had been released from service and granted redemption in connection with the “profit” from him, as stated in the 1796 certificate of profit.  Note:  (The daughters on the Lusebrink were required to serve from 1 to 3 years without pay in the cloister.  That was the rule everywhere.  The above mentioned daughter was released from this obligation.  When the tenant of the Lusebrink died, the cloister was the first inheritor.  However, the descendant of the deceased Baltz could settle with the cloister for money, but he had to pay dearly for the honor of taking over the farm.  That was called the “profit”, and was one of the problems with the bond system.)  Farm personnel included 2 servants, 2 maids, 1 pig herder and 1 shepherdess.  Livestock consisted of 5 horses, 10 cattle and 7 pigs.

The petition was not successful; it was declined on the basis that Baltz lived in good economic circumstances.

On April 4, 1809 Baltz submitted a further petition.  He desired for himself, his family, and his descendents for eternity, to be free and not liable for the “profit” at death, forced service, or redemption money.  To begin with he listed the annual obligations:

1.      Treasury Benninghausen:  31 bushels of rye, 31 bushels of barley, 34 bushels of oats.

2.      von Schorlemer:  5 bushels wheat in money.

3.      Treasury Anröchte:  8 bushels of oats and ½ Taler.

4.      to Erwitte and Soest:  1 bushel of oats, 1 “Splint” (measure) of rye , 1 Groschen (coin).

5.      to the village of Anröchte: 2 statute-labour with teams.

6.      Treasury Arnsberg:  1 chicken.

7.      Baron von Wrede: 1 chicken.

8.      the sexton: ½ bushel of rye, ½ pigs head, 1 cheese, 5 eggs.

9.      for each assessment:  3 Imperial Taler, 32 Groschen.

(Note:  the assessment was the tax levied by the empire or the state.  At that time it was collected nine times a year.)

 When all these obligations are figured in money according to the prices common to the other bondsmen and the nine collections are added, they amount to 124 Imperial Taler and 30 Stüber (coin).

       Payments in the last 100 years for the cases of death and “profit”:

            1710 = 150 Taler

            1735 = 100 Imperial Taler

            1796 =  270 Imperial Taler

      totaling        320 Imperial Taler

      Payments in the last 100 years for redemptions:

            1731 = 20 Imperial Taler

            1734 = 20 Imperial Taler

            1801 = 19 Imperial Taler

      totaling       520 Imperial Taler

 So within the last 100 years, a total of 579 Imperial Taler had been paid for cases of death, “profit” and redemption.  Then Baltz offered an additional annual obligation (5 bushels of rye and 3 bushels of barley).

 The Benninghausen Cloister gave a peculiar answer:  the Baltz were too long-lived.  In 100 years only 3 deaths were too few; a change of ownership because of death should have occurred at least four times.  Three cases of redemption were also too few.  Then Baltz raised his offer to 5 bushels of rye and 5 bushels of barley.  This offer was accepted.

On July 14, 1809 Baltz and his family were released from bond service and have been free farmers since that time, but under the following conditions:

1.      The annual obligations remain in effect.

2.      Inheritance claim, “profit”, services and redemption cease.  In case of death of the owner, only a transcription fee of 1 Imperial Taler must be paid.

3.      The Baltz family must conduct themselves as fitting for free farmers.

4.      If one partner dies, the other partner can only marry with the consent of the monastery.

 After the death of Johann Heinrich Baltz, his son sued the cloister, accusing it of thoroughly cheating his father in regard to bond service.

 Last will and testament of Heinrich Bals, July 20, 1816.

Kings Law Court of Prussia in Erwitte.

 Legal proceedings at the Bals farm near Schmerlicke (sic) on July 20, 1816.  In the presence of Mr. Pape, officer of the court, and court secretary, Brünning.

 Since the local settler Heinrich Bals has made it known, that because of his present illness he desires to declare his last will, the court office makes itself available to him to make an official record of his arrangements.  We found the settler Heinrich Bals in his bed, conversed with him and determined that he was in full command of his senses and mental capabilities.  He declared that he wanted to stipulate what should occur with his estate after his death and declared t that end of the following: 

I name as my heirs y children, by name Franz-Joseph, Franz Theodor, Franz Casimir, Franz Heinrich, and Maria Gertrud.

My sons Franz Joseph, Franz Theodor, Franz Casimir, Franz Heinrich, and my daughter Maria Gertrud, each one of them shall inherit:

A)     Three Hundred Fifty Imperial Taler in twenty five Guilder fee.

B)     One horse, specifically the second best of those present on the farm.

C)    Two cows of the best ones.

D)    One steer which has eaten straw one winter.

E)     Each son one clothes chest and the daughter one trunk.

F)     The daughter additionally a complete bride’s wagon consisting of one clothes closet, six chairs, one table, a complete bed, and what is otherwise usual for a farm like mine.

The items listed for my children under A B C D E F are to be given them at their marriage.  However they will receive the money as follows:  100 Imperial Taler at first, one year later another 100 Imperial Taler, that much again the second year, and 50 Imperial Taler the third year.

G)    All four sons and my daughter are to have the use of the following fields until their marriage:

1.      3 ½ Morgen (2 2/3 acres) in the wide Schmerlicker fields bordering on the Erwitter path and neighboring Klaus and Hense of Schmerlicke.

2.      3 ½ Morgen (2 2/3 acres) in new “Kampe” closing on the Hellweg and Erwitter path on the west side of Tiemann, the east side neighboring on one of my lands.  The owner of the farm shall fertilize, plow and mow these fields, and gather and thresh the harvest.  For that he receives the chaff and straw.  Seed will be provided by him the first time, after that by the one using the soil.  The net harvest of grain will be divided among all children using the land.  The portion of that child which marries will to the owner.  From the area already planted, the child who marries will receive his portion of the harvest.  Children in need of education shall receive such from the owner of the farm; they shall be supported in all necessities until completion of eighteen years of age.  After completion of eighteen years until their marriage they shall receive from the owner of the farm the needed shoes, linen clothing and tailor work on clothes procured by the children themselves.  While still single, my children shave have room and board on the parental farm during short unemployment, illness and weakness.

3.      the inheritance of an unmarried child who dies falls to the owner of the farm.

4.      All of the rest, which is not stipulated in no. 2 above, shall fall to my son Franz Joseph.  Should he die unmarried without a testament, the next child following him shall take his place, and in such case as the same shall befall him, the next child in his place & etc. for all the rest.

5.      As long as my primary inheritor and owner as named in no. 4 is unmarried, my present wife retains control of the farm and goods.

6.      My wife Maria Elisabeth Sülltrop shall be maintained by my farm in room, board, clothing and all her further needs.  In addition to annual “Martini” he shall have 8 bushels of wheat, 8 bushels of barley and 12 bushels o rye according to Lippstadt’s measures for use at her own discretion.

7.      In the unexpected event that the farm owner or his wife give cause for discontent, she shall have the right to establish and run her own household at the expense of the farm owner, and to enlist the aid of the court of law to effect a suitable pension for this purpose according to the financial condition of the farm.

8.      My son Franz Joseph, or a possible substitute, shall not be authorized to marry on my farm before the completion of his thirtieth year with out the permission and appeasement or my wife.

At the request of Heinrich Bas, his wife was brought in, and before him as well as her the contents of the foregoing arrangement were read and explained.  He approved the testamentary disposition and all of its contents, and his wife, Mrs. Bals, found the entire contents of the testament acceptable, especially those parts which had been stipulated to her own advantage.  The completes the present legal action.  Approved!  Transcript attested, Brünning, secretary of the court.

 From the diary of Heinrich and Franz Joseph Bals from 1800 – 1828.

 (four paragraphs unreadable on current text; continuation of text on P. 36.)

 10 July 1823.  I paid for M. Jani gode von Belecke, a maid in service, who was expelled from service, the same received 7 bushels of barley, 2 imperial Taler wages, 2 Imperial Taler “Wienkopf”, 1 Imperial Taler wages, 4 bushels of barley, 1 pair of shoes, 10 cubits of linen, one hat.

 2 June 1822.  Master Wiege from Unnau bought a cooking machine for a hundred eight Taler “Leifig” (place name) money with six pots given as security and payment to be made within three years.

 20 April 1822.  From the tanner Mosessohn from Lippstadt I received a 2 ½ pound calf skin and paid 30 Stüber with the reservation that when I get my two skins back he should get another calf skin.  The calf skin is paid for at 2 Thaler, the steer skin is done and picked up, but the calf skins are not done yet.

4 February 1823.  For the horse bought from Nattan on the 4^th February 1823 I paid him 10 Thaler directly.  In the same I paid Nattan Sulheimer for the horse 6 Thaler to Dorenkoh and 11 Thaler to S. Keifenberg in Horn.  So the 3 bushels of wheat are paid in money.

21 November 1822.  M. Cattrina Heinrichs from Schmerlecke entered service.

23 March 1823.  I made a contract with M. Cattrine Heinrichs; she receives from me 10 Thaler.  The same wanted to leave the 10 Taler standing if she could have 1 bushel of barley, to which I agreed.

12 November 1823.  M. Cattriena Heinrichs left service and I paid her wages properly in 15 Imperial Taler.

 8 Feb. 1822.  from Kaltenhofer 12 Stüber received for whisky.

 29 Sept. 1828.  I loaned Kaltenhofer from Schmerlecke a donkey for a days work at the mill.  But they kept it for three days and it died there. Se he is responsible for compensating my loss.  I figured 4 Taler for the donkey.  The donkey is well paid for.

J. Balz.

In the year 1822 1 bushel of rye cost = 1 Thaler; 1 pig cost also 1 Thaler.

The above notes are just a few excerpts from the interesting diary of over 100 pages.

 (Note:  At that time there were no savings banks, therefore our ancestors had to borrow and loan money amongst themselves.  By the way, 60 Stüber made up 1 Thaler.