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Revolt Of The Settlers
The
government of the people during the
settlement period was executed on a local
level by an administrator appointed by the
count, who not only collected taxes but
expected the settlers to give some time to
do work for the administrators. The settlers
revolted against this idea, as we can see
from the following account.
In
mid-January 1785, the count's administrator
in Scheindorf ordered the inhabitants to fix
a bridge. As the men were gathered, Martin
Jung stated that he had personally heard in
Erdeed that the Swabians in Maitingen and
Gilvatsch did not have to work at
bridge-building. The administrator should
pay them, or reduce their taxes by a certain
amount. As the administrator tried to force
them to do the work, they threatened him.
The former judge, Hansjorg Koch, who did not
agree with the mob, was threatened with
corporal punishment. The three arrested
leaders were freed by the rebellious
farmers.
On February 8, 1785, a
hearing was held by the county commission.
This is the report:
Questions to the witnesses:
1. Did
you see and hear personally that the
administrator wanted to force the residents
of Scheindorf, through the judge, to fix the
bridge? How and for what reason did the
towns-people, especially Josef Koch,
Ladislaus Mock, and Xaverius Weiss, seize
Mr. Gespan (administrator?). Who took his
cane and stirred up the people?
2.
How did you threaten him?
3. Why did
they beat the judge Hansjorg Koch?
4.
When Mr. Gespan threatened the troublemakers
and wanted to take them to court, who wanted
to free them and what did they say?
The first witness, Georg Koch, citizen, 24
years old, testified under oath:
I know with certainty, that four weeks
ago, Mr. Gespan, through the judge, ordered
the community to repair the bridge on the
county road. When the judge gave the order,
Martin Jung stepped forward and said that he
had heard in Erdeed that neither the
Maitinger nor the Gilvatscher Swabians were
obligated, according to a court ruling, to
build or repair bridges. Upon these words,
the residents became unruly and refused to
repair the bridge. When Mr. Gespan heard
about this, he rode to the judge's house,
where everyone had assembled. He asked why
no one was going to repair the bridge as
ordered. They shouted that they would not do
it, that they were not obligated to build
bridges without pay. As Mr. Gespan began to
ride away, Josef Koch yelled, "Hey, it's
going to be different!" When he heard this,
Mr. Gespan rode back, got off his horse, and
asked who had called out. No one wanted to
betray the caller. He guessed that it was
Josef Koch, and wanted to hit him. Ladislaus
Mock would not let him and said, "You can't
hit a poor man". He grabbed Mr. Gespan's
arm, while Xaverius Weiss held his cane
back.
While this was going on, Johann
Mock yelled out that he would sooner shed
his own blood than to allow such an offense
against his brother.
When Mr. Gespan saw that the whole community
was becoming unruly, he rode back to his
home. After 14 days, he presented the
ringleaders to the authorities. He ordered
the townspeople to assemble under the threat
of a fine of three Mariasch. They assembled
in court, but made so much noise that Mr.
Gespan, who wanted to avoid a riot, freed
the three men.
The second witness,
Martin Mohr, town judge, 32 years old,
testified under oath:
In my own house, as Hansjorg Koch accused
him of stirring up the townspeople because
of the bridge building; Martin Jung said:
"Yes, you think I am a brave man, because I
have insisted that we are not obligated to
build bridges". During this noise, I heard
Johannes Mock speaking to Hansjorg Koch. I
would rather shed my own blood than to allow
what is happening to my brother. Hansjorg
Koch was hit because he wanted to be a
rebel. The community became very angry and
hit him eight times with a cane.
I
asked the residents to assemble at the
request of the arrested men. As they
assembled, I tried in vain to calm them. In
front of the administrator's house, I heard
Josef Renz say: "Don't let the prisoners be
taken away". When Mr. Gespan heard the
noise, he was forced to free the men.
The third witness, Johannes Racz,
Resident, 28 years old, said under oath:
I did not hear Martin Jung personally.
His proud words I heard from others: "I am a
man, you can give me credit, because of me
no one has to build bridges any more". 14
days later, Mr. Gespan had everyone arrested
who was reported to have yelled at him, and
brought to the administration building. All
the people came because they were threatened
with a fine of 3 Mariasch and they gathered
there. In all the confusion, I heard Josef
Renz say, "We're not going to let them take
the men away!" So Mr. Gespan was forced to
let the prisoners go free.
Further
witness was given by Martin Renz, Johannes
Koch, Joseph Trajer, Johannes Moch, and
Johannes Stadler.
Unfortunately, we
don't know how the situation was resolved.
[Credits,
Originally Published by Jody McKim Pharr at the DVHH.org 29 Sep 2006]
[Published by Sarah Coraggio
at the DVHH on 2 October 2018]
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Last
Updated:
13 Oct 2018 |
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