| Notater |
- From the Bensheim Katholische kirchenbuch:
February 8, 1644: Anny MDXXXXIV, Februarius 8, Johann Weitloff, Georg Weitloffs gewesen B?rgers allhein ehelich sohn mit Jungfrau Anna, Philipp Bauer gewesen Schlossers allhein ehelich dochter.
September 1646: Item, Der Weissg?rber Johannes Weitlouff sein kind begraph.
May 1, 1647: Maius 1, Johannes Weittloff ved Anna ein sohn Johann Georg. G: Georg Kots Weissg?rber.
December 1, 1650: X'br 1, Johann Weitloff v. Anna ein sohn Hans. G: Hans Pop.
September 8, 1653: Johann Weitloff Weissg?rber v. Anna ein dochter Margretha. G: Johann Pop (???) Haussfrau Margretha.
July 4, 1654: Julius 4, Anna Margretha ein dochter 3 vier jaher Johann Weitloff der Weissg?rber.
July 26, 1655: Julius 26, Item, Hans Weitloff v. Anna ein sohn Christoph. G: Christoph (???).
July 12, 1657: Julius 12, Hans Weitloff v. Anna ein sohn Vitus. Gevat: Veit Hend. Schuster.
January 1659: Hans Weitloff B?rger ved Margaretha sein Haussfrau ein junge dochter tauffe lesen Margaretha genannt. Gevattius: Margaretha Barthel Fehr Haussfrau.
August 24, 1660: Augustus 24, Hans Weitloff B?rger ved Anna sein Haussfrau sein sohn las tauffe lesen Hans Barthel genannt. Gev: Hans Barthel Fehr B?rger Daselost.
December 29, 1661: Hans Weitloff B?rger ved Weissg?rber ved Anna sein Haussfrau ein dochter tauffe Anna Barbara. Gev: Anna Barbara Weitfedeburger ved Pfarrerhaus tochter.
March 16, 1664: Martius 16, Johan Weitloff B?rger ved Weissg?rber ved Anna hans Haussfrau sein sohn tauffe lesen Hans Ulrik. Gev: Hans Ulrik Skramm Eisenkr?mer alhein.
October 21, 1666: Hans Weidtloff B?rger ved Anna ehelich sein junge dochter Anna Margretha. Gev: Joachim Haz B?rger ved ??? alhein Haussfrau.
January 9, 1667: Januarius 9, Hans Weitloffs Weissg?rber verstorben Anna Margretha.
April 19, 1669: Aprilis 19, Hans Weitloff B?rger ved Weissg?rber ved sein Haussfrau ein dochter Maria Elisabeth. Gev: Hans Pops Haussfrau.
January 23, 1674: Januarius 23, Eiusdem matronis sunt juncti honestus juvenis Joannis Weidloff honesti Joannis Weidloffs civis genus filius, et pudica virgo Ursula honesti Joannis Wilhelmis Schoff civis gen filia.
October 23, 1691: October 23, Obyt pilin Dno. Ursula uxor Georgy Weitloffs civis Bensheim.
February 1694: Copulatus eodem honestus Johannis Georgius Wadloff civis huiatis ciur viduus et virgine Anna Catharina filia p.m. Petri Gutiahrs.
February 17, 1699: Februarius 17, Oniby necessarys sacramentis sie munita obyt Anna vidua Joannis Waidloffs qvandam civis Bensh.
January 1713: Januarius Sepultus fuit Georgius Weidloff civis et coriarig. . . .
German words for tanner: Afstoeter, Berker, Erchmacher (white), Flaeminger, Gerber, Ircher (goat leather), Kumper, Rindsschuster, Roessler (horseman), Rotgerber (red), Saemischmacher (white), Schwoedler (white), Seimtauer, Tauer, Wei?gerber (fine leather).
History of the town of Bensheim:
Bensheim is situated between Frankfurt and Heidelberg, nestling between the hills of the Odenwald and the wide plains of the Hessische Ried in a picturesque countryside. It is the largest town of the Kreis Odenwald. On the extreme right of the Rhine valley, at the foot of a group of hills called Odenwald, the gradual rise of terrain offered protection against once-frequent floodings of Germany's biggest river. Protected by the slopes of the Odenwald the vineyards of the Hessische Bergstra?e are one of the warmest regions in Germany.
The dry ground facilitated traveling, as did the relatively gentle inclinations of the foothills. Consequently a line of communication known as the "Bergstra?e" (Hill Road) followed the valley's edge since ancient times. The first traces of human presence around this favorable location date back to the Neolithic age 5000 to 4000 years BC. The first permanent settlements seem to have developed around 2000 BC. Archeological excavations of burial site findings, weapons, and tools prove that the area was inhabited by Celts, Romans and German tribes.
In the mild, almost Mediterranean-like climate of the Bergstra?e almonds, apricots and peaches flourish - and even figs in some sheltered locations. On the sandy soil of the Rhenish Plain asparagus and tobacco are grown. But it is the sun-drenched hillsides which produce the fine, substantial wines. In the sheltered parklands, untroubled by the harsh east winds, stand the summer residences and stately homes of the nobility.
The early history of the Berstra?e is bound up with the Romans and the Keltic, Germanic, Alemannic and Frankish tribes. The once all-powerful Imperial monastery at Lorsch dictated the European policy of those days; its 1,200 year old Carolingian royal hall is the oldest preserved building of the period on German soil. The Electorates of Mainz and the Palatinate fought for centuries over the Bergstra?e.
About 2,000 years ago the Romans settled in Bensheim. The town was first mentioned in the Lorsch Codex in 765. Eight years later Bensheim was put under Lorsch Monastery. In 956 Bensheim was bestowed market rights, which started a long time of economical rise. This benefited both Bensheim and Lorsch Monastery.
The name Hesse first appeared in the 8th century. An epistle from Pope Gregory III to Bonifatius (a missionary among the wooded forests around Fritzlar) dated the year 738 makes mention of a "populus Hassiorum" (people of Hesse). The "ancestors" of modern Hessians are regarded as the Germanic Chatten, a tribe who settled between Fulda and the Lahn valley before the coming of Christianity.
Probably in the middle of the 13th century civic rights were bestowed on Bensheim; commerce and trade flourished after that. King Albrecht the 1st conquered the Bensheim in 1301, referred to as the town in the "Rheinischer Zollkrieg", and burned it down. After the war the town was re-built slowly with continuously changing governments. In the course of re-building the fortifications were strengthened in order to be better prepared for future wars. Archbishop Peter von Asphelt appreciated their efforts by confirming civic rights in 1320.
In 1461 the Archbishop of Mainz pledged the Bergstra?e, including Bensheim, to the Elector of Palatine for 100,000 Gold Florin. The pledge was never redeemed. Therefore, it was not until 1650 that Kurmainz governed the town again. During the so-called "Bairische Fehde" of 1405 Bensheim successfully withstood Landgrave Wilhelm the 2nd of Hesse laying siege to the town for eleven days thanks to its strong fortifications. Being proud of their victory the citizens had their achievement cut in stone. The plaque is immured in the "Roter Turm" today.
Bensheim was not spared the devastation of the Thirty-Year-War. On November 20th, 1644 an alliance of Protestant Germans, Swedes, and Frenchmen took Bensheim. Two weeks later the Bavarians moved in and slaughtered the opposing army in another blood bath. It is said the "Fraa vun Bensem" (Lady of Bensheim) had shown a secret path into town to the Bavarians; due to her craftiness the town was relieved of the Swedes laying siege to the community.
In contrast to Bavaria, Hessen cannot boast territorial and historical continuity. In 1479 the counts of Hessen took over and ruled the area until 1918. The origins reach back into the 1200s, but the first time the Hessen region expanded far enough to cover further parts of the federal state of today was under the regency of Count Philipp the Generous (1504--1567). Philipp of Hessen, as the protector of Martin Luther and one of the first protestant nobleman of importance, played a leading role in the reformation and the ensuing war against the catholic German emperor and his allies. This was the only time Hessen played a role of greater importance in the Reich. After Philipp's death in 1567 the landgraviate of Hessen was divided amongst his four sons, into: Hessen-Kassel, Hessen-Marburg, Hessen-Rhinefels, and Hessen-Darmstadt. Darmstadt became the Residence (i.e. capital) of the newly created landgraviate of Hessen-Darmstadt. Further territorial split-ups led the region into political obscurity in the 1700s.
After the Napoleonic age at the beginning of the 1800s, three regions of greater import developed in Hessen: the electorate of Hessen-Kassel, the grand duchy of Hessen-Darmstadt, and the duchy of Nassau.
Hessen's heraldic animal is the lion, its image determined by law: "the lion emblem shows a rearing lion with golden claws set within a shield of blue background. The lion is coloured silver and red, in nine alternating stripes". Originally, this predatory animal decorated the coat of arms of the Landgraves of Thuringia, who ruled over Hessen as part of their kingdom until 1247. In 1803 the Count (Landgrave) of Hessen-Darmstadt took over the governing of Bensheim.
This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 21 July 2015.
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