Two earlier posts, of August 19 and August 24, described the Havel farm in Ratiborova Lhota from the year 1600 to 1737. Six generations of the Havel family were covered during that 137 year time span. In 1737 my fifth great grandfather, Matheus, was taking over the farm from his father, Simon. The farm record, however, started with Jan Wolff (my tenth great grandfather), whose son Bartos bought the farm rights starting about 1600 (as recorded in a 1603 land register), with Bartos then selling the rights to his brother Havel in 1607. Interrupted by Bartos, and perhaps Catherina/Hans (who may be Jakub Havel's mother or stepmothe) the line of direct ownership by my ancestors may goes at least as far back as 1585, to 1804 when the farm was sold to my third great grandfather's brother, Johann. This final post will cover the era of the two Matheus Havel's, father and son, with general information on subsequent sales.
It was not a large farm, in the lingo of the time it was a 1/4 farm, with about 20 acres of arable land. In addition to the tilled land, the Havel farm included the house site, about 8.5 acres in meadow, from which hay would be cut, and about 5.6 acres of woodlot, which may have been primarily soft wood--pines, according to the ~1826 Indication Sketch (land survey). In this small village, according to the 1773 Urbaria land tax records, it was probably the fourth smallest of eleven farms. While the 1585 Urbaria record shows the farm existing in 1585, it may not have existed, based on land taxes, in 1550. As I look back, what I find interesting is that farming in 1802 was much more like farming in 1602 than it was in 1922, or perhaps even 1902. As we know from the Seignorial Records, the Havel family were also weavers of linen, a product derived from flax, to supplement their meager farm income. They were subsistence farmers, and drought, heavy rains, wet springs, early winters could make a difference in what was planted and harvested. Death was a common occurrence.
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| Ratiborova Lhota and east and south environs |
Matheus' purchase price in 1737 was the same as that for his father, Simon in 1712,--202 schock meissen, and with accounting for dowry and debt owed the purchaser to his father being written off, in the end 122 was due. This was to be paid off in annual installments of 4 schock meissen, which would equate to 30.5 years of payments. This land register contract provides a more definitive account of what was included in the farm handover, than in any of the previous records. With the contract dated 9 February 1737, the handover occurs a week after groundhog day. Here is the translation in the land register for the relevant elements of the farm handover:
Since the aforementioned +Simon Havel, who has settled his purchase price in full, no longer wishes to manage the farm on account of old age, he cedes and sells it in the presence of the headman and his jurors, together with the arable land, meadows, cultivated winter grain (rye/wheat), 1 horse, 2 head of oxen, 1 head of cattle, 1 calf, 1 pig, 2 sheep, 1 unshod cart, 1 plow with iron plowshare, and all of the remaining household equipment, to his legitimate son Matheus Havel in the previous purchase price of 202ſß. In lieu of the first settlement, 40ſß on account of a debt owed to the purchaser by his father and 40ſß as a dowry, totaling 80ſß, is hereby written off. The remaining 122ſßd of the purchase price is to be settled via annual installments of 4ſß. In addition, the purchaser is to provide his mother and father with the stipulated lifelong retirement benefits of the purchase. Enacted at Krumlov Castle on the 9th February 1737. (Translation of land register record in Trebon Archives by Richard D'Amelio, document translated can be found here.)
From the above one can see that oxen rather than draft horses were the main beasts of burden for the Havel family. This was the case when Simon took on the farm in 1712 and when Frantisek took on his wife's farm in Dolni Chrastany in 1796. What is also interesting is the equipment of one unshod cart passed down. Georg had passed down two iron-shod carts to Simon. The Havel farm is a typical small farm--intent on feeding the family and, with the farm tenants hoping to harvest sufficient grain to meet their required payments to the domain, and along with meat or dairy, to pay off debts and meet the required tax payments. Interestingly, at least at this time, there were no poultry. Matheus started payments to his father two months later on April 11. Simon would pass away in 1749, and at that time a debt of 74 was left on the farm, which would be owed to the heirs. Funeral expenses, paid by his son Matheus would be deducted, leaving the three children (or their children) as heirs. They would include Matheus, Sophia who is wedded and living in Micovice, and the three children of daughter Gertraud, who was discharged to the Netolice dominion to receive 20 shock meissen each. In 1760 Matheus would pay off the final debt to Sophia and Gertraud's children, and with that his purchase price was settled in full.
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| Part of Havel Farm, Owned by J Mika |
Matheus would farm for six more years. In 1766 the farm would be sold on 18 March to his son Matheus (Jr). Matheus (Jr), like other family members before him, also plied the weaver trade. The 1765 Seignorial Register indicates "Matheus Havel--Weaver (Lodging at home), with a further note "At his father's house under folio 9 in the land register which is to be transferred to him in half a year." We can see that succession planning was underway for Matheus (Jr) to take over the farm from his father. Matheus Jr's wife Mariana (nee Panusch) is also listed in the 1765 Seignorial Register as the couple was married on 17 Feb 1765. Junior would pay the same purchase price for the farm as his father and grandfather paid, 202 shock meissen (equal to 200f 40x Rhenish currency). At this point they start to use Rhenish currency. Matheus owes a debt of 35 fl, which combined with the purchase price of 200 fl, 40x which leaves a total of 235 fl, 40x. Mathias Jr would owe an annual amount of 4fl 40x to his father and mother, Agnes, along with lifetime retirement benefits. The debt to Matheus would be written off, leaving his debt as the price of the farm. Mathias Jr would make his first payment in 1766 of 40fl 40x to his father. With the purchase Matheus obtains the "arable land, meadows, cultivated grain (rye/wheat), along with a legacy of 1 pair of oxen, 2 young head of cattle, 2 sheep, 1 breeding sow and small livestock."
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| Havel House, circled |
The following year, Matheus (Sr) would depart the bonds of earth leaving behind his wife and children. The children are identified as: Matheus (Jr); Urusla, who is married; Dorothea who is wedded; and also three young children who, according to the land register were: Anton-age 10, Theresia-age 6, and Johann-age 3. Meanwhile, the 1767 Seignorial Register, which is often thought to be more accurate in terms of persons and ages, records Matheus as deceased and Anna (sic) his wife (actually Agnes) Anthoni-14, Theresia-10, Johann-8, and Mathes-6 (I have a death record for Mathes passing away in 1763). Here we can see some differences in ages. Mathias' death sets forth a chain of events: a debt payment to Thomas Pram; Agnes is writing off an additional estate value of 7 fl; Matheus (Jr) inheritance value of 19fl 2x plus some change is written off; while a 2fl, 4x fee is paid to the inheritance division. A fee payment to the inheritance division may require more research, but, I suspect, it may be for the underage siblings of Matheus. When Matheus Sr dies, a note in the margin exists, which indicates that included in the estate value is "1 head of dairy cattle, and 1 chest of inferior condition....7 fl. This amount is added to the 154 fl purchase price still owed Matheus Sr by his son Matheus Jr. Meaning a total estate value of 161 fl. They made sure to include the chest of inferior condition, which makes me wonder if this is the same "1 old chest with lock" noted in 1712 when Simon purchased the farm from his father Georg, which was at that time valued at 1 schock meissen. If one old chest in inferior condition is specifically noted, it must mean the other furnishings were not all that great.
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| Havel-Mika holding |
In 1770 Matheus' (Jr) father-in-law died. Stephen Panusch farmed in the same village, with property associated with folio #4. In 1771, the land register records that Dorothea Havel, wedded, wrote off her inheritance payments and Maria wrote off her payments from the Panusch farm. It seems an odd occurrence, until you do a deeper dive. Dorothea Havel was married to Andrej Panusch, in October of 1765. Andrej being Mariana Panusch Havel's brother. In a sense, with Stephen Panusch's death, the wives of each male heir gave up their respective inheritance rights with values that offset each other. It played to both interests by reducing their respective debts.
In 1787 Matheus Jr paid off his final payment to his brother Johann. After this payment, the record clearly states: "Settled in full". My third great grandfather, Frantisek would take on his wife's family farm in Dolni Chrastany, ending the ownership of the Ratiborova Lhota farm under ownership of my direct ancestors. It did not, however, end the Havel family ownership. On January 17, 1804 the Havel farm is taken over by Frantisek's younger brother Johann. Recorded in a separate document, Frantisek received a sahre of 50 fl 24 x, for a total of 252 fl divided over the five heirs. Frantisek would receive payments in 1813, and 1815 of 7 fl, and in 1818 a final payment of 36 fl 24x. The final payment is probably from when Johann received cash when he sold the farm in 1818. This record provides information on the area of the farm. Johann Havel took on a farm of 14 Joch and 280 quadraklafter (qk) of arable land (about 20.15 acres), 6 Joch and 1002-1/6 qk of meadows (about 9.42 acres) and 4 Joch 362 qk of woodland (about 6 acres), with a purchase price of 252 florianns. (In total, per this record, the farm was about 35.57 acres.) Besides the land, Johann received four head of oxen, 2 sheep, and all remaining household and farming equipment.
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| Havel Farm, Mika parcel |
We know from his father's 1773 Urbarium record that they farmed in a system of three. On our large lawn growing up my Dad overseeded the grass with clover, stating that in drought it will stay green. Plus, it is good for pollinators. In Bohemia, under the system of three one-third of the land is fallow each year, and in its fallow state is planted with clover. The clover is tilled under the following spring, providing a natural manure. The main crops grown, per the records were rye, barley and oats. Lacking commercial fertilizers we have today, they understood field and crop rotation. How far back in time the system of three went, I don't know. It is heartening to know, that in the 18th century at least, they had understanding of conservation techniques. Johann Havel would farm until 1818 when he sold the farm to Johann Mika. Johann Mika is a son of Maria Havel, who married Vaclav Mika. Maria is a brother to the 1804-1818 farm owner Johann Havel and my third great grandfather, Frantisek Havel. Johann Mika is the owner that shows in the survey completed in about 1826.
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| Havel Family Farm, Timeline, See Note, below, for location of a more defined timeline |
In 1842 Mika would sell the farm to Katherina Havel, daughter of Johann Havel. On the same day she would sell the farm to the Kozaks. Whether the Kozaks are related to the Havel's I don't know at this point in time.
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| Handover from Katherina Havel to Johann Kosakk 1842 |
The Havel farm passed from generation to generation for a period of more than 200 years. The farm likely started before 1585 with Jan Wolff (my 10th great grandfather), to his son Bartos, to Bartos' brother Havel (my 9th great grandfather), and then Jakub Havel. During a 28 year period either Jakub's mother or step-mother and her second husband (following the death of Jakub) owned the farm, before passing the farm to Jakub's son Georg (my 7th great grandfather) which then carried the line of direct ancestors through Simon and Matheus (Sr) until Matheus (Jr) passed away and the farm was sold in 1804 to Johann, the brother of my third great grandfather. Johann passed the farm to a nephew, Johann Mika who sold it in 1842 to Johann Havel's daughter Katherina, who quickly sold the farm perhaps ending the Havel line of ownership. It was a long run in which the family persevered through famine, floods, drought, and the implementation of the second serfdom. What is interesting, despite mandatory education in 1774, Maria (likely Mathues' is spouse), Frantisek, Johann, headman Georg Winzig and witness Kasper Winzig all sign with three crosses, "since those above named are illiterate, it was requested they provide their signatures as three crosses." By decree in 1774, Maria Theresia ordered six years of compulsory education. Frantisek (b 1769) and Johann (b 1775) were of the age they should have been schooled. Perhaps, the schools were not ready in the hinterlands of Southern Bohemia, or other factors got in the way. The start of schools would not have all of a sudden began in 1775. While Maria Theresia was an education pioneer in 18th century Europe, subsequent rulers may not have felt the same. Some commentator's place the actual start of compulsory education in 1869, the year after the Havel family departed for America. The lack of education may have been away for the domain to control the masses. After all, the servitude under which our ancestors served was one of control by the domain. The rulers of the varied domain's were quick to slap down and stifle varied reforms.
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| Havel-Mika Woodlot and meadow |
The Havel family were common peasants, far removed from the kings and princes. They worked a small 1/4 farm in Ratiborova Lhota with 20 arable acres, and with one-third of the land lying fallow each year, that means they had cultivated 13 to 14 acres each year. They struggled to make ends meet, with many in the family plying the trade as a linen weaver. Life was not easy, Havel and Jakub both met death while still active farmers. Jakub's widow remarried in order to maintain the Havel line of ownership, which was passed down to Georg. I am sure, however, that they did have some good times. As quarter farmers, they had a lower level farm in Ratiborova Lhota, perhaps the second smallest, but yet I think that meant they worked that much harder. Something always required tending to, whether it was work for the domain or on their own farm. In 1868, Frantisek's son Josef and his family would leave Bohemia and settle first in Wisconsin in Jefferson County and then in northcentral Iowa. The old country was left behind, similar to the bicentennial ownership of the Ratiborova Lhota farm fell out of the hands of my direct ancestors.
Note: I have created a Timeline of Havel Farm in Ratiborova Lhota which can be accessed here. Click click on >> just below and to the right of the word "Timeline." Some notations have images attached, a small photo-type of icon, please click for the image. I hope you enjoy this new feature.
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