A Bicentennial Farm, part 3

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. 

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.

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." 

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

Sources:

Trebon Archives

https://ags.cuzk.cz/archiv/ (Map images from Indication Sketch maps, c 1826) 

The Hat

For several years now, the wife has been strongly advising me, more like ordering, to wear a hat to protect my scalp from sunburn due to my thinning head hair. I have worn out one hat, and so bought another for daily use earlier this summer. Both hats were what I would call a khaki green color, with the newer one a slightly darker green, at least at this time. The new one has the word Papa with a small bear symbol below. It is difficult to find a simple, plain baseball-style hats with a minor symbol or wording. I like the khaki-green color for a hat, and the symbol and wording are small and sufficiently innocuous that they do not draw attention. I bought the hat and have been wearing it for regular daily use this summer.

Me and my 2022 purchased hat
Photo by Chris Hovel

I also wear this hat when we camp. When I am camping I am outside, so much, with the hat on, that I sometimes forget that I have it on my head. During a camping trip in early August I went swimming at a boat landing adjacent to our campsite. It was warm and windy day when I went to the pier, laid my towel down on the pier and settled myself in the clear water with many minnows, or small fish swimming around the base of the pier all watching and waiting to bite my toes. As I was walking out to deeper water, I realized I had my hat on and so walked a few steps back to the pier and threw it up on the pier next to my towel.  Off I went swimming, doing varied strokes, and later just relaxing in the water laying on my back, with a gentler stroke looking at the beautiful sky and the lakeshore. About 30 minutes later I get out of the water and I grab my towel to dry off, and then look for my hat. No hat is around. I first wondered if when I grabbed my towel the hat fell off, so I looked around, but no hat. I got back in the water to look under the pier--no hat. "Hmm," I thought, "I am sure I had worn it to the pier," but I got up and walked and checked the campsite--no hat.

Hat pretty much worn out
I still wear it at times doing yard work

I then went back to the pier and knowing the direction the strong wind was blowing, I walked along or near the shoreline to see if I could spot the hat in the water. This is where the khaki green color of the hat worked against me. The edge of water contains a great deal of some weeds, and in particular detritus from leaves and other vegetation that has rotted over time, not to mention the trees that have fallen in. I then walked back to the campsite, and Land Girl and I take the kayak down so I can get in the kayak and check the water and shoreline from the water craft.

Lake area where I swam, red dots
indicate location of the pier

For a few times, I paddle over from the pier to the small bay, the direction in which the wind was blowing. I paddled the area between the pier and the shore. I was about to give, up, but then said a prayer to St Anthony and made the trek again. Still no hat. I decided to check once more, with one more prayer to St Anthony, and there I spotted it. It was on the floor of the lake, around some weeds and a tree that was down. I know it was windy, but its distance from the pier surprised me. I paddled closer and reached the paddle under the hat. I was successful in retrieving the hat, but it was full of a lot of silt and detritus, I washed it off in the lake water.

2022 hat, up close

I then hung it on our clothes line, and when that became shady, stuck it on a rock in the sun. And because we were camping, if of course rained. It poured and stormed a great deal that night, so the hat got a nice washing from Mother Nature. Us being the Rainmakers, certainly helped clean up my hat on this camping trip. I am not sure how much rain the area got but another camper told me he heard from someone in town, which is about 7 miles away, through all of July there was only .3 inches in that small crossroads town. The rainfall that night probably more than tripled that July rainfall given how wet everything was. By the middle of the next day the hat was nice and dry and once again wearable.

I do keep a hat in my car, for those instances where I may have forgotten to grab a hat, such as occurred on our recent trip to Kohler-Andre and Point Beach. As time has passed, and I am usually not as forgetful about grabbing a hat, so I don't really know why I forgot one when we departed Tuesday morning. The spare hat, I now know, is for when a hat may get lost or be out of commission for a time.

A Bicentennial Farm, part 2

My August 19, 2022 blogpost was about the Havel farm in Ratiborova Lhota, Bohemia being in the family for over 200 hundred years. Most of the time under my direct ancestors. The Urbarium from 1550 and 1585 records, which primarily recorded land rents, seem to indicate, although this is conjecture, that this farm may have been created sometime after 1550. The August 19 post explored the early history of the farm and ended in 1668 the year Georg Havel, my seventh great grandfather, took over the farm from his step father Hans. This post will take that exploration of ownership further, from Georg to Simon, his son (my 6th great grandfather) in 1712, and from Simon to his son Matheus (Sr) in 1737. 

Ratiborova Lhota, with Havel House circled

From Seignorial records, Andre Havel, Georg's younger brother was slated to take over the family farm, but instead may have taken over his father-in-law's farm in Klenovice. When Georg married, likely in 1660 according to the Seignorial Register of that year, he was in-line to take over the smallholding of his father-in-law Hansel Schuster, with the consent of the authorities on 9 January 1660. This may have been the same smallholding that Havel bought in 1601 and sold to his brother Bartos in 1607. Smallholdings, and even 1/4 farms such as the Havel farm in Ratiborova Lhota, would not have produced much in the way of income for the bare necessities of life. To likely aid in his income, Georg was "learning the linen weaver trade" in 1656, and is noted as a weaver in 1657, and a weaver at home in 1658 to 1659. It was not uncommon, even 200 years later, for farmers to engage in a craft to bring is some other source of income for the family. However, as the second serfdom advanced in the 17th and 18th centuries, manorial authorities would place restrictions on who could ply a trade.

Seignorial Register indicating Georg, son of Jacob 
is "Learning the linen weaver trade"

With Georg Havel taking on the management of the farm any labor, good and service requirements for the domain would now fall to him. Also, in 1668 Georg's inheritance portion of over 23 shock meissen, from his father Jakub's estate is written off. In a sense he paid himself. Georg finds himself having to make a variety of payments to siblings, his stepfather, Hans, and the Princely Grace over many years with a payment of over 7 shock meissen to the Princely Grace being the final payment in 1697--so he made thirty years of payments. Due to the inheritance rights, when his stepfather Hans died in 1672 Hans' share of the payment reverted to the Princely Grace, the Eggenberg family now in control of the Krumlov domain. From Hans' share Andre and his wife received 10 shock meissen for having "labored for Hans for 4 years without receiving a wage." From this, Andre was properly paid for labor he had undertaken. I wonder if they had a formal process for identifying claims, or if Hans provided a stipulation in his will? The Seignorial Register has Andre marrying in 1666, and perhaps the take over of his father-in-law's farm did not occur at the time of marriage. Also, since Hans was making payments to Andre, the wedded orphan, and the Princely Grace for revisionary rights until 1671, either Georg had not fully taken on the farm in 1668, or Hans agreed to make those payments.

Land Register Record of Georg Havel taking over farm

What is interesting is that a note from 1701 has a payment made to the Wasienamt (orphan account) and the heirs of Thomas Kulisch of Neotlice, and a payment to the parish church in Lhenice. I am not sure if a family member had married Mr Kulisch, or what the deal is with him and his heirs. Dorothea, Georg's sister, had married Georg Tauschek of Vribce about 1651 (according to the Seignorial Register) and she was discharged to the Netolice dominion. In the same year Hans died, which was 1672, Georg paid off the inheritance debt  owed to Dorothea to her husband with a large payment of over 16 shock meissen. Andre's share was paid off in 1680.  His Princely Grace was not paid out until 1697. 

1660 Seignorial Register Record of Georg Hawel marrying 
Lena Schuster of Ratiborova Lhota

Georg would manage the Havel family farm for 54 years, retiring and turning the farm over to his son Simon (my 6th great grandfather) by a contract dated 19 September 1712. We have no birth record for Simon, but a possible birth year of about 1682 is in the Seignorial Register. According to the 1702-1756 Seignorial Register chart Simon was listed as age 20 in 1702. Simon would marry Elizabeth Pesek in 1703, so almost a decade before he took on the farm. We know from other records that Simon plied the trade of his father, as a weaver. From 1704 to 1712 Simon, and his wife (and the children as they arrive), are listed in the landless lodger class although he and his family are living at home with his father, Georg. Because he was now married he was a separate household, and though living with a relative was common, he was considered a landless lodger, as he controlled no land. I suspect he helped out on the farm, but also plied the weaver trade, as had his father before him. The 1712 entry notes that he "Has purchased the farm at Folio 9 in the land register." Also in 1712, as Georg is now retired, he shows up as "Retired in pension. No wife." Georg's wife, Magdalena, died in 1703. Simon's disabled brother Georg, Jr is listed after his father and is age 36 with the notation "Disabled and visually impaired. On the farm." Georg, Jr passes away in July 1718, and his father passes away six months later in January 1719 at a good age of about 81 years. I have used Georg (Sr) birthyear as 1638 since the Seignorial Register of 1641 identified him as being three years of age--which is likely the best information available.

Timeline of Havel Farm Ownership of House #15, folio 9

Simon would have been about 30 at the time he took over the family farm. The total purchase price was 202 shock meissen. It is interesting that the record makes note that "Included in the valuation is one old chest with lock." valued at one shock meissen. Simon promptly paid 40 and had an additional 40 written off as part of the dowry leaving a total debt of 122 to be settled by annual installments of the standard four shock meissen per year. Beyond this, however, Simon was required to provide his father with unnamed retirement benefits of the purchase, "while his brother Georg is to be provided with lifelong meals and clothing on account of him being crippled and visually impaired." 

Land Register Record of 22 March 1697 regarding Georg's payments:
"And with that, the purchase price of this farm has been settled in full"

Simon made payment to his father for six years, as his father passed away on 19 January 1719 for which he paid the required funeral expenses on the 27th of March. He then started making payments to some of his siblings. He made payments to Paul, Ludmilla, his nephew Joseph (the son of his late sister, Elisabeth), and the children his sister Catherina had with her husband Matheus Hubeney. Simon's nephew Joseph presents an interesting situation, and perhaps there may be a separate post about his situation.

In 1720 we find that Simon made the required payments to his brother Paul and sister Ludmilla, but also made another, larger payment, to his sister Ludmilla as can be seen from the following transcription/translation by Richard D'Amelio:

1720 on the 18th March, Simon Havel paid 2ſß to Paul, and 2ſß to Ludmilla, both wedded heirs of the late Georg Havel. . . . . . . 4ſß"

Same year and day, Simon Havel paid 19ſß 40g 3½₰ to Ludmilla wedded heir of the late Georg Havel, willingly in order to purchase harness tack, thus settling her portion in full. . . . . . . 19ſß 40g 3½₰ 

What we know is that Simon required new harness tack, an essential element at the time, and to buy it he paid out his sister. I don't quite get the logic of how making such a large payment to his sister allowed him to purchase harness tack, but something must have been going on. Perhaps, he was buying the harness tack on credit and needed to reduce debt load. 

In 1721 Simon started making payments to the Waisenamt account. The payment is to Dorothea Hubeney. On 14 May 1737 the record indicates that Dorothea Hubeney, daughter of the late Mathias Hubeney from Zdenice Prachatice dominion was paid for her necessary maintenance, with the payment received by the headman. I think the payment is actually the inheritance due to her deceased brother Mathias, who was age 14 in 1719.  With the Waisenamt payment starting in 1724, Mathias Hubeney likely died sometime after. If Simon's sister Catherina had not been released from the Krumlov domain to the Prachatice domain, the share due Mathis Hubeney would have gone to the Princely Grace. The release from the Krumlov domain allowed the application of different rules rather than the onerous rules of the Krumlov domain to be applied. In other words, because Catherina had moved out of the Krumlov domain to marry, was granted release from the Krumlov domain she, and her descendants were now free from the the onerous rules of Todenfall (rules for inheritance and reversionary rights) to which the Krumlov domain residents had to abide. Thus, Catherina's daughter was able to obtain her late brother's share of the inheritance. In the Krumlov domain the inheritance in this situation would have gone to the Princely Grace. 

Simon Havel, wife Elizabeth and 6 yr old daughter Sophia
in 1712 Seignorial Register. Note to right indicates he was purchasing
the farm at folio 9 in 1712. 

Simon's deceased sister Elisabeth had one son, Josef. Josef was married in 1722, per the land register record, and in 1723 Josef is receiving Elizabeth's share of the payment. In 1733 Simon makes final payments to his brother Paul and nephew Joseph. That leaves payments to the Hubeney family, the descendants of Catherina, his sister. The record indicates that Catherina's son Mathias died in 1726 and Simon, like his father, whose funeral expenses Simon paid were deducted off the estate value, paid the funeral expenses out of Mathias' share of the estate. 

The final estate payments by Simon are made to the Wasienamt account and other heirs of Catherina, those being her sons Simon Hubeney, Paul Hubeney, and their sister Dorothea with payment made to the estate manager Mr Navratil. With a final payment in that year to Simon Hubeney the account is settled in full in 1736. At the time of these final payments, Simon has operated the farm for 24 years and is about 54 years of age. 

23 March 1736 Land Register Entry regarding Simon Havel
"And with that, the purchase price has been settled in full."

However, Simon does not long farm after having settled his debt. The next year, on 9 February 1737 he enters into an agreement, enacted at Krumlov Castle, to sell his farm to his son Matheus Havel. Like Simon, Matheus sees no underlying debt that is required to be paid on the farm, hence it is the purchase price.  In this case we see the handover of the farm from my  7th great grandfather, Georg to his son, my 6th great grandfather Simon, and then to my 5th great grandfather, Matheus, Simon's son. Matheus was born on the first day of September in 1711, which made him 25 years of age at the time of the handover of the Havel farm. I hope to conclude the 200 years of Havel farm ownership in part 3. As I read and ponder the land registers, and seignorial registers I start to get a better glimpse into the life of the Havel family, peasants who farmed a 1/4 farm and weaved linen as they struggled to make ends meet. 

This week marks the 54th anniversary of the 1968 Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia (read mainly the Soviet Union). It was a dark time for Czechs, and Slovaks, but one among many others  within a thirty year period for then Czechoslovakia (think Munich Accords of 1938, and WWII). I believe the Havel family is for the better due to the 1868 decision of my second great grandparents to emigrate to the United States. 

Sources: 

Trebon Archives, transcription and translations by Richard D' Amelio

https://ags.cuzk.cz/archiv/

                

A Bicentennial Farm, part 1

In the small southern Bohemian community of Ratiborova Lhota the Havel's had a farm that was in the family for over 200 years. Passed from generation to generation, most of the 200 hundred years was in the hands of an ancestor from whom I am descended. This knowledge has been possible by tracing back land register records. I can go back to my tenth great grandfather Wolff (also known as Jan Wolffa or Jan Bolffa). Join me as I tell the story of the Havel family bicentennial farm through several generations. 

Page of 1603 Land Register for Folio 9, Havel Farm

In early August, Richard D' Amelio, of Boheimb Research, completed transcriptions and translations of land register records for the Havel farm in Ratiborova Lhota dating as far back as 1603. These records were in Czech and German. Some Urbaria records are older, but are rather vague, and they lack the detail of the land registers. How far back is the year 1603? It is 419 years ago? 1603 is also fifteen years before the Thirty Years War which affected Bohemia and, as will be seen, perhaps even the Havel family; in 1603 Galileo was looking at the heaven's; and the Mayflower was still seventeen years away from completing its journey from England to the shores of America. Meanwhile, in that year of 1603 in southern Bohemia, a man named Wolff (also known as Jan Wolff) my tenth great grandfather had died (probably around 1600), and his son Bartos is making annual payments to other relations for their share of the family farm which he now manages. This farm, in later years, would become known as 15 Ratiborova Lhota. Bartos likely started making payments between 1601 and 1603 on the property, but it could have been earlier. At the same time, likely in 1601, Bartos' brother Havel is making payments relative to his acquisition of "Vit's smallholding" at what would become known as house #2 of the same rural village. Havel would be my 9th great grandfather. We get to Havel via his son Jakub, and know Wolff as his father from as the records have him as a brother of Bartos, and they also have Wolff as Bartos' father.

Melhutka, aka Ratiborova Lhota, ~1826 Cadastre

The Havel family did not own the land as we know it today. Rather the land was owned and controlled by a domain; their farm was part of the Krumlov domain. The Urbaria records tell us how much they had to pay the domain for their lease of the property. As farm operators, the family had some minimal rights, such as an ability to grow their own food, and perhaps use some of the common manorial land. There were many rights they did not have--they needed consent to take on a trade, consent to marry and consent to move. They farmed this land, subject to changing powers over the intervening years. At about the same time Bartos and Havel are buying their father's and Vit's property, respectively, we find in 1602 that the Crown of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, being Emperor Rudolph II, purchased the Krumlov domain from Peter Vok of the Rosenberg family, under whose ownership the historic city of Ceksy Krumlov owes much to its pattern of design and construction. The Havel family would farm under duchy's, emperors and princes. As a child or widow passed their share of the estate would go to "His Imperial Grace" (the Emperor)nd later to His Princely Grace" (the Eggenbergs). It would not be inherited by the other children. There were a few exceptions, such as if the child or widow had been released from the domain, as at times occurred particularly in times of marriage to someone outside the manor. 

Melhutka ~1826 Cadastre
1826 is closer in years to present day than it is to 1603
In 1826 Havel farm owned by Maria (Havel) Mika's son Johann Mika 

Land management was key to being able to help put food on the table, but even then, the peasant farmers were subjected to varied rules and regulations, free compulsory labor known as robot service, the provision of free goods to the manor, and the unpredictability of weather could easily affect planting and harvest. Weather particularly impacted peasant farmers as the robot labor was required first. It was not easy being a peasant farmer, but the Havel family stuck with it on the same farm for over 200 hundred years. The task of being a peasant farmer became increasingly difficult as domains exercised more and more control during the second serfdom (about 1500 to 1740). Given the Urbaria record of 1550, and the noted payments, it is possible that what would be the Havel farm (#15) was not in existence at that time. If this is the case, the farm was created sometime between 1550 and 1585, as the 1585 Urbaria record shows the farm owned by Jan Wolff, who is most likely the same Jan Wolff (my tenth great grandfather) mentioned in the 1600 Urbaria and mentioned in the 1603 land register. The farm was perhaps apportioned out of existing manorial land in order to provide more space for growing crops to feed the population. This also means that of the already poor soils in southern Bohemia, this farm could easily have been on the poor soils of the poor soils, as I suspect the better crop land would have already been placed in production. it is doubtful the manor would give up prime  or good farmland. This increase in the desire for agriculture by the manor, or domain, was the reason for the start of the second serfdom. It is in this situation that we find the Havel family.

Jan Wolff in 1585 Urbarium Record
Trebon Archives, Ord 16, Img 317
Oldest known Record of Havel family

Havel was able to purchase the rights to Vit's smallholding in 1601, because in that year Vit was buying a farm in Vadkov. The 1603 record notes that Bartos paid 3 Meissen to his brother Havel for a dowry, along with one Meissen to Wolff's widow, Appolonia (Havel's mother or step-mother). These payments came out of their share of Wolff's estate. Perhaps Havel, getting payment for a dowry, married in 1603. The land registers make it pretty clear, that contrary to popular belief when a child acquired a farm, the new farm operator made payments to their other siblings, and the widow (if one) for their share of the estate. The farm property, house, and personal property were valued by the Village headman and the payments were made over time. If the male head retired, the payments were made to that person.

Beginning of top line reads:
"Jakub on Havel's farm" 1623 entry

With their father dead single children are considered orphans, even if at the age of maturity. For young children the payment is made to the Waisenamt (orphans office), where the funds are essentially held in trust for the child until they reach maturity and marry. In the Krumlov domain one was considered an orphan upon the death of their father and remained that way until marriage. Some funds could be used for purposes such as, but not limited to, medical expenses, or to learn a trade or craft. Each heir received their fair share. If a widow, subject to the Krumlov domain, died before her payout was fully made, the remainder did not go to her children (as noted earlier), but to the owner of the domain--to the Imperial Grace (Emperor) or the princely grace (Eggenberg's and successors). We find those occurrences with the Havel family. 

In 1607 things get interesting for the Havel family, with what the transcriber/translator Richard D'Amelio refers to as musical farms. Havel "has taken on his brother's farm, and therefore ceded and at the same time sold this smallholding to his brother Bartos Wolff for the sum of 117 Meissen." Here we can see that Havel is purchasing, from his brother, his father's former farm, meaning a small gap of perhaps six or seven years of my direct ancestor ownership, but nonetheless still in the Havel family. Havel can afford the family farm as Bartos provides him a 100 Meissen earnest payment against the purchase price leaving the 17 "owned on the previous holding to be settled to the previous orphans recorded above." That would be the other heir, a sister Anna. Bartos sells the Vit smallholding, he obtained from his brother Havel, to Martin Brazda of Micovice and purchases Brazda's farm in Micovice. I wonder if Bartos married Martin Brazda's daughter since farms generally stayed in the family at this time. The domain could bounce a farmer off the property if they thought they farmer was a bad operator, or even a person of low morals. By 1610, Bartos is already trading farms with another farmer in Micovice. He must have been restless, or always looking for a better and bigger deal. Bartos could not have been a middle child since no middle child would be so brazen to undertake such a risk.

What we have is Havel buying a small farm from Vit, and within about seven years is selling it to his brother and buying the family farm. At the same time as Havel buys Vit's farm, Bartos is buying the family farm.  Bartos uses the small farm of Vit's that he bought from his brother as leverage to purchase a farm in the nearby village of Micovice. Havel acquired the family farm for 175+ Schock Meissen, plus other considerations. These other considerations required Havel to pay the debt (share of the estate) owed to his sister Anna and Appolonie. This entry is dated "St Dorota's feast day of the year 1607, so likely 6 February 1607. 

I know what you are thinking, how did the surname become Havel and not Wolff?  Surnames were not widely used in the Land Register records of this era, and perhaps may not have been in use much in this small village. According to a Czech Blog post by professional genealogist Blanca Lednicka, surnames were in constant flux in this early era and were in fact more to recognize what the person did, how they looked, where they were from, or from the first name of the father. Wolff was also referred to as Jan Wolff.  In this case Wolff may have been his (Jan's) father's name and his first name was Jan. My theory is that since Bartos was referred to at times as Bartos Wolff, such as Bartos son of Wolff (Bolffa in Czech), the name relates to the latter instance pointed out by Blanca. His brother Havel may not have required a qualifier. Havel is often referred to as brother of Bartos in the early land register record. We don't know when Havel married, but he received that dowry in 1603. His sister, Anna, was likely married before 1605 since in that year Bartos was making a payment to "Anna the wedded orphan." My theory is that Havel, brother of Bartos and son of Wolff, would have his first name become the surname by his son, my eighth great grandfather Jakub. Jakub was often referred to as son of Havel. Yet, by 1640 his first name appears with its surname, written as: Jakub Havel. From that point on the Havel surname has become fixed. My family's surname has thus been around for over 382 years.

Havel purchasing Vit's smallholding, 1603
in 1607 Havel would buy the Havel farm from his 
brother Bartos.

Havel, having acquired the family farm in 1607 also took on the obligations of payments to Apollonie, the widow of Wolff, and his wedded orphan sister Anna. In 1614, he makes payment for Apollonie's funeral expenses and now owes her share of payment "to his Imperial Grace on account of reversionary rights on the portion of the late widow Apollonie." Even when the Eggenberg's take over the domain, the Imperial Grace continues to receive the remaining payments, since Apollonie died during the Emperor's ownership of the domain.

Havel himself died between 1618 and 1623. The following (a transcription/translation) is recorded in the Land Register, enacted in Krumlov on the Friday following the feast day of St George 1623 (meaning April 28): 

The aforementioned farm owner Havel, with a remaining balance of 27ſß 21g 2₰ ½h Meissen to be settled on his farm, had sickness visited upon him by the Lord God and died. Consequently, at the bequest of the governor of the dominion, the headman and his jurors have duly valued said farm which has stood vacant for some years, with arable fields, meadowland, and remaining belongings and furnishings left by the soldiers in the sum of 110ſß Meissen, and which is released in the same purchase price to Jakub, orphan of the late Havel, who is obligated to settle the noted debts and inheritance portions commencing Georgi 1624 with annual installments of 4ſß until the purchase price has been settled in full

From the above quote, we can see that Havel's son Jakub is taking over the farm, probably in 1622 or 1623. Jakub is first named as "Jakub, orphan of the late Havel"; slightly later as "Jakub, farm owner and orphan from the estate of his late father Havel," and later he is identified as "Jakub on Havel's farm." Beyond this, the above quote is interesting. First, we have no idea how old Jakub is, but at the same time Havel's spouse Anezka (Jakub's mother or stepmother) is alive. Slightly later in the document three other children are identified by age--Eva, 7; Dorota, 5; Tomas, 2 (either his siblings or step siblings). I am thinking that Jakub was likely at least about age 18, if not older to operate the farm, and hence, given age gap, Anezeka may be his stepmother, or perhaps some children between him and the young Eva died. Second,  Jakub was required to settle debts and provide payment to Anezeka, and provide the inheritance portions to his siblings with payment commencing on St George's Day (April 23) of the following year, that is 1624. Besides the three other heirs. Jakub had payments for debts incurred by his father to three other persons. His portion of the inheritance would be written off with his taking over the farm. In other words, it offset the purchase price.

Land Register with Jakub and use of surname Havel
"Jakub Havel" is highlighted, 1640 entry

After the family relationships, the above quoted land register paragraph provides additional interesting information. First we know that, at the time of death, Jakub still had debt of over 27 Schock Meissen to be settled on his farm. Second, that the farm stood vacant for some years, perhaps since 1618. There is a payment gap in the record between the entry of 1618 and the one noting Jakub's taking over the farm in 1623. However, this may not have been unique to the Havel family as, per Richard D' Amelio it appears no payments were made by other farmers in the village for the time period between 1618 and 1623. Third, soldiers occupied the house for a period of time--what soldiers and what side we do not know, but they left behind sufficient material goods to be noted in the settlement documents as part of the Havel personal property. It is possible points two and three are related. The Thirty Years War started in 1618, and the soldiers were probably passing to and from battles, and the farmers may have had an obligation to house them. In this manner, think of the United States Constitution and its Bill of Rights, the third amendment, where the government could not compel quartering of soldiers. Or, the farm could have been occupied by  soldiers on the opposite side who simply commandeered the use of the house and/or outbuildings. Whatever the situation they left sufficient goods of value behind to count to the household value.  A small farmer was lucky to grow sufficient food for his family, and soldiers may have well competed for the scarce food resources. 

If we assume Jakub acquired the farm in 1623, it appears he too, like Havel (his father) passed away early, perhaps 1639 or 1640. We do know that Jakub made a payment on 7 Dec 1638,  and Catherina, his wife has remarried by 12 Nov. 1640. Within that two year window Jakub died. I have touched in previous posts, how a husband and wife needed to be on the farm as a joint effort. This caused the surviving spouse to remarry, usually within a several months of the death of their spouse. That is how it came to be that by Nov. 1640 Jakub's widow, Catherina, has remarried Hans from Klenovice. The Soupis (a census conducted after the 30 Years War) of the early 1650's identified Hans as a Havel, it may have been his last name, but he may have taken a roof name, that being the name attached to the house--it was the Havel farm after all. After the roof names were not uncommon in Bohemia. In the Soupis, Hans is 30 years of age and Catharina 34. Catherina remarried in order to maintain the rights of management and operation of the farm to pass down to a child. The child who would receive the farm would be my seventh great grandfather, Georg. While there was this interregnum of 28 years from 1640 to 1668 where Hans controlled the farm, part of the control rested with his wife, Catherina, Jakub's widow, and perhaps Georg's mother, and if not his mother, his stepmother. 

Georg acquired the farm on 20 July 1668 by a contract entered in at Krumlov Castle. The property and assets owed were the same sum paid by Hans 28 years earlier, 202 Meissen. There are two interesting points to be made here. First, Bartos sold this farm to his brother Havel for the sum of 175ſß 21g 2₰ ½h all Meissen in 1607 and in 1668 as it is passed to Havel's grandson Georg, the farm and relevant personal property is valued at 202 Meissen. Second, from 1607 to about 1640 when Hans took over the farm with Jakub Havel's widow Catherina, both owners in that time frame died while still operating the farm. Neither had retired. At retirement the farm would have been passed to a child, and payments made to the father. What is interesting is that the Seigniorial Registers indicates that Georg's brother Andre was to take over the farm, as a note for his 1666 marriage indicates after he married "Madalena, daughter of Jakob Kofenda in the village of Klenovice, and will take on his father's farm." 31st December 1665, although this could be an error on the part of the entry as perhaps he meant to write “Schwiegervater (father-in-law)” rather than “Stiefvater” (stepfather)." If taking over his father's farm it then makes sense that in 1668 the farm fell to Georg. Andre may well have judged the Klenovice farm as the better option. 

Below Jakub Havel (highlighted) are his heirs:
Catherina, his widow; Dorothea 9; Gregor 7; Georg 5;
Mathes 4; Andre 2  Plus signs to left of name indicate that
they died at some point during the term of payment

This post has covered the Havel farm in Ratiborova Lhota from about 1600 to 1668, going from Wolff, to his son Bartos, who sold it to his brother Havel when upon his death the farm passed to his son Jakub. Jakub died and the farm passed to his widow and her new husband, Hans. When Hans retired in 1668 it passed to Jakub's son Georg, who was listed as age five in the 1640 agreement when Hans took over the farm. Hence we can place a birthdate for Georg in or about 1635. Georg married, with consent of the domain as required by custom and law, in 1660 then took over the farm in 1668 when he was about 33 years of age. 

Present day House #15, Ratiborva Lhota

An additional post or two will delve into Havel ownership of the farm in Ratiborva Lhota from 1668 to the early 1800's, by covering the span of ownership from Georg to Matheus "the younger" and the sale from Matheus "the younger" (my fourth great grandfather) to his son Johann. Johann was a younger brother to my third great grandfather, Frantisek. Frantisek had moved on to a farm in Dolni Chrastany while his father still farmed the Havel farm in Ratiborova Lhota. Thus, from Georg's acquisition in 1668 to 1802 when Mathias passes the farm to his son Johann, there is an uninterrupted ownership by persons in my direct lineage--Georg, to Simon, to Mathias (Sr), to Mathias (Jr). Mathis (Jr) passed it to his youngest son Johann. Even then, Johann passed the farm to Johann Mika a nephew, the son of his sister, Maria. Mika would sell the farm to his cousin, Johann Havel's daughter Katherina n 1842, who then promptly sold the farm to Johann and Anna Kozak.

Sources:

Trebon Archives; with transcriptions and translations by Richard D'Amelio

Google Maps

https://ags.cuzk.cz/archiv/

Lost Loon

Land Girl and I were camping for part of last week. We camped four nights starting Sunday, July 31. Our  campsite backed up to a loon frequented lake. Well, not a lot of loons, but one family. Last June we saw a loon nest on this lake with three eggs. This week, however we had the opportunity to see the adult male and female loons and two baby or juvenile loons. We don't know what happened to the third egg, perhaps it did not hatch or it hatched and the chick  met a more calamitous end to its life. This story is not about the third egg, but a lost baby loon.

Loons with head down in water

The two adult and two baby loons had a tendency to occupy our attention. We could see them from the campsite or while kayaking. Frequently, they were near the boat landing, or off the end of the third loop of campsites (saw kayaking). They are amazing fowl, in my opinion. When the adult loons dive you never know when and where they will arise, and it could be over a couple hundred feet (at least it seems that way) from where they dove under. We have seen them tend to young on prior camping excursions to the same lake. But, the lake also has predators around. Perhaps the main predators we saw were an adult and juvenile bald eagles. One can hear different loon calls, some seem to call the kids, others the partner, and still others to warn of danger. 

Land Girl Kayaking

From Tuesday about 4 pm to about 4 am Wednesday we had rain with some severe thunderstorms particularly from about 11 pm to 4 am. What surprised me as I woke up and made my morning trip to the restroom was how quiet everything was. Overcast skies and the lingering effects of heavy rain put a damper (pun intended) on normal morning routines of the campers until about 9 am. Usually we hear loons in the morning, but I did not hear the loons early that morning. 

Adult loon going for a dive

It was rather fun watching the loons, particularly the mother feed the two young loons. One of the young loons was sufficiently brave to dive under the water and probably search for its own fish. The other loon stayed above water, apparently not wishing to brave the depths. It reminded me of my twin brother and I when we were young, as he was, and still is, a much better swimmer and diver than I. As I kayaked Wednesday morning, I did not see any loons until I was near complete with my route around the lake. The loons I saw were near a peninsula, the land of which I estimated to be about 300 feet from the pier at the boat dock. They were off the east side of the peninsula. As I entered the dock, Land Girl came down and took over the kayak. She was gone a long time, perhaps an hour and a half. I was growing concerned. So I hobbled from the boat landing to the car, twice actually, to get some binoculars to scan the part of the lake and picked her near some downed trees by the third loop. This put my mind at ease. She had her reasons for lollygagging down by the third loop.

Once I completed kayaking and she started, she was watching the same loons I had seen as I completed my circumnavigation of the lake. As I slowly made my way to the campsite, she saw an eagle fly toward the loons, and she followed the course of the loons south across the lake, staying a good distance away from the loons. Another kayaker, who Land Girl thinks puts her to shame in the world of the Land Girls, put in right before I got back, but she was on the other side of the peninsula so I did not really notice her. With Land girl cutting across to the watch the loons, this woman was doing a route around the lake. As Land Girl watched the loons, the mega-Land Girl caught up with her. Land Girl pointed out to the mega-Land girl the eagle she was watching in the tree, and the nearby loons, including the two young loons. This woman, who was at the last water campsite of the campground, had seen an eagle attack the loons and the loons put up quite the fight. Eventually Land Girl made it back to the campsite after watching the loons and talking to the this mega-Land Girl.

Adult loon with two children

As evening closed in on the sunny and beautiful day in northeast Wisconsin we saw the loons yet again between the peninsula and the boat landing. We went over to watch them. What was immediately noticeable was that there was only one young loon and one adult. The adult was feeding the young loon. It was after a short while that Land Girl changed to her Mom mode and was now concerned with the second young loon. She commented, as we watched, that she has never seen a young loon away from a parent for so long. We wondered if it was with the other adult loon. Time went on and Land Girl grew increasingly concerned with the lack of the other young loon. Her concern carried over the campfire that evening. She later commented that she should have kept guard of the loons and wondered if the eagle had grabbed the young lost loon. I mentioned that perhaps nature was taking its course. Here the Mom Bear came out again and she asked if one of our boys had died would I have thought the same way--nature taking its course. I noted that I am not vested in the loons as I am our own sons. I think she thought my remark was rather crass, and uncaring. Who am I to dwell on the wilds of nature? Up until the sanitary revolution in the late 1800's many human young died of disease and starvation. Yes, it is sad that the loon was missing, and that got us wondering what the infant mortality of loons tends to be? It appears this adult pair of loons already lost one, and now to lose another would be heartbreaking.

Loons viewed from our campsite

As one would expect, given her general nature and specifically her thoughts of the loons, Mom Bear was wondering if loons had feelings and realized their loss. I noted that many mammals care for their young and make efforts for protection, pointing to how mom bears are rather dangerous, in being protective of their young.  Certainly, the mega-Land Girl's story pointed to how the loons attempt to protect their young. Hence, I would think the loons have some sort of sense of loss, given how they were caring and protecting their young.

Adult with child 

If by chance we get back to that lake this summer or fall, it would be nice to see the two young loons together, but nature, or predators, may have had other plans. I suspect the loss of a young animal is felt by the parents, although like our ancestors they may expect to deal with a certain amount of loss. The lost loon of 2022 will be engrained in our camping lore.

Hair Cut

Last week (last week of July) my spouse had trouble getting a haircut appointment. Her walking partner uses the same person, but makes a haircut appointment as she pays for the cut just received. Land Girl does not wish to do that since she does not want to be constrained by dates for a hair cut, or as I call it a fur cut. He nickname, Mom Bear well fits not only her personality, but that her hair color is that of a grizzly bear. I have offered to cut her fur (hair), but she apparently does not desire the bowl cut look. 

On Wednesday morning of last week, I inquired of when she was able to get her appointment. She responded that she was able to get an appointment on August 10. I mentioned that "Oh, that is the day after the primary election." She then said, "most husbands would have said, Oh, that is the day before your birthday." It never occurred to me say the day before her birthday. The news that morning reminded me that the primary was election was August 9. I am still getting used to the primary election now being in August, rather than September. When I worked I would calculate days and weeks based on the Tuesdays of the Plan Commission meetings, since those dates were well focused in my head. While the radio reminded me of the primary election, a week later and I am still not living that statement down.

2022 Full Moons
Source: Google Images

I have played with this a little bit, and she of course provides a few reminders of that remark. I do know that the next full moon is two days after the primary, or the day after her hair cut, which of course is her birthday. My wife, being a nurse, seems to have bad thoughts about full moons from when she worked in the hospital. She, along with others, claim that more bad behavior occurs on the night of a full moon than nights before or after. I worked for a local government and the police too would dread full moon nights, as they had the claim that more bad things happened on the night of a full moon. Last week we were also watching the Netflix show "Battlefish" and in one episode the claim was made that the during an eclipse more tuna are caught than otherwise, perhaps due to the greater tide effect of the eclipse.

I did do a search for full moon and crime and found this abstract from Pubmed (source:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1444800/), dated 1984:

The incidence of crimes reported to three police stations in different towns (one rural, one urban, one industrial) was studied to see if it varied with the day of the lunar cycle. The period of the study covered 1978-82. The incidence of crimes committed on full moon days was much higher than on all other days, new moon days, and seventh days after the full moon and new moon. A small peak in the incidence of crimes was observed on new moon days, but this was not significant when compared with crimes committed on other days. The incidence of crimes on equinox and solstice days did not differ significantly from those on other days, suggesting that the sun probably does not influence the incidence of crime. The increased incidence of crimes on full moon days may be due to "human tidal waves" caused by the gravitational pull of the moon.

The curious flaw in this study to me is what was the crime during a few days before (waxing) and after (waning) a full moon? I wonder if it is not the gravitational pull of the moon, but rather, if the evening is generally clear, the full (and near full) moon produces more light allowing for more deviant activity. Although it is possible that both factors play a roll. A scientific paper would need to rule out a number of variables, night sky condition, day of the week, and the course of a full moon phase from new to full and full to new.

News Article on Full Moon upstaging Perseid Meteor Shower
https://www.space.com/august-full-moon-perseid-meteor-shower-2022

Appropriate to her birthday, is that astronomers say the full moon will upstage the Perseid meteor shower this year. The full moon may not be have curly and swirling red hair, but it still will have an outsized impact this mid-August. The Perseid is one of the strongest meteor showers to occur annually. This coming full moon is called the Sturgeon Moon. I am not sure why, but for some reason every full moon now has to be named. I think this full moon should be referred to as the Red Hair moon. 

Mom Bear Kayaking on Laura Lake

Now, how does this all relate to a haircut, I am not sure of the science of the gravitational pull, although I suspect it is related to mass (the moon mass does not change) and distance of the moon from the earth which can vary. Will there be sufficient gravitational pull on the day before the full moon this August to cause her hair to rise when it will be cut to offset a mm of the cut? Or, will the hair dresser be sufficiently off set by the approaching full moon she just does not do a sufficient job?  If an election falls on a full moon should it be canceled? I mean, will people not be thinking properly when they vote? In the end my spouse's birthday falls on the day of the full moon, I will need to wait and see if anything weird occurs on the day after her hair cut.