hannover-l - Nachricht 2007-08 00154

[PD & LE Strong <plstrong(a)pnc.com.au>]

In the recent discussion of the origin of the surname MEYER / MEIER...

On 9 Aug 2007 Uwe Weddige <Uwe.Weddige(a)web.de> wrote:

> 1492 wurde diese Eidesformel im Bereich des 
> Stiftes Verden umgewandelt in ein verbrieftes 
> Bauernlehen, den sogenannten Meierbrief.

She describes in a definitive answer how the 
MEIER relationship with his feudal lord was 
confirmed in a  Bauernlehen document... the 
so-called Meier letter / document.

Uwe says (my understanding) that in earlier times 
the MEIER relationship involved an oath to be 
faithful and devoted to the feudal lord. 
However, by 1492 the arrangement was documented 
in the "Meierbrief". The Meier document spelled 
out the Meier's obligations to his feudal lord, 
which might be money, a number of days labour, or 
goodsŠ perhaps including seeds, sheaves, manure, 
a "meat tithe" or a tenth of the new-born foals, 
calves, piglets, lambs as well as of chickens, 
geese and bees, and so on.

Can anyone help with these questions:

(1)  What is the meaning / origin of the word 
Bauernlehen?  It is not in any modern German 
dictionary.  My guess it is a farm agreement, but 
the ending "lehen" puzzles me?
	Die Suche nach  Bauernlehen  lieferte keine Treffer

(2)  Was the Bauernlehen the arrangement and the 
Meierbrief the necessary documentation?

(3)  What happened in 1492 to change the 
relationship between the Meier and the feudal 
lord from an oath to all this documentation?
--
        **Philip 
Strong***Email:plstrong(a)pnc.com.au***Blue 
Mountains, Australia**
                     Interest: WEDEMEYER of 
Moringen,  Goslar, Hannover Germany.
Emigrant to Gayndah, Mt Perry, Drummers Creek, 
Yarrol, Walla, Bundaberg  Queensland, Australia.
                         http://www.strong-family.org/wedemeyer/