Newsletter No. 21 Ruswil - September 1995
Contents
Preface 1
The progenitors of the Stirnimann of Ruswil and Neuenkirch 2
The Stirnemann Swiss Descent from Gränichen 6
Farmhouse Lower Rot by National Meaning 10
New Members / Our Board 10
Preface
Dear relatives and cousins
Dear members and friends of our family association
The word association is derived from the activity "connect". You can connect something, you can feel connected. So you see, “connect" has more than one meaning. People with the same family name feel connected. As an expression of this solidarity, they found an association, which is appropriately referred to as a family association. As the president of such a family association, I actually feel connected. Unexpectedly, you meet somewhere on the street or someone else who you have already met at a family conference or another event of our association. A little smile, a few words, and you feel connected through the common family name. Dear cousins from further afield, such as Heinz Stirnemann from the Mark Brandenburg (FRG), Georges Stirnemann from Colmar (F) or Erich Stimemann from California (USA) regularly send words and greetings by post. Unexpectedly, I often receive greetings from family members through neighbors or people from my village. It is not uncommon for interested people with the name Stirnimann or Stirnemann to provide addresses to whom documents about our association can be sent. But our association is also in the fortunate position of having the best-founded research. Our tireless researcher Prof. Dr. Joseph Stirnimann was allowed to do this Summer celebrates his 80th birthday on July 10th. Congratulations and our best congratulations and blessings will accompany him into the next decade.
The executive committee is already dealing with the next meeting in 1996 in Colmar. We have already set the definitive date so that everyone can reserve this date. It is Sunday, September 8th, 1996. We are confident that it will be a nice and eventful conference.
The exhibition of the two original model houses of the Lower-Roth in the Historical Museum in Lucerne ended at the end of August. The board of directors intends to exhibit these two model houses in isolated villages or large commercial buildings at a later date.
I remain with best wishes and best regards
The President
Josef Stirnimann
The progenitors of the Stirnimann von Ruswil and Neuenkirch (continued)
This family tree shows the first three generations of the family of Stirnimann of Ruswil. It begins with Peter, who acquired the farm in the Rot in Ruswil around 1610/11 and became the progenitor of a widespread family. Of his three sons, Hans, the eldest had only female offspring, and Peter, the second, had no offspring. Peter was, presumably by marriage records, and since 1624 a farmer in neighboring Etzenerlen. He was a jury member and judge of the Village Ruswil and made a name for himself through a highly endowed annual foundation and his charitable work. After the son Hans only had female offspring and Peter had no offspring, it was a given that Hans-Jakob, the third son, took over the paternal farm in the Rot. Hans-Jakob, the second progenitor in the Rot, his three sons and his only daughter was discussed in detail in last year's newsletter. Hans-Jakob was one of the richest men not only in the Villiage, but also in the Ruswil bailiff. From the beginning, the Farm in the Rot had around 160 Jucharten. In 1668, after the death of his brother Peter, Hans-Jakob inherited the Etzenerlen farm, which owned 170 Jucharten. In the same year he bought the Upper-Huprächtigen farm in today's Nottwil community for 6,500 guilders with 212 Jucharten land and 28 Jucharten forest as trousseau for his only daughter Elisabeth. In the same year she married Walter Meyer, who ran the farm and later held the offices of tax collector and judge. Hans-Jakobs three farms had a total size of 542 Jucharten, according to today's figures 197 hectares.
The farmer in the Rot had three sons: Sebastian, Hans and Peter, as well as the already mentioned daughter Elisabeth. The sons Sebastian and Hans took over the farms Etzenerlen and Rot, Hans stayed in Rot, Sebastian moved to Etzenerlen. With these two brothers the family divided into the two tribes Rot and Etzenerlen. Peter, the third son, became a monk with the religious name Jodok or Jost in the Benedictine monastery of Muri in Freiamt in Aargau.
The previous circulars dealt mainly with the families and descendants of the ancestors in the Rot. The following circulars and articles are:
No. 6 (1980): Innkeepers for "Three Swiss" in Lucerne and professional fishermen = descendants of Peter Stirnimann-Schwegler (1694-1769).
No. 14 (1988): Hans-Jakob Stirnimann (1598-1670)
No. 15 (1989): Hans Stirnimann-Zimmermann CM 675)
No. 16 (1990): The Peter Stirnimann-Steiner brothers (1667-1741) Upper Rot, and Leonz Stirnimann-Bühlmann (16711741), Lower Rot
No. 17 (1991): Leonz Stirnimann-Bühlmann (1671-1741) and his house, Lower Rot
No. 18 (1992): The sons and daughters of Leonz Stirnimann-Bühlmann (1671-1741)
No. 19 (1993): The division protocol of Peter Stirnimann-Schegler (1694-1769), Unter Rot
No. 20 (1994): Joseph Stirnimann-Willimann (1722-1795), Lower Rot, and Adam Stirnimann-Meyer (approx. 1700-1785), Mittelarig
The following circulars dealt with the descendants of Sebastian Stirnimann, who took over the Etzenerlen farm and became the progenitor of Stirnimann of Etzenerlen:
No. 3 (1977): The Stirnimann of Neuenkirch, especially Franz Stirnimann, the founder of the construction machinery factory Stirnimann in Olten
No. 4 (1978): The former Stirnimann family in the Saal
No. 8 (1982): The family Stirnimann of Front-Etzenerlen
No. 9 (1983): The Stirnimann-Betschart pedigree
Claus Niederberger mentions in his treatise on the seven generations of the Stirnimann family in the Rot their "great economic, cultural and political influence in the Ruswil office" (The Lower Rot farmhouse in Ruswil. The farm and the Stirnimann families. In: Yearbook of Historical Society Luzern, Volume 7, 1989, p. 43 ff., esp. p. 47 ff.). The same thing applies in an even more pronounced way to the family in Etzenerlen, as two of his ancestors were official men, i.e. the highest officials of the Ruswil bailiff after the bailiff, and one was an official ensign.
The oldest farms of the Stirnimann families in Ruswil
In this and the following circulars, we now speak of the families in Etzenerlen. The start is made by their progenitor: Sebastian Stirnimann.
Sebastian Stirnimann (approx. 1630 / 33-1679)
It can be considered safe that Sebastian will like too his brother Hans as sons of Hans-Jakob and his first wife Barbara Bucher on the farm Meienberg was born in Village Buttisholz and how her four siblings in the local parish church were baptized. The baptism of the Sebastian brothers and Hans is not the one in question in any baptismal register coming parishes (Sursee, Buttisholz, Nottwil, Ruswil) - a much-lamented offense default of the pastor at the time. That the brothers Sebastian and Hans are the sons of Hans-Jakob Stirnimann and his wife Barbara Bucher firmly on the basis of the purchase letter the two of them to her brother Peter on March 20, 1673 Profession as a monk in the Benedictine monastery of Muri exhibited, and is also used by the latter in his Diary testifies. That parents were their first Giving his son Sebastian the name was anything but coincidental. St. Sebastian (feast January 20th) was a Roman martyr of the Diocletian persecution of Christians. According to legend, he was shot with arrows and has therefore always been portrayed that way. Since the Middle Ages, the saint has been the patron saint against the plague and other epidemics of humans and animals in many countries, including us. The members of the, also very popular in Switzerland, after St. Sebastian named brotherhoods, cared for those suffering from the plague and buried them. The St Sebastian and St Sebastian Brotherhood has existed in Ruswil since 1566. The terrible plague, which also struck Ruswil in the years 1620-1630, was very probably not yet extinguished by the birth of Hans-Jakob's first son, least of all forgotten. By having their son baptized in the name of Sebastian, the parents recommended their son to the saint's intercession. The name Sebastian has remained a popular first name for the Stirnimann families in Etzenerlen until recently.
After the death of his father, Sebastian rounded off his property through several land acquisitions. On January 20, 1671, he bought the goods of their brother Hans Richli in Geissbach from the brothers Jost and Caspar Richli for 1315 guilders. - On March 9 of the same year, Mölcher Schmid of Hertzenerlen syn Hof and Güötli give the Baschi Stirnemann to couffe umb 1450 guilders”. On January 18, 1673 "Hans Geisseler sold the honorable judge Sebastian Stirnemann to Hertzenerlen sin gantz Sässhof and Guot there for 3300 guilders". - Geisselermatt is still reminiscent of this former farm of the Geissel family.
Juror and Judge
Sebastian Stirnimann was a jury member of the Village Ruswil. The jury, also known as the advocate, was the finder of the verdict who decided in the last instance with the governor or his deputy, the official man, on matters that did not exceed the value of 99 guilders. They were also the official appraisers of the land and were responsible for the correctness of the appraisal with their property. The jury was elected by the local community on the biennial oath days. The jury who presided over the Village Court was called a judge. Since 1670 Sebastian Stirnimann has been regularly named judge in the parish account book and in the church registers. Sebastian Stirnimann was therefore the chairman or chief of the village court.
Maria Helfenstein
On a red background, a black straight edge or an angular figure - after the seal of Clevi Helfenstein, Schultheiss in Sempach 1488-1501
Sebastian Stirnimann married twice. He concluded his first marriage on May 11, 1655 in the parish church of Sursee (he was still in the Rot, which belonged to the parish of Sursee) with Maria Helfenstein, who was the Daughter of Kirchmeiers Fridolin Helfenstein, farmer in Voglisberg in Village Neuenkirch, and Margaretha Gassmann. The Helfenstein family is first documented in Lucerne in 1439 with Jakob Helfenstein in Aebermoos in Sempach. The family took a leading position in the political life of the city, but especially since the 17th century in the Rothenburg office. Clevi Helfenstein was mayor of Sempach five times from 1488 to 1501, Heinrich Helfenstein four times from 1514 to 1534. Helfenstein farmers have been farmers in Kirchbühl ob Sempach since the middle of the 16th century. In 1562, Fridlin Helfenstein of Kirchbühl donated an eternal year to the parish church of Semach. This Fridlin's son Onuphrius (also written Offrion and Offrid) moved to Neuenkirch and in 1584 he renewed the right to resign in Sempach. This Onuphrius or his son Fridolin acquired the Voglisberg farm in Village Neuenkirch, which his descendants owned until the 18th century. Fridolin Helfenstein also renewed the right to resign in Sempach in 1632. The Ausburger had certain privileges in their hometown, including the right to move as well as customs and mark money relief. The aforementioned Fridolin Helfenstein was, as one must assume, a wealthy and respected personality, after all, he bought on November 20 In 1647 the patrician of Lucerne Karl Christoph of Fleckenstein and his mother Margaritha Pfyffer bought the Wartensee estate for 1,500 guilders. However, the purchase contract was annulled as a result of the right to train, i.e. pre-emption, which a close relative of the seller asserted. Fridolin Helfenstein and his wife Margaretha Gassmann were the parents of Maria Helfenstein, the first wife of Sebastian Stirnimann. Unfortunately, like her husband's, her baptism was not entered in the baptismal register either in Sempach or Neuenkirch. However, their ancestry is perfectly established on the basis of a receipt issued at Easter 1662, with which Sebastian Stirnimann gave his wife's brother, i.e. Michel Helfenstein of Waligen in the office of Rothenburg confirmed the delivery of his wife's dowry in the amount of 2825 guilders.
Of the seven children Maria Helfenstein gave to her husband in their almost ten-year marriage, only the son Peter - who later became the official - and the two daughters Maria and Margaritha grew up. Maria was married in her first marriage to Peter Wüest in Vorder-Pfaffenschwand, a son of the official Johann Wüest, in her second marriage to Adam Imgrüt. According to P. Jost's diary (page 55), Margaritha was the wife of Joseph Huwiler in Bentzischwil - today Benziwil - in Kilchgang Emmen and Amt Rothenburg and died there, presumably of a birth on June 19, 1687. Again according to a diary entry (p.3) by P. Jost died on 04/10/1674 "my blood relative Anna, the daughter of my brother Sebastian, as a result of poisoning; through which incident she ingested the poison is not certain; two other of her sisters, namely Maria and Margeritha, were in the same mortal danger with the maid, but thank God they regained their previous health. “
Both the Ruswil parish's death register and Father Jost's diary report the death and burial of Maria Helfenstein. P. Jost reports that she died as a result of the birth of two boys. He writes (in German translation): "On May 6th, 1673, the wife of my brother Sebastian, Maria Helfenstein, died with two boys, whose birth made her so weak that they soon after the death of their sons (who were indeed baptized , but were not baptized by a priest) God gave their soul back, as I hope "(Diary, p.2).
Sempach at the time of the mayor Clevi Helfenstein (Diebold Schilling's picture chronicle 1513)
Rosina Wüest
Probably in 1673 - the entry in the marriage register was neglected - Sebastian concluded a second marriage with Rosina Wüest, the daughter of the respected Ruswil official Johann Wüest. Her name can not be found in the Ruswil baptismal register, but she is identified as the daughter of the official man in the division protocol. ' Johann Wüest lived, like his father Peter, on the large farm Vorder-Pfaffenschwand east of the village of Ruswil on the southern slope of the Ruswil mountain, from where you have a wonderful view of the valley and the opposite hill with the hamlet of Sigigen. In addition to this farm, Weibel Wüest owned the farms Unter-Tännli, Ober-Eichig and Wermelingen. With a total of 389 Jucharten land was the official man
Pilgrimage to Rome
As Fr Jost reports in his diary (p.4), Sebastian made a pilgrimage to the tombs of the apostles Peter and Paul in Rome on March 10th or 11th, 1675 to win the jubilee indulgence. At that time Clemens X. (1670-1676) was Pope, he was best known for his active support of the Polish king Johannes Sobieski against the Turks. The farmer from Etzenerlen probably made his long and strenuous pilgrimage on horseback and with others. During Sebastian's absence, as we learn from Father Jost, his brother Hans died, leaving five children alive. The death register of the parish church in Sursee reports the death of Hans Stirnimann in der Rot on April 23, 1675.
Sebastian Stirnimann died on January 1st, 1679. The division protocol seems to have been lost. His young widow married Sebastian Bösch on May 26, 1680, to whom she gave birth to six children. After his death, Rosina Wüest entered into a third marriage with Nikolaus Melchior Bründler, to whom she gave birth to two children.
Joseph Stirnimann
Remarks
1 P. Rudolf Henggeler OSB, The Church Brotherhoods and Guilds of Central Switzerland. Einsiedeln undated, p. 266
2 Lucerne State Archives, Cod. 4130: Valid and purchase records of the Ruswil Office, f. 192
3 Ibid. f. 200.
4 Ibid. f. 291-294
5 Anton Philipp von Segesser, Legal History of the City and Republic of Lucerne, 3rd vol, Lucerne 1857, p. 252
6 Alfred Helfenstein, Die Helfenstein, 1972, p. 162 ff.
7 Lucerne State Archives, Private Archives, Vol. 7, 18321/885.
8 Ibid. Cod. 4130: Valid and purchase protocols of the Ruswil office, f. 53
9 Ruswil community archive, division protocols, vol. 1, p. 467 ff.
The Stirnemann of Swiss descent
From Horw to Gränichen
Georges Stirnemann, services director of the Alsatian city of Colmar, has researched the Swiss descent of Gränichen. In a three-part series, we are publishing his research results in three newsletters.
The family of the Stirnimann / Stirnemann family is first documented in 1352 in Horw on Lake Lucerne. The name is most likely derived from the name of the field, Stirnrüti, which still exists there today. Since that time, the bearers of our name in Horw and the surrounding area have been fiefdoms of the Benedictine monastery of St. Leodegar in the city of Luzen, which belonged to the oldest property of the Alsatian Benedictine monastery in Murbach. In 1291 the abbot of Murbach ceded the city of Lucerne to Austria. Since 1408 our family has also been recorded in Sempach. Based on a court testimony, it is clear that Horw was also involved. In the years 1441 and 1447 Henzmann (—Heinrich) Stirnemann took over the office of mayor in Sempach. Since then, our family name has almost completely disappeared in the canton of Lucerne and appears first sporadically, then more and more frequently in the southwestern area of today's Aargau, which borders the canton of Lucerne. These immigrations or relocations took place, so to speak, in connection with the conquest of Aargau in 1415, to which King Sigismund had asked the Confederates as neighbors of the outlawed Austrian Duke Friedrich IV. Lucerne then extended its territory to what is now the northern border. We have every reason to assume that the members of our family who were then resident in the Lucerne area and in Sempach also took part in this campaign as mercenaries and got to know both the northern area of what is now the canton of Lucerne and what is now southern Aargau.
The first proven bearer of our name in today's Aargau is the church clerk Werner Stirnemann in Uerkheim, his descendants stayed there until around 1530. It is very likely that the namesake in neighboring Safenwil until 1531 came from Uerkheim. In Zofingen, the family held a respected position for several decades from the end of the 15th century until they either moved away or went extinct. Since the first half of the 16th century, the Stirnemanns are attested in the communities of Zetzwil and Gränichen. In 1540, Hans Stirnemann was under bailiff in Gränichen. One of the oldest and most valuable houses in Gränichen is still the Vogthaus, also known as the "Kitzenhaus", which has been the seat and property of the Stirnemann family for many generations. To this day, the Stirnemanns are the most numerous family in this community. Most of the Stirnemanns of the Aargau are still today, as one would like to know, citizens of Gränichen. The Stirnemann Lehenmüller were in Aarburg from 1589 to the middle of the 17th century.
Effects of the Reformation
The split in faith in the sixteenth century affected our families as well. In 1525, under the leadership of Huldrych Zwingli, the Reformation was fully implemented in Zurich. The Catholic Mass, the images and the veneration of the saints were abolished and the evangelical Lord's Supper was introduced. In the disputation organized by the Catholics of the inner places in Baden (May 1526), the Reformation was rejected. In 1528 the Reformation was introduced in Bern and St. Gallen, in 1529 in Basel and Schaffhausen. As a result, the Reformed cities concluded the "Christian Castle Law" among themselves and with the surrounding areas. The five Catholic towns formed the "Christian Association" with Ferdinand of Austria. On June 9, 1529 the first Kappel War took place. The Reformation spread to the common lords. Thereupon the catholic places declared the war, which on 1 1. October 1531 led to a defeat of the Reformed at Kappel (= Second Kappel War), in which Zwingli was also killed. In the second Kappeler Landfrieden decided the equality of the two denominations. Anyone who did not remain Catholic in a canton that remained Catholic (e.g. Lucerne) or who wanted to stay with the old faith in a canton that had been reformed (e.g. Bern, Aargau) had to emigrate. In the cantons and areas that remained Catholic, emigration was an exception.
In contrast, in the newly believing cantons such as Zurich and Bern, a relatively large number of residents have moved to Catholic areas. Since 1531, seven Stirnemanns emigrated within a few years, as can be assumed, with their families from the Reformed Aargau, which at that time belonged to Bern, to the northern canton of Lucerne.
HORW 1352 Ueli of Stirnrüti lives in an old property of the Murbach monastery
LUZERN 1385 Certified presence of Ueli Stirnemann
SEMPACH 1408 Attended presence in connection with the water bailiwick
1434 Hans Stirnemann, former fisherman in Winkel in the south of Horw
ÜRKHEIM 1457 Werner Stirnemann
1481 Hans Stimemann
ZOFINGEN 1484 Hans and Heinrich are listed in the millers and guardians' register of craftsmen
1513 Hans is a master miller, citizen and member of the Zofinger council
1519 Hans drowns on a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady in Schöntal in Baselland
(This pilgrimage was mainly undertaken at the time of the plague).
1520 Certified presence of Hans Stirneniann (and Rudolph for the same period)
1521 Gränichen comes to Zofingen, after previously belonged to Blotzheim and Lucelle in Alsace
1534 Hans Stirnemann, lathe operator
Hans Stirnemann, Müller
The family died out in Zofingen at the end of the 16th century
ZETZWIL 1523 Stirnemann, Müller in Zetzwil
GRÄNICHEN 1531 Stirneniann Hans, subordinate in Gränichen
The Family in GRÄNICHEN
GRÄNICIIEN
Gränichen is a small town in the lower located in Wynental. The one that is well embedded in the valley River has a pleasant influence on the climate. On the other hand are in the upper act the localities Reinach and Menzingen caused by a more humid climate disadvantaged by moor fumes.
The area was already in the 4th millennium when colonized. From the time and culture of the Romans attest to numerous finds. "GRANARIUM ", originally a grain store for the Romans, may have resulted in the name Gränichen. From In the 5th century, the village experienced the alenianic culture, and so many localities like "Rollewilli", "Jungriiii", "Neufit", "Riitihon" Riltihöhli "come from this time. Source spirit "GRANNUS" among the Celts would be another possibility of naming GRÄNICHEN.
Indeed, the first written mention of "GENECHON" dates from 1184. In 1364 Rudolph of Austria hands over the church revenue of Gränichen to the Blotzheim convent in Alsace (Blotzheim was dependent on the Murbach convent as early as 728 and was conquered by the Habsburgs in 1259. The division took place under King XIV.
The church rights of Gränichen are subsequently handed over to the Cistercian monastery of Lucelle, which is also located in Sundgau (Alsace). Since the 12th century, this monastery has owned goods in more than 16 French-speaking towns, most of which are now part of Switzerland. (In 1291 the monastery received a court from the abbess of Zurich). The large forest between Oberlarg and Winckel in Switzerland was also owned by the monastery. Lucelle owned seven monasteries, including St. Urban in the canton of Lucerne (1191) and Frienisberg (Mons Aurora) in Aarberg (1131). The following monasteries were dependent on Lucelle Abbey:
- Kleinlützel (Switzerland)
- Olsperg (near Kleinfelden)
- Obermichelbach
- Eschenbach (Canton of Lucerne)
- Michelfelden (2450 transferred to Blotzheim and 1450 also to Lucelle)
- Eigenhal (Switzerland)
At the time of the Habsburgs, some areas of Gränichen were transferred to the St. Urban monastery. In 1415 the Habsburgs lose Aargau, Gränichen is administered by Bern and is part of the Bailiwick of Lenzburg, as well as Safenwil, Ürkheim, Bottenwil, Reitnau, Kirchlerau, Beinwil, Egliswil, Entfelden, Suhr (with Buchs and Rohr) etc. In the vicinity of Gränichen, in the south of the village, the Liebegg Castle is on a hill. For many years it was the seat of the family of the same name and allied with Trostburg. In 1415, in order to avoid the destruction of the castle, the von Liebegg family joined the Bernese invaders. The family later took over the castle and Luternau carried out a complete restoration. One can ask oneself whether a pocket watch, made in Zurich, with an engraving and the inscription "STIRNEMANN", which has been kept by the family until now, represents this lock. Indeed, previous engravings on this structure do not appear to be identical to the engraving on this watch. The question therefore remains open.
The abbot of Lucelle received the general vicariate of the Cistercians for Germany, i.e. for Swabia, Bavaria, Franconia and Switzerland in the Holy See. In 1521 he sold the community rights of Gränichen to the Zofingen monastery. The monastery was destroyed to the ground by a fire in 1524. After the arrival of the Swedes, the monks move to the Lövenburg (bought in Switzerland in 1526). You will not return to Alsace until 1656. One can imagine more and more how important the relations between Gränichen, Zofingen, Aargau and Switzerland in general and the upper Rhine / Alsace, especially the Sundgau, were, where the first Swiss immigrants of the STIRNEMANN family will later gain a foothold.
The first STIRNEMANN from GRÄNICHEN
The subordinate
Gränichen was under the rule of the chief bailiff of Lenzburg. He appointed his subordinate officials, namely the village governor and subordinate. These were responsible for the local administration and the judiciary. From 1531 there was a certain Hans Stirnemann, subordinate bailiff of Gränichen, he was responsible for the administration of justice, his superior was Sulpicius Haller, the governing bailiff of Lenzburg. Did Hans come from Safenwil, Zofingen, Zetzwil, Kirchlerau or elsewhere? The question still needs to be clarified.
The bailiff
A little later, and already in the oldest community accounts from 1534, there is talk of a poor bailiff, called STIRNEMANN. He took care of the poor and sheltered them. He supported the numerous without permanent residence, wandering beggars. These vagabonds were recruited from all regions. In order to document their misery, they were provided with a letter of recommendation from Bern magistrates, the Lenzburger bailiff or a preacher. Often in these letters it is mentioned what is to be given to these poor. The poor steward gave them one Roof for the night, a soup, and a few chunks the next morning for going on. If these beggars were old and weak, they had to be led by the arm-bailiff on a hand cart to the village boundary in order to save the community the burial fees as well as the care costs. Certainly, death was often quicker than the arm-bailiff, who was then responsible for the funeral after all. The poor deceased then had to be entered in the register as follows: "A grave had to be shoveled for the burial of someone without property: 8 lumps". In 1539 the following assistance was registered:
"For a guy from Schwyz, victim of a fire: 2 chunks”
"For 2 Burgundy buddies, sacrifice of a bran des: 4 chunks”
"1542 for a persecuted preacher: 2 chunks”
The arm-bailiff also had to support other people: e.g. begging students. 1562: "Mild gift to two students". Perhaps the bailiff preferred these idle students who moved from university to university and from country to country. With small services they tried to get some money. Mostly they had the gift of flowery telling interesting stories about their wanderings and also about what was going on in the big world. It also happened that from time to time they were asked to write a letter, to write a short text for the bailiff or to entertain him in the evening with wandering songs.
Justice Men, Soldiers or Millers?
"STIRNEMANN" still appears in the number register in 1536. In 1540 a STIRNEMANN subordinate is mentioned and in 1542 Hans STIRNEMANN, former subordinate of Gränichen, mediator and witness in the sale of the Schultheissenrain (field of an officer). In 1545 Hans STIRNEMANN was subordinate and the same post was occupied by Lukas STIRNEMANN from 1552-1564.
In 1558 Gränichen had 51 households. In the list of the inhabitants of this time one can find:
- Hans STIRNEMANN the boy
- Hans STIRNEMANN the big one
- Lux STIRNEMANN (Lux: Lukas, Luc)
In 1574 the small village had 30 armed men as well as a drummer and a Pfeiffer. The three STIRNEMANN can again be found among the residents.
Hans has a spit and other weapons (maybe Hans the Elder).
Hans has all the equipment: weapons, armor and spit (maybe Hans the Younger).
Lux also owns all the equipment and skewers.
A schoolmaster mentioned becaming a schoolmaster in Gränichen as early as 1576. In the register of 1596, 90 taxpaying citizens are listed, including of course the STIRNEMANN families, but also Näf, who can be found in Alsace, allied with the STIRNEMANN of Ensisheim. In fact, on Palm Sunday 1596, the community of Gränichen bought half of the community forest, which for the most part belonged to him, from Augustin Luternau (from Liebegg Castle). The selling price was 9700 guilders. A tax was levied to pay the installments. The citizens of Gränichen enjoyed a reputation as neighbors or subordinates, and they were honest, pious, hard-working and honorable. According to the historian Max Byland, the name STIRNEMANN means: The man with a high forehead and a raised head. But the most obvious and most likely is that the name derives from the field name, Stirnrüti, which still exists today, on the hill above Horw on Lake Lucerne. Benni Stirneman spoke to me of a Stir-(ne)-mann, collector or tax man. Still another version wants to see the STIRNEMANN as a soldier, primarily fighting in battle. A final explanation is also given based on the etymology Sternemann, Man of the Stars.
Did the STIRNEMANN, by profession Müller, come from the neighboring Zetzwil to Gränichen? In photos from 1915 and 1920 in the publication "Gränichen, Pictures of Past Time", one discovers the old mill, the house from 1600 and a loaded wagon in front of the old mill. In 1927 this building was converted into a residential building. A little earlier we find the STIRNEMANN with the millers from Gränichen allied.
Georges Stirnemann
Colmar
Farmhouse Lower Rot in Ruswil of National Importance
Seven years after the first edition, the Federal Department of Justice and Police, Federal Office for Civil Protection, recently published the new 527-page Swiss inventory of cultural assets of national and regional importance and a corresponding geographic map.
The directory, sorted by cantons and communes, contains 1,650 works by that means nationwide, and 6600 objects of regional importance. 200 objects previously valued regionally were assigned to the category of national importance. The decisive criteria for the selection of the objects were their prehistoric and historical, aesthetic and artistic, typological folklore, social and other scientific significance.
In the case of the locality, objects of national importance are listed first under A and those of regional importance under B. In Ruswil there are only two buildings of national importance, that is to say of nationwide importance: the parish church of St. Mauritius and the farmhouse Lower Rot (1705). The following are of regional importance in Ruswil:
- the rectory
- in Buholz the chapel St. Gallus and Erasmus
- in Rüediswil the chapel St. Ulrich and Afra
- the village square
The new "Swiss Lexicon", Volume 5 (Lucerne 1993), mentions our parent homestead on page 456 in the article about Ruswil: The Lower Rot farmhouse from 1705 has a late Gothic block building from 1520 as its core.
Joseph Stirnimann
New Members
Stirnimann, Karin
Akhtals 17
6020 Emmenbrücke
Stirnimann-Reber, Lisbeth
Äschenthürl istrasse 78
6030 Ebikon
Hunziker-Stirnimann, Rita
Neuheim 4a
6275 Ballwil
Stirnimann, Jürgen
Birkengrund 7
D-16816 Neuruppin FRG
Our Board
President: Josef Stirnimann-Haas, Realteacher, Unter-Sonnerbergli, 6017 Ruswil
Vice-President: Prof. Dr. Joseph Stirnimann, Adligenswilerstrasse 11, 6006 Lucerne
Actuary: Josef Stirnimann-Marina, Engineer HTL, Röhrliberg 4, 6330 Cham
Treasurer: Alois Stirnimann-Zihlmann, Managing Director, Berghalde 6, 6110 Wohlhusen
Material Manager: Maria Stirnimann-Schenkermayr, Spyr 18, 6017 Ruswil
Secretary: Philomena Bartholdi-Stirnimann, Steinhauserstrasse 19, 6300 Zug
Address Manager: Franz Stirnimann-Bühlmann, businessman, Grüneggstrasse 30, 6005 Lucerne
Member: Othmar Stirnemann, manufacturer, Hubelstrasse, 6204 Sempach
Fritz Stirnemann-Dittli, Berninastrasse 25, 8057 Zurich
Honary president: Hans Stirnimann-Haupt, retired teacher, Rüediswilerstrasse 42, 6017 Ruswil
Auditor: Josef Stirnimann, PTT officer, Wolfisbühl, 6020 Emmenbrücke
Hans Stirnimann-Schuhmacher, ed. Official, Schöneggstrasse 45, 6048 Horw
The President asks for contributions, notifications and suggestions for the circular
Enclosed payment slip for the 1995 membership fee of CHF 15.