Ahnen mütterlicherseits   maternal ancestors

Ahnen  väterlicherseits     paternal ancestors 

Brief synopsis of Baden life 1618 to 1858

by Birgit Gerstner with english support by M. Edwards

Baden is a county in the southwest part of Germany. In the west is the river Rhein. A part of it is the border to Alsace, France. Baden was also know as the "Granddutchy" at the time the Markgraves of Baden were residing in their palace in Karlsruhe.

Historical Map

The places mentioned below are in the red marked area

Modern Map of the places mentioned below

The people of the Baden area, throughout history, have suffered many terrible wars. 

The Thirty Years War of 1618 -1648 involved many countries such as Netherlands, France, Austria, Spain, Germany, Denmark and Sweden. 

Catholics and Protestants fought in many parts of Germany, with many places and people burned and destroyed (some as witches). Many people fled the towns villages to live in the woods and forests, facing natural hazards like wolves and other wildlife. The population of the Baden area was reduced by 70%. Over one third of all towns and cities in Germany were destroyed.

During 1660 the area of Forchheim  suffered with a terrible plague called the "black death".  

In the year 1683 the church conducted a census of the area. In Elchesheim lived at that time 18 families, Neuburgweier 9 families, Durmersheim 30 families, Würmersheim 13 families, Mörsch 34 families and Forchheim 11 families.
1689 french troops invaded this part of Baden and destroyed Elchesheim and the surrounding villages. They burned down the schools, churches, farms and city-halls.

This  area of Baden which is close to the river Rhein was made up of estates owned by the nobilty and the church. The local people lived and farmed on these estates. 

Some time later they could buy farmland and build their own farms but still had to pay duty to the government.

The Farmers often experienced periods of drought, leaving them a little food for themselves and their livestock. Following the drought was then a  period of heavy rainfall, resulting in crops rotting and decomposing in the fields. These were times of great hardship. 

These farms were inherited by the children and split equally amongst them, making each property smaller and unable to sustain family life and pay the duties required. 

An example of this is Gabriel Zeller who's emigration notes to Hungary state that his inheritence was of so little value it would not support him for more than 8 days. (mentioned in the book of Durmersheim written by Martin Burkart)

Hence many people emigrated 1761- 1771 to Hungary in hope of a better life.

It was required to have the permission of the local government to leave Baden. This permission entailed a payment of a duty consisting of 25% of the assets of the person wishing to leave. The duty was 10% of the money they wanted to take with them, 10% to release themselves from their duties to the local government or lord, 2% toward local debts and 3% for administration expenses.

During the 18th century the villages and towns around the river Rhine, such as Elchesheim-Illingen and others often suffered neighbourhood battles. The Rhine would often flood causing local people to use and farm in places considered to belong to their neighbours. Then on occasions even the borders were changed with the change in path of the river, often causing more problems as local people continued to use land they did before. Consiquently much fighting occurred.

An example of this can be found in the book Elchesheim-Illingen by Heinz Bischof. During Feb of 1777 the woodmanager from the village of Lauterburg went to the woods that had prevously belonged to the village of Illingen. Here he met 2 woodsmen from Illingen chopping wood and asked what they were doing there. One of the men replied rudely using a bible passage "the one with eyes may see". The woodmanager then asked for both of their axes.

This time the woodman used even worse profanity and told the woodmanager to leave, whilst the other woodman shook the woodmanger and threatened him with his axe saying "he had better leave because this would be the wood of Illingen and Lauterburg people had no rights here."

The woodmanager pushed himself away from the men insulting them as he did so. He told them he was employed by Lauterburg to manage the woods and they had no rights being there. Both woodsmen then proceeded to beat the woodmanager unconscious with an axe and a heavy branch. He awoke later covered in bumps bruises and cuts and stumbled into the village of Illingen to have his wounds tended to, only to find the people there laughed at him. The two woodsmen were however later prosecuted for assaulting the woodmanager. Listed in the book there is also copy of the bill from the doctor who treated him. He was given special water for his wounds, a medicine for his digestion, a laxitive and he was bled. He survived both - his battle and his treatment from the doctor.

French revolution 1789-1799

The revolution in France spread across the boarder to Germany causing unrest in the local population of the villages in Baden. The Markgrave despatched soldiers to the area to dispel the unrest and to prevent any further spread of the rebellion.

An estate manager was in charge of the duties of the local peasants. One of his jobs was to notify the local government if the peasants didn't perform their duties correctly.

At this time the estate manager from Ettlingen informed the government that the people from Steinmauern, Elchesheim, Ötigheim, Bietigheim, Würmersheim, Durmersheim and Au am Rhein worked inefficiently due to the unrest in the area. Purposely bringing 37 horses with them when they mowed the fields, knowing it would cost the government to feed them. 

(mentioned in the book of Durmersheim from Martin Burkart) 

During 1789 allied austrian troops guarded the german border at the Rhein.

By 1792 many French revolution refugees had crossed the borders into Baden-Germany.

Many people died from typhoid in 1794. In the same year people complained of french cavalary stealing grain and provisions for their horses.  

During 1795 the government provided peas, grain, hay and straw as there was not enough food and supplies for the local people.

The mayor of Elchesheim-Illingen got an order to put 6 armed guards at the ferry on the river to prevent unkown people coming to this part of Baden.

In June 1796 French troops crossed the river Rhein.

The French and Austrian soldiers in the area threatened to burn the village of Elchesheim to the ground unless they were paid 1000 gulden each. Which of course they did.

The following account of the situation in the area during 1796 was recorded by the then Mayor of Elchesheim." One night after a battle between Austrian and French soldiers, the Austrians came into the village to warn the local inhabitants that there were dead french soldiers in the fields. They were under no account to rob and loot the bodies. 

The following day 2 boys from Elchesheim guided austrian soldiers to the neighbouring village of Steinmauern to assess the french position.

The French seeing the civilians, knew they were from Elchesheim, and on the preceding day dispatched an officer to the village. Here he was to order that the mayor should supply both money and food or be hung by the neck till dead. 

The Mayor on arrival at Steinmauern found the General sitting at the table a rope already laying in front of him. His plea for mercy,that he had no food or money,and was not responsible for the Austrians, was heard by some of the French soldiers. They were able to identify that he had not been present the previous day, saving his life. In other villages, such as Bietigheim, where similar things happened, men were shot. (found in the book Elchesheim-Illingen by Heinz Bischof)

During the month of July 1796 there was a very bloody battle between the French and Austrians somewhere between the villages of Malsch and Durmersheim. Many were killed during the battle, bodies still being found 3 days later. It is unknown the exact death toll. The Austrians beating the French and sending them into retreat. Their success was to be short lived however, soon after the French regained control of the Rhein valley.

On August 22, 1796 Markgrave Karl Friedrich von Baden signed a contract for peace. He had to pay a high war tax and had to allow the French to march through Baden. 

1806 Baden joined the "Rheinbund" the Confederation of the Rhine.  

(more information can be found here) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederation_of_the_Rhine

The Baden area was greatly increased by the addition of lands previously held by Austria. For this, Baden had to support Napoleon and his wars. Badeners fought under the French flag in 1806/1807 against Prussia, in 1808 and 1813 in Spain and in 1809 in Austria. In 1812 Baden sent 6766 soldiers to Russia, only 400 were to return.

From 1803 new laws existed allowing emigration to America and Russia. Agents of the Russian crown offered these promises to the german people: Land donation, interest-free credit, exemption from taxes for 10 years, autonomy, freedom of religion, exemption from military service.

Those wishing to emigrate to Russia were required to have a certified "leumundszeugnis" granting them release from their duties or freedom to leave the country and that they were fit to leave Germany. They would then receive the necessary documents, from Russian representitives, allowing them entry to Russia.

(from the book of Josef Häßler, Zur Auswanderung aus Baden nach Rußland.)

Between 1803 and 1809 there were 67 families that left the Baden area to live in Russia.

Those that chose to stay in the Baden area made their living by working as farmers, weavers, builders, millers, washerwomen, sockknitter, innkeepers, midwife, blacksmith, barber, fishermen, goldwasher, teacher, shoemaker, waggoner, butcher, carpenter, tailor, grocer, postofficer, chemist, priest, basketmaker, cooper, woodenshoemaker, ferryman, soldiers ......

Here are a few examples

Josef Vogel wrote about his life: I am born  in Hagenbach, a poor villiage not far away from Alsace. My father, his wife and 2 children had to live in a room of 16 metres squared He was a weaver. And had to work in the same room where we were living, eating and sleeping. The weaving loom taking up half the space in the room. My father worked from early morning until late night. When he had finished his work he was paid a little money, bread, potatoes or other food. 

(Hagenbach by Hermann Dreizehnter)

Tobias Ganz of Au Am Rheien applied for permission to open a grocery. His application was denied by the Mayor on the grounds that he would already be in debt, that he was a smuggler of sugar, coffee and wine and two already existing groceries had also objected. His time would be better servered working harder on his fields to get bread for wife and children. 

(Heimatbuch Au am Rhein by Heinz Bischof) 

In 1845 Gold was discovered in California America, prompting many to leave Germany In the hope of striking it lucky themselves.

Revolution in Baden

In the years 1847-1849 Baden was gripped by a revolution championed by the popular radical Friedrich Hecker. Amongst his demands were a democratic republic, more rights for the people of Baden, social security, equality and removal of  privilegs from the nobility. He later went on to become the president of the Volksverein.

He declared Baden a demoratic republic. His intention was to move through  the Rhine valley to conquer Karlsruhe the captial of Baden. The troops of Baden and Hesse marched against him and his rebells and on April 20, 1848 Hecker and his republican fighters  were completely defeated.

Hecker fled to Switzerland and later emigrated to Belleville, Illinois in America

Many of the rebels, also left Germany to escape punishment.

During the second uprising in 1849 the prussian troops had victories over the Baden insurgents, many rebels being shot. The local Baden army was soon after disbanded, only to be rebuilt later, but now under prussian control.

Following the defeats of the rebellion, there were many sympathisers remaining.

Examples such as this " Some people met in the pub of Joseph Melcher in Au am Rhein to talk about that rebellion. Discussing things like when these father and brother murderers (local Baden army) come back home, they should be shot down day or night. The time will come that on every tree will hang one of them. "  can be found in the book "Heimatbuch Au am Rhein by Heinz Bischof"

Many emigrated illegally (without german permission) to America,along with those who didn't want to serve the German/Prussian army.

Those who didn't join the army by a specific date had to pay 100 gulden, or serve 32 days jail, unless they could provide a substitute to serve in their place.

By the early 1850s America was thought to be the land of opportunity. Neighbours and friends already there, wrote back home, telling of land that was freely available and work that was in plenty.

Baden emigration figures for 1850 and 1851 were respectively 2432 and 9047 people. Peaking in 1852 with 13217 and declining to 7687 people by 1853.

Most settled at Iowa, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Poorer families received help emigrating from the german government, who would supply their ticket and even clothing in some situations. It was considered cheaper to do this, than to feed and house them for a number of years in Germany.

It was required by the German government, that the emigrants in America, should they wish to marry there ,should seek government approval. Failing to do so, they would forfeit not only their nationality but also any lands they still owned remaining in Germany. Possibly incurring fines also.

Here is an example taken from a newsletter of the Historical Society Rheinstetten

During 1858 Joseph Braeutigam married in America without German permission. The German government seized any remaining capital Joseph Braeutigam had in the country and gave him 8 weeks to respond or he would loose his nationality and would be fined. He did not reply.

Au am Rhein

Bietigheim bei Rastatt       Durmersheim-Würmersheim

Elchesheim-Illingen

Forchheim bei Karlsruhe      Mörsch        Muggensturm

  Neuburgweier

Click on the places above to see the last names of the emigrants.

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entfernte Verwandte    distant cousins

Badnerlied              Badensong

in Germany    in England     in USA

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© Badenroots 2007- 2012 Birgit Gerstner

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© Badenroots  copyright 2007- 2012 Birgit Gerstner