Rottweil-Tuttlingen Genealogy

The two brothers, Mathis (This) Jauch and Matthäus (Theis) Jauch were born at the close of the 15th century. In 1535, the two brothers obtained the "lease" of the "Bläsihof", which was farmland owned by the monastery in St. Bläsien (in the Black Forest). This was a feudal relationship, with the monastery serving as the feudal lord and the Jauch brothers as vassals. [The feudal system appears to have taken hold in Germany by the end of the 9th century. Source] The "Bläsihof" was later called the "Unruh-Hof" because of the subsequent quarrels in the Jauch family.

Ten years later (i.e., 1545), Matthäus (Theis) Jauch was the only owner of the Bläsihof. (Perhaps his brother died.) Matthäus was married twice. By his first wife, he had a son, Georg Jauch. By his second wife, he had three additional sons (Ewald, Stoffel, and Gorgus Jauch). At the time of his second marriage, Matthäus decided that Georg Jauch (son by his first marriage) should inherit the "Bläsihof" lease. But after Matthäus died, his second wife and her three sons asserted a claim. They argued for and succeeded in obtaining the larger part of the farm, with Georg receiving the smaller portion.

In 1576, the wicked stepmother [I mean, Matthäus' second wife, my ancestress] died and the three sons demanded Georg should give back his part in exchange for a small sum of money. Georg applied to the Obervogt in Tuttlingen (up a level from the council of Schwenningen). But Tuttlingen sent the case back to the council of Schwenningen which decided that the existing agreement not be changed.

During this time period, Ewald Jauch died. The abbott of St. Bläsien monastery was interested in the unity of the farm. In 1582 he decided that Georg owns a quarter of the "Bläsihof" and Stoffel and Gorgus the rest. But Gorgus was determined to be the bearer of the feudal tenure (lease).

According to the agreement, at Georg's retirement, he was to sell his portion of the tenure to his brothers, which he did in 1598 (at which point we hear no more of Georg). The tenure was split equally between the two surviving sons, Stoffel Jauch and Gorgus Jauch. But peace was not to be maintained. Four years later (1602), a new quarrel erupted. The wives of Stoffel and Gorgus could not live in harmony. Each of them sought for their husbands to be the sole owner of the Blasihof. Gorgus and Stoffel both applied at different instances for full ownership; in the end the goverment of the Duke of Württemberg in Stuttgart decided that the division had to continue.

The soap opera of the brothers was interrupted by the 30-year-war (1618-1648) by which time not only were Stoffel and Gorgus deceased (and no doubt their fighting wives), but so were the two sons of Gorgus: Hanss Jauch and Georg Jauch, who by the end of the war shared the Bläsihof tenure between them.

Both Hanss and Georg had left behind them significant debt, requiring that the "Bläsihof" be sold. But part of the property would still remain in the family. While half was purchased by 3 citizens of Schwenningen, the remaining half was bought by Michael Jauch who had married Hanss Jauch's daughter, Katharina Jauch. See below for a descendancy outline of this family.

In 1495 the Counts of Wirtemberg (Würtemberg) received Countship of Swabia, which was raised to a duchy.

German Peasants War, Swabia 1524-1526 On April 30, 1524, the peasants of St. Blasien abbey refused to pay feudal dues. They subsequently took up arms, especially the Klettgau peasants near Waldshut, but Austrian forces ultimately put the revolt down and hung the leader of the revolt. The enraged peasants burnt down St. Blasiens abbey 11 Apr 1526. Reconstruction did not commence until 1537. (See also The German Peasants' War and The Twelve Articles of the Peasants.)

Thirty Years' War (1618-1648)