The Wendish Research Exchange - Kotitz

Kotitz

by Johann Kilian, Pastor

Translated by Ed Bernthal

The sainted Dr. Bengel says: “Old people like to make a difference, so as the world begins to be old, it also makes its difference. That is why the study of history comes out like this.” (Bengel’s Life by Burke, p. 287). These words might serve as an introduction to the following report, because they are the best explanation, why, among other unrecognized places, also the poor small Kotitz is to be respected, so that the stories of her pre-historic times may not be forgotten.

The sources from which the following came forth are partly several old inscriptions that can be used at the proper places, partly title deeds which were found in the Count’s castle in Lauske, and which go up to the year 1625, partly the feudal actions which we kept in the Ortenburg Castle at Bautzen, partly the files that are found in the Kotitz Cultural Archives, partly the chronicle like notices in the Kotitz Church Book which only go up to the year 1766, as well as the Church Book itself which begins on March 3, 1743, and finally, partly through word of mouth statements of such persons that grew up in the parish, the latter useful only till about 1780 since the peoples remembrance of earlier times had just about vanished by then.

The Kotitz Parish

In the oldest documents, the Church Town Kotitz was written as Kotiz, also Kottiz, or Kottitz, and in Wendish – Kotezy, located on the old street leading from Bautzen to Goerlitz, a distance of 2½ hours from Bautzen and ½ hour from Weissenberg. The origin of the name is unknown. The location and its surroundings have much beauty. The view from the tower is lovely. And for whoever has been made righteous through faith in Christ and is at peace with God and man, this area is a very happy place.

According to old documents, all of Kotitz consisted of only 2 farms and 6 gardens, which together with the very old mill, was the property of the knights. In 1709, according to a purchase letter in this year, the two farms were no longer occupied, but were lying in waste and only the buildings were left standing. That is how they became the property of the knights. Since then, Kotitz has had no farm properties, only gardens raising domestic food.

There was a knight’s Kotitz property at Weissenberg, which in the old title deeds was not mentioned at all. Already in the given year of 1779, the farmland in Kotitz was sold in this way, that the seller kept his lower farm after he added something from the upper part. In the documents, the upper part of the farmland was called “Property of Lower Kotitz,” and by this division, several subjects of Upper Kotitz came to Lower Kotitz, who made it their residence by building on their property. So this was the beginning of the place now called Lower Kotitz, which the people also call Little Kotitz, New Kotitz or just “the farm,” and by the local courts of Upper Kotitz, and their numbers are nothing special, but are counted in Upper Kotitz as not to be an individual town which one can take to be a designated location.

Already around 1780, there was only one subsistence garden and 4 subsistence homes which came from Upper Kotitz to Lower Kotitz by the division at that time. But, since the 1800’s up to the most recent times, by and by 27 new houses came to be established. The government had decreed that people from any country could settle there, who for the most part could support their families as day laborers.

Upper Kotitz, which in 1780 still only had 7 subsistence gardens and 3 subsistence homes, one of which was the newly built one located in front of the parsonage and was owned by the blacksmith. Now together with the lower blacksmith, one figures in on the old street the very old inn (Kretscham), as well as a subsistence garden and 3 houses that were under the jurisdiction of Wierschen, since these houses are included in Kotitz, also, according to their location, they belong to the town of Kotitz, so Upper and Lower Kotitz, together with their church, the parsonage and the school, as well as the mill could number 63 houses.

Still included in Kotitz is a town which in the oldest documents was called Sarigk, but now is Saerka, or Saerke, and in Wendish – Žarki. A credible derivation of the name is not available. At the foot of this one, their lies the appearance of an ancient volcanic mountain that offers beautiful views and is called Stromberg. Since olden times, this place has had 2 farmers, 7 gardeners and 8 residences which belong to the property of the knights. But in the last 30 years, 10 new houses were erected, so that the town numbered 27 houses.

So now the Parish of Kotitz has 90 residents, and the total number of houses has risen about 50 in the last 60 years.

The new arrived residents are a mixture of Wends and Germans who are very different since the builders of the newer houses and their buyers come from different areas and have different ancestors. But despite this, the condition of the parish has continued to be improving. It is unusual that most of the residents still have no fields which makes a great hindrance for the public welfare of so many. But from the voices of the owners of the fields comes thankful joy over the relief from rental services, and who are for the most part orderly and diligent residents. Now, may they also maintain in their hearts the saving faith in the Son of God without which all progress in the externals will only result over a short or long time in misery!

The Owners of the Knight’s Properties in Kotitz and Saerke

Originally, Kotitz and Saerke was just one property. The knight’s location was in Kotitz. There were still now the residences together with the other buildings belonging to the properties which are mentioned in the documents. Saerke actually was a part of Kotitz, so that before 1660, Saerke was identified only as “the town Sarigk with its farmers, gardeners, subjects and people,” without anything being said about the buildings. Also, the property of Saerke today is for the most part forest, and, incidentally, also at that time, as well as afterwards, cultivation was not very successful.

From two inscriptions mentioned later it became evident that the property of the knights in Kotitz at the time of the Reformation, belonged to the Lord of Gersdorf. For on the one existing memorial stone is given the name of a sainted Casper of Gersdorf who died in 1573 in Kotitz. The other one is of the sainted Peter of Gersdorf who also died at Kotitz in 1573.

So, as will be shown in the following, all of the available documents from the 16th Century have been lost. But in the 17th Century, the oldest purchase and title deeds again give a Lord of Gersdorf, who had Kotitz as his ancestral home, as an owner of the feudal property. So one can certainly conclude that, since the days of the Reformation up to the time of which we have uninterrupted definite information, that the Lord of Gersdorf was the owner of the feudal property in Kotitz.

In the year 1625, a Peter of Gersdorf in Koktitz, after he “in the past war’s unrest, received the title deed that his paternal ancestor’s and Kotitz feudal property, and the town Sarigk that belonged to it, was taken away and he could not get the same seitbero back again.” The title deed about his property in Kotitz and appurtenences was revised, dated “the castle at Budissen, on the 12th day of the month of June A. D. of our Savior’s and Salvation birth in the 16th century, the 25th year.” This Peter of Gersdorf, because of the poverty during the 30 Years War, had lost the rights to his property. Since a title deed in 1654 said that “Phillip Yunghanns. Master Knight of the Gersdorf Kotitz Creditors, had bought the Kotitz property, along with Sarigk, according to the enclosed bill of sale dated, March 21, 1663, through a flat rate and curve under the guise of inheritance and his own way of life.” This happened because Peter of Gersdorf had died without leaving any male heirs. In December 1655, Hanns Adolph of Haugwitz from Nechern, the Captain of the Margravedom in Upper Lusatia, purchased from Philipp Yunghanns “the Kotitz and Sargk property, along with the appurtenances for 900 Reichthaler purchase price and 500 Reichthaler as honorary money. But Haugwitz sold it in January 1659 to Joachim Ernst of Ziegler and Klipphausen from Kotitz, the oldest land owner in the Bautzen District. He was the one, who, according to a purchase letter from March 1660, “sold the half of his Kotitz and Sarigk property to Friederich Ferdinand of Gersdorf from Lehne, that the seller from Kotitz, “the innkeeper would get free wine and beer for butchering” along with getting for himself the appurtenances, but that the left overs, along with the knight’s seat and residence went to the buyer.” So, since then, the two properties were separated, so the Saerke, like the Kotitz property, each has their own history, which now follows.

(A)

The History of the Saerke Property Since 1660

Joachim Ernst of Ziegler and Klipphausen at Notitz left three sons at his death in 1682: Joachim Ernst, who in a brotherly way, divided “the Kotitz and Saergk property, selling it, except that of Friederich Ferdinand of Gersdorf,” as was stated in all of the following title deed. But he died in February 1686, and the property became that of Friederich Ferdinand at Gottau (Guttau) and Heinrich Adolph at Notitz, who lastly, after the “brotherly division of the Kotitz and Sarigk property, except that which was, etc.” took possession and was invested with it in 1687. This Heinrich Adolph of Ziegler and Klipphausen at Notitz, Kotitz and Sarigk, the (Churfürstlich) Saxon Captain, died on January 4, 1703, whereupon, in the same year, Friederich Ferdinand of Ziegler and Klipphausen at Gottau and Wersdorf was invested with the properties of Kotitz and Saerigk, except “that which was, etc.” After this in December 1708, the properties of Kotitz and Saerig, except that which was given to the cousins of the deceased, namely, Carl Gottlieb, Ferdinand Rudolph and Heinrich Ernst brothers of Ziegler and Klipphausen at Upper and Middle Cunewald and Belgern, and, according to the judicial and processed inheritance papers, Heinrich Ernst of Ziegler and Kipphausen, Captain at Belgern, was invested in him in October 1710. He died in 1716, whereupon his only marriageable son, Rudolph Wilhelm from Ziegler and Klipphausen, the Royal Polish and the Saxon Appellate Court after that was in possession of the named property, and was invested with it in 1717. Upon his most humble supplication then, the Saerke property with its appurtenances along with the church feudal and the Kotitz Inn possessions, a most gracious receipt dated Dresden, September 6, 1740, was changed into an inheritance and Allodial property, which also, after the above named died in 1749, his widow, Sophia Margaretha of Ziegler and Kipphausen, born a Metzradt, was named his universal heir as indicated in an inheritance letter from 1760, that came into our possession, and thereafter as the legal and again widow of Gersdorf, was kept until her death followed in 1762. She had given it in her will, along with the church feudal and the inn at Kotitz to her son-in-law, the Captain Johann Erdmann of Gersdorf at Kottmarsdorf. This was granted to him according to the inheritance letter of January 17, 1763.

According to a revised land grant letter in 1769, a Captain Gottfried Anshelm of Lindenau was again named as the sole owner of the property of the town of Saerke, in which the above named Johann Erdmann of Gersdorf, but now from Wurschen and Nechern etc. was named as the Lieutenant, bought back the property in 1777, even though, in the same year, he sold it to Gottlieb Wilhelm of Bresslau in Lauske and Zschorne, but with the expressed understanding, that the free innkeeper in Kotitz and the blacksmith next to it, had been part of Nechern at that time. In 1780, Cristoph Heinrich Ludwig of Schwernitz acquired for himself the inheritance property and the town of Saerke, and had kept it until Gottlieb Wilhelm of Bressler, who in the meantime had been promoted to the earldom, bought it back from him again. After his death in Kotitz, the Kotitz and Saerke property went to his daughter Clementine Constanzie Gottliebe, married Countess in Solms, who kept it till 1834, making it a multi-year Credit Business and both properties were held in sequestration. This system ended with Saerke, so that a judge, named Adler of Lommatzsch received the property. The present owner is Carl Ernst Lehmann, who bought it from the above named in the past year.

(B)

The History of the Kotitz Property Since 1660

Friederich Ferdinand of Gersdorf at Kotitz and Lehne, who had purchased Kotitz for 6200 Reichsthaler, died on February 7, 1690. He left behind five sons: Hanns Friedrich, Hanns Ludwig, who lived in a foreign land and did not return home, Gottlieb Ehrenreich, Hanns Asmus, who died in August 1690 on a field trip, and Hanns Wenzel, who first came of age in 1700. After a brotherly distribution, Hanns Friederich of Gersdorf had Kotitz till 1696, when he died. He was followed by Gottlieb Ehrenreich of Gersdorf at Lehne as owner of Kotitz till his youngest brother came of age by way of an interim purchase and valid re-purchase. For the property had fallen to Hanns Wenzel by lot, but the feudal property to Gottfried Ehrenreich. Hanns Wenzel had possession of the Kotitz property from 1700 till October 1707, when he sold it to Johann Christian of Heldreich at Pommriz and Miethen for 12,000 Reichthaler. This Johann Christian of Heldreich had the Kotitz Knight’s Seat and had newly divided it into two properties, in a way that is described in the original history of Lower Kotitz. Then he sold Kotitz with his newly built residence as the feudal property of Upper Kotitz to Johann Ernst of Nostitz at Gersdorf for 15,600 Reichthaler, but kept his lower farm of which he had taken over several pieces of land of the upper property and it subjects, as he still kept at the same time the existing feudal property of Lower Kotitz. This happened in 1709. Johann Ernst of Notitz and Upper Kotitz died in 1714 and left behind four sons, of whom one, Julius Heinrich of Notitz, after a brotherly distribution, received the Upper Kotitz property, but which the afore-named Johann Christian of Heldreich bought it again in 1719. But Heldreich also had possession again of the property only until 1721, when he sold it to Christian Gottlieb of Metzradt at Wawitz and Drehsa. This one there also again had Lower Kotitz, for in a deed it says that Hanns Rudolph of Metzradt from the family of Ubyth had bought it for himself from his cousin, the just-named Christian Gottlieb of Metzradt Upper and Lower Kotitz in 1729. This Hanns Rudolph of Metzradt, who died in Kotitz in 1758, sold back both of his properties in 1753 to his wife, Christiane Margaretha of Metzradt, born a Heldreich, and this wife sold Upper and Lower Kotitz in 1755 to Carl Gottlieb of Heldreich, at Bellwitz and Rosenbain Chursachsen Appellate Court for 15,000 Reichthaler. This honorable man, who knew how to combine charity and strength, but was not present much here, died on January 24, 1787. In the same year, the Heldreich inheritance came into his possession through the purchase by Friederich Hermann Carl, Count of Langenau, Chursachsen local Financial Advisor. In 1791, the Upper and Lower Kotitz property was bought by Henrietta Louise Schoenberg, Stiftshofsmeisterin at Radmeritz, and by purchase, gave it over to Gottlieb Wilhelm Grafen of Bressler, after which, through her kindness by building and planting, had established good memories of herself. After this time, the already named daughter of the Count of Bressler had owned the Upper and Lower Kotitz property till it came under sequestration. In October 1836, Ernst Gottlieb of Heynitz, former owner of the Hermsdorf and Gruenberg Knight’s property at Dresden, purchased the Upper and Lower Kotitz property. God be praised for His gracious providence!

III

History of the Collatur Rights with the Occupancy of the Church Places

The patron rights of the local church were held in the earliest times by the owner of Kotitz Knight’s Property. But, when in 1660, Joachim Ernst of Ziegler and Klipphausen sold half of the then combined Kotitz and Saerke property, sometime thereafter he transferred his Notitz subjects from the church in Kittlitz to Notitz, and, in place of the old chapel, he built a new church. So there developed somewhat of a conflict between him and Friederich of Gersdorf at Kotitz “because of the order of the worship service, as it was to be held in the future by his directions at the newly built church at Kotitz.” Whereupon both named men “disagreed, all in all, and their spirits, due to the different personal relationship, were like the following: Namely, Mr. Ferdinand of Gersdorf sold to the highly respected Lord Elder of Ziegler, his dearly beloved son-in-law, half of his rights to the church feudal property at Kotitz for 150 Reichthaler with which “the von Gersdorf was not the only one to be unhappy about, but because of the others Passus concerning the order of the worship services, seemed to declare himself to be satisfied, and to agree, that as for himself, to be satisfied, and agreed, that as for him, his descendants and future owners of the Kotitz property to freely concede his own will to that of the Lord Elder, as to how he or his descendants would order and arrange the worship services at Kotitz in the future. With this von Gersdorf and his associates would feel unhindered and would be totally satisfied. But as to what von Gersdorf otherwise was obligated to carry out for the pastors and the other Praestationen remained as in the former way. So this is what was happening in the inn at Kotitz.” (Sealed and signed). This document is found in the Kotitz Collatur Archives. Therefore, since 1678, the owners of Saerke have had the sole right to the ownership of the parish in Kotitz till the year 1773, when Carl Gottlieb of Heldreich of Upper and Lower Kotitz, the then owner of the Saerke property, bought it out and thereby brought it back to the Kotitz Property at Wurschen, Belgern, Nechern, Kohlwesa, Rodewitz, etc., from the better-known Johann Erdman of Gersdorf for the church at 350 Reichthaler. “May the Lord Sabaoth bless and keep with a long life our much beloved Ernst Gottlieb von Heywitz, the present Collator!”

The Church at Kotitz

That the church at Kotitz existed already in the 14th century, is claimed in the Upper Lusatian reports. A highly aged old Gothic inscription on the large bell shows this in the words which read: “Maria, help us in every need through your child’s bitter death.” Under the word “Maria” a small crucifix can be seen. The smaller bell, likewise, is very old.

Since the century of the Reformation, the church interior already had two memorial markers, namely, two sand stones placed in the wall showing half-finished male knight life-size figures. On the one stone, one sees a youth praying on bended knee in knight’s clothing, with a stone tablet over his head on which the following inscription was carved: “IN THE YEAR 1578 AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, THE NOBLE AND HONORABLE CASPER OF GERSDORF PASSED AWAY AT KOTITZ IN GOD, BY THE GRACE OF GOD AT THE AGE OF 50 YEARS.”

On the other stone there is represented a full life-size armored knight with a long beard and attractive facial features, praying with folded hands and clearly impressive devotion. The viewing of this picture may serve for one’s inspiration. It is well for the land whose leaders pray thus! Over this honorable figure, stands a stone tablet with the following carved inscription: “AFTER CHRIST’S BIRTH A. D. 1569 ON JANUARY 8, THE NOBLE AND HONORABLE PETER OF GERSDORF PASSED AWAY IN GOD AT KOTITZ BY GOD’S GRACE – (the rest of the letters are not legible).

The church in Kotitz suffered much in the 30 Years War. How sad it must have been at that time to see what it was like, which can be found in distinctive detail in an old document from the Collator archives which stated, “the church in Kotitz from 1635 to 1653 was without a pastor.” According to Knauth’s Church History of the Upper Lusatian Wends, page 283, “soon after the concluded peace, a Master Knight, Casper of Junghanns, Master in Kotitz and Saerke, newly renovated the ruined church at Kotitz and provided it with a regular pastor.” This information indicates that, according to the already reported ownership of Kotitz and Saerke, was not Casper, but Philipp Yunghanns by name. According to the above detailed statement, he had mentioned the long interruption of all church worship services from 1635 to 1653, that in 1653, when he bought the Kotitz and Saerke properties he had called the new pastor to be the preacher in this wasteland. On the pillar on which rest the beams of the church floor, there is carved the number 1670. What this number means is hard to tell. Could one first in this year have been finished with the reconstruction of the church begun by Master Knight Junghanns?

On the outside foundation of the church there is built a crypt called Weichaische, which has its own story. Its founder is Hanns of Gersdorf, who was a former owner of the Weiche property. He had approached Joachim Ernst of Ziegler and Klipphausen at Notitiz, as the fully authorized Collator of the church at Kotitz, and had gotten permission to bury two persons at his own expense in the church cemetery, and, according to his will, to build the crypt in the Kotitz Church, and to have it taken care of perpetually. That is also indicated in a similar available document dated, Notitz, September 29, 1681. Hanns of Gersdorf, at that time, was actually buried, along with his wife, in the newly built crypt in Kotitz. But since the Napolianic War, the crypt has been empty. There are only two grave stones which provide information about him and his wife. His grave inscription is in Latin and shows, among other things, that he was born in 1630 and died in 1692.

Now, while since last year the present sacristy in the interior of the church has become quite impractical, the desire has become quite evident that the mentioned crypt would be renovated to serve as a new suitable sacristy, since the increased membership of the congregation requires more space. This situation was brought before the High District Directors Court at Budissen. They approved the necessary renovation of the church to provide more room. By their orders, at the same time, all those who had claims to the mentioned crypt, were to announce their claim to the Collator Court of Kotitz by November 9, 1838, the Saxon deadline being doubled. On the other hand, they should be aware that no further consideration to the claims will be available after the deadline runs out. Since no such claims were made from any side, the sacristy was transferred to the crypt this last year, and a substantial increase in room was begun, which is to be finished in the next few weeks. At the same time, the altar was renovated, and in place of the old pulpit, which had been located on the south wall, a new one was erected located above the altar. Also three windows were enlarged and a new one was added. The former heavily plastered aisle between the women’s side had, already in 1838, been laid with stone blocks in the middle and with bricks on both sides. Now instead of the Positive that had served as the organ, one could wish for a pedal organ with an appropriate covering. Then the church could be something not to be ashamed of despite its smallness.

Earlier the Kotitz Church had only one entrance located on the midnight side. But in 1773, on the evening side, a new large door was opened up. And in the previous year 1839 when the transfer of the sacristy was accomplished, a new entrance, although not a public one, was opened up.

In 1774, the then (Collator), Carl Gotlieb of Heldreich had given to the church a new tower clock. Up to that time there had been none.

In the year 1827, the church tower, which had become quite deteriorated, was thoroughly renovated with a complete new roof. The cost was 367 Reichthaler which was covered partly out of the church treasury, partly by gathering collections from the churches in Upper Lusatia amounting to 134 Reichthaler, 8 Groschen and 5 Pfennig, and partly by free-will gifts of the congregation members.

The cemetery which surrounds the church started to get too small due to the continued immigrations of settlers. Unfortunately, in 1784, Carl Gottlieb of Heldreich had constructed a building over the graves of his two children and two relatives in the middle of the cemetery, which took away so much room. The laying out of a new cemetery was hindered since it was hard to dig graves because of the rocky ground, even if there were room.

The elevations of the church, as well as of the town, runs in the east toward level land, but toward the south and the north it is quite steep, and toward the west there is a steep slope at the foot of which flows a small brook into Kotitz. The steep slope right behind the cemetery wall has a small stone quarry on which there are several Linden trees. This slope going out of the church cemetery is the only adjoining property of our church. At both entrances to the cemetery, there are two Linden trees that were planted in November 1768, which the school teacher trims, as well as caring for the rest of the needs of the cemetery.

Otherwise, the church has several assets, namely, partly capital, the interest of which flows into the church treasury, partly legacies, the interest of which help the church workers and the children of the church.

The loaned out capital amounts to 500 Reichthaler, of which 400 Reichthaler was borrowed by the main gardener Andreas Pannach in Jenkwitz on Michael Sunday in 1834, and 150 Reichthaler by the subsistence garden owner Carl Duerlich in Kotitz on Easter in 1840, both amounts hypothetically at 4% interest. Except for the yearly interest from this capital, and some other small income, the money from the Klingelbeutel, which amounts to about 50-60 Reichthaler goes into the church treasury.

The church has 800 Reichthaler in legacies.
1) A legacy from Ziegler of 300 Reichthaler, the former Collator of our church, Captain Heinrich Ernst from Ziegler and Klippenhausen, designated for the distribution to the earlier badly needed pastor’s income, which stands at 6% on the Nechern property of the knights, payable semi-annually on Michaels Sunday and on the first day in May.
2) A Heinrichs legacy of 300 Reichthaler with 4% interest, from the Kotitz knight’s property remaining sum from the former Collator the appellate court of Carl Gottlieb, which Heindrich had given in his will that the annual interest would go to the current pastor and school teacher, the first 10 Reichthaler, and the latter 2 Reichthaler, each year on the next Sunday or festival day on which the giver had died, which was on January 24. There was a memorial service in the church with the reading of his life history, and the singing of the hymn, as he had ordered, “My Savior Shed His Blood,” and the ringing of the bells during the singing of the hymn.
3) A legacy from Langenau and from Miltitz with interest at 5%, from the Kotitz knight’s property standing legacy of 200 Reichthaler, namely, half of this amount from the former Collator, the deceased Financial Advisor Henrietten Louisia, widowed from Miltitz, Stiftsshapmeisteren at Radineritz, the designated annual interest to be used for the children of the heirs from Upper and Lower Kotitz for free education, which amount is no longer enough for the education fund, but does provide a little bit of support.

The Parish at Kotitz

The parish property covers about 60 acres of land. The parish fields lie in line with a meadow at the end. In addition to this line of adjoining fields, the parish also has two meadows, the one with one part called the Wubocziz, which belongs to a wooded slope together with a piece of land, the other one lying below the parish garden, which as late as 1709 became part of the parish property, where, according to an existing document from this year, the owner at the time was Johann Gottfried Kittel and his “successor in perpetuity, who earlier, in order to avoid a great conflict in the future”, having to cede a part of the property. It should be mentioned, that there is a fenced in fruit and vegetable garden as part of the property, located on the one side of the parish garden, and on the other side of the parish fields adjoining the parish buildings near the church. The undersigned had converted the space enclosing the parish grounds, into part of a terraced flower garden, and party into green lawn, next to which there are still quite a number of fruit bearing trees. On the side toward the town, in front of the parsonage windows, there are three Linden trees, which, we are told, were planted in the year 1766 because the pastor at that time wanted to keep the sun out of his study room. A Linden tree and a mountain ash that lead to the parish grounds also belong to the parish. They were planted there by the deceased Pastor Michael Kilian.

The fields and the meadows of the church property are still in a good condition. Before 1776, there was always a caretaker working for the parish. The undersigned has 30 people from his church members leasing the property, and he is now the third occupant of the parsonage who has taken advantage of leasing out the property. A pastor in Kotitz now receives requests for use of the fields due to the increased number of people occupying the houses, who are in dire need and want to cultivate their own land, or to help the poor people in any other way. It was therefore, in such a situation, difficult to justify his conscience. Also, in case of the farm buildings on the church property, which due to the present yields of the fields and meadows, have become much too small and therefore have become inadequate, need to be rebuilt which would cause the church great expenses. And since it must be recognized how much the care of the fields can conflict with the care of the souls, one must be happy to know that it is not necessary for us to have to carry on the cultivation of the fields.

There are in the instructions which otherwise the Collatoren would give to the pastor when they enter their office, not only in regard to the material for the renovation of the parsonage, but also especially a reliable historical report. Therefore, first of all, the following quotation from the instruction to Pastor Bultius from May 1722 reads thus: “Because one realized that from the income received for the pastor at Kotitz, the former pastor had a hard time making a living, but that it was necessary for him to get his means of transportation and to seek elsewhere for a better living, whereby, not only the government as a patron had much trouble and concern in the (eligerung) of another subject, as also with the church ordinations, and otherwise were the causes for the expenses to be made.”

So in regard to this, the former Collator, the Captain from Ziegler at Nechern, tried to improve the salary of former pastors, as well as their future successors, withdrew from the inheritance of the God-fearing Friederich Ferdinand of Ziegler and Klinghausen, (who died in 1708 and had property in Saerke, see II) 300 Reichthaler, also from the present church capital 200 Reichthaler, and so had set up together 500 Reichthaler capital, and had authorized that the pastor could receive from this the yearly 6% accumulated interest of 30 Reichthaler, and from the next term on Michaels Sunday in 1722 received two yearly terms, and even though these 500 Reichthaler was to be perpetual capital from which the pastors would get the interest, that should not be looked at as this being a continuous tax on the Nechern or the Staerke properties, but that it showed how in other ways it would be maintained for the churches. But it is not to be understood that the former pastor be considered a future successor, and that he had to be ordained at his own expense, and that for them there was nothing afterwards, except that in the Kotitz church they would receive the established free-will offerings. Yes, he is also bound by this, that the home communions for the Wendish and other people in the congregation are not required to give incidental offerings, and thereby that they be given a free hand to faithfully serve in their office without remuneration.

In the instruction to the pastor in Kotitz that followed Bulitius, it was announced in the following words referring to the previous changes in the capital: “After the rebuilding of the parsonage from the unfortunate fire, the mentioned church capitol of 200 Reichthaler, according to the church’s financial report dated Wuerschen, April 17, 1749, had to be used, so the pastor should receive from the incoming sack money 12 Reichthaler annually (if that much comes in).

From this notice it can be seen, first, where the beneficial arrangements had originated, that till this day, from all home communions by the Kotitz pastor, except for the Lusatian residents and leasers, a constant amount had to be received, besides what the pastor received annually from the church treasury. These together with the Nechern property and the income from the Kotitz knight’s property was altogether 28 Reichthaler carried over annually legacy interest, his fixed cash salary. To that one might add the three designated offerings, which were brought for him at Christmas, Easter and Pentecost.

From both of these given instructions, one also learns, how meager the earlier income of the parish pastor must have been, as shown in the statement, ”so far as how much comes in,” namely, 12 Reichthaler in Klingelbeutel money. Also how small the church attendance might have been, as the old saying goes when one talks about the few people attending, which says: “They come out of the church like in Kotitz!” which saying now, thank God, has become a shame to say.

In produce, the Kotitz pastor now receives the following each year: a) of garden produce from the Kotitz property, 1 bushel of corn, one bushel of oats and one bushel of barley, and so much from the Saerke property, b) of (sack) produce 2/4 corn and 2/4 oats from the Kotitz property, from the two incorporated farm properties, ¾ corn from the Nechern, and from Kotitz the so-called Kretchman interest, from each garden at Upper Kotitz 1 measure of oats, and from each large renter in Kotitz 2 measures of corn and two measures of oats. The town of Saerke has among their farmers, gardeners and renters with now tithe obligations. In contrast to this, the pastor and the school master have the conventional rights on the so-called “Holy Christmas Eve” and “Maundy Thursday,” that, fall at both of those times each year, to gather love gifts, but in Kotitz, it happens only for the school master. How these rights originated is not known to the undersigned.

In addition, the pastor annually received from no-local sack disseminations ¼ corn from Weisenberg and ¾ bushels from Weicha, namely, from the property 3 bushels of old bulk and 2/4 from one of the local subsistence gardens, as well as one bushel from the mill outside of Wuensche. In regard to the last dissemination, an old judgment comes from the bench of the justice at Leipzig, cited as follows: “To the Gestrengen Vestor, Mr. Joachim Ernst of Ziegler and Kliphausen, by notice of Churfürst of the Saxon Council, Cammerheern and the land elder of Budissin (Creyses), our favored good friend, presented, August 25, 1669.

It is our pleasant duty for the previous Gestrenger Vestor favored good friend in reply to your two questions. We Churfürstlich Saxon Council at Leipzig our privileged, that Wolff of Maxvar, formerly of Weiche, owes the pastor at Kotitz from the forwergke at Weiche, as well as from the mill and a garden, yearly 4 and ½ bushels of corn, but has not yet carried it out from Michaels Sunday 1635 to Michaels Sunday 1653. Therefore, it is your right, as you mentioned, what the Kotitz property since several years had regularly brought to you, and, according to the previous church records, this was owed you from the present owner of the Weiche property, Hansen of Gersdorf, that he was willing to pay. But it should be known that he does not understand that he now has to plead, that the church in Kotitz, from the year 1635 to 1653, had no pastor, therefore, he is not obligated to pay for these years. But since the Weiche property from which the Kotitz pastor had received yearly had no pastor, therefore, the Weiche property owners, decided not to give the interest from the grains for the church services at Kotitz, but to give it for the care of the souls at other places where they are needed by the pastors, as was shown not to be paid to the vacant churches in Kotitz, according to the main point in your questions. So, therefore, the debtors of the mentioned interest are not obligated to contribute anything, or to grow the grain for them on the properties. But such interest in arrears for the house of God as an old carried over debt can be used for the future support, and especially for the pastors, or for other church matters according to their needs, besides trying to make them obligated to pay the (morse) interest of patrons, as their rights, is sealed for the future with our seal.
Churfürstlich Saxon Council at Leipzig
Dated: July 1669, 1 (chir.) 2 (gl)

Regarding the designated dissemination at that time, it is said that one time an owner of the Weiche property, when the pestilence had broken out, was ministered to by the Kotitz pastor, and in return the dissemination was made out which is still given out in Kotitz today. That is probably the connection with the Weiche property and the mentioned produce itself, and with the mill, and the conventional claim by the church in Kotitz against the Weiche’s property.

According to their order, the evangelical pastors in Kotitz are named as follows:
1) Mathes Lehmann, since 1605.
2) Johann Wehlan, went to Hochkirch.
3) Johann Schramm, became the pastor in Krisha in 1625
4) N. Herz, or Herzog, after him, in 1635, the church was vacant.
5) Martin Subsacius (or Subcasius), after a long time, due to the devastation of the 30 Years War vacancy, was called to Kotitz in 1653 by Philip Junhann from Kotitz and Saerke, and went to Guttau in 1659.
6) Johann Christoph Donath, called in 1659.
7) George Just, called in 1660.
8) Peter Schmaler (Schmolerus), baptized at Wittgenau in 1636, after serving in Dubrauke near Spremberg as music director, was then pastor in Kotitz for 13 years, who defected from the evangelical church in 1675, and, on the Third Easter Day Festival of that year, gave his opposition sermon in the Domkirche at Sogan under the title, “Peter’s Convorsia,” which he had printed. After this sad event in the same year, under Joachim Ernst of Ziegler and Klipenhausen, called from Notitz and Saerke,
9) Heinrich Holzhammer, as pastor in Kotitz, who had at the same time in 1679 served the newly built church in Nostitz, and then in turn preached at Kotitz on one Sunday and the other at Nostitz. But when he went to Guttau in 1684, the parish in Kotitz was completely separated from Nostitz, and has stayed separated since then.
10) George Wuensche, died in Kotitz in 1688 at the age of 34.
11) Matthes Raeze, called to this parish in 1688.
12) M. Johann Donath, called in 1694.
13) Matthes Jockusch, called in 1696.
14) Conrad Crueger, called in 1698.
15) Johann Mucke, called in 1700.
16) Johann Jacob Wendler, called in 1705.
17) Johnn Gottfied Kittel, called in in 1707.
18) Johann Adam Seering, called in 1711.
19) Christian Friederich Richter, called in 1715.
20) Georg Kahre, called in 1720.
21) Johann Christian Bulitius, called to the pastorate in Kotitz in May 1722, died here at the age of 55 years in November 1751. During his time, the cited parsonage fire took place. His grave stone is still visible, with his funeral text listed as Romans. 12, 21, “Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good,” which text certainly points to his sad life experiences.
22) George Janke, called in June of 1752 to the ministry in Kotitz, died as the pastor in Hochkirch.
23) Christian Benjamin Lehmann, called in 1759, went to Lohse.
24) Matthaeus Hermann, called in 1766, whose ordination diploma is still found in the cultural archives. In this diploma, the sections of the symbolical books, which had been rejected and which orthodox teachers had to accept, were clearly listed and given by name. In the ordination diploma of the undersigned, the listing by name was omitted, which must give one some serious thought. Hermann died here in 1771 at the age of 34 years.
25) Jacob Heydann, called in July 1771 and died on December 9, 1781 at the age of 57 and ½ years.
26) Carl Traugott Brahtz, who in 1773 acquired the Collator rights through the purchase of the Kotitz property from Carl Gottlieb of Heldreich in Upper and Lower Kotitz. He was called as pastor in 1782 and was installed by his honorable father, Pastor Brahtz from Kittlitz. He wrote many helpful notes in the Church Book, in which in many places he expressed his innocent God-fearing mind, as well as his great love of his Collector and for his congregation. After Brahtz, it really seems that a different time began for Kotitz. For soon after his entry into his office, the number of communicants increased by 50 to 100. His dedication to building the congregation in all of its aspects, is shown also when in 1782, he held the first Christmas Eve, and then in 1783 the first Easter Eve in Kotitz, about which the following two notices were written in his hand:

(1782) “I also want to note that this year, upon request of my dear congregation after my inquiries, I received permission from the Collector to conduct the first Christmas Eve here in Kotitz and instituted it, which perhaps my future successors will be happy to continue. It took place on the Holy Evening at 7:00 o’clock. The bad weather was ignored by a large gathering, and it was a blessed Christmas Eve! I have sought nothing by this, except the up building of souls purchased by the blood of Jesus.”

(1783) “For the Holy Night before Easter, after inquiry with the Collector and upon request of the congregation, the first Easter Eve was observed in two languages. A large number of people were present, as well as Mrs. Geheimderathin from Bressler. Along with this, a collection for candles was held, so that from now on, the Christmas lights can be obtained from this collection.”

In the expectation that this would be continued, the childlishly hopeful man was deceived. The Easter Eve and the Christmas Eve in Kotitz has long since been discontinued. After Pastor Brahtz was called to Daubitz, there came:
27) Andreas Pannach, from Boblitz near Bautzen in 1788 was called to be the Kotitz pastor, which he held till he went to Kreba. Now, in his old age, he is the pastor in Kittlitz and has celebrated his 50th Anniversary
28) August Theodore Rudolph Moehn, son of George Moehn, the pastor in Neshwitz. currently Past Primarius in Loebau, he was called here in October 1793. He went to Loebau as Deacon.
29) Michael Kilian, from the Hochkirch parish belonging to the town of Doehlin, came to Kotitz as pastor and served here from 1809 till his death on December 18, 1836. The difficult year of 1813 was especially hard on him. His wife, who had just given birth to their first born son, had to flee with him. And in his congregation, which up to now usually only had 10 – 20 deaths in a year, as well as the death toll in the terrible year of the fire in Kotitz, and in the attack in Hochkirch, the number of deaths never exceeded 34, 78 people died in 1813, mostly from the nerve fever.
30) Johann Kilian, the present pastor, who was also like his successors nephew, called as a candidate into the pastoral ministry from Doehlen on September 24, 1873, and was ordained, sworn in and installed in this church before a gathered congregation. May God grant that he may always carry the burden of his office with joyful patience and never forget his oath!

The School in Kotitz

The school house, which stands close to the cemetery on the same hill as the church, was rebuilt in 1831 from the ground up. It has only one room, but the location is pleasing and the school room is bright. The construction cost $1,475.00, not counting in the free labor and leadership.

The school master, as organist and sexton, received 7 acres and pasture land, in addition to the incidentals for his church duties. He also received, in addition to the aforementioned benefits, an offering from the church. As school teacher he gets a yearly salary of $165.00 and 12 Reichthaler money for fuel.

The children from Upper and Lower Kotitz and Saerke, have gone to the school for ages. Now, the children from the distant Hochkirch joint parish are coming to the school. Also from the town of Lauske that receives the sermons, which since 1831 have been educated here after they had contributed to the building of the school.

This school congregation is presently supplying 160 school-age children. This number will probably not go down very soon.

The school masters in Kotitz, whose succession the undersigned got from the scattered reports in the church books, but could not pursue it further back than 1744. They were the following:
1) Johann Gottlieb Jaenke, who from the earliest days was listed in the court minutes of 1744 as one who was mentioned in the legal disputes of a standing conflict, died here in 1750 at the age of 31 years.
2) Johann Christian Buertner, died already in September of 1751 at the age of 23 years and 6 months.
3) Johann Gottfried Drohla, died here in June 1758 at the age of 36 years and 7 months.
4) Johann Gottlieb Petzold, moved to Milkel as school master in 1761.
5) Jacob Dziwe, called here in July 1764.
6) Gregorius Sommer, in 1768, took the widow of renter, Johann Wuechstick in Kotitz as his wife, which was a reminder of Romans 12, 16. He died here in January 1780 at the age of 60 years.
7) Johann Urban moved to Keittern.
8) Martin Jurschick from Bautzen, who came to Kotitz in October 1782, is now the cantor in Baruth. He had moved there in 1783.
9) Johann Christian Muehle from Reichwalde moved to Milkel in 1791.
10) Johann Carl Traugott Tietze from Niedekunners, who was the school master here since Easter 1791, moved to Oelsa in 1796.
11) Andreas Rentsch from Zschorne, died in April 1803.
12) Johann Carl August Glaeser from Schreibersdorf, a born German, who had to learn the Wendish language, died after 30 years in his office on May 9, 1836 at the age of 58 years.
13) Johann Traugott Michalk from Bautzen, the present school master, was installed in his office on Palm Sunday in 1837.

A special blessing for Kotitz is the fact that no new style, watered down hymnal has been introduced here, as well as that for the religious instruction in the school, the good religion book of the sainted Porst, Provost and Consistory Council in Berlin is still the basic one in use. One must also be happy that the popular current revisions, which are multiplying and autocratic, and are trying to dull the sharpness and get rid of the faith are being opposed, even though they have gained acceptance with certain careless and high minded “chaff” persons (Mathew 3, 12). It is to be pitied that, as in other places, so also here the wholesome private confession could have been discontinued, despite all the current church regulations. It is therefore, sincerely to be prayed for, that a faithful ministry of souls be awakened everywhere, so that the sinful stream of superficial teaching and careless living, with which the spirit of the times is so comfortably going into the burning muck of the devil, would not also take with them the remaining children of God!

Lord, abide with us, for the night is coming and the day is far spent!

Kotitz, July 1840
Johann Kilian, Pastor