The Prilegium granting the 1765 Mennonite group settlement in
the Netzebruch can be found in many different places. The particular version below is translated
from Die Siedlungsentwicklung im Oberen- und Unteren Netzebruch. (Ein Beitrag zur Siedlungs- und Volkskunde mit
besonderer Berücksichtigung der Siedlungshandhabe sowie der Art und Herkunft
der Siedler.), W. S. 1935/36, Rudolf Mantua, Pp 55-59.
Privilege and Assurance for the 28 Mennonite families who
are settling in the Neumark in the Netzebruch.
Accordingly, some Mennonite families, eight and twenty in
number, who currently live near Dantzig under the jurisdiction of von
Wipschinsky, have most humbly requested that they be allowed to establish
themselves in these lands under the conditions made, and that Our His Royal
Majesty in Prussia, Our Most Gracious Lord, has graciously agreed and granted,
on the basis of the presentation made by the Privy Financial War and Domain
Councillor von Brenckenhoff, that they can and may settle and establish
themselves in the Neumark in the district of the reclaimed Netzebruch to be
assigned to them:
As the most highly mentioned, His Royal Majesty grants. His
Majesty hereby grants the above-mentioned Mennonists the Most High Assurance
that:
1.
The free practice of their religion and worship is permitted
and,
2.
They shall remain free from all enrollment and advertising
for themselves and their descendants, just as also
3.
They shall also be allowed to practice their vocations,
insofar as they are such as can be tolerated in the lowlands according to the
General Principles, unhindered and without being allowed to hold a trade, but
if they are not such craftsmen, they must establish themselves in the estates,
but under the same conditions. The same
shall also stand
4.
With all oaths, because such are contrary to the basic
tenets of their religion, they are spared, and they are instead permitted
5.
To trade freely in butter and cheese produced from their own
livestock in all towns, subject to payment of the customary taxes.
6.
They shall take the necessary wine from the office, but in
return no pub should be set up in the village they are cultivating
7.
For the first building of structures, the wood required
shall be provided entirely free of charge, but for their subsequent
constructions, the third part shall be paid according to the forest tax, over
which
8,
The same are allowed to rent the wood against annual payment
of the usual 9 groschen 3 pfennigs to the forest fund and
9.
They are exempted from all court services and other work in
perpetuity; except that they are exempt from all duties when traveling with His
Royal Majesty's highest person, if other free people, neighbors are also
required to join in.
10.
For their establishment, 40 Magdeburg morgen of arable land
and meadow growth shall be granted to each family in the Netzebruch, which has
been made arable, against payment of a ground rent to be determined, which is
to be paid after the course of a few free years and is to be paid in full.
11.
They are to be provided with all necessary assistance in the
event that their current lordship should have difficulty with their departure.
If, therefore, Your Royal Majesty most graciously desires
that the aforementioned Mennonists be left in peace at the establishment to be
assigned to them, and that, as long as they keep their promise, they behave as
loyal and upright subjects and comply with the effect of the above points and
conditions without exception. Thus, the same hereby order the New Margrave of
War and the Chamber of Domains to hold the impetranten (applicants) to this
privilege and assurance granted to them against any man.
Berlin, 17 February 1765
Geg. Friedrich
Geg v. Massow. V. Blumenthal
pages 87-89:
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