Source: Deutsche Blätter in Polen, November 1930, Heft 11

Because there is nothing permanent in human, trivial matters, and everything passes and decays with time, it is necessary that what is to be established for eternity be confirmed in writing.  Therefore, I, Pawel Sokolowski of Warzymowa, Starost of Rogasen, to all and to each individual concerned, that the village of Bukowiec, which until now was “in controerso” of the decision of the tribunal court, now belongs to my starosty and is enclosed by boundary mounds by virtue of the tribunal decision, which Mr. Gudzinski, – by means of the books of the tribunal decisions, to relinquish all his claims and protests and, under the promise of a fine of 50 thousand, will no longer question the legality of these piled boundary mounds.

Therefore, after the law has been established, I am selling the village of Bukowiec to the honorable men Thomas and Lukas Grams, two biological brothers, for 500 zloty, wishing that good order remain in this village and that all complaints, both from the government and from the subjects in the estates of the Royal State, be thereby prevented.  I have received the aforementioned 500 zloty and acknowledge receipt thereof with this letter.

In this district of the village of Bukowiec, three plots of land, each measuring 20 acres in each field, i.e. in summer grain, winter grain, and fallow land, are legally transferred to the above-mentioned men Thomas and Lukas Grams, two biological brothers; an “Ostrwo,” which is said to be 10 acres in size, also in the three fields.  In these aforementioned estates, the two aforementioned brothers, Thomas and Lukas, both individually and separately, shall use the fields, gardens, and pastures according to full, ancient law and as their property. They shall be free to live on the aforementioned fields freely, quietly, and in peace. They are not obliged to perform any service work, except to make two trips a year with a pair of horses to Sierst, twenty miles away.  They are exempt from all other taxes, “drog,” services, and all burdens (i.e., with regard to work and efforts, as well as charges or their interest, which they bear both when taking over the land and when founding a village), because the village is founded according to German law and all villagers there shall also retain the privileges thereof according to German law now and for all time.

With regard to this transfer of the above-mentioned fields, Thomas and Lukas, biological brothers, both jointly and each individually, are to settle twelve farmers in the village of Bukowiec, each of whom shall have a strip of land, i.e. twenty acres in each field, including the meadows, which these farmers shall be free to use: and with regard to the annual taxes on St. Martin’s Day, each farmer shall be obliged to pay 15 Polish zloty, each zloty being calculated at 30 groschen, as well as two chickens and a gander; as well as to work as many days as specified in the lustration of 1638, i.e., ten days during the harvest, including with a team of oxen for plowing, and whatever else they are told to do, ten days per year.  In addition, they must also perform carting duties in accordance with this lustration.

These brothers are obliged to work two cartloads per year to Sierst, a distance of twelve miles, and to ensure that the taxes from this village are collected and to order the farmers to pay them “annually, in perpetuity.”

Otherwise, however, the above-mentioned inhabitants of the village of Bukowiec shall be obliged to pay their other taxes, work and labor for all time; and they shall be “free” from them.  I also allow the aforementioned brothers to brew ten quarters of beer a year from their own crops, i.e., five quarters for one and five quarters for the other, for their own use.  However, if they should dare to give their brew to the tavern or serve it in their house, and if they were convicted of this, then the lord starost is permitted to punish them as he sees fit.  I permit these brothers and all inhabitants of the village of Bukowiec to graze cattle, horses, and flocks of sheep on the pastures there, and also to keep a shepherd according to their means, but without quarreling with the castle; I grant power and permission to the inhabitants who have settled on this property to manage, give, sell, gift, freely market, and pledge their goods and land as they see fit, without reducing the taxes and food supplies for the castle.

We shall also be obliged to protect them in all legal matters, insofar as they are justified, completely and utterly, to protect them in the freedoms granted above and also in worship according to their custom.

For better faith and reputation, I have signed this and, having written it, I have had my inherited seal affixed.

In Rogasen, on November 1 in the year of our Lord 1641.

Pawel Sokolowski Starost of Rogasen