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The “Befiefing” of Old Farms in the Parish of Cappeln

As mentioned before, the Hollenberg property was befiefed on April 14th of the year 1146 A.D. by the Bishop of Osnabrück and the Assembly of the Ecclesiastical Council.

This type of “Befiefing” did change in many ways over the centuries, for example: on September 27th, 1350, the place of “Bernhard to Veldeste” (presumably = Feldmann) in the “Parochia Cappeln” is named, where the Bishop of Osnabrück gives the rights of the tithe from B. to Veldeste to an “Arnoldus de Scarghe”: Thus meaning, that the bishop passed-on his rights of the tithe from one party to another third party.

Exemplary, at the same year, a certain “Johann Wesselmann” paid 12 Denare to the bishop.

During that period, the parish of Cappeln was the only community in the area which produced more grain than needed. This rural prosperity is well documented in the oldest available taxation register of the Count of Tecklen-burg from 1494 A.D. The community of Cappeln shows 42 farm places required to deliver 58 pigs. In contrast, the larger parish of Ibbenbüren with 45 farms owed 39 pigs.

The contribution varied over the centuries in details and content as well as the corresponding addressees. The “Befiefing” was the imposition of contributions initially organized by the Church with the backing by the “Fran-conian Law” established by Charlemagne, and lasted throughout the Middle-Ages till modern times; e.g. in parts of Prussia, including the territory of the province of Westphalia.

During that period, the tithe holder could change and in fact did change many times, e.g., from ecclesiastical persons or entities to secular parties, or to a combination of both.

One example as reported in 1836 for the Niederste-Hollenberg place goes as follows:

1.) Contribution to the King of Prussia in form of taxation:

a.) On the basis of a 10 year average

b.) Tax on cultivated acreage

2.) Contribution to local clergy:

a.) To the First Pastor:

i. A sheaf of grain (1 bushel)

ii. Sausages and bread

iii. One carriage with horses and helper for ½ a day per year

b.) To the Young Preacher:

i. ½ bushel of grain – rye