Letters from Germany - 1879 - Helene's Dowry and Marriage Contract!

Helene Baszynska and Alexander Braunhart

This document is just phenomenal. After many years of seeking a translation, this document, written in 1879, is finally ready for publication. It describes the dowry that Helene Bascynska brought to her marriage with Alexander Braunhart, and lists all of the goods and cash that she provided.  

Additionally, the Marriage Contract is included.

What a treasure. Some items were not clear enough to be translated, but the original documents are presented below, followed by their English translation.

Unfortunately this is only a Xerox copy of the original. Hopefully some day the original can be scanned properly and appear more legible.
 

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Helene Baszynska Dowry Page 1

Helene Baszynska Dowry Page 2

Helene Baszynska Dowry Page 3

Helene Baszynska and Alexander Braunhart Marriage Contract Page 1

Helene Baszynska and Alexander Braunhart Marriage Contract Page 2

And thanks to our good friend and wonderful translator, Matthias Steinke, here is the English translation for the Dowry as well as the Marriage Contract. 

Dowry

Schubin, the 26th March 1879

Concerning,

The exclusion of the community property and the acquisition with my husband Alexander Braunhart

 
Due to my marital obligations I am making following special register of the things, furnitures, and dowry and so on, which I with my husband

…herewith…dowry:

1. 2400 Marks

2. 2 beds

3. 2 dozen shirts

4. 2 dozen bedsheets

5. 2 dozen stockings

6. 2 ditto handkerchiefs

7. 2 ditto napkins

8. 2 ditto nightjackets

9. 2 ditto trousers

10. 7 ditto towels

11. 1 ditto food blankets

12. 1 ditto petticoats

13. 1 ditto aprons

14. 8 duvet covers

15. 4 duvets

16. 1 velvet coat

17. 2 cloth coats

18. 2 wipes (cloths)

19. 2 silk dresses

20. 6 wullen dresses

21. 2 golden .......

22. 2 golden K.....

23. 2 golden …

24. 1 golden

25. 3 golden K…

26. 1 dozen silver tablespoons

27. 1.5 dozen coffeespoons

28. 1 silver ….

29. 1 dozen … spoons

30.

31.

32.

33.

34. 1 mirror with … and …

35. 2 nutbrown beds with .. and wedge-shaped pillows

36. 1 nutbrown …. With warm….

37.

38. 1 .. sewing table

39. 2 ditto curtain….

40. A pair white curtains

41. 8 curtain holder

42. 1 brown tablecover

43. 4 curtain……..

44. 2 bedcarpets

45. 1 cupboard with glass door

46. 1 kitchen table

47. 3 copper spot roles

48. 6 iron pots

49. 2 dozen big plates

50. 2 dozen knifes and forks .....

51. 2 complete big.... Services

52. Several glasses, carafes, sugar pots, 1 serving dish.

Sincerely,

Helene Braunhart nee Baszynska


Marriage Contract

Negotiated at the royal county court In Inowroclaw at the 17th March 1879.

To the below signing, with the optional Jurisdiction commissioned judge came today the

Personally known and able to act:

1.  the maiden Helene Baszinska with her father as assistance

2.  the master-baker Moritz Basinski, both from Strelno.

3.  the businessman Alexander Braunhart from Schubin.

 
The Number 1 and 3 named persons declared:

“We promise each other the wedlock and the marriage shall be in this days. After it we will take our residence
in Schubin. In our marriage shall the in our province usual community of property and income not be valid.

By explicitly excluding this, we also want, that this shall be published in the official journal and a copy with the confirmation of the properly publication shall be sent to the bride.

Herewith declares the groom, that the bride already brought aside from the cash dowry, a complete dowry of dresses, beds, clothing, gold and silver, …. And appliances, about which a special register is within 14 days here to submit.

The costs of this contract pays the groom.

The common property is estimated at 6.000 Mark.

 
Helene Baszynska

Alexander Braunhart

Zacher Szartowicz

Will be documentated

Inowroczlaw ... March 1879.

Royal county-court (district-court), second branch

signature