mark mersiowsky Wills always reflect a specific situation that might change. Thus, wills were modified again and again and replaced by newer documents, as is often evident from the texts.61 There were not only wills, but also partial wills. For example, in July 1439, the married couple Hans Schappell and Anna Rebhärin, both citizens of Esslingen, bequeathed 100 pounds Heller and a bedstead with accessories as a one-time inheritance to Anna’s daughters from her previous marriage, i.e. a kind of settlement.62 Such partial wills can also have the legal form of a separate foundation.63 In addition to the will in the true sense, i.e. the disposition of all property in the event of death, there are documents with a similar function. In Reutlingen, for example, instead of a will, the form of a donation with a reservation of possible uses64 or a donation in the event of death65 was used. An example of individual donations in the event of death is the donation of 100 Rhenish florins to Ulm Minster in 1474 by Konrad Kraft, who wished to be buried at the altar of the Kraft family in the parish church. Incidentally, these chirographs, in GermanKerbzettel, were issued in three copies: his two living sons and the widow of his deceased son each received a copy.66 Sudden illness or quick death could prevent the issuing of a legally valid will. Then a substitute for the will was needed. In 1484, the will of Adelheid of Frankfurt was witnessed by her confessor and the parish priest of Ulm Cathedral. Adelheid was said to be ill, but in full possession of her mental powers, and at her last confession, in the presence of two other women, she had made the testified dispositions.67 Alternatively, re61 Cf. Stadtarchiv Ulm A Urk. 1461, Digitalization and regest at https://www.stadtarchivulm. findbuch.net/php/main.php?ar_id=3766#412055726b2ex2977; Stadtarchiv Ulm, A Urk. 1728, Digitalization and regest at https://www.stadtarchiv-ulm.findbuch.net/php/ main.php?ar_id=3766#412055726b2ex3251. 62 Stadtarchiv Esslingen, PU11. 63 So for the foundation of the perpetual mass by Ludwig Kraft 1412, Stadtarchiv Ulm, A 4615, Nr. 4 in Latin and German. 64 Kreutz, ed. (2019) Nr. 84 pp. 52f. (1309). 65 Kreutz, ed. (2019) Nr. 83 p. 51 (1309), Nr. 123 (1319) pp. 79f., not recognizable in the regest, but in the text: gemachet nach minem töde ... 66 Stadtarchiv Ulm, A 4615, Nr. 6. 67 Stadtarchiv Ulm, A Urk. Nr. 2550, Digitalization and regest at https://www.stadtarchivulm.findbuch.net/php/main.php#412055726b2ex4081. 35
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjYyNDk=