Schweizerisches Familienbuch = Almanach Des Familles Suisses, Pages 30-51 by J.P. Zwicky 1945
Published by the Genealogical Institute at Zurich, the Swiss Genealogical Almanac researches the origins of prominent surnames of Switzerland. Published in 4 volumes dated 1945, 1947, 1949 and 1963, the Conzett family is found in the first volume due to the prominence of the world renowned Conzett & Huber printing house of Zurich. As such, this treatise follows the roots of Conrad Conzett back to Hans Conzett and spouse Barfla Flüetsch in the 1650's, the earliest provable and documented progenitors of the Conzetts of Schiers and Graubünden.
The thoroughness of the research presented is excellent. However, due to the original work being presented in German, and owing to the skill level of my diligent translation, there are bound to be issues found in grammar which would cloud the attributions of some subjects. For that reason, I provide the original scanned pages and the OCR result in German of that scan as individual files, as well as my best-effort English translation of the German text.
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Conzett
Evangelical Reformed - Kapitler and Ammännerfamilie
Canons Court of Schiers in Grisons Ten Court Federation - Documented evidence since 1395 -
Chapter Ammann 1432
History
The Name
An old family tradition (folklore) labeled the Schiers' Conzett family as Italian religious refugees of the Valtellina. If this was in fact the case, members of the Itallian Conzetti line should have first settled in the Swiss Prätigau region in the course of the Counter Reformation in 1555. This legend is further invalidated by the following documentary evidence, which indicates the presence of the Conzett family in the Court at Schiers long before the Reformation.
The family is of German origin. It derives its name, as do most family names of the rural population from the Grisons, from a first or Christian name; in this case, that of Conrad (Conz), to which the Gallic suffix “-ett” was attached(1). Later, influenced by the Grisons with its mixture of languages and different dialects, there originated with this now diminutive name Conzett name base
(1) A similar example is also the first name Conz-derived Grisons name Conzo, Sarconzun and de Ca Sarconzun (including the genitive de Ca Serconzuns) that stem and root from the name by adding the Germanic diminutive suffix "o" to make Conzo and the Latin accusative of this invention ("onem") changed to Conzonem, with the latter form mutating once more by adding the simple preposition "de", the Domus name "Ca" and the popular titulary "Sar," or "Ser" (sometimes also "Sur" and "Schur" was required).
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the mutilated forms Katzett, Galtschett, Gaschetsch, Gasätzsch, Gasätz, Gusätz, Guzät, Gazet, Conzatt, Commcett, Conzept, Khonzett, Conncett, Concetti, Conzetti, etc.; the process of the mutilation was determined by the accent. We thereby can also distinguish in the Grisons two types of emphasis: the Latin and the derived public Romanesque (Welsch) and Germanic (German) intonations, both with various forms of reduction. To that end, the basic rule is: when the Germanic full name is spoken, the emphasis is made on the first syllable or the first part of the composition; while, when pronouncing the Latin name, the accent is on the end of the word, as well as in the Welsch dialects (which Latin endings have cast off) the stress on the last syllable. (CON-zett vs. Con-ZETT)
In summary, it is therefore stated that the Conzett name is of a single, Walser origin, as we shall see later, with an offshoot form of the full name Conz, Cuonz, Cunz also. The name should therefore be based only upon mutilation of the 15th century occurring form "Gusät", which is not close to a name deriving from the Italian Valtelline valley community Coseto (Cuseto, Coseti) (2). In addition, today's Conzetti of the Puschlave (Romansh form of the German: Poschiavo) valley do not originate from the Italian Valtelline valley, but actually from Schiers businessman Johann Georg Conzett, who came to and settled in Poschiavo in 1802 (3), and where that family later "Italianated" their name.
The foundation of the Schiers branch of the family as people residing in Schiers (4), the ancestral home of the family, is that this Conzett branch was proven to be founded in 1432 under the mutilated forms of the name
(2) See Grisons Urkundenbuch (document book) Bd.I, Chur, 1947, p.287, 288 and 303
(3) Church Book Poschiavo
(4) Roman Asherah, perhaps the oldest settlement of the Prätigaus (about Assier 1122, 1209 Ssiers), former High Court Federal Court of Ten, today's main town consists of a closed village and many scattered hamlets and farms.
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Gaschetsch, Gasätzsch and Gasätz. First, the progenitor Kapitelsammann Eberhart has to be regarded here, of which only three documents from the year 1432 are still available, each bearing his seal. From these instruments we learn of his legal position as the Ammann from the Canons Court: as an administrator of the Kapitelsgüter submitted to him by the dean of a cathedral to Chur, to use both himself and that of his extended family as so-called Kapitler: a co-operative society with an old independence and special old liberties. Since these Kapitelsleute (all German or Walser) are strongly different in their privileged and social position, elevated from the rule of people to other courts higher than that of the Ten Court Federation, it is appropriate to state that they were not quite endowed with full rights to call them an eleventh member of the Federation, however the Ten Court Federation in 1436 cited their special permissions and, further, that they were equipped with special rights.
While the original settlers of Schiers (5) were exclusively Roman, German immigration began there in the 12th century. In addition, Walsers soon settled at the upper edges of the village (Marien and Stelserberg). Thus, the Roman language was forced back and it disappeared completely at the beginning of the 16th century. The primary cause of this Germanization was systematic colonization.
During the 10th to 12th century, we find the Court of Schiers with the village communities Schiers, Grüsch, Fanas, Seewis and Valzeina (the latter two Churches in 1679 formed the so-called outer courts) in the possession of the counts of Bregenz and Montfort, the Barons of Vaz, the Lords of Aspermont, the counts of Toggenburg and the governor of Matsch, who was to
(5) The age of the community is determined through bronze found at Montagna and through graves from the mass migration of the period in the vicinity of the church.
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give back the canons or chapter courts of Schiers as a gift to the Chur bishop Wido (1096- 1122) and to the cathedral chapter (a cathedral chapter was an area of rule governed by the church) of Chur (6).
In the 12th century the prosperous land count of Kirchberg (7) was extended further by Vergabung (an inheritable legacy right or rights of direct commerce awarded for service by a ruler or land owner) due to their relationship with the counts of Bregenz in Oberrätien. This canon's court soon encompassed the most beautiful and most productive goods in the valley ground of Schiers and Grüsch as well as on Fajauna, Pusserein, Maria-Montagna, Schuders and Fanas. It’s Kapitelsleute (an ancient form of collaborative feudal association of people and villages found uniquely in this area) stood in older time under the jurisdiction of Meiers (overseers), later under the Ammann on behalf of their overlords, the cathedral dean to Chur, with the exception of Malefizsachen (the blood right of a feudal lord), and its Kapitelshof (the association itself) was released from all tax liability.
From the oldest remaining Prätigau Urbar (a register of fief ownership and includes the rights and benefits that the fief holder has over his serfs and peasants) documents (8) it is found that the oldest Conzetts were of Schiers, originating out of the Kapitelhof-residing Ammann Eberhart first reported in 1432, and primarily resided as hereditary tenants in the 15th and 16th century in Maria-Montagna, then later in Pusserein near Schiers. They lived thus as Walser with the other German-speaking Prätigau settlers of Adam, Bitschi, Caspar, Christen, Disch, Döntz, Egli, Fluri, Fux, Heinz, Helstab, Hermann, Jenny, Jöri, Joos, Lieni, Lutzi, Mathis, Meyer, Michel, Niggli, Oswald, Ott, Schmid, Schnider, Simon (Schamaun), Sprecher, Sutter, Täscher, Thomann, Uebersaxer and Winkler, not in the village or in the valley, but on scattered mountain farmsteads. The management of property then was quite different from ours of today in that, in addition to the usual Ehrschatz (change of ownership fee), there was no set rental or lease amount,
(6) the Vergabung speaks expressly of “curiam de Assiere cum coloniis et mancipiis et quidquid ad ipsam curiam pertinet”. (Juvalt, Necr.Cur. ‚17.Mai.)
(7) a family originating from the Swabian Danube circle.
(8) Many of these documents relating to the family are held by the Historical and Antiquarian Society of Graubünden.
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the lease was paid from goods produced or against other achievements.
As a co-operative with its own court and staff, the Kapitler were not subordinate to the ruling court of the ruling people, i.e. subjects of the Counts of Toggenburg, later the Governors of Matsch and then Austria. However, from 1511 disputes rose steadily, resulting in arbitration and various court decisions which, by the 16th century, weakened the political independence of the Kapitelsleute. Their special status and the associated financial benefits stopped soon after. From this status the Kapitler could have declared its emancipation from the rule of the church due to the Ilanzer Articles of 1526, but the local penetration of two court parishes over time had matured the political entity into an outdated facility, particularly as the social distinctions between Kapitlern and the ruled people continually disappeared. A consequence of the fact was also that now the Kapitelshuben (inherited birth right to engage as a Kapitler) and fief rights of the cathedral chapter no longer followed the traditional feudal law, but now by the succession right rules of the High Court of Schiers, i.e. inherited by only the next blood line. Further stages in the unstoppable decline of this political cooperative were: the 1556 redemption of the Kapitelssteuer tax (the last remnant of the dependent relationship with the cathedral chapter), and the 1677 sale of all right seeds, chapter goods, fief, money‚ grain, lard and cheese interest and the six Sentenen of the Alpung (alpine farming) by the cathedral chapter (with papal consent) to the Maienfelder Governor Andreas von Ott from Grüsch. It was his descendants in 1739 who ceded all privileges granted under that ownership to the benefit of the communities of Schiers, Grüsch and Schuders and, in 1780, the Kapitelhof Roffler sold for Pusserein.
Thus, this once great land has
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undergone changes over the centuries, as have so many others: a count has colonists settle on the land, and to them are given a fief, the fief evolved to a Erblehen (hereditary fief), then became a gift into religious possession and, over time, became the property of the fief carriers with a removable expectation of servitude. The Canons Court of Schiers is particularly remarkable in that, during the large expansion of the trade formed through the immunity of a political cooperative, in the course of the 15th Century it acted as an almost equal partner alongside the other ten courts of the Ten Court Federation. But then, as territorial rounding occurred, it was unable to escape its inevitable fate and was merged with the general rule of court. (According to Constance Jecklin, see note 10)
The Oldest Documents and The Spread Of The Family
The earliest representative of the family attested documentarily is Rudolf Katzett, whose widow Månig (Menga)? (9) on Dec 20, 1395 was granted a barn located in Chur by Provost and the Convention to Churwalden (9). Whether this Rudolf Katzett is genealogically connected with our later Schiers' family is not obviously evident.
In the Prätigau, the real native country of the Conzetts, and where the clan exists even today in Grüsch, Klosters, Schiers and Seewis, we encounter the family for the first time with the already mentioned Kapitelshuben-Ammann Eberhart Gaschetsch (Gasätzsch, Gasätz) in 1432 on the occasion of an interest rate sale of Kapitelshuben goods to Gurnal, Rutell, Balerenen,
(9) Fritz Jecklin: Interest Book of Premonstratensian Churwalden (Supplement to the Annual Report of the Historical and Antiquarian Society of Graubünden, printed 1908), p.55.
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Pradätsch, Graplan and Gapinas, and by the Grüsch Kapitelsleute Werner Ambrusch, Hans Gerold and Henni Vincentz and Růdin Dietrich of Flums (10). Three documents in the Schiers Canons Court dated 14 October, 11 November and 15 December of 1492 issued and sealed by Ammann Eberhart referred to him as the Ammann.
Later still, i.e. in the 15th century, we find the family in Walser settlements on Maria-Montagna, in Seewis im Prätigau and in Galtür, a valley of the Tyrolean Drusustales Court of Nauders, in Vorarlberg (11) and in the Lower Engadine. It may be assumed that, geographically and economically, that the now-extinct Conzett (Concett) line of Sent and of Samnaun (the latter more attributable to Tyrol and the Lower Engadine (Ramosch) based tributary valley of Inn, whose upper valley was settled only by Walser) are related to the kin group of Conzett (Conzept) of Galtür and, consequently, indirectly to the still thriving Montafoner (The Montafon is a 39 km long valley in Vorarlberg, Austria) line of our family which, in turn, is undoubtedly paronymous with the Schiers' Conzetts (12).
The earliest attested Conzett of Maria-Montagna or Schiers
(10) Constance Jecklin: The Canons Court to Schiers (Annual Report of the Historical and Antiquarian Society of Graubünden, printed 1919), p. 83
(11) In the rule Blumenegg (a 12th to 14th century court in western-most Austria), where Conzett is old-established in Bludesch and Ludesch, a Rudolf Conzett reigned as ammann in 1466. (Vorarlberg National Archives Bregenz‚ Codex 4, Stella Matutina of Joller‚ possesses numerous documents on the family.) From this there exists an old line in Fontanella in the large valley. From the same origin comes today's Conzetts, which can be detected here as early as 1600 (parish archive Satteins, church records) as well as the Konzetts in the former hermit parish Nüziders that settled here around 1712 with Martin Konzet (1681-1731), husband of a Mary Elizabeth Burton of Nüziders (Nüziders parish archives, parish registers).
(12) It is here also both in Schiers and in Schruns, Tschagguns, Brand, St. Gallenkirch, Gaschurn‚ Parthennen and Gargellen in Montafon the families of Bertsch (Pertsch), Bitschi (Bitsche), Ganal (Canal), Gort‚ Juon (Juen), Kessler and Salzgeber are referred to.
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are the two simultaneously living and Hanns Gusåtz and Hanns Guzåt who, in 1451 along with a Peter Lamparter, paid to the Count of Montfort from their farm "Meyre" (= Maria) 6 pounds Denar (a Roman coin) of interest (13).
At the same time in Seewis im Prättigau, a Schamon (= Simon) Konzett lived as a business agent of the Vintschgauer church advocate Gaudenz of Matsch. Available documents from the middle of the 15th century (some undated), show his account of expenses and salary as one of the four Hintergänger of the Vogtes (church advocate) Matsch riding into his residence at Kurberg in the Vintschgau, and also to Maienfeld, Ragaz, Sargans and Chur (14).
In 1499 we encounter Jakob Conzept of Galtür in connection with the Swabian War. On 26 August of that year, he wrote to the Count of Sonnenberg, the top field commander of the army of Tyrol, on the opinions and plans of the Austrian-minded in Klosters and Davos (15). It may well be concluded that he was familiar with the conditions in the Ten Court Federation, which suggests family relations existed there.
In the Lower Engadin, a Vit Concett of Bradella (= Pradella between Schuls and Sent) appears on the 19th of October 1499 documentation of the reign of the diocese of Chur as the earliest representative of the family there, as one who had to proceed with several other residents of the Lower Engadin which had "gone at the invitation of the community of Samnaun to Chur to be there with all those who innhabenn" to justify
(13) Fritz Jecklin and J.C. Muoth: records of administration of the courts VIII from the time of the counts v.Montfort (Supplement to the Annual Report of the Historical Antiquarian Society of Graubünden, printed 1905), p.21.
(14) Ibid, p. 36
(15) P. Gillardon: History of the Ten Court Federation, Davos 1936 P.79.
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itself there with all those, "dise gǔter gerǒbt unnd innhabenn, oder erkofft habenn" to answer for and afterwards accept the decision (16).
In Fideris, until 1523 an associated subsidiary church community of Schiers, the now extinct Conzett line there was documented for the first time in 1496 by an annual time endowment with Nigli Galtschett, his wife Elsi and their two cousins Cristoffel (17). The family rose to some importance here. At the transition of the courts of Schiers and Castels to the Austrians in 1496, Schimon Conzett was provided as a guarantor (18). On the 2nd of December, 1504 this Simon (referenced as Schamun Conzett), along with Hannss Philipp of Grüsch, Ammann of the court of Schiers‚ Hanns Bårtsch of Seewis and Casper Lötscher of Küblis, acted as a referee in trade disputes between the municipality of Malans and the municipality of Fideris (19). Further, the same Simon Conzatt on the 15th of June, 1506‚ acting as Cawig (= head of the district council) to Fideris‚ along with Cawigs Jacob Vållår, Joss Bårsch, Lutzy Renard and Ůlrich Winkler in the name of their municipalities leased to Hans Glavadåtscher a piece of Allmeindland (commonly held land), called Madinis, for an annual interest of 3 shillings (20).
Even though the concentration in this study is on the period after 1500, particularly on the Conzett line as residents of Maria-Montagna and Pusserein, and even if not directly of Schiers, ie: the direct ancestors of the later Conzetts in Chur with its current line of the Zurich branch of interest, we firmly maintain in regards to the spread of the family the following.
(16) Fritz Jecklin: The Chancellery documentation of the reign of the diocese of Chur in the years 1499 to 1500 (Supplement to the Annual Report of the Historical and Antiquarian Society of Graubünden, printed 1899), p. 90.
(17) Fritz Jecklin: Interest Book of Gallus Church in Fideris (Annual Report of the Historical and Antiquarian Society of Graubünden, printed 1925), p. 125
(18) Gillardon, a.a. Cit, p.63. - The author described it by mistake as of Schiers, instead of Fideris.
(19) Fideris Municipal Archives, Certificate No. 17
(20) Ibid, Certificate No. 20
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After a population listing from the VIII Courts (21) in the spring of 1623, the clan existed under the name forms Gatzet‚ Khonzett, Gazett and Khazett at that time only in the courts of Schiers, Seewis and Castels, with the following citizens shown as fit for military service:
Luzein: Jöri Gatzet
Schiers-Seewis:
Andris Khonzett
Andris Khonzett (same name, second person)
Christen Khonzett
Christen Khonzett (same name, second person)
Flurj Khonzett
Hanss Khonzett
Hanss Khonzett (same name, second person)
Hanss Khonzett (same name, third person)
Hannss Khonzett
Hanss Gazett
Jacob Khonzett
Jan Khazett
Jan Khazett and
Schamaun Khonzett (22).
Further, the ancestry of the yet flourishing Conzett line even today there is proved by the church marriage book of Klosters from the 24th of September, 1731 (23). It is this Jöri Gazett of Luzein whose descendants are still registered in the church records of Klosters for several generations under the old name form Gazett. Jakob Ulrich Flütsch mistakenly mentions in his list of old Prätigauer families of 1778/79 (24) that the family in Klosters
(21) Davos‚ Klosters, Castels‚ Schiers-Seewis, St. Peter‚ Langwies‚ Churwalden and Belfort.
(22) P. Gillardon: The population of VIII Courts in Spring, 1623 (Bündnerisches Monatsblatt, 1930).
(23) Municipal Archives of Klosters.
(24) Bündnerisches Monatsblatt, 1935, Page 353 and following
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is extinct. Families named in this list as living in other former and present communities:
Küblis: Galltschet (extinct),
Fideris: Conzett (extinct),
St. Antönien: Gazet (extinct),
Luzein und Pany: Gazeth (extinct),
Schiers: Gazet,
Grüsch and Valzeina: Gazet,
Seewis, Guscha and Schmitten: Conzet.
The Conzetts of Maria-Montagna and Pusserein
By different documents existing in the municipal archives of Schiers and Fanas, as well as by the Jahrzeitbuch (annual/season record book) of the St. Amandus church in Maienfeld and the Urbare (tax books) of the Propstei (Provost) of St. Jakob in Klosters and the Canons Court of Schiers, we gain understanding of the personnel status of the family in the Walser settlements of Maria-Montagna and Pusserein near Schiers prior to the beginning of the Schiers Kirchenhücher (church record books) in 1650.
In 1509 the priest Franciscu Fintz of Maienfeld donated an everlasting annuity from the interest of the Schiers parish-managed property of one Crista Concett, the property being adjacent to the property of Jorg Concett (25). The living situation of this Christian (whether of Schiers or Maria) is seen in a document of Ammann Hans Philipp of Grüsch
(25) Fritz Jecklin: Jahrzeitbuch (tax book) of St. Amandus Church Maienfeld (Supplement to the Annual Report of the Historical and Antiquarian Society of Graubünden, printed 1912), p. 41 with the text: (poor translation) "Item uf Margarethe anno 1509 ago Franciscus Fintz has blessed ... ain öwig iartzit (gift to church at death) for themselves ... prescribed and testamentiert ... and was gat sölich from ainem goodness is Crista Concetten, uss Pråttigö kilchspel in Schierse. Good cheer at the Vontobel upwards to wait and goodness to Jorg Concetten usswårt, ouch kindness to Benante Jorg. »
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issued on February 4, 1512. This states that "Cristeň Comcett from Maria of Schiers and Anna Matise" sell from their estates "of Plan Marie to the Diegen" to Stopfil (Stoffel) Hupflin, citizen of Feldkirch, and his wife Grett Fend, half a barn with about 20 pounds of pfennigs of Chur currency and 1 pound of pfennigs with "everlasting geltz"(26). An Anstösser (neighbor) of this property called it: "Hensli Conncetts heirs’ property and Jacob Concet's property".
In 1514 Barbla Concetti (27) arranged for the annual lease for 5 shillings Denar of two plots of land "ze obrėst ob dem closter im tal, hayst Präw Damutta" (abreast of the convent (city of Klosters) in the valley, the impetus clothed in humility) and "das ander lyt och hie ob dem closter in der Clusa" (the other lies near her convent (city of Klosters))» (28). Since Klosters had no Conzett or Gazett before 1731, it has to be assumed that this Barbla Concett originated from the front Prättigau and married after arriving at Klosters.
In 1535 documents we meet Jacob and Jörg Contzett of Maria. These are probably the two previously mentioned people from 1509 and 1512. The register entry from the Kapitelsammann Jacob Aliesch of Schiers document issued by the Montag on Mittfasten (a Lenten season date equating to 8 March) of the year 1535 indicates:
Gabriel Heintz, a resident of Schiers, and Anna his lawful wife, sell to Jacob Contzett of Maria and his wife Dorothe a piece of property, including the meadow on "Plantzoless", called "Tschirysårs", which to the Domkapitel (church tax man) of Chur is owed annually a shilling of pfennigs interest rate for 18 guilders and 15 Schilling Pfennige (29). A neighbor to this property was listed as "Jörg Contzetts property".
(26) Municipal Archives Schiers, Certificate No.18. (beautiful parchment certificate.)
(27) This manner of writing the name is to be understood not as an Italian form, but as an earlier female name form Concetti(n). Erroneously reported by Jakob Ulrich Flütsch (a. loc. cit., S.353) in his notes that in Klosters-Serneus a lineage "Concetti" had been established earlier.
(28) Fritz Jecklin: Urbar (tax record) of the provost of St. Jakob (= Klosters) in Prätigau of 1514 (Supplement to the Annual Report of the Historical and Antiquarian Society of Graubünden, printed 1910), p.31.
(29) Schiers Municipal Archives, Certificate No. 32. (beautiful parchment certificate.)
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In 1543, on the Monday before Easter (= March 19th), Crista Trůog and his wife Anna, residents of Viona (=Fajauna), received from Lorentz Concet of Schiers according to hereditary fief right his property, called "Radals", for about 20 pounds of pfennigs (30). They promise Trůog, to pay a fief interest of a pound pfennige to the lender of the fief (Lorentz Concet) or his descendants every year.
In 1549, on St. Mathisabend (= 23 February), Jann Konncet from Maria and Margretten Dömze (31) (sic) his wife received from Růdolf Uebersaxer of Schiers and his wife Barfflen (= Barbla) Koncette for interest and Erblehenrecht (inheriting fief right) of the community and neighborhood of Schiers and their Kirchenvögten (lay administrators of church property), a fief of interest of 10 guilders Chur currency for "Fortz" (of Montagna-Maria) where the property is located. For this they gave to the town of Schiers "ergůt" located at various Schiers goods (primarily those having Romansh names), which, like the Erblehen, were tax and tithe free (33).
In 1553, during the day of Saint Maria Magdalena (= 22nd of July), the aforementioned Ammann Růdi Uebersaxer and his wife Cristina (Koncette) together with Sylfåster Uebersaxer received after interest and Erblehenrecht (hereditary fief right) to a Erblehenzins (hereditary fief interest) of 7 guilders of Chur currency from Růdolf Bitschen and his wife Anna Banůlly, both residents of Seewis, their property situated in Schiers called "Spalier" (trellis) as "an Ergůt" to Schiers, and made a cash payment of 30 guilders and 7 1/2 shillings of pfennigs (33).
According to another Certificate dated August 9 (St. Lorenzenabend) 1559,
(30) Ibid, Certificate No. 38 (Sealed by Kapitelsammann Jacob Aliesch of Schiers, beautiful parchment certificate.)
(31) Döuze, Dönzi(n), Dönz, Döntz, Tönz.
(32) Schiers Municipal Archives, Certificate No. 43. (Sealed by Kapitelsammann Růdolf Uebersaxer, beautiful two piece of parchment certificate.)
(33) Ibid, Certificate No. 47.
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the couple of Rudolf Uebersaxer and Kristina Koncete lived in Maria. At that time they provided to the parish church of Schiers 10 shillings of pfennigs of annual and everlasting interest from the sale of their property on "Blazolles" (Blantzolas) for about 10 pounds of pfennigs. A neighbor of this property was listed as "Jöre Koncetten"(34).
This Jöri Contzett just mentioned is found listed in1556 in the land register kept by Canons Court Schiers with Andris and Caspar Contzett as hereditary tenants of family property at Munthanyen (= Montagna-Maria) (35). The Conzetts later leave from the ancestral seat at Maria-Montagna and are then found primarily at Pusserein as mountain farmers. Due to the many identical name bearers - the population register of 1623 (36) alone mentions two Andris, two Christens, 5 Hans and 2 Jan - it is impossible before 1650, ie before the beginning of the church books, to create provable root origins. Thus, it is not possible to tell apart the Captain Andreas Conzett (37) known from the 1622 Prätigau Rebellion from the Andres Cacet seen in a Fanas document dated January 24, 1633. The latter, with his wife Ursula Däscher as “Pussarain” residents, owed at that time to the community of Fanas 30 Schilling annual and undetachable interest from their house and farm yard at the “lower Pussarain”, which bordered on the property “Grabenhof” and on the brook (38). Perhaps it may be suspected that a descendant of Andreas Conzett-Täscher is Christ Canzett who, on January 12th, 1731, as a resident of Maria (of Schiers) testified that the Pfrund maintained for the parish of Fanas is owed a guilder undetachable interest by Ziperian Kessler, to the Allmeinde (community property fund) and to the mat (alpine grassland) of Landeshauptmann
(34) Ibid, Certificate No. 52.
(35) Constance Jecklin, a.a.O., p. 64
(36) See Note 21
(37) P. Gillardon: History of the Ten Court Federation, Davos 1936, p. 166.
(38) Fanas Municipal Archives, Certificate No. 26.
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Hercules of Salis bordering Gadenstatt on "Marye", called "panitzlis" (39).
In the 17th and 18th century we encounter in the Conzett family - until the 19th century an entirely apolitical family (40) - exemptions for many mercenary soldiers in French, Spanish, Venetian, Sardinian, Genoese, Dutch and Austrian service. The cause of this exodus was a limited economic environment for the large families of the mercenaries in Prätigau and advertisements by the Grisons military families of Salis, Ott, Schmid and Sprecher. It culminated in one branch of the family, fostered by an alliance with Junkers (young German noblemen) from Salis-Grüsch, gaining high military authority. These are the established ancestors of the Poschiavo Dutch Captain Johann Georg Conzett of 1802 (later Conzetti), whose father, Ulysses from Graubünden, was in the Regiment of Colonel Schmid from Holland in 1795. However, a list of family members from Pusserein also includes in 1776 a future Sardinian Corporal to Klosters, about 1819 a country police Sergeant to Chur and in 1882 a relocated printer, editor and politician to Zurich, and as regular line officers in Sardinian and Venetian services.
(39) Ibid, Certificate No. 54.
(40) From 1512 to 1798, for example, no Conzett held the office of a Governor's Veltliner, Vicari or Commissari; we find no member of the family as a representative to the federal government's Ten Court Federation.
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Marriage List of Persons
(Linear Line Origins From Pusserein—Schiers—Klosters—Chur—Zürich)
Hans Conzett, of Schiers, † Died Venice, Italy 13 Dec 1653 (‡ Announced Schiers 12 Feb 1654), Farmer in Schiers at Pusserein, later Sergeant in the Venetian (Military) Services, ∞ Married ... NN to Unknown
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Hans Conzett, * ... (About 1631, since the first church register at Schiers was available in 1650, † Schiers-Pusserein 30 Dec 1691 (Age: 60 Years), Farmer in Schiers at Pusserein, at the gate, ∞ Married Schiers 19 Oct 1665 Barbla (Barfla) Flütsch of Schiers at Pusserein, * Born ... (About 1639), † Died Schiers-Pusserein 27 Sep 1719 (Age: 80 Years).
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Adam Conzett (Conzet), ~ Baptised Schiers 11 Jan 1680, † Died [not in Schiers, probably in foreign service]. Farmer in Schiers at Pusserein, ∞ Married Schiers 5 Jun 1705 Ursula (Urschla) Bardill (Pardill) of Jenaz. * Born . . . [Jenaz church records before 1804 were lost], † ... [Not in Schiers].
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Simeon (Simmen, Simon) Conzett (Conzet, Gazet), ~ Baptised Schiers 2 Sep 1711, † Died Schiers 16 May 1785, Master Craftsman in Schiers in the villiage, ∞ Married Schiers 5 Dec 1738 Apollonia (Polonia) Winkler (Winckler) of Schiers, ~ Baptised Schiers 5 Jul 1713, † Died Schiers 26 Jul 1788, Daughter of Sylvester Winkler and Anna Truog.
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Adam Conzett (Gazet, Gazett, Cozet, Conzet), ~ Baptised Schiers 16 Dec 1739, † Died Turin, Italy (Piemont) 31 Jan 1797 (starvation/emaciation, tuberculosis) (‡ Church announcement of death Schiers), Lived in Schiers in the villiage, Relocated about 1776 to Klosters, then a corporal in Sardinian Royal Services, ∞ Married Schiers 12 Apr 1769 Margreth Tuffli (Tufli, Tuflin, Duffli), of
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Klosters, ~ Baptised Klosters 13 Oct 1745, [] Buried Chur (St. Regula) 4 Aug 1818, Daughter of Andreas Tuffli, Master tailor and teacher (Master) in Klosters, and Luzia Hartmann.
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Simon (Simeon) Conzett (Conzet, Conset, Concet, Concett), ~ Baptised Klosters 14 Apr 1779, [] Buried Chur (St. Martin) 4 Dec 1825, the first police officer in Schanfigg and Mastrilserberg, since about 1819 police sergeant in Chur, ∞ Married Chur (Masans) 24 Apr 1814 Margreth Mettier (Metier, Metjer, Methier), of Langwies, ~ Baptised Langwies 21 Oct 1792, † Died Chur 13 Jan 1870 (of old age/senility), [] Buried Chur 15 Jan 1870 (∞ Remarried Chur [St. Regula] 17 Jan 1830 to Caspar Trepp, Widower, of Nufenen, † Died Chur 14 May 1869 [of tuburculosis], [] Buried Chur 16 May 1869 [Age: 68 Years, 1 Month]), Daughter of Hans (Johannes) Mettier from Weibel (Federation Weibel?) in Langwies, and Catharina Jenny.
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Simeon Conzett (Conzet), ~ Baptised Chur (St. Martin) 22 Jul 1819, † Died Chur (Rabengasse 160) 6 Aug 1889 (fron stomach cancer), shoemaker in Chur in "Süssen Winkel" (the sweet angle), at Rabengasse 160, from his home, ∞ Married Chur (Masans) 12 May 1845 Dorothea Hold of Davos, * Born Chur 8, ~ Baptised Chur (St. Martin) 9 Nov 1823, † Died Chur (Rabengasse 160) 15 Jan 1881 (from old age), Daughter of Conrad Hold, Schröter (= beer truck driver) and later flour dealers in Chur, in Araschgen, and Catharina Sonderegger.
Children:
1. Simeon, * Born Chur 1., ~ Baptised 8 Aug1846, † Died Chur 29 Jan 1847 (Infant Fever), [] Buried Chur 1 Feb 1847.
2. Conrad, * Born Chur 20., ~ Baptised 22 Oct 1848, † Died Horgen (Drowned in lake) 8 Dec 1897, Printer in Chur and Leipzig, late owner of letterpress printing, newspaper publisher and editor in Chicago and Chur and since 1882 in Zurich, 1893-1896 member of the Grand Town Council Zürich, Advisor to Zürich Canton, pioneer of the workers' movement and very well-known
Conzett Page 47
Socialist leader, ∞ Married I. Chicago . . . [Possibly 1872] (Married after 1881 as successful separation made on 24 Mar 1883 Φ) Barbara Wiesmann (Wismann, Wissmann) of Wilen near Neunforn, * Born Chur 30 Jan 1851, ~ Baptised 2 Feb 1851, † Died ... (USA), T. v. Daughter Of Caspar Wiesmann, Carpenter in Chur and later in America, and Barbara Loop, ∞ Married II. Zürich 24 Sep 1883 Verena Knecht (41), 1898-1947 Printing press owner and publisher (co-founder of the company Conzett & Huber) in Zürich, of Mellikon, * Born Mellikon 28 Nov 1861, † Died Kilchberg (Zürich) (Hornhaldenstrasse 5) 14 Nov 1947 (of old age), T. v. Daughter Of Johannes Knecht, Farmer in Mellikon in 1863 and later a guard at a paper factory in Zurich, and Barbara Mathys.
Children of the First Marriage:
a. Adolf, * Born Chicago 17 Oct 1873, † Died ... (Transvaal, South Africa) 20 Sep 1899. Printer in Chicago, since 1897 in ... (Transvaal).
b.Conrad, * Born Chicago 20 May 1875, † Died Kilchberg (Zürich) (Old Country Road 70 Sanitorium) 6 Feb 1943, injured while attending officer school in 1897, suffering from a nervous disease and unable to work.
Children of the Second Marriage:
c. Margaretha (Deteli), * Born Hottingen (Neptunstrasse 25) 26 Jan 1885, † Died Hottingen (Neptunstrasse 25) 14 Sep 1885 (Typhus).
d. Hans, * Born Zürich (Rennweg 46) 3 Aug 1886, † Died Kilchberg (Zurich) (Weinbergstrasse 54) 24 Oct 1918 (from influenza and pneumonia), printer and printing-co-owner in Zurich, 1915-1918 Cantonal Council of Zurich, the Cantonal Secretary 1915-1917, 1916-1918 Federal War Tax Commissioner, 1917-1918 Bank Council of the Zurich Cantonal Bank, 1917-1918 National Council, President of the Swiss Trade and Transport Workers Federation,
(41) See her autobiography "Erstrebtes und Erlebtes" (strove for and experiences), Zurich, Morgarten Verlag, 1929.
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∞ Zurich Married 27 Apr 1911 Maria Huber, of Jonen and also since 15 Nov 1949 citizen of Kilchberg (Zurich), Regensdorf * Born 12 Aug 1883, Died † Kilchberg (Zurich) (Weinbergstrasse 86) 10 Feb 1956 (brain tumor) (∞ Married II Zurich 9 Dec 1926 Gottfried Kurt Glauser of Münchringen, the first representative in Leipzig, and later chief clerk in the company Conzett & Huber, Zürich, Kilchberg (Zurich), * Born Barnitz (Saxony) 18 Jul 1890, † Died Kilchberg (Zurich) (Schwandenstrasse 13), 9 Apr 1948, S.v. Son of Gottfried Glauser and Ernestine Marianne Martha Landrock), T. v.
Sons:
1) Conrad, * Born Zürich (Women's Clinic) 6 Aug 1912, Buchdrucker, Co-owner and manager in the firm Conzett & Huber, Zürich, ∞ Married Kiichberg (Zürich) 5 Aug 1941 Marta Luisa Anna Hartung of Zürich, * Born Zürich (Women's Clinic) 5 Aug 1915, T. v. Daughter Of Gustav Adolf Hartung of Berlin and after 27 Jan 1931 citizens of Zürich, Kaufmann (Bed springs and horsehair agent) in Zürich, and Lina Martha Rasp. [Kilchberg (Zürich), Breitloostrasse 26.]
Daughter:
Maja, * Born Zürich (Hirslanden Clinic) 21 Aug 1943.
2) Hans, * Born Zürich (Women's Clinic) 27 Jul 1915, Dr.iur. (Doctor of Canon and Civil Law), publisher, co-owner and manager of the company Conzett & Huber, Zurich, Secretary General of the International Publishers Union, National Council since 1951, since 29 Oct 1961 honorary citizen of Brig, ∞ Married Zurich 22 Jul 1942 Lina Elisabeth Wolfensberger of Zurich, Zurich * Born (Steinhaldenstrasse 68) 25 Apr 1915, T. v. Daughter of Wilhelm Gerhard Wolfensberger of Bauma and since 5 Nov 1921 from Zurich (waived on 30 Aug 1921 at Bauma), master bookbinder
Conzett Page 49
(Owner of the United Bindery G. Wolfensberger) of Zürich, and Lina Elisabetha Nüesch. [Zürich‚ Kapfstrasse 39.]
Sons:
a) Hans Gerhard, * Born Zürich (Swiss School of Nursing) 23 Jun 1943.
b) Peter Conrad, * Born Zürich (Swiss School of Nursing) 3 Feb1946.
c) Jürg Robert, * Born Zürich (Swiss School of Nursing) 17 Jan 1947.
3) Räto (Reto), * Born Zürich (Sonneggstrasse 16) 15 Dec 1916, engineer, co-owner and manager of the company Conzett & Huber, Zurich, ∞ Married I. Newark (NY, USA) 8 Mar 1941 (Married on 9 Aug 1943 in Reno by The Second Judical District Court of the State of Nevada Φ Divorced) Carolyn Kessler a US citizen, * Born Newark 15 Jan 1917, T. v. Daughter of Jack Kessler and Charlotte Kohke, ∞ Married II. Kilchberg (Zürich) 21 Mar 1946 Irene Hertha Marianne Creutz a German citizen, * Born Dresden 4 Mar 1921, T. v. Daughter of Herbert Albin Creutz and Anna Catharina Binder. [Kilchberg (Zürich), Weinbergstrasse 86.]
e.Simeon (Simon), * Born Zürich (Kirchgasse 19a) 5 Jan 1891, Zürich (Wiedingstrasse 46) 29 Oct 1918 (from influenza, pneumonia and heart failure), Printers and printing-co-owner in Zürich, Infantry Lieutenant, ∞ Married Zürich 7 May 1917 Dora Rüesch of St. Margrethen (St. Gallen), * Born Chur 22 Nov 1894, † Died Zürich (Richard-Wagner-Strasse 8) 17 Dec 1957 (∞ Married II. Kilchberg [Zürich] 4 Nov 1922 Johann [Hans] Otto Müller of Dorf, printer, print shop manager in company Conzett & Huber, Zürich, of Zürich, * Born Wil [St. Gallen] 19 Mar 1896, S.v. Son Of Johann Müller and Anna Elisabetha Gremminger), T. v. Daughter Of Hermann Rüesch, merchant in Chur and later in Samaden, and Luzia Ardüser.
Symbols and abbreviations:
* geboren - born
~ getauft - baptised
x verkündet (Ehe) - marriage proclaimed
∞ verheiratet - married
† gestorben - died
[] begraben - buried
(crossed swords) gefallen - fell/fell in battle
‡ Verkündung des Todes von der Kanzel - Pronouncement of death from the pulpit - Church announcement of death
Φ geschieden - divorced
†* totgeboren - stillborn
†(crossed swords) an im Kampfe erlittenen Wunden gestorben - died of combat wounds
†† ausgestorben - extinct
0-0 aussereheliche bzw. obrigkeitlich nicht anerkannte Verbindung - out of wedlock or not recognized by authorities
S. v. Sohn von - Son of
T. v. Tochter von - Daughter of
Wwer Witwer - Widower
Wwe Witwe - Widow
a.e. ausserehelich - outside of wedlock
l.p.s.m. durch die nachfolgende Heirat legitimiert - legitimated by subsequent marriage
ev.-ref. evangelisch-reformiert - Evangelical-Reformed
ev.-luth. evangelisch-lutherisch - Evangelical-Lutheran
röm.—kath. römisch-katholisch - Roman Catholic
christkath. christ- oder altkatholisch - Old Catholic
israel. israelitisch - Jewish
prot. protestantisch - Protestant
Jahrg. Jahrgang - Year
Other Genealogical Symbols Used in Europe
* born
(*) born illegitimately