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Prignitz (also known as: Altmark)
Prignitz (also known as Altmark) is a countryside north west of Berlin, near the lake district of Mecklemburg and about 150 km southeast of Lübeck.
We will now follow the Grawert’s there.
For this the document published by Werner Gragert (1938) is of extraordinary importance.
He is of the opinion, that the name Gragert originally comes from the family name Grawert and was misspelled at some time. It is a fact, that the names of Gragert and Grawert can be found together in many towns and villages in the Prignitz. The name Gragert can only be found first in 1652. This supports his theory.
Gragert established a list of 40 Gragert’s and approx. 10 Grawert’s and refers to the statements by Hans-Curt von Grawert who shows the relationship with Utrecht and Lübeck via the Saxon General Major Gottfried (von) Grawert.
Hans-Curt von Grawert (born Spandau 1891) stated, that in the year 1301 a group of Grawert’s emigrated into the Prignitz. These were 10 men, a married daughter and an unmarried daughter. Two of these were supposedly members of the council of Lübeck.
In the year 1387 we find Heinrich Grawert in the village of Dobberkau/Doberkow
(Altmark). Dobberkau is in between the towns of Salzwedel and Stendal.
(1367: “ Bishop Albrecht appoints Heinrich Grawert as Coadjutor to support the old and infirm priest in Dobberkau.”)
From a collection of documents Diplomaticus brandenburgensis , Gragert quotes:
On the 29th December 1390 survey for the altar Mary and Gregory in the Jacobi church in Stendal for property in the village of Hueselitz, Altmark owned by Hans Grawert and his brother Vritze.
In the church there is a roll of honour for Johannes (Hans) and Fritze, called Grawert from the village of Hueselitz.
Hans and Fritz can be found in Lübeck soon after. As Fritz (left for Lübeck) was born in 1370 above might be their fathers.
Church property after Matthew year 1545 = Wolterdorpe/Mollendorpe farmer Peter Grawert.
1600: Hans,Pasche and Tewes Gragert, Gr. Woltersdorf, Simon Grawert, Kl. Woltersdorf, Hans Grawert , Steffenhagen.
Pastor Joachimus Grawert , born Lentzen, 53 years old, confirmed Perleberg
Wedding register Perleberg 18.10.1574: Juergen Grawert’s widow.
Register of ther university of Rostock 1589: A.Grawerus from Perleberg.
This is probably Albert Grawer (Grauer) born April 3rd 1575 in Perleberg son of the preacher Joachim Grawer (source: wikipedia).
Immatriculated in Rostock, than at Frankfurt and Wittenberg. Magister (master of arts) in Wittenberg and went to live in Hungary where he had to flee from the advancing Turks. Went back to Wittenberg in 1599 and became principal in Eisleben. Made his doctorate in theology in Jena in 1609 and became a professor in 1611. After that he was called to Weimar, as a general superintendent, where he stayed until his death on November 30th 1617. He was worshiped by his admirers as a “guardian and fighter for the Lutheran belief”.
1600: Jakob Grawert , 39 years old served as dragoon under the King of Denmark and later on the King of Sweden on Fehmarn.
1652: Gross Wolterdorf Paul Grawert “from here” 60 years old.
Hans Grawert, born here 32 years old.
Birth register Steffenhagen: 1575 Hans, 1610 Heinrich, 1613 Jakob, 1616 Jochim Grawert
Birth register Kuhbier: 1671 Jacob, 1673 Maria, 1675 Hinrich, 1677 Catrin, 1680 Claus, 1683 Ilse, 1687 Christian Grawert
Gragert writes:
A Grawert died in Stendal in 1449, whose father Vritz was born in Lübeck.
Vritz Grawert merchant from Stendal died in Lübeck in 1449.
(the second version is probably correct).
The mayor of Stendal Hans Goldbeck bought several properties from Grawert in 1472.
In the same year he married the daughter of Hans Grawert.
And Sippenverband Ziering-Moritz-Allemann, edition no.2, 1936:
The family Goldbeck has lived in the Altmark for centuries. Hans Goldbeck married the daughter of the mayor of Lübeck Her name was Ilsa Grawert. Her grandfather was Vritze Grawert, who was born in Stendal and moved to Luebeck.
These are two clear pieces of evidence, that at least in the 14th – 16th century there was a close relationship between the Grawert’s in Lübeck and the Altmark.
Chronicle of the 30 year war (1618-1648) Brandenburg:
Hans Schulze from Dogelin bought on October 1646 the “Frey Haus” in Beerfelde from Hans Grawert for 16 Thaler.
But the Grawert’s did not just stay in the Prignitz.
We will find them again in Berlin, East Prussia and Neumark (East Brandenburg).