Various surnames found in Tax list in Brochterbeck  

Tax lists


There are 3 types of records compiled periodically for the period of reign of Freidrich II who ruled 1740-1786

  1. Praestations-Tabellen (PT) are land tax lists since abougt 1774 for West Prussia and earlier East Prussia and repeated ever 6 years until about 1806.  They would list land owners only
  2. Mahl-Listen or Muehlen Consignationen list all heads of families by name and number of women, sons, daughters, male and female servants.  They indicate that everyone was taxed by head for eating and milling grain, poor or rich.  This was abolished in 1806 by the Stein-Hardenberg reforms
  3. The courts introduced new deed record keeping for West Prussi in 1783.  Especially the Hypotheken-Acta often give informatoin on family affairs like mortgage beneficiaries, orphans, new marriages, heirs in details not found anywhere else.  They often do not only reflect families with assets but also paupers, as heirs and beneficiaries.  Often copies of old documents and wills are attached.