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Document of
Johann Ernst Varnbüler, continued
That the name
Varnbueler was taken by the family no earlier than the 14th century is assumed
by the fact that Varnbuel (farnbuehl, Buel or an elevation with ferns****)
isthe name of an estate at a higher elevation near a ravine in which the river
Urnaesch flows, near the rural Spa Stoerzel in the Canton of Appenzell,
approximately 1 1/2 hours from St. Gallen*****. The connection to St. Gallen
was made by the family (that is if the above family tree is to be accurate) in
the latter half of the 14th century (alas, at a time when other knighted
families desired to be integrated with the rapidly growing and
popularity-gaining city of St. Gallen).
It is a fact that
the name of Varnbueler appears about this time in St. Gallen documents******)
and rapidly appears in multiples. The supposition therefore is that the family
originally settled in a castle, be it Gutenberg, be it Greiffenberg, thereafter
however, was exiled due to the various conflicts into the vicinity of St.
Gallen and occupied the Farnbuehl, probably lent by the Abbey of St. Gallen
which owned extensive real estate in Appenzell*******. From these holdings the
name was taken. Unfortunately, any documents showing for how long the family
occupied this estate are not available.
It would be in error
however, if one would assume that the family has taken the name
"Varnbuehler" and not the "vom Varnbuehl" or "von
Varnbuehl" that the same was not a knighted family, entitled to the title.
Because, many with indisputable right to a knighted title, yes, even free
masters have not used the noble title in their names during some time periods.
Especially the old families of urban patricians, even with indisputable titles
left it off their names. Then, therefore, during the 17th century the city
nobility has extensive complication and was required to show proof of nobility
as compared to the old landed gentry. (With emphasis on land.) The
Varnbuehlers, as with their related families of Burgauer, Thumbacher,
Reutlinger, Suter are in name members of the nobility registry
(Adelsgenossenschaft) of the Notenstein [Society] in St. Gallen. (see Marx
Haltmeyer, Description of St. Gallen 1683 page 151 f in the Hemmingen archive
compartment XXVI)
Based on the St.
Gallen documents one can compile a family tree totally deviant from a
previously compiled one. (see a.a. O. compartment XV bundle 2 in (26)). [Note:
this statement alone reveals the difficulty of compiling accurate and
verifiable information for the time period involved].
Notes of Baron
Ernst Varnbueler.
* there is and has not been a Greiffenberg in the Rhine valley. However, a
Greiffenberg can be found north of Rapperswyl near Bauma (Baretswyl). It was a
leasehold of the Abbey of St. Gallen.
**the Gutenbergs had different colors from ours, on white background (blue on
ours), blue daggers (with ours.....
*** the Gutenbergs were driven from their castle about 1308 by the Austrian
archdukes due to their participation in the murder of Emperor Albrecht by
Johann Parricida: hence, revenge by the Empress Agnes.
**** Farnbuehl = Farrenbuehl = Buehl on the "Farren" (cattle). This
definition relies on still current conditions. This Farrenbuehl is still
provable to have been owned in oldest times by free citizens.
***** The are three Farnbuehls in Appenzell:
1. the earlier mentioned
2. the one closest to Taufen.
3. the Farnbuehl von Rotbach, very close to Gais and not at all far from
Weinstein.
Each one of these Farnbuehls consists of a group of very primitive farmhouses
(homesteads).
******maybe we kept this name until the exile from the Gutenberg (1308), and to
escape persecution dropped this name later when we occupied the Weinstein
(documented since 1341).
*******just as earlier the Greiffenberg and at the same time the Weinstein,
both of which were leaseholds by the Abbey of St. Gallen.
End of Johann Ernst document
Note: Careful reading of the above document reveals some conflicting information. For example, the chart shows Konrad's son Hans born in the year, 1375. And in the text referring to Hans below that, it shows the same Hans as the owner of Weinstein in 1375 (unlikely, unless he became owner at birth). The 1375 date also appears by Konrad's name, which cannot be a birthdate if his son Hans has the same birthdate.
Another example: The text refers to the rage of the Emperor's widow Elisabeth. However, a footnote near the end of the document refers to the same widow as Agnes.