Borgman Land Contract

Land Contract - Landwehr Farm
Johan Heinrich Borgman
12 May 1844

The contract below, provided courtesy of Lou Smith, and translated by his charming wife Helga (from German to English) was discovered in the German archives during the research we are having done in Ankum, Germany. This contract was entered into by the father of our Borgman's (Nicholas & Garrett) after they had already departed Germany. As was German custom, their father then changed his surname to Landwehr, nee Borgman. He fathered five children with his first wife, and then another eight children with his second wife (Griese). Nicholas & Garrett Borgman were born to his first wife (Hallerman).

I herewith sign my name, farmer Heinrich Borgman from Westerholte, and declare herewith that with today's date, the Reverend Mister Landdrost von Boselager from Eggermuhlen gave me from the funds of the church at Ankum, for my collateral of the Farm of Westerholte, a capital sum of four hundred thaler into my hand.

I hereby acknowledge the amount of money that I received as 400 thaler and promise to pay a yearly interest of 3 1/2%, and the balance to be paid in a semiannual payment. Therefore I pledge as security for the amount, interest and other costs my Landwehr farm of Westerholte, and all my belongings and I permit a document to be drawn up and to enter it into the mortgage register.

The undersigned Col. Taggenbrock of Auslage who is my provider, but that I am the sole debtor of the above sum.

Thus it happened in Ankum, 12 May 1844.
(signed) Heinrich Borgmann
Col Lubbert Taggenbrock, provider