As yet very little is known about the family relationships among the over 100 Seulings that, according to an Internet search, today still live in Germany. Obviously the prime task of the genealogist has to be to identify the connections of these various branches with the roots – do they all trace back to Alten-Buseck or are there more than one separate families with a same last name? – and with their expatriate cousins. Analysis of postal area codes suggests we may have to distinguish two major pockets, one of which (with thirteen Seulings that as yet we could not connect to the family tree) is located in Ober-Hessen, in and around Alten-Buseck.[1] A much larger group of over seventy Seulings is situated in Oberfranken/Aschaffenburg in the north of the state of Bayern. In a relatively small area dominated by the Steigerwald, southeast of the city of Bamberg, they have settled in a large number of smaller communities.[2] Although a family relationship with the Alten-Buseck group can not be excluded, until proven otherwise we must assume the two pockets are separate, i.e., non-related.[3] We will keep working on it!
(Ill.’s 97a and b: Map of the Steigerwald area in northern Bayern, west of Bamberg; 1866 and today.)
Most probably the family roots in this Seuling branch can be traced to the small village of Zettmannsdorf that today, together with neighboring Grub, Halbersdorf, and Schönbrunn im Steigerwald, form the community that carry the latter’s name. With a population of less than two thousand inhabitants spread over 25 square kilometers, it has much to offer in the beauty and the quiet of the rolling hills and the diversity of woodlands and farming areas that is so characteristic of southern Germany. Still, from an economic perspective, the area had more than its share of problems. Agriculture is too small scaled, forestry not sufficiently profitable, tourism not highly developed. About twothird of the population therefore has to commute to nearby Bamberg for making a living.
(Ill.’s 98a and b, and 99: Overview of Zettmannsdorf today and a rural street scene of the recent past.)
The history of Zettmannsdorf[4] goes back to around the year 500 when the Franks expanded their geographic reach from their origins in the Niederrhein: Gallia[5] was occupied, the Thüringers and Alemannen were conquered, the Steigerwald was taken in possession and the small and scattered population was christianized. Slavic prisoners of war, captured in the continuous battles with the Huns (Awaren), were put to work by their Frank masters in the clearing of the extensive forests. Even today many communities in the region have their roots in the Slavic settlements.
Two centuries later Karl Martell initiated a targeted development plan for “Francia Orientalis” that intended to strengthen the ties of the east Franks to the Reich. Small communities with land and forestry property were otganized in so-called Marks. The Mainbergmark – situated between the small rivers of the Rauher and Reicher Ebrach – has been of special importance for the development of Zettmannsdorf. It was built on the presence of six communities among which also Frensdorf. In the immediate vicinity larger strongholds such as Burgebrach and next generations of farming villages including Schönbrunn added to the economic growth of the region before 800.
Following a period of decline, a return to prosperity was enhanced by the institution of the Bisdom of Bamberg in 1007. As a result the deforestation was accelerated; the greater population needed more farmland. The powerful Counts of Abenberg-Frensdorf played a critical role in the development of Zettmannsdorf. “Haudegen” Rapoto von Frensdorf can be considered the founder of the community; under his “reign” in 1126 the name is first mentioned as Scitemulesdorf. The foundation of the Cisterzienser monastery in Ebrach in 1126 further accelerated the development within the region, especially after Count Rapoto sold his property to the Bishop of Würzburg who in turn passed it on to the monastery. Around 1300 the village is first called Sedmastorf.
Spread over a long period of time, the Herren[6] von Giech gradually acquired much of the property in the surroundings of Zettmannsdorf. It thus came as no surprise when, to anchor their position, they built a castle in the center of the village that over the course of centuries determined the fate of the community. In 1514 Konrad von Giech, “Herr auf dem Rittergut Zettmannsdorf”, acquires significant land holdings in Lisberg and the prosperity of the two villages become intertwined. With the power of both the nobility and the church escalating, the repression of the peasants became excessive and in 1525/1526 the hatred culminated in the Bauernkrieg. The Von Giech family was hit hard when their castles in Zettmannsdorf, Zabelstein and Schönbrunn were destroyed. The monastery of Ebenbrach, at this stage another symbol of oppression, also was plundered. After the collapse of the farmers’ offensive in which hundred thousand peasants lost their lives, large areas were depopulated and returned to wilderness. The brothers Johann and Konrad von Giech demand compensation of their damages from Bamberg, apparently with success as the castle in Zettmannsdorf is rebuilt and even enlarged. Only the tower is erected on the foundations of its predecessor. In 1552 the family property is divided; Helfant von Giech receives “Zedmesdorf” with all associated rights. He had no time to relax and enjoy his new holdings, however, as immediately, during the Markgrafenkrieg (1552-1554), the village is heavily damaged. In 1575, his heirs sell out to Johann von Aschhausen who also buys all other Von Giech land in the region. In 1600 the rich Von Münster family in turn adds it to their holdings. From now on Zettmannsdorf is known as “ein Ritterschaftliches Dorf des Cantons Steigerwald, gehört denen Herren von Münster”.
The Großen Religionskrieg that lasted from 1631 to 1634 brought even greater catastrophe to Franken than the Bauernkrieg. The Swedes wanted to conquer the entire Steigerwald. The population suffered from their demands with regard to food and the associated atrocities. Moreover, the pest of October 1633 took a heavy toll. The recovery in the middle of the 17th century is slow and painful; the local economy came pretty much to a standstill. Around 1800 Zettmannsdorf is characterized as: “Dorf, 4 Stunden von Bamberg, zum Ritterorte steuerbar und den Freyherrn Münster zu Lisberg gehörig. Allda befinden sich ein altes Castrum und mehrere Ökonomiegebäude.” In 1814 Zettmannsdorf counted 34 buildings, 148 inhabitants and a mill[7]. Its main source of income appears to have been pig farming: “Die Schweinesucht wird hier stark betrieben.”
In 1854 Heinrich von Münster sold the Rittergüter Lisberg and Zettmannsdorf to the Gräfliche Standesherrschaftsrechte in Castell. The earlier rights of the nobility were abandoned and around the middle of the 19th century the farm land was bought by the local farmers.
Over the years a few new buildings were added that currently still serve as landmarks. In front of the building that in 1824 still housed the school is the so-called Schulkreuz, a rarity in the sense that the late-18th century artist carved the body of Jezus Christ and the cross out of a single stone. Towards the end of the 19th century the community also decided to build a small church. Very little is left of the castle; some remnants of the foundations can be seen today yet. A map from the 19th century still provides an indication of its former location and size.
(Ill.’s 100a, b and c: The Zettmannsdorfer Kapelle, the old school building, and the so-called Schulkreuz.)
(Ill. 101: Center of Zettmannsdorf in the 19th century with its dominating castle (2 and 3) and the Amtsgebäude[8] (4) from 1760 that later was turned into the school house plus Schulkreuz.)
According to our current knowledge, the first time a member of the Seuling family is mentioned in official documents is in a Wahlprotokoll of 1889. The Landwirte[9] at that time were G. Seemann and A. Frey while the gentlemen Seuling, Betz, Fröhling, and Thürstein served their community als Bevollmächtigte[10].
(Ill. 102: The choir “Liederkranz” that existed in Zettmannsdorf between the two World Wars.)
Although genealogical research still must substantiate our hypotheses, it would seem that during this period the Seulings spread from Zettmannsdorf to the neighboring villages. Prominent probably was Schönbrunn, with a history that closely parallels that described before. First mentioned in 1278, passed on from one noble family to the next or occasionally to the church, heavily damaged in the Thirty Year War (1618-1648), notably in 1630 when the Swedes invaded Franken. In 1656 the village was almost depopulated. There were further prices to pay during the Schlesian Wars and when Napoleon returned with his crippled army from Russia in 1812. Again there was a castle, the traces of which can hardly be found today: was it located near the present Pfarrkirche or – as oral history tells it – was it built on the property of the Schloßbauer that currently is owned by Seuling? In the latter case we would have a first member of the Family who at least lived on the site of a castle; sometimes one has to celebrate even small events.
(Ill. 103a and b: Overview of Schönbrunn and of the water reservoir/nature conservation in the Gruber Bach. The reservoir was built after the floods of 1971 and 1980 to “store” the overflow of the Gruber Bach in periods of heavy rain.)
With the greatly appreciated help of Bernhard Seuling[11] we received a genealogical lead that makes it possible to gain a first insight in the Bavarian Seuling branch. A so-called ancestor table put together by his father Otto (1906 Bamberg – 1963 Bamberg) suggests the roots of this branch to reside in Bavaria, at least going back to the middle of the 18th century, and moreover an adherence to the Catholic religion. This religious affiliation also is borne out by the wonderful family picture from around 1930 where Otto’s sister Meta is a proud nun standing between her happy parents.
(Ill. 104: Ancestor table of Otto Seuling (1906-1963).)
(Ill. 105: Family picture of the Bamberg branch of Seulings, around 1930.)
(Ill.: The unlikely family crest of the Seuling tribe, according to The Historical Research Center, that a member of the Bavarian Seulings acquired during an American holiday.)
[1] As yet not-connected Seulings in and around Alten-Buseck are: Albert, Frank, Frieda (Buseck), Hedwig (Giessen), Helmut, Helmut (Buseck/Beuern), Ludwig, Ottilie, Otto, Regina (Braunfels), Regina, Reiner (Braunfels), and Willi.
[2] Arranged by community, the group encompasses the following Seulings that we as yet could not connect to the Alten-Buseck roots: from Bamberg: Bernhard, Erwin, Günter, Karl, Kunigunda, Margit, Peter, Rainer, Rosl; from Hirschaid: Andreas, Annemarie, Bernd, Frank, Ludwig, Rainer; from Steinsdorf/Schönbrunn: Andreas, Anna (Halbersdorf), Dieter, Edmund, Heinrich, Klaus, Wolfgang; from Zetmansdorf: August, Georg, Lorenz, Siegfried; from Volkach: Anneliese, Ferdinand, Joachim, Rosemarie, Thomas; from Kirchaich/Oberaurach: B., Jürgen, Georg, Torsten(?); from Prölsdorf/Rauehenebrach: Alfred, Ditmar, Klaus; from Burgebrach: Anne Maria, Felix, Lorenz, Wolfgang; from Schweinfurt: Edgar, Thekla, W.; from Heidenfeld: Helmut, Johanna, Maria; from Kulmbach: Gabriele, Herbert; from Kronach: Gerhard, Irmgard; and moreover Frank (Küps), Gerd (Weismain), Maria (Walsdorf/Kolmsdorf), Martin (Frensdorf), Matthias (Bad Neustadt), Peter (Lisberg/Trabelsdorf), Reinhold (Priesendorf), Thomas (Memelsdorf), Robert (Viereth-Trundstadt), Dieter (Eltmann), Emil (Schonungen/Marktsteinach), Josef (Schwebheim), Silvia (Schwanfeld), Jürgen (Wunsiedel), Thomas (Niederwerrn/Oberwerrn), and Werner (Gerolzhofen).
[3] Other Seulings, living at a distance to the two above pockets, are: from München: August, Brigitta, Georg, Robert; from Ludwigsburg, Württ.: Gerhard, Gisela; from Frankfurt Am Main: Marianne, Arne; from Düsseldorf: Christel, Irmgard, Michael, Ortrun (Neuss), Saskia, Sigurd, Widar; and furthermore Barbara (Nürnberg), Bruno (Mahlstetten), Carola/Rainer (Rückersdorf), Claudia (Oberfischbach), Daniel (Friedrich-Fendt), Daniel (Tübingen), Friedhelm (Tamm), Georg (Reutlingen), Helmut (Bonn), Helmut (Taunusstein), Inga (Mühlheim), Isolde (Regensburg), Jürgen (Anzing), Lorenz (Denkingen, Württ.), Lorenz (Adelsdorf), Marianne (Friedrichsdorf Taunus), M. (Würzburg), Thomas (Berlin), and Werner (Wiesbaden)
[4] The source of the historical information and photographs on Zettmannsdorf is the publication “Der Steigerwald” of October 1993, notably the article by Egbert Sauer and Georg Seemann, “Zettmannsdorf: Geschichte und Geschichten” (pages 154-167).
[5] (Check translation.)
[6] (Translate.)
[7] In German: Froschmühle.
[8] (Translate.)
[9] (Translate.)
[10] (Translate.)
[11] We are grateful to Bernhard Seuling (Ottostraße 22, 96047 Bamberg, tel 0951-2082630) for his help.