July 13, 2024

Coat of Arms: Gentzkow

One of my American immigrant ancestors, George Edward Gentzkow (aka Julius August Emil von Gentzkow), was born of the noblewoman Julie von Gentzkow. She demanded that his baptism record be amended and his lineal decent be properly acknowledged by the church. By this documentation process, she ensured that he was of noble birth and entitled to use the “von.”

Julie was the daughter of Balthasar Leopold Dusert von Gentzkow (1756-1819). In 1775, he made application to be a knight of the Order of St. John. His original parchment document is preserved at the Geheimes Staatsarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz [Secret State Archives of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation].

Baltasar Leopold Dusert von Gentzkow (largest detail) Aufschwörungstafel¹

Aufschwörungstafel

This pedigree of B. L. D. v. Gentzkow is more than a family tree; it is an Aufschwörungstafel, a swearing-in table used by the Order of St. John. With this document, applicants proved their birth status back four generations.

The Balley Brandenburg des Ritterlichen Ordens Sankt Johannis vom Hospital zu Jerusalem [Bailiwick of Brandenburg of the Chivalric Order of Saint John of the Hospital at Jerusalem] is the German Protestant branch of the Knights Hospitaller, an ancient chivalric order (dating back to Jerusalem, 1099). Prior to 1948, membership was only open to the nobility. Today, membership is by appointment only.

This Aufschwörungstafel is also a work of art. The family crests are hand-painted.

Gentzkow Coat of Arms

The shield of the Gentzkow clan is silver (or white) with a naturally-colored, leaning tree stump from which sprout three green leaves. Three silver (or white) ostrich plumes crest the helmet. Mantling is silver (or white) and green.

von Gentzkow Coat of Arms²

Gentzkow Coat of Arms in Jatzke

Julie von Gentzkow is buried inside the village church at Jatzke. The von Gentzkow arms are carved into the altar.

Village church altar at Jatzke (dating from 1720)³

close-up of von Gentzkow Coat of Arms, left side, Jatzke Village Church altar

Gentzkow Coat of Arms in Sadlekow

In the church at Sadelkow, the mantled Gentzkow heraldic arms are painted upon the pulpit and the altar; and embossed on the bell.

von Gentzkow arms below the “Watch and pray” pulpit banner, Village Church at Sadlekow⁴

von Gentzkow arms are in the top left corner of the Sadlekow altar

von Gentzkow arms on the Sadlekow altar, close up⁵

Bell in the village church of Sadlekow, embossed with von Gentzkow coat of arms⁶

The Sadlekow church had a wooden epitaph with the von Gentzkow coat of arms. This carved, oak panel features two laurel wreaths, each containing two coats of arms. Today, the epitaph is held by the Regionalmuseum Neubrandenburg [Inv. N.: V 715].

Epitaph from Sadlekow Church, 1698⁷

Upper wreath-pair: Zabel Otto von Gentzkow – Sabina Maria von Oertzen
[the couple in the second row from the top, left side of the Aufschwörungstafel]

Lower wreath-pair: Jochim von Gentzkow – Sophia von Ihlenfeldten
[parents of Zabel Otto, the couple in the top-left row of the Aufschwörungstafel]

The Regionalmuseum Neubrandenburg as has a collection of picture panels that were once located on the patron’s box of the Sadlekow church [Inv Nr.: V 4235 K1]. These painted panels feature winged angel heads and the coats of arms of the von Oertzen and von Gentzkow families. The backs of the panels have Bible verses.

Z. O. v. Gentzschkow panel from Sadlekow church

Gentzkow Coat of Arms in Dewitz

In the district of Dewitz, in the municipality of Lindetal, the church contains a gravestone slab and a bell with the von Gentzkow crest.

Gravestone slab, village church at Dewitz⁸

Sandstone graveslab in Dewitz church, von Gentzkow and von Rieben arms, Ficke [Vicke] von Gentzkow and E. von Rieben, 1586⁹

In the bell tower at Dewitz, two large bells (each approximately 1 meter in diameter) are embossed with the Gentzkow mantled arms.¹⁰

Inscription around the Dewitz Bell 1: Echart [Eggert] von Gentzkow – Reimor [Reimar] von Gentzkow – Victor von Gentzkow
Joachimus Louwe Pastor – Jochim Wahle – Jochim Ballowke A. 1617
Also inscribed: Sophia von der Lühe – Sophia von Gentzkow

Inscription on reverse of Dewitz Bell 2 (translated): On October 16, 1749, this bell was cast by the bell founder from Berlin, C. D. Heintzen, in Fürstenwerder, at the request of Herrn. Ernst Ludwig von Gentzkow, his royal majesty Frederick I in Sweden, hereditary lord and vassal, also patron of the church in Dewitz, at the time of Pastor Carl Ludwig Wilperts.

What’s Next?

George Edward Gentzkow (aka Julius August Emil von Gentzkow) never used the “von” or the coat of arms in America. Why not?
Are there other family coats of arms? [There are several on the Aufschwörungstafel that could be investigated.]

SOURCES

1
GStA PK [Geheimes Staatsarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz], X. HA Brandenburg, Rep. 9 Johanniterorden, Aufschwörungstafeln, Genzkow No. 766.
2
Von Gentzkow Wappen. Werner von Gentzkow (1949-2020) owned an original portion of this lithograph (C. 54), purportedly produced by Ohne Ort, 1843. Karrie Blees made digital copy June 19, 2017. This is the only coat of arms with a motto.
3
Jatze Church Altar Photograph, digital. Karrie Blees. Jatzke, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. June 14, 2017.
4
Sadlekow Church Pulpit Photograph, digital. Karrie Blees. Sadlekow, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. June 14, 2017.
5
Sadlekow Church Altar Photograph, digital. Conny Diederichs. Sadlekow, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. June 14, 2017.
6
Sadlekow church bell. Photograph taken by Werner von Gentzkow, digital copy made by Karrie Blees. October 10, 2019.
7
Photos of Sadlekow Church objects Regionalmuseum Neubrandenburg. Christine von Gentzkow. May 18, 2017.
8
Dewitz Church Photograph, digital. Karrie Blees. Dewitz, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. June 14, 2017.
9
Dewitz Graveslab Photograph, digital. Conny Diederichs. Dewitz, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. June 14, 2017.
10
Dewitz church bells. Photographs, digital. Karrie Blees. Dewitz, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. June 14, 2017.

Author: Karrie Blees

Filed Under: Gentzkow