Bács-Kiskun megye múltjából 19. (Kecskemét, 2004)

SUMMARY

ILONA PINTÉR Socage trials in Pataj between 1795-1877 The landowners of Pataj oppidum (market town) were the female lineal descendants of the Paksy family from the end of the 17

th century. First of all an outstanding figure could be mentioned, called István Daróczy, as he was the owner of four-fifth of the town boundery. After his death the leading part passed to his daughter-in-law, György Száraz and then to Daróczy's grandchild called Julianna Száraz's husband József Rudnyánszki inherited the main role among the landowners. József Rudnyánszky was the person to transact the contract with the town fixing the services of peasants toward the landlords. The town was in an undivided, communal property all the time. Families shared the income according to their rate of ownership. The contract by Rudnyánszky was favourable for the residents of Pataj that's why the town was flourishing and their inhabitants were becoming richer and richer. On the other hand landowners, becoming more and more in number, expected to get higher revenue. The decree of serfs was supposed to favour the effort of landowners, coming into force it would have given far more income to the landlords than they got according to the contract. Landlords hadn't succeded in realizing their purposes until 1770 since the Council of Governor-General ordered that the town wasn't allowed to be burdened with socage as it was to be burdened bound by contract with the landowners of the settlement. In 1794 the landlords forced a new contract to Pataj, threating that rejecting their demand the town would be covered with socage. The reality was that the burdening with socage did happen according to the contract, because the payable sums were settled by the decree of serfs. The representatives of Pataj were made to sign the contract that increased taxes from 3 000 up to 6 500 forints because the landowners made no mention of the excess costs. There was no option for the residents of Pataj but to turn to the supreme authority to make the contract cancelled. The Council of Governor-General ordered in August 1795 that it was needed to make a decision in a usual socage trial if there were enough reasons to terminate the Rudnyánszky contract. Due to that measure, the trial of the town started in manorial court on the 9

th of December, 1795. It was put an end to on the 6

th of April, 1877 with an agreemental record of evidence in the presence of the parties in the court of justice of Kalocsa. ATTILA SZABÓ Socage conditions in Akasztó during the 18-19

th century In spite of the unfavourable natural conditions, the population of Akasztó succeded in warding off ambitions of landlords to organize and extend their segnorial domestic economy from the 18

th up to the 19

th century. The inhabitants of the village were able to make some advancement enhancing their farms out of their landlord's segnorial domestic economy taking advantage of chaotic conditions among ways of land use around the settlement boundery. These lands were accepted in the property of Akasztó in the treatment of relating to the socage of 1856. The other reason of the