Subject
Seigniorial Registers of the South Bohemian Region
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Description
In researching Seigniorial Registers from the Trebon Estate books, I keep coming across an "Omega" symbol next to some women's names in the registers. Sometimes up to 4 symbols in a row. Does anyone know what these symbols represent?
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Comments
According to Richard D' Amelio, Village Headsman were tasked by the manorial authority to monitor and report on varied crimes including morality crimes. The Omega, or horseshoe symbol, indicated a fornicator.
The symbol also shows up in land registers, as in the below link where Ludmilla is an unmarried mother.
https://digi.ceskearchivy.cz/720424/115/1881/2028/33/0
Richard D' Amelio has indicated to me that the omega, or horseshoe symbol indicates a fornicator. He notes that the village headsman was an observer for the manorial authority tasked with monitoring and reporting morality crimes--fornicators, among other matters. The symbol is also in the land registers, as shown in the below link, where Ludmilla was an unmarried mother.
https://digi.ceskearchivy.cz/720424/115/1881/2028/33/0