Johannes Springorum ( - 1682)

Several historical records (dated November 3, 1667, and November 17, 1671) describe a recurring grant of an estate named “De Mersche” and its associated farm. These grants were made by the abbot of the abbeys of Werden and Helmstedt to Johannes Springorum on behalf of the convent of Marienborg in Lütgendortmund.

Johannes Springorum (†1682), who served as a priest and chaplain in Bochum, should not be confused with Johannes Springorum (†1694), priest in Kirchende. The latter is the son of Reinhard Springorum

The convent, founded in 1295, played a pivotal role for the remaining Catholics in Lütgendortmund, a predominantly Protestant area after the Reformation. Governed by the Abbey of Werden, the convent had to pay taxes to its overseeing authority, as documented in these acts. Johannes is referred to in these records as the “Primissar of Bochum.” In German documents, the term Primissar often denotes the highest-ranking cleric within a monastery, abbey, or parish, usually acting as the abbot's deputy. The Primissar held both administrative and spiritual responsibilities, making him a prominent figure in the ecclesiastical hierarchy.

The Parish of Bochum In 1670, the parish of Bochum was a relatively large and significant community in what is now North Rhine-Westphalia. It encompassed not only the city of Bochum but also surrounding villages such as Langendreer, Werne, and Gerthe, along with parts of modern-day Wattenscheid. The parish may have also included Wetter, Herdecke, and Kirchende.