Shep's Place Family Tree

Nearby, before the Koelner Mitteltor, toward the outer gate, Zillis von Nut had an estate in 1450, between "Cronelius erve" and Loifstatt and "Herrn Ansems erve". Zillis had purchased this property from Arnold v. Diependael. The above mentioned "other house" of Zillis was located on Peter street. The county records mention two houses under his name, the one beside "Mettel Ansems erve Kittelvois" with a connecting courtyard, the other inheritance immediately beside it and next to Thys Radermacher. These houses were under the same roof, a method of building which is still noticeable in old houses of Aix-la-Chapelle. This was not the entire extent of the property of Zillis von Nut. A short distance west of the St. Peter's church toward the city gate, on Peter's street, he owned a house whose previous owner was the late person named Spiegel. This house with its courtyard was situated between Clais Irreganks heirs and Johann Herderscheit. Zillis held a mortgage on another von Nuett estate, which became a possession of Michel von Monchengladback and on October 23, 1485 became the property of Cornelius von Guelpen.

Towards the end of the fourteenth century the city had recuperated from the effects of the plague which had decimated the population. The textile industry soon brought prosperity back again. At this time several Nuett were living in the city.

The sixteenth century brought to Aix great religious disturbances. Albert Muenster, the first speaker of the new faith, was, according to annalists of the city, a murderer, and was publicly executed. In 1530 the city remained true to the Catholic faith at Augsburg. The axiom "cuius regio, eius religio" ‎(He that has the rule determines the faith)‎ was also applied to Aix, and the heterodox were given a respite, usually one year and six months, to make provisions for their property and to emigrate. When in 1533, a person who claimed to be a Lutheran clergyman, held secret meetings in the home of Lorenz Teschenmacher, the council arrested him and his audience. In 1534 the council again forbade the exposition of the Gospel. Prominent citizens, among them many cloth merchants, secretly remained faithful to the new doctrine. When this new faith continued to grow, especially among persons of rank, it became known, and on July 10, 1550 Ferdinand I ordered an investigation regarding the spread of the Lutheran faith. Several citizens were exiled. When some of them returned, contrary to the orders from the council, and held meetings at night, several were publicly burned. When the princes and noblemen who subscribed to the Augsburg Confession intervened, the council still remained firm. As late as August 30, 1559 Protestants were arrested because of their secret meetings. While several prominent members of the council spoke favourably of the new doctrine, the expulsions continued, easing first with the exile of the mayor Adam von Zeuell on May 15, 1560. We know that at this time our ancestors, who had accepted the new faith, had already left Aix. In 1581 Protestants were strong enough to control the city. Then the imperial proscription struck them after several unheeded admonitions, and more than a hundred citizens, among them Peter von Nuet, were banned. A long time later the city finally recuperated from the effects of these disturbances.

The wealth and splendour of the great capital of the empire undoubtedly lured our ancestors to it. The immigration probably happened early in the Middle Ages, since at that time the Nuett were well to do. Exact dates are difficult to gather, since in the great fire ‎(1656)‎ of the city many valuable documents were lost.