Bernhard von Köhl's third eldest daughter, Anna Maria, was baptized on 8 April 1649 in the church of St. Regula in Chur. She married the honest and sensible Jakob Ragaz[1] around 1671 with the consent of her parents. As Jakob came from a good family, her father had hoped that he would prove himself as a husband to his daughter. He employed him in his draper's shop, taught and admonished him. But his father-in-law's efforts failed. Jacob drank a lot of wine and gambled away his money. Bernhard noted in his will in 1672: “[... Because he was of good honest people, good landlords, I hoped that he would become a man, because he was only 18 years old, I set up a cloth trade for him with great diligence, taught him, admonished him, promised him and used all good means, but he is so corrupt, inflamed by society with drink and spinning, as I have written several sheets of his memorial, from whom I must take away his power, and according to the heath pacts I have entrusted my daughter with, because he has brought his own, if I have not taken counsel, he refuses to take my daughter, who is not to blame for it, into the streets, and to say in courage that he is a lost man, without hope [. .]”.[2]
The couple were no longer able to pay for their home due to the high debt burden. As his daughter was not to blame, Bernhard helped his daughter, paid off many of her debts and moved her and her husband into one of his houses. He also removed her husband from his custody, gave his daughter power of attorney and made further decisions for the couple. Jacob died of his vices at the age of thirty, leaving Anna Maria with several thousand guilders in debt and childless.
However, Bernhard did not abandon his daughter, who had suffered so much. He managed to persuade one of his debtors, alderman and guild master Calep Pitzarda[3], to marry the poor widow. Calep had previously been married to Anna Massner[4] and brought two children into the marriage. The two married in Chur between 1684 and 1688. However, Bernhard von Köhl drew up a marriage contract with Pitzarda in which their financial affairs were regulated. Anna Maria was now well provided for, taking care of the household and her two stepsons. The couple had no children together. Anna Maria died at the age of 72, three years after her husband Caleb Pitzarda, and was buried in Chur on February 4, 1721[5].
Husband: Jakob Ragaz, Calep Pitzarda
Children: None
Occupation: Housewife
Source:
2: StAGR, B2125/3: Testament des Bernhard Köhl, 26.12.1695, S. 12.
5: Siehe auch Köhl: Die Töchter des Bernhard von Köhl, 2025, S. 83.
Persons mentioned:
1: Jakob Ragaz (4.1.1653–vor 1684), Sohn von Zunft- und Schmiedemeisters Hans Peter Ragaz (29.3.1632–vor 1695) und der Maria Janett. Siehe St-Ragaz.
3: Calep Pitzarda (11.11.1642–9.5.1718), Schneiderzunft 1664, Oberzunftmeister, Ratsherr, Reiswagmeister 1688. Siehe St-Pitzarda.
4: Anna Massner (16.10.1646–13.10.1683). Siehe St-Massner.