Coat of arms letter Köhl

Bernhard Köhl (Chur, June 3, 1624 - Chur, April 7, 1700) was the son of Peter and Elisabeth Mathis. His ancestor Julius Köhl had already been granted a coat of arms in 1561 and the nobility had been confirmed as Edler von Rogister.

Bernhard was a member of the shoemakers' guild and a successful merchant. His origin from modest circumstances did not exclude him from holding high political offices in his home municipality as part of the municipal administration, such as head guild master of the shoemakers' guild, the town treasurer's office and from 1671 to 1687 as town mayor and bailiff. In 1684 he was appointed chief judge of a criminal court sitting in Chur and the exercise of this function may have been decisive for the Chur prince-bishop Ulrich VI von Mont Bernhard's improvement of his coat of arms. Between 1689 and 1698 he was repeatedly elected mayor and in this function he was also president of the Grey League.

Coat of arms letter from 1684

Wappenbrief for Bernhard Köhl 1684. (StAGR, A I/2a Nr. 147).

Letter of arms issued by Prince-Bishop Ulrich VI of Mont. Proclaimed on 24.12.1684 in the castle and residence of the princely court in Chur. Signed by the Bishop of Chur. The original document can be viewed in the Chur State Archives.

Transcript coat of arms letter from 1816

Copy of the coat of arms letter 1816 (private collection Gerhard Seibold, photo LLM Sven Beham)

Copy of the coat of arms letter from 1684, commissioned by councillor Johann Jakob von Köhl. Authenticity confirmed by the town chancellery, town clerk Georg Willy, Chur, 2.11.1816. The original document is in the possession of Gerhard Seibold.

Transcript coat of arms letter from 1846

Copy of the coat of arms letter from 1846 (StAC, G I/1.0004.207)

Copy of the coat of arms letter from 1684. Commissioned by colonel and city bailiff Sebastian von Köhl. Authenticity confirmed by the Government Chancellery of the Canton of Graubünden, Chancellery Director J.B. von Tscharner, Chur, 9.8.1846. The original document can be viewed in the City Archives of Chur.