Observations from the Life of Ode Goltz

Our earliest known ancestor to whom our lineage has been traced directly is Ode Goltz (also spelled Geltz, Geltetz or Gelteß, assuming these names are for the same person in the known records). Ode Goltz lived in Canhusen, Germany, and the little information we have about him comes from the Ostfrieslands Ortssippenbücher (OSB), Die Familien der Kirchengemeinde Canhusen (1740 – 1900), Book 41. He is our ancestor through Arthur Odens’ side of our clan.

From the records found in this resource, we first meet Ode Goltz in Canhusen in 1606, where it is logged that he has given (hat gegeben) a total of 3 florin or gulden.  All indications are that this was the amount of tax he paid for the year, which to the best of my ability to determine would be comparable to $180 in our world. The tax assessment shows that Ode Goltz at that time had belongings on which tax needed to be assessed and paid, whether it be land or other possessions.

The next mention of Ode is from the census of 1635, where Ode Gelteß is listed as the owner of 9 sheep—and that is the sum total of his enumerated possessions. This is an indication that he was among the poorer of the farmers in the area. Only one other livestock owner had fewer livestock (five sheep), while two other farmers had the same number as Ode. All the farmers other than Ode and one other had multiple possessions listed which included not only sheep, but also foals, cows, horses and money.

Ode Geltetz’ economic well-being fared even worse as time went on, for the 1639 report lists him as having no money and identifies him as a pauper. However, by 1650 his condition had improved such that he is listed as a widower with 10 sheep, along with six silver coins (Reichsthaler). He was no longer the lowest on the economic totem pole, for three other men are listed as paupers in this same report.

That is about all we know regarding this most distant of our known and traced direct ancestors. We do not know the names of his parents or siblings, although I would love to know if an Enno Gelts listed in the Canhusen register for the 1589/90 census is somehow related to Ode. We do not know the name of Ode’s wife, although the OSB record clearly indicates he had been married at one time until his wife died. The only other detail we have been given is that Ode had at least one son, Johann Hermans, born in 1636 in Loppersum, a village about 2 miles from Canhusen.

How can a man named Ode Goltz have a son named Johann Hermans, with no evident connection between the two being indicated in his son’s name? That is a matter of consideration for another time!

For now, considering Ode Goltz, several thoughts come to mind. The first is how learning what we know about him should lead us to an attitude of humble gratitude. Humility is called for as we trace our lineage back to someone who was certainly of little or no account by the world’s standards. Going back at least four or five centuries, we can be sure there was no earthly royalty nor nobility in our paternal bloodline!

This humility must be accompanied by an abundance of gratitude, for everyone in our clan is clearly immensely more wealthy than our forefather Ode Goltz—and that is taking only material possessions into consideration. For those of us who know Jesus Christ, not only are we heirs of all things, but also we are royalty who will reign with Him and a priesthood able to acceptably worship God through Him and in Him. That is truly great reason for humble gratitude, for it is reality only by the grace of God.

Another reminder from the little we know about Ode Goltz is the uncertainty and instability of this life. Is it not interesting to trace his possessions and observe how his situation fluctuates from having nine sheep to having nothing in three years, and then about ten years later having ten sheep again? While there is nothing inherently wrong with having earthly possessions when God has blessed us with them, tracing our lineage back to Ode Goltz helps to remind us of the importance of what Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6:19-21, when He declares, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

A third observation which comes to mind is how limited we are as human beings—in every way. On one hand, it is gratifying to trace our lineage back directly for over four centuries. On the other hand, there are many more centuries between Ode Goltz and Noah in which we are greatly ignorant about our lineage! This makes me appreciate more than ever the fact that my God not only knows the names of every person in our lineage between Ode and Noah, but also He knows how many hairs each of those ancestors of ours had on their heads at any given time. I love having a God who is not limited in the ways I am, and I thank Him for Ode Goltz!

© 2019 by James A. Odens