Uko Walles

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Uko Walles (* 1593 near Noordbroek ; † February 15, 1653 in Sielmönken ) was a Dutch farmer and timber merchant who was best known as a representative of the Ukowallists named after him .

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Walles came from the Dutch region of Groningen and was a member of an old Flemish Anabaptist community here. The old Flemish communities were a direction that emerged in the late 16th century within the Dutch-North German Anabaptist movement , which opposed unification with other movements such as the Frisians or Waterlands and called for a sober and restrained lifestyle. Walles stood entirely in this line and finally broke with the rest of the Flemish direction in 1634 and thus founded the separatist group of the Ukowallists. In January 1635 he conducted a public religious conversation with the reformed pastor Theodorus a Lengell in Godlinze . Walles had a good knowledge of the Bible and was heavily influenced by English pietism. In his theology, however, he differed significantly from that of the other Anabaptists. So he took the view that Judas had only fulfilled God's plan by betraying Jesus Christ and was therefore not condemned. Walles came increasingly into conflict with the other Mennonites as well as with the state authorities. In 1637 Walles was finally banished permanently from Groningen, whereupon he moved to East Frisia . Five years later he returned to Groningen and settled as a tenant in Marsum near Appingedam . But just two years later he was found and arrested. After paying 3,000 Reichstalers, the East Frisian Count Ulrich II was finally ready to issue him a letter of protection so that Walles could once again move to East Frisia. Here, with financial support from his followers, he leased the former Sielmönken monastery from Count Ulrich and settled here with his wife, two sons, a daughter and a maid. In the surrounding places like in Schoonorth , which was influenced by the early Anabaptists, as well as in Hösingwehr , where Mennonites had established a meeting house as early as the 16th century, he was also able to give regular sermons. Nevertheless, he wanted to be able to return to Groningen all his life, which he was not allowed to do despite several petitions to the Groningen authorities. After his death in 1653 in Sielmönken, East Frisia, his remains were transferred to Woldendorp in the Netherlands .

The direction of the Ukovallists that he had justified continued in part even after his death. The communities were mainly in Groningen and East Frisia. In the East Frisian area, there are said to have been Ukrainian communities in Emden , Leer , Neustadtgödens , Norden and Oldersum for a time. In January 1661 the authorities in Groningen issued a mandate against the Ukowallists. Around 1665 the Ukowallists seem to have reunited with the old Flemish communities of Groningen. Nevertheless, the term Ukowallists was widespread until the 18th century for some of the old Flemish communities.

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personal data
SURNAME Walles, Uko
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Dutch farmer and leader of the Ukovallists
DATE OF BIRTH 1593
PLACE OF BIRTH Noordbroek , Groningen / Netherlands
DATE OF DEATH February 15, 1653
Place of death Sielmönken , East Frisia