Dear List, I believe that the appearance of the term "Synodale" indicates that the individual was a "Kirchenschoeffe", or lay judge in an ecclesiastical court. I came across an article in the periodicals on CD published by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft fuer Saarlaendische Familienkunde e.V. The article is called "Lateinische Berufs- und Standesbezeichnungen in katholischen Kirchenbuechern" by a man named Guido Mueller. The article gives a translation of latin occupational terms used in Catholic church records. Mr. Mueller defines the term "Synodale" or "Synodalis" as "Kirchenschoeffe" (church lay judge). Since the use of Latin in church records is very heavy in the Trier area, it should not be surprising that officials would use a Latin term in place of "Schoeffe" (lay judge). Also, it could be that use of the term Synodale was specific to instances where the court fell under the jurisdiction of an ecclesiastical lord (like the St. Paulin foundation in Trier), as opposed to a secular lord. Some time back in April I posted an explanation of the meanings of the related terms Meier, Schoeffe and Synodale. You can look on that thread for further information. In regards to the term "paulinischer Meier" in Oberleuken: the Leuk stream that runs through Oberleuken once divided the village politically, as well as physically. Half of the village was part of Lorraine (or Lothringen), while the other half was part of the Trier electorate (the "kurtrierisch" section). The collegiate theological foundation of St. Paulin in Trier was bestowed with property in Oberleuken. The foundation would have appointed a local Oberleuken tenant as "Meier" to collect rents, hold court and preserve law and order and generally look after the foundation's interests. The Meier would have presided over session in the basic court, and in certain instances, would have had a jury of local residents (Schoeffen or Synodalen) to hear matters of dispute. Mike Voves