1 MISC Student in København, Sjælland
From the Åker-Åkirkeby kirkebog:
October 3, 1671: Communiceret, Introducerede den 3 Oct. Hr. Søren Larseni Øst'marie Sogn og den 5 Oct. Magister Clavs Predbiørnsen i Nexø ogBoelscher Sogner.The "communiceret" entry in the Åker-Åkirkeby kirkebog tells us thatSøren Laursen Borringholm was married on November 17, 1672, however itdoes not state to whom: "24 Trin. Hr. Søren Larsen Brøllup."
From the Østermarie kirkebog:
August 3, 1688: Er døbt Sogne Præstens Hr. Søfren Laursens drengebarnJochum, hannem bar til daaben Karne Hans Kofods. Faddere: Velb. Hr.Ancher Anthoni Müller, Morten Kofod, Peder Christensen, Elsebe MadsKofods.July 9, 1690: Sognepræstens Hr. Søfren Laursøns pigebarn døbt, kaldetLisebeth, hende bar til den hellige daab der Hæderlig Matrone MargreteHr. Hansis udi Ibsker Sogn. Faddere: Hr. Christen udi Rø Sogn, JacobKofod og Hans Kofod Poulsen, og Claus Kofod Hansen, Kirstene Jens Kofodsdaatter, Elsebe Jens Peders udi Lyrsby og Lisbeth Peder Thords.
December 26, 1713: Døde Ærrendige Sogne Præste sl. Hr. Søren Lauridsøn,her til steden ætat 67 aar, in afficio 43-1/2 aar.
October 4, 1725: Svend Mons qde. Maria gl. 45 aar, 3 maaneder og 3uger. (Burial of daughter Marie Sørensdatter.)
September 13, 1736: Prædichet over Magrethe sl. Hr. Sørens.
Søren Laursen Borringholm was a student in København, graduating in1668. Parish clergyman for Østermarie from May 4, 1671 until his deathin 1713. The vicarage - the "Clergy's farm" (Præstegård) - is recordedas having burned down on August 4, 1703.
In the Åker-Åkirkeby parish register can be found the following"Communicantes" entry:
1703: 4 Augusti af brændte Hr. Søfren Larssøns Præstegaard i ØstermariæSogn.Information that Søren Laursen Borringholm was first married (on November17, 1672) to woman named Anne Sophie Kofoed (mother to Laurits, Claus andMargrethe) seems suspect, as I know of no supporting evidence for this.It seems possible that all his children were born in his marriage withMargrethe Jochumsdatter Thiesen. Anne Sophie is said to have died in1679, and further that Søren Laursen Borringholm and MargretheJochumsdatter Thiesen were married on May 21, 1679. However no sourcedocumentation is given for any of this information. The "communiceret"entries in the Åker-Åkirkeby kirkebog provides us with documentation onthe marriage of Søren Laursen Borringholm in 1672, but it does notprovide any information on the supposed events of 1679.
In the probate for daughter Cathrine Sørensdatter (December 14, 1762 -see below) none of her siblings are referred to as being half-brothers orhalf-sisters. Also, the probate for daughter Marie Sørensdatter namesClaus Sørensen as her children's "morbroderen" - again not as being ahalf brother. Some sources state that Anne Sophie was the daughter of"befrien" Jens Pederen Kofoed (1628-1691), however his 1691 probateclearly shows that Jens Kofoed's daughter "salig Anne salig LorrentzTyrwaltz" was deceased, and that she had 4 sons and 1 daughter withLorentz Tyrwaldt.
Some controversy surrounding the parentage of Søren Laursen Borringholm(of whom we have evidence stating he was the brother of Birgitte, Marenand Bendte Laursdatter). Some sources indicate that he might be the sonof one the following three couples:
1) Lars Olufsen Borringholm (1580--after 1616), clergyman forÅker-Åkirkeby, and his wife Abelone Nielsdatter. This seems unlikely tome, given their respected ages. "Bornholmske Samlinger", book 38, and"Bornholms Præstehistorie" by Aage Dahl, have him as possibly the son ofLars Olufsen Borringholm and Abelone Nielsdatter.
Information from the Mormon International Genealogy Index (IGI) thatstates that Lars Olufsen Borringholm (born 1580 in Vestermarie-?) andApolone Nielsdatter, were the parents of: a) Niels Larsen, born circa1614 in Rønne; b) Giertrud Larsdatter, born circa 1616 in Rønne; c) SvendLarsen, born before 1625, died 1654 in Åker, married to MargretheDidrichsdatter Colding (c.1632-1705). "En Almindelig DanskPræstehistorie", by S. Wiberg, states that Svend Larsen "af Rønne" becameSognepræst for Åker in 1651.
The information on Abelone Nielsdatter states she was born circa 1584.In 1646 she would have been 62 years old; so she could not be the motherof Søren Laursen Borringholm, nor of Birgitte and Bendte Laursdatter.
(OR)
2) Edvard Skovgaard, in "1000 Aner til en Skovgårdsslægt", states thathe is probably the son of Laurids Christensen Borringholm (1600-April 29,1671) and Inger Weile (?-?). The parents of Inger (Larsdatter) Weileare given as Lars Jensen Weile (?-after 1671) and Inger Lund(1623-1694), married May 16, 1653 in Lund, Skåne - with another son: HansLarsen Klov (?-Nov. 12, 1681).The Mormon's International Genealogy Index shows him as the son ofLaurits Christensen Borringholm (c.1619- 1671) and Inger (1623-February16, 1694) , who were married in 1645. It also shows two other children:Ludvig Lauritsen (1648) and Jeremias Lauritsen (1650).
However, the probate for Inger Larsdatter Weile, in 1694, shows that theyare not her children. She is said to have 2 sons and 2 daughters:Ludvig, Jeremias, Hedevig, and Mette. See her Notes field for furtherinformation.
(OR)
3) Independently two researchers has drawn the conclusion that: a) SørenLaursen Borringholm is the son of Laurs Sørensen (c.1620-1666), known tobe town clerk (byskriver) for Rønne in 1665, and his wife AnneRidefogeds; and b) that Birgitte Laursdatter is the daughter of LaursSørensen "byskriver af Rønne". Also, "Kures Gårdfortegnelser" statesthat both Birgitte and Maren are daughters of Laurs Sørensen. Note:"Ridefoged" is danish for Chief Bailiff.Based on this evidence it seems likely that Søren Laursen Borringholm isthe son of Laurs Sørensen.
Probate for Søren Laursen Borringholm's daughter Cathrine Sørensdatter,December 14, 1762, page 43:
Catarina Sørensdatter, enke, 78 Slg. Østermarie.
Var gift med afgangen Ødber Pedersen.
Arvinger: 3 brødre og 4 søstre.
A: Lars Sørensen, død. Arvinger: 3 sønner.
1: Jens Kofoed, død. Arvinger: 1 sønner.
a: Lars Kofoed, myndig, soldat, Christiansø.
2: Hans Larsen Kofod, 11 Slg. Østermarie.
3: Gabriel Larsen Kofod, løjtnant, død. Arvinger: 2 sønner og 1datter.
a: Clemen Christensen Kofoed. Værge: Jep Jensen, 21 Slg.Østermarie.
b: Claus Kofoed, 7 aar. Værge: Hans Kofod, Simblegaard, Klemensker.
c: Martha Catharine Kofod, 14 aar. Værge: Peder Kofod, løjtnant,54 Slg. Vestermarie.
B: Claus Sørensen, død. Arvinger: 4 døttre.
1: Leene Clausdatter, i ægteskab med Johan Svendsen, 16 Slg. Rutsker.
2: Margrethe Clausdatter, død. Arvinger: 2 sønner og 2 døttre.
a: Mogens Andersen, myndig.
b: Claus Ancher Andersen, 14 aar. Værge: Anders Hansen, 22 Slg.Knudsker.
c: Kirsten Andersdatter, 25 aar. Værge: Svend Pedersen, 18 Slg.Rutsker.
d: Margrethe Andersdatter, i ægteskab med Mogens Jensen Spaner,Hasle.
3: Else Cathrine Clausdatter, død. Arvinger: 2 sønner og 1 datter.
a: Poul Clausen Rasch, 11 aar.
b: Claus Bohn Rasch, 7 aar.
c: Elsebeth Philipsdatter Rasch, 18 aar. Værge: Far, Philip Rasch,degn, Hasle-Rutsker.
4: Anne Elisabeth Clausdatter, i ægteskab med Anders Hansen, 22 Slg.Knudsker.
C: Jochum Sørensen, død. Arvinger: 1 sønner og 2 døttre.
1: Andreas Jochumsen, København. Curator: 1/2-bror, Hans Henric Fyhn,Svaneke.
2: Margrethe Jochumsdatter, i ægteskab med Jens Pedersen, Ladegaardgrund, Klemensker.
3: Johanne Jochumsdatter, i ægteskab med Hintze Rasmusen, Svaneke.
D: Margrethe Sørensdatter, død. Arvinger: 3 døttre.
1: Anne Hansdatter, i ægteskab med Jep Jensen, 21 Slg. Østermarie.
2: Kirsten Hansdatter, død. Arvinger: 1 datter.
a: Anne Pedersdatter, i ægteskab med Jep Larsen, 28' gaard,Vestermarie.
3: Margrethe Hansdatter, i ægteskab med Jep Pedersen, capitain,Østerlars.
E: Marie Sørensdatter, død. Arvinger: 3 sønner og 2 døttre.
1: Mogens Svendsen, myndig.
2: Søren Svendsen, myndig.
3: Lars Svendsen, 71 Slg. Østermarie.
4: Anne Svendsdatter, i ægteskab med Erich Jensen, 50 Slg. Aaker.
5: Seine Svendsdatter, i ægteskab med Søren Lov, 32 Slg. Østermarie.
F: Anne Sørensdatter, død. Arvinger: 2 sønner og 1 datter.
1: Hans Lov, 18 Slg. Ibsker.
2. Søren Lov, 32 Slg. Østermarie.
3. Bodil Hansdatter Lov, i ægteskab med Peder Michelsen, fendrich, 17'Slg. Østerlars.
G: Elisabeth Sørensdatter, død. Arvinger: 2 sønner og 3 døttre.
1: Søren Thorsen, Listed.
2: Thor Thorsen, Nylars.
3: Elisabeth Thoersdatter, i ægteskab med Michel Ibsen, 19 Vdg.Østerlars.
4: Margrethe Thoersdatter, i ægteskab med Jørgen Pedersen, Nylars.
5: Karen Thoersdatter, i ægteskab med Svend Albertsen, 7 Slg. Nylars.This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto,Ontario, copyright 2006.
1 MISC Assistant to the Pastor (Præstemedhjælper)
In an old "Bornholms Tidende" newspaper from August 1924, VilhelmSvendsen found the following eulogy made by a clergyman in Åker parishfrom the year 1807 and read at the funeral of Dorothea Thorsdatter.These were his words:
"Let us keep on doing good deeds and never tire, because we shall reapwhat we have sown in due time" - this is the promise of the apostles.
Today we are gathered to honour the memory of our god-fearing and mostnoble friend Dorte Thorsdatter, whose earthly remains were put to rest inthe grave today. We pray for her just resurrection into the Kingdom ofGod. Her life story is a tale of a good, honest Christian upbringing;she was born February 19, 1748 at Melstedgaard in Østerlars parish,daughter of the well-respected Dane, Thor Pedersen and his wife, thenoble-hearted Karen Svendsdatter, now both long since departed from thisworld.
Ever since the arrival of their precious child, their loving caresurrounded her, and she was christened into the kingdom of Jesus Christand educated in the Christian faith, confirmed at the age of thirteen.Also, she was taught well to perform the tasks expected from her sex asto household duties, earthly sciences and skills. The way she conductedherself, both before and after marriage, told of a well-learned lesson inhow to lead an obedient, industrious and virtuous life, willing to learnand serve others. At the age of 23 years she left her parents' housewith their consent; following her own heart she accepted themarriage-proposal of the widower Anders Jensen. The wedding took placein Østerlars Church on November 23, 1770, and for 36 years and threemonths they were united in holy matrimony until her death they did part.
God, the Creator, blessed her marriage with eight children, namely fourof each sex, whereof three sons have already passed away. However, oneson and all four daughters, now grown-up and married, are left to mourntheir mother deeply.
Throughout her marriage to Anders Jensen they resided at the 66thselfowner-farm in this parish of Aaker, and she behaved in a loving,faithful, hardworking and selfless manner through all of her life towardsher family, friends and neighbours. She sought and found strength andconsolation in the House of her Lord as a devout Christian.
Her death was caused by a chest-sickness that progressively got worse inher last year on earth. From February 20-25th she suffered in her bed,sound of mind, until she passed away with courage, hope and trust in hersoul, after having lived for 59 years and 6 days among us here on earth.
This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto,Ontario, copyright 2006.
1 _FA1
2 PLAC Under Officer
1 MISC Habedamsgård, 5 Slg. Olsker, Bornholm
From the Østerlars kirkebog:
January 4, 1745: Spons., Mandagen den 4 Januarii blefv Thor Pedersen ogKaren sl. Ole Hansens trolovede.February 10, 1745: Nupt., Onsdagen den 10 Februarii blefv Thor Pedersenog Karen sl. Ole Hansens ægteviede.
January 16, 1746: Baptiz, Dom. 2 p. Epiphanis blef Thoer Pedersens sønOle døbt. Konen som bar ham var Morten Monsens kieriste. Faddere vareMons Dich, S??? Andersen, Nels Hansen, min daatter.
February 24, 1748: Baptiz, Dom. Quagesima blef Thoer Pedersens daatterDorothea døbt. Konen som bar hende var Jens Esbersens kone i Elleby.Faddere var Jyrgen Togsved, Madz Andersen, Mons Dichs kone, min daatterLisbeth.
October 21, 1750: Baptiz, Onsdagen den 21 Oct. blef Thor Pedersens sønPeder døbt. Konen som bar ham var Svend Jyrgensens kone. Faddere vareEsber Hansen, Jyrgen Monsen, min daatter Margrete, Madgalena ChristenPeders.
February 25, 1753: Dom. Sexagesima blev Thor Pedersen datter døbt ogkaldet Ellen. Ane Anders Ipsens bar hende. Faddere Hans Hald, PederKofod, Gundel Christen Hansens, Karen Christensdatter.
February 2, 1757: Baptis, Festo Purificationis Mariæ blev Thor Pedersenssøn døbt og kaldet Jørgen. Lisbeth Jep Hellesens bar ham. Faddere:Morten Mogensen paa Leensgaarden, Hans Jørgen under Leensbierg, MogensDich, Birthe Henric Andersens, Karen Hansdatter.
May 11, 1760: Bapt., Dom. Rogate blefv Thor Pedersens søn døbt og kaldetSven. Præstekone bar ham. Faddere: Kirkeværge i Gudhjem ChristenHansen, Michel Ipsen, Hans Olsen, Jørgen Svensen, Degnekonen, EllenPedersdatter.
From the 1771 census of Østerlars parish:
2' Selveiergaard: Thor Pedersen, Bonde, avler Gaarden, alder: 47, 1'ægteskab, hans hustrus alder: 53, 2' ægteskab.From the Gudhjem kirkebog:
1785: Funus, Fredagen den 4de Martii blev Thor Pedersens hustrue, KarenSvendsdatter, fra Melsted begraven, gl. 68 aar, 2 uger og 4 dage.1794: Funus, den 27de December begravedes Thor Pedersen udi sit aldersomtrent 72 aar. Hand døde hastig udi Besvimelse.
Thor Pedersen was born around 1721-23, the census for 1787 lists him as65 years old. When he died, of a stroke, in 1794 the church book states:27th December was buried Thor Pedersen his age around 72 years. He diedquickly by passing out.
He held the lease on Habedamsgård, 5 Slg. in Olsker parish, from1762-1766.
Vilhelm Svendsen's "Østerlarsker Slægter" provides us with the followinginformation on Melstedgård:
According to the Land-Registry for 1691, 1696, 1719 and 1773, Melstedgårdwas evaluated to 8 Td. 5 Skp. 2 Fd. 1 Alb. 3-107/130 Pt. wheat, whereupon a tax in the amount of 4 Rdl. 2 Mk. 12 Sk. 2-1/2 Alb. was to be paid.
In the Ministry of Agriculture Archives a description of the landbelonging to Melstedgård lists as follows:
1. A main-lot.
2. A field and meadow-lot north of Riemandsgård.
3. A meadow-lot south-west Melsted, north of Riemandsgård.
4. A field-lot west of Riemandsgård and north of Kobbegård.
5. A field and forest-lot south-east of Leensgård, close north-east ofLensbjerregård.
6. A field, meadow and forest-lot south-east by the main lot ofLeensgård.
7. A field-lot in the south-eastern part of the parish, somewhatsouth-west of the church, a bit north-east of . .(?)
8. A meadow-lot near east of the northern most part of the main-lot byHeslegård, north-east in the south-western part of the county.
9. Half of a lot, of which the other half belongs to Østerlars Church.The total area was estimated to be 61 6590/14000 Tønder (Td.) Land. Inlater years the information regarding the area reads as follows:
1876: 55 Td. Land
1892: 78 Td. Land of wheat = 8 Td. 5 Skp. 1 Fd. 1 Alb.
1899: 78 Td. Land of wheat = 8 Td. 5 Skp. 1 Fd. 1 Alb.
1910: An income of 42,000 Kroner.
1922: 42.9 Hectare of wheat = 8 Td. 3 Skp. 0 Fd. 2-1/2 Alb. giving57,000 Kroner income.
1925: An income of 61,000 Kroner.
1927: 42.9 Hectare giving 56,000 Kroner income.This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto,Ontario, copyright 2006.
Vilhelm Svendsen in "Østerlarsker Slægter" provides us with the followinginformation on how Melstedgård came into our family ownership:
Looking through the Inheritance-Protocols with their wealth ofinformation about our family history we are able to trace the owners ofMelstedgård way back to 1681. Ole Pedersen was the name of the fellowwho in that year inherited the farm - however, he probably never tookcharge of the management of Melstedgård, as he remained unmarried anddied - it seems likely as a sailor, on foreign shores. In the mean timehis step-father, Poul Hansen, lived at Melstedgård - which he farmed formany years.
Through Ole Pedersen's sister Ellen Pedersdatter, married to Hans Jensen,the farm was handed over to their youngest son Ole Hansen, at the time ofhis mother's death. However, Ole Hansen died in 1744, only five yearslater; at the inheritance proceedings many interesting details about thelivestock and farming-tools were entered into the protocol.
Ole Hansen and his wife Karen Svendsdatter had three children: a daughterBodil Kirstine Olsdatter, later married to Hans Ipsen of Lensgård,Østerlars; and two sons - Hans Olsen, later married to Karen KirstineJensdatter from Nørregård, Østerlars parish; and the youngest Ole Hansen,who died as a child. Seeing as that the youngest son had died the rightto inherit Melstedgård went to the older brother Hans Olsen, but notuntil after the death of his mother, Karen Svendsdatter. However, shemarried again later to Thor Pedersen, who took over the management of thefarm and became the patriarch of that branch of our family-tree that Icall the "Melstedgård Line." (They are the parents of DortheaThorsdatter, whose eulogy is included with her entry.)
Hans Olsen was the legal owner of Melstedgård for more than 20 yearsuntil he, at the time of his marriage, took over Nørregård. Then in theyear 1766 Melstedgård was formally transferred to his step-father ThorPedersen, and thus also formally became our family possession. The valueof the farm was set at 2,100 Silverdalers.
The Gudhjem Church-book that Karen Svendsdatter was buried on March 4,1785, 68 years, 2 months and 4 days old.
This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto,Ontario, copyright 2006.
1 _FA1
2 PLAC Middleclass Citizen (Borger)
1 _FA1
2 PLAC Middleclass Citizen (Borger)
It is not known with certainty who Mads/Matthias Kofoed's (-1447-died1552) parents were. C. Giessing (dated 1786) relates in his pedigree ofthe "Family Kofoed" that Mads Kofoed was the son of Jens Madsen Kofoed(1481-1519) and grandson of Mads Jensen Kofoed of Hasle. According toJulius Bidstrup's "Familien Koefoed A og B" (published in 1886-87) hisparents might be Jens Madsen Kofoed and Johanne Thygesdatter, but he isnot certain. Also, Jørn Klindt in his book "På spor af de førsteKofod'er" (published in 1979) has his doubts on this matter, and can notstate for a fact that any of this is true.C. Giessing relates a document granting noble status to Jens Kofoed(1481-1519) was issued on June 14, 1514; in which the coat of armsgranted Jens Kofoed by the Danish King was a blue chevron on a redfield. Considering that in the mid-1490s two of Mads Kofoed's sons,namely Jens Kofoed (c.1543-1625) and Hans Kofoed (c.1550-1623), are knownto have used the chevron on their arms would certainly point to thepossibility that Mads Kofoed is indeed the son of this Jens Kofoed.However, this is far from certain, as recent historians (namely Langebekand Bricka) note that this document shows signs of being a later forgery,possibly dating from the late 1600s. Some even go so far as to speculatethat Elisabeth Akeleye (1654-1739) instigated the fabrication of thisforgered document! One supposes this was done on behalf of her husbandJens Pedersen Kofoed (1628-1691), the famous "Liberator of Bornholm", whowas a great-grandson of Mads Kofoed. (Note: Mads Kofoed is neveridentified by his patronymic in the records of his time, the name "MadsJENSEN Kofoed" is one attributed to him at a later date and is based uponthe information provided by C. Giessing in 1786 and taken up by JuliusBidstrup in 1886-87. - Norman Lee Madsen, October 17, 2004)
In 1572 a meeting was held by Bornholm's Parliament to establish who hadthe right to the status of "Frimand" (Freeman) on Bornholm: MadsKofoed's sons Jens and Hans Kofoed were in attendance at that meeting.Of course, that meeting had a broader purpose: a war in which Lübeck andDenmark had fought side-by-side had ended two years previously, and therewas another three years before the Lübeck 50 year claim to Bornholm wasto expire; although Lübeck claimed that it had been given a further 50years. In this predicament it was wise for the King to establish locallysituated allies; and Bornholm's influential freemen, who normally wouldhave been snubbed by the King and the true nobility, were now in aposition to receive benevolent treatment from the Danish government.
At the "Frimandsmødet" held on September 6, 1572 there were 17 men namedas being in attendance: the brothers Jens and Hans (Madsen) Kofoed, Peder(Poulsen) Kofoed, Oluf Bagge, Peder Uf, Peder Myre, Jørgen Gagge, andalso ten other men only listed by their patronymic - among those wereBendt Hansen and Laurids Pedersen; and at which occassion three DanishParlimentary advisers (Rigsråder) had been sent to preside over themeeting. The Kofoeds had no written proof of their freemen status; theywere only able to give heartfelt and solemn words about faithfulservice. It seems they had an inkling of things to come, and thereforebegged the King not to let himself be "seduced" by Lübeck'srepresentative Sveder Ketting, "because you might expect that Lübeck onlyplotted to keep our island under their yoke." This is the first recordin which we find the Kofoeds being mentioned as "frimænd". We know thatthey were related to Oluf Bagge and Peder Uf, and probably to several ofthe others. The question remains: did they already have claim to freemanstatus, or did they take advantage of the King's need for loyal followers- seeking acknowledgement of that status from their peers on Bornholm?It seems that they had to make certain commitments to the King inexchange for the full rights to freeman status.
Two of the newly appointed freemen had an important mission to Lübeck thefollowing year. On September 6, 1573 King Frederik II wrote a letter toLübeck stating: "Our citizens, the brothers Peter and Jens Kofoth" haveapplied to Lübeck's government for verification of their vitalstatistics, so as, among other things, they are free to serve their King- who then requests the Lübeck council to give sympathetic considerationto their case and verify their births in Lübeck's records.
We often find such vital statistics proofs attached to the documents inprobate court cases, they were actually signed by the parish "Elders"before the church parish registers (kirkebøger) came into use. They wereespecially essential if disagreement arose among the heirs. In theLübeck registry for 1573 we find the following entry: Kofoedt, Matthias,dead before 1573 on Bornholm, his wife: Johanna; their children: Peter,Jens, Boel - married to Oluf Bagge; Anneke - married to Michael Abraham.The reason that the family is registered in Lübeck exactly in 1573 is ofcourse the application the brothers made that same year for their vitalstatistics.
According to Jørn Klindt's "På spor af de første Kofod'er" it appearsthat Gunhild Uf and Mads Kofoed were already married by 1547. The Lübecklegal-registry of 1573 states that a woman named Johanne was MadsKofoed's wife and mother to four of his children. The exact birth yearsof his children are not known, but they are all thought to have been bornbetween 1540-50.
Jørn Klindt further writes that more information about Mads Kofoed issurely there to be found in the archives of København, or in Gottorp andPotsdam - where the remnants of Lübeck's archives are now held. As mayorfor Rønne township Mads Kofoed was an influential man on Bornholm, so itwould be rather peculiar if there weren't more traces of him to befound. It could be that he is the same person as the Mads Kofoed knownto have died during a sea-voyage to København in 1552. Part of thedifficulty in answering this question lies in the fact that one Lübeckentry states he died "before 1573" and another states "in 1573"; which iscorrect and which in error? Mr. Klindt asks the following questions:What was the case of the vital statistics about? Why was it that HansKofoed, who on Bornholm was considered to be Jens Kofoed's brother, didnot appear on the 1573 Lübeck registry as part of the family? But, ofcourse, who will research this? Who has the ability, resources,inclination, and time?
His son Jens Kofoed is known to have died in 1625, an old man around 80years old. The same is said of Hans Kofoed who died in 1623, and he iswith greater certainty considered to be the son of Gunhild Uf, as he isnot mentioned in the Lübeck registry of 1573 as a son of Johanna and"Matthias Kofoedt". Hans Kofoed has been listed by Bornholm's firsthistorian Rasmus Ravn (who lived from 1603-77) to be the brother of theJudge Jens Madsen Kofoed; that he was not listed in the Lübeck registryof 1573 makes for a stronger case that he was in fact half-brother toJens Madsen Kofoed.
Further proof that the two men were brothers can be seen by the fact thatHans Kofoed's sons were made the heirs to Jens Madsen Kofoed's property.Chief Justice Jens Kofoed had no direct heirs at the time of his death,so the four sons of his brother Hans Kofoed, and a certain Albert Hansen- on account of his wife Karina Mikkelsdatter, were made heirs to hisreportedly large fortune. For who else was there left in 1625 toinherit? His brother Peder had long since died, as well as hischildren. His sister Boel's children with Oluf Bagge had left theisland. His sister Anneke/Anniche had married a Michael/Mikkel Abraham,a common Bornholmer name, and so a daughter from their marriage wouldhave been known as "Mikkelsdatter", which leads us to Karina being JensKofoed's niece.
There is some dispute surrounding the parents of Gunhild Uf, some say shemight be the daughter of Oluf Tuesen and his wife - the daughter of OttePedersen Uf; others think she is the daughter of Anders Uf (son of thesame Otte Pedersen Uf) and Anne Sevidsdatter. The same debate surroundsChief Justice (Landsdommer) Mogens Uf (who died 1565). Sigvard MahlerDam states that she is the daughter of Hans Olufsen Uf (-1542-) ofSimlegård in Klemensker, who is the son of Oluf Ottesen Uf and thegrandson of Otte Pedersen Uf and his second wife (and thus not adescendant of Anders Galen).
In the land-registry testimony of Bornholm's Land-Register, dated May 22,1522, is mentioned a P. Kofod as mayor of Rønne; but whether or not hewas related to "Familien Koefoed A or B" is not known. (Hübertz,Documentation of Bornholm's History, p. 63)
Extracted from "Landsdommer-Patriciatet på Bornholm, Del II" (The ChiefJustice Patriciate on Bornholm, Part II), by: Sigvard Mahler Dam (SAXO,1988):
Jens Kofoed:
Jens Kofoed and his older brother Peder were present at the church inÅkirkeby in 1572 when the king's envoys gathered all the freemen. PederKofoed presided at court in Hammershus on the 12th of April 1570 in thechief justice's place, and a promising future career as chief justice wasended by his early death in the 1570s. Jens and Peder, and their twosisters, Boel and Annicke, were the children of Mattis Kofoed andJohanne, who was probably the daughter of Chief Justice Jens Hansen(Myre). Mattis Kofoed married a second time, to Gunhild (Chief JusticePeder Hansen Uf's sister) and they had a son, Hans. This relationship tothe Uf-family can be seen in the Kofoed-family's newly acquired coat ofarms which, like the Uf-family, display's a chevron. Previous to thisthe Kofoed's had been using a simple seal (depicting a cow's leg), butfrom that point onwards they rose steadily in importance. An imaginativeperson in the Kofoed-family fabricated a letter confuring nobility, whichsupposedly had been issued by the archbishop of Lund in 1511 - seeminglyit was inspired by the similar (but genuine) letter of nobility issued tothe Bagge-family. Oluf Bagge was married to Jens Kofoed's sister Boel.The Kofoed-family coat of arms was inspired by that of the Uf-family, butit was quite unheraldic in the choice of colours: a blue chevron on a redfield; with two white vesselhorns on the helmet.
Jens Kofoed and his half-brother Hans Kofoed were, of coarse, the firstto use this coat of arms: it can be seen on a document dated the 22nd ofSeptember 1595 concerning an inheritance between three Bagge brothersattested to by the two brothers and Peder Hansen (Uf).
Before Jens Kofoed could become a judge he had to obtain an education,and an entry in the Malmø tingbog (civic meeting records) dating from the14th of December 1578 tells us that he was employed by Biørn Kaas as aclerk in Malmøhus Castle, wherein he issued a summons in the case aservant of the castle who had been murdered on the 24th of November. Onthe 21st of October 1583 the honourable mayor of Malmø, Jørgen JensenBorringholm, read aloud a power of attorney, given by Lave Hansen to "thehonourable man Jens Kofoed of Kyndegaard" to sell one of Lave's farmsnear Malmø, which Jens Kofoed had transferred to Jørgen JensenBorringholm. Jens Kofoed apparently left Malmø in great haste, for thejust one month before this (on the 13th of September) we find him onBornholm in the company of Peder Hansen (Uf).
Before these happenings Jens Kofoed had met his wife . . . in Jylland!Anna Spendt, who was a daughter of low-nobleman Mogens Spendt ofNørregård (-1570-1581-). Possibly Jens Kofoed had relatives in Jylland,for we find mention of a "Peder Koefuodt" of Hvolgård manor (in Nørvangdistrict) issuing a deed, on Laxmand Gildenstjerne's behalf, to AndersFriis on the 24th of April 1624. (See note nr. 29) In 1594 Jens Kofoedand his wife Anna gave a beautiful chandelier to the church in Nykerparish, which was engraved with their coat of arms: Jens Kofoed's chevronand the Spendt-family's skull-cap.
These same arms adorned their gravestones in Rønne:
"Ligger begrafvet vnder denne Steen erlig oc velbyrdig Mand Jens Koefoedtil Kyndegaard som døde An. 1625 9de Febr. : Ligger oc begrafvet vnderdenne Steen erlig oc velbyrdig Frue Fr. Anna Spendt Jens Koefoeds Fruedøde paa Kyndegaard 1618 vdi November Maaned"(Translated to english:)
"Buried beneath this stone is the honest and highborn man Jens Kofoed ofKyndegård who died on the 9th of February 1625. : Buried beneath thisstone is the honest and highborn lady Mrs. Anna Spendt, Jens Kofoed'swife, who died at Kyndegård in 1618 in the month of November."Jens Kofoed's name frequently appears in documents of the Landsting; andhe also retired from the judge's seat before his death: in a privateletter dated the 13th of March 1624 wherein his brother's children deededa tenant farm (12 Vdg.?) in Østerlars, a farm they had inherited fromtheir father (Hans Kofoed); the document was co-signed by the outgoingchief justice Jens Kofoed and (their mother's brother?) the new chiefjustice Christen Clausen (Køller) of Skovsholm.
The following year Jens Kofoed died, and as he had no children theprobate proceedings dragged on until the 22nd of March 1628 when hisbrother's son, Jacob Kofoed, bought out his co-inheritors to Kyndegård.Among the witnesses to this transaction was "welbyrd. Mand ChristenClausen till Skoufsholm, Landsdommer her paa Borringholm" (well-born manChristen Clausen of Skovsholm, Chief Justice here on Bornholm).
Note:
Nr. 12) Jørn Klindt's excellent book: "På spor af de første Kofod'er",Rønne, 1979; he states his source as "Hanserecesse III.5, 31 Aug. 1509".Nr. 29) Viborg's Upper House of Parliament Deed-protocol (LandstingSkødeprotokol) T.1.13; on Jens Kofoed see also Jørn Klindt (see note 12).
This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto,Ontario, copyright 2006.
The parentage of Gunhild Uf is uncertain and disputed. She must havebeen born between 1500 and 1532. What seems to be agreed is that she isthe descendant of Otte Pedersen Uf (-1493-1497-), the owner of Skovsholmin Ibsker parish. Some say she is his daughter's daughter(datterdatter). Other's that she is the daughter of his son Anders Uf,from Otte's first marriage to n.n. Andersdatter Galen (the sister ofAnders Galen (-1511-1522), of Lund). It has also been suggested bySigvard Mahler Dam that she is the daughter of Otte Pedersen Uf'sgrandson Hans Olufsen Uf (-1542-); possibly because she gave her son withMads/Matthias Kofoed (a.k.a. Mads Jensen Kofoed, though he is probablythe son of Peder Kofoed) the name Hans - after her father?
It is known that in 1547 Gunhild's husband "Matthias Kofoedt" representedher in a legal dispute with Mogens Uf (died 1565) concerning inheritedproperty from the estate of the deceased Oluf Tuesen. This implies thatthere is a close relationship with Mogens Uf; some have suggested theyare brother and sister, others that they are cousins. Considering thatOluf Tuesen died in 1500, it seems unlikely that Gunhild is his daughter- as she would have been approaching 50 at the time of the birth of herson, Hans Kofoed. Possibly she is the daughter of Oluf Tuesen'sbrother-in-law Oluf Ottesen Uf? Or, as Sigvard Mahler Dam has suggested,the daughter of Oluf's son Hans?
* * * * *
The following has been extracted from a translation of the article"Landet Borringholm: Bornholmsk-skånske slægtskredse", by Sigvard MahlerDam, published in SAXO, 1986:After the murder of Mogens Ufs' father Oluf Tuesen, his widow(Margrethe?) went through hard times, but her brothers helped her proveto Commander van Haffn which of the farms were her own inheritance, andthese were eventually given back to her. Her brothers helped with themanagement, but then a pivotal event took place, which later caused adevastating family feud over inheritance. Apparently Oluf Ottesenpurchased some property from the widow, and in the later court case someletters and documents supposedly were proof thereof, but her son, MogensUf, maintained that the family had unlawfully confiscated said property.
In 1547 Mogens Uf, still exiled from Bornholm, came to blows with his ownfamily and took them to the highest court in the land:
(In the original old Danish:)
"Mogens W til Odersbiergh citat hustru Gunildt, Mattis Kofoedt paaBornholm med deres medarvinger for noget jordegods som de gør demforhindring paa smst. efter Oluf Tuesens død smst."(Translation of above:)
"Mogens Uf of Odersberg complaint against Gunhild, the wife of MadsKofoed of Bornholm, and their co-inheritors, over some properties andtheir impediment to these same properties after Oluf Tuesen's death onthese same properties."Mogens Uf to Odersbjerg citat Mattis Kofoeds wife on Bornholm with theirmedarvinger, to some properties which they do them forhindring on in thesame place after Oluf Tuesens dead in the same place.
The case concerns Mogens Uf's inheritance from his mother, againstGunhild Uf, who must be a descendant of his mother's brother, OlufOttesen. Gunhild's husband, Mads Kofoed, sailed to København on behalfof his wife and her co-heirs (her younger brothers Peder and Oluf, whowere under-aged). Mads won the case and returned home able to keep thedeeds to the farms contested by Mogens Uf. But in 1552 Mogens Uf is backagain to haunt Gunhild's family (78):
(In the original old Danish:)
"Oluff Hansz paa sine egne og metarfvingers Otte Persz arfvinger vegne,beretter at Mogens W forfølger dem for noget jordegods og skifte, og dehave forfulgt sagen og bragt den for Rigets Kansler, og til den endeafsendt Mads Kofoedt med deres breve og beviser, men han er drunknet paaveien og Brevskaberne forkomne, hvorfor det paalægges landsdommeren HansReymer, at han er dem behjælpelig til endnu engang at faa beskrevet hvadder er gaaet for sig i sagen."(Translation of above:)
"Oluf Hansen on his own and his co-inheritor's (the heirs of OttePedersen) behalf, relate that Mogens Uf prosecuted them over someproperties and inheritance, and they have pursued the matter and broughtit before the Crown's Chancellor, and to this end sent Mads Kofoed withtheir documents and evidence, but he was drowned on the journey and thedocumentation was lost, wherefore the matter was imposed on Chief JusticeHans Reymer, that he is to assist them to yet once again to providedocumentation for himself on the subject."That same day the king sent a letter to his bailiff on Bornholm, HenningGagge, requesting that he quickly settle the case between Mogens Uf andOtte Pedersen's heirs. It had become bothersome to the king, the verymen he depended upon to resist the Lübeckers were about to destroyeverything with their family feuding. How the court case ended is notknown, but it seems that Mogens Uf lost again.
This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto,Ontario, copyright 2006.
1 MISC Merchant (Købmand)
The book "På spor af de første Kofod'er" by Jørn Klindt (published 1979)is a scholarly examination, which tries to clear up the many errorssurrounding this family's genealogy.In his book "På spor af de første Kofod'er" Jørn Klindt writes: "The first time we find the Kofod surname on Bornholm is at the beginning ofthe 1500s, carried by one of the island's leading men. Although the"Jens Kofod" of 1514 was declared to be a fraud around 100 years ago, at the same time "Peter Kovoth" (Peder Kofoed) of 1510 was discovered! Butwhere did these Bornholmer Kofods hail from? Was the first Kofod aBornholm peasant having merited knighthood after fighting valiantly inDenmark's wars against the Hanseatic League? This was the conclusion ofearly researchers from around 1700. Maybe he came from an old Bornholmfreeman-family who had adopted the name Kofod on account of their coat ofarms depicting a cow's foot? This was the supposition of the greatBornholm historian Dr. M.K. Zarthmann. Or maybe he came from across thesea: a skillful adventurer bringing his Kofod surname with him? This isthe presumtion of my book."
It is thought that the immediately preceading ancestors to the Kofoed'erof Bornholm originated from the area around Hamburg, in the Duchy ofHolstein. In 1286 there is mention of a knight, Albertus Kofod; theHolstein'er family attained the right to be armigerous and held varioustitles of knighthood. Every couple of generations the family rose instatus to near nobility, only to then descend the social ladder; theynever broke into, and then maintained, noble status.
According to Jørn Klindt it was the so-called "Østermarie branch" (akaJulius Bidstrup's "Family B") of the Kofoed-family that adopted the image of the cow-foot around the year 1590 - it is displayed on a tombstone in Østermarie Church, as well as in the seal of Mayor Esbern Kofoed(-1590-), and later used by Mayor Poul Madsen Kofoed (c.1630-1685) ofSvaneke. But the cow-foot was not the preferred coat of arms for the Kofoeds, but rather a very old armorial image - the chevron (sparre) wasthe most widely used. Notably by the so-called "Rønne branch" (aka Julius Bidstrup's "Family A"). First used by Chief Justice Jens Kofoed(c.1541-1625) of Rønne. Followed by his half-brother Hans Kofoed(c.1550-1623) of Blykobbegård, who used the chevron in his seal from1595. Hans Kofoed's oldest son Mads Hansen Kofoed (c.1588-1646) used thechevron from 1608, and thus on down through the family.
Jørn Klindt states that in Holstein in the late-1200s and early-1300sthere can be found record of a number of "Kofod" men: Albertus (-1286-),Henrik, Didrik, and Bertold. In the mid-1300s: Hasse, Johannes and hisson Markvard (-1370-1378-), Frederik, Conrad, Michael Kovot of Lübeck,and two other Johannes. In the mid-1400s there were a number ofHanseatic traders: Henrik Kovodt (-1466-1515) and Hans Kovoet (-1481),both of Lübeck (and possibly brothers?), Hans Kovoth (-1484-) of Wismar,and Jasper Kovot (-1523-1526-). The Hans Kovoth who died in 1481 isknown to have had five children: Jochim, Grete, Engel, Anna, and Hans(born circa 1481). In the early-1500s one of the Kofoed-family Hansatraders is known to settled on Bornholm: Peter Kovoth (-1510-1532-), as amerchant in Rønne in 1510 and from 1522 as the mayor. It is likely thatPeter Kovoth (Peder Kofoed) is the father of the next generation ofKofoeds on Bornholm: Hans Kofoed (-1525-1543-) of Rønne, Mads Kofoed(-1547-1552) of Rønne, and Poul Kofoed (-1543-1553-) of Kofoedgård inØstermarie parish.
In 1931 Dr. M.K. Zarthmann wrote down his theories on the Kofoed-familyroots. Jørn Klindt states that the factual findings of Dr. Zarthmann arealways correct - however one can differ with his interpretations of thefacts! His interpretation presumes that the given names Peder and Hansin the 1600s often change from father to son, and that you therefore canextend this custom down into the dark 1500 - a period in which there isno documentation to speak of. Using this method Dr. Zarthmann concludedthat Hans Kofoed (died 1623) of Blykobbegård, was the son of a PederKofoed, who was the son of a Hans Kofoed, the son of the Hansa traderPeder Kofoed of 1510. Jørn Klindt states that this idea is too perfect,for at least 2 out of 3 children died before reaching adulthood in thosedays; so it was impossible to guarantee that a Hans or a Peder wouldcarry on the family name?
The Kofoed'er spread east from the Hamburg area to Lübeck, Wismar, etc.along the north Baltic coast-line of present day Germany and Poland.They also spread up the Jylland peninsula into Schleswig and Denmark.Kofod/Kofoed/Koefoed is a family-name that has spread all over Denmark.There are numerous Kofoeds listed in the book of Danish Knights.
The Kofoed'er who settled in Bornholm had attained the status of "Frimænd", this meant that they were "free men" and had no over-lord except the King of Denmark, and thus were of the lower nobility. It should be noted here that such "frimænd" would have were not of the social class of the true titled nobility, and in fact would have been snubbed by that rarified class of people. As free-men the Kofoeds were one of the leading families of Bornholm, with the right to own property,to engage in business and trade, to hunt the forests and make use of thebeaches, and were among the island's brew-masters. They had the right toexact labour and duties from the "bonde" (peasant farmers) who lived andworked on their farms. Of course, over the succeeding years not allKofoed descendants stayed amongst the social elite, and they graduallyfell to lower social classes. To this day on Bornholm the surname"Kofoed" remains a prestigious family-name.
From the "Dansk adelsvåbner, en heraldisk nøgle", page 92, by Sven TitoAchen, Politikens Forlag, 1973, København:
Kofod. Et koben. Farver og eventuel hjelmfigur kendes ikke. MarkvardKofod, væbner, 1378; afkom ukendt. NDA side 151.(The above translated to English:)
Kofod. On the shield a cow foot. Colours and eventual helmet unknown.Markvard Kofod, esquire, in 1378; no known descendants. NDA page 151.From 1496 through 1514 Jens Kofoed went into the service of ArchbishopByrge in Lund, Skåne provinve, who bestowed on him the priviledges ofnoble title for "mandighed, forstand og udviste meriter" (faithfulservice, manliness, intelligence and displays of merit). (See "FamilienKoefoed A og B" by Julius Bidstrup, 1886/87.)
Jens Kofoed and his wife Johanne Thygesdatter (presumably a variantspelling of Thue or Tue) are said to have had three daughters: Karen,Margrethe and Johanne, who all died young. Also an Oluf Kofoed, who wasmayor (Borgmester) of Rønne circa 1545, is said to be their son. ThatJens Kofoed is the father of Mads Kofoed is disputed, the assertion thatthey are father and son seems to have been based on inconclusive andsketchy evidence -- see under Mads Kofoed's "Notes" field for moreinformation.
In the 19th century it was suggested that the letter written by theArchbishop entitling knighthood was a forgery; however further researchhas found this probably not to be the case. In 1903 the family receivedfrom the King of Denmark a letter stating that from then on alldirect-line male descendants were Danish Knights. In 1978 only 16 peoplewere known to hold rights to this knighthood in all of Denmark.
The June 14, 1514 document supposedly issued by Archbishop Byrge of Lund,in the original old Danish, is as follows:
Wii Byrge med Guds Naade Erke-Biskop i Lund, Sverrigs første og PavensLegat, Giøre witterligt, at vi af wor synderlige Gunst og Naade havetaget annammet og undfanget, og nu med dette Wort Vabne-Brev tage annammeog undfange Os Elskelige, Jens Koefod, hans Hustru, Børn, Hion, Tienereog Godts, rørendes og urørendes, udinden vor Biskopelige Hegn, Vern, Fredog Beskiermelse, besynderligen at ville handthæve, forsvare og Dagtingetil ald Rette; Og saasom bemelte Jens Koefod, der hidtil har været ufri,og en Almues-Mand, haver ladet sig finde udi denne Tog og Feide, som enBrav og Tapper Helt, til at slaa paa Vores og Riigens Fiender, ogforsvaret Vores Land; Saa have Vi hannem for saadant hans tro Tieneste ogTapperhed bevilget og samtykt, saasom Vi og hannem med dette VortVabne-Brev, bevilge og samtykke, at hand derefter skal være en friAdelsmand, og haver derfor givet hannem dette paateignede Adels-Vaabensom er: Et blaat Spende udi et rødt Feldt, og to Horn oven i Hielmen;Hvilket Adelige Vaaben, hand, hans Børn og Afkom, skulde nyde og beholde,og skal hand, hans Børn og Efterkommere, saafremt de sig saaledesforholde, som han før dennem giort haver, naar noget Rov og Bytte efterKrigen deeles, tage lige Lod af det bedste, som andre Rigens Adelsmænd.Thi forbyde Vi Vore Biskopper, Ridder, og andre Adelsmænd, udi VoreLande, fornefnte Os Elskelige Jens Koefod, paa saadan hans Adels Frihedat hindre, eller udi nogen Maade Forfang at giøre. Til ydermereStadfæstelse, have Vi ladet hænge Vores Secret her neden under dette Ao.Dni. MDXIIII den XIIII Dag Junii.The above "Vabne-Brev" of 1514, tells us that Archbishop Byrge wasgranting the "ufri, og en Almues-Mand" (unfree, and Common-Man) "JensKoefod" noble status for "haver ladet sig finde udi denne Tog og Feide,som en Brav og Tapper Helt, til at slaa paa Vores og Riigens Fiender, ogforsvaret Vores Land" (having taken upon himself in this Campaign andFued, like a Worthy and Courageous Hero, to strike upon Our and theKingdom's Enemies, and defend Our Country). It describes his new coat ofarms as: "Et blaat Spende udi et rødt Feldt, og to Horn oven i Hielme" (Ablue Chevron upon a red Field, and two Horns upon a Helmet). It alsocharges Jens Kofoed, his children, and descendants to defend againstthose who would attempt to "Rov og Bytte" (Rob and Pillage) the crown'sproperty.
According to C. Giessing's pedigree (dated 1786) of the Kofoed-familyMads Jensen Kofoed of Hasle is the earliest recorded Kofoed on Bornholm.Giessing states that he lived at Lille Haslegård, and was a "borger"(citizen) of Hasle township. As a citizen he was licensed to engage inbusiness and commerce, what the Danes call a "Handelsmand". Giessingrelates that the danish Noblemen with the "Koefoed'er" coat of arms wereof mingled blood with the Normans, those people who had occupied Normandy.
He relates further back: to when William the Conqueror, in 1063, wentfrom Normandy to England, there was among the Norman nobility whofollowed him, one man with the name of Arnfred Kofod. Also, on anEnglish monastery list are several Danish names: Erik, Oluf, Svend ofEssex, Ospern and Arnfred Kofod. It is related that the Scottish king,Macbeth, agreed to hide Ospern in Scotland, and that Svend became part ofhis royal staff. Arnfred Kofod became a faithul servant of King Edward.However, it would be impossible to establish any link between this manand the Bornholmer family of the same name.
The surname Kofoed stems from "KoFod" which means "Cow's Foot". Theorigin of the name is not known, however the hypothosis has been putforward that the original Kofod had some sort of physical deformity, suchas a club-foot. It seems that one branch of the old Bornholm Kofoedfamilies used the cow-foot as their coat of arms; from obviousassociation with their name, rather than through their connection to theDuchy of Holstein.
C. Giessing's pedigree tells that Mads Jensen Kofoed of Hasle is thefather of Jens Kofoed (1481-1519). And that Jens Kofoed is the father ofMads Kofoed, mayor of Rønne, and Oluf Kofoed, also mayor of Rønne.Further, that Mayor Mads Kofoed is the father of Hans Kofoed ofKyndegård; and that Mayor Oluf Kofoed is the father of Jens Kofoed (died1625) of Kyndegård. Giessing's pedigree of the Kofoed-family was laterpicked up by Julius Bidstrup in his book "Familien Koefoed" published1886-87.
The following is a look at events taking place between Denmark and Lübeckin Peder Kofoed's time:
In 1509 Denmark and Lübeck were engaged in one of their numerousskirmishes. The Danes had a famous battleship called the "Svane"(english: Swan) - which was reputed to be the largest and most powerfulin the world; but the Lübeck'ers in several small vessels surprised,attacked and destroyed it. After this victory a fleet of 14 Lübeck shipsravaged the Danish islands and did much damage to Danish shipping. NineSwedish ships joined them, and the combined fleet almost ruined Lollandand Bornholm.Later, in the summer of 1509, a great naval battle took place between 16Lübeck men-of-war and 17 Danish ships of about equal size and strength.One of the latter was a new vessel, the "Engel" (english: Angel), largerthan the unlucky Svane had been. The Lübeck'ers had landed some of theirguns and men to attack the fortress of Hammershus, on the northern tip ofBornholm, when the Danish fleet appeared, quite unexpectedly, andattacked at once. The battle lasted all day, and at night both sidesclaimed the victory. Some days later the fight was resumed, when, afterseveral hours of fierce contest, the Engel had her rudder shot away andwas taken in tow by her consorts, and the whole Danish fleet fled.
This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto,Ontario, copyright 2006.
Source states that Augusta Andrea Müller married a farmer named Ethridgewho lived in California; they had two daughters.
This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto,Ontario, copyright 2006.
1 MISC Emigrated to America
Margrethe Elisabeth Jensdatter Kofoed
Margrethe Elisabeth Jensdatter Kofoed is known to have had nine children:Jens, Hans (with recorded descendants into the 1800s), Gabriel(descendants in 1800s), Christian, Beate (died in childhood), Laurits(died in childhood), Lars, Beate, and Seigne.
From the Østermarie kirkebog:
June 20, 1718: Begraved Beata Elisabeth sl. Hl. Laurits Søfrens daattergl. 5 aar, 2 maanedre.This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto,Ontario, copyright 2006.
According to Sigvard Mahler Dam, in his article "Landsdommer Patriciatetpå Bornholm", part II (SAXO, 1988), the mother of Oluf Hansen Kofoed, sonof Hans Madsen Kofoed, is a relative of Jacob Kiøller (c.1575-1623) ofSkovsholm in Ibsker parish, Christen Clausen Kiøller (died circa 1628) ofSkovsholm in Ibsker parish, and Christine Kiøller (c.1583-1665) - thewife of Sivert Gagge (c.1593-1661). Sigvard speculates that Hans MadsenKofoed's wife may have been their sister. This is based on a 1666 courtcase surrounding the estate of the deceased Christine Kiøller, in whichOluf Hansen Kofoed states that he is "as close an heir after ChristineKiøller as her guardian Claus Kames".
However, it seems just as possible that Oluf Hansen Kofoed's mother wasChristine's aunt, namely the half-sister of her father Christen ClausenKøller (died circa 1583, of Store Hallegård in Olsker). According toEdvard Skovgaard, in "1000 Aner til en Skovgårdsslægt" (pub. 1989),Christen Clausen Køller is the son of a Claus Köller and Margarete vonSchinckel (from Pomerania?). Possibly "Margarete von Schinckel" is thesame person as the wife of Claus (Clausen) Kames (-1584-), namely"Margrethe" (died May 10, 1693) of Rønne? Claus Kames and Margrethe aresaid to be the grandparents of the Claus Kames (died 1677) mentioned inthe 1666 court case.
Possibly a Claus Köller and his wife Margarete von Schinckel moved toBornholm circa 1545 (settling in Rønne?), where the couple had one son,Christen Clausen, before Claus Köller died circa 1550. The young widowcould then have married the merchant Claus (Clausen) Kames (-1584-) ofRønne, with whom she had several more children. This arrangement of thefamily-tree would make Christine Kiøller's grandmother the grandmother ofClaus Kames (died 1677) and the great-grandmother of Hans Olufsen Kofoed(c.1630-1694) - which would be in line with Hans Olufsen Kofoed's claimin 1666 of being as close an heir as Claus Kames.
Further, Sigvard Mahler Dam speculates (in "Landsdommer-patriciatet påBornholm", part 2, 1988) that Jacob Iversen Borringholm, who was chiefjustice of Bornholm in 1572-1573, might be related to: 1) ChristenClausen Køller of Store Hallegård, Olsker parish, whose sons were JacobKiøller (died 1632) of Skovsholm, and Christen Clausen Kiøller - chiefjustice from 1623 to 1628; and 2) Hans (Madsen) Kofoed's sons (throughtheir mother): Chief Justice Mads Hansen Kofoed (died 1646) ofVellensgård, and Jacob Hansen Kofoed (died 1646) of Kyndegård, Nykerparish. Possibly Jacob Iversen was the younger, half-brother ofMargarete/Margrethe's deceased father; whom, if this senario is correct,could possibly have been named Jacob von Schinckel. This would providean explanation of the occurance of the name Jacob in both the Kjøller andKofoed families of that time period!
- Norman Lee Madsen, October 25, 2003.
Extracted from "Landsdommer-Patriciatet på Bornholm, Del II (The ChiefJustice Patriciate on Bornholm, Part II), by: Sigvard Mahler Dam (SAXO,1988):
Jacob Iversen Borringholm:
During the time of Bornholm's previous chief justice Jacob Iversen hadbeen appointed to the position of the royal bailiff; however, after only14 days his appointment was anulled, as the king had decided instead toinstall a Lübecker, Sveder Ketting, as bailiff instead. As a result theisland was no longer divided into royal and Lübeck administive parts;this resulted in Kettingk being caught between his two masters, andtherefore being fired by Lübeck. Which left the position open for theappointment on the 11th of November 1571 for "our beloved JacobBorenholm, our man and servant, to become our Court Bailiff on our LandBorenholm".
In 1558 the freemen had complained that they were being required to pay"landtax" even though they, as nobility, were entitled to tax freeestates. To this end, on the 30th of March 1558 Jacob Borneholm andTruid Myre were sent to København carrying the letters of complaint.Although Jacob Iversen had been active in public affairs for many yearsexactly when he became chief justice is not known; however, on the 5th ofSeptember 1572 "Jacob Iversen Landsdommer" is recorded as having passed asentence in Rønne regarding an inheritance - a case wherein he had anumber of distinguished royal envoys as co-justices. The following day aLandsting took place in Åkirkeby. After the regular out door Tingmeeting, the envoys asked the freemen to join them for a private meetinginside the church. At issue was the Lübeck bailiff's doubts about thefreemen's claim to noble status, and his hints that they were justordinary peasants. Thus all the freemen, lead by "Jacob IverssenLandsdommer" were requested to show up on the following Saturday withproof of their nobility. Contrary to the opinion of latter historiansthey must have convinced the envoys, as on the 9th of September thefreemen were granted the right to gather shipwrecks from the beaches,hunt in the woods, as well as given full authority over their servants -a great victory for the freemen.
Jacob Iversen must have died within the following year. His coat of armsare unknown, as is his family origin: we do not know of any Iver whocould be his father. As a rule, people with the name "Jacob" were calledJep or Ib on Bornholm, so when we see the name Jacob passed down in laterchief justice families (Clausen/Køller and Kofoed) it is possible thatJacob Iversen might be an uncle (see not nr. 26) of Christen Clausen(Køller), whose son later became a chief justice.
Christen Clausen (Køller):
He was the son of Christen Clausen of Store Hallegård in Olsker andMargrethe, the daughter of former chief justice Mogens Uf. From hismother's brother, Peder Uf, he inherited Skovsholm in Ibsker. StoreHallegård, on the other hand, was inherited by his brother Major JacobClausen, who in a power of attorney document dated the 6th of May 1608 isnamed Jacob Køller of Hallegård; his seal shows us a very interestingcoat of arms: the shield is vertically divided with a fleur de lisfastened in the first half, which is exactly the same coat of arms usedby Anne, the widow of Jep Splid, back in 1508!!! However, we can notfind any connection between them. A lot of pure nonsense has beenwritten about the Køller-family's Pomeranian roots - but we choose toignore this.
Christen Clausen became chief justice on the 13th of March 1624, but diednot long after, as already in 1629 his successor had been appointed. Hedied without any children, so the inheritance went to his siblings: JacobClausen Køller got Skovsholm - who may have had a few children who diedyoung, as his widow brought the farm with her into second marriage toChristian Maccabæus. His sister Kirstine (1583-1665) was married toSivert Gagge of Myregård in Åker, who on the 6th of April 1633 signed areceipt for the inheritance his wife Kirstine had received from herbrothers: Chief Justice Christen Clausen and Jacob Clausen of Skovsholm.Kirstine, like her brothers, had no children.
We think there might have been one more sister: who was married to HansKofoed of Blykobbegård, as among his many children we find both a Jacoband a Claus Kofoed, which previously had not been names used by theKofoed-family. Furthermore, it explains why Chief Justice ChristenClausen was mentioned in the documents dated the 13th of March 1624 and22nd of March 1628 mentioned under the entry for the previous chiefjustice (regarding the children of the deceased Hans Kofoed ofBlykobbegård).
(Note: I disagree with the above conclusion. I believe it more likelythat Hans Kofoed's wife was the three Køller sibling's father's sister.And since we know from a 1666 court case surrounding the estate of thedeceased Kirstine Køller that she was related to both Claus Kames(-1647-died 1677) of Rønne, and Hans Kofoed's grandson Hans OlufsenKofoed (c.1625-1694) of Ladegård, 50 Slg. Klemensker, it seems morelikely to me that Hans Kofoed's wife was their father's half-sister, adaughter from their grandmother's second marriage - to Claus Kames(-1584-) of Rønne. - Norman Lee Madsen)
Note:
Nr. 26) A clergyman for Aunslev-Bovense (on Fyn), Daniel Iversen Køler,found in Wiberg's history of the clergy, born in Nyborg 1582 and died1645.This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto,Ontario, copyright 2006.