1 _FA1
2 PLAC Middleclass Citizen (Borger) & Captain
1 MISC "Bornholms Befrieren" (Liberator of Bornholm)
Some details on Jens Kofoed Pedersen's life, as described in JørnKlindt's book "På spor af de første Kofod'er", published in 1979, andtranslated by his descendant Elene Marie Lau in 1996:Jens Kofoed Pedersen was born in Rønne and enjoyed the priviligedchildhood of being the son of a well-to-do merchant in Rønne. He is saidto have been the brightest and most adventuresome of Peder andElisabeth's children. Although a Danish-Latin school had recently openedin Rønne (with Rasmus Ravn, Bornholm's first historian, as its principal)that was not the route deemed best for Jens; for in 1641, at 13 yearsold, he was sent to Hanseatic league's queen-city: Lübeck, findingemployment there with the merchant Robert Wickne. Though he only stayedin his service for about half-a-year, for what could the cosmopolitancenter of Lübeck offer when the world beyond beckoned?!
Jens Kofoed went to sea in the Easter of 1642, first travelling toDanzig. Finally, he ended up in Jerez de la Frontera, on thesouth-western coast of Andalusia, Spain. He worked for two years in theservice of the Johanniter nobleman Don Leon de la Quece, and for threemore years with his replacement the vicar Don Diego de la Dame. It isnot known exactly what he was doing in Jerez - the town that has givenits name to sherry. Already back then their wines were widely renowned:William Shakespeare favoured the sherry from Jerez. The town is located20 km in land from the ports of Cadiz and Puerto de Santa Maria, and theywere some of the most important harbour-towns in the wine, oil, and salttrade; so they naturally maintained close contact with the Hanseaticleague ports, and as well with Danish ports.
In 1647, then only 19 years old, Jens set-out for Bornholm, he surelymust have longed to see the beaches of Bornholm, his family, and perhapsthe Bornholmer girls? More probably the troubling news of his familiesdown-fall had reached his ears. In any case, he hired onto a danishship, to look out for its cargo, and by the end of September had arrivedin København, and soon after that left for Rønne. When summer andsailing-weather returned, he sailed to Lübeck to visit his exiled andbroken father, who died late that same year still exiled in Lübeck.
It was during the following few years that Rønne experienced a gruesomewitch-hunt of never before known dimensions. It was considered everyChristian's duty to report any signs of witchery to the authorities, whoconsequently persecuted the accused with great zeal. Jens PedersenKofoed himself started such a process, as he felt himself to have been"bewitched", and suspected his old wet-nurse, Boel Anne, to beresponsible.
After getting her drunk, and with witnesses hidden from view, he managedto cajole a confession of witchery out of her: she admitted to havingbeen payed to do so by a woman whose son had received a sound beatingfrom the self-assured Jens Kofoed. The five years in Spain seems to havemade him brisk and authoritative - he did not take kindly to the offense,for he reported Boel Anne to the bailiff. She was arrested and locked upin the basement of the town-hall, where she was "convinced" to inform onfour other women as being members of her "witch-coven".
The women were arrested and confessed, as expected, to having enteredinto a pact with the Devil himself. That they had gathered the localmeeting place for witches, called a "Blaakulla", for witch's sabbath.They also confessed to having gone to the Blåkulla in Kalmarsund, on theswedish peninsula, where they had danced and sported with the "BlackMajesty"! They told of having learned their witch-craft at Rosengårdenin Rønne - which until 1645 had been the residense of Holger Rosenkrans.The foreign lifestyle of the wealthy nobleman and his many guests, andtheir carryings-on, apparently seemed so weird to Rønne's citizens thatthe admission of learning witch-craft there was easily accepted!
Boel Anne was sentenced to be burnt alive, and on June 6, 1652, theproceedings took place; one of the other accused witches had already diedin her prison cell, and her body was burnt along side Boel Anne's. Athird escaped the fire by jumping down a well to her death; while thefourth was later burnt alive in November of 1652. The last of theaccused managed to put up bail and appeal to a higher court, this finallyput a stop to the horrendous chain-reaction. The court found that thefourth "witch" had been bribed to inform on her; the bribe consisted ofbeing allowed to get drunk whenever she felt like, and doing whatever shewanted! For this reason the last "witch" was set free.
Jens Kofoed, who after all had just done his Christian duty, continued tohelp his mother manage her business dealings; also he began to cast hiseye about for a suitable wife. Sander Lesler, the mayor in Hasle andbrother-in-law to judge Mads Kofoed, had died in 1639, but his widowstill resided at a "merchant's farm" (købmandsgården) in Hasle with her18 year old daughter Margrethe, a very suitable match, and surely alovely lass! Jens proposed, was accepted and the wedding took place onhis 25' birthday in 1653, the day he legally came of age. The youngcouple settled in Hasle, and Jens aquired a merchant's farm of his own.
The new father was still a restless and quick-tempered young man, andduring a visit to Rønne on July 26, 1655 he got into a fight with anotheryoung man, named Mogens Hansen; with the result that Jens Kofoed stabbedand accidentally killed his opponent. This murder could have had direconsequences for the young father - first of all he had to compensate thefamily of the victim, which was done satisfactorily; but yet to be facedwas the court trial which could result in a death sentence. For awell-to-do citizen there were ways to delay a trial, and in 1657 hemanaged to get a further postponement due to a letter issued by KingFredrik III, who had just declared war on Sverige/Sweden. The letterstated that the trial would be delayed as long as Jens Kofoed joined thecavalry, bringing with him another soldier, plus two armoured horses tothe campaign against the Swedes in Skåne.
He served with 'Ritmester' Knud Urne's company in Skåne and soon foundhimself on the front line. Through out the autumn of 1657 the fightingwent back and forth between Ängelholm and Halmstad. When the alarmingnews came that the swedish King, Karl Gustav X, had halted his campaignagainst the northern german states and had turned his entire army towardthe Danish southern-border, the Danish military-command recalled thecavalry stationed in Skåne.
After Jens Pedersen Kofoed was stationed at winter-quarters on Sjælland,he asked for two weeks Christmas leave on Bornholm. This was granted andhe left for Bornholm on December 21, where everything was well: the threeyear old Margrethe and the one year old Sidsele were expecting to receivea new sibling as a Christmas-gift at the very time their dad returnedhome. The new year of 1658, which turned out to be the most dramatic inBornholm's history, started out beautifully with a double christening inHasle Church: Lisbet and Anna were the names given to the twin-girls.That winter turned out to be unusually cold, already in January thesea-ice was spreading rapidly; which prevented Jens Kofoed from sailingback to his regiment.
The Swedish General Wrangel's forces invaded Jylland from the south.They took Fredriksodde fortress and from there marched across the ice (anunprecedented feat, possible only because of the unusual cold) to theisland of Fyn, and hence on to Lolland and then Sjælland. That meantthat København was open to attack; which forced the Danish crown to suefor peace, and in the resulting "Peace of Roskilde" (concluded onFebruary 26, 1658) Denmark lost its provinces Skåne (Scania) andBlekinge, the district of Bohus, Trondheim (in Norge/Norway), and theisland of Bornholm.
As the sea-ice prevented any communication with Bornholm, no one thereknew of this incredible turn of events. Not until April 16, when the icebroke and a fishing-boat from Skåne brought the news, did the Bornholmersrealize that they, without being asked, had been made Swedish by thestroke of a feather-quill! On April 29 the new Swedish Commandant,Colonel (Oberst) Johan Printzensköld, landed with 120 Musketeers andbegan exploring their new province; all the while preparing theBornholmers for their new nationality.
By May 18, 1658, delegates had been chosen to make a journey to Malmö andstand before Corfits Ulfeld and swear allegiance to the Swedish King.The delegates included Jens Kofoed's cousins Mads Madsen Kofoed(c.1616-before 1665) of Eskesgård, Hans Olufsen Kofoed (c.1630-1694) ofBlykobbegård, and Peder Madsen Kofoed (c.1622-1688) of Svaneke, as wellas his own brother Hans Pedersen Kofoed (c.1627-before 1681) of Rønne.
The Swedish King renewed the war - in spite of the recently signed treaty- in August of 1658 by landing at Korsør and shortly afterwardssurrounding København, this time firmly intent on "erasing" Denmark.This meant the situation radically altered for both Printzensköld and theBornholmers: Printzensköld was stranded and felt himself isolated on anisland with a hostile populace, whom he was forced to rob for money andyoung soldiers for the Swedish Army; while the Bornholmers felt ill atease over the occupying forces being at war with their mother-land,hoping that liberation would soon be the outcome. The prospects did notlook too promising for Denmark that fall: København was the onlyremaining strong-hold, and King Fredrik III had declared that he "woulddie in his nest".
Luckily for Denmark a Dutch armada appeared in the Øresund and came totheir rescue. For the Dutch had taken over the Hanseatic League role asprotectors of free-trade in the region, and they considered that theSwedes would become too dominating a force if they managed to amalgamateDenmark.
The heavy taxes and forced conscription by the Swedes angered theBornholmers, and a conspiracy began to form: its purpose to overwhelm theSwedish occupying force, recapture Hammershus fortress, and deliverBornholm back to Denmark. A highly dangerous enterprise to be sure, butthe core group of men from Hasle were both determined and effective.This group consisted of the clergyman for Hasle and Rutsker parishes:Poul Hansen Ancher (c.1629-1697), its mayor: Peder Olsen, and JensPedersen Kofoed, who was the only one who had fought against the Swedes -therefore it is thought that his hatred towards the enemy, and hisviolent temper, aided in the quick and decisive outcome of the uprising.The leaders divided the tasks: the Pastor Poul Ancher would mobilize thecitizens; Peder Olsen was to take care of communications with the Danishgovernment in København; and Jens Kofoed to organize and lead the armedattack.
On December 8, 1658 Johan Printzensköld rode out from Hammershus fortressfor Rønne, where a ship was to set sail with a request for reinforcementsfor the Swedish garrison, which only numbered around 100 men.Printzensköld was extremely worried about a possible landing of Danish orDutch troops, being conscious of the fact that he could not rely on"these Danes," which he ironically named the Bornholmers.
We are luck to have Jens Pedersen Kofoed's own description of the eventsof the uprising, although it is not the original it dates from around1700. The simple, straight-forward tone and detailed description of theevents make the story ring true, and after some consideration byhistorians Jens Kofoed has been accepted as the primary source.Fortunately a contemporary Swedish description has been found tocorroborate his description; this from a ship's coxswain from Ystad, JensFribonde, which he gave to the Swedish authorities after his release as aprisoner-of-war.
1) Jens Pedersen Kofoed's "true and proper account of how Bornholm waswrested from the Swedes":
It was a Wednesday when the Swedish Commander rode from HammershusFortress to Hasle, where he summoned Mayor Peder Olsen to the street andgave him a grave warning to pay the levyed taxes or face the direconsequences. Then he rode on to Rønne to stay with its Mayor, PederLaursen. As soon as the Commander left Hasle, Poul Anker and I went bysleigh from Hasle to Nyker, where Mr. Jacob had promised to provide 20men whenever needed. But I could not get any men to help - only a horse,a gun, and a sabre. I then rode on alone to Blykobbegaard along the rodeto Rønne, stopping to wait in the Skule-forest for my comrades: CaptainNiels Gumløs, Aage Fenrik, and Claus Nielsen, all of Hasle, at which timewe were joined by the Steward (Ridefoged) of Hammershus fortress - JensLaursen Risom, and farmer Hans Nielsen. I gave Jens Laursen Risom mygun, seeing as he had none, and next rode to get myself another atBlykobbegaard.All five of us rode in the darkness to Rønne, intent on arriving at mybrother Mads Kofoed's house. As we rode down the street we saw theSwedish bailiff, Jens Persson, walk past us towards Mayor Peder Laursen'shouse, where Commander Printzensköld was staying. Since he had seen usriding with our guns we figured it best to state our business toPrintzensköld at once. We placed Aage Fenrik and Claus Nielsen to guardthe gate, not knowing how many men were with Printzensköld. I enteredthe room first, followed by Niels Gumløs and Jens Laursen Risom, andimmediately asked him if he wished to surrender - as he was the onlySwede there. He at once cried out, falling down between the table andthe bench; we pulled him up again to sit by the table, upon which lay alarge parcel and a sealed letter. When asked from where they came heanswered: from his King in Sweden and they were to be sent on toPomerania. So I quickly snatched the mail declaring, "This is going tobe sent to my king - the King of Denmark!"
Next we took hold of Printzensköld to take him outside, at which pointsome other citizens came to help; as soon as we had him on the street, hebroke free and ran away. I shouted for him to stop, but he did not heed,and immediately a shot was fired and he fell down dead. Two guards wereposted by his body, so that it would not be robbed while we were lookingfor his servant and the other Swedes in town. We found all but two: hissecretary and rider had hidden, but we found and arrested them the nextday. Printzensköld's body was then brought into Rønne's town-hall.
2) Jens Fribonde's description:
Two weeks before Christmas the Commander rode from the Fortress to Rønneand took lodging as usual at Mayor Peder Laursen's. It was then theygathered around the house: Claus Kames, Jens Kofoed, Niels Gumløs, WillumClausen, Mads Kofoed, and others. Next Jens Kofoed went into the roomwith his gun and sabre pointing at Printzensköld; Niels Gumløs struck himwith his gun, causing him to fall down under the table, whereupon theybegan to drag him outside, crying: "Out with you - you blood-hound!" Atwhich point the Mayor intervened pleading, "Please, good men stop andthink before you do harm." To which Jens Kofoed replied, "Everything isenfolding as planned."The Commander then requested to surrender, and they promised himclemency; as they were taking him out of the room both Mayor Laursen andhis brother, Daniel, pleaded for him. But the Mayor was struck on thechest with a musket and Daniel was beaten, so that he had to crawl awayout onto the street. Next Willum Clausen went to Printzensköld andraised his pistol to Printzensköld's left eye and fired a shot, and theCommander fell down dead in the street; after which both Jens Kofoed andNiels Gumløs each fired a shot into him. They then chasedPrintzensköld's attendants, firing shots at them as they tried to escape,causing them to surrender.
Commentary on the two accounts:
Both of the above descriptions are internal reports - not meant aspropaganda - one from each of the two warring camps. No real differenceis stated in the progression of events, of course there is somediscrepancy of certain details and in the evaluation of the purpose.There is really only one major discrepancy: why was Printzensköld shotdead? Was it because he tried to flee, or was it a deliberate act? Bothsources inform us he was offered amnesty, that the remaining Swedes inRønne were spared, and that the next day the rebels only threatened tokill them in order to force the Swedes to surrender Hammershus fortress.This clearly suggests that they had only planned to take Printzensköldprisoner - for what would have been gained by killing him? It was JensKofoed's brother-in-law Willum Clausen who fired the pistol, and only hecould tell what spurred him to action.As stated above Jens Pedersen Kofoed led a band of men north to thefortress of Hammershus, where they convinced the Swedish army-unitstationed there to surrender. He and his men would then take asprisoners-of-war swedish re-inforcement troops as they landed at Sandvigduring Christmas-time.
That generation of Kofoeds was strongly represented in the early hours ofthe uprising: besides the leader Jens Kofoed, there were his brother MadsKofoed, his cousins from Blykobbegård: Hans and Claus Olufsen Kofoed, andhis sister's husband Willum "Kelou" Clausen. The location of theseevents was Rønne's mainstreet: Storegade; along which were located theKofoed families homes, side-by-side with Mayor Peder Laursen's house.Rønne was still very small at that time, the current large town-squarewas then only a green area with trails leading out to the surroundingfarmsteads. Further down the street, across from the presentlatin-school, was the old town-hall; before which are placed memorialstones to commemorate the spot where Printzensköld was shot dead. Thedramatic shots fired by Jens Kofoed and Niels Gumløs into the alreadydead enemy were significant: this legitimized Willum Clausen'squestionable murder of Printzensköld as part of the uprising, noweveryone was equally responsible - there was no going back!
On December 29, 1658 a deputation was sent to København to inform KingFrederik III that Bornholm was once again Danish property. For hisbravery and saving Bornholm for Denmark, King Frederik gave Jens PedersenKofoed a "fredebrev" (pardon), for the original deed of manslaughter, andpromoted him to Captain in Bornholm's militia. He was also awarded 200Rigsdaler per year for life, and free use of the Captain's farm inØstermarie parish: the 5 Slg. - known as Maglegård.
He lived at Maglegård the rest of his life and was buried in the churchin Østermarie, where there is still a portrait of him. A painting ofJens Pedersen Kofoed by an unknown artist is displayed at FrederiksborgCastle; a copy is kept in Bornholm's museum in Rønne. The painting showshis coat of arms and tells, in latin, that is was painted in 1683, whenhe was 55 years old. Historians since the 18th century have named himwith great honour "Bornhoms Befrieren" - which translates as: Liberatorof Bornholm. The Officers Union of Bornholm raised him a monument atSandvig's harbour in the 300th anniversary of his birth.
See Notes for wife Margrethe Sandersdatter Lesler for information fromthe probate held after Jens Pedersen Kofoed's death.
This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto,Ontario, copyright 2006.
Margrethe Sandersdatter Lesler
In 1682 Jens Kofoed Pedersen had an epitaph made and placed in theØstermarie Church. The painted image depicts him along side his twowives and 24 child, 12 sons and 12 daughters. There are three coats ofarms: Jens Kofoed Pedersen's own with one buckle (spænde); his firstwife, Margrethe Sandersdatter Lesler's with one green tree (grønt træ);and his second wife, Elisabeth Akeleje's with one columbine (akeleye) inthe shield. At the bottom is written the following:
(In the original Danish)
"Ao. 1653 den 3 Nov. er Hans Kongl. Mayests. velbestalter Capitaine,velædle og mandhafte Jens Koefoed Pedersøn, kommen i Ægteskab med ærlig,dydig og Gud elskende Møe, Margrethe Sandersdatter, og levede detilsammen i 27 Aar, og avlede 21 Børn. Ao. 1678 den 28 Julii hensov hunudi Herren, udi hendes Alders 43 Aar, 10 Uger og 1 Dag. Ao. 1680 den 19Junii er velædle Hr. Capit. anden Gang kommen i Ægteskab med ærlig ogvelbyrdige Jomfrue Elisabeth Ackeleye, og har Gud deres Ægteskab medtrende Børn velsignet."(Translated to English)
"Anno 1653 the 3'rd of November did His Royal Majesty's commissionedCaptain, the very noble and manly Jens Koefoed Pedersøn, enter intoMarriage with the honest, virtuous and pious Maiden, MargretheSandersdatter, and they lived together for 27 Years, and begat 21Children. Anno 1678 the 28'th of July she went with the Lord, her Agewas 43 Years, 10 Weeks and 1 Day. Anno 1680 the 19'th of June did comethe enobled Gentleman Captain's second Occasion of Marriage with thehonest and well-born Miss Elisabeth Ackeleye, and God blessed theirMarriage with three Children."From Bornholm's Jordebog of 1689:
Østerherridt, Østermarie Sogn, Vaarneder, Nr. 5: Maglegaard.
Østerherridt, Østermarie Sogn, Vaarneder, Nr. 15: Elleshuuset.From the Østermarie kirkebog:
June 4, 1691: Capt. Jens Kofod begraved, 63 aar gl.Extracted from the probate for Jens Kofoed Pedersen, June 22 & 23, 1691,page 73b:
Anno 1691 dend 22 og 23 Juny end og efter folgende dato er efter louliggiorde tillysninger, holden registering, og vudering, sampt skifte, ogdeehling efter Edele, og Mandhafte nu sal. Jens Koefoed Pedersen fordumKongl. Majes. bestalter Capitain, ved det anded National Compagnie herpaa landet, som boede, og ved døden afgick paa det 5 Wornede kaldetMaglegaard beligende udi Østermariæ Sogn. Imellem den salig Capitainsefterlatte kieriste Edele og Velbyrdig Frue Elisabeth Acheleje forhendepaatog sig at laugverge Edele og Mandhafte Hr. Capitain Caspar HenrichWesterwalt paa eene side, og paa dend anden side dend sal. mands børn somer ved første hans sal. kieriste aufled, og igien lefuer først 5 sønner,og 8 døttre, eller deres børn, og med sin efter lefvende kieriste endaatter. Nemblig, dend eldste søn Hans Koefoed som er Fenrich ved MarineRegimentet i Kiøbenhavn i hans absens er som fuldmektig her paa sterfboetanordnet hans svoger Christen Nielsen. Dend anden søn Zander Koefoed vedHans Excell. Hr. General Lieutnant Schachs Regiment i Kiøbenhavn, i hansabsens er til fuldmektig anordnet Hans Ollufsen, hans svoger. Dend 3'søn Jørgen Koefoed, Sergiant ved bemelte Mariner, i hans absens er tilfuldmektig anordnet hans svoger Hans Jensen. Den 4' søn Detlef Koefoedfor reist til Østindien i hans absens er til fuldmektig anordnet hanssvoger Hans Ollufsen. Dend yngste søn Mathias Koefoed 19 aar gammel, forhannem paa tog sig at være tilsins verge Capit. Hans Koefoed i ØstermariæSogn. Dend eldste daatter Margrette Hans Ollufsens i ØsterM Sogn. Dendanden daatter Sidzele Hans Jensens i Aaekier Sogn. Dend tredie daatterLisebeth Jens Ollufsens i Ibsker Sogn. Dend 4de daatter var sal. Annesal. Lorrentz Tyrwaltz, efter hende igien lefuer 4 sønner, og en daatter,med deris til fore tilsette verger og formyndere. Dend 5de daatter varsal. Magdalena Corporal Christen Nielsens i Ibsker Sogn, som har efterlatsig en søn, og 3 døttre, som derris fader er verge for. Dend 6 daatterKirstene Jens Koefoeds daatter, som er til echetschab-troelofued medPetter Tiesen, som og møtte herpaa sterfboet, og blef for hende til vergeanordndet, og sig god villig paatog Peder Mogensen i Boelsker Sogn efterPetter Tiesens beretning. Dend 7 daatter Karen Jens Koefoeds daatter 16aar gammel, for hende paatog sig at verge hendes søsterman forhen HansOllufsen. Dend 8 daatter Johanna Jens Koefoeds daatter, og 16 aargammel, efter som hun er tuilling med forhen hendes søster Karen, forhende verger hendes søsterman forhen Hans Jensen i Aaeker Sogn. Og dendyngste daatter som er Margrete Elisabeth Jens Koefoeds daatter for hendepaatog sig at verge Capitain Hans Koefoed i Pedersker Sogn. . . eftersal. Lorrentz Tyrwalt som boede i Nexøe, dateret dend 7 January Anno1688. Befendes at sal. Capitain Jens Koefoed har paa loged sig vergemaalog for mynderskab, for til af den salig mands børn som er sal.Capitainens daatterdaatter, nemlig Margrete Lorrentzdaatter, som til komer først efter hendes salig moder sal. Anne Lorrentz Tyrwaltz. . . .Note: The above probate describes Jens Kofoed Pedersen as "Edele, ogMandhafte" (Noble, and Manly), and his widow Elisabeth as "Edele ogVelbyrdig" (Noble and Highborn).
Some details on the estate of Jens Kofoed, as described in Jørn Klindt'sbook "På spor af de første Kofod'er", published in 1979:
The household items: a large silver vessel worth 21 Silverdalers - thisgreat jug could hold around three-quarters of a litre, and weighed half akilogram; it was Jens Kofoed's personal drinking vessel and it was saidthat he could empty it in one swallow at festive occasions! There wereother jugs and goblets mentioned, as well as 15 silver-spoons (forks werenot yet in use). Also 10 dozen silver-buttons, worth 123 Silverdalers(it was the practice of that time to melt old buttons down and recastthem in new styles - a sorry loss, but thus it happened).
Jens Kofoed's clothes were quite ordinary: his best was a grey long coatwith black lining, valued at 10 Silverdalers. More dramatic was an oldgreen coat lined with fox-fur, valued at 5 Silverdalers. Grey woolenpants, lined with linen, valued at 6 Silverdalers; a pair of leatherunderpants worht 1 Mark and 8 Skillings; and a black cap; these last fewitems were probably used on long riding trips, both military service andpersonal.
Last was a black outfit, a hat, a pair of stockings, and a black veil,worth a total of 6 Silverdalers. This was was given to his youngestsurviving son, the 19 year old Mads Jensen Kofoed - then a Lieutenantstationed on Christiansø.
His widow Elisabeth Akeleye's clothes were also valued: a black woolencoat, 2 dresses, a green bodice with 11 pairs of silver tips, 3 skirts, asilk bonnet, and a red woolen nightgown.
The total value of the estate was set at 1,356 Silverdalers, but a debtof 905 Silverdalers meant that there was only 450 Silverdalers to bedivided between Elisabeth and the nine unmarried children. The pastorreceived the grand sum of 22 Silverdalers, and the church sexton received11 Silverdalers, for the funeral service held in Østermarie Church.
Only half of his 24 children were still at the time of his death. Thethree eldest girls: Margrethe, Sidsel, and Elisabeth, were all in theirsecond marriages; while Anna Sophie and Magdalene had died in their firstmarriages. The sons were younger and still bachelors: Hans, Sander andJørgen were in København receiving military educations; Ditlev was on hisfateful voyage to the East Indies; and the youngest, Mads, was stationedon Christiansø. Living at home were: the 21 year old Kirstine, engagedto a young Svaneke lad; the 16 year old twins, Karen and Johanne; plusthe only surviving child from his marriage to Elisabeth Akeleye:Margrethe Elisabeth, 10 years old.
According to law, the unmarried daughters were to receive half of thatwhich the sons received. Thus each son inherited 32 Silverdalers, whilethe daughters got 16 Silverdalers. As there was no ready cash available,it proved hard for the widow Elisabeth Akeleye to pay out. Jens PedersenKofoed had never become a rich land-owner - the amount each daughterreceived just equaled the value of beer drunk at Hammershus fortress in1658!
Jens Kofoed Pedersen and Elisabeth Akeleye commissioned the installationof an epitath on the south-wall of the old Østermarie Church. It wasmoved to the new church after the demolition of the old church in thelate 1800s; at that same time a search was made for Jens Kofoed's grave,especially under the place where the epitath had been hanging, but noluck. Later, in the 1920s, some graves were found in the oldweapon-house, and it is possible that they are those of Jens Kofoed andhis two wives - but no positive identification could be made.
The epitath is a magnificent baroque work of wood-carving, which wasoriginally brightly painted red, blue and gold - just like that of thenow gone epitath for his father in the Rønne Church. Jens Kofoed'sepitath underwent a restoration in the 1920s, whereby all its colourswere removed in order for it to blend in with the church's now drab,neutral interior. Fortunately in our time colours are beingre-introduced in church interior design, and possibly there will be fundmade available to repair and repaint the terribly neglected epitath -which also should be moved, as the lighting conditions where it now hangspractically prevent closer scrutiny.
From Bornholm's Jordebog of 1691:
Øster Herridt, Øster Marie Sogn, Vaarneder, Nr. 5: Maglegaard,Kongensgaard, Sahl. Hr. Capit. Jens Koefoeds enche.This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto,Ontario, copyright 2006.
1 MISC Probate of 1703: abroad (udenlands)
1 MISC Probate 1691: was in the East Indies
1 MISC Twin brother to Charlotte
1 MISC Twin sister to Christian
1 MISC Twin sister to Kirstine
1 _FA1
2 PLAC Middleclass Citizen (Borger) & Captain
1 MISC "Bornholms Befrieren" (Liberator of Bornholm)
Some details on Jens Kofoed Pedersen's life, as described in JørnKlindt's book "På spor af de første Kofod'er", published in 1979, andtranslated by his descendant Elene Marie Lau in 1996:Jens Kofoed Pedersen was born in Rønne and enjoyed the priviligedchildhood of being the son of a well-to-do merchant in Rønne. He is saidto have been the brightest and most adventuresome of Peder andElisabeth's children. Although a Danish-Latin school had recently openedin Rønne (with Rasmus Ravn, Bornholm's first historian, as its principal)that was not the route deemed best for Jens; for in 1641, at 13 yearsold, he was sent to Hanseatic league's queen-city: Lübeck, findingemployment there with the merchant Robert Wickne. Though he only stayedin his service for about half-a-year, for what could the cosmopolitancenter of Lübeck offer when the world beyond beckoned?!
Jens Kofoed went to sea in the Easter of 1642, first travelling toDanzig. Finally, he ended up in Jerez de la Frontera, on thesouth-western coast of Andalusia, Spain. He worked for two years in theservice of the Johanniter nobleman Don Leon de la Quece, and for threemore years with his replacement the vicar Don Diego de la Dame. It isnot known exactly what he was doing in Jerez - the town that has givenits name to sherry. Already back then their wines were widely renowned:William Shakespeare favoured the sherry from Jerez. The town is located20 km in land from the ports of Cadiz and Puerto de Santa Maria, and theywere some of the most important harbour-towns in the wine, oil, and salttrade; so they naturally maintained close contact with the Hanseaticleague ports, and as well with Danish ports.
In 1647, then only 19 years old, Jens set-out for Bornholm, he surelymust have longed to see the beaches of Bornholm, his family, and perhapsthe Bornholmer girls? More probably the troubling news of his familiesdown-fall had reached his ears. In any case, he hired onto a danishship, to look out for its cargo, and by the end of September had arrivedin København, and soon after that left for Rønne. When summer andsailing-weather returned, he sailed to Lübeck to visit his exiled andbroken father, who died late that same year still exiled in Lübeck.
It was during the following few years that Rønne experienced a gruesomewitch-hunt of never before known dimensions. It was considered everyChristian's duty to report any signs of witchery to the authorities, whoconsequently persecuted the accused with great zeal. Jens PedersenKofoed himself started such a process, as he felt himself to have been"bewitched", and suspected his old wet-nurse, Boel Anne, to beresponsible.
After getting her drunk, and with witnesses hidden from view, he managedto cajole a confession of witchery out of her: she admitted to havingbeen payed to do so by a woman whose son had received a sound beatingfrom the self-assured Jens Kofoed. The five years in Spain seems to havemade him brisk and authoritative - he did not take kindly to the offense,for he reported Boel Anne to the bailiff. She was arrested and locked upin the basement of the town-hall, where she was "convinced" to inform onfour other women as being members of her "witch-coven".
The women were arrested and confessed, as expected, to having enteredinto a pact with the Devil himself. That they had gathered the localmeeting place for witches, called a "Blaakulla", for witch's sabbath.They also confessed to having gone to the Blåkulla in Kalmarsund, on theswedish peninsula, where they had danced and sported with the "BlackMajesty"! They told of having learned their witch-craft at Rosengårdenin Rønne - which until 1645 had been the residense of Holger Rosenkrans.The foreign lifestyle of the wealthy nobleman and his many guests, andtheir carryings-on, apparently seemed so weird to Rønne's citizens thatthe admission of learning witch-craft there was easily accepted!
Boel Anne was sentenced to be burnt alive, and on June 6, 1652, theproceedings took place; one of the other accused witches had already diedin her prison cell, and her body was burnt along side Boel Anne's. Athird escaped the fire by jumping down a well to her death; while thefourth was later burnt alive in November of 1652. The last of theaccused managed to put up bail and appeal to a higher court, this finallyput a stop to the horrendous chain-reaction. The court found that thefourth "witch" had been bribed to inform on her; the bribe consisted ofbeing allowed to get drunk whenever she felt like, and doing whatever shewanted! For this reason the last "witch" was set free.
Jens Kofoed, who after all had just done his Christian duty, continued tohelp his mother manage her business dealings; also he began to cast hiseye about for a suitable wife. Sander Lesler, the mayor in Hasle andbrother-in-law to judge Mads Kofoed, had died in 1639, but his widowstill resided at a "merchant's farm" (købmandsgården) in Hasle with her18 year old daughter Margrethe, a very suitable match, and surely alovely lass! Jens proposed, was accepted and the wedding took place onhis 25' birthday in 1653, the day he legally came of age. The youngcouple settled in Hasle, and Jens aquired a merchant's farm of his own.
The new father was still a restless and quick-tempered young man, andduring a visit to Rønne on July 26, 1655 he got into a fight with anotheryoung man, named Mogens Hansen; with the result that Jens Kofoed stabbedand accidentally killed his opponent. This murder could have had direconsequences for the young father - first of all he had to compensate thefamily of the victim, which was done satisfactorily; but yet to be facedwas the court trial which could result in a death sentence. For awell-to-do citizen there were ways to delay a trial, and in 1657 hemanaged to get a further postponement due to a letter issued by KingFredrik III, who had just declared war on Sverige/Sweden. The letterstated that the trial would be delayed as long as Jens Kofoed joined thecavalry, bringing with him another soldier, plus two armoured horses tothe campaign against the Swedes in Skåne.
He served with 'Ritmester' Knud Urne's company in Skåne and soon foundhimself on the front line. Through out the autumn of 1657 the fightingwent back and forth between Ängelholm and Halmstad. When the alarmingnews came that the swedish King, Karl Gustav X, had halted his campaignagainst the northern german states and had turned his entire army towardthe Danish southern-border, the Danish military-command recalled thecavalry stationed in Skåne.
After Jens Pedersen Kofoed was stationed at winter-quarters on Sjælland,he asked for two weeks Christmas leave on Bornholm. This was granted andhe left for Bornholm on December 21, where everything was well: the threeyear old Margrethe and the one year old Sidsele were expecting to receivea new sibling as a Christmas-gift at the very time their dad returnedhome. The new year of 1658, which turned out to be the most dramatic inBornholm's history, started out beautifully with a double christening inHasle Church: Lisbet and Anna were the names given to the twin-girls.That winter turned out to be unusually cold, already in January thesea-ice was spreading rapidly; which prevented Jens Kofoed from sailingback to his regiment.
The Swedish General Wrangel's forces invaded Jylland from the south.They took Fredriksodde fortress and from there marched across the ice (anunprecedented feat, possible only because of the unusual cold) to theisland of Fyn, and hence on to Lolland and then Sjælland. That meantthat København was open to attack; which forced the Danish crown to suefor peace, and in the resulting "Peace of Roskilde" (concluded onFebruary 26, 1658) Denmark lost its provinces Skåne (Scania) andBlekinge, the district of Bohus, Trondheim (in Norge/Norway), and theisland of Bornholm.
As the sea-ice prevented any communication with Bornholm, no one thereknew of this incredible turn of events. Not until April 16, when the icebroke and a fishing-boat from Skåne brought the news, did the Bornholmersrealize that they, without being asked, had been made Swedish by thestroke of a feather-quill! On April 29 the new Swedish Commandant,Colonel (Oberst) Johan Printzensköld, landed with 120 Musketeers andbegan exploring their new province; all the while preparing theBornholmers for their new nationality.
By May 18, 1658, delegates had been chosen to make a journey to Malmö andstand before Corfits Ulfeld and swear allegiance to the Swedish King.The delegates included Jens Kofoed's cousins Mads Madsen Kofoed(c.1616-before 1665) of Eskesgård, Hans Olufsen Kofoed (c.1630-1694) ofBlykobbegård, and Peder Madsen Kofoed (c.1622-1688) of Svaneke, as wellas his own brother Hans Pedersen Kofoed (c.1627-before 1681) of Rønne.
The Swedish King renewed the war - in spite of the recently signed treaty- in August of 1658 by landing at Korsør and shortly afterwardssurrounding København, this time firmly intent on "erasing" Denmark.This meant the situation radically altered for both Printzensköld and theBornholmers: Printzensköld was stranded and felt himself isolated on anisland with a hostile populace, whom he was forced to rob for money andyoung soldiers for the Swedish Army; while the Bornholmers felt ill atease over the occupying forces being at war with their mother-land,hoping that liberation would soon be the outcome. The prospects did notlook too promising for Denmark that fall: København was the onlyremaining strong-hold, and King Fredrik III had declared that he "woulddie in his nest".
Luckily for Denmark a Dutch armada appeared in the Øresund and came totheir rescue. For the Dutch had taken over the Hanseatic League role asprotectors of free-trade in the region, and they considered that theSwedes would become too dominating a force if they managed to amalgamateDenmark.
The heavy taxes and forced conscription by the Swedes angered theBornholmers, and a conspiracy began to form: its purpose to overwhelm theSwedish occupying force, recapture Hammershus fortress, and deliverBornholm back to Denmark. A highly dangerous enterprise to be sure, butthe core group of men from Hasle were both determined and effective.This group consisted of the clergyman for Hasle and Rutsker parishes:Poul Hansen Ancher (c.1629-1697), its mayor: Peder Olsen, and JensPedersen Kofoed, who was the only one who had fought against the Swedes -therefore it is thought that his hatred towards the enemy, and hisviolent temper, aided in the quick and decisive outcome of the uprising.The leaders divided the tasks: the Pastor Poul Ancher would mobilize thecitizens; Peder Olsen was to take care of communications with the Danishgovernment in København; and Jens Kofoed to organize and lead the armedattack.
On December 8, 1658 Johan Printzensköld rode out from Hammershus fortressfor Rønne, where a ship was to set sail with a request for reinforcementsfor the Swedish garrison, which only numbered around 100 men.Printzensköld was extremely worried about a possible landing of Danish orDutch troops, being conscious of the fact that he could not rely on"these Danes," which he ironically named the Bornholmers.
We are luck to have Jens Pedersen Kofoed's own description of the eventsof the uprising, although it is not the original it dates from around1700. The simple, straight-forward tone and detailed description of theevents make the story ring true, and after some consideration byhistorians Jens Kofoed has been accepted as the primary source.Fortunately a contemporary Swedish description has been found tocorroborate his description; this from a ship's coxswain from Ystad, JensFribonde, which he gave to the Swedish authorities after his release as aprisoner-of-war.
1) Jens Pedersen Kofoed's "true and proper account of how Bornholm waswrested from the Swedes":
It was a Wednesday when the Swedish Commander rode from HammershusFortress to Hasle, where he summoned Mayor Peder Olsen to the street andgave him a grave warning to pay the levyed taxes or face the direconsequences. Then he rode on to Rønne to stay with its Mayor, PederLaursen. As soon as the Commander left Hasle, Poul Anker and I went bysleigh from Hasle to Nyker, where Mr. Jacob had promised to provide 20men whenever needed. But I could not get any men to help - only a horse,a gun, and a sabre. I then rode on alone to Blykobbegaard along the rodeto Rønne, stopping to wait in the Skule-forest for my comrades: CaptainNiels Gumløs, Aage Fenrik, and Claus Nielsen, all of Hasle, at which timewe were joined by the Steward (Ridefoged) of Hammershus fortress - JensLaursen Risom, and farmer Hans Nielsen. I gave Jens Laursen Risom mygun, seeing as he had none, and next rode to get myself another atBlykobbegaard.All five of us rode in the darkness to Rønne, intent on arriving at mybrother Mads Kofoed's house. As we rode down the street we saw theSwedish bailiff, Jens Persson, walk past us towards Mayor Peder Laursen'shouse, where Commander Printzensköld was staying. Since he had seen usriding with our guns we figured it best to state our business toPrintzensköld at once. We placed Aage Fenrik and Claus Nielsen to guardthe gate, not knowing how many men were with Printzensköld. I enteredthe room first, followed by Niels Gumløs and Jens Laursen Risom, andimmediately asked him if he wished to surrender - as he was the onlySwede there. He at once cried out, falling down between the table andthe bench; we pulled him up again to sit by the table, upon which lay alarge parcel and a sealed letter. When asked from where they came heanswered: from his King in Sweden and they were to be sent on toPomerania. So I quickly snatched the mail declaring, "This is going tobe sent to my king - the King of Denmark!"
Next we took hold of Printzensköld to take him outside, at which pointsome other citizens came to help; as soon as we had him on the street, hebroke free and ran away. I shouted for him to stop, but he did not heed,and immediately a shot was fired and he fell down dead. Two guards wereposted by his body, so that it would not be robbed while we were lookingfor his servant and the other Swedes in town. We found all but two: hissecretary and rider had hidden, but we found and arrested them the nextday. Printzensköld's body was then brought into Rønne's town-hall.
2) Jens Fribonde's description:
Two weeks before Christmas the Commander rode from the Fortress to Rønneand took lodging as usual at Mayor Peder Laursen's. It was then theygathered around the house: Claus Kames, Jens Kofoed, Niels Gumløs, WillumClausen, Mads Kofoed, and others. Next Jens Kofoed went into the roomwith his gun and sabre pointing at Printzensköld; Niels Gumløs struck himwith his gun, causing him to fall down under the table, whereupon theybegan to drag him outside, crying: "Out with you - you blood-hound!" Atwhich point the Mayor intervened pleading, "Please, good men stop andthink before you do harm." To which Jens Kofoed replied, "Everything isenfolding as planned."The Commander then requested to surrender, and they promised himclemency; as they were taking him out of the room both Mayor Laursen andhis brother, Daniel, pleaded for him. But the Mayor was struck on thechest with a musket and Daniel was beaten, so that he had to crawl awayout onto the street. Next Willum Clausen went to Printzensköld andraised his pistol to Printzensköld's left eye and fired a shot, and theCommander fell down dead in the street; after which both Jens Kofoed andNiels Gumløs each fired a shot into him. They then chasedPrintzensköld's attendants, firing shots at them as they tried to escape,causing them to surrender.
Commentary on the two accounts:
Both of the above descriptions are internal reports - not meant aspropaganda - one from each of the two warring camps. No real differenceis stated in the progression of events, of course there is somediscrepancy of certain details and in the evaluation of the purpose.There is really only one major discrepancy: why was Printzensköld shotdead? Was it because he tried to flee, or was it a deliberate act? Bothsources inform us he was offered amnesty, that the remaining Swedes inRønne were spared, and that the next day the rebels only threatened tokill them in order to force the Swedes to surrender Hammershus fortress.This clearly suggests that they had only planned to take Printzensköldprisoner - for what would have been gained by killing him? It was JensKofoed's brother-in-law Willum Clausen who fired the pistol, and only hecould tell what spurred him to action.As stated above Jens Pedersen Kofoed led a band of men north to thefortress of Hammershus, where they convinced the Swedish army-unitstationed there to surrender. He and his men would then take asprisoners-of-war swedish re-inforcement troops as they landed at Sandvigduring Christmas-time.
That generation of Kofoeds was strongly represented in the early hours ofthe uprising: besides the leader Jens Kofoed, there were his brother MadsKofoed, his cousins from Blykobbegård: Hans and Claus Olufsen Kofoed, andhis sister's husband Willum "Kelou" Clausen. The location of theseevents was Rønne's mainstreet: Storegade; along which were located theKofoed families homes, side-by-side with Mayor Peder Laursen's house.Rønne was still very small at that time, the current large town-squarewas then only a green area with trails leading out to the surroundingfarmsteads. Further down the street, across from the presentlatin-school, was the old town-hall; before which are placed memorialstones to commemorate the spot where Printzensköld was shot dead. Thedramatic shots fired by Jens Kofoed and Niels Gumløs into the alreadydead enemy were significant: this legitimized Willum Clausen'squestionable murder of Printzensköld as part of the uprising, noweveryone was equally responsible - there was no going back!
On December 29, 1658 a deputation was sent to København to inform KingFrederik III that Bornholm was once again Danish property. For hisbravery and saving Bornholm for Denmark, King Frederik gave Jens PedersenKofoed a "fredebrev" (pardon), for the original deed of manslaughter, andpromoted him to Captain in Bornholm's militia. He was also awarded 200Rigsdaler per year for life, and free use of the Captain's farm inØstermarie parish: the 5 Slg. - known as Maglegård.
He lived at Maglegård the rest of his life and was buried in the churchin Østermarie, where there is still a portrait of him. A painting ofJens Pedersen Kofoed by an unknown artist is displayed at FrederiksborgCastle; a copy is kept in Bornholm's museum in Rønne. The painting showshis coat of arms and tells, in latin, that is was painted in 1683, whenhe was 55 years old. Historians since the 18th century have named himwith great honour "Bornhoms Befrieren" - which translates as: Liberatorof Bornholm. The Officers Union of Bornholm raised him a monument atSandvig's harbour in the 300th anniversary of his birth.
See Notes for wife Margrethe Sandersdatter Lesler for information fromthe probate held after Jens Pedersen Kofoed's death.
This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto,Ontario, copyright 2006.
Elisabeth Gabrielsdatter Akeleye
1 _FA1
2 PLAC Noblewoman (Adelsjomfru)
From the Østermarie kirkebog:
September 22, 1689: D'nca 17 à Trinit. Captein Jens Kofods drengebarndøbt, blef kaldet Christian. Velb. Lands Herren Johan Diderich vonWetther, hans enke Zidsele Grubbe bar til daaben. Faddere: Velædle Hr.Commissarius Clemens Suchow, Velb. Hr. vice-Landsdommer Ancher Müller,Tolderen Mogens Pedersøn, Ampt Skrifverens kieriste Velb. Fr. MetteLisbeth Macchabæus, og Kirstene Hans Kofods daatter.July 21, 1690: Capt. Jens Kofods søn Gabriel begraved, 7 aar gl.
December 12, 1690: Christian Kofod Jensen begraved, 1 aar, 11 uger gl.
June 4, 1691: Capt. Jens Kofod begraved, 63 aar gl.
From Jørn Klindt's book "På spor af de første Kofod'er", published in1979:
The widow Elisabeth Akeleye needed a new man on her farm, and it seemsshe had not tired of the Kofoeds! In 1692 she married a son from nearbyKofoedgård, the 30 year old Claus Hansen Kofoed, whose father was cousinto her deceased husband. Claus Kofoed moved in with Elisabeth atMaglegård, where she had the right to live and farm as long as shelived. Claus advanced to becom Major in the military, and they residedthere until her death in 1739, nearly 85 years old. Elisabeth and JensPedersen Kofoed's grandson Gabriel Larsen Kofoed, the son of theirdaughter Margrethe Elisabeth, took over the farm after her passing. In1744 he bought the farm from the crown, and from then on that beautifulfarm has stayed within that family.This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto,Ontario, copyright 2006.
1 _FA1
2 PLAC Freeman (Frimand)
1 MISC Alderman (Rådmand) for Rønne
Peder Kofoed was a captain, alderman (Rådmand), and later mayor(Borgmester) of Rønne. From a document dated April 24, 1625 it can beseen that he did not use the Kofoed insignia, but rather his own initials(P.K.) as his seal - this can be seen in Bornholm's Lehns registry of1624-25, archives Gehejmeark.Sweden, along with their Dutch allies, began a war against Denmark in1643. The Swedish Commander, Lennart Torstensson, crossed the Danishsouthern frontier in December of 1643 and quickly occupied Jyllandpeninsula, while Louis DeGeer's army, based in Stockholm, seized theprovince of Skåne. This two-pronged attack took the Danes by surprise,but the elderly King Christian IV managed to rise to the challenge. The67 year old king was tireless in organizing his navy and in raisingforces, and the next April the Danish fleet met and defeated the Dutchnavy, which was preparing to carry Torstensson's troops from thepeninsula to the islands of Fyn and Sjælland. The defeated Dutch sailedback to Holland, but in June a Swedish fleet of forty ships appeared inthe western Baltic. King Christian engaged the enemy in a ten-hour longbattle in which he lost an eye and was wounded in thirteen places. TheSwedish fleet was forced to flee to Kiel where it combined with the Dutchto attack the Danes near the island of Lolland. In this battle theDanish, who were outnumbered by two to one, lost fifteen of theirseventeen ships by sinking or capture, and King Christian was forced tosue for peace.
The Baltic island of Bornholm found out to its detriment the extent ofthe Swedes rule over the Baltic Sea at that time. The Swedish troopslanded on the 9th of June 1645 just to the south of the Bornholm townshipof Svaneke; the town suffered 4 hours of plundering after its surrenderto the Swedish Commandant Wrangel. Mads Kofoed, and the other elderlymen in command, were unable to properly lead the Bornholmer troops. Hewas blamed for the surrender of Hammershus to the Swedes on the 17th ofJune; and as a result Mads Kofoed had the misfortune of being partlyresponsible for the total collapse of Bornholm's defenses and the SwedishGeneral Wrangel's conquering of the entire island, even though at firstWrangel had only threatened to burn down all of Nexø as a personalrevenge against a couple of skipper's from Nexø who had stolen one of hisships!
In the resulting peace treaty negotiated in Brömsebro in August of 1645obliged Denmark to surrender Jämtland and Härjedal, Gotland and theisland of Ösel. It was agreed that the captured island of Bornholm wasto be returned to Danish rule. As a guarantee for the exemption ofSwedish shippinf from Danish shipping tolls, Sweden took possession ofthe province of Halland for a period of thirty years - however it wasnever returned.
The officers in the Bornholm militia who were judged to have betrayedtheir country were sentenced to death, but the king benevolently conveyedthe sentence to one of exile. Peder Kofoed, and his brothers Mads andJacob, were among those judged traitors and banished. After his death in1646 his widow was given a royal pardon for her husband's crime, theletter is dated June 15, 1649.
Peder Kofoed fled Bornholm and obtained refuge in Lübeck - where he diedin 1648. It is known that in the summer before his death his thirdeldest son, Jens Pedersen Kofoed, went to visit him in Lübeck and foundhim a broken man. After his death his widow Elisabeth Madsdatter Ravnreceived a royal letter, dated June 5, 1649, in which she and herchildren were granted forgiveness for the crimes of Peder Kofoed. Thewidow is known to have lived an exemplary lifestyle after the banishmentof her husband, even so the deeds of her husband and brothers-in-law werenot soon forgotten on Bornholm.
He had been a wealthy man, the owner of numerous farms, including:Sandegård 25 Slg., and Fynegård 13 Slg., both in Knudsker parish;Vintrægård 9 Vdg., Bjørnegård 10 Vdg., and Skadegård 13 Vdg., allthree in Nyker parish; Kyllingegård 11 Vdg. (in Stensby) in Bodilskerparish; Heslegård 21 Vdg. in Østerlars parish; one of the farms in Sose:Lille Dalbygård, 10 Vdg. in Vestermarie parish, purchased on July 4,1632; a freehold-farm (frigård): Båsegård, 4 Vdg. in Nylars parish; andone farmhouse in Hasle township.
Excerpt from list of owners of Fynegård: "It is known that the 13 Slg.in Knudsker parish was owned in the 1600s by the mayor in Rønne, PederKofoed, father to Bornholm's liberator Captain Jens Pedersen Kofoed. Themanager of the farm was a Niels Pedersen. After Peder Kofoed's death inLübeck on December 26, 1648, his property went to his widow Elisabeth,Mayor Mads Ravn's daughter. She sold the 13 Slg. in 1670 to Peder Fyen,legal attorney on Bornholm; after him the farm was known as Fynegaard."
In 1652 Elisabeth Madsdatter Ravn purchased the farm "Juelsgaard" (akaJulegård, 14 Vdg.) in Åker parish and lived there with her childrenafter her husband's banishment from the country. In 1652 she alsopurchased Sandegård, 1 Vdg. Knudsker. Elisabeth had to struggle to hangonto her families land possessions; but with the help of her son, JensPedersen Kofoed, a court case was fought, and the judgement found in herfavour. The following epitaph for Peder Kofoed tells us that he andElisabeth Madsdatter Ravn had 15 children: 9 sons and 6 daughters.Julegård, 14 Vdg. Åker, is in an area known as Strandby; which is aregion along Åker parish's beach-front, it was densely populated - hensethe name: strand=beach, by=town.
Of their 15 children, eight have been positively identified by name.Speculation surrounds the identities of the remaining three sons and fourdaughters. A number of which probably died in childhood.
Three of the daughters have been tentatively identified:
1. Elisabeth Pedersdatter (before 1645-1678). It is known that beforePeder Kofoed was officially judged a traitor he made every attempt todisperse his land and property amongst his family members. For once youwere judged a traitor your property was forfeited to king and crown.Elisabeth's husband Anders Hansen Fyen (circa 1632-1690) later became theowner of Fynegård 13 Slg. Knudsker. It is conceivable that Andersobtained Fynegård for this reason. Possible, but this is far from provenfact. In the Jordebøger of 1658 and 1662 a Niels Pedersen is thetaxpayer for 13 Slg. Knudsker - possibly a brother of ElisabethPedersdatter?
2. Andreas Jørgensen Rosman's wife Kirstine (between 1620-1635, died1704). I know of no supporting evidence for this assertion, nor do Iknow its origin.
3. Boel Pedersdatter Kofoed. Said to be the wife of a Jens Anskarsen,an Alderman (Rådmand) in Rønne.
In Bornholm's Jordebog of 1658, compiled during the Swedish occupation ofthe island, can be found the following entries:
Lisabeth Pedder Koofoods i Rönne: 7 Gårder, 1 Uthbygge. (Pedder Koofood'swidow Lisabeth in Rønne: 7 Farms, 1 Tenant-farmer.)
Öster Häradt, Öster Laurskier Sochn, Frälse Hemman: MortenChristophersen (Frimman Peder Koofodt).
Väster Häradh, Ny Laurskier Sochn, Frälsehemman: Ole Andersen (PerKoofots). . . 3 Daler, 16 Öre, 16 Fr.
Väster Häradh, Ny Laurskier Sochn, Säthe og Frygården: Peder Koofots:Båsgården. . . 3 Daler, 30 Öre, 4 Fr.
Väster Häradh, Nykier Sochn, Frälssehemman: Ole Vinter (Frimman PederKoofots efterlefverske). . . 3 Daler, 21 Öre, 12 Fr.
Väster Häradh, Nykier Sochn, Frälssehemman: Sofren Mand (ut supra:Koofots efterleverkse). . . 3 Daler, 12 Öre, 20 Fr.
Väster Häradh, Nykier Sochn, Frälssehemman: Christopher Mortensen (utsupra). . . 6 Daler, 20 Öre, 20 Fr.From Bornholm's Jordebog of 1662:
Øster Herridt, Vaarneder: Morten Christoffersen i Peder Koefods bunde.(21 Vdg.)
Vester Herridt, Vestermarck Sogn, Vaarneder: Mougns Pedersen - PederKoefoeds bunde. (10 Vdg.)
Vester Herridt, Knudschier Sogn, Vaarneder: Lisebeth Peder Koefoeds. (1'Vdg.)
Vester Herridt, Nykier Sogen, Vaarneder: Søfren Mand - Peder Koefoedsbunde. (13 Vdg.)
Vester Herridt, Nykier Sogen, Vaarneder: Hans Biørnsen - Peder Koefoedsbunde. (9 Vdg.)Bornholm official Laurids de Thurah's "Bornholmsbeskrivelse", from 1756,states in his description of Rønne Church, page 133, that there were twoseperate large and beautifully made epitaphs in Rønne Church, over thetop of which were the coats of arms of Peder Kofoed and ElisabethMadsdatter Ravn.
(The first epitaph states, in the original old Danish:)
"Alleene Gud til Ære, og Kirken til Ziirlighed, er dette Epitaphiumbekostet og opsat af Ærlige, Høyagtbare, Velviise og Velfornemme Mand,Peder Kofod, fordum Borgemester i Rönne, tillige med sin ElskeligeHustrue, Erlige og Gudfrygtige Matrone, Elisabeth Mads Ravnsdaatter,hvilke begge kom udi Ægteskab den 17 Januar 1619, og bleve de af Herren ideres Ægteskab, som var 29 Aar, 11 Maaneder og 7 Dage, velsignet medfemten Børn, 9 Sønner og 6 Døttre, indtil Gud den almægtigste den 24Decembr. 1648, hannem ved Døden henkaldede, udi sin Alders 50 Aar, 6Maaneder og 9 Dage."(Translated to English:)
"Soley to Honour God, and similarly Ornament the Church, this Epitaph hasbeen commissioned and mounted by the Honest, High-born, Wise andRespected Man, Peder Kofod, former Mayor of Rønne, together with hisLoving Wife, the Honest and God-fearing Matron Elisabeth, Mads Ravn'sdaughter, who joined together in marriage the 17th of January 1619, andwere with the Lord in their Marriage, which lasted 29 Years, 11 Monthsand 7 Days, blessed with 15 Children, 9 Sons and 6 Daughters, until Godthe all-mighty on the 24th of December 1648 called him home, his Agebeing 50 Years, 6 Months and 9 Days."(The second dated 1685, in the original old Danish:)
"Gud til Ære, og Kirken til Ziirath, haver den Ærlige og GudfrygtigeMatrone Elisabeth, Sal. Borgemester Peder Kofods Efterladne, ladet detteEpitaphium staffere og bepryde, Sig, Sine, og Andre til got Exempel, Anno1685."(Translated to English:)
"To Honour God, and to Ornament the Church, the Honest and God-fearingMatron Elisabeth, the Deceased Mayor Peder Kofod's Bereaved widow, hasraised this Epitaph to honour, Herself, Her family, and Others, and to bea good Example, in the Year 1685."From Rønne's Kirkeregnskaber, 1684-1747:
Page 12, May 1, 1685 - January 1, 1686: Rønne Kirches RegenschabBereignet fra 1 May 1685 til aars dagen 1686. Kirche Vergen er OllufJensen. Graff Steds og Kloche Ringens Penge, for: Dend 21 Sept.,Lisebeth s. Peder Koefoeds. . . 6 Sldr.Elisabeth Madsdatter Ravn's son Jørgen Pedersen Kofoed inherited her farmJulegård, 14 Vdg. Åker, from his mother in 1685, and sold the farm onJuly 30, 1686 to Hans Jensen and Sidsele Jensdatter Kofoed. Sidsele washis brother Jens Pedersen Kofoed's daughter. Sidsele's probate in 1711states that at the time of the sale, Jørgen Kofoed was employed as aprobate notary (skifteskriver) for Hads district in Århus diocese.
Extracted from the probate held for Sidsele Jensdatter Kofoed and HansJensen, February 3, 1711, page 112:
Anno 1711 dend 3 Febr. er efter loulig giorde tillysning holdenregistering og vurdering sampt skifte og liqvidation efter sal. HansJensen og hans sal. hustru Zidsele Jensdaatter som nogle dage for hannemved døden afgik og begge boede og døde paa dend 14de Vornede kaldisJulegaarden i Aaker Sogn. . . der nest fremlagde arfuingerne ettskiødebref udgifued af Kongl. Majsts. Skifteskrifuer udi Aarhuus Stiftved den geistlige Skifter og Herrids og Skifteskrifuer i Hads Herridtvelfornehne mand Jørgen Koefoed lydende att hand hafuer soldt og skiøderden 14 Vornede gaard i Aakier Sogn kaldis Juhlsgaard til denne afdødemand Hans Jensøn, hans hustru og arfuinger, med ald sin tilliggendisgrund og ejendom og ald sin rette tilligelse stedsmaal, landgilde, egt ogarbeide ligesom hand ded efter sin sal. moder Lisabeht Peder Koefoedshafde arfued, huor hand for pliihter sig i samme skiøde att være derrishiemmel og mand, og er samme skiøde af dato Rønne dend 30te Jully 1686,og læst inden Borringholms Landsting dend 15 December 1686 ogTestificeret af Ancher Müller og Morten Joensøn Klou og blef samme skiødelæst og paa brefuen her paa skifted og Jens Hansøn igien lefuered. . . .This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto,Ontario, copyright 2006.
1 MISC Sandegård, 1 Vdg. Knudsker, Bornholm
1 _FA1
2 PLAC Captain
Claus Kofoed is mentioned as a Captain in Brabant (for a province in theNetherlands, which in 1648 temporarily freed itself from the Hapsburg'sreign).This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto,Ontario, copyright 2006.
1 MISC Julegård, 14 Vdg. Åker, Bornholm
1 MISC Parish Clergyman (Sognepræst) for Nyker
Hans Sode was parish clergyman (sognepræst) for Nyker parish from 1662,then Dean (Provst) of Bornholm from 1682 until his death. In theÅker-Åkirkeby kirkebog can be found a "communicantes" recording hismarriage to Kirstine Hansdatter Kofoed in 1664, "23 Sept. Hr. Hans Sode iNyker Sogn hafde Bryllup."
From the Nyker kirkebog:
January 17, 1690: Løverdagen den 17 Januarij blef begraven AlbertHartvigs stifdatter Margrette Hansdatter Sode i hendis alder 10 aar.April 4, 1694: Onsdagen den 4 April blef begraven Jens Hansen Sode paaWellingsgaard, døde udj sit alders 29 aar.
Extracted from the probate for their daughter Margrethe Hansdatter Sode,January 8, 1695, page 11:
. . . afgangne Margrethe Hans Jensen Sodes datter som udi sine u-myndigeaar boede hos stif-fader Albert Hartvig med sin moder Kirsten HansKofoedsdatter paa Wellensgaard i Nyker, og døde dend 11 Januari 1690. . .Arvinger er 3 fuld-brødre og 2 halv-søstre. Dend eldste broder er JensHansen, fuldmyndig. Dend anden broder er Herman Hansen, fuldmyndig.Dend 3de broder er Hans Hansen, 19 aar, for hannem værge stif-faderenAlbert Hartvig. Dend eldste halv-søster er Elisabeth Hartvigsdatter, forhende værge er hendes faderen. Dend yngste half-søster BartaHartvigsdatter, for hende værge er hendes faderen. . . Skifte efter HansJensen Sode dend 12 October 1685. . . .Extracted from the probate for their son Jens Hansen Sode, January 8,1695, page 12b:
. . . Jens Hansen Sode som boede hos stif-fader Albert Hartvig og moderKirsten Hans Kofoedsdatter paa Wellensgaard i Nyker, og døde 28 Marti1694. . . Arvinger er 2 brødre og 1 halv-søster. Dend eldste fuld-broderer Herman Hansen, fuldmyndig. Dend 2de fuld-broder er Hans Hansen, 19aar, for hannem værge stif-faderen Albert Hartvig. Dend halv-søster erBarta Hartvigsdatter, for hende værge er hendes faderen.Extracted from the probate of their son Hans Hansen Sode, June 26, 1704,page :
. . . Hans Hansen Sode Albert Hartvigs stedsøn, som er død i udlandet førAlbert Hartvig og hvis dødsfald ej tilfulde er blevet vidende før nubroder Herman Hansen og moder Kirstine Hansdatter Kofoed. . . AlbertHartvigs arvinger: fuldbroder Eskild Hartvig paa Frendegaard i Ibsker; ogbroder Morten Hartvig udenlands; og afgangne Claus Hartvigs datterMagdalene Clausdatter; og Fendrich Jørgen Olufsen Sonne paa Leensgaard iØsterlars, som har sal. Albert Hartvigs fuldsøster Karen Poulsdatter tilægtehustru. . . skifte 4 Febuari 1703 efter Albert Hartvig. . . .From the Nyker kirkebog:
January 4, 1712: Mandagen den 4 Januari blef begrafven Kirsten sl.Albert Hartvigs, hendis alder 62 aar, 6 maan.This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto,Ontario, copyright 2006.
1 MISC Reeve (Sandemand) for Vester district
Hans Sode was parish clergyman (sognepræst) for Nyker parish from 1662,then Dean (Provst) of Bornholm from 1682 until his death. In theÅker-Åkirkeby kirkebog can be found a "communicantes" recording hismarriage to Kirstine Hansdatter Kofoed in 1664, "23 Sept. Hr. Hans Sode iNyker Sogn hafde Bryllup."
From the Nyker kirkebog:
January 17, 1690: Løverdagen den 17 Januarij blef begraven AlbertHartvigs stifdatter Margrette Hansdatter Sode i hendis alder 10 aar.April 4, 1694: Onsdagen den 4 April blef begraven Jens Hansen Sode paaWellingsgaard, døde udj sit alders 29 aar.
Extracted from the probate for their daughter Margrethe Hansdatter Sode,January 8, 1695, page 11:
. . . afgangne Margrethe Hans Jensen Sodes datter som udi sine u-myndigeaar boede hos stif-fader Albert Hartvig med sin moder Kirsten HansKofoedsdatter paa Wellensgaard i Nyker, og døde dend 11 Januari 1690. . .Arvinger er 3 fuld-brødre og 2 halv-søstre. Dend eldste broder er JensHansen, fuldmyndig. Dend anden broder er Herman Hansen, fuldmyndig.Dend 3de broder er Hans Hansen, 19 aar, for hannem værge stif-faderenAlbert Hartvig. Dend eldste halv-søster er Elisabeth Hartvigsdatter, forhende værge er hendes faderen. Dend yngste half-søster BartaHartvigsdatter, for hende værge er hendes faderen. . . Skifte efter HansJensen Sode dend 12 October 1685. . . .Extracted from the probate for their son Jens Hansen Sode, January 8,1695, page 12b:
. . . Jens Hansen Sode som boede hos stif-fader Albert Hartvig og moderKirsten Hans Kofoedsdatter paa Wellensgaard i Nyker, og døde 28 Marti1694. . . Arvinger er 2 brødre og 1 halv-søster. Dend eldste fuld-broderer Herman Hansen, fuldmyndig. Dend 2de fuld-broder er Hans Hansen, 19aar, for hannem værge stif-faderen Albert Hartvig. Dend halv-søster erBarta Hartvigsdatter, for hende værge er hendes faderen.Extracted from the probate of their son Hans Hansen Sode, June 26, 1704,page :
. . . Hans Hansen Sode Albert Hartvigs stedsøn, som er død i udlandet førAlbert Hartvig og hvis dødsfald ej tilfulde er blevet vidende før nubroder Herman Hansen og moder Kirstine Hansdatter Kofoed. . . AlbertHartvigs arvinger: fuldbroder Eskild Hartvig paa Frendegaard i Ibsker; ogbroder Morten Hartvig udenlands; og afgangne Claus Hartvigs datterMagdalene Clausdatter; og Fendrich Jørgen Olufsen Sonne paa Leensgaard iØsterlars, som har sal. Albert Hartvigs fuldsøster Karen Poulsdatter tilægtehustru. . . skifte 4 Febuari 1703 efter Albert Hartvig. . . .From the Nyker kirkebog:
January 4, 1712: Mandagen den 4 Januari blef begrafven Kirsten sl.Albert Hartvigs, hendis alder 62 aar, 6 maan.This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto,Ontario, copyright 2006.
1 _FA1
2 PLAC Freeman (Frimand)
Hans Madsen Kofoed was married to the daughter of Claus Gagge and hiswife Sophie Pors; Claus Gagge was feudal lord (lensmand) of Sjælland.They both died in the plague year of 1654. The Gagge family-line was ofthe titled nobility; their coat of arms depicts a vertically dividedshield with half of a black mill-cogwheel on the left half, and a silverchevron on the right; on top of the shield is a helmet with twovesselhorns in silver and black.From the 1658 Jordebog of 1658, compiled during the Swedish occupation ofthe island:
Öster Häradt, Ibschier Sochn, Frälse Hemman: Henrich Andersen (FrimmanHans Koofot).
Väster Häradh, Nykier Sochn, Frälssehemman: Rasmus Ibsen (Frimmans HansKoofots till Wellingård).
Väster Häradh, Nykier Sochn, Frälssehemman: Jacob Jensen (Frimman HansKoofot).
Väster Häradh, Nykier Sochn, Säthe og Frygårder: Frimman Hans Koofots:Wellinggård.This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto,Ontario, copyright 2006.
1 MISC Vestergård, 11 Vdg. Pedersker, Bornholm
1 _FA1
2 DATE 1608
2 PLAC Freeman (Frimand)
1 MISC Eskesgård, Propr. & 9 Vdg. Pedersker, Bornholm
Mads Kofoed is thought to have been born sometime between 1580-90. Hewas the "Proprietær" of Vellensgård in Nyker and Eskesgård in Pederskerparish, both of which he got through marriage with Karen Jørgensdatter.Mads Kofoed purchased the rights to Eskesgård, and to Skadegård, 12 Vdg.Pedersker, on January 30, 1608 from his brother-in-law Esbern Kofoed.Vellensgård and Eskesgård are both classified as "friegårds", latercalled "proprietair" farms. Mads Kofoed's name is often mentioned duringhis long term in office as Chief Justice (Landsdommer) for Bornholm.Mads Kofoed obtained permission to use the Kofoed coat of arms: a bluechevron on a red field (en blåt sparre i rødt); later, in 1608, he knownto have used the title of "Freeman" (Frimand). On February 5, 1629 heobtained the position of Chief Justice (Landsdommer) for Bornholm. On"Mortensdag" (November 11) 1637 he presented 50 Silverdalers to RønneHospital in gratitude for their having nursed him back to health after hesurvived a storm at sea.
In 1629 King Christian IV had Mads Kofoed, as Chief Justice (Landsdommer)for Bornholm, swear his allegiance to the new Commander at Hammershusfortress: Holger Rosenkrans; in return he received, like other countyjudges before him, the rights to a number of farms "to enjoy and keepfreely, as long as he is Chief Justice." These farms were: three (3)farms in Klemensker parish (one of them Duebjerggård); one (1) farm,Bjergegård, in Vestermarie parish; one (1) farm in Rutsker parish; five(5) farms in Østermarie parish (one of them Lyrsbygård); and one (1)farm, Klintebygård, in Ibsker parish.
A judge had to be well educated, and economically independent, in orderto pass fair and unbiased judgement. In return the King offered himtotal support: contempt for the judge's office was nothing less than aninsult against His Majesty, and could bring on the death penalty. ChiefJustice Mads Kofoed performed his task cleverly and with care. Many ofhis cases went to the Highest Court in København, and most of them wereupheld. He enjoyed the well-deserved honour of being described as: "Ourfellow, servant, and Chief Justice upon our land - Bornholm".
In "På spor af de første Kofod'er" we are told of a case that Mads Kofoedpresided over, along with a 14 man jury: it seems that an Ingeborg, wifeof Peder Møller, was sentenced to leave her home and country because ofher "witchcraft". The case suggests that she must have been a mostdisagreeable woman, who caused great uproar in Pedersker parish.
When in 1636 Mads received yet another farm in Vestermarie - meant as arest-stop along the way to the Bornholm Council meetings - you cannothelp but become a bit suspicious that maybe he was suffering from farmcollecting mania!
The life of a Chief Justice was not always easy - during on of the manyrequired sea-voyages to København he nearly drowned. Luckily, KingChristian IV issued an open decree in 1638 to the effect that duringwinter-time no county judge could be summoned to attend High Court inKøbenhavn, with special note that on "the land of Bornholm" you couldencounter dangerous sea-voyages! As a thank you gift for being rescued,he donated a bond worth 50 Rigsdalers to the Hospital for the Poor inRønne, which returned an interest of 10 Marks per year, for "as long asthe money stays in my name."
Sweden, along with their Dutch allies, began a war against Denmark in1643. The Swedish Commander, Lennart Torstensson, crossed the Danishsouthern frontier in December of 1643 and quickly occupied Jyllandpeninsula, while Louis DeGeer's army, based in Stockholm, seized theprovince of Skåne. This two-pronged attack took the Danes by surprise,but the elderly King Christian IV managed to rise to the challenge. The67 year old king was tireless in organizing his navy and in raisingforces, and the next April the Danish fleet met and defeated the Dutchnavy, which was preparing to carry Torstensson's troops from thepeninsula to the islands of Fyn and Sjælland. The defeated Dutch sailedback to Holland, but in June a Swedish fleet of forty ships appeared inthe western Baltic. King Christian engaged the enemy in a ten-hour longbattle in which he lost an eye and was wounded in thirteen places. TheSwedish fleet was forced to flee to Kiel where it combined with the Dutchto attack the Danes near the island of Lolland. In this battle theDanish, who were outnumbered by two to one, lost fifteen of theirseventeen ships by sinking or capture, and King Christian was forced tosue for peace.
The Baltic island of Bornholm found out to its detriment the extent ofthe Swedes rule over the Baltic Sea at that time. The Swedish troopslanded on the 9th of June 1645 just to the south of the Bornholm townshipof Svaneke; the town suffered 4 hours of plundering after its surrenderto the Swedish Commandant Wrangel. Mads Kofoed, and the other elderlymen in command, were unable to properly lead the Bornholmer troops. Hewas blamed for the surrender of Hammershus to the Swedes on the 17th ofJune; and as a result Mads Kofoed had the misfortune of being partlyresponsible for the total collapse of Bornholm's defenses and the SwedishGeneral Wrangel's conquering of the entire island, even though at firstWrangel had only threatened to burn down all of Nexø as a personalrevenge against a couple of skipper's from Nexø who had stolen one of hisships!
In the resulting peace treaty negotiated in Brömsebro in August of 1645obliged Denmark to surrender Jämtland and Härjedal, Gotland and theisland of Ösel. It was agreed that the captured island of Bornholm wasto be returned to Danish rule. As a guarantee for the exemption ofSwedish shippinf from Danish shipping tolls, Sweden took possession ofthe province of Halland for a period of thirty years - however it wasnever returned.
The officers in the Bornholm militia who were judged to have betrayedtheir country were sentenced to death, but the king benevolently conveyedthe sentence to one of exile. Mads Kofoed, and his brothers Peder andJacob, were judged traitors and banished. The exact place andcircumstances of Mads Kofoed's death are not known, only that he diedwhile abroad (udlandet) in 1646; possibly he fled into exile along sidePeder Kofoed, and like him, died in Lübeck.
On Bornholm there were three classes of farms:
1) Proprietairgård (Propr.): a freehold estate (thus also called aFrigård), which could only be owned by a freeman (frimand) or a member ofthe nobility (adelsmand).
2) Selvejergård (Slg.): meaning a freehold farm owned independently, freeof obligations to an estate owner - it could be occupied by its owner orleased to a peasant farmer (bonde). A peasant who owned this type offarm was known as a "selvejerbonde".
3) Vornedegård (Vdg.), two types: a) the first type was part of anestate (i.e. connected to a proprietairgård), the peasants who lived onthem were tenants and were obliged to provide labor, known as the"Herlighedsright" (Glory-right), to the owner of the estate; b) the othertype was referred to as a "Fri Vornedegård", this type of farm was notconnected to an estate and was free of the labor obligation - could beowned by a freeman and leased to a peasant. A peasant who lived on thisclass of farms was known as a "fæstebonde" (copyhold peasant).
A map drawn in 1851 shows 17 estate-farms classified as Proprietair: 3in each of Åker, Ibsker and Nyker parishes; 2 each in Østermarie andKlemensker; and 1 each in Pedersker, Bodilsker, Østerlars, and Olsker.There were hundreds of farms comprising the other two classifications.The typical farm is arranged in a joined U shape, with the farmhouse,barn, pig-stall, and utility-shed all built around a cobble-stonecourtyard.
This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto,Ontario, copyright 2006.
1 MISC Eskesgård, Propr. Pedersker, Bornholm
1 _FA1
2 PLAC Freeman (Frimand)
1 MISC Vallegård, 15 Vdg. Nyker, Bornholm
Claus Kofoed had held Almegård, 26 Slg. Knudsker, and Vallegård, 15'Vdg. Nyker, and also Ladegård, 50 Slg. Klemensker parish. According toJørn Klindt in "På spor de første Kofod'er" his son, Jens Clausen Kofoed,inherited Almegård - however, he died not long after his father.Claus Kofoed and Giertrud had at least five children: Jens, died 1657;Kirsten, married to Rasmus Andersen Bleking; Hans, died young; Oluf, diedyoung; Karen, died young.
This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto,Ontario, copyright 2006.
1 MISC Store Almegård, Propr. Knudsker, Bornholm