Peder Poulsen Kofoed

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• Beskæftigelse: Proprietær

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Kure (23. sgd. Kofodsgård, Østermarie)

Peder Kofoed var den første der med sikkerhed vides at have boet på Kofodsgård i Østermarie. Se "På sporet af de første Kofod'er" side 77.
Efter Elsebeth Gagges død arvede han hendes særeje, da der ikke var mandlige arvinger efter hende. Det var 14.- 16.- 17. og 25. Vornedegårde i Aaker sogn. Lod i 1604 støbe en ny klokke til kirken i Østermarie.
Peder Kofoed betegnede sig selv som frimand fra 1608 og førte et bomærke i sit segl. Han deltog i adelens hyldning af Prins Christian i Lund. Da han havde fået de 4 gårde med Elsebeth Gagge, der var en "frij Quinse", måtte han efter hendes og børnenes død ansøge kongen om tilladelse til at beholde disse gårde, hvilket blev ham bevilget i kongeligt brev dateret den 3. Juli 1598. I 1606 fik han chancen til at erhverve sig en rigtig frimandsgård, nemlig den ofte nævnte sædegaard, Baggård i Klemensker, som han købte af Niels Bagge. Nu kunne Peder Kofoed mødes på lige fod med de andre frimænd.
Han blev begravet inde i Østermarie kirke med sine to hustruer. Ved alteret i den nedrevne Østermarie Kirke har der ligget en gravsten med initialerne "P.K." (Peder Kofoed) og foden af en ko i våbnet, "E.H.G.D." (Elsebeth Henning Gagges Datter) med et våben, muligvis Gaggernes våben og IPHD og et ukendt våben, men antagelig en gedekæbe, også kaldet en "hummerklo", som brugtes af Myreslægten. Våbenskjoldene fandtes på 3 kobberplader, der var boltet i gravstenen, men disse er bortkomne og der er kun hullerne tilbage i gravstenen. (Se Bornholms Kirker side 484.) -
Peders anden hustru Inger Pedersdatter var datter af Peder Hansen Myhre, adelsmand, født på 6. Vdg. i Ibsker. Ejede bl. andet Myhreslægtens sædegaard 4. Vdg. Store Myregård i Aaker, som gik i arv til hans søster Mette Hansdatter Myhre, samt Simlegård i Klemensker, fordi han ikke havde nogle sønner. Det var hende, der antagelig brugte en geddekæbe i sit våbenskjold i gravstenen i den gamle Østermarie Kirke. (AaK)

Note (Overført juli 2019 fra Norman Lee Madsens database)

From the earliest records on Peder Kofoed we see that he was a "Selvejerbonde" (tax-paying freehold farm-owner) without the "Frimand" (freeman) privileges his cousins around Rønne enjoyed. Peder Kofoed fathered five children in his first marriage, to Elsebeth Gagge: one son and four daughters; she and all of their children died in 1585. After Elsebeth Gagge died he inherited her property, as she left no male child to inherit her property. The properties were the 14', 16', 17' and 25'Vornedegårde (Vdg.) in Åker parish (and as well he owned a mill). As Elsebeth Gagge's status was that of a "frij Quinse" (= fri Kvinde, a free woman) it was necessary to obtain Royal permission to keep the farms. This was granted to him by Royal decree on July 3, 1598; however, this did not make Peder a Freeman, but he did obtain something equally as good: The king's decree of July 3, 1598 (see below) gave him the right to own those farms "as free as anyone else on Bornholm owned his farm".

From the "Urkunden zur Geschichte der Insel Bornholm 1327-1621: 1566 -1621", by Jens Rasmussen Hübertz, Volume 2, page 532:
Nr. 377. 1598 3 Juli. Peder Koefod skal have sit Gods frit. Chr. IV etc. Peder Koefoed har ladet andrage, at han havde ægtet en fri Quinde, og med hende faaet noget Jordegods, og efter hendes Død arvet samme med hans Børn, og siden efter deres Død arvet disse; men hans Hustrues Broder, som er en Riddermands Mand, har gjort Fordring paa samme Gods. Da der imidlertid er giort dem en Contract imellem, at han maa beholde bemeldte Gods, om Kongen vil unde ham det, saa bevilges ham dette "och hand och hands Arffuinger dett saa friit att beholde, som andre der paa Landet der frie Folch ere", etc. (Langeb. og en anden Affkr. i Diplom. i Geh. Arch. Conf. Skaanske Reg. Nr. 3 fol. 70. a.)

Christian IV's brother-in-law, the Holstein Duke Johan Adolf, a well educated and enlightened nobleman, visited Koefoedgård in 1602 together with five squires and their entourage: "as many as could be seated around four long tables". Although the affair totalled a hefty 22 Rigsdaler, Peder Kofoed could not but praise God for his good fortune in making the aquaintance of such an important and influential man. To do this he shared the cost of manufacturing a magnificient new bell dedicated to the church in Østermarie in 1604. It is one of two bells that ring for the people in Østermarie to this very day.

It was unthinkable to have Koefoedgård converted to "frigård" (free-farm) status; however, as it was now established that Peder had the right to own Freeman's property, it was possible to obtain land already designated as such. Finally in 1606 he got the opportunity to buy the Freeman's estate of Baggegård in Klemensker parish. Now "Peder Kofoed af Baggaard" could met on equal footing with the other Freemen of Bornholm.

In 1572 a meeting was held by Bornholm's Parliament to establish who had the right to the status of "frimand" on Bornholm. Of course, that meeting had a broader purpose: a war in which Lübeck and Denmark had fought side-by-side had ended two years previously, and there was another three years before the Lübeck 50 year claim to Bornholm was to expire; although Lübeck claimed that it had been given a further 50 years. In this predicament it was wise for the King to establish locally situated allies; and Bornholm's influential freemen, who normally would have been snubbed by the king and the true nobility, were now in a position to receive benevolent treatment from the Danish crown.

At the "Frimandsmødet" held on September 6, 1572 there were 17 men namedas being in attendance: 1. Jacob Iversen, Landsdommer; 2. Mester Peder W(= Peder [Mogensen] Uf); the brothers 3. Peder Hansen; and 4. BentHansen; 5. Jørgen Pedersen; 6. Peder (Madsen) Kofoed; 7. Oluf Madsen; 8.Oluf Bagge; 9. Hans Mogensen, as he was away at the king's court he wasrepresented by his father Mogens Hansen; 10. Peder (Hansen) Myre; 11.Jørgen Gagge; 12. Berent Hansen (= Berild Hansen); 13. Laurids Pedersen;14. Jens (Madsen) Kofoed; 15. Christen (Clausen) Kiøller; 16. PederHansen (Uf); and 17. Hans (Madsen) Kofoed. Three advisers to the DanishParliment (Rigsråder) had been sent to preside over the meeting, namely:Biørn Kaas of Starupgaard, Biørn Andersen of Stenholt, and Jørgen Marsvinof Dybæk. The group expressed heartfelt and solemn words about faithfulservice to the crown; and it seems they had an inkling of things to come,and therefore begged 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 was during the periodin which Bornholm was strongly under the influence (and rulership) of theHanseatic League free-city of Lübeck; the Bornholmers felt greatly putupon by the high taxes, unfair rules, and high-handedness of theLübeckers. Contrary to the opinion of latter historians they must haveconvinced the envoys, as on the 9th of September the freemen were grantedthe right to gather shipwrecks from the beaches, hunt in the woods, aswell as given full authority over their servants - a great victory forthe freemen.

This is the first record in which we find the Kofoeds being mentioned as "frimænd". We know that they were related to Oluf Bagge and Peder Uf, and probably to several of the others. The question remains: did they already have claim to freeman status, 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 in exchange for the full rights to freeman status.

Peder Kofoed, named as a "Frimand", was one of the delegates who on May 6, 1608, in København, selected and confirmed Prince Christian as the future King of Denmark. He, along with four other Bornholmers, took part in the following festivities in Lund, Skåne province (now part of Sverige/Sweden), where the nobility swore their allegiance to Prince Christian in the year 1610.

Their written authorization to attend reads as follows:
"We, the hereafter stated signatories: Jens Kofoedt of Kyndegaard, Hanns Kofoedt of Blykobbegaard, Peder Koefoedt of Bagisgaard, Matz Koefoedt of Eskiilsgaard, and Niels Beriildsen of Gadebygaard, all Freemen of Borringholm, and present here together hereby declare. . . The honest and noble man: Hanns Lindenow, Commander of Hammershus Fortress, has according to our consent, requested these two persons: the honourable Hans and Poffuill Koefoedt to travel to Kiöbenhaffn with our authorized document and be our representatives (at Prince Christian's election). . .as further documentation we have in our own handwriting signed and sealed this our open-letter."

The above letter is dated: "Borringholm, 6 Maij, Anno 1608" With the signatures of: Jenns Koefoedt, Hans Kofod, Peder Koefoedt, Matz Koefoedt, Jacob Køller, Hans Berillsenn, Niels Berendtzen.

From the Hammershus Regnskaber, 1580-1617:
Indtegtt och wdgifftt paa Hammershus Slott paa Borneholm paa Kong. May. wegne, thett aar fra Philippj Jacobj dag Ao. 1602 till Phillippj Jacobjdag Ao. 1603. . . . Penninge giffued for fremmede herrers fartering: Thend 24 December er giffuen Peder Koefoed for høgbaarne Hertug Johan Adolffs, och hans med haffuendis folckis fartering, wdj hans hus effter hans beuisis lydelse - 22 Rigs Daller.

The above entry translated to English:
Revenue and disbursements for Hammershus Castle on Bornholm on behalf of His Royal Majesty, in the year from May 1, 1602 until May 1, 1603. . . .Money given for foreign gentlemen's travel: On 24 December [1602] given by Peder Koefoed for high-born Duke Johan Adolf and his companion's travel, in his house after his proven testimony - 22 Rigsdaler.

Indtegt och wdgifft paa Hammershus Slott paa Bornholmb paa Kong. Maiitz. wegne fra Philippi dag Anno 1607 och till Philippi Jacobi dag Anno 1608.. . . Indtegt Kong. Maiitz. och Kronens sagfaldt: . . . Opborridt aff Peder Koefoedtz dreng Peder Mogensen i Østermarck sogn for hand sloug Morten Staffensen - 1-1/2 Dr.

The above entry translated to English:
Revenue and disbursements for Hammershus Castle on Bornholm on behalf of His Royal Majesty from May 1, 1607 until May 1, 1608. . . . His Royal Mayesty and the Crown's revenue for transgressions: . . . Received from Peder Kofoed's servant Peder Mogensen of Østermarie parish because he struck Morten Staffensen - 1-1/2 Rigsdaler.

Kong. Mayttz. Regenschaff, aff Hammershuus Slott och Lehn, fraa Philippi Jacobi Dag Anno 1610 och thill Aarsdagen Ao. 1611. . . . Annammidt thillsagefald: . . . Sønder Herridt: . . . Jep Buck i Boelsker sogen aff tingget for slagsmaaell med Peder Koefoedtzs bundesøehn, gaff der for - 2 RixDr., 1 Ortt.

The above entry translated to English:
His Royal Majesty's finanicial accounting, for Hammershus Castle and entailed estate, from May 1, 1610 until May 1, 1611. . . . Revenue fortransgressions: . . . Sønder District: . . . Jep Buck of Bodilsker parish fined for fighting with Peder Kofoed's tenant farmer's son, gave therefore - 2 Rigsdaler, 1 Ort.

According to Julius Bidstrup's book on the "Family B" by the altar of the now demolished Østermarie Church there was a gravestone with three copperplates, the first with the initials "P.K.", for Peder Kofoed, which depicted his emblem: the hoof or "foot" of a cow ("foden af en kue" or"et koben"). The name Kofoed comes from the older name of "KoFod" (meaning "CowFoot"). The second plate was engraved "E.H.G.D." for: Elsebeth Henning Gagge's Daughter; her vertically divided emblem depicted a half mill-wheel (halv kaggehjul) and a chevron (sparre). The third was engraved "I.P.H.D." for: Inger Peder Hansen's Daughter; her emblem depicted what looked like a cheekbone (kindben), which has otherwise been described as a half lobster claw (halv hummerklo); Sigvard Mahler Dam has identified it as a pike's jawbone (geddekæft), stating that the "geddekæft" was a symbol of speed - as knights used to fasten the jawbone into the nostrils of their horses, so that they would run fast and wild. It seems that the old Bornholm Kofoed families used the cow-foot as their emblem; from obvious association with their name, rather than through their connection to the Duchy of Holstein. Besides the gravestone of Peder Kofoed, it can be seen in the seal of his brother the Mayor Esbern Kofoed used in 1595. From then on the cow-foot was used repeatedly by this branch of the Kofoed-family; among them his grandson Poul, the mayor of Svaneke, who in 1673 used a seal with the cow-foot image in the arms, above which sat a tiny, not too martial-looking helmet sprouting three flowers, and the initials "P.K.F.M." for: Poul KoeFoed Madsen.

In May 6, 1608 he used a "lille kvist med kløveret" (small twig with a clover) as the image on his seal. It is curious that he did not make use of the cow-foot coat of arms, which was later placed upon his gravestone.

In the old Østermarie Church there was an epitaph with the inscription:
"Denne Tavle er opsat til ærlig og velagte Mands Peder Kofods Ihukommelse, som blev fød Aar efter Guds Byrd 1548 og døde 1616. Hands første Hustru ærlig og gudfrygtig Jomfru Elsebeth Henning Gagges Datter, med hvilcken hand levede i Ægteskab 10 Aar, avlede 5 Børn, 1 Søn og 4 Døttre. Hvilcke samt Moderen heden sove salig i Herren Anno 1585". (This Tablet is raised to the honest and respected man Peder Kofod's Memory, who was born in the year 1548 and died 1616. His first Wife honest and God fearing Miss Elsebeth Henning Gagge's Daughter, with whom he lived in Matrimony for 10 years, bearing 5 Children, 1 Son and 4Daughters. This same mother died in the Year of Our Lord 1585.)

On Koefoedgård's church pew in Østermarie Church was carved a "P K" with a coat-of-arms with the "kofod" image and the year "1637" - the year suggests that this was carved for a son of the same name (who died in 1637 in Malmö). Upon the women's pew was carved "I P H D" and her coat-of-arms; the inscription on the pew informs us that the elderly "Inger Peder Hansens Datter" was still alive in 1637.

In 1595 Hans Kofoed (c.1550-1623), of the "Rønne family" (Bidstrup's "Family A"), incorporated the emblem of a "gavlsparren" (a truss, otherwise known in heraldry as a chevron) in his seal; this later became the most widely incorporated image in later Kofoed seals and emblems. And that Hans Kofoed's eldest son Mads used this image in 1608.

The "Danish Coat of Arms" registry shows that 18 families carry the truss as part of their coats of arms. The image of the truss seems to have come from the Uf family of Skåne. Noblemen of the Uf family settled on Bornholm around the year 1400, and quite a few of the native Bornholmer Kofoeds married into that family, and it seems that they adopted the Uf's coat of arms with its depiction of a "sparre". Later, as the "Rønne family" and the "Østermarie family" began to inter-marry the image of the chevron can be seen together with that of the "cow-foot".

Reference: In "Familien Koefoed A og B" Julius Bidstrup (published 1886), Peder Kofoed's father was a Mads Kofoed, however according to later research done by Jørn Klindt it is proven that he was the son of Poul Kofoed; see "På spore af de første Kofod'er", by Jørn Klindt, published 1979 , page 77.

This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Peder blev gift med Elsebeth Henningsdatter Gagge i 1575. Elsebeth (datter af Henning Jørgensen Gagge og Elisabeth Elline Clausdatter Kames) blev født cirka 1554 i 20. vgd. Spidlegård, Åker Sogn; døde i 1585 i 23. sgd. Kofoedgård, Østermarie Sogn. [Gruppeskema] [Familietavle]

Peder blev gift med Inger Pedersdatter cirka 1585 i Bornholm. Inger (datter af Peder Hansen) blev født cirka 1560 i Prgd. Vellensgård, Nyker Sogn; døde efter 1600 i Bornholm. [Gruppeskema] [Familietavle]

1. Poul Pedersen Kofoed blev født cirka 1586 i 23. sgd. Kofoedgård, Østermarie Sogn; døde efter 1620.
2. Oluf Pedersen Kofoed blev født den 5 jun. 1588 i 23. sgd. Kofoedgård, Østermarie Sogn; døde den 24 feb. 1636 i Ystad.
3. Peder Pedersen Kofoed blev født cirka 1589 i 23. sgd. Kofoedgård, Østermarie Sogn; døde i 1637 i Malmöhus Län, Skåne.
4. Jacob Pedersen Kofoed blev født cirka 1591 i 23. sgd. Kofoedgård, Østermarie Sogn.
5. Jørgen Pedersen Kofoed blev født cirka 1592 i 23. sgd. Kofoedgård, Østermarie Sogn; døde cirka 1641 i Slagelse.
6. Boel Pedersdatter Kofoed blev født cirka 1594 i 23. sgd. Kofoedgård, Østermarie Sogn; døde efter 1662 i Bornholm.
7. Elsebye Pedersdatter Kofoed blev født cirka 1596 i 23. sgd. Kofoedgård, Østermarie Sogn; døde cirka 1630 i Prgd. Gadebygård, Østermarie Sogn.
8. Anne Pedersdatter Kofoed blev født cirka 1598 i 23. sgd. Kofoedgård, Østermarie Sogn; døde i UNKNOWN.
9. Mads Pedersen Kofoed blev født cirka 1600 i 23. sgd. Kofoedgård, Østermarie Sogn; døde i 1646 i 23. sgd. Kofoedgård, Østermarie Sogn.

Andre Begivenheder og Egenskaber:

• Beskæftigelse: Herredsfoged

Notater:

Note (Overført juli 2019 fra Norman Lee Madsens databese)

Poul Kofoed is the first Kofoed to live in Østermarie parish and is presumed to be the father of Peder Kofoed of Koefoedgård in Østermarie. Julius Bidstrup (published in 1886-87) states that Peder Kofoed was the son of a Mads Kofoed, however this is now known to be incorrect. Poul Kofoed's name (in the old records it is spelled variously, in low German, as: Pavell Köfföth and Powijl Kaafodt, etc.) is mentioned in 1549 as Reeve (Sandemand) for the East District (Østre Herred), and Merchant Guild Chairman (Oldermand), and as living at one of the largest farms in Østermarie parish: Koefoedgård, the 23' Slg. That Poul Kofoed and his family were firmly establish in the area can be seen by the fact that already by 1569 a forest (skov) in Østermarie parish had become known as "Kofods-skov".

His ancestry is not certain and is disputed, and made more difficult by the fact that he never used his father's given name as part of his signature or mark. According to both Kure's farm-owner list his patronym is "Hansen". There are several theories on his ancestry:

1) Bornholm historian Dr. M.K. Zahrtmann (in 1931) thought that he is Dr. Zahrtmann believed that Poul Kofoed may be same identical to the "Povl Hansen" who, in his capacity as "Herredsfoged" (Bailiff) for Eastern District, conveyed on August 11th 1559 a lawsuit from Commandant Sveder Ketting to the "Herredagen" (High Court) in København; base on this Zahrtmann thought that perhaps Poul Kofoed was the son of a Hans Kofoed and brother to Peder Hansen Kofoed and Esbern Hansen Kofoed; and that Hans Kofoed was the son of the first recorded Kofoed on Bornholm: the Hanseatic trader and freeman Peder Kofoed from the german free-city of Lübeck, and brother to Mads Kofoed. Peder Kofoed is known to have been the representative for Lübeck in Rønne from 1510, mayor of Rønne from 1522, last mentioned in 1532.

2) In "På spor af de første Kofod'er", Jørn Klindt (published in 1979) states that there is not enough evidence to back this up with any certainty; he thinks that perhaps he is brother to a Hans Kofoed of Rønne, who is mentioned in records from 1525-43.

3) Other have speculated that he is the son of Peder Kofoed of Lübeck, and that Peder is the son of Henrik Kofoed (died 1515), a nobleman and wealthy merchant in Lübeck. Henrik is known to have married a widow named Mette in 1466. Henrik had a residence at Mengstrasse 29 in Lübeck. Also owned Grosse Alterfähre 35-36 (which had 5 rooms), and in 1487 inherited Glockengieserstrasse 32, which he sold within a year. He sold the residence on Mengstrasse in 1505. After his death his widow sold Grosse Alterfähre.

I doubt that the Poul Hansen who was District Bailiff in 1559 was in fact Poul Kofoed, as it appears to be out of character for the male members of Kofoed-family from the first few generations to completely drop the use of the Kofoed surname in favour of a patronymic surname. In fact none of the male members of the Kofoed-family during the first four generations are ever recorded as using a patronymic; probably a throw back to their non-Scandinavian roots Poul Kofoed's sons were part of a new generation of Kofoeds born around the middle of the 1500s that began to play a larger role in the island's upper-class. At the same time much more written documentation becomes available, so the individual families can be traced without too much guess-work.

In 1543 a group of Lübeck and Danish commissionaries were appointed to settle a dispute regarding money owing to Lübeck by some Bornholmers. Various meetings were held around the island to settle the matter. The farmers from Østermarie and Ibsker parishes that were involved met at "Pavell Köfföthes" farm in Østermarie parish to discuss the matter with the Lübeck Governor, Sveder Ketting. At that time he was not signing documents for the parish, but six years later in 1549 "Powijl Kaafodt" was the Reeve for Østermarie parish, or as that position is still called on Bornholm: "Sandemand". A "sandemand" was the chief magistrate and bailiff of a parish (sogn), in otherwords a Reeve, and in many ways had duties equivalent to a Mayor (Borgmester) of a township (købstad).

In 1550 he participated in the establishment of the first Latin-school in Rønne. In 1554 he appears again in his position as "Sandemand" for the Eastern District of Bornholm (Østre Herred, consisting of: Østerlars, Østermarie, Ibsker, and Svaneke); that same year he is known to have undertaken a journey to Lübeck. Dr. Zahrtmann believed that he may also be same person as the "Povl Hansen" who as "Herredsfoged" (District Bailiff) for Eastern District, conveyed on August 11th 1559 a lawsuit from Commendant Sveder Ketting to the "Herredagen" (High Court) in København; base on this Zahrtmann thought that perhaps Poul Kofoed was the son of a Hans Kofoed, however this seems unlikely. A document from March 21, 1584 names Esbern Kofoed, the "Kongelig Tolder" (Custom's Officer) for Bornholm, as being the son of Poul Kofoed and Jep Hansen's daughter.

The "Lybækkerne" (the germanic Hansa imperial free-city of Lübeck) had controlled Bornholm since 1525; King Frederik I had forfeited the control of Bornholm to Lübeck for 50 years because of his inability to pay debt sowed to the city. The natives of Bornholm are recorded to have groaned under the Hansa's rule, and declared "they would rather be under the Turks, than under that German, Christian, imperial city." King Frederik took pity on them and declared the inhabitants under his protection -this was to little avail though.

Fifty years later a sign of Lübeck waining powers can be seen in the actions of King Frederik II concerning Bornholm. During those long years the island had been considered the Queen-city of the Hansa's special possession; they had made much profit from the enforced payment of dues, and the export of such valuable commodities as limestone. First a Lübeck governor was formally ejected from København, then the inhabitants of Bornholm, encouraged in insubordination by seeing how the authorities in København dealt with their masters, refused to pay their dues. Finally, one of the towns even forcibly ejected some Lübeck traders. An ominous sign of things to come are reflected in Frederik's opposition to any mention of Bornholm during peace treaties.

At the "Frimandsmødet" held on September 6, 1572 there were 17 men named as being in attendance:
1. Jacob Iversen, Landsdommer; 2. Mester Peder W(= Peder [Mogensen] Uf); the brothers 3. Peder Hansen; and 4. Bent Hansen; 5. Jørgen Pedersen; 6. Peder (Madsen) Kofoed; 7. Oluf Madsen; 8.Oluf Bagge; 9. Hans Mogensen, as he was away at the king's court he was represented by his father Mogens Hansen; 10. Peder (Hansen) Myre; 11.Jørgen Gagge; 12. Berent Hansen (= Berild Hansen); 13. Laurids Pedersen;14. Jens (Madsen) Kofoed; 15. Christen (Clausen) Kiøller; 16. Peder Hansen (Uf); and 17. Hans (Madsen) Kofoed. Three advisers to the Danish Parliment (Rigsråder) had been sent to preside over the meeting, namely: Biørn Kaas of Starupgaard, Biørn Andersen of Stenholt, and Jørgen Marsvin of Dybæk. The group expressed heartfelt and solemn words about faithful service to the crown; and it seems they had an inkling of things to come, and therefore begged the King not to let himself be "seduced" by Lübeck's representative Sveder Ketting, "because you might expect that Lübeck only plotted to keep our island under their yoke." This was during the period in which Bornholm was strongly under the influence (and rulership) of the Hanseatic League free-city of Lübeck; the Bornholmers felt greatly put upon by the high taxes, unfair rules, and high-handedness of the Lübeckers. Contrary to the opinion of latter historians they must have convinced the envoys, as on the 9th of September the freemen 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.

On September 7, 1575, Frederik II informed Lübeck, "that the fifty-years of possession, accorded to them by his grandfather, would have expired on the 19th of the month, and he intended to retake possession of the island." The city replied that the "Peace of Hamburg" extended their rights of possession - which they held for unpaid Danish debts. Frederik replied the treaty was invalid since his father, who had made it, was not crowned at the time, and he himself had not been consulted in the matter. Complain as they might, the Lübeck'ers had neither the power northe ability to stop the take over.

Located just outside of Koefoedgård's main house is a mighty oak-tree(eg), known as the "Nøgle-egen", which is said to be the "key" (nøgle) to the farm's good fortune. This romantic legend probably dates back further than the 1800s; no sure explanation is known as to how or why this came to be thought. The oak-tree dates back to the time Poul Kofoed took possession of that beautiful farm located in the fertile coast-land between Svaneke and Gudhjem. The farm-house commands a wide view of the eastern parishes and Svaneke township.

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 errors surrounding this family's genealogy. It is thought that the immediately preceading ancestors to the Kofoed'er of Bornholm originated from the area around Hamburg, in the Duchy of Holstein. In 1286 there is mention of a knight, Albertus Koefoed; the Holstein'er family attained the right to be armigerous and held various titles of knighthood. Every couple of generations the family rose in status to near nobility, only to then descend the social ladder; they never broke into, and then maintained, noble status.

According to Jørn Klindt it was the so-called "Østermarie branch" (a.k.a. Julius Bidstrup's "Familien B") of the Kofoed-family that adopted the image of the cow-foot around the year 1595 - it is displayed on a tombstone in Østermarie Church, as well as in the seal of Mayor Esbern Kofoed, and later used by Mayor Poul Kofoed Madsen of Svaneke. But the cow-foot was not the preferred seal image for the Kofoeds, but rather a very old armorial image - the chevron (sparre) was the most widely used. Notably by the so-called "Rønne branch" (a.k.a. Julius Bidstrup's "Familien A"). First used by Chief Justice Jens Madsen 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 in 1595.Hans Kofoed's oldest son Mads Madsen Kofoed (c.1588-1646) used the chevron from 1608, and thus on down through the family.

Jørn Klindt states that in Holstein in the late-1200s and early-1300s there can be found record of a number of Kofoed men: Albertus (-1286-), Henrik, Didrik, and Bertold. In the mid-1300s: Hasse, Johannes and his son Markvard, Frederik, Conrad, Michael of Lübeck, and two other Johannes. In the mid-1400s there were a number of Hanseatic traders: Henrik (-1466-1515) and Hans (died 1481) - both of Lübeck, Hans (-1484-)of Wismar, and Jesper (-1526-). The Hans Kofoed who died in 1481 is known to have had five children: Joakim, Grete, Engel, Anna, and Hans (born 1481). In the early-1500s one of the Kofoed Hansa traders is known to settled on Bornholm: Peder (-1510-1532-) of Rønne.

From the "Dansk adelsvåbner, en heraldisk nøgle", page 92, by Sven Tito Achen, Politikens Forlag, 1973, København:
Kofod. Et koben. Farver og eventuel hjelmfigur kendes ikke. Markvard Kofod, 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, arms carrier in 1378; no known descendants. NDA page 151.

On Bornholm there were three classes of farms:
1] Proprietairgård(Propr.), earlier called a Friegård - meaning property owned by a freeman("frimand", later called a "proprietær");
2] Selvejergård (Slg.) -meaning a farm owned independently, free of obligations to a property owner - it could be occupied by its owner or rented out to a peasant farmer (bonde);
3] Vornedegård (Vdg.), also spelled Vårnedergård -meaning a farm leased out long-term by a land-owner (proprietær) to atenured peasant farmer; these farms were "attached" to a proprietairgård, and entailed accompanying work obligations by the peasant for the proprietår who held the rights on the farm's lease. These rights were known as the "Herlighedsright" (Glory-right).

This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Poul blev gift med nn Ibsdatter før 1548 i Bornholm. nn (datter af Jep Hansen) blev født før 1525 i Bornholm; døde efter 1548 i Bornholm. [Gruppeskema] [Familietavle]

Notater:

According to "Frimandsslægten Kofoeds ældste Led" by M.K. Zahrtmann, Jep Hansen was a Reeve (Sandemand) who lived in Vestermarie parish in 1563.

This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.