Hans Poulsen Kofoed

Notater:

Købmand i Svaneke.

Andre Begivenheder og Egenskaber:

• Beskæftigelse: Borgmester i Svaneke
• Skifte: 13 aug. 1686, Svaneke

Notater:

Kure (7. vgd. Store Egebygård i Åker)
Poul Madsen Kofoed var borgmester og købmand i Svaneke. Betragtedes som øens rigeste mand. Har ikke boet her på gården. Efter Elsebeth Hermansdatter Bohns død giftede han sig igen med Magdalene Margrethe Heseler.

Note(kopieret juli 2019 fra Norman Lee Madsens database)

In 1673 Poul Kofoed, as mayor of Svaneke, used a seal with the cow-footimage in the arms, above which sat a tiny, not too martial-looking helmet sprouting (spirende) three flowers, and the initials "P.K.F.M." for: Poul KoFoed Madsen. Poul Kofoed was the taxpayer for Svanegård, 8' Vdg. Ibsker, in 1674.

From the Øster Herred Tingbog 1674-1681:
January 11, 1675, page 7b: . . . for Anno 1674: . . . Ibschier sogen: . .. Waarneder: . . . 8. Pouel Koefoed, 9 Dr. 3 Mk. 2 Sk. . . .

March 12, 1677, page 88a-88b: Øster Herridtz Restandz, for Anno 1676: .. . Ibskier Sogen: . . . Varneder: . . . 8. Poul Kofoed, 9 Dr. 2 Mk. 15Sk. . . .

From Bornholm's Militia register of 1678:
Rictig fortegnelse af mandtall paa Svanniche Borgerschab som følger. Først Byens Øffrighed: Povell Koefoed - Borgermester, Peder Koefoed -Raadmand, Hans Lejedring - Raadmand, David Wolsen - Raadmand och Capetain, Anders Thiesen - Raadmand och Lieutenant, Hans Dich - Fendrich, Bent Mortensen - Sargiant, Mads Andersen - Corporall, Anders Hop -Corporal, Lauridz Erichsen - Tambuer. Constabler: Sander Dich, Peder Olufsen, Jens Erichsen, Peder Andersen. Rodemester: Jochum Thiesen. . . .

From the Åker-Åkirkeby kirkebog:
July 13, 1662: Communiceret, Dnc. 7 Trin. Povel Kofod af Svaneche holdt Brøllup med Elsebe Hermandsdat. Bohne i Rønne.

June 4, 1669: Communicantes, 4 Jun. Povl Kofods af Svaneke og Malene Margrete Hesslers festensøe paa Slottet.

Mention of Poul Kofoed and his son Herman Kofoed in the probate for Erich Jacobsen, March 3, 1693, page 1215b:
Anno 1693 dend 3 Marty er efter loulig giorde tillysning, holden registering og vurdering sampt skifte og deeling, efter sal. Erich Jacobsen, som boede, og døde paa dend 20 Jord Eiendoms gaard beliggende udi Boelsker Sogn. . . Hermand Koefoed i Suaniche lod og fordre som ham skal være tilfalden efter sin sal. fader sal. Borgemester Poul Koefoed. .. .

Mention of Poul Kofoed and his son Morten Kofoed in the probate of Hans Olufsen, June 19, 1700, page 63:
Anno 1700 den 19 Juny er efter louglig giorde tillysning holden registering og vurdering sampt schifte og liquidation evter salig Hans Ollufsen som boede og døde paa denne 33 Jord Eyendombs gaard beliggende i Pillene udi Boelsker Sogn. . . Stads Capitanen i Suanicke Segr. Morten Kofod fremlagte it Pandtebref, udgifuet til hans sal. fader Borgemester Pouel Kofod, datterit dend 17 Febr. 1679, med denne sal. mand Hans Ollufsens egen haand underskrefuen. . . .

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

Skifte:
Skiftet kendes ikke, men det er nævnt i skifte efter Christian Maccabeus 1688.

Poul blev gift med Magdalene Margrethe Heseler. Magdalene (datter af NN NNsen Heseler og Elisabeth Hansdatter Schröder) blev født i aug. 1652 i Haderslev, Jylland; døde i 1706 i Svaneke; blev begravet den 6 dec. 1706. [Gruppeskema] [Familietavle]

Andre Begivenheder og Egenskaber:

• Ane-nr.: Ane 10.808 (Sommer)
• Skifte: 14 mar. 1707, Svaneke

Notater:

Note(kopieret juli 2019 fra Normen Lees database)

From the Svaneke kirkebog:
October 28, 1687: Nr. 19, den 28 (October) er døbt af mig Her Vice-Landsdommers Hr. Ancher Müllers daatter, Anthonetta Maria. Hende bar Høy-ædle og Welb. Fru Obrist-Inden, Cidzele Grübbe. Fadderne: Tolderen Mogens Pedersen, Jørgen Bohne, Welb. Fru Mette Lisebeth Her Augusti Dechners, Kirsten Hansd. Kofod.

October 23, 1689: Nr. 10, den 23 (October) døbte jeg Her Vice-Lands-dommers, Ancher Müllers daatter, Mette Mariam. Hende bar Karen Hans Kofods. Fadderes: Her Matthis Luster i Povelskiær Sogn, Dirich Wolsen, Karen Kofod.

June 7, 1691: Nr. 4, den 7 (Junius) døbte jeg Welb. Her Lands-Dommers, Ancher Müllers daatter, Agnetam Elisabeth. Hende bar Elisabeth Augusta Morten Kofods. Faddere: Her Thue Laursøn Lüster af Aakirkeby, Capitain Hans Kofodt af Øster Mariæ Sogn, Herman Kofod, Elsebe Maz Kofods, Elsebe Kofod Pedersdaatter.

May 17, 1693: Nr. 5, den 17 (Majus) døbte jeg Welb. Her Lands-Dommers, Ancher Müllers søn Povel Antonium. Hannem bar Høy-ædle og Welborne Obrist Inden, Fru Cæcilia Grubbe. Faddere: Forvalteren paa Christians-Øe Sr. Lorentz Abröe, Morten Kofod, Jacob Kofod, Fru Ampt-Skrivers Maria Sr. Hans Henrichsen Schors, Elsebe Kofod Pedersd.

December 9, 1695: Nr. 11, den 9 (December) døbte jeg Lands-Dommer Ancher Müllers daatter, Agnetham Elisabeth. Hende bar Fru Lisebeth Acckeleye Claus Kofods. Faddere: Commendanten Obrist Lieutenant Andreas Buggenhagen, Vice-Ampt-Manden Christian Tuxen, Jens Pedersøn Mechlenbourgh, Anna Petronella Scheel, Johanna Kofod Capitain Hans Kofodsi Pederskiær Sogn.

December 6, 1706: Nr. 20, den 6te (December) begravedis Vel-ædle og Velbyrdig Frue Magdalena Margareta Hesseler, Vel-ædle og Velbyrdig Hl. Landsdommers Ancher Müllers kiæriste, 54 aar, 3 maaneder og 2 uger gammel.

Magdalene Margrethe Hesler's burial record describes her, and her husband, as being "Vel-ædle og Velbyrdig" (Very Noble and Well-Bred). Whereas their tombstone describe states: "Her under hviler Høyædle og Velbyrdige Herr Ancker Anthonii Müller, fød udi Callundborg den (blank) 1654, dødde i 18 Marts 1716, var Landsdommer over Bornholm : Her under hviler Høyædle og Velbyrdige Frue Magdalene Margrete Hesler Müller, fød udi Haderslevben, dødde i 6 December 1706" (Here under rests High-Noble and Well-Bred Master Ancker Anthonii Müller, born in Kalundborg on (blank) 1654, died on 18 March 1716, was Chief Justice over Bornholm :Here under rests High-Noble and Well-Bred Mistress Magdalene Margrete Hesler Müller, born in Haderslev (blank) 1652, died on 6 December 1706).

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

Skifte:
Nr. 23.
1707. 14. Mar
Magdalene Margrethe Heseler, Svaniche.
Ancher Müller. Landsdommer.
2 kuld børn, 5 søn. 5 døtre
A: Hans Koefoed Povelsen, Handelsmand i Svaniche
B: Hermand Kofod, Handelsmand i Svaniche
C: Johan Kofod.
D: Peder Kofod, Handelsmand i ?
E: Povel Anthoni Müller, f. 1693, i København
F: Hedevig Koefod, gift m/ Alexander Jagenreuter, Proviantforvalter paa Christians Øe.
G: Elsebeth Koefoed, gift m/ Hans Henrich Schor, Amptskriver her paa Landet
H: Anthonette Marie Müller, gift m/ Herman Sode, Sognepræst i Nie Larskier Sogn.
I: Mette Marie Müller, f. 1689.
J: Agnethe Elisabeth Müller, f. 1696.
Værge for de 2 sidste: Fader.

Død:
Kirkebog Svaneke 1687-1770, AOL-217
1706 nr. 19, December d 6 Begravedis Vel-ædle og Velbyrdig Frue Magdalena Margareta Hesseler, Vel-ædle og Velbyrdig Hr. Landsdommers Ancher Müllers kiærist, 54 aar, 3 maaneder og 2 uger gammel.

Notater:

Trolovet:
Kirkebog Rønne 1648-1741, AOL-331
1669, 4 Jun Povl Kofod af Svaneke og Malene Margrete Hesslers festensøe paa Slottet

Andre Begivenheder og Egenskaber:

• Beskæftigelse: Proprietær
• Skifte: 2 nov. 1646

Notater:

Note(kopieret juli 2019 fra Norman Lee Madsens database)

Mads Kofoed inherited ownership rights to Koefoedgård, which he took over with a deed of conveyance dated July 10, 1630, from his brother Oluf Kofoed, who had managed the farm while his brother Mads was under-age. Mads Kofoed was continually plagued by financial difficulties; on March1 3, 1624, he had to sell part ownership of a farm in Østerlars parish which was his wife's property. After his wife Karine Kofoed Hansdatter died (sometime between 1637 and 1645) his debt grew again, as he was obliged to pay out to his children their maternal inheritance.

Mads Kofoed must have remarried, as court records from after his death in 1646 inform us that he left behind a widow named "Karrine Hansdatter". According to the probate the farm's buildings were old and in poor repair; the house and adjascent buildings were only appraised at 700 silver Daler.

After he died probate was held on November 2, 1646, and it tells us that the farm buildings were very run-down and the total value of the property was not more than 700 silver Daler. Those who have studied his judgements have come away with the impression that he, as far as possible, supported the lower-courts and was often swayed by them. Also, it is noted that many of the officials for the lower-court seemed to gradually become members of the Kofoed-family!

The evidence that Mads Kofoed's first wife, Karine, was a member of the Kofoed-family can be found in the above mention document dating March 13, 1624, wherein "Mads Kofoed af Østermarie Sogn paa min hustrus vegner "(Mads Kofoed of Østermarie parish on his wife's behalf) sold, along with his brothers-in-law, a farm in Østerlars to " deres bror, Peder Kofoed, Raadmand i Rønne" (their brother, Peder Kofoed, Alderman in Rønne). There is no known evidence as to the coat-of-arms or seal used by Mads Kofoed; however, since both his father's gravestone and his son Poul Kofoed Madsen, of Svaneke, used the cow-foot image we can assume that this was used by Mads Kofoed as well.

From the Hammershus Regnskaber, 1631-1641:
Mandtal och Forklarings Register offuer Spindpennge Skatten aff Hammershus Lehn, for Ao. 1637 och Anno 1638. . . . Østermarck Sogn: . . .23. Madz Kofod.

From the Hammershus Ekstraskattemandtaller, 1640-1645:
Mandtall och Schatte Register paa den Amindelige pendinge Schatt som Miening Bønder och Alffmue offuer Boringholmb, vdgaff thill Martiny Anno 1640. . . . Østermarck Sogenn: . . . 23. Jens Andersen.

Mandtall och Skatte Register paa de Almindelige Pendinge Schatt som Kongl. May. och Adelens Bønder och Thienere offuer Hammershuus Leen paa Boringholmb vdgaff thil Johannes Daug Anno 1640. . . . Østermarch Sogen:. . . 23. Madz Kofod.

Mandtal och Forklarings Register offuer Baadsmens Skatten aff Hammershus Lehn for Ao. 1640 til S. Johanni Dag. . . . Østermarck Sogen: . . . 23. Madz Kofoed.

Mandtall och Skatte Register paa den Almindelige Pendinge Schatt som Kong. May. och Adelenhe Thienere offuer Borringholmbs Leen vdgaff till Michely Anno 1641. . . . Østermarck Sogenn: . . . 23. Madz Kofod.

Mandtall och Schatte Register paa Fastelauffns Kongschatt Anno 1641 somBønder och Meeninge Alffmue offuer Boringholmbs Leen, vdgaff: . . .Østermarch Sogen: . . . 23. Jens Andersen.

Mandtall och forklaring offuer Goedzmends schatten aff Boringholmbs Leenoch kiøbstede till Johanj 1641. . . . Østermarck Sogen: . . . 23. Madz Koefoed.

Mandtall och Schatte Register paa din Almindelige Pendinge Schatt, somKongl. May. och Adelens Bønder och Thienere paa Boringholmb, wdgaff, til Fastelauffuen och Johany Anno 1642. . . . Østermarck Sogenn: . . . 23. Madz Kofod.

Mandtal och Skatte Register paa dend almindelige pendinge skatt, somKongl. Maytts. och Adelens Bønder och Thiennere offuer Hammershus Lehnpaa Borringholmb wdgaff till Martinj Anno 1642. . . . Østermarck Sogen: .. . 23. Matz Kofod. . . . Møller Vden Auffl: Matz Kofod.

Mandtall och forclarings register, paa Boedtzmends Schatten offuerBoringholms Leen, till S. Johanj daugh Anno 1642. . . . Østermarck Sogen:. . . 23. Mads Koefoed.

Mandtal och Skatte Register paa dend Almindelige Pendinge Schatt somKongl. Maytt. och Adelens Bønder och Tiennere offuer Hammershuus Lehnnpaa Borringholmb, wdgaff till Johannj Anno 1643. . . . Østermarck Sogenn:. . . 23. Matz Kofod.

Mandtall och Skatte Register paa den Almindelige Pendinge Schatt, somKongl. Maytt. och Adelens Bønder och Thienner offuer Hammershus Lehn paaBorringholm, vdgaff till Paasche Anno 1644. . . . Østermarch Sogen: . . .23. Matz Kofoed.

From the Hammershus Ekstraskattemandtaller, 1646-1651:
Mandtall och Schate Register paa dend Paabuene, Korn Schadt, som Ko. Maytts. och Adellens Bønder och tienere offuer Hammershuuszlehn paa Borringholmb, vdgaff til Santj Michels Daug Anno 1646. . . . Østermarck Sogen: . . . 23. Madz Koefoed.

Mandtall och Schate Register, paa dend allmindelig kaaber schatt, som Ko. Ma. och Adelens Bønder och Tiennere offuer Hammerszhuusz Lehn paa Borringholmb, vdgaff til Sanctj Michels Dag Ao. 1646. . . . Østermark Sogen: . . . 23. Madz Koefoed.

Mandtall och Schate Register paa dend Almindelige Pendinge Sckat, som Kong. Maytts. och Adelens Bønder och tienere offuer Hammerszhuusz Lehn paa Borigholmb, vdgaff till tuende terminer. Nemblig til Sanctj MichelsDaug och till Martinj Ao. 1646. . . . Østermark Sogen: . . . 23. Madz Koefoed.

Mandtals register paa dend almindelig pendinge schatt; som Kongl. Maytts. och Adellens Bønder och tienere offuer Hammerszhuusz Lehn paa Boringholmb schulle vdgiffue dend halffue part till Michaelis och dend halffue part till Martini 1647. . . . Østermarck Sogen: . . . 23. Madz Koefoed.

From the Hammershus Ekstraskattemandtaller, 1651-1659:
Mandtal och forklaringh register offuer Baadzmend Schatten och Spindpenge aff Hammershus Lehn bereignet fra Philipi Jacobi 1658 til Phil. 1659. . .. Østermarch sogen: . . . 23. Madz Kofod.

[Note: The above "mandtal og forklaring register over bådsmænd skatten og spindepenge" (census and register of the sailor's tax and spinning wages) appears to be based on taxpayers for the listed farms circa 1642, not 1658-59.]

Richtig forteignelse, paa huis til mig er ytt och leffuerit, aff Østeroch Nørre Herridtz resstantz, som resterit och forfalden var udj de Suensches regerings tid som var før Anno 1658. . . . Østermarcher Sogen:. . . Den 23. Hans Kofod, penge - 2 Mk.

From Bornholm's Jordebog, April 19, 1661:
Suaneke: Peder Koefod. . . Tolff tønder. Pouel Koefod. . . Tiuge tønder.

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

Mads blev gift med Karine Hansdatter Kofoed cirka 1620. Karine (datter af Hans Madsen Kofoed og xxx Clausdatter Kjøller) blev født cirka 1602 i Prgd. Blykobbegård, Nyker Sogn; døde cirka 1640 i 23. sgd. Kofoedgård, Østermarie Sogn. [Gruppeskema] [Familietavle]

Notater:

Occupation: Land-owner (Proprietær)

NN blev gift med Elisabeth Hansdatter Schröder før 1652. Elisabeth (datter af Hans Schröder og Magdalene NNsdatter) blev født før 1630 i Haderslev, Jylland; døde efter 1652 i Haderslev, Jylland. [Gruppeskema] [Familietavle]

Andre Begivenheder og Egenskaber:

• Beskæftigelse: Proprietær

Notater:

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 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]

Andre Begivenheder og Egenskaber:

• Beskæftigelse: Land-owner (Proprietær)
• Ane-nr.: Ane 12.3369 (Garde)
• Ane-nr.: Ane 12.3413 (Garde)
• Ane-nr.: Ane 13.4485 (Sommer)

Notater:

Note(kopieret juli 2019 fra Norman Lee Madsens database9

Hans Kofoed, as the owner of Heslegård, 21 Vdg. a "fri vornedegård" (freehold farm), and Knæbjerghus, both in Østerlars parish, participated in the Freeman status meeting in 1572. In 1586 he is recorded as living in Rønne, and in 1590 and 1608 as the owner of the Freeman's estate Blykobbegård in Nyker parish.

Hans Kofoed is recorded in Bornholm's Jordebog as the taxpayer for Rosmannegård, 27' Slg. Knudsker, in 1611; and as the taxpayer for 26'Slg. Knudsker (part of the Store Almegård estate) in 1617, and in the Hammershus Regnskaber, 1617-1631 as being "Hans Koefoed aff Knudsker Sogen", one of the men presiding on February 14, 1625 over the division of the estate of Christopher Olsen's wife Seigne, who had been beheaded for witchcraft.

Sigvard Mahler Dam states, in "Over Hals og hoved" (published in SAXO, 1991), that he discovered that in 1666 there was a case in court concerning the estate of the deceased widow Christine Kiøller (died 1665), in which Hans Olufsen Kofoed, the grandson of Hans (Madsen)Kofoed, states that he is as close an heir after Christine Kiøller as her guardian Claus Kames. Christine is the daughter of Christen Clausen Køller (died circa 1582) and Margrethe Mogensdatter Uf, of Store Hallegård in Olsker.

Sigvard notes that Hans Kofoed named a son Claus, and another son Jacob, which up to that point had not been given names used by the Kofoed-family. Since Christen Clausen Køller had named a son Jacob, Sigvard speculates that Claus and Jacob are Køller family names. Sigvard also notes that Christine Kiøller's brother Christen Clausen Kiøller (junior) signed documents in 1624 and 1628, while he was Bornholm's chiefjustice, which concerned the Kofoed family. (This information was first published in Julius Bidstrup's book on Kofoed family A.)

Based on the above, Sigvard suggests that Hans Kofoed's wife may have been the daughter of Christen Clausen Køller (senior) and Margrethe Mogensdatter Uf. (Or possibly it is Hans Olufsen Kofoed's mother Sidsele who is the relative of Christine Kiøller? - Norman Madsen)

However, it seems just as possible that Hans Kofoed's wife was the half-sister of Christen Clausen Køller (died circa 1582, of Store Hallegård in Olsker). According to Edvard Skovgaard, in "1000 Aner til en Skovgårdsslægt" (pub. 1989), Christen Clausen Køller is the son of a Claus Köller (from Pomerania) and Margarete von Schinckel. Possibly "Margarete von Schinckel" is the same person as the wife of Claus Clausen Kames, namely "Margrethe" (died May 10, 1693) of Rønne? Claus Clausen Kames and Margrethe are said to be the grandparents of the Claus Kames mentioned in the 1666 court case. - Norman Lee Madsen, January 28, 2003.

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.

Hans Kofoed is known to have been living in Rønne in 1586, and to have been to owner of Heslegård, 21' Vdg. Østerlars parish. Hans 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 also, along with Peder (Poulsen) Kofoed (1548-1616), took part in the following festivities in Lund, Skåne (now part of Sverige/Sweden), where the nobility swore their allegiance to Prince Christian in the year 1610.

Their written authorization to attend is stated 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. (Jørn Klindt notes that Hans Kofoed's signature is not like that of his brother the Judge Jens Kofoed - the Judge was experienced and fluent at handwritting – while Hans Kofoed, being a farmer, was unaccustomed to feather and ink, which easily made blotches!)

From the seven seals affixed we can see that Jens Kofoed and Hans Kofoed, and Hans Kofoed's son Mads, used the "Sparre" (Chevron) image in their seals, but Peder Kofoed did not -- his seal was simply marked "P.K." Also, note that "Borringholm" and "Kiöbenhaffn" are the old style spellings of Bornholm and København (Copenhagen).

In 1595 Hans Kofoed had incorporated the image of a chevron (gavlsparren) in his seal; this later became the most widely incorporated image in later Kofoed seals. The "sparre" was the symbol used by his mother Gunhild's family in their coat of arms. His eldest son Mads Kofoed used this image from 1608, and his descendants (the "Rønne family" or "branch B" as this line of the family was referred to by Julius Bidstrup) used it as well.

Hans Kofoed at one point held the position of churchwarden (kirkeværge) for Nyker parish. He lived long enough to see his children prosper; they were privileged to have been born as freemen and have wealthy and influential relations. Through marriages they further built up their family position.

The "Danish Coat of Arms" registry includes no less than 18 familie scarrying the "sparre" (chevron) as part of their coat of arms. The image of the chevron used by the Rønne branch of the Kofoed-family seems to have come to it via the Uf-family of Skåne province. Noblemen of the Uf-family settled on Bornholm around the year 1400, and when the Mads Kofoed married into that family it seems that his descendants adopted the Uf's coat of arms with its depiction of a "sparre" (chevron). Later, as the "Rønne family" and the "Østermarie family" began to inter-marry the image of the chevron can be seen together with the cow-foot image of the Østermarie line descended from Poul Kofoed (-1549-1572-) of Kofoedgård in Østermarie parish.

From the book "Danske adelsvåbener, en heraldisk nøgle", Politikens Forlag, 1973, København:
Kofod. Et koben. Farver og eventuel hjelmfigur kendes ikke. Markvard Kofod, væbner, 1378; afkom ukendt. NDA side 151.

(Translated to english:)
Kofod. On the shield a cow-foot. Colours and eventual helmet-design unknown. Markvard Kofod, arms carrier in 1378; no known descendants. NDA page 151.

According to Sigvard Mahler Dam's article "De bornholmske væbnerslægter Uf og Splid - noget nyt om deres våbener", (Heraldisk Tidsskrift, 1982), the Kofoed-family's arms carried a blue chevron on a red background, with 2 white vesselhorns on the helmet, and that "Danmarks Kirker", volume 7, Bornholm, tells the same, but incorrectly lists the arms as the belonging to the Gagge-family.

From the Hammershus Regnskaber, 1580-1617:
Hendrick Brahes Regenschaff aff Hammershus paa Borringholm fran Philippi Jacobj dag 1585 thill Philippi Jacobj dag âo. 1586. . . . Inndtegttpennge før sagefaldt: . . . Anndamit ieg aff Hans Sabell ibidem [Rønde]før hand slo Hanns Kuofoedh ibidem [Rønde] - 1-1/2 Daller.

The above entry translated to English:
Henrik Brahe's financial accounting for Hammershus on Bornholm from May1, 1585 until May 1, 1586. . . . Accounts Receivable for transgressions:. . . I received from Hans Sabell of Rønne because he struck Hans Kofoedof Rønne - 1-1/2 Rigsdaler.

From the Hammershus Regnskaber, 1617-1631:
Wy effterskreffne Peder Andersøen, aff Nelausker Sogen, Herridtsfogitt paa Borrenholm Peder Andersøen, Mads Jensøen, Hans Koefoed aff Knudsker Sogen, bekiender och witterligtt gør for alle, och aff Knud Jensøen Kongl. May. Ridefogitt her sammestedts, att werre tikriste och befallid att verre tilstede paa skifftte som bemeltte Knud Jensøen, paa Kongl.May. och sin gunstige horris wegne loid holde, med Cristoffer Olsøen aff Knudsker Sogen efftter sin hustru som wdj troldomb wor kyndige, och derforre bleff dømbtt och heden rett. Huor ouffuer hindis houffuedloid komb wdj Kongens werge, saa ere wj bemeltte mend wdj Jens Søffrensøn Borgemester wdj Rønde, Fock Saffraff Raadmand ibid., samme fleregottfolck derris neruerilse den 14 February neruerende aar 1625 i forhne Cristoffer Olsøns gaard, forsamblede fornhe ørinde, och vereff attwdrotte. - Och for dett første ør wdj worris neruerilse oprognitt huiswitterlig gield och børnegoeds som med rette aff fellidsboe kundefordris. Huilkid er wdj tre ware korn och en partt fæ, forloddiswdtagitt, och siden er boed mitt; the skifft, och Kongl. May. part straxpersileris andteginde och aff os worderrid, som følger: . . . . Naar affforhne summa penge fratagis huis som paa Seyne Cristoffers er bekostidoch anvoret for hun først bleff behofftid, och indtil hun bleff hedenrettid, saa och fogdens penninge: . . . Erlige och welarte mend, Jens Søfrensøn Borgemester och Fock Saffraff Raadmand i Rønde, som och hoisworre, medois till witterlighed att beseylle, Datum Rønde den 15 FebruaryAnno 1625.

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

Hans blev gift med xxx Clausdatter Kjøller før 1585. xxx (datter af Claus Köller og Margrethe von Schinckel) blev født før 1566 i Prgd. Skovsholm, Ibsker Sogn. [Gruppeskema] [Familietavle]

Andre Begivenheder og Egenskaber:

• Ane-nr.: Ane 12.3370 (Garde)
• Ane-nr.: Ane 12.3414 (Garde)
• Ane-nr.: Ane 13.4486 (Sommer)

Notater:

Occupation: Bailiff (Herredsfoged)

Hans blev gift med Magdalene NNsdatter før 1629. Magdalene blev født før 1609. [Gruppeskema] [Familietavle]

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]

Andre Begivenheder og Egenskaber:

• Ane-nr.: Ane 14.13365 (Garde)
• Ane-nr.: Ane 14.8975 (Sommer)
• Alias: Peder Hansen

Notater:

Kure (Prgd. Vellensgård i Nyker)
Proprietærgårdn Vellensgård var een af de oprindelig 18 unummererede gårde som var sædegårde for frimandsslægter, og derfor havde de gårdene med tilhørende fæstegårde samt skattefrihed. Peder Hansen ejede Proprietærgården Vellensgård i Nyker. Han var broder til Bent Hansen på Proprietærgården Eskildsgård i Pedersker. Første gang vi hører om dem var da de sammen med de andre frimænd på øen var til møde med rigsrådets repræsentanter den 06.09.1572. Her omtales de som Peder Hansen og Bendt Hansen til "Vællingsgaard" og "Eskesgaard", Peder Hansen fik to sønner Jørgen Pedersen og Lavrids Pedersen. Det var Jørgen Pedersen der overtog Vellensgård.

Note(kopieret juli 2019 fra Norman Lee Madsens database)

According to Kure's farm-list the first known owner of Vellensgård is Peder Hansen, whose sister Mette Hansdatter was married to Peder Hansen Uf of Simlegård. Peder Hansen also owned Eskesgård in Pedersker.

Vellensgård and Eskesgård are classified as "friegård", later called a "proprietair" farm, the highest of the three classes of farms. On Bornholm the farms (in Danish "gård", or old style "gaard") had longstanding official names and numbers, and they were divided into three classifications, in descending order:

1) Proprietairgård (Propr.): a freehold estate (thus also called a Frigård), which could only be owned by a freeman (frimand) or a member of the nobility (adelsmand).

2) Selvejergård (Slg.): meaning a freehold farm owned independently, free of obligations to an estate owner - it could be occupied by its owner or leased to a peasant farmer (bonde). A peasant who owned this type of farm was known as a "selvejerbonde".

3) Vornedegård (Vdg.), two types: a) the first type was part of an estate (i.e. connected to a proprietairgård), the peasants who lived on them were tenants and were obliged to provide labor, known as the "Herlighedsright" (Glory-right), to the owner of the estate; b) the other type was referred to as a "Fri Vornedegård", this type of farm was not connected to an estate and was free of the labor obligation - could beo wned by a freeman and leased to a peasant. A peasant who lived on this class of farms was known as a "fæstebonde" (copyhold peasant).

A map drawn in 1851 shows 17 estate-farms classified as Proprietair: 3 in each of Åker, Ibsker and Nyker parishes; 2 each in Østermarie and Klemensker; 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-stone courtyard.

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

Andre Begivenheder og Egenskaber:

• Ane-nr.: Ane 13.6737 (Garde)
• Ane-nr.: Ane 13.6825 (Garde)
• Ane-nr.: Ane 14.8969 (Sommer)

Notater:

Occupation: Mayor (Borgmester) of Rønne.
Drowned on a seavoyage to Copenhagen.
It is not known with certainty who Mads Jensen Kofoed's (born
possibly 1513? or 1517?- died before 1573, possibly 1552?) parents
were: The historian Giessing, in 1786, states that Mads Jensen
Kofoed was the son of Jens Madsen Kofoed and grandson of
Mads Jensen Kofoed of Hasle. According to Julius Bidstrup's
"Familien Koefoed A og B" (published in 1887) his parents might be
Jens Madsen Kofoed and Johanne Thygesdatter, but he is not certain.
Also, Jørn Klindt in his book "På sporet af de første Kofod'er"
(published in 1979) has his doubts on this matter, and can not state
for a fact that any of this is true. Current evidence suggests that
it is likely that Mads Jensen Kofoed was born 1513 in Lund, Skåne
province; however, his parentage is still far from certain. In 1572 a
meeting was held by Bornholm's Parliament to establish who had the
right to the status of "Frimand" (Free-man) on Bornholm: Mads Jensen


Kofoed's sons Jens and Hans Kofoed were in attendance at that
meeting. Of course, that meeting had a broader purpose: a war in
which Lübeck and Danmark 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 free-men, 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 government. At the
"Frimandsmødet" held on September 6, 1572 there were 17 men named as
being in attendance: the brothers Jens and Hans Madsen Kofoed, Peder
Poulsen Kofoed, Oluf Bagge, Peder Uf, Peder Myre, Jørgen Gagge, also
ten other men only listed by their father's name; and at which
occassion three Danish Parlimentary advisers (Rigsråder) had been
sent to preside over the meeting. The Kofoeds had no written proof
of their free-men status; they were only able to give heartfelt and
solemn words about faithful service. 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 Sweder Ketting, "because you
might expect that Lübeck only plotted to keep our island under their
yoke." 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 free-man 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 free-man status. Two of the newly
appointed free-men had an important mission to Lübeck the following
year. On September 6, 1573 King Frederik 2. wrote a letter to Lübeck
stating: "Our citizens, the brothers Peter and Jens Kofoth" have
applied to Lübeck's government for verification of their vital
statistics, so as, among other things, they are free to serve their
King - who then requests the Lübeck council to give sympathetic
consideration to their case and verify their births in Lübeck's
records. We often find such vital statistics proofs attached to the
documents in probate court cases, they were actually signed by the
parish "Elders" before the church parish registers (kirkebøger) came
into use. They were especially essential if disagreement arose among
the heirs. In the Lübeck family registry for 1573 we find the
following entry: Kofoedt, Matthias, dead before 1573 on Bornholm,
his wife: Johanna; their children: Peter, Jens, Boel - married to
Oluf Bagge; Anneke - married to Michael Abraham. The reason that the
family is registered in Lübeck exactly in 1573 is of course the
application the brothers made that same year for their vital
statistics. According to Jørn Klindt's "På sporet af de første
Kofod'er" it appears that Gunhild Uf and Mads Kofoed were already
married by 1547. The Lübeck legal-registry of 1573 states that a
woman named Johanne was Mads Kofoed's wife and mother to four of his
children; so accordingly it is not absolutely certain who was the
mother of which of Mads Kofoed's children. The fact that in 1573
Johanne was stated as the mother of Mads Kofoed's children may be a
reflection of their legal relationship, rather than blood ties. Nor
is it known for a fact which wife came first: Gunhild Uf or Johanne
Jensdatter Myre? The exact birth years of his children are not
known, but they are all thought to have been born between 1540-50.
Jørn Klindt further writes that more information about Mads Kofoed is
surely there to be found in the archives of København, or in Gottorp
and Potsdam - where the remnants of Lübeck's archives are now held.
As mayor for Rønne township Mads Kofoed was an influential man on
Bornholm, so it would be rather peculiar if there weren't more traces
of him to be found. It could be that he is the same person as the
Mads Kofoed known to have died during a sea-voyage to København in
1552. Part of the difficulty in answering this question lies in the
fact that one Lübeck entry states he died "before 1573" and another
states "in 1573"; which is correct and which in error? Mr. Klindt
asks the following questions: What was the case of the vital
statistics about? Why was it that Hans Kofoed, who on Bornholm was
considered to be Jens Kofoed's brother, did not appear on the 1573
Lübeck registry as part of the family? But, of course, who will
research this? Who has the ability, resources, inclination, and
time? His son Jens Kofoed is known to have died in 1625, an old man
around 80 years old. The same is said of Hans Kofoed who died in
1623, and he is with greater certainty considered to be the son of
Gunhild Uf, as he is not mentioned in the Lübeck registry of 1573 as
a son of Johanna and Mads Kofoed. Hans Kofoed has been listed by
Bornholm's first historian Rasmus Ravn (who lived from 1603-77) to be
the brother of the Judge Jens Madsen Kofoed; that he was not listed
in the Lübeck family registry of 1573 makes for a stronger case that
he was in fact half-brother to Jens Madsen Kofoed. Further proof that
the two men were brothers can be seen by the fact that Hans Kofoed's
sons were made the heirs to Jens Madsen Kofoed's property. Chief
Justice Jens Kofoed had no direct heirs at the time of his death, so
the four sons of his brother Hans Kofoed, and a certain Albert Hansen
- on account of his wife Karina Mikkelsdatter, were made heirs to his
reportedly large fortune. For who else was there left in 1625 to
inherit? His brother Peder had long since died, as well as his
children. His sister Boel's children with Oluf Bagge had left the
island. His sister Anneke had married a Michael/Mikkel Abraham, a
common Bornholm name, and so a daughter from their marriage would
have been known as "Mikkelsdatter", which leads us to Karina being
Jens Kofoed's niece. Working from the facts as I know them leads me
to the following two possible senarios: 1) That Johanne Jensdatter
Myre was Mads Jensen Kofoed's first wife, they probably married
around 1540; they had four children and before 1547 Johanne dies.
Around 1547 Mads Kofoed marries Gunhild Uf - they have a son, Hans,
born around 1547-50. 2) That Gunhild Uf was Mads Jensen Kofoed's
first wife, they probably married around 1540; within a year of
giving birth to Hans, around1542, Gunhild Uf died. Mads Kofoed then,
around 1543, marries Johanne - with whom he had at least four
children who lived to adulthood. The first senario is generally
thought to be the most likely, but that is just a guess. The key to
this question is: Were Gunhild Uf and Mads Jensen Kofoed married
before or in 1547? In the land-registry testimony of Bornholm's Land-
Register, dated May 22, 1522, is mentioned a P. Kofod as mayor of
Rønne; but whether or not he was related to "Familien Koefoed A or B"
is not known. (Høbertz, Documentation of Bornholm's History, p. 63)

Mads blev gift med Gunhild Uf cirka 1547 i Bornholm. Gunhild (datter af Hans Olufsen Uf) blev født cirka 1525 i Simblegård, Klemensker Sogn; døde efter 1552 i Bornholm. [Gruppeskema] [Familietavle]

Andre Begivenheder og Egenskaber:

• Ane-nr.: Ane 13.6738 (Garde)
• Ane-nr.: Ane 13.6826 (Garde)
• Ane-nr.: Ane 14.8970 (Sommer)

Notater:

The parentage of Gunhild Uf is uncertain and disputed. She must have
been born between 1500 and 1532. What seems to be agreed is that she is
the descendant of Otte Pedersen Uf, the owner of Skovsholm in Ibsker
parish. Some say she is his daughter's daughter (datterdatter). Other's
that she is the daughter of his son Anders Uf, from Otte's first marriage
to Kirsten Galen. It has also been suggested by Sigvard Mahler Dam that
she is the daughter of Otte Pedersen Uf's grandson Hans Olufsen Uf
(1510-1574); possibly because she gave her son with Mads Jensen Kofoed
the name Hans - after her father?

It is known that in 1547 Gunhild's husband Mads Jensen Kofoed represented
her in a legal dispute with Mogens Uf (died 1565) concerning inherited
property from the estate of the deceased Oluf Tuesen. This implies that
there is a close relationship with Mogens Uf; some have suggested they
are brother and sister, others that they are cousins. Considering that
Oluf Tuesen died in 1500, it seems unlikely that Gunhild is his daughter
- as she would have been approaching 50 at the time of the birth of her
son, Hans Madsen Kofoed. Possibly she is the daughter of Oluf Tuesen's
brother-in-law Oluf Ottesen Uf? Or, as Sigvard Mahler Dam has suggested,
the daughter of Oluf's son Hans?

* * * * *
The following has been extracted from a translation of the article
"Landet Borringholm: Bornholmsk-skånske slægtskredse", by Sigvard Mahler
Dam, published in SAXO, 1986:

After the murder of Mogens Ufs' father Oluf Tuesen, his widow
(Margrethe?) went through hard times, but her brothers helped her prove
to Commander van Haffn which of the farms were her own inheritance, and
these were eventually given back to her. Her brothers helped with the
management, but then a pivotal event took place, which later caused a
devastating family feud over inheritance. Apparently Oluf Ottesen
purchased some property from the widow, and in the later court case some
letters and documents supposedly were proof thereof, but her son, Mogens
Uf, maintained that the family had unlawfully confiscated said property.

In 1547 Mogens Uf, still exiled from Bornholm, came to blows with his own
family and took them to the highest court in the land:

(In the original old Danish)
"Mogens W til Odersbiergh citat hustru Gunildt, Mattis Kofoedt paa
Bornholm med deres medarvinger for noget jordegods som de gør dem
forhindring paa smst. efter Oluf Tuesens død smst."

The case concerns Mogens Uf's inheritance from his mother, against
Gunhild Uf, who must be a descendant of his mother's brother, Oluf
Ottesen. Gunhild's husband, Mads Jensen Kofoed, sailed to København on
behalf of his wife and her co-heirs (who were under-aged). Mads won the
case and returned home able to keep the deeds to the farms contested by
Mogens Uf. But in 1552 Mogens Uf is back again to haunt Gunhild's family
(78):

(In the original old Danish)
"Oluff Hansz paa sine egne og metarfvingers Otte Persz arfvinger vegne,
beretter at Mogens W forfølger dem for noget jordegods og skifte, og de
have forfulgt sagen og bragt den for Rigets Kantsker, og til den ende
afsendt Mads Kofoedt med deres breve og beviser, men han er drunknet paa
veien og Brevskaberne forkomne, hvorfor det paalægges landsdommeren Hans
Reymer, at han er dem behjælpelig til endnu engang at faa beskrevet hvad
der er gaaet for sig i sagen."

"Mogens W" had sued Oluf Hansen and Otte Pedersen's heirs for some
property and Mads Kofoed had again been sent to København with
documents. Sadly, Mads drowned underway and the documents were lost.

That same day the king sent a letter to his bailiff on Bornholm, Henning
Gagge, requesting that he quickly settle the case between Mogens Uf and
Otte Pedersen's heirs. It had become bothersome to the king, the very
men he depended upon to resist the Lübeckers were about to destroy
everything with their family feuding. How the court case ended is not
known, but it seems that Mogens Uf lost again.

This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto,
Ontario, copyright 1990-2002.

Andre Begivenheder og Egenskaber:

• Ane-nr.: Ane 13.6739 (Garde)
• Ane-nr.: Ane 13.6827 (Garde)

Claus blev gift med Margrethe von Schinckel. Margrethe blev født cirka 1535 i Tyskland; døde i 1598 i Bornholm. [Gruppeskema] [Familietavle]

Andre Begivenheder og Egenskaber:

• Ane-nr.: Ane 13.6682 (Garde)
• Ane-nr.: Ane 13.6740 (Garde)

Notater:

Skovsholm