Mads Olufsen Kofoed

Andre Begivenheder og Egenskaber:

• Ane-nr.: Ane 11.1707 (Garde)

Notater:

Note (Norman Lee Madsen)
Oluf Kofoed owned the freeman's estate-farm of Blykobbegård in Nykerparish from 1616, and also Frigård, 15 Vdg. in Vestermarie parish. Louise Skovgaard wrote "Af Oluf Koefoeds efterslægt" (Of Oluf Koefoed's Descendants).

Blykobbegård is classified as a "friegård", later called a "proprietair" farm, the highest of the three classes of farms: Proprietair (Propr.), Selvejergård (Slg.) and Vornedegård (Vdg.). The surname "Blykop" is connected to this farm.

From Bornholm's Jordebog of 1662:
Sønder Herridt, Pollschier Sogn, Vaarneder: Peder Rasmussen - OlleKoefoeds bunde. (5 Vdg.)
Sønder Herridt, Pollschier Sogn, Vaarneder: Anders Hansen, Olle Koefoedsbunde. (4 Vdg.)
Sønder Herridt, Pollschier Sogn, Vaarneder: Arist Hansen, Olle Koefoedsbunde. (8 Vdg.)
Vester Herridt, Vestermarck Sogn, Vaarneder: Laurids Madsen - OeleKoefods bunde. (15 Vdg.)
Vester Herridt, Nykier Sogen, Vaarneder: Peder Mortensen - Oele Kofoedsbunde. (10 Vdg.)

According to Evdard Skovgaard, in "1000 Aner til en Skovgårdsslægt", it is likely that Sidsel died circa 1670. This seems to be based on thefact that the youngest surviving son, Hans Olufsen Kofoed, sold Blykobbegård in January of 1671 to Ernst Canseler.

Kure's farm-listing for Blykobbegård gives Oluf Kofoed's wife's name as Sidsel Hansdatter; while the listing for Frigård names her as Sidsel Madsdatter and gives her death as 1670.

The November 3, 1700 probate for Niels Terchildsen, who was first married to Oluf Kofoed's daughter Kirstine Olufsdatter Kofoed (died 1683) mentions an item with the initials: O.K. - S.M.D.; it seems likely that this would be for Niels Terchildsen's deceased in-laws: Oluf Kofoed - Sidsel MadsDatter.

From the Åker-Åkirkeby kirkebog:
August 24, 1690: Liig, Nr. 2, 24 Aug. Mats Kofods qvinde Gertrud afBacchegaar.

November 27, 1701: Liig, Nr. 4, 27 Nov. Matz Kofod Olssøn gl. 78 aar.

Mention of sons Hans and Mads Kofoed Olufsen in the probate for Elsebeth Olufsdatter, April 25, 1753, pages 183b-186b:
Anno 1753re dend 25de April. . . skifte og deeling it holde efter Sr. Povel Koefoeds ved døden afgangne hustru navnlig Elsebeth Olsdaatter som boede og døde paa Blykoppegaarden i Nyeker Sogn. . . paa denne gaard Blykoppegaarden kaldet de vilde fremvise der paa blev fremvist et kiøbebrev udgivet af Hans Koefoed Olsen paa Engne og broder Mads Kofoed Olsens vegne med videre til Erns Cansler fordum Capitain Lieutnant her paa Bornhollm. Hvorren de selger og fra skiøde til bemelte Cansler Blyekoppegaarden med dends til liggende ejendomb og herlighed med videre berørte brev indholdt som er datered 11de January og 1te February 1671. .. .

The seal (segl) of Oluf Kofoed's son Hans Kofoed Olufsen (died 1694), of Blykobbegård in Nyker parish, combines both the chevron (sparre) image of the Rønne-branch of the Kofoed-family with the Bjergegaard-family's pike's jawbone (geddekæft) image. In his article "Over Hals og hoved" Sigvard Mahler Dam speculates that Hans Kofoed Olufsen's mother may have been a member of the Bjergegaard-family; and that in that period the daughter's of Jørgen Pedersen (died 1588) are the most probable candidates. Of Jørgen Pedersen's 3 daughters only one is a likely candidate: Elline Jørgensdatter, who is known to have been married to Esbern Kofoed, of Poulsker parish, in 1608 and 1618. Elline received 3 farms from her father's estate: Frigård, 12 Vdg. Poulsker parish; Tuegård i Egeby, 6 Vdg. Åker parish; and Mæbygård, 1 Vdg. Nykerparish. Sigvard notes that in Bornholm's Land-Tenancy Book for the period 1622-1625 there were 2 farms in Poulsker and 1 in Åker (possibly Julegård, 14 Vdg.?) held by an Oluf Kofoed. Sigvard speculates that Esbern Kofoed had died 1618-1622, and Oluf Kofoed had married his widow, namely Elline Jørgensdatter.

From "På spor af de første Kofod'er" by Jørn Klindt, published 1979:
On the 31st of May 1563 the war started up with a terrible sea battle off the Rønne shoreline. Later that same year the Danish-Lübeck fleet, under the command of Peder Skram, patrolled the sea between Bornholm and Øland- wherein, as was the custom, they went ashore and requesitioning heavy taxes. Amid all the skirmishes a small Bornholm fishing boat was trapped by the Swedes of Øland. The Swedish Admiral, Jacob Bagge, had also been taken prisoner by the Lübeck commander of Hammershus, Sweder Ketting; whourged his prisoner to write a letter to his superior officer at Kalmar Castle to suggest an exhange of the four Bornholmer fishermen with four Swedish prisoners on Bornholm. In another letter sent at the same time to the Swedish king, he writes: "We are treated well - but for God's sake give the Danish prisoners humane treatment - some are of the nobility and respected men." We find that one of the Bornholm fishermen (the ship's captain?) was named "Æsbiörnn Kofoth" (Esbern Kofod).

The war was full of cruelties on all sides, from the Bornholm shore witnesses viewed the Swedes tie up their Lübeck prisoners on thier own ship and then set it on fire. Prisoners of war were slit open and thrown over board, and the Lübeck commander Sweder Ketting was horrified to find their remnants washed ashore the next day, writing: "God Almighty help us that we should not alow such horrible transgressions go unpunished." The Danish admiral, Herluf Trolle, was also shocked by the terrible cruelty committed by the Swedes against their prisoners, and together with Jacob Bagge formulated a request to the Swedish king: "Your Royal Majesty's navy has subjected its prisoners to a most cruel, inhumane treatment unheard of in any warring nation. Your Royal Majesty must know that Godwill surely render His punishment." However, the Swedish king was going insane at that time, so we do not know if the request was heeded.

The cruelties of the war caused an uproar throughout Europe - especially since Lübeck, a free-city in the Hoy Roman Empire, was involved. It is not known if the request did any good; it is doubtful that the exchange of prisoners ever took place, nor is it known if "Æsbiörnn Kofoth" ever returned home. Although the researcher M.K. Zarthmann thought that he must be identical to the Esbern Kofod who was a customs officer and later mayor of Rønne until 1623. I have not been able to find any other justification for this hypothes is than the fact that they were both seamen; if Esbern, for example, was 20 years old when taken prisoner in 1563, he would still have been in the office of mayor at age 80 - which seems unlikely. Age-wise a more probable connection is that of the Esbern Kofod, who in 1569 lived at "Kofodgaard" (later known as Frigård, 15 Vdg.) in Vestermarie parish - we do not know anything about him, butat least we can allow ourselves the fantasy that he just could be "Æsbiörnn Kofoth", who survived cruel imprisonment and later on abandoned his life at sea to settle on a farm.

This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto,Ontario, Canada, 12 Jun 2016.

Oluf blev gift med Elline Jørgensdatter. Elline (datter af Jørgen Pedersen) blev født cirka 1575 i Prgd. Vellensgård, Nyker Sogn; døde cirka 1620 i 13. vgd. Frigårdby, Povlsker Sogn. [Gruppeskema] [Familietavle]

Notater:

Occupation: Farm-owner (Gårdejer)
Elline Jørgensdatter was the owner of Frigård, 12. Vdg. in Poulsker
parish, she inherited the farm from her father.

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)

Andre Begivenheder og Egenskaber:

• Ane-nr.: Ane 13.4488 (Sommer)
• Ane-nr.: Ane 13.6683 (Garde)

Notater:

Note (kopieret juli 2019 fra Norman Lee Madsens database)

Jørgen Pedersen was a freeman (frimand) and land-owner (proprietær); he owned a large amount of land on Bornholm. These properties included: Frigård, 12' Vdg. Poulsker parish, and Eskesgård, in Pedersker parish, and Vellensgård, in Nyker; these last two farms are classified as "friegårds", later called "proprietair" farms, the highest of the three classes of farms: Proprietairgård (Propr.), Selvejergård (Slg.) and Vornedegård (Vdg.).

Jørgen Pedersen's probate was held February 20, 1588, his three daughters were his inheritors. Kirsten received Båstedgård, 1' Vdg. (afri vornedegård) in Rø parish; the two youngest daughters Elline and Karen inherited rights to the two farms: Vellensgård proprietairgård in Nyker parish, and Eskesgård proprietairgård in Pedersker parish. On January 30, 1608, Elline's husband Esbern Kofoed, of Poulsker parish, sold his wife's portion in Vellensgård and Eskesgård to her brother-in-law Mads Hansen Kofoed; in exchange Esbern Kofoed received the deeds for 3 farms: Frigård, 12' Vdg. (a fri vornedegård) in Poulsker parish, Tuegård (in Egeby), 6' Vdg. Åker, and Frostegård (in Mæby), 1' Vdg. Nyker.

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

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 14.13473 (Garde)
• Ane-nr.: Ane 14.13649 (Garde)
• Ane-nr.: Ane 15.17937 (Sommer)

Jens blev gift med Johanne Thygesdatter cirka 1505 i Bornholm. Johanne blev født cirka 1485 i Hasle; døde efter 1514 i Bornholm. [Gruppeskema] [Familietavle]

Andre Begivenheder og Egenskaber:

• Ane-nr.: Ane 14.13474 (Garde)
• Ane-nr.: Ane 14.13650 (Garde)
• Ane-nr.: Ane 15.17938 (Sommer)

Notater:

Reference: KGD

Andre Begivenheder og Egenskaber:

• Beskæftigelse: Proprietær
• Ane-nr.: Ane 14.13475+826 (Garde)
• Ane-nr.: Ane 15.17939 (Sommer)

Notater:

Note(kopieret juli 2019 fra Norman Lee Madsens database)

Hans Olufsen (Uf) was a secretary in the king's chancellery from 1592 until 1597, and later the "Lensmand" (Feudal Lord) at Vardøhus (in Vardø parish, Finnmark county, Norway) in 1599. Hans Olufsen was the owner of Gyldensgård, 17' Vdg. Østermarie; which he later sold to his father's brother Peder Hansen (Uf) of Simlegård in Klemensker parish. Hans Olufsen died in 1601, the last male member of the so called "Sparre-Uf" branch of the family. The seal (arms and helmet) he used in 1599 is identical to that used by Oluf Ottesen (Uf) in 1522.

* * *

Hans Olsen was appointed the district governor for Finnmark in 1597. Christen Skredder was brought before the court at Vardøhus Castle in 1601. He was as a wealthy man who owned 80 daler, he also owned a turfhut, a boathouse and som outbuildings at Østersanden, as well as threedrying racks for fish and some sticks for building drying racks. He was accused of practising witchcraft together with the Sami Morten Olsen, of casting a fatal spell on District Governor Hans Olsen in May 1601. He was convicted of the practice of witchcraft. His estated devolved to the King, and was to be brought to Vardøhus Castle. Sentenced to death by fire at the stake.

Note: the following article incorrectly identify Hans Olufsen (Uf) as being a member of the Kofoed-family.

From the article "Exporting the Devil across the North Sea: John Cunningham and the Finnmark Witch-Hunt", by Liv Helene Willumsen, p. 52, in "Scottish Witches and Witch-Hunters" edited by Julian Goodare (Reader in History, University of Edinburgh), 2013:

The next district governor of Finnmark, therefore, was a good seafarer, a man who could take quick decisions and deal with unexpected problems, and a loyal servant. In addition, he was a person who was trusted to deal with the witches of the north - a problem of which the king had become aware during his visit to the northernmost parts of his kingdom, Finnmark and Kola, in 1599. The ethnic conditions in the very north of King Christian's kingdom were distinctive, with Norwegian and Sami populations living side by side. Sami males had a reputation for sorcery all over Europe at the time, being particularly well versed in selling wind to seafarers. The new century made the king even more concerned about the danger of sorcery. The sudden death in 1601 of the governor of Finnmark, Hans Olsen Kofoed, was blamed on Sami sorcery, and the result was the first two witchcraft trials in Finnmark of Christen the Tailor and the Sami Morten Olsen. No wonder that Christian IV in 1609 wrote to the next district governor, Claus Gagge, warning him to beware of witchcraft, especially Sami sorcery, and to show no mercy in such cases.

From "Images, Representations and the Self-Perception of Magic among the Sami Shamans of Arctic Norway, 1592-1692", chapter 14, by Rune Blix Hagenin "Contesting Orthodoxy in Medieval and Early Modern Europe: Heresy, Magic and Witchraft", editors Louise Nyholm Kallestrup and Raisa Maria Toivo, 2017:

As we have seen, the Danes knew of the strong rumours concerning Sami sorcery, as did many others throughout early modern Europe. Even though numerous witches had been put to death at the stake throughout Norway and Denmark, at the end of the sixteenth century no one had yet instigated asimilar policy of persecution directed at the Sami for their particular skills. But not too many years would elapse before King Christian IV turned into a monarch agitated by demons and eager to pursue and hunt down all kinds of sorcery - including Sami sorcery. As a collective group, the Sami posed a threat to the territorial expansion of Denmark-Norway, its state building and its endeavours to spread civilization and Christianity in the far North.

Since Christian IV turned the northern regions into his first major foreign adventure, he made sure that an efficient and energetic commanding officer was stationed at Vardøhus. The Dane Hans Olsen Koefoed was endowed with Vardøhus Fortress, and the county of Finnmark, in June 1597. The man travelled across great expanses of land in northern Norway in the winter of 1597/98 and the supsequent winter to investigate Swedish taxation of the Sami. Conscientiously, he presented his findings to the king. It is likely that Koefoed's report on the Swedish drive towards the coast of north Norway was what convinced Christian IV himself to sail northwards. . . ."

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

Andre Begivenheder og Egenskaber:

• Ane-nr.: Ane 14.13477 (Garde)
• Ane-nr.: Ane 14.13654 (Garde)

Notater:

Side 367. 1791. 27. Juni.
Hedevig Gregersdatter, enke, 15. Sg.g. Nylars.
Afg. Michael Icomand.
3 døt.
A: Marie Michelsdatter, gm. Jørgen Jørgensen, Kong. Tj. Værge:
Svoger, Søren Jørgensen
B: Sidselle Michel/ Icomandsdatter, ( begge navne står der) gm.
Søren Jørgensen, udb. 14 0g 16. Sg.g. Nylars.
C: Johanne Michelsdatter, gm. Herman Pedersen, udb. 12. Sg.g.
Nylars.

Ane 14.13653

Andre Begivenheder og Egenskaber:

• Ane-nr.: Ane 15.17949 (Sommer)
• Ane-nr.: Ane 15.26729 (Garde)

Notater:

Note(kopieret juli 2019 fra Norman Lee Madsens database)

Sigvard Mahler Dam's theory on the family connections of what he has named "The Bjergegaard Family" is based largely on a reinterpretation of the so called "Hummerklo" arms. According to Sigvard the "Hummerklo" is actually a "Geddekæft" (pike's jawbone), a symbol of speed - as knights used to fasten a pike's jawbone into the nostrils (næsebor) of their horses, making them run fast and wild.

Jørgen Gagge and his wife Margrethe/Merete Pedersdatter had a memorial made in 1601 to honour her parents: Peder Hansen (Uf) and "Mette Hans Pedersens Datter". This was in the from of a large church bell for Klemensker Church, which later disappeared - probably melted down for its metal. Laurids de Thurah reports (in "Omstændelig og tilforladelig Beskrivelse over Bornholm og Christiansøe", 1756 - he was an official on Bornholm) that the bell displayed two arms: one with a "Gavlsparre" (chevron), the other with what he called a "Giedde Kieften". The Uf-family arms displayed a chevron. This would seem to indicate that Mette Hansdatter's father Hans Pedersen's arms displayed a "Geddekæft" (pike's jawbone)!

Another instance of the "Geddekæft" can be found in Julius Bidstrup's book on the "Familien Koefoed - B", in which he writes that by the altar of the now demolished Østermarie Church there was a gravestone with three copper plates (which no longer exist) for Peder Kofoed (died 1616) and his two wives. The first with the initials "P.K.", for Peder Kofoed, which depicted his arms, the hoof or "foot" of a cow ("foden af en kue" or "et koben"). The second plate is engraved "E.H.G.D." for: Elsebeth Henning Gagge's Daughter; her arms depicts a half mill-wheel (halv kaggehjul) and a chevron (sparre). The third is engraved "I.P.H.D." for: Inger Peder Hansen's Daughter; her arms depicts what he stated looked like a "kindben" (cheek-bone). This tells us that Inger can not be either the daughter of Peder Hansen (Myre) of Fuglesangsgård, 6' Vdg. Ibsker parish (whose arms depicts 3 ants), or the daughter of Peder Hansen (Uf) of Simlegård in Klemensker parish (whose arms displays a chevron). Sigvard Mahler Dam believes that this so called "Kindben" is identical to the "Geddekæft" (pike's jawbone) arms of "Mette Hans Pedersens Datter".

Mette Hansdatter's husband Peder Hansen Uf (died 1596) owned a number of the Myre-family farms, including Fuglsangsgård (later known as Gaggegård, still later as: I Klinteby), 6' Vdg. in Ibsker. For several generations Fuglsangsgård had been a Myre-family farm; first known to have been owned by Truid Myre (died circa 1489). It has been assumed that Mette Hansdatter inherited the family farms of two brothers from the Bornholmer Myre-family (Peder and Truid), which would seem to point to Mette being a close relative. As a result some have concluded that she is their sister, and thus daughter of Hans Pedersen Myre of Fuglsangsgård, 6' Vdg. Ibsker. However, as has been stated above the Myre-family arms depicted 3 ants.

Dr. M.K. Zarthmann, in the 1930s, wrote: "Jørgen Gagge gave a beautifulmemorial in honour of his parents-in-law Peder Hansen Uf and MetteHansdatter, because in 1601 he had cast a large church bell, embossedwith the Uf-family's chevron-emblem and the Myre-family's crawling ant."Zarthmann made the change from Thurah's "Giedde Kieften" to that of one(1) crawling ant! Possibly because he was believed that Mette Hansdatterwas the daughter of Hans Pedersen Myre?

According to Sigvard Mahler Dam's article "De bornholmske væbnerslægterUf og Splid - noget nyt om deres våbener" (published in HeraldiskTidsskrift, 1982), Peder Hansen Uf and his wife Mette Hansdatter donateda pew to Saint Clement's Church. In a journal, a description of thedonation reads "Clement's Church: door to pew, carved oak framed withsmooth fir planks - showing helmeted arms with vesselhorn and thefollowing markings: a shield with an upside down "Gavlsparre" (chevron)design, and the other shield sporting a "halv Hummerklo" (half lobsterclaw), Chief Justice Peder Hansen Uf and wife Margrethe Hansdatter. Thedoor was painted green, the arms and the door frame painted red andwhite. Height 84 centimeters, length 56 centimeters. . ."

Zarthmann never did see the bell for himself, so we must look to Thurah'smuch earlier, and impartial, account of the (no longer existing) bell,and conclude that the set of arms on the pew door, described as a "halvHummerklo" (which can be seen on the pew door to this very day), isidentical to Thurah's "Giedde Kieften" on the Klemensker bell.

In "Landsdommer-Patriciatet på Bornholm", part 2 (published in SAXO,1988), Sigvard states that Hans Pedersen (-1537-1543-) of Bjergegård, 9'Vdg. Vestermarie, is the brother of Laurids Pedersen (died circa 1550?),who was chief justice (Landsdommer) of Bornholm between 1537 and 1545.

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.

In Sigvard's article "Over hals og hoved" (SAXO, 1991) he mentions thatthe wife of Truid Myre (died 1574), of Myregård i Olsker parish, is saidto have had a arms (våben) that looked like a half-bow with severalspikes (en halvbue med nogle spidser), also with a helmet withvesselhorns; this is could very easily be a description of the pike'sjawbone (lobster claw) arms.

Sigvard makes the conclusion that Inger's father Peder Hansen isidentical to the Peder Hansen (-1565-1581-) of Vellensgård, Nykerparish. He states that Peder Hansen of Vellensgård is the brother ofBendt Hansen (-1565-1572-), of Eskesgård in Pedersker parish, who alsomay have owned a farm at Kysten in Ibsker parish. Bendt is recorded ashaving taken possession of a shipwreck off Ibsker's coast, somethingallowed for a nobleman, but the king only recognized him as a freeman,and thus was summoned on November 26, 1565 to appear before the"Herredagen" (High Court) in København. This also lead to the conclusionthat Mette Hansdatter is the sister of Bendt Hansen and Peder Hansen.And that they are the children of a Hans Pedersen who had a "Geddekæft"arms. (Again, this has led some to come to the conclusion that they areall the children of Hans Pedersen Myre of Fuglsangsgård, 6' Vdg. Ibsker.However, again, Hans Pedersen Myre's arms depicted 3 black ants.) Itmust also be noted here that the gravestone of Truid Hansen Myre's wifein Olsker display's the "Geddekæft" image; so she is likely the sister ofLaurids Pedersen and Hans Pedersen, and as such was the aunt of MetteHansdatter! Yet another close family connection for Peder Hansen Uf andMette Hansdatter to the Myre-family!

The following has been extracted from a translation of the article"Landet Borringholm: Bornholmsk-skånske slægtskredse", by Sigvard MahlerDam, published in SAXO, 1986: ". . . the case was put before the"Landsting" (provincial congress) in Åkirkeby on May 22, 1522. Thedetails were discussed, witnesses were heard, and finally a document wasdrawn up and sealed by the most important officials on Bornholm: 1) theCommander of Hammershus, Niels Ibsen; 2) Jørgen Hals' step-brother ChiefJustice Oluf Ottesen (Uf); 3) Jørgen Gagge, who had been made a freeman20 years previously and was an illegitimate born member of theGagge-family of Skåne; 4) Hans Borgeby of Bjerregård; 5) Anders Kos inIbsker parish (of Kåsegård); 6) and the immigrant from Lübeck, PederKofoed, 7) and Morten Lassen, both mayors in Rønne; 8) Lauritz Jul froman old an distinguished family and a bailiff in Østermarie parish; 9)Hans Pedersen from the same parish, who later married Jørgen Hals'sdaughter; 10) and finally the document was signed by the bailiff for Åkerparish, Peder Munck."

(Note: Sigvard seems to have either changed his mind, or miss statedhimself, regarding the above Hans Pedersen (nr. 9) of Østermarie parish -his later writing show that he believes Hans Pedersen to be the same manwho later married the daughter of Anne Hals - the sister of Jørgen Hals -and Poul Olsen of Bjergegård.)

So based on the writtings of Sigvard Mahler Dam, we have a number ofpeople who would seem to be connected to the "Geddekæft" arms in themid-1500s: 1) Peder Kofoed's wife "Inger Peder Hansens Datter"(-1585-1600-); 2) Jørgen Pedersen (died 1588) of Vellensgård in Nykerparish; 3) Laurids Pedersen (-1572-1581-), of Eskesgård in Pederskerparish; 4) Peder Hansen Uf's wife "Mette Hans Pedersens Datter"(-1554?-1574?-); 5) Peder Hansen (-1572-1581-) of Vellensgård in Nykerparish; 6) Bendt Hansen (-1572-), of Eskesgård in Pedersker parish; 7)Chief Justice Laurids Pedersen (-1537-1550-); and 8) Hans Pedersen(-1522?-1537-) of Bjergegård, 9' Vdg. Vestermarie; 9) the wife of TruidHansen Myre (died 1574) of Store Myregård, 5' Vdg. Olsker.

Little is known about Hans Pedersen's parents. Like Hans Pedersen, andbrother Laurids Pedersen, their father Peder probably had the "Geddekæft"arms, and would not have been a member of the Myre-family. An additionalfamily connection could have come through the wife of Truid Hansen Myre -the couple died childless; the couple's gravestone in the Olsker Churchshows the 3 ants of the Myre arms, and the geddekæft/hummerklo arms ofthe Bjergegaard-family. Sigvard speculates that she is the daughter ofHans Pedersen (-1537-1543-) of Bjergegård, 9' Vdg. Vestermarie. Thisprovides us with an opening to speculate on the reason for MetteHansdatter and Peder Hansen Uf obtaining the Myre-family's farms:possibly Mette's father's mother is the daughter of Hans (Pedersen) Myre(mentioned in 1518, dead by 1531) of Fuglsangsgård? And as a result sheand her husband were in line to inherit the farms?

So, in conclusion, the evidence that Inger Pedersdatter, Jørgen Pedersen,and Laurids Pedersen are the children of Peder Hansen of Vellensgård, andthat Peder Hansen, Mette Hansdatter, and Bendt Hansen are the children ofHans Pedersen of Bjergegård - brother of Chief Justice Laurids Pedersen,is very circumstantial - but it is the best theory I have seen so far!Sigvard Mahler Dam refers to this family as the "Bjergegaard-Family",because of their association with the farm of that name: Bjergegård (akaBjerregaard), 9' Vdg. Vestermarie parish.

- Norman Lee Madsen, April 5, 2003.

Extracted from the artictle "Landsdommer-Patriciatet på Bornholm", part2, by Sigvard Mahler Dam, published in SAXO, 1988:
There was need for a new chief justice (in 1537) after two previousunfortunate experiences (which the Lübeckers had with Jens Hansen Myreand Mogens Uf), it can be expect thtat the Lübeckers got a legaljugdement compeling the Danish king to make a particular appoint. In anycase there is good reason to interpret that the choosen mand was on goodterms with Lübeck. Now begins politics as his family's legacy!Lübeckers supported his family on Bornholm; the king supported his exiledopponents on Herredagen (the court of appeal to the king). The chiefjustice had one brother, Hans Pedersen, whose wife's mother (to whom hewas guardian), Anne, disputed over Myregård in Åker parish with theexiled Per Andersen.

Madam Anne's second husband, Hans Borreby, had bequeathed her Myregård,although they had no children together it was legal according to SkåneLaw so long as the gift not more than half share of the total estate.Madam Anne got the Lübeck bailiff to throw Per Andersen off the farm.Per Andersen was surely no paragon of virtue during their feud in 1535,as he was an exile (along with Mogens Uf) by 1537 - taking refuge inKøbenhavn, and he cited Madam Anne to the Herredagen (his wife was HansBorreby's sister), and there he was awarded Myregård via Jyske(Jutlander) Law! And it was hardly by chance. . . .

The antagonism between the crown and Lübeck was also expressed throughthe property that accompanies the high court position. The property,which previously had enriched the magistrate before the reformation ofthe archbishopric in Lund, now belonged under the king's ecclesiasticaljurisdiction. The crown's property lay under Hammershus, and so was nowunder Lübeck's jurisdiction. It goes without saying that the moreproperty the king's own bailiff was able to prove did not belonged to thecrown (administered under Hammershus), but rather to the ecclesiasticaljurisdiction (which was the king's personal property on the island!),well all the better!!! Lübeck had endowed the chief justice with anuncertain number of farms, 3 of them the king's bailiff had deprive tohim under the reasoning that they belonged under ecclesiasticaljurisdiction, even though the farms had for 18 years had beenadministered by Hammershus, which were the farms the chief justiceadministered to profit from their rent.

On the 13th of June 1543 petitioned Laurids Pedersen's brother HansPedersen be endowed with one of the 3 farms, and here again is referenceto the uncertainty as to where the appeal should be heard. The chiefjustice had in the winter of 1542-43 complained to Lübeck about thelossed income from the three missing farms, which King Christian III'sman Stig Pors had confiscated because they had previously been underecclesiastical jurisdiction (and thus now belonged to the crown), andinquired about the above endowments, now wrote to the councilmen inLübeck in reference to the bailiff, who had okayed the endowment of afarm to the magistrate, provided he promised to lend an ear to thebailiff's advice and employed him! Open bribery. Considering the factthat none of Hans Pedersen's three children later held Bjergegård itseems likely that one the farms confiscated by the crown was Bjergegård;this is bolstered by the fact that the farm is known to have been ownedby the crown in 1606.

The last occasion we encounter Laurids Pedersen with surety, is on the10th of June 1545 where he in one apparent tolerably Lübeck-disposedsociety was signatory to a woman's confession after "pinligt forhør"(torture, literally: painful test), as to how she had tried to poison theLübeck bailiff, Blasius a Wickede, at the request of the bailiff's ownwife. The second of undersigner was the succeeding chief justice - alsoa friend to Lübeck - Hans Reimer, then the mayor of Rønne.

Laurids Pedersen was without doubt childless. His brother Hans Pedersenhad a daughter, Mette (Hansdatter), who later married a future chiefjustice (Peder Hansen Uf), and also a great-grandchild, Karen(Jørgensdatter), who likewise would marry a future chief justice (MadsHansen Kofoed). Neither of his sons (Peder and Bendt Hansen) were laterable to attain a high court seat, although one was involved in a jointjudgement: on 13th of September 1583 chief justice Peder Hansen (Uf) and3 freemen, including Bendt Hansen, addressed the citizens (borgere) ofNexø concerning the matter of salvage money.

About the family before Laurids and Hans Pedersen nothing is known. Itis interesting however that the family-arms are the same as the extinctfamily Split: on a red field a white half lobster claw, on the helmet twowhite vesselhorns (i rødt feldt en hvid halv hummerklo, på hjelmen tohvide vesselhorn). The arms are known for the above mentioned MetteHansdatter and her husband, Peder Hansen (Uf), on a still preserved pewseat hung in Klemensker church. Also known is the report of a gravestonein Østermarie, for Peder Kofoed and his two wives, Elsebeth Gagge andInger Peder Hansens Datter. Inger was the niece of Madam Mette, and thereport describes "et våben nærmest som et kindben" (an arms adjacent witha cheekbone); note: if the lobster claw image is turned point up it lookssimilar to the lower jaw from a skull. An interesting example ofcombination family-arms on the island displays a Kofoed chevron"straddled across" one such lobster claw with point up.

Lastly, an interesting possible tracing concerns the family's many latergenerations of residence at Eskegård in Pedersker, which may be placed incontext regarding "Væbner" (arms carrier) Hans Bentsen of said farm,mention in 1429 by chief justice Peter Bosen.

From the Landbohistorisk Selskab website (Adkomstregistering for theyears 1513 through 1550), for the year 1537:

1537-461: Anne bonde i Myregård, enke efter Hans Borigbøg; Ellen (Eline)bonde, gift med Peder Andersen på Bornholm, senere i Myregård, søster tilafdøde Hans Borigbøg i Myregård; Hans Borigbøg bonde, døde, i Myregård,gift med Anne; Peder Andersen bonde på Bornholm, senere i "Myregård",gift med Elline, søster til afdøde Hans Borigbøg ibid; Bornholm ø;Myregård Bornholm, sikkert Sønder hered, mon Pedersker sogn(?), eventueltÅker eller Povlsker sogn.

1537-462: Anne bonde i Myregård, enke efter Hans Borigbøg; Bernt Knop,lybsk foged på Bornholm; Hans Borigbøg bonde, døde, i Myregård, gift medAnne; Henning Thomesen, tinghører i Bornholms Sønder herred, mon = kongChristian II's foged på Hammershus(?); Jens Hansen bonde [???],landsdommer på Bornholm; Bornholm ø; Bornholms Sønder herred; MyregårdBornholm, sikkert Sønder herred, mon Pedersker sogn(?), eventuelt Åkereller Povlsker sogn.

1537-463 ; Anne bonde i Myregård, enke efter Hans Borigbøg; Hans Borigbøgbonde, døde, i Myregård, gift med Anne; Myregård Bornholm, sikkert Sønderherred, mon Pedersker sogn(?), eventuelt Åker eller Povlsker sogn.

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

***

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

. . . . the case was put before the "Landsting" (Senate) in Åkirkeby on
May 22, 1522. The details were discussed, witnesses were heard, and
finally a document was drawn up and sealed by the most important
officials on Bornholm: 1) the Commander of Hammershus, Niels Ibsen; 2)
Jørgen Hals' step-brother Chief Justice Oluf Ottesen (Uf); 3) Jørgen
Gagge, who had been made a freeman 20 years previously and was an
illegitimate born member of the Gagge-family of Skåne; 4) Hans Borgeby of
Bierregård; 5) Anders Kos in Ibsker parish (of Kåsegård); 6) and the
invaders from Lübeck, Peder Kofoed, 7) and Morten Lassen, both mayors in
Rønne; 8) Lauritz Jul from an old an distinguished family and a bailiff
in Østermarie parish; 9) Hans Pedersen from the same parish, who later
married Jørgen Hals' daughter; 10) and finally the document was signed by
the bailiff for Åker parish, Peder Munck.

* * * *
Hans Pedersen mentioned in a record dated 1491. Våben: I rødt felt en
hvid halv hummerklo (Coat-of-arms: On a red field a white half
lobster-claw). Possibly the same person as the above "Hans Pedersen from
the same parish, who later married Jørgen Hals' daughter"?

Hans Pedersen's widow is known to have been alive in 1523 and in 1537.

Michael EneRiis database states that Hans Pedersen's son Bendt Hansen and
grandson Laurids Pedersen attended the 1572 "Frimandsmødet"; it also
links them, and Jørgen Pedersen (died 1588) of Vellensgård, to the
"hummerklo" coat-of-arms.

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, Bendt
Hansen, Laurids Pedersen, and also eight other men only listed by their
patronyms; and at which occassion three Danish Parlimentary advisers
(Rigsråder) had been sent to preside over the meeting. This special
meeting was held to establish who on Bornholm had the right to call
themselves a "Frimand" (Free-man), a title which conveyed the upper-class
standing of the landed-gentry.

* * * *
1572: Bendt Hansen deltog i mødet om hvem der var frimænd på Bornholm.
Våben: Hummerklo.

In "Ludvig Kristian Kure's aner", af Aage Kure, (published in 1998), he
is listed under heading: "Hummerklo" (Lobster-claw).

In "Danmarks Adelsårbog", 1901, page 231:
Hans Myre held the status of free-man (frimand). He inherited 6' Vdg.
Fuglsangsgård, in Klinteby, Ibsker parish. Owner also of Bjergegård, 24'
Vdg. Åker. In 1511 he is named in Anders Galen's will (testamente) on
his wife's behalf; disputed with Jørgen Hals about inheritance. His
wife's mother, Anna Hals is sister to Jørgen Hals. Anna and Jørgen's
mother is n.n. Andersdatter Galen, of the skåne noble-family.
Myre-family's noble coat-of-arms displays three "myrer" (ants). . . .

Mette Hansdatter inherited a number of the Myre-family farms, including
Fuglsangsgård (later known as Gaggegård, still later as: I Klinteby), 6'
Vdg. in Ibsker. Mette also owned Pæregård, 3' Vdg. (Nylars or
Østerlars?), which she probably brought into her marriage Peder Hansen Uf
as a dowry, as the farm thereafter became part of Simblegård's
estate-lands - which her husband had inherited. She inherited the
Myre-family farm: Store Myregård in Åker parish, which had previously
been owned by Peder Hansen Myre (died 1572). After Mette inherited her
brother Truid Myre's farms, they too were included as part of
Simblegård's estate-lands. Later Mette's daughter Margrethe/Merete
Pedersdatter's children inherited some of the properties: Claus Gagge
inherited 6' Vdg. Ibsker, and Sivert Gagge inherited Store Myregård in
Åker. Margrethe's first husband Henning Gagge died in 1606, and she
shortly thereafter married Hans Grabow/Grabau. Hans Grabow took over
Simblegård in 1609, and after his death in 1626 it went to his son,
Joachim/Jochum, from a previous marriage. In 1632 Joachim Grabow
exchanged 24 farms with the king, and also sold six farms to private
buyers.

This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto,
Ontario, copyright 1990-2001.

Hans blev gift med NN Poulsdatter cirka 1524. NN (datter af Poul Olsen og Anne Hals) blev født cirka 1490 i 9. vgd. Store Bjergegård, Vestermarie Sogn; døde efter 1537 i 9. vgd. Store Bjergegård, Vestermarie Sogn. [Gruppeskema] [Familietavle]

Andre Begivenheder og Egenskaber:

• Ane-nr.: Ane 15.17950 (Sommer)
• Ane-nr.: Ane 15.26730 (Garde)