| Notater |
- Some details on Jens Kofoed Pedersen's life, as described in J?rn Klindt's book "P? spor af de f?rste Kofod'er", published in 1979, and translated by his descendant Elene Marie Lau in 1996:
Jens Kofoed Pedersen was born in R?nne and enjoyed the priviliged childhood of being the son of a well-to-do merchant in R?nne. He is said to have been the brightest and most adventuresome of Peder and Elisabeth's children. Although a Danish-Latin school had recently opened in R?nne (with Rasmus Ravn, Bornholm's first historian, as its principal) that was not the route deemed best for Jens; for in 1641, at 13 years old, he was sent to Hanseatic league's queen-city: L?beck, finding employment there with the merchant Robert Wickne. Though he only stayed in his service for about half-a-year, for what could the cosmopolitan center of L?beck offer when the world beyond beckoned?!
Jens Kofoed went to sea in the Easter of 1642, first travelling to Danzig. Finally, he ended up in Jerez de la Frontera, on the south-western coast of Andalusia, Spain. He worked for two years in the service of the Johanniter nobleman Don Leon de la Quece, and for three more years with his replacement the vicar Don Diego de la Dame. It is not known exactly what he was doing in Jerez - the town that has given its name to sherry. Already back then their wines were widely renowned: William Shakespeare favoured the sherry from Jerez. The town is located 20 km in land from the ports of Cadiz and Puerto de Santa Maria, and they were some of the most important harbour-towns in the wine, oil, and salt trade; so they naturally maintained close contact with the Hanseatic league ports, and as well with Danish ports.
In 1647, then only 19 years old, Jens set-out for Bornholm, he surely must have longed to see the beaches of Bornholm, his family, and perhaps the Bornholmer girls? More probably the troubling news of his families down-fall had reached his ears. In any case, he hired onto a danish ship, to look out for its cargo, and by the end of September had arrived in K?benhavn, and soon after that left for R?nne. When summer and sailing-weather returned, he sailed to L?beck to visit his exiled and broken father, who died late that same year still exiled in L?beck.
It was during the following few years that R?nne experienced a gruesome witch-hunt of never before known dimensions. It was considered every Christian's duty to report any signs of witchery to the authorities, who consequently persecuted the accused with great zeal. Jens Pedersen Kofoed himself started such a process, as he felt himself to have been "bewitched", and suspected his old wet-nurse, Boel Anne, to be responsible.
After getting her drunk, and with witnesses hidden from view, he managed to cajole a confession of witchery out of her: she admitted to having been payed to do so by a woman whose son had received a sound beating from the self-assured Jens Kofoed. The five years in Spain seems to have made him brisk and authoritative - he did not take kindly to the offense, for he reported Boel Anne to the bailiff. She was arrested and locked up in the basement of the town-hall, where she was "convinced" to inform on four other women as being members of her "witch-coven".
The women were arrested and confessed, as expected, to having entered into a pact with the Devil himself. That they had gathered the local meeting place for witches, called a "Blaakulla", for witch's sabbath. They also confessed to having gone to the Bl?kulla in Kalmarsund, on the swedish peninsula, where they had danced and sported with the "Black Majesty"! They told of having learned their witch-craft at Roseng?rden in R?nne - which until 1645 had been the residense of Holger Rosenkrans. The foreign lifestyle of the wealthy nobleman and his many guests, and their carryings-on, apparently seemed so weird to R?nne's citizens that the admission of learning witch-craft there was easily accepted!
Boel Anne was sentenced to be burnt alive, and on June 6, 1652, the proceedings took place; one of the other accused witches, Christopher's wife Karen, had already died in her prison cell, and her body was burnt along side Boel Anne's. A third, weaver Hans Niemand's wife Triniche, escaped the fire by jumping down a well to her death. The fourth, Thale - the wife of a "B?dsmand" (boatswain), was later burnt alive on November 28, 1652. The last of the accused, Mourids Ibsen's wife Anniche, managed to put up bail and appeal to a higher court, this finally put a stop to the horrendous chain-reaction. The court found that the fourth "witch" had been bribed to inform on Anniche; the bribe consisted of being allowed to get drunk whenever she felt like, and doing whatever she wanted! For this reason the last "witch" was set free.
Jens Kofoed, who after all had just done his Christian duty, continued to help his mother manage her business dealings; also he began to cast his eye about for a suitable wife. Sander Lesler, the mayor in Hasle, was related to the wife Jens Kofoed's uncle, Chief Justice Mads Kofoed, had died in 1639; but his widow still resided at a "merchant's farm" (k?bmandsg?rden) in Hasle with her 18 year old daughter Margrethe, a very suitable match, and surely a lovely lass! Jens proposed, was accepted and the wedding took place on his 25 birthday in 1653, the day he legally came of age. The young couple settled in Hasle, and Jens aquired a merchant's farm of his own.
The new father was still a restless and quick-tempered young man, and during a visit to R?nne on July 26, 1655 he got into a fight with another young man, named Mogens Hansen; with the result that Jens Kofoed drew his sword and killed the man with a few serious blows. This killing could have had dire consequences for the young father - first of all he had to compensate the family of the victim, which was done satisfactorily; but yet to be faced was the court trial which could result in a death sentence. For a well-to-do citizen there were ways to delay a trial, and in 1657 he managed to get a further postponement due to a letter issued by King Fredrik III, who had just declared war on Sweden. The letter stated that the trial would be delayed as long as Jens Kofoed joined the Sj?llander Regiment, bringing with him another soldier, plus two armoured horses to the campaign against the Swedes in Sk?ne.
He served with "Ritmester" (Captain of the Horse) Knud Urne's company in Sk?ne and soon found himself on the front line. Through out the autumn of 1657 the fighting went back and forth between ?ngelholm and Halmstad. When the alarming news came that the swedish King, Karl Gustav X, had halted his campaign against the northern german states and had turned his entire army toward the Danish southern-border, the Danish military-command recalled the cavalry stationed in Sk?ne.
After Jens Pedersen Kofoed was stationed at winter-quarters on Sj?lland, he asked for two weeks Christmas leave on Bornholm. This was granted and he left for Bornholm on December 21, where everything was well: the three year old Margrethe and the one year old Sidsele were expecting to receive a new sibling as a Christmas-gift at the very time their dad returned home. The new year of 1658, which turned out to be the most dramatic in Bornholm's history, started out beautifully with a double christening in Hasle Church: Lisbet and Anna were the names given to the twin-girls.
That winter turned out to be unusually cold, already in January the sea-ice was spreading rapidly. This meant that he was therefore unable to return to his regiment on Sj?lland. This was obviously a violation of military law, and he therefore got the mayor and town council in Hasle to issue a statement that he could not possibly have been able to leave Bornholm because of the ice. With this in his pocket he could without fear of reprisal return to his regiment on Sj?lland. Bornholm had in the meantime been occupied by the Swedes.
The Swedish General Wrangel's forces invaded Jylland from the south. They took Fredriksodde fortress and from there marched across the ice (an unprecedented feat, possible only because of the unusual cold) to the island of Fyn, and hence on to Lolland and then Sj?lland. That meant that K?benhavn was open to attack; which forced the Danish crown to sue for peace, and in the resulting "Peace of Roskilde" (concluded on February 26, 1658) Denmark lost its provinces Sk?ne (Scania) and Blekinge, the district of Bohus, Trondheim (in Norge/Norway), and the island of Bornholm.
As the sea-ice prevented any communication with Bornholm, no one there knew of this incredible turn of events. Not until April 16, when the ice broke and a fishing-boat from Sk?ne brought the news, did the Bornholmers realize that they, without being asked, had been made Swedish by the stroke of a feather-quill! On April 29 the new Swedish Commandant, Colonel (Oberst) Johan Printzensk?ld, landed with 120 Musketeers and began exploring their new province; all the while preparing the Bornholmers for their new nationality.
By May 18, 1658, delegates had been chosen to make a journey to Malm? and stand before Corfits Ulfeld and swear allegiance to the Swedish King. The delegates included Jens Kofoed's cousins Mads Madsen Kofoed (c.1616-before 1665) of Eskesg?rd, Hans Olufsen Kofoed (c.1630-1694) of Blykobbeg?rd, and Peder Madsen Kofoed (c.1622-1688) of Svaneke, as well as his own brother Hans Pedersen Kofoed (c.1627-before 1681) of R?nne.
The Swedish King renewed the war - in spite of the recently signed treaty - in August of 1658 by landing at Kors?r and shortly afterwards surrounding K?benhavn, this time firmly intent on "erasing" Denmark. This meant the situation radically altered for both Printzensk?ld and the Bornholmers: Printzensk?ld was stranded and felt himself isolated on an island with a hostile populace, whom he was forced to rob for money and young soldiers for the Swedish Army; while the Bornholmers felt ill at ease over the occupying forces being at war with their mother-land, hoping that liberation would soon be the outcome. The prospects did not look too promising for Denmark that fall: K?benhavn was the only remaining strong-hold, and King Fredrik III had declared that he "would die in his nest".
Luckily for Denmark a Dutch armada appeared in the ?resund and came to their rescue. For the Dutch had taken over the Hanseatic League role as protectors of free-trade in the region, and they considered that the Swedes would become too dominating a force if they managed to amalgamate Denmark.
The heavy taxes and forced conscription by the Swedes angered the Bornholmers, and a conspiracy began to form: its purpose to overwhelm the Swedish occupying force, recapture Hammershus fortress, and deliver Bornholm back to Denmark. A highly dangerous enterprise to be sure, but the core group of men from Hasle were both determined and effective. This group consisted of the clergyman for Hasle and Rutsker parishes: Poul Hansen Ancher (c.1629-1697), its mayor: Peder Olsen, and Jens Pedersen Kofoed, who was the only one who had fought against the Swedes - therefore it is thought that his hatred towards the enemy, and his violent temper, aided in the quick and decisive outcome of the uprising; another major factor was that he probably had a fairly clear idea of just how weak the Swedish garrison of Hammerhus really was. The leaders divided the tasks: the Pastor Poul Ancher would mobilize the citizens; Peder Olsen was to take care of communications with the Danish government in K?benhavn; and Jens Kofoed to organize and lead the armed attack.
On December 8, 1658 Johan Printzensk?ld rode out from Hammershus fortress for R?nne, where a ship was to set sail with a request for reinforcements for the Swedish garrison, which only numbered around 100 men. Printzensk?ld was extremely worried about a possible landing of Danish or Dutch troops, being conscious of the fact that he could not rely on "these Danes," which he ironically named the Bornholmers.
We are luck to have Jens Pedersen Kofoed's own description of the events of the uprising, although it is not the original it dates from around 1700. The simple, straight-forward tone and detailed description of the events make the story ring true, and after some consideration by historians Jens Kofoed has been accepted as the primary source. Fortunately a contemporary Swedish description has been found to corroborate his description; this from a ship's coxswain from Ystad, Jens Fribonde, which he gave to the Swedish authorities after his release as a prisoner-of-war.
1) Jens Pedersen Kofoed's "true and proper account of how Bornholm was wrested from the Swedes":
It was a Wednesday when the Swedish Commander rode from Hammershus Fortress to Hasle, where he summoned Mayor Peder Olsen to the street and gave him a grave warning to pay the levyed taxes or face the dire consequences. Then he rode on to R?nne to stay with its Mayor, Peder Laursen. As soon as the Commander left Hasle, Poul Anker and I went by sleigh from Hasle to Nyker, where Mr. Jacob had promised to provide 20 men whenever needed. But I could not get any men to help - only a horse, a gun, and a sabre. I then rode on alone to Blykobbegaard along the rode to R?nne, stopping to wait in the Skule-forest for my comrades: Captain Niels Guml?se, Aage Fenrik, and Claus Nielsen, all of Hasle, at which time we were joined by the Steward (Ridefoged) of Hammershus fortress - Jens Laursen Risom, and farmer Hans Nielsen. I gave Jens Laursen Risom my gun, seeing as he had none, and next rode to get myself another at Blykobbegaard.
All five of us rode in the darkness to R?nne, intent on arriving at my brother Mads Kofoed's house. As we rode down the street we saw the Swedish bailiff, Jens Persson, walk past us towards Mayor Peder Laursen's house, where Commander Printzensk?ld was staying. Since he had seen us riding with our guns we figured it best to state our business to Printzensk?ld at once. We placed Aage Fenrik and Claus Nielsen to guard the gate, not knowing how many men were with Printzensk?ld. I entered the room first, followed by Niels Guml?se and Jens Laursen Risom, and immediately asked him if he wished to surrender - as he was the only Swede there. He at once cried out, falling down between the table and the bench; we pulled him up again to sit by the table, upon which lay a large parcel and a sealed letter. When asked from where they came he answered: from his Lord and King in Sweden and they were to be sent on to Pomerania. So I quickly snatched the mail declaring, "de skal til min Herre og Konge i Danmark" (this is going to be sent to my Lord and King in Denmark).
Next we took hold of Printzensk?ld to take him outside, at which point some other citizens came to help; as soon as we had him on the street, he broke free and ran away. I shouted for him to stop, but he did not heed, and immediately a shot was fired and he fell down dead. Two guards were posted by his body, so that it would not be robbed while we were looking for his servant and the other Swedes in town. We found all but two: his secretary and rider had hidden, but we found and arrested them the next day. Printzensk?ld's body was then brought into R?nne's town-hall.
2) Jens Fribonde's description:
Two weeks before Christmas the Commander rode from the Fortress to R?nne and took lodging as usual at Mayor Peder Laursen's. It was then they gathered around the house: Claus Kames, Jens Kofoed, Niels Guml?se, Willum Clausen, Mads Kofoed, and others. Next Jens Kofoed went into the room with his gun and sabre pointing at Printzensk?ld; Niels Guml?se struck him with his gun, causing him to fall down under the table, whereupon they began to drag him outside, crying: "Out with you - you blood-hound!" At which point the mayor intervened pleading, "Please, good men stop and think before you do harm." To which Jens Kofoed replied, "Everything is enfolding as planned."
The Commander then requested to surrender, and they promised him clemency; as they were taking him out of the room both Mayor Laursen and his brother, Daniel, pleaded for him. But the Mayor was struck on the chest with a musket and Daniel was beaten, so that he had to crawl away out onto the street. Next Willum Clausen went to Printzensk?ld and raised his pistol to Printzensk?ld's left eye and fired a shot, and the Commander fell down dead in the street; after which both Jens Kofoed and Niels Guml?se each fired a shot into him. They then chased Printzensk?ld's attendants, firing shots at them as they tried to escape, causing them to surrender.
Commentary on the two accounts:
Both of the above descriptions are internal reports - not meant as propaganda - one from each of the two warring camps. No real difference is stated in the progression of events, of course there is some discrepancy of certain details and in the evaluation of the purpose. There is really only one major discrepancy: why was Printzensk?ld shot dead? Was it because he tried to flee, or was it a deliberate act? Both sources inform us he was offered amnesty, that the remaining Swedes in R?nne were spared, and that the next day the rebels only threatened to kill them in order to force the Swedes to surrender Hammershus fortress. This clearly suggests that they had only planned to take Printzensk?ld prisoner - for what would have been gained by killing him? It was Jens Kofoed's brother-in-law Willum Clausen who fired the pistol, and only he could tell what spurred him to action.
As stated above Jens Pedersen Kofoed led a band of men north to the fortress of Hammershus, where they convinced the Swedish army-unit stationed there to surrender. He and his men would then take as prisoners-of-war swedish re-inforcement troops as they landed at Sandvig during Christmas-time.
That generation of Kofoeds was strongly represented in the early hours of the uprising: besides the leader Jens Kofoed, there were his brother Mads Kofoed, his cousins from Blykobbeg?rd: Hans Kofoed Olufsen and his brother Claus Kofoed, and his sister's husband Willum Clausen Kelou. The location of these events was R?nne's mainstreet: Storegade; along which were located the Kofoed families homes, side-by-side with Mayor Peder Laursen's house. R?nne was still very small at that time, the current large town-square was then only a green area with trails leading out to the surrounding farmsteads. Further down the street, across from the present latin-school, was the old town-hall; before which are placed memorial stones to commemorate the spot where Printzensk?ld was shot dead. The dramatic shots fired by Jens Kofoed and Niels Guml?se into the already dead enemy were significant: this legitimized Willum Clausen's questionable murder of Printzensk?ld as part of the uprising, now everyone was equally responsible - there was no going back!
On December 29, 1658 Peder Olsen and 10 other men were sent to K?benhavn to inform King Frederik III that Bornholm was once again Danish property. They were granted and audience with King Frederik the 3rd on December 29th, and presented him with a "gavebrev" (gift deed - a pledge of allegiance) from their island. They also brought a list of the names of 22 Bornholmers who had a prominent role in the liberation of the island: first on the list was "Hr. Poffuel Ancker Sougnepr?st til Rydskier och Hasle Sougner haffer V?rit baade i Raad och Daad til all denne Hans Kongl. May:tts tienneste med Toug, Vagt Reystning, och endnu flittig bes?ger land Vagterne." (Mr. Poul Ancher, Parish-clergyman for Rutsker and Hasle Parishes, having Done both in Counsel and Deed all in the His Royal Majesty's interest with this Campaign, Guard Duty, and continuing diligent Defence of the land.) There were 10 men from R?nne named on the list: Mayor Claus Kames, Hans Christensen (Storch), Willum Clausen (Kelou), Skipper Hans Lauridsen, Skipper Jens Jensen, Anders Staale, Morten Mortensen, Oluf Andersen, Mads Kofoed Pedersen and Mogens Tidemand; 10 men from Hasle: Poul Ancher, Jens Kofoed Pedersen, Byfoged Niels Guml?se, Ridefoged Jens Lauridsen (Risom), Aage Svendsen, Claus Nielsen, Erland Olufsen, "Rigens Hofmesters tjener" (the Kingdom's Steward's servant) Hans Mathiasen and an unnamed second servant; and 2 from Nyker: freeman Hans Kofoed Olsen and his brother Claus Kofoed Olsen.
For his bravery and saving Bornholm for Denmark, King Frederik gave Jens Pedersen Kofoed a "fredebrev" (pardon), for the original deed of manslaughter, and promoted him to Captain in Bornholm's militia. He was also awarded 200 Rigsdaler per year for life, and free use of the Captain's farm in ?stermarie parish: the 5 Slg. - known as Magleg?rd.
He lived at Magleg?rd the rest of his life and was buried in the church in ?stermarie, where there is still a portrait of him. A painting of Jens Pedersen Kofoed by an unknown artist is displayed at Frederiksborg Castle; a copy is kept in Bornholm's museum in R?nne. The painting shows his arms and tells, in latin, that is was painted in 1683, when he was 55 years old. Historians since the 18th century have named him with great honour "Bornhoms Befrieren" - which translates as: Liberator of Bornholm. The Officers Union of Bornholm raised him a monument at Sandvig's harbour in the 300th anniversary of his birth. Later, a street in K?benhavn was named "Jens Kofods Gade" in his honour.
See Notes for wife Margrethe Sandersdatter Lesler for information from the probate held after Jens Kofoed Pedersen's death.
This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 21 July 2015.
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1628 - 1691 (62 år)
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