Here is a letter discussing the Kofoed family tree starting with Frederik Frederiksen (Møller) and Elisabeth Sofie Koefoed (1705-1783), ending about 1900. It was written by a "K.A. Jensen" in Rønne, Bornholm, on 18 Dec 1951 to his relative in California, probably Mathilde Mikkelsen, a Kofoed cousin.

Mr. Jensen shared personal stories about the family history. I have re-typed the letter's text ( below) so that it might be searchable & translatable.

But please:do not copy, share, post or quote any part of this letter without noting the source (this Website or me). I share this letter because it is interesting, but there are NO sources given for this lovely data. So, do not treat it as "fact" but rather as interesting anecdotes, and relationships that you will need to verify. I will be happy if one of you Danish speakers will do that verification!

I. Frederich FREDERICHSEN with the surname Møller.

Was a sergeant in Bornholm military and the owner of 3 Slg. Møllegaard in Rø where he died the year 1743.

He was married (5 Jan-1729) to Elisabeth Sofie KOEFOED, born 1705, dead 1783. She was the daughter of Hans Jensen KOEFOED, born (1 Nov 1664), dead (10 July 1741), a captain at the 4th National-company, Bornholm's Military, owner of the farm 22 Slg. Sjellegaard in Østermarie, later on the owner of Kofoedgaard in Vestermarie. His first wife was Kirstine Koefoed of Kofoedgaard, Østermarie. she died the year 1703, whereupon he remarried in 1704 to Karen Jensdatter BOHN, the widow of the vicar in Klemensker, Oluf Jensen AALBORG, and she herself was of the family Bohn from Rønne and was (consequently? therefore?) the mother of Elisabeth Sofie Koefoed. Hans Jensen Koefoed, born (1 Nov 1664) was the son of Bornholm's liberator Jens Pedersen Kofoed, Maglegaard, Østermarie and his wife, born Sandersdatter.

II. Jens Frederichsen Koefoed (Frederich Frederichsens youngest son) born 1738 on Møllegaard in Rø, which he took over and where he died (23 March 1794). his wife Ann Ipsdatter married again to Christen Kofoed, born 1764 on "St. Myregaard" in Nylars. she died 1820.

III. Frederich Jensen Koefoed, born 1787 on Møllegaard in Rø, married to Kristina Ambrosdatter [note: is probably Ambrosiusdatter?--LKW], born 1790, the daughter of Ambros Ambrosen, a smith and the owner of 27 Slg. Løkkegaard in Rø.

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The year 1824 they moved from Stangegaard, Østerlars, to 60 Slg. Store Almegaard in Østermarie.

Fr. Jensen Kofoed and Kristiana Ambrosdatter had 4 children (A-B-C-D)

A.

Jens Frederich Kofoed (he lived under the name Jens Kofoed Almegaard) was baptised in the church in Østerlars (Oct. 11, 1812). At a distribution in 1837 he stated that he lived in Aaker Parish and in 1845 that he lived on 71 Slg. Langensgaard Pcl. in Østermarie. In 1850 they lived in 16 Udg. Parcel in Lindet, Østermarie. From here they were said to have moved to Svaneke in 1874.

B.

Esper Christian Kofoed, baptised 19 May 1814, lived on Tyndekillegaard in Klemensker. (His son, Frederik Espersen Kofoed, lived on Skaerpingegaard in Rø. I remember him from my childhood, and I also know his daughter, Mrs. Møller, Hyldebrandsgaard.)

C.

Christiane Kofoed, baptized (8 May 1816), was married 1837 to Jens Madsen from Trepaeglegaard in Østermarie. They at the same time took over Store Almegaard in Østermarie after her stepfather (my great-grandfather) Esper Pedersen Marcher. My great-frandfather moved from Store Almegaard as a pensioner to the small estate on 63 Slg. Pcl. which we call "Bodal"). I and my sisters were born there and also our father was born there. Jens Madsen and Christiane could not manage Store Almegaard very long. Already in 1841 Store Almegaard was sold under a writ of execution and Jens Madsen and Christiane went to Copenhagen. In 1853 Christiane wrote to her father [E.P.M.] that he should come and visit them in Copenhagen. In the meantime Cholera broke out in Copenhagen and Christiane wrote again to her father that he should not come for that reason. At that time, there was not a regular mail delivery. The letter

 

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was given to Ole Blum, Store Almegaard, once he was in Rønne. But he forgot about the letter and walked around with it in his pocket for three weeks before it was delivered and at that time my great-grandfather had already gone to Copenhagen. One morning while great-grandfather was there, Jens Madsen went shopping for some bread, but he did not come back. He was taken ill of Cholera on the street and died and he was taken away and buried before any message came to Christiane that she had become widowed.
Great-gandfather came back home safe and sound and lived twenty years afterwards.

 

Jens Madsen and Christiane had 3 sons.

1. The oldest one died young of Cholera.

2. The second one was a mate and his name was said to be Hans Michael Jensen, but he lived under the name Ambrosen. He shipwrecked and drowned at Norway's coast. I remember his widow [??-a] Ambrosen from my early childhood. She lived in Svaneke (a house with a very high staircase which I could not find again after I grew up). Among other things I remember very clearly her white cats. She was born Ipsen and was from Braendesgaard in Ibsker. You probably also remember her.

3. The third son I remember was called Jens. He was also a sailor. he settled and got married in England and died suddenly of a heart attack.He corresponded with my father in my childhood.

D.

The last of the four brothers and sisters was called Ambros Kofoed, baptised (16 Sept. 1820). He was a farmer and lived in Kemensker. He had five children. One son Hans Ambrosen Kofoed went to America. Three daughters and one son lived here and I know the families of their descendants.

 

We will go back to your grandfather Jens Kofoed Almegaard. His wife Petra Johanne Skovgaard was born 1815 in Nexø. (This family "SKOVGAARD" is still

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living and I know several members of the family.)

After [According to] the information I have, Jens Kofoed Almegaard had 6 children.

-One son, Fred Kristian Kofoed emigrated to America [hand written: lived in N.Y.]
-Another son Jens Otto (whom you have mentioned). [hand written:"Grandpa"]
-One daughter, who is your mother. [hand written: "Matilde Mikkelson's/Pedersen ?"
- One daughter Ambrosine, who went to America. [hand written: "Tante"]

-One daughter Louisa Margrethe, whom you have mentioned. [hand written: "Died young"]

-One son Kristen Olsen Kofoed, born 1859. He died young.

I remember your mother and miller Mikkelsen well. I have as a little boy been with my parents and grandmother at Traebenegaard. I once, last summer, drove by Traebenegaard. It burned down a number of years ago and is now rebuilt as an elegant brick-built farm, and where the old carp ponds were, are now fertile meadow. The beautiful work of your father's manhood, Traebene and Gadeby mills, have both been the objects of fire during the last 25 years.

Your mother had, because of religious disagreement, moved away from her parents, (she joined Pastor Tranberg's Parish) and lived with my grandmother. Your father was a widower when he built Traebene mill. He bought an old house just about the same place where Gadeby mill was built. At the same time he bought two old post-mills, one close to the street and one close to the --?-- bridge. They moved to the old house and there your father during the winter made castors and other furniture for the new Gadeby mill. He had finished this at Easter time, but then, by ill-luck, your half-brother, Hans Mikkelson, one morning during the holidays where nearly everybody else were in church got hold of some matches and wanted to see whether some shaving[wood shavings?] could burn. As it was very windy he succeeded only too well and both the old house and all the finished mill-furniture went up in flames, and as it was not insured it was a hard blow for him, but nevertheless he did build Gadeby mill.

A sister of Hans Marcher, Christine, was married to Laurits Ipsen and lived in Vigen. You probably remember them. they had three children. One daughter, Laura, is living as a widow in Søborg outside copenhagen. Christian was for 50 years employed by Hannibal Sanders Factories in Endrup. He has now retired and is living with a daughter in Gentofte. I have just recently visited him. He is in his late 70th, but is looking quite well.

The other daughter was my father's mother, whom you remember. You also know my father. He died 6 years ago.