Kildehenvisninger
1. [Født: Ca. 1556 i Pg. St. Almegård, Knudsker Sogn, Bornholms Vester Herred,
Bornholm]
- kilde: Titel: Oplysninger fra Michael Erichsen - GED-fil via mail , i arkivet:
2. [Død: 1606 i Pg. St. Almegård, Knudsker Sogn, Bornholms Vester Herred, Bornholm]
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Biografi Oplysninger fra Michael Erichsen - GED-fil via mail
In 1572 a meeting was held by Bornholm's Parliament to establish who hadthe right to the status of
'Frimand' (Free-man) on Bornholm. Of course,that meeting had a broader purpose: a war in which
Lübeck and Danmark hadfought side-by-side had ended two years previously, and there was
anotherthree years before the Lübeck 50 year claim to Bornholm was to expire;although Lübeck
claimed that it had been given a further 50 years. Inthis predicament it was wise for the King to
establish locally situatedallies; and Bornholm's influential free-men, who normally would have
beensnubbed by the King and the true nobility, were now in a position toreceive benevolent
treatment from the Danish government.
At the 'Frimandsmødet' held on September 6, 1572 there were 17 men namedas being in attendance:
Jørgen Gagge, Peder Poulsen Kofoed, the brothersJens and Hans Madsen Kofoed, Oluf Bagge, Peder Uf,
Peder Myre, also tenother men only listed by their father's name. It seems they had aninkling of
things to come, and therefore begged the King not to lethimself be 'seduced' by Lübeck's
representative Sweder Ketting, 'becauseyou might expect that Lübeck only plotted to keep our island
under theiryoke.' This was during the period in which Bornholm was strongly underthe influence (and
rulership) of the Hanseatic League free-city ofLübeck; the Bornholmers felt greatly put upon by the
high taxes, unfairrules, and high-handedness of the Lübeckers.
In his youth Jørgen Gagge is known to have travelled to Germany. Hejoined the Danish Navy, in which
service he stayed until 1589. After hisreturn home he married the highly esteemed, and wealthy,
Chief JusticePeder Hansen Uf's daughter Margrethe. At a farm of his in Hasle, onAugust 9, 1592, he
played host to a german diplomat from Saxony, Hr. vonSchwerin, who was on his way to Stockholm;
who, after many days at sea,preferred to travel by road across Bornholm, before once again
settingsail to Skåne.
While residing at Store Almegård the couple donated an artisticallyexquisite alter-wall tablet to
St. Knud's Church in 1596; the tablet ispreserved in the Danish National Museum in København.
Jørgen Gaggeinherited the family-estate of Store Almegård from his parents; he alsomanaged the
proprietair-estate Simblegård, in Klemensker, after hisfather-in-law's death. In 1601 he had a
church-bell cast for KlemenskerChurch. Through his wife he also became the owner of
theproprietair-estate Store Myregård and Sortegård, 3' Slg., both in Åkerparish.
The following is from 'De bornholmske væbnerslægter Uf og Splid - nogetnyt om deres våbener', by
Sigvard Mahler Dam:
In Thurah's 'Bornholmsbeskrivelse', on page 70, can be found thefollowing: 'In the church of this
parish (Saint Knud's Church i Knudskerparish) the altar-tablet has been preserved in excellent
condition and onit is engraved:
'Anno 1596, da gav Jörgen Gagge og hans Hustrue Mette Peder Hansdatterdenne Tavle til St. Knuds
Kirke. Begge Givernes Vaabener staaer der vedudhugne.'
Translated to english:
'The year 1596, Jörgen Gagge and his wife Mette Peder Hansen's daughterdonated this tablet to St.
Knud's Church. Both donors' coats-of-armshave been engraved into the tablet.'
This led me to believe I hopefully would find some colouredcoat-of-arms. Jørgen Gagge's wife being
a member of the Sparre-Uf family.
The name of Jørgen Gagges wife was really Margrethe and she was thedaughter of Peder Hansen (Uf).
She and her sister(?) Merete (married in1606 to Hans Grabow, owner of Simblegård from 1609 through
1626, afterwhich he moved to Pederstrup (on Lolland?)) were the two last members ofthe Sparre-Uf's.
Note that the year the altar-tablet was given to thechurch: 1596, is the year Peder Hansen (Uf)
died.
Peder Hansen (Uf)'s coat-of-arms seem to have brought some confusion forresearchers, because it
appears that Jørgen Gagge and his wife Margretheput up yet another memorial to honour Peder Hansen
(Uf) and MetteHansdatter. In 1601 they had cast a new large church-bell (which laterdisappeared)
for Klemensker Church. Thurah quotes that the engravingreads:
'Anno 1601 Lod Claus Kames denne Klokke støbe til St. Clemmens Kirke paaBornholm, efter Velbyrdige
Hr. Jörgen Gages og Hr. Lars Nielsens i denTiid Sogne-Herres Befalning, af Rheinholt Benning i
Lübeck'.
(Translated to English:)
'In 1601 Claus Kames cast this bell for St. Clemen's Church of Bornholmafter the request of the
Well-Born Mr. Jörgen Gage and Mr. Lars Nielsen.. .)
Jørgen Gagge (the younger) is of the Bornholm-branch of that family;Gagge III in 'Danske
Adelsvåbener'. In the year-book from 1893 you findtheir family-tree, but it's wrong in several
instances. At the time thisis written, I just now found the following in P.N.
Skovgård's'Beskrivelse over Bornholm', København, 1804, page 315:
'Paa Altertavlen læses: 'Ao. 1596 da gaf Jörgen Gage oc hans hustruMerete Peder Hans datter denne
altertafle til st. Knudskirke, vort haabtil Gud alene'. Derved ere begge Giveres Vaabner udhgne.'
(GaggesVaaben er et Gavlspænde, et halvt Kaggehjul o.s.v. Hendes Vaaben: etGavlsspænde omvendt, i
rødprikket Feldt.)
Translated to english:
'On the altar-tablet you'll read: 'In 1596 Jørgen Gagge and his wifeMerete Peder Hansen's daughter
gave this altar-tablet to St. Knud'sChurch, our Hope in God only.' Both of their coats-of-arms are
carvedinto the tablet.' (Gagge's coat-of-arms shows a chevron and a halfmillwheel. Her arms: an
upside down chevron, on a red-dotted background.)
If the red-dotted background is on both of their emblems is difficult toascertain.
* * * * *
Note: The fact that Margrethe is referred to as 'Merete Peder Hansdatter' on the tablet of 1596,
and that 1606, year that 'Merete' marriedHans Grabow, is the same year as the death of Jørgen Gagge
leads me tobelieve that Margrethe and Merete may in fact be the same person, and notsisters. -
Norman Lee Madsen