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- From the ?sterlars kirkebog:
1860: Nr. 6; Brudgommens navn: Ungkarl Hans Svendsen, ejer af Melstadgaarden, vacc. af Grov 8 Octob. 1826, 35-1/4 aar; Brudens navn: Pige Anne Margrethe Ipsen, hos faderen p. 6 Vrd. grd. her i Sognet, vacc. af Heiberg, 23 Juli 1846, 17-1/2 aar; Hvem forloverne ere: brudens fader Jeppe Andersen, Murer Lars Kj?ller, begge i Sognet; Vielses-Dagen: 23 Novbr. i Kirken efter tillysning.
From the Gudhjem kirkebog:
1862: Nr. 4; Aar og datum: 17 Mai; Barnets fulde navn: Karoline Andrea Svendsen; Daabens datum: 6 Juli i ?sterlars Kirke; For?ldrenes navn: Grdmd. Hans Svendsen i Melstad, hst. Ane Margrethe Ipsen, 19 aar; Faddernes navn: b.b. Grdmd. Svend Thorsens hst. p. 1 S.E. Andrine Kar. Margrethe, pige Karoline Ipsen hos 6 Vrd., Grdmd. Hans Weidemann 3 S.E., Jens N?rregaard 5 S.E., ungkarl Hans Ipsen hos 6 Vrd.
1863: Nr. 4; Aar og datum: 21 Octbr.; Barnets fulde navn: Hansine Anine Svendsen; Daabens datum: 4de Decbr. i ?sterl. Kirke; For?ldrenes navn: Grdmd. Hans Svendsen i Melstad, Hst. Ane Margrethe Ipsen, 20 aar; Faddernes navn: b.b. Lieut. Sonnes hst. Ane Marie Svendsen i ?.L., Pige Karoline Marie Ipsen p. 6 Vrd., Grdmd. Svend Schou 43 S.E., Grdmd. Svend Thorsen 1 S.Ej., Inds. Jens J?rgen Hansen i hus hos 3 S.E.
1865: Nr. 3; Aar og datum: 19 Februar; Barnets fulde navn: Mathias Svendsen; Daabens datum: hjdb. d. 5 Marts, fremb. i Kirken d. 11 April; For?ldrenes navn: Grdmd. Hans Svendsen i Melstad, Hst. Ane Margrethe Ipsen, 22 aar; Faddernes navn: b.b. Grmd. J. N?rregaards hst. Margrethe Gr?nbech, 5 S.E., Pige Madsine Sonne i ?.L., Karoline Engel p. Sigtegrd., Svend Tranberg i Gudhjem, Ungk. Anders Svendsen p. 7 Vrd.; Anm?rkninger: Daabens stedf?stelse feldbyedet i ?sterl. Kirke, vacc. 9/8 '66 af Heiberg.
From the ?sterlars kirkebog:
1868: Nr. 1; Aar og datum: 9 Januar; Barnets fulde navn: Marie Margrethe Svendsen; Daabens datum: 21 Februar i Kirken; For?ldrenes navn: Gaardmand Hans Svendsen p. 2 S.E. gaard, Hustru Ane Margrethe Ipsen, 25 aar; Faddernes navn: b.b. Grdmd. Svend Schous hst. Karoline M. Ipsen, 43 S.E., Kristine Andrea Ipsen, 6 Vrd., ungk. Hans P. Ipsen, 6 Vrd., ungk. Henrik Andersen, 7 Vrd., Grdmd. Svend Thorsen, 1 S.E.
From the 1870 census of ?sterlars parish:
2 Sl. en gaard, 12 Familie: Hans Svendsen, 44, Gift, Husfader, Gaardejer, ?sterlarsker Sogn; Margrethe Svendsen, 26, Gift, Husmoder, ?sterlarsker Sogn; Caroline Andrea Svendsen, 7, Ugift, Barn, ?sterlarsker Sogn; Hansine Anine Svendsen, 6, Ugift, Barn, ?sterlarsker Sogn; Mathias Svendsen, 4, Ugift, Barn, ?sterlarsker Sogn; Marie Margrethe Svendsen, 2, Ugift, Barn, ?sterlarsker Sogn; Christian Munch, 25, Ugift, Tjenestekarl, ?sterlarsker Sogn.
From the ?sterlars kirkebog:
1872: Nr. 15; Aar og datum: 24 August; Barnets fulde navn: Hans Andreas Svendsen; Daabens datum: 23 Octbr. i Kirken; For?ldrenes navn: Grdmd. Hans Svendsen p. 2 S.E. grd., Hst. Ane Margrethe Ipsen, 29 aar; Faddernes navn: b.b. Grdmd. Svend Tranbergs hst. Andrea M. Andersen p. 12 Vrd., Agine M. Ipsen p. 6 Vrd., Grdmd. Svend H. Schou, 43 S.E., Ung. Henrik Andersen p. 7 Vrd.
1877: Nr. 8; Aar og datum: 25 Mai; Barnets fulde navn: Julius Peter Svendsen; Daabens datum: d. 30 Juni i Kirken; For?ldrenes navn: Grdmd. Hans Svendsen p. 2 S.E. grd., Hst. Ane Margrethe Ipsen, 34 aar; Faddernes navn: b.b. barnets moder, Karoline Kr. Andersen i Melsted, Ungk. Hans Ipsen p. 6 Vrd., Ungk. Hans And. Thorsen p. 1 S.E. grd.
From the 1880 census of ?sterlars parish:
et Hus: Hans Svendsen, 54, Gift, Gaardejer, Husfader, ?sterlarsker sogn, Lutheran; Ane Margrethe Svendsen f. Ipsen, 36, Gift, Hans Hustru, ?sterlarsker sogn, Lutheran; Karoline Andrea Svendsen, 17, Ugift, Deres Datter, ?sterlarsker sogn; Hansine Anine Svendsen, 16, Ugift, Deres Datter, ?sterlarsker sogn; Matias Svendsen, 14, Ugift, Deres S?n, ?sterlarsker sogn; Marie Margrethe Svendsen, 12, Ugift, Deres Datter, ?sterlarsker sogn; Hans Andreas Svendsen, 7, Ugift, Deres S?n, ?sterlarsker sogn; Julius Peter Svendsen, 2, Ugift, Deres S?n, ?sterlarsker sogn; Lille Kristine Kofoed, 31, Ugift, Tjenestepige, R?nne; Peter Andersen, 21, Ugift, Tjenestekarl, ?sterlarsker sogn; Laurits Peter Ipsen, 15, Ugift, Tjenestedreng, Melsted ?sterlarsker sogn.
From the 1890 census of ?sterlars parish:
2 Slg., 11 - 62: Hans Svendsen, 64, gift, Husfader, Gaardejer, ?sterlars; Ane Magrethe Svendsen, f?dt Ipsen, 47, gift, Husmoder, ?sterlars; Hansine Anine Svendsen, 26, ugift, barn, ?sterlars; Mathias Svendsen, 24, ugift, barn, ?sterlars; Marie Magrethe Svendsen, 22, ugift, barn, ?sterlars; Hans Andreas Svendsen, 17, ugift, barn, ?sterlars; Julijus Peter Svendsen, 12, ugift, barn, ?sterlars; Thorvald Kasten Johansen, 17, ugift, Tjentestyende, ?sterlars.
Vilhelm Svendsen's "?sterlarsker Sl?gter" provides us with the following information on Melstedg?rd:
A will signed at Melstedg?rd on July 23, 1823 shows that Thor Pedersen and his unmarried siblings living together at the farm had decided to inherit each other -- as long as they stayed unmarried. Accordingly, when Thor Pedersen died thirty years later, in 1854, the farm was handed down to the two remaining unmarried siblings, S?ren Low and Karen Svendsdatter. Two and a half years later they would transfer the ownership of Melstedg?rd to their sister Kirstine Svendsdatter's son Hans Svendsen, who was born at Krogeg?rd, ?sterlars.
The rules of inheritance for farms, at that time -- found in an ordinance of October 14, 1773 - decree that if a farm has been inherited, special guidelines have to be followed when other family members' right to inheritance is in question. If there was doubt as to who is the rightful heir, a public notice had to be posted. Giving every family member the chance to air their possible claim to the farm. These old Inheritance-Rules were observed so far as the buildings at 2 Slg. was concerned, and the purchase (and right to residence for former owners until their death) contract was on public notice July 17, 24 and 31, 1857 in the court of East District. The purchase price was:
Melstedg?rd, adjoining land, plus all belongings (inside and out) = 4,000 Rigsdaler (Rdl.); 2 Slg. buildings = 8,000 Rdl.; former owners right to stay yearly estimate: Rdl. 300 x 5 = 1,500; for a total of 13,500 Rdl.
At the signing of the take-over document, the total cash had been paid -- except for the right of former owners, which was to be dealt with as follows:
The two old people: S?ren Low and his sister Karen Svendsdatter wished to live in a house close to the farm house, which had been built for this purpose. For their yearly consumption they asked for the following provisions:
6 T?nder (production in barrels) of rye, 1 Td. wheat, 1/2 Td. dried peas, 2 Td. barley-malt, 1-1/2 Td. barley, 1 Td. ground barley, 2 Td. potatoes, 80 pots of rye-liquor - which were to be delivered 40 pots at Mid-Summer and 40 pots at New Year's. 8 Lispund (about 60 kilos) of beef from a steer or cow, 3 lambs and 1 sheep weighing each, after slaughter and clean-up, 10 kilos for the lamb and 16 kilos for the sheep. 4 young geese, well-fed so that they weigh each 7 kilos at the least. 80 kilos of pork, 4 measures salt, 2 small Td. salted herrings -without their heads, 8 kilos lute-fish, 8 kilos butter to be delivered at New Year's, Easter, Mid-Summer's Day and Thanks-Giving Day, 2 kilos each time. Also, 4 pots of pork-fat at Christmas time, 4 pots of honey, 1 pot mustard, 1 lb. home-grown hops, 12 kilos well cleaned flax-straw, 8 kilos coffee beans, 8 kilos raw sugar candy, also 1 pot caraway-seeds. Furthermore, they reserved the right to milk from a cow of their choosing and maybe the right to exchange cows twice a year. In the summer the cow could graze at the farm, for winter feed they asked for 2 loads of hay, 2 loads of clover and 2 loads of barley-straw. For wood to burn in the winter they wanted delivery of loads of ash or beech-wood, plus a load of heather. Finally, the contracted committed the owner of Melstedg?rd to pay them the sum of 12 Rdl. every New Year's. They also considered an old serving-maid, Else Kirstine Jensdatter, who had served them for many years and now had moved in with them: if she survived her employers, she was entitled to free room and board at Meltstedg?rd and in case of disagreement, and she moved away, she was to receive the yearly sum of 50 Rdl.
Hans Svendsen was the owner of Melstedg?rd for 46 years until 1903, when he transferred ownership to his youngest son Julius Peter Svendsen, born in 1877, who was the owner still at the time this was written. He married Petra Svendsen from Gadeg?rd, ?sterlars parish.
(Note: In 1947 Julius Svendsen transferred the ownership of the farm over to his wife's nephew, Svend Andersen; who was to be the farm's last private owner. In 1950 the farm was placed under Class A protection, with the intention of reconstructing it as a typical Danish farmhouse. In 1982 the farm was aquired by the county's governing body, and the following year it was designated as an Agricultural Museum under the authority of Bornholm's Museum. A large part of the 106 acres of land was sold at the time of the 1982 take over.)
Hans Svendsen's grandson Vilhelm Svendsen wrote the following biographical sketch in September 1941:
We called Hans Svendsen "Bedstefar p? Melstedg?rd" (grandfather, literally "best father", at Melstedg?rd), and there are only a very few memories I have of him. I remember very vaguely one time he came to my family home of Porcell?nsg?rd, it must have been one of the first years after the turn of the century; he was then an old man close to 80 years old.
From the yearly summer picnics at Melstedg?rd, a few more characteristics are etched into my memory: they show the picture of a stately old man with a strangely thin and yet resonant voice. Even though he was very agile, his age made itself known. He enjoyed to converse with people on a one-on-one basis; in a gathering around the table the conversation seemed to go over his head and he would sit as though he were left out. When the last summer guests left Melstedg?rd towards midnight, he had already been in his bed for several hours. His bed was in the alcove to the left of the entrance to the living-room.
With information from other sources I have gathered together a portrait of my grandfather at Melstedg?rd: A sturdy farmer of few words, one you looked up to and who was admired in his county, yes even outside the county. He was only of ordinary abilities and of limited knowledge, though of course he could read and also express his thoughts in modest form in writing. He probably was what one would call a strict man, who expected order and honesty in all dealings; but also a good man whose help and care reached far and wide, considering the patriarchal system of the times. Both he and his wife came from old and distinguished farming families in the county, and he himself worked his farm in a clever and progressive manner; and thus gained considerable economic security.
Grandmother I never knew. She was portrayed to me as a mild and kind woman, who in her later years was of poor health. Very fragile and suffering from a cough, she died rather young, probably from tuberculosis.
A single event is especially alive in my memory, namely the funeral of my grandfather, which I attended as a 13 year old boy. It took place in an old fashioned style, which I will try to describe. Grandfather died on February 9, 1910 and six days later on the 15th the funeral took place. We set out early from home, father and mother and I in front; with a farm-hand behind with lots of baskets and other goods. When we reached Melstedg?rd, in mid-morning, there was already a crowd of people gathered, of course the family, but also friends and neighbours in great numbers.
In the garden-room two parallel tables were lain for lunch, and you could sit down as soon as you arrived. When you finished eating you gave your seat to the next arrival. As far as I remember we had a warm dish, bread and butter, also cold-cuts, with beer and coffee to drink.
At eleven o'clock everyone gathered in the large hall, all of the windows were covered with long white curtains and in the middle of the greenery-strewn floor the open black coffin stood. At its head was a table with two silver candle-sticks, and also two low candelabras holding tall church-candles, a black metal plaque with the name and dates of the deceased painted in white.
Those candles would later be carried in front of the horse-drawn hearse to ?sterlars Church, where they were placed on the alter and lit during the service, along with the other church candles. It was no easy task to "carry the candles", especially in this instance where the road was long and slippery. There were four men to carry them, among them Hans Aage Brandt, and they took turns along the way.
After the coffin had been closed the church-singer led the gathering in a psalm. The three sons and three sons-in-law carried the coffin out to the waiting hearse, which was driven by grandfather's nephew Ole Thorsen from Krogeg?rd. With the hearse leading, the long procession began walking slowly along the slush covered road, from Melstedg?rd through Gudhjem and out to ?sterlars Church. After the service the coffin was buried in the old family graveyard and the procession drove back to Melstedg?rd.
There the tables were set in the large hall, and where the whole gathering ate together. The meal consisted of roast meats of different kinds, and large cakes (prune tarts, layer and sponge cakes), and wine to drink. After the meal people visited for a short while, and then all parted. We also started off on our three to four hour long trip home to Porcell?nsg?rd.
This database researched and compiled by Norman Lee Madsen, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 21 July 2015.
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1825 - 1910 (84 år)
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