FRIMANN, Jacob Jacobsen

  Notater:

Birth: Page 86.

Jacob Jacobsen Frimann's mother died 3 days after his birth, and his father did not marry again. In the census of 1835 Jacob Jacobsen Frimann stayed with his father who was now living in Agtrup in a house he had rented, and he worked on a day to day basis. Four of his children stayed with him: Anna Christina, Falle, Anna Maria, and Jacob.

In the census of 1840 Jacob Jacobsen Frimann was a foster child with his uncle Jess Sörensen and his wife Catharina Maria Bogh at Catrinebjerg. They also had a foster child Maren Bogh, 14 years old.

Right after his confirmation Jacob Jacobsen Frimann was sent to Haderslev to learn to be a weaver.

Jacob Jacobsen Frimann regarded himself as orphaned, and the reason could be that his father was not capable of taking care of his children. From 1845 Jacob Sörensen stayed with his brother at Bengård in Agtrup. He died there 1868.

Jacob Jacobsen Frimann became a weaver in Sønder Stenderup.

The family lived in a small house built on the land of Catrinebjerg. The house was located at the west side of the farm.

The present Catrinebjerg was built 1867. Before that time there was a farm on the same location. The owner from 1776-1800 was Sören Jacobsen. His widow ran the farm until their son Jess Sörensen took over 1814. There were no children in their marriage.

A niece of Jess Sörensen's widow, Maren Bogh, married Paul Clausen Tonnesen 1860 and inherited the farm. Paul Clausen Tonnesen was born in a farm near the church. He demolished the farm where he was born and added the land to the land of Catrinebjerg, and he built the present farm. They had no children either.

After the death of Paul Clausen Tonnesen 1876 Maren Bogh ran the farm until 1883 where Peder Christian Bogh inherited it. He was a nephew of Maren Bogh.

1909 Peder Christian Bogh had to sell Catrinebjerg. He died in Copenhagen 1926 and his wife 1929.

Death: Page 161. Jacob Jacobsen Frimann. A weaver living for rent in the town and parish of Stenderup. He was born in the parish of Bjert 12th April 1825 his parents being Jacob Sörensen, a previous farm owner, and Dorthea Hansdatter Fallesen. The wife of the deceased was Maren Iversdatter Hald who survives him. 80 years old.

Sister Maria Columba, 2021:

"The Frimann house was on the estate, and the Bogh's were very kind people. It is strange that three childless couples owned it, one after the other. All were very kind to the Frimann's. As Bedstefar told us, his father (Jacob Jacobsen Frimann) was sent to Haderslev to learn a trade because his father (Jacob Sörensen) had lost the farm that he had. I think that it was Jess Sörensen, who was his uncle and had inherited Catrinebjerg, who sent him to Haderslev and provided the house for him when he was married and beginning to work as a weaver."

Below we have made an extract of a letter which Jacob Jacobsen Frimann's youngest son Poul Jacobsen Frimann (Paul Freeman) wrote to his daughter Ellie on March 6th, 1936:

"No, dear, our esteemed ancestors on Dad's side have not been trades people, only one generation. Poor management and love for Brændevin and cards brought us to that estate. You would have to be born there just to get the class destinction fully in your noddle but they run in gangs as you would call it here. The titled class like Hertuger, a little less Grever, still lower Baroner. For instance Peter Bogh might slip by for a Baron. He had a big place, his own timber, meadows, salt meadows and fields. Then comes different sizes of farmers, then trades people, and lowest the man who has a trade. Father's father had a nice farm, so the girls all married farmers, but Father being the youngest and the farm about caput and orphaned, his relatives had him learn a trade, which he learnt in Haderslev, and when he got through they started him in business, and when he got married they furnished him a house, a cow and a pig, that is free pasture for the cow in summer and 2 tons of hay for winter and barley for the pig, so you see it wasn't so bad. Peter Bogh inherited his big farm, got about 80.000 crowns with his wife and went through it all in less then, he was married in 1888, and when I was home in 1905 he was ready to move so it is easy done.

I don't know much about Mama's people. Mama's dad worked in the king's forest and was known for never using cuss words which is something out of the ordinary over there at that time. Mama's sister married a man by the name of Wildfang. They lived somewhere in South Schleswig. He was a hard drinker and soon went broke. They were farmers, too.

We were related to Peter Bogh and to his wife before marriage. I think we were second cousins. I know we went to his wedding. They had a big tent for the celebration. His father-in-law was killed right after the wedding so we had a big wake and another big tent but no dancing, just eating and drinking.

Peter Bogh's uncle paid for my brother Jess' education. He was apprenticed to a merchant in Odense, and each of my sisters got 500 crowns but I got nothing, too bad.

I could have found a lot when I was home on that visit, but was too busy having a good time to worry about such. Father did not play cards, nor drink to excess, but Mama was always afraid it might pop out in some of the kids so we all had to promise to let cards alone, and we always did.

The cow was stabled in one end of the house and the pig in the other, and the hay upstairs. They would stuff the hay to the peak of the roof, and when it had settled, we could slide between the roof and the hay.

When the farmers' wives brought the yarn for weaving they would sometimes bring their kids, and we went up and slided. The different balls of yarn was put in a box with about 20 compartments or as many compartments as the cloth had to be wide and wound on a big spindle to make the length of the cloth so when the spindle was unwound we could crawl inside, and it was like a merry-go-round. Then we had coffee and "fine kager", and when the roll of material was finished, Daddy put it on his shoulder and delivered it, and I usually trotted along, and we had more coffee and "fine kager" so you see it wasn't so bad but "them days are gone forever" for Father was the last weaver in Stenderup. They all went to factories, and the art of raising and preparing flax and wool on the farm is a "saga blot".

It was kind and nice on a winter evening to see a bunch of girls spinning and the boys playing cards in "Borgerstuen", always a mug of beer on the table, and mush and milk before you went to bed. Well, I could go on forever and tell you about it but what's the use."

  Om Jacob:

• FT-1835, 01.02.1835, Agtrup By, Sønder Bjert Sogn, indsidderhus. Staying with his father being af widower.

• FT-1840, 01.02.1840, Stenderup By, Sønder Stenderup Sogn, gårdsted. A foster child with his uncle Jess Sørensen and his wife Catharina Maria Bogh. They also had a foster child Maren Bogh, 14 years old.

• Konfirmation, 04.04.1841, Sønder Stenderup Kirke, Sønder Stenderup Sogn, Nørre Tyrstrup Herred, Vejle Amt. Page 223. His father Jacob Sörensen, a previous farmer in Agtrup.

• FT-1845, 01.02.1845, Smedegade, Haderslev købstad. 20 år. Væverlærling (apprenticed to be a weaver) hos vævermester Carl Mar. Holm.

• FT-1855, 01.02.1855, Stenderup By, Sønder Stenderup Sogn, hus. A weaver. Married. A son named Jes.

• FT-1860, 01.02.1860, Stenderup By, Sønder Stenderup Sogn, hus. A weaver. Married. Three children: Jes, Cathrine Marie, and Iver.

• FT-1870, 01.02.1870, Stenderup By, Sønder Stenderup Sogn, hus. A weaver. Married. Four children: Cathrine Marie, Iver, Dortea Marie, and Pouline Marie. A foster child of four years: Anne Marie Friis.

• FT-1880, 01.02.1880, Stenderup By, Sønder Stenderup Sogn, hus. A weaver. Married. Three children: Dortea Marie, Anne Marie, and Poul.

• FT-1890, 01.02.1890, Stenderup By, Sønder Stenderup Sogn, hus. A weaver. Married. Poul is staying at home.

• FT-1901, 01.02.1901, Stenderup, Sønder Stenderup Sogn, matr. 2a. Page 110+111. The house belongs to Catrinebjerg, Stenderupvej 183. Jacob Frimann is married and is an old age pensioner and a weaver.

Remarks: Four living children in his marriage.

Jacob blev gift med Maren Iversdatter HALD, datter af Iver Christensen HAGEN og Anna Maria HERMANNSDATTER, den 07.10.1854 i hjemmet, Sønder Stenderup Sogn, Nørre Tyrstrup Herred, Vejle Amt. (Maren Iversdatter HALD blev født den 23.12.1830 i Sønder Stenderup Sogn, Nørre Tyrstrup Herred, Vejle Amt, dåb den 26.12.1830 i Sønder Stenderup Kirke, Sønder Stenderup Sogn, Nørre Tyrstrup Herred, Vejle Amt, døde den 28.09.1917 i Stenderup By, Sønder Stenderup Sogn, Nørre Tyrstrup Herred, Vejle Amt og blev begravet den 03.10.1917 på Sønder Stenderup Kirkegård, Sønder Stenderup Sogn, Nørre Tyrstrup Herred, Vejle Amt.)

  Om Jacob og Maren:

• Portræt, 1895, Kolding.
Fotograf: Atelier Monberg, C. Løvstrøm, Helligkorsgade 16, Kolding.

Billedkilde: Sister Maria Columba, Colorado, 2021.

Letter from Maren Frimann to Paul Freeman, 21.6.1895:
"I am sending you our photograph in a few days. Best wishes from your parents."

• Letter: from Christiane Bogh to Paul Freeman, 11.09.1904.
Translated from Danish by Eleanor Freeman.

Cathrineberg, 11th September, 1904

Dear Paul,

I dare say you will be surprised to get a letter from me, whom you perhaps scarcely remember. But now that it is approaching the 7th of October when, if all goes well, your dear old parents will celebrate that rare festival, the Golden Wedding, I have promised your mother to write a bit to you and inform you how the two old people are. And if possible, you will be able to come home to celebrate their great day with them. Your old father is nearing the grave, and now perhaps he will not be permitted to experience the wonderful celebration since he is very feeble, is up and down in bed as best he can. Your mother, however, is well and has hardly changed at all. I cannot remember her as being different. Dorthea also is not well and is permanently at home with the old people. You can imagine, dear Paul, what joy you would give your dear old parents, and also yourself, if you could come home now for the Golden Wedding the 7th of October. I think you should come if at all possible. It is your parents' constant hope... if only Paul would come! Think of the large flock of children... they have now only Dorthea left. We live only once... and then to think that the two old people will die without ever seeing any of you again is a great sorrow. It is not so difficult to come home now and takes only a few days.

You wonder, I suppose, that I write to you with the familiar du, but in my thoughts you still remain as Little Paul. You remember how fond of you I was.

That is now a long time ago. Write to us and tell us a little about American conditions. My husband and I would be interested in hearing that.

Now I hope you receive my letter in time and come as soon as possible, but write a few words before.

Best wishes from your two old parents, Dorthea, my husband, and Christiane Bogh.

• Guldbryllup, 07.10.1904, "Cathrineberg", Stenderupvej 183, Sønder Stenderup, matr. 2a.
Sister Maria Columba, Colorado, 2021:

The Bogh's (Peder Christian Bogh and his wife Christiane) were very good to the Frimanns, especially at the time of their Golden Wedding in 1904, helping Maren to prepare for it. The celebration was held partly at the Frimann house, which Christiane had helped decorate, even putting wallpaper on the walls. Jacob was very frail by that time, but Bedstefar (Poul Jacobsen Frimann) wrote a note on the anniversary card: "Father danced at the Golden Wedding." He was not able to be there himself as he had not been able to save enough money for a trip back to Denmark."

• Letter: from Christiane Bogh to Paul Freeman, 13.10.1904.
Translated from Danish by Eleanor Freeman.

Cathrineberg, 13th October, 1904

Dear Paul,

I received your letter today and thank you for it, and I will write to you at once and tell you about your dear old parents' Golden Wedding, which I think you would like to know a little about. I can say that it was a lovely day for the two old people. The old home was polished up both outside and inside as well as we knew how, and the wedding couple had for the first time wallpaper on in the parlor and small curtains up, which your mother had said would never go up but which she permitted for this occasion.

The loom was moved out and the room put in order and decorated also in there, and a table was set for coffee and chocolate in both rooms for the forty guests who were invited. Dorthea's kitchen was also made pleasant so the guests could sit there if they wanted to. At three o'clock in the afternoon the guests came. Niels Holst with family, old Mads Krestensen, Sandager's, Niels Smed's, J. Bruhn, my brother's, Tulstrup's, Vrang's, your father's family, Berg's, Knudsen's, Fru Juhl, and we from Cathrineberg. The weather was beautiful, and the two old people were in their best finery. Your mother looked fine. On the other hand, your father has declined, although he was fairly well that day.

After we had drunk coffee and chocolate ever so cozily and sat and chatted, we all walked a bit in our garden and were here in Cathrineberg where my husband played and entertained them. Meanwhile the table was set in the old home, and had you been able to peep in, dear Paul, you would not have known it, so festive was it all within, with Father and Mother as honored guests. The meal was prepared at Cathrineberg and included roast beef and roast pork with red wine and kransekage and apple cake with white wine. From the place of honor to the many guests Berg made a speech to the wedding couple and presented to them at that time a gift of money from the Stenderup townspeople of 135 kr., to the great pleasure of the old people. My husband made a speech for Sister Dorthea and regretted that she was the only one attending of the large family of children, which cost Mother and Father tears from the thoughts of the three dear absent ones, to whom we all send many good wishes with the hope that the old people may be permitted to see their Paul again before they close their eyes forever. For Jes and Iver there is small hope for they are building their families, so remember, dear Paul, they are still waiting day and night for your visit. Your mother says, "I would like to see Paul again, but then it would be hard for us to say goodbye to him again, but God's will be done".

After the meal we had a cozy talk with coffee, and it was about 12:30 before we said goodnight to the two old people, whose faces beamed with joy and appreciation for all the honor given them on their great festive day.

Today I was at your parents' and read to them the letter you sent me, which they were glad to hear, as well as your letter to them with the enclosed gift of money, for which they were very grateful, and they asked me to greet you and say thanks for that. They are both well, and they are still very happy about the wedding party.

You asked about Sinnet. She is married in Svendborg and soon will have a child. My husband is, I am sorry to say, plagued with rheumatism and has had to stay in bed a long time, but fortunately he was able to be up for the celebration.

Peter Bogh continues the letter:

Yes, little Paul, a few more words I think. Thanks for being kind enough to write to me.

My wife has already given you an account of your old parents' wedding party. It would have been so charming if you children had been present for the old folks... but the many hundreds of miles which lie between you place an insurmountable obstacle in the way. If you see Jes and Iver, you must give them a greeting from me. Remember to ask Jes whether he can remember the day I drove him to Kolding to leave for America. Jes said then to me that it was so strange for him to think that when we two next saw each other we would be old men. Yes, it strikes me now that I am going on my 45th year, and Jes is 50. God knows whether Jes will ever come home again. Still I have a firm belief that you will come, little Paul. Your father is very feeble and will not be living long, so it can hardly be perhaps that you will see him in this life. However, your mother is very well. They were both very pleased with the wedding party.

Now, little Paul, I will talk no more about it, and I close with kindest greetings from your old parents and sister, and likewise I send you a hearty good greeting from my wife and your devoted, Bogh.

• Bopæl: "Cathrineberg", Stenderupvej 183, Sønder Stenderup, matr. 2a.
Billedkilde: Sister Maria Columba, Colorado, 2021.

The Frimann house was located right to the west of Catrinebjerg on the land of Catrinebjerg, and it does not exist today. It was demolished when Catrinebjerg was sold 1909.

2021, mail from Sister Maria Columba:

"I think that this picture was taken in 1906. In fact, this one says 1906 on the back".

We have found a description of the house, written by Paul Freeman:

"The trees back of the house are on the line between Bogh's farm and our house. The house was brought from somewhere else and rebuilt. The folks lived here many years and celebrated their Golden Wedding. When Father died, Mother and Thea moved away, and the house was torn down".

• Bopæl, 1906, "Cathrineberg", Stenderupvej 183, Sønder Stenderup, matr. 2a.
Billedkilde: Sister Maria Columba, Colorado, 2021.

The Frimann house was located right to the west of Catrinebjerg on the land of Catrinebjerg, and it does not exist today. Probably it was demolished when Catrinebjerg was sold 1909.

2021, mail from Sister Maria Columba:

"There are several references in 1906 in letters from Maren Frimann and from Christiane Bogh regarding this. Another picture was taken by "Valborg" at Catrinebjerg which Christiane sent in February 1906 and said, "Can you recognize your mother and Dorthea?"

• Letter: from Christiane Bogh to Paul Freeman, 22.02.1906.
Translated from Danish by Eleanor Freeman.

Cathrineberg, 22nd February, 1906

Dear Paul,

From your mother I heard today that you did not receive the letter I wrote you at Christmas. I am very sorry about that and cannot understand how it could happen. I had put in it a photograph of the old house that Valborg (Voldborg Marente Lauritsen, b. 1886) had taken, but it was not better than the one that I am sending you today. Today your mother had a letter from the photographer Burcharth in Kolding saying that you had written to him about coming out here to photograph the house, but your mother has written to him that she would rather have it photographed next spring. Now she has decided that Painter Skov shall come one day and photograph it, so you will be sent a picture before long.

Dorthea is sick and staying in bed, but today she is better. I drop by there every day. Your mother is well except for at little rheumatism here and there, but she is otherwise happy and of good heart. She longs a great deal for her dear Paul, and you are in her thoughts first and last. How good it is of you, dear Paul, that you write so frequently to her. The old soul, it is now the only joy she has. I have permission to read all your letters, which are always so welcome. There are unfortunately so few children who, when they go out in the world, remember their old parents, but you can be sure that your dear old mother realizes your love and consideration for her. We talk about it often, your mother and I, that you write so often that we do not always remember that you are so far away. Can you understand how beautiful a thought and how touching that is for your mother?

We are both well here. Of news here you will have seen long ago that our dear old king died the 29th of January. He died without previous illness. There were such goings on in Koebenhavn as never had been seen in our country for any king's funeral service, for he was so honored by and so popular with all from high to low. Sunday he was buried, and on that day Stenderup's church was beautifully decorated as never before with great quantities of candles and evergreens with their scent.

I am happy to see from your letters that you are well and content and do not seem at all homesick for Denmark, which I can hardly understand since you have so many good friends here.

On Sunday we are invited to Binderup for the engagement of the oldest daughter with a stranger whom we do not know.

For the last two weeks we have had mission weeks at the church, which have been well attended.

We have been busy cutting wood in our forest, but there is difficulty in getting it home since the roads are so bad, and we have had no frost for at long time. Your mother gets her wood at our place, and my husband has promised to carry it right to her door, and that has taken a load off her mind. You know when old people have one thing and another they want attended to, it is important to them. The lock on the outer door is now in order so there is no one who can steel your mother or Dorthea.

I would wish for your mother's sake that she might be permitted to keep Dorthea a little yet. She is very weak, and we all hope that she will go before your mother, which is her sincere wish, but still I wish a bit that she might keep her, though Dorthea is certainly sometimes a little odd. I believe, on the other hand, your mother would miss her, and the two belong together for a while.

In Stenderup it looks just like when you were home, with the difference that we now have winter and dark, sad air, while when you were here we had the loveliest summer. It was nice for you, dear Paul, that the weather was so beatiful when you were home. When are you coming again? I always say that if Dorthea should die first, shouldn't your mother go to America? I think she would do that for your sake, the dear old soul. Nej, it is a shame to move her from the old home where she has lived her days in good times and bad, so you let her do as she wishes. So long as you have only yourself, your old mother is the best you have. I know that, dear Paul, and you are a good son to her.

Write to me when you can. Put it in your mother's letter. And I shall write to you again.

Here are the pictures of the house. Can you recognize your mother and Dorthea? Also a picture of Cathrineberg from the courtyard, which Valborg also took. It is better than that of the old house.

Many greetings from my husband and your affectionate, Christiane Bogh.

• Postcard: from Peder Christian Bogh to Paul Freeman, 08.01.1908.
Translated from Danish by Eleanor Freeman.

To Spokane

Dear little Paul,

Sincere thanks to you for your kind letter which you sent me. I was very pleased to get it, and I am glad that you are well. It is gentlemanlike of you to write to your old mother every week. Thanks for that. Another time you will get a proper letter from me. Wishing you a happy Christmas and a blessed New Year from my wife and your affectionate, P. Bogh.

  Parnotater:

Indt. kirkebog. Bevilling til vielse i huset fra Haderslev Amthus af 11. september 1854.