By Carsten Berg Høgenhoff. Translation by
Patti Goke, St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA (Se norsk
versjon)
The information about the Ravn family is based on
information from Hans Rafnung's articles «Rafn-ætta fra
Trondenes», Harstad Tidende (1933), family history prepared by
Arthur Ravn (ca 1960?), information from family (1996), brochures from
the Røkenes Farm (1995) and other sources. Rafnung's articles
are the main source of the information. Where his text deviates, I have
tried to be consistent as to where the information was obtained.The
complete text from Hans Rafnung's 1933 series in the daily newspaper
Harstad Tidende is presented in original on this site. See photocopies of all
articles. The text is in Norwegian.
In Norway there are four different Ravn
families (also written Rafn):
1 . The Telemark Family Rafn. The founder of the family was called
Hans Rafn, and his son Christen Hansen Rafn was born in 1681 and married
to Anne Sophie Meidel. To this family there is a link to Peter Andreas
Ravn, minister in Haram, Sunnmøre 1681.
2. The family Rafn in Sande, Vestfold. The ancestor called Hans
Rafn was born in Voldborg at Sjælland ca 1650. To this family
there is a connection to the learned professor Carl Christian Rafn,
together with cabinet member, Carl Gottlob Rafn.
3. The Romsdal-Nordfjord family Rafn. The ancestor called Mathias
Rafn, presumably a ship captain in Bergen, born ca 1650. To this family
there is a connection to Tollef Lem Ravn, born 1854 in Moss and later
lived in Buskerud.
4. The Nordland family Rafn, whose ancestral farm was the farm Røkenes
in Trondenes, and whose ancestor is Hans Rasmussen Rafn. It is this
family that is mentioned here. The material is obtained from Hans Rafnung's
articles in the newspaper Harstad Tidende, 1933. There are many things
that suggest that these four families have the same origins. Thus, it
is quite interesting that the ancestors to three of these families have
same first and last names, and lived roughly at the same time. Among
them, C, some family members moved northward according to the saga.
It has anyway until now (1933), in spite of investigations both in Denmark
and Norway, been impossible to point out some affinity.
Ravn at geni.com: In February 2008, Tor Inge Jøssang launched a site where the Ravn family is central, at geni.com. We welcome this new site, and co-operate closely with our relatives at Jørpeland in South-Western Norway. As opposed to www.winnem.com - where you are now - which is edited by Steinar and Carsten only, geni.com is a society open for comments and additions from anyone with an admission key. Click the image or here to see what geni.com may be used for (text in Norwegian), or click here for geni.com's main page. If you want your own admission key for the Ravn family at geni.com, please contact Tor Inge by e-mail.
The Geni site in use today (Spring 2008) is a beta version. The site is free to use.
See also Tor Inge Jøssang's scanned family photos at flickr.com. Many of these will also soon appear on this site.
1.
Hans Rasmussen Rafn
Hans Rasmussen Rafn came about 1680 from Bergen to Røkenes in Trondenes.
It is told that he came to Bergen from Jylland in Denmark. This in accordance
with Rafnung, while the brochure «Velkommen til gårds»
from Røkenes Farm and Guesthouse published in the 1990'ies, states
that Hans Rasmussen Rafn came to Røkenes in 1673 and that he came
from Holbæk at Sjælland in Denmark. He was, again in accordance
with this brochure, married to Ingeborg Johnsdatter, who was a widow at
the farm - and this is the origin of the family who today run Røkenes.In
accordance with Rafnung's 1933 articles, Hans Rasmussen Rafn had no children
in his marriage with the widow at Røkenes farm - and he calls her
Margrethe Michelsdatter and not Ingeborg Johnsdatter.Again Rafnung's text:In
the census of Trondenes taken in October 1701, it is indicated that Hans
Rasmussen Rafn was 55 years old, thus he was born around 1646. It mentioned
further about him: «A citizen of Bergen with small Negotie (business),
who owns boats to the benefit of the citizens». When he died is
not known, but he was still alive in 1712.Hans Rasmussen Rafn did net
fishing, usually with a small cargo boat, to Bergen, also a small cargo
boat to Finnmark, and stayed at a fisherman's shack there. The tax collector
in Senja mentions this in one report of 28 December 1687, and it indicates
a fortune of 800 Riksdalers. He had 9 servants.It is said that Hans Rasmussen
Rafn could be related to Judge Pofel Egede of Harstad, I (Rafnung,
editor's note) have not found a reference though. I recall an article
in the weekly paper Hjemmet ca 1921 that brought me to think about it.
I do not have a clear answer, but it is a thing which speaks in favour
of it. Why did Hans Rasmussen Rafn come up to the Trondenes area? Maybe
at the request of Judge (chief magistrate) Pofel Egede.Hans Rasmussen
Rafn was married the first time to the widow Margrethe Michelsdatter,
who owned the farm, Røkenes. She had been well off (financially),
but was set back some because her fishing fleet several times were plundered
by the Hessians. In this way comes the farm Røkenes, which was
the most beautiful farm in Trondenes, into the hands of the Rafn family.
In this marriage there were no children.After Margrethe's death Hans Rasmussen
Rafn was married to Johanna Nilsdatter Hveding, who was the daughter of
Riborg Danielsdatter Skunck and Nils Mortensen from Sørvik in Trondenes.
Nils Mortensen's father was Minister Morten Hveding (see the Hveding
family ) in Torsken. (There is also a possibility that Nils Mortensen
was the son of Morten Parchmann Gjelsten - see Norwegian version for details).
In this marriage to Johanna Hveding, Hans R. Rafn had eight children,
but only five made it to adulthood. Of the three children that died, there
was a daughter named Ingeborg and two daughters with the name Margrethe.
The five that grew up to be adults were:
- Margrethe Rafn
- Rasmus Rafn
- Nils Rafn
- Riborg Rafn
- Margrethe Marie Rafn
2.
Nils Hansen Rafn
The ancestor's youngest son, Nils Hansen Rafn, born at Røkenes
27 January 1690, died December 1767. He took over the farm and achieved
like his father and was a very clever and capable man, who left behind
a large fortune. It was Nils Rafn who together with his brother, Rasmus,
and Judge Pofel Egede's children, were informed of student Peder Schjelderup
from Hamarøy. Rasmus Rafn, Nils Rafn and Greenland's prophet
Hans Egede were thus childhood friends.Nils Rafn was also a captain,
and travelled regularly to Bergen. In 1737 it is related that Nils Rafn
was one of the few skippers who was in Somd's tinglag (smallest judicial
district). He took over the congregation's needs and sailed to Bergen
with their fish and cod-liver oil. On one of their travels to Bergen
(some contend to England) he had with him the church bell from Trondenes
Church. The bell was to go to Holland for repairs. When Nils Rafn returned
without the bell, the same year, it was rumoured that he had sold it,
for there was a lot of silver in the bell, that he made himself wealthy
on it. He said nothing about the slander, as had won credence among
many people in the city, and the next year he had the bell with him,
when he returned. He asked for one particular favour, because of the
rumours, and it was a favour he made to the church by transporting the
bell to be repaired and back again.Nils Rafn asked for a place to be
buried in the church for himself and his family, and he got it. Nils
Rafn and his wife were interned there in 1767-1768. Here they were laid
to rest with 16 of their nearest relatives. In the altar niche, behind
a wood wall on left side of choir door, in the grave niche all 18 coffins
were placed.
The plaque with Niels Rafn's name
hung on the wood wall that covered the crypt until about 1930: «
Written my privileges Niels Rafn». Here we read also the names
Burchard, Dass and Schelderup. (Photograph: Carsten Berg Høgenhoff)
In the altar niche where the 18 coffins were
placed, this same remembrance plate carved in wood hangs still today.
The text on the plate is: «M.L. Burchard -M.L. Daß - M.J.
Schelderup / Written privileges of Niels Rafn». On the wall in
the crypt hangs a picture with three Biblical figures and two candles
that burn during church services. Such have the Ravns, in one way, held
their place in the Trondenes Church.Schjelderup is Nils Hansen Rafn's
wife's maiden name, Burchard is two of the daughter-in-laws family's
names (see 3. generation, Hans Rafn and below in this instalment), and
the Dass name is well known by all Norwegians from the priest and the
hymnologist, Petter Dass. This family history includes Schjelderup as
well as Burchard families, but how the Dass family fits to here if left
to be discovered.
The
crypt lies to the left of the altar. (Photograph: Carsten Berg Høgenhoff)
About 1930, the caskets were moved to the
churchyard. Today they all lay under the Goldenrain bush by the west
door of the church. At the grave - a round, grey stone - the text «Familien
Rafn 1758-1803» is etched into the stone. The Goldenrain is a
popular background for wedding pictures when it is in full bloom, and
forms a beautiful frame for the old family grave.During the last restoration
of the church from 1938 to 1950 most of the dead that were laid under
the floor of Trondenes church were moved to the churchyard - there laid
several hundred skeletons under the church floor. Whether some of the
Ravn ancestors were among these is unknown - but as the Ravns had their
own alter niche in the wall, it is probably rather improbable that some
were buried under the floor. A church clerk of the Trondenes Church
on the 3 August 1996 told Carsten Berg that most of the remains under
the floor were unmarked and in bad condition. Some few coffins are still
placed in the crypt under the floor, but the identity of only one person
who lies there is known, a clerical person.Jacob Parelius Rafn was married
to Sophie Amalie Burchard, a sister of Hans Rafn's wife Johanna Margrethe
Burchard (see 3rd generation Hans Rafn). From this marriage is descended
the Kulseng family who in 1996 still resides at Røkenes farm.
Rafnung wrote that Jacob Parelius Rafn and Sophie Amalie Burchard had
five sons and one daughter. Whereas only the daughter was married she
had Røkenes given to her, and the farm was followed by the family
name Normann after the husband, Søren Brønlund Normann.
A grandson of Jacob Parelius Rafn and Sophie Amalie Burchard, born in
1829 at Røsnes in Salten, inherited a silver tankard with the
inscription «Nils Hansen Rafn and Anne Cathrine Schelderup. Anno
1723». Rafnung wrote in his article in the Harstad Tidende that
Jacob Parelius Rafn bought himself a crypt in the church around 1759
and that he paid 8 Rdl for it.
Røkenes
farm, 3 August 1996. In front: Gjertrud Berg, born Winnem.(Photo: Carsten
Berg Høgenhoff)
A postcard with a water-colour painting by
Karl Erik Harr, that was for sale in 1994, shows a main entrance to
the farm at Røkenes. On the backside of this card we find subsequent
information: «The main building at Røkenes Farm supposedly
was built about 1750 by Nils Hansen Rafn. Experts show that church builders
who had made repairs of the Trondenes church had performed the work.
The pure style of the facade is ca 20 m long, with small paned windows,
and one splendid rococo portal dominates in the house. In the living
room are beautiful rococo door panels, and its architecture the seating
of doors, windows, the ceiling beams and the ceiling's height makes
the room's appearance very harmonious."In accordance with the style,
the house contains more beautiful rooms, antiques and furniture that
give it an inviting and cosy atmosphere. As of 1996 the owners and proprietors
of Røkenes Farm is in its ninth generation, and can therefore
trace the family back to 1670 as inhabitants on the farm. The users
of Røkenes received their innkeeper license as early as 1777,
so this old and good tradition continues. In the summer of 1996 the
owners opened the world's most northern golf course, Harstad golf club,
at Røkenes Farm. Toward the end of the 20th century we find greens,
one driving range and large, green plains on the grounds that Hans Rasmussen
Rafn took over more than 300 years earlier.Hans Rafnung's article from
the Harstad Tidende continues:Nils Hansen Rafn was married in 1720 to
Anne Cathrine Schjelderup, daughter of Andreas Nilsen Schjelderup, minister
in Trondenes, and his wife Anne Hansdatter Nysted. (Rafnung called him
Anders Schjelderup, but Alf-Inge Johnsen used the name Andreas in The
Schjelderup Family ). Anne Cathrine Schjelderup was born 9 December
1685, and died 1 December 1767, only two days after the death of her
husband.Nils Hansen Rafn and Anne Cathrine Schjelderup had in all four
children:
- Johanna Rafn, born 1726
- Hans Rafn , born
1724
- Anders Rafn, born 1723
- Jacob Parelius Rafn, born 1728
3.
Hans Rafn
Born about 1724, died in 1794, 70 years old, buried 19th Sunday after
Pentecost. He was a merchant, and lived at the farm Ervik in Trondenes.
Married 22nd Sunday after Pentecost in 1751 to Johanna Margrethe Burchard,
born at Rå rectory in Kvæfjord around 1727, buried on the
8th Sunday after Pentecost in 1794, 67 years old. She was the daughter
of the minister in Kvæfjord, Lorentz Burchard and his wife Christine
Marie Bremer. Burchard was assistant pastor in Kvæfjord 1720 and
died 11 August 1749.Subsequent information is obtained about the devout
Arthur Raven:Hans Rafn took over the farm Ervik, and was captain and
innkeeper. He owned part of a fast, country style of boat at Røkenes,
and in 1763 he had a crew of 12. However, he must have had economic
misfortune. 10/4 1785 he sold his part of Ervik his heritable right
to the farm, cattle, household goods and all he had to Jens Hamboe for
1200 Riksdalers. The only rest he reserved for himself was "free
House and Bed linen, Burning wood needed for Winter and Summer, and
Food and Drink by Holmboes table" in 1794. On 5/11 1794 had undertaken
the registration. To the four daughters who outlived the parents received
as inheritance 33 Riksdalers, 3 ort, 4-1/2 schillings.Hans Rafn and
Johanna Burchard had seven children, whereas Christine Marie Rafn was
fifth in line.
4.
Christine Marie Rafn
Born the 18th Sunday after Pentecost in 1760. The godparents at her
baptism were 1. Pastor Kildal; 2. Uncle J.L.Burchard, res. kap., former
minister at Sand; 3. Wife of Pastor Kildal; 4. virgin Rebecca Elisabeth
Kildahl; 5. Anne Margrethe Sparboe. Christine Marie Rafn was confirmed
on the 22nd Sunday of Trinity 1776, and died after 1820. Christine Marie
Rafn was well regarded as vaccinator in Hol parish in Tjelsund (as referenced
by Reidar Winnem in 1996), a job which otherwise was placed upon the
priests.Married on the 2 of August 1783 to Hartvig Pedersen, owner Rambø
farm in the Ramsundet. He was born about 1751 and was from Gausvik in
Trondenes. He died on 17 May 1818. The widow's inheritance was 46 Riksdalers,
11 schillings, the son's inheritance was 11 Riksdalers, 2 ort and 14
3/4 schillings, and the daughter's inheritance was 5 Riksdalers, 3 ort
and 19 3/8 schillings.Christine Marie Rafn and Hartvig Pedersen had
five daughters and three sons. Their children took the mother's family
name, Rafn, but wrote it with a «v». From number three,
Nils Ivert Ravn, came the Ravns at Liland in Ofoten.
5.
Nils Ivert Ravn
Born the 27 December 1787, baptised 20 January 1788. His God-parents
were Nils Dass Hol and Kristen Klæboe, Sandtorvholmen. Nils Ivert
Ravn left Rambø and settled down at Tårstad farm in Evenes,
land register number 3, serial number 6, tax of 1 daler, 2 ort. He also
owned other farms in Ofoten, among others. the farm Bjellgam. Further
he had ecclesiastic interests, just like Nils Rafn at Røkenes.
In Evenes Church (1933) there are some mighty candlesticks in silver,
which bears his name. Nils Ivert Ravn died 4 September 1872 at Liland.
Nils Ivert Ravn was married 16 August 1820 to Marie Alsing Allan, born
at Andenes 1794, and died 16 December 1851. She was the daughter of
the minister from Ofoten, Hans Fredrik Allan, born 11 July 1762, died
29 January 1847, and his wife Ulrikke Antonette Jalles, born in Molde
6 November 1766, died 2 October 1833, buried at Evenes. A brass plate
with an inscription covers the grave.Her parents were justice of the
peace Peder Jalles in Molde and his second wife, Cathrine Wungaard (or
Wiingaard?), daughter of dean and minister to Bolsø, Hans Wungaard.
Hans Fredrik Allan was in 1782 graduated from the Trondheim School,
cand. theology. 1785, was advisor in Molde for four years, and with
Bishop Schønheyder for two years. Allan was 6 January 1792 minister
to Andenes, and 19 June 1801 minister to Ofoten, from where he was honourably
discharged on 2 March 1844 with a pension of 250 Riksdalers.Hans Fredrik
Allan was the son of shopkeeper William Allan of Molde, died 1777, and
his wife Anna Margrethe Fietzeng, who again was the daughter of major
Hans Fredrik Fietzeng and Mette Margrethe Sørensdatter Esche
(born 1698, died 23 November 1774 in Molde), daughter of Søren
Esche. Hans Fredrik Fietzens was born in Scotland and died in Norway
(place unknown) in 1748. (Source: Carl Müller)Nils Ivert Ravn and
Marie Alsing Allan had six children, it was mentioned, the youngest,
together with twin sister Ulrikke Antonette (died unmarried in 1854).
6.
Villas Mathias Bang Ravn
Villas Mathias Bang Ravn, born
April 3, 1832, died June 8, 1918, and his wife Jonette Konstance Klæboe
(Photograph from Bjellgam in Liland, by Carsten Berg Høgenhoff)
Born April 3, 1832, died June 8, 1918 at Bjellgam.
Villas took over the farm from his brother Hans. He had influence as
a farmer and fisherman and was a telegraph messenger during his old
days. When its first telegraph in 1892 was established in Ofoten, he
housed and run it. Villas Ravn had several positions of honour in the
community.
Bjellgam farm
at Liland has been in the Ravn family ownership for generations. (Photo:
Carsten Berg Høgenhoff, 1996)
Villas Ravn was married to Jonette Konstance
Klæboe, daughter of shopkeeper John Klæboe, Liland, born
at Saura in Nesna 1789, died 1823, and wife Karen Margrethe Agersborg,
born 2 July 1790, confirmed 1807. This was Karen Margrethe Agersborg's
first of three marriages. Karen Margrethe Agersborg's mother was a known
character in Ofoten, Anne Bendikte Hveding, who is considered an ancestor
to several families in Ofoten. (Jonette Klæboe's brother Petter
who inherited large parts of the father's goods when he was just nine
years old, was later married to Villas Ravn's sister Petrikke.)Villas
Mathias Bang Ravn and Jonette Konstance Klæboe had 12 children,
whereas half died as child from diphtheria. Those who lived to grow
up were:
- Marie Ebeltine Alsing Ravn
- Nils Ivert Ravn
- Anne Marie Ravn
- Oluf Ravn
- John Emil Klæboe Ravn
- Karoline Ravn.
7.
Oluf Ravn 
Oluf Ravn was born in 1860 and
died in 1953 and his first wife, Gjertrud Olderøy, was born around
1867 and she died in 1901. (The original drawing of Oluf Ravn from 1912
is still found (1997) at Bjellgam, an original drawing of Gjertrud Olderøy
is in Gjertrud Berg's ownership in Sarpsborg)
Born 25 September 1860, died 23 February 1953,
at 92-1/2 years old. Township treasurer and farmer at Bjellgam in Liland.
Married the first time to Gjertrud Olderøy (1868 -1901). In this
marriage there were eight children:
- Jenny Ravn (1888-1981)
- Marie Ravn (1888-)
- Hjørdis Ravn (1890-)
- Hans Fredrik Allan Ravn (1892-)
- Johan Fredrik Holst Ravn (1894-)
- Asmund Emil Ravn (1896-)
- Gulli Ravn (1898-1996)
- Gunvald Ravn
In accordance with information from Tami Jenson,
Gjertrud Olderøy was the daughter of railroad employee Halvor Larssen
Olderøen, born 1834 in Sunndalen, and his wife Maret Olsdatter,
born 1831 in Sunndalen. See Halvor Larssen Olderøen's origins !Oluf Ravn
was married again to Bergitte Thorbergsen, who was on born 17 May 1877,
died 8 May 1973. In this marriage with her Oluf Ravn had seven children.
- Sverre Ravn
- Arthur Ravn
- Torbjørg Lovise Olufine (3.11.1908-21.9.2003)
- Karl Ravn
- Bergljot Ravn
- Olav Ravn (24.6.1918-8.2.2007)
- Johannes Ravn
8. Gulli Ravn
- actually Oluffa Gunhilde Ravn, born 11 November 1898 at Bjellgam in
Liland. During her childhood Gulli Ravn lived a year in the home of her
oldest sister Jenny in Trondheim, then in Skoger near Drammen where she
worked at the farm house of relatives and also a couple of years in Oslo
as a housekeeper.Married in 1923 to teacher and farmer Olav
Harald Winnem (b. 18 March 1897, d. 18 March 1980). At first they
lived at the school in Østervik, but later built the farm and cultivated
the soil in Botn, Bogen in Ofoten, just a few kilometres from Østervik.
Olav Harald Winnem came from the farm Rydnes at Skogøya, right
over the sound from Bjellgam. The two were nearest neighbours from childhood.
Gulli Ravn's half sister Torbjørg Ravn still lived unmarried at
Bjellgam in her 88th year (1996). She told us that the young Gulli would
set a candle in the window to warn her beloved one across the strait that
he was welcome to row, or swim, over to her.Gulli Ravn lived at home at
the farm in Botn until she was 95 years old. Then she moved to Evenes
nursing home in Liland, only some hundred meters from Bjellgam where she
was born. At the nursing home she quietly passed away in between three
and three-thirty on the night on Saturday 27 July 1996, well into her
98th year. She was buried Friday 2 August from Bogen Chapel. This was
a sunny, hot summer day - only one, lonesome thunderclap could be heard
in the sky as Gulli Ravn's coffin was put into the ground. Many who were
there thought perhaps as I - that our Lord closed the door behind her
as she received her reward, after a long, good life here with us.Gulli
Ravn and Olav Winnem had four children:
9. Gjertrud Winnem
Born 23 May 1926 in Østervik, Bogen in Ofoten, grew up at the farm
Botn, Bogen in Ofoten. Married to Einar
H. Berg , born 23 May 1929 in Trondheim. Three children:
- Lars Erling Berg
- Geir Olav Berg
- Carsten Berg Høgenhoff (editor of this
family history, co-editors: Steinar Winnem & Geirr Winnem)
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