Jens Christensen

Descendants

Died about 1630 in Skjerstad, Salten, Norldand, Norway

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Biography

Parish priest to Skjerstad in the period 1620 - 1630.

According to the priest line compiled by Christian Fredrik Hagerup, "Series pastorum i Skjærstad kald", sir Jens was a parish priest to Skjerstad for 10 years. He had originally been a priest in Nærøy, Namdalen, but had punished a lad so harshly that he had been relocated to the far northern parish of Skjerstad. Another priest-line for Skjerstad mentioned by S-T Dahl confirms the link to Nærøy, and provides the name Jens Wanbaare.

Wife unknown, but had supposedly six children, including three sons. The name of the eldest is not mentioned by Hagerup, but listed by S-T Dahl. He was a hunter for the 'lagmann' to Steigen, and it is said that he was accused of witchcraft, after which he was sent to Copenhagen, where it was found that his magic was nothing more than an uncanny talent as a shooter, and he became a royal huntsman. The second son, Ole, moved after him to Copenhagen.

1. Nathanel, to Copenhagen
2. Ole, to Copenhagen
3. Karen, to Vatnan
4. Christen (abt. 1616), to Langset, Saltdal
5. NN, to Moksnes
6. NN, to Rørstad, possibly to the priest.

The timing of Hagerup may be slightly off. According to A. Erlandsen, Jens died at Nærø in 1618, but this must be incorrect, however it may indicate that his call ended at Nærøy a few years earlier. Jens is mentioned as a parish priest in Nærøy in 1607 when he is fined 20 rdl for marrying an already married woman. He probably succeeded Hans Jacobsen there, who died in 1594. A Christen, parish priest to Nærøy, is also mentioned in the list of Erlandsen, but with no date.

Where Jens came from originally is not known, but S-T Dahl notes that he might be the same Jens mentioned by Gunnerus as a son of Christen Steenson Schanche (~1565 - ~1635) in Brønnøy. This seems unlikely, as Jens must be born around 1580, unless Christen Steensen was married once before he married Else Olufsdatter Kusse.

Sources

• Bygdebok for Skjerstad og Fauske, vol.I, p.147-148.
• Slektsbok for Skjerstad og Fauske, vol.V, p.506
• S-T Dahl: Geistligheten i Nord-Norge og Midt-Norge i tiden 1536-1700 p.304
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