Fredrick Nikolai Wiborg (abt. 1714 - abt. 1804)

Born about 1714 in Romedal Parish, Hedmark, Norway

Ancestors

Husband of Ingeborg Simensdatter — married 1742 (to about 1747) in Ringsaker, Hedmark, Norway

Husband of Johanne Fredrikke (Falster) Wiborg — married 18 Jan 1749 (to about 1764) in Ringsaker, Hedmark, Norway

Husband of Ingeborg Linnemann — married 28 Mar 1768 in Kvikne, Hedmark, Norway

Descendants

Died about 17 Nov 1804 at about age 90 in Lesja Parish, Oppland, Norway

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This profile is part of the Wiborg Name Study.

Biography

Fredrik Nikolai Andersson Wiborg or Fredrik Nicolai Wiborg, was born about 1714 and died while serving as sexton at Lejsa in 1804 at an estimated 90 years of age.^[1][2] His death record, which is found in the Lesja minister's book on page 635, 4th entry, indicates that Sexton Friderik Nicolai Wiborg died at the age of 96-1/4 years. This suggests he was born in 1708.^[3] It seems likely that his mother would have correctly reported his age in the probate record - especially as it was done in the context of her other children - so the birth date recorded closer to his birth is used here.

Early years

Fredrik Nicolai Wiborg was the youngest son of Anders Nielsen Wiborg, who was a major in the Norwegian Army and Commandant of the Kristiansfjeld fortress in Elverum. The settlement of his father’s estate was held on 28 January 1719; he is listed as the youngest of Anders Nielsen Wiborg’s 15 children and 4 years of age at the time. This suggests he was born circa 1714.^[2] Sjøvald indicates that in the church records for Lesja it states that “in 1804 ‘Buried sexton FNW who died 17 November & was 96 ¼ years.’ … irrespective of the discrepancy, Fredrik Wiborg lived to become a very old man.“^[4]

Anders Nielsen Wiborg died in 1718 and Fredrik was reared by his mother’s brother, minister Johan Cold and by his mother in Romedal (Rømedal) parish. When Fredrik planned to leave the community in 1740, the minister Peter Grüner gave him the following recommendation: "… that he has been for the most part reared by his good maternal uncle, Johan Colds, in his own home and has been thoroughly grounded in the true Christian Doctrine. Since then he has been with his widowed mother in Romedal Sogn. He has been brought up in the fear of God and has led a Christian life. He has shown a good knowledge of those things that are necessary to a man's salvation, especially the Holy Sacraments of which he partook in the head church of Romedal on July 24th…"^[1]

From 1740 to 1751 he lived on the Farberg farm in Ringsaker, and served as a teacher^[1]. There he promised to teach children Martin Luther’s short catechism, both the catechism and the explanations, as was prescribed to his role as a teacher. He recorded that he was “called to be sexton in Læssøe” in the church record at Ringsaker parish on 19 May 1751.^[4]

While in Hedmark he also served as a lawyer/solicitor’s head clerk in Hedmark^[5], gaining substantial experience because solicitor Barojer was ill for much of that period^[6]. As a result the sexton in Lesja was involved in a number of cases as Barojer’s representative and was acquainted with legal procedures before he came to North Gudbrandsdal. In this role Wiborg gained insight in advising and administering justice and in dispute resolution.^[4]

Fredrik Nikolai Andersson Viborg married Ingeborg Simensdatter (about 1708-1804) from Romedal in 1742 in Ringsaker.^[7]

The Lesja Years

When the sexton Ola Kring died in Lesja in 1751, Fredrik Nicolai Wiborg was appointed sexton there and was presented to the congregation on the third Sunday following Trinity.^[1] In the Lesja Sogn there were three satellite churches in addition to the main church at Lesja: Lesjeverk, Dovre & Folldal. The travel distances were great & it could be very difficult in the winter.^[1][8][9]

Dovre church was an annex to Lesja; the current church building was inaugurated in 1740. Over the choir opening stands Christian VI’s monogram in gold. During restoration of the church in 1954 a secondary painting of the arch was carefully removed together with the original painting, which today is reverently displayed, and the initials FAW were found. These were interpreted as the initials belonging to Fredrik Anderssen Wiborg. But it is certainly unlikely that Wiborg himself painted the arch himself. A “garnish” that the original had used both gold and silver, and demonstrated an attention to artistic professionalism that a sexton in Lesja scarcely had. But he could very well have taken the initiative to pay for the performance of the work. Around Norwegian churches there are many examples in which the donor of gifts to church embellishments has left his name or initials.^[10]

The Lesja local historical literature also discusses the church bells at Lesja main church, stating: “The largest church bell in Lesja church tower was cast at Nestande^[11] in 1767." Sexton Fredrik Nicolai Wiborg's name is inscribed on the bell. In the Latin inscription his name is found with three others: "Minister Smidth, Carl Friis (church trustee), and the bell maker, Løvberg."^[12] Østerås indicates that the sexton in Lesja proposed casting of this new and largest bell in the church. He points out that the first part of the Latin inscription attests to that, stating: “edit Frd Nicol Wiborg" where “edit” is the Latin third-person singular of the verb ‘to bring about or cause.”^[13]

Besides performing duties as a sexton, Wiborg was a member of the broader community. Nicolai Christian Lassen’s diary, which was published in 1777, gives insight in its record of a visit with Wiborg at Sili. Lassen indicates that: “In Lossøe parish at the Sili farm the owner, sexton Wiborg has converted a marsh to meadow ground by drainage, where it now grows 6 hayricks of hay. He has built a farm house, under which he set a foundation three yards deep into the earth, and under the walls lay stone drainage passages it drain away the spring water that erodes away the earth. He operated the first stamp mill (for wadmal) in the parish. Several years prior he made an attempt to fire faience ware from a very fine clay, which is found in the vicinity of the main church. Because of the locations great separation from the marketplaces, shipping to the customer was difficult and costly. Besides in the vicinity there is limited wood for burning. Viborg is a witty & skilled farmer who with his children has improved three farms, where he formerly dwelled. He also keeps himself temperate.”^[14][15]

After renting for several years he bought the cotter's place Leiren under Kolstad^[16] in 1753 for 130 rd. There was clay on the place & Wiborg built a pottery factory. The pottery works was unprofitable and he gave up the pottery works after a few years operation. Lassen’s observation that there was limited firewood is important in understanding why it was unprofitable. Proper types and ample supplies of fuel are critical to all faience production.^[17][4]

Most of the local firewood was committed to making charcoal for the Lesja ironworks adn some perhaps to the Folldal copperworks. The iron works at Lesjaverk was up the valley, 18 km (11 miles) from Sexton Wiborg’s faience works, and would have had a well-established demand for charcoal to fire the smelters there. Iron smelting is recorded at Lesjaverk as early as 1614. Both the Head Pastor and Sexton Wiborg traveled there on Sundays for services. The Folldal works (Folldal Verk) was founded in 1748, when Folldal’s main copper mine, [lokalhistoriewiki.no/index.php/Folldal_Gruver Gammelgruva], opened, along with the supporting smelters. At that time both Lesjaverk and Folldal were part of Lesja municipality and both the Head Pastor and Sexton Wiborg routinely traveled to those churches on Sundays for services as well – to Folldal a distance of 50 km (30 miles) each way. Due to the proximity, the competition for wood/charcoal to fire the furnaces at both locations would have been significant.^[18]

Sexton Wiborg registered in 1763 as the representative of the monopoly to provide musicians for the Lesja & Dover areas for playing at weddings, child birth celebrations and other gatherings, where musicians are needed. This right was Marthe Dorthea Meyer’s, and the delegation was dated in Christiania on 3 September 1763. Wiborg was to collect an annual fee on behalf of Marthe Meyer from the musicians who played in the Lesja & Dovre region. He exercised that duty, no doubt to earn money as no evidence has been found that he was a musician.^[4]

Later Fredrik built a felting mill (stamp mill) for wadmal-style woolens.^[1]

He sold Leiren in 1770 and purchased half of Sili. Later, in 1788, he purchased the other half.^[1] Together with his son Anders he improved the farm, building new out-houses and a two-storied dwelling.^[1].^[19]

When on the 4th Sunday in Advent in 1785 Peder Jordhøy was appointed pastor by the provost, he appointed Frederik and his son Anders Johan Wiborg as joint sextons in Lesja (with Anders to serve as successor). Fredrik was often asked to serve as a guardian for minors, representing their interests at probates.^[1]

Controversy

Ivar Kleiven, in his book "Lesja & Dovre" criticized the Wiborg family as promoting law suits and community disputes.^[20] In his article, Per Berg observes that people often have something to say about recent arrivals in the community and it usually is not favorable. Berg points out that Frederik Wiborg represented Madam Meyer who held the concession to provide music for wedding and other festivities in Northern Gudbrandsdal, and on her behalf was active in prosecuting musicians who played without paying her fee. However Berg indicates there is no record of other types of cases; and suggests Kleiven must have been referring to Procurator Anders Wiborg, a relative, who brought many such suits in Lom.^[1]

Family lineage

Fredrik Nicolai Wiborg was married three times. His first wife, Ingeborg Simensdotter Schøyen, was born about 1713, died about 1747, and was buried 9 March 1747. Fredrik married the second time at Ringsaker in 1749 to Johanne Frederikke Falster, who was born in 1713 and was buried 8 October 1764. Fredrik was married the third time to Ingeborg Linneman, born in 1729, died 1779, and they had one son, Anders Johan Wiborg, born 18 April 1769, who took over the Sili farm and served as sexton at Lesja with and after his father.^[1][17]

Fredrik Nicolai Wiborg was the youngest son of Anders Nielsen Wiborg, who was a major in the Norwegian Army and Commandant of the Kristiansfjeld fortress in Elverum. Anders Nielsen Wiborg’s family lived at Hørsand farm in Romedal from 1700-1718 and his widow continued to live there until about 1730. Fredrik’s mother, Marthe Hansdatter (Johansdatter) Modfeldt, was the major’s second wife.^[21]

Little is known about Anders Nielsen Wiborg's origin. He became a second lieutenant (Fenrick) in the Oppland National Infantry Regiment in 1678, a Sekondløytnanat in the Fåbergske Company in 1682, a First Lieutenant in 1685, and a Lieutenant Captain in the South Hedemark National Guard Company in 1697. Later that year he became Captain and commander of the Osterdal Company, which was sent to Denmark in 1714 under orders of the Danish King. Upon return to Norway in 15 January 1717, Wiborg was promoted to Major and made Commandant of the Christiansfjeld fortifications on the Swedish border. His died at Kongsvinger on 10 October 1718 occurred only shortly before Charles XII of Sweden’s death on November 30, 1718, in the siege trenches of the Swedish assault on the Norwegian fortress at Fredriksten.^[22]

Fredrik’s mother, Marthe Hansdatter (or Johansdatter) Modfeldt was the daughter of Johan Buchardsen (or Borchersen) Madfeldt (the priest at Romedal from 1665 – 1674) and Mette Nielsdatter Hofer. His birthplace and are is not known. Mette Nielsdatter Hofer’s father was Niels Christensen Hofer or Hofver (the priest at Romedal from 1655 – 1665) and her mother was Ingeborg Evensdatter, daughter of Kristiania merchant Even Anderssen and his wife Marthe Hansdatter.^[21] Ingeborg was sister of two priests (Ole Evensen at Biri and Anders Evensen at Trøgstad) as well as niece of Christen Steffensen Bang, the priest at Romedal from 1621 – 1655, who subsequently established Norway's first printing-house.^[2]

Photos

Base of candlestick owned by Fredrik Nicolai Wiborg

A yet to be transcribed and translated work

The following record is in the Lesja Ministerialbok nr. 2. For context, the previous pastor for Lesja, Henning Ulrik Fuglberg, was transferred from Lesja to Vinger in 1758, and while there bought the farm Hagas-Tande. He was replaced in Lesja by Hans Hansen Smidth.

The record is signed by Friderich Wiborg and Hans Hansen Tande - the former was the sexton at Lesja, while latter is the priest for Lesja, residing at Tande farm. It is dated 19 March 1849.

Hans Hansen Tande's handwriting appears on the prior and succeeding pages, and is easy to read. Friderich Wiborg's handwriting appears only in a limited sample on page 726 - his writing is a bit muddy and his spelling seems creative.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10} Berg, Per: Ei Wiborg-ættegrein på Lesja 1751 – 1900; Hedmark Slektshistorielags Jubileumsskrift, s 119-126, Hamar, Norway 1964
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Morthoff, Bjarne: Romedal Bygdebok, Bind II, s 17-51
3. ↑ Links to the death reference follows: Kildeinformasjon: Oppland fylke, Lesja, Ministerialbok nr. 3 (1777-1819), Kronologisk liste 1804, side 634-635. Permanent sidelenke: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:kb_read?idx_kildeid=9237&idx_id=9237&uid=ny&idx_side=-320
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4} Sjøvald, Aase Bay: Fredrik Wiborg, Christian Brøsløw og fajanseproduksjonen på Lesja; Årsskrift for Lesja historielag: 1999
5. ↑ Statsarkivet i Hamar (State Archives, Hamar), Hedemark ting book number 46, folios 205a and 207; 1746.
6. ↑ National Archives of Norway; The older county general assembly, package C 17-18, letter from Johan Bardel Gerlach, dated on Norderhov (Nordrug) in Løten on 4 July 1746. In this letter it mentions that the lawyer is ill. Carl Barojer died in 1746 at 46 years of age. Source: State Archives of Hamar, Ringsaker church book number 1, page 300.
7. ↑ brudgom Fridrich Andersen Wiborg og brur Ingebor Simensdatter 1742 - Ministerialbok for Ringsaker prestegjeld 1734-1746 (0412P)
8. ↑ See the entry 2/3rds of the way down page 359. Source information: Oppland county, Lesja, Parish register (official) nr. 2 (1732-1776), Chronological list 1751, page 358-359. Permanent pagelink: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:kb_read?idx_kildeid=9236&idx_id=9236&uid=ny&idx_side=-173 Permanent imagelink: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20070603470281.jpg
9. ↑ See also this link which includes essentially this same article as prepared for lokalhistoriewiki..no
10. ↑ Tallerås, Pål H., Kyrkene i Dovre. Dovre kommune 1978, pages 15 and 17.
11. ↑ Nestande or Nesttande is a farm located adjacent to the Lesja church yard.
12. ↑ Østerås, Otto: “Kirkeklokker i bygdesogn” Hedmark Slektshistorielags Jubileumskrift 1939-1964; Hamar 1964
13. ↑ Lesja kyrkje 1750-2000; Lesja Sokneråd ved Skriftnemnda; Redactør Olav Lia; Snøhetta forlag a.s.; USBN-82-91375-12-7; page 119
14. ↑ Lassen, Nicolai: Nicolai Christian Lassens Dagbok fra 1777 over en Reise igiennem Guldbrandsdalen; Gudbrandsdalens Historielag 1933
15. ↑ Lassen quote :”Klokker Viborg har udtappet en Mose til Engbund hvorpaa kand avles 6 lӕs Høe, opbygget Gaardens Huuse, under dam set en Grundmur 3 Alen i Jorden og under Muren lagt lagt Steenrender for at bortføre Kildevӕld , som bortskyllede Jorden. Han har opretter den første Stampe-Mølle her i Prӕstegjeldet. For nogle Aar siden gjorde han et ufuldkomment forsøg med at brӕnde Fayance af en meget fiin Leeret, som finds i Mӕngde ved Hoved-Kirken. Stedets lande fraliggenhed fra Kiøbstӕderne for vanskelig og kostbar til at kunde drive verket, desuden er heromkring kun lidet Skog til brӕndsel. Viborg er en vittig (klok) og erfaren Landmand, der ved sit Opbrud har forbedret 3 Gaarde, som han tilforn har bebod. Staar sig kun maadelig."
16. ↑ Kildeinformasjon: Oppland fylke, Gudbrandsdal fogderi, Ekstraskatt 1266 (RA/EA-4092/R17/L1266), 1762-1766, oppb: Riksarkivet. Merknader: Ekstraskatt 1762-1772, se også kat. nr. 1145/51. Permanent sidelenke: http://arkivverket.no/URN:db_read/db/45390/251/ Permanent bildelenke: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-rk10051110140259.jpg
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1} Kielland , Arnfinn: Bygdebok for Lesja. Bd. 3, s. 300 - 303
18. ↑ Stagg, Frank Noel, The Heart of Norway., George Allen & Unwin, Ltd., 1953
19. ↑ Amundgård, Arne: Lӕrar in Lesja from til ca. 1840; Årbok for Gudbrandsdalen 1967
20. ↑ Wiborg, Geir Steinar: WIBORG. En slektsgren med bakgrunn i det gamle norske bondesamfunnet; Gjøvik 1995
21. ↑ ^{21.0 21.1} Morthoff, Bjarne & Løland, Jaco Sverre: Romedalboka: Garder og Slekter; Bind III; s. 21-53
22. ↑ Ovenstad, Olai: Militaerbiografier, den norske haers officerer 1628-1814
23. ↑ Kildeinformasjon: Oppland fylke, Lesja, Ministerialbok nr. 2 (1732-1776), notat- og visitassider m.m. 1735-1759, side 726-727. Permanent sidelenke: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:kb_read?idx_kildeid=9236&idx_id=9236&uid=ny&idx_side=-358 Permanent bildelenke: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20070603470467.jpg

• Arnfinn Kjelland: Bygdebok for Lesja, bind 3. Gards-og slektshistorie; s.303-304 [Local History for Lesja by Arnfinn Kjelland; Volume 3, pages 303-304]