Looking for spouses' date of death in probate documents.
Rebecca Bønsøe is given permission to live in the unprobated estate of her deceased husband Niels Christensen in a document dated 7 February 1766, linked here:
https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=21398218#345440,68808466
Is that the day Niels died or the day her "uskiftet bo" request was granted?
The couple's probate documents begin here:
https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=21398218#345440,68808448
We can see that Rebecca dies in 1782 but when did Niels die?
Thank you for reading this! Let me know if I can provide any more information that would be helpful!
Answers
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Hello #[JacquelineBonsee JacquelineBonsee] ,
I don’t have a lot of experience with the estate inventories in Copenhagen. The city had it’s own set of laws/regulations for the probate process which was determined by social status. I think it’s great that you found these documents. I looked through the documents and have identified the key pieces. Keep in mind I am not fluent in Danish, but this is what I get out of the documents.
Rebecca Bønsøe paid a court fee (image 355) and the official documents (images 356/357) for her legal status of uskiftet bo were filed on 7 February 1766. These papers mention that Niels Christensen Bønsøe was a citizen of Copenhagen and a Skipper. Rebecca had the right to remain in uskiftet bo if she was legally a widow. There was no assessment of the estate at that time. The death date for Niels Christensen Bønsøe is not mentioned in these (or the other papers). If she had remarried, then an estate inventory and division would have to be done but it seems she did not remarry.
The next set of documents are not in chronological order. I’ll present them in a timeline with the image numbers. There are some financial documents to show that there were assessments of the estate done between 1778 – 1782 (image 341). This might have been requested by some of the heirs. Maybe they were requested because they saw a decline in Rebecca’s health or maybe just to know the condition of the estate. The last date of evaluation seemed to be July 1782 which is after Rebecca’s death in early May.
An auction to liquidate some assets was done on 3 May 1782 (image 339). A casket was purchased on 10 May 1782. Rebecca’s funeral was on 11 May 1782 in Garnisons churchyard. The funeral expenses were listed on the same day (image 343).
Then there are some documents that were turned in to claim outstanding debts, and auctions held to liquidate for payment, auction 3 June 1782 (image 344), auction 8 June 1782 (images 340 and 345), claim 3 September 1782 (image 344), claim 4 February 1783 submitted on 12 July 1784 (image 344).
Finally, there is a document that lists heirs which was created on 8 October 1784 (image 339). This document mentions a daughter of Rebecca named Karen Jensdatter (was Rebecca previously married to a man named Jens?) Karen had a deceased brother who had been a Styrman (helmsman) Niels Bønsøe. There is a man named Christen Ringsted of Copenhagen who is a merchant and I’m not sure how he fits in. One of the sentences says “on my and Hustru’s (meaning Karen) behalf." Is he married to Karen? Is he a son of the deceased brother? Or is he a man who was appointed to be Karens and her brother Niels guardian from the past? I’m not sure. Then that document finishes stating that Karen Jensdatter will receive claims on outstanding debt for her deceased brother and her mother, dated 8 October 1784.
Hope this helps,
Geoff
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Hello @Morris Geoffrey Fröberg
Thank you for your thorough and thoughtful reply to my inquiry. Rebecca had indeed been married once before but we thought his name was Jakobsen or Jacob and they had a daughter Karen. Karen is mentioned in her deceased brothers (Niels Nielsen Bønsøe) probate as Karen Jacobsdatter. I wonder which surname is correct, something I'll have to look into. Her brother's probate indicates she's married to a man in Elsingor but it doesn't give his name. Perhaps he's the man named Christen Ringsted.
I had hoped Rebecca's estate would provide a date of death for Niels Christensen Bønsøe but I suspect it will forever be a mystery. The last time he was known to be alive was in July of 1765. Thank you again for taking the time to look this over and reporting back.
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@Morris Geoffrey Fröberg
I found the registration protocol for Niels Christensen Bønsøe and it mentions Christen Ringsted. Its under entry No. 3045. Does it say how he fits in?
https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=21950497#453007,81210510
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