Occupation: Chief Justice (Landsdommer)
Reference: note
Mads Hansen Kofoed is thought to have been born sometime between 1580-


90. He was the "Proprietær" of Vellensgård in Nyker and Eskildsgård


in Pedersker parish, both of which he got through marriage with Karen


Jørgensdatter. He obtained permission to use the Kofoed coat-of-
arms; later, in 1608, he known to have used the title of "Free-man"
(Frimand). On February 5, 1629 he obtained the commission as Chief
Justice (Landsdommer) for Bornholm. In 1637 he presented 50
Silverdalers to Rønne Hospital in gratitude for their having nursed
him back to health after he survived a storm at sea. Was involved in
the surrender of Bornholm to the Swedish General Wrangel in 1645,
after which he was judged a traitor to Bornholm and Danmark. After he


died his widow was given a royal pardon for her husband's crime. I
do not know of the place and circumstances of his death, he possibly
died on Bornholm; however, he might have gone into exile with his
brother Peder and like him died in Lübeck. Vellensgård and
Eskildsgård are both classified as "frigårds", later called
"proprietair" farms, which is the highest of the three farm
classifications.

1600: Vellensgård i Nyker
Betegner sig selv som frimand i 1608 og førte det kofoedske våben i
sit segl. 1637 skænkede han 50 Sld. til Rønne Hospital i
taknemmelighed over at være blevet frelst fra havsnød. Var med til at


overgive Bornholm til general Wrangel i 1645, hvorfor han blev dømt
til at rømme riget. Efter hans død fik enken kongelig tilgivelse for
mandens begåede forbrydelse.
Eskildsgård i Pedersker, købt af svogeren Esbern Kofoed. skøde 30-1-
1608
5 feb 1629 fik han bestalling som Landsdommer på Bornholm