Ancestors Graves - Jens Pedersen Grundet
Died of the Plague in 1565. 11th Great Grandfather
Danish records are best when tracing my family history. Thought it would be nice to share images of some of their memorials that have been carefully preserved.
One of my many 11th Great Grandfathers was High Priest at Ribe Cathedral, Denmark.
He died in 1565 aged about 55 years. If Denmark had not abandoned Catholicism under Lutheran reforms, I would not be here.
Here is a careful drawing of his tombstone by S Abildgaard from 1774.1 Recycled tombstone, originally used for Tombstone from c. 1500 for Jens Petersen Horsens, year of death unknown, and reused in 1565 for first priest and canon Jens Petersen Grunnet (Grundet) and his son Johannes, who both died in1565.
His biography has been translated.2
Grundet first went to school in Ribe where he was supported by canon Niels Torkilsen. Later he visited Århus school where, under principal Terkel Abildgaard, which had a great reputation. After school, he continued his studies at the Lutheran seminary in Malmö, (Sweden) but had to suffer a lot during the feud between the counts. When peace had been made, he was appointed headmaster of Ystad by his teacher Oluf Chrysostomus. A year later, he was visited by his old schoolmate from Århus, Jens Sinning, who encouraged him to resume his studies at Kobenhavn. Grundet followed Sinning's advice and was warmly supported during his studies by Sinning, who had just become a professor in 1542. Grundet became rector in Ribe. The school here was in a state of complete disintegration, but in a very few years the new principal succeeded not only in restoring it, but in making it famous throughout the kingdom, so that disciples flocked to it in great numbers. As early as 1550, the school had no less than six lessons and five listeners (translation not clear). Grundet had, however, obtained a canonry at the cathedral, and in 1550 he essentially gave up his rectorship to devote himself to his studies. However, he still got involved in educational activities and had a whole educational institution in his house which, among other things, was visited by several noble children. In 1554 he became a parish priest at the cathedral in Ribe, and also as a priest he has gained a good reputation. In particular, his importance as a caregiver and his rarely selfless care for the poor and sick are highlighted. In theological terms he was an avowed supporter of Philippism and abhorred theological disputes. In literature, there is only one collection of Similitudines, 1567, religious parables from his hand, first published after his death by his dear disciple Anders Sørensen Vedel, who vividly and tenderly portrayed his old teacher to whom he owed a great debt of gratitude. When the plague came to Ribe in 1565, Grundet's entire house was attacked, and even he, who had had fragile health from his youth, succumbed to it. Parents: farmer Peder Torkilsen and Kirsten Finds (Vincent's) daughter (ca. 1479-1559). Married Anne Jensdatter, died ca. 1581, daughter of the priest Jens Ovesen in Ribe. IconographyGravestone (Ribe domk.), which is a recycled Gothic stone. – Memorial plaque, Skolegade 6, Ribe.
Danish National Museum https://samlinger.natmus.dk/dmr/asset/57345
P. Terpager: Inscriptiones Ripenses, 1702 41 f 76. – A. S. Vedel: Biography added to some examples of his edition. of J.P.G.'s Liber posthumus continens similitudines, 1567 (Danish translation, by Fr. Moth in Vejle county yearbooks, 1926 133-87). C. F. Wegener: About Anders Sørensen Vedel, 1846 15-24 33f 36f 43f. J. Kinch: Ribe bys hist. II, 1884 66-69 Google translation from https://biografiskleksikon.lex.dk/Jens_Pedersen_Grundet
You are so fortunate to have access to such a rich and interesting ancestry.
Fascinating historical info! And how artistic the (recycled) tombstone! I wonder if most tombstones from that period /locale had such advanced art upon them?