Johanne Margrethe Pedersdatter

When Johanne Margrethe was baptised she had the surname Jeppesdatter, but she called herself Johanne Margrethe Pedersdatter. She grew up with her childless aunt, Birthe Erichsdatter, and her husband, Anders Jensen, steward (Danish: ladefoged) on the farm “Rudbjerggaard” in Majbølle. In december 1815 she moved with her husband and children from Copenhagen to Sønderho on the island Fanø to take up the position as midwife in Sønderho parish. On February 19, 1816 she was sworn in by judge (Danish: birkedommer) Nørup at Fanø. In 1850 - after 35 years of service – she asked for permission to retire due to her age, and on July 1, 1850 she retired. In 1852 she moved from Fanø to Agerbæk near Varde (Ribe county) to live with her daughter, Andrea Christine, who was a midwife in Agerbæk. (Source: Knud Birkelund: "Westphalerne blandt mine aner", p. 8-9, maj 1990, added by Betty Vang)