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"Preserving the House"

by Hans Runge Kristoffersen
In the 18th century many postmaster offices were transferred to the widows of postmasters. However, eventually the Post Service considered it important to have male postmasters. This was easily arranged by having somebody "to preserve the house", i.e. through marriage with the widow or a daughter and thus undertake provision of the family. He who was willing to do so had a good chance of obtaining the postmaster office.


In 1722 the Director General of Post wrote that it was not in the King’s "interest or usefulness that she or other widows be entrusted with his post service". After the death of the Postmaster in Horsens, the vacant office had been advertised, and there were nine applicants - the widow Kirsten Jørgensdatter among them, who had been left "with three small children to raise and in a poor and pitiable state".

Three of the other applicants had offered to marry the widow if they were awarded with the office so that "she with her small children should be provided for". When the widow declared that in that case she would prefer to marry Jens Jacobsen Norup, he was duly submitted for the office and appointed new postmaster of Horsens. But Kirsten Jørgensdatter regretted her choice and informed the Director General that she did not dare to contract the planned marriage. The Director General therefore asked the county official von Plessen to investigate the matter and find a solution.

It was revealed that the widow considered Norup to be too simple-minded and for that reason she refused to marry him. She feared that Norup "would not be of any use or pleasure for her and her small children". Norup offered to let the widow "stay in the office" if he was covered for "all his expenses to date", in all 150 Rd. Thus Kirsten Jørgensdatter became postmistress in Horsens and held the position for 37 years. And she also managed to get royal approval for her son-in-law to succeed her in office, but he died before she did.

Post Reformer?
Not only Kirsten Jørgensdatter herself, but also her family and predecessors in the postmaster office in Horsens are worth noticing. In an application dated 25th March 1747 she writes that Martin Luther was 6th generation on the man’s side after late Dr. Morten Luther, and that postmaster Martin Luther was married to the applicant’s mother. Moreover, she wrote: "For over 95 years, by the grace of Your Majesty’s ancestors of blessed memory, Horsens post office has been entrusted to the descendants of Dr. Morten Luther residing in this country".

Career Women
The 17th century was a male-dominated time – but within the post service women discharged the duties of even the highest offices. Gese Wecel called herself "Sveriges Rikes Postmästerinna" [Post Mistress of the Swedish Kingdom], and it is a fact that she was head of the Swedish post service from 1637 to 1642, just as Margareta Beijer was from 1669 to 1673. In Norway Anne Morian was head of the Norwegian post service from 1648 to her death in 1653. Also in Denmark the post service had a powerful female head, however, not until 1703 when Dorothea Krag was entrusted with the position until 1711.

These women all took over the office from their late husbands. In Sweden as well as in Norway they took over the post services already the year after the establishment and they were to a great extent in charge of the construction of the postal system in those countries.

The full stories of the above-mentioned women can be found in the richly illustrated book "Touring Scandinavia on Ancient Post Roads" which is available from Post & Tele Museum at DKK 295 (+ postage).

Highlights from the book has been turned in to an exhibition distributed in the form of a DVD with the graphic material for reproduction of 14 wall sheets, size230 x 85 cm, ready for printing. Post & Tele Museum is offering the DVD at € 100.




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