Lieutenant Colonel of the Vesterlenske
Regiment, Norway
Ahasverus de Créqui dit la Roche
Ancestors - Biography - Descendants
AN INTRODUCTION
First time
published 11th August 1998 - Updated 28th December 2001
NB: This English page is under construction, and some links may not
be active.
English version. Translated
and adapted from Norwegian by Carsten Berg Høgenhoff and Sigurd
Lambek. The research presented on these pages is performed by the international
genealogy group Societé Internationale des Études de Créqui
- SIEC.
Lecteurs Français
The following presents the
French noble family de Créquy of Pas-de-Calais, the Dutch
branch de Créqui dit la Roche, the Norwegian branch whose
founder is the officer Ahasverus de Créqui dit la Roche
who emigrated to Norway in 1657, and his descendants.
This article gives a short
and limited introduction to what is described in more detail in the
11 chapters in the Norwegian version
of this web site. In this English version, we present the major
contents of each and every chapter, while parts of less interest to
our non-Scandinavian readers have been left out.
For those of you who can also
read the Scandinavian languages, a word of guidance:
It may be worthwhile reading
this English version if you are looking for genealogical data only.
Most material researched by SIEC is presented also in English, and you
need not tire yourself with the relatively long passes in the Norwegian
version devoted to a number of theories and a presentation of people
and society around some of the main characters in this genealogy. In
particular, this is the case in the presentation of the Dutch officer
Jean de Créqui dit la Roche and his son Ahasverus de Créqui
dit la Roche (Chapters 3 to 10).
Some data of genealogical
interest has not been translated; this goes for Chapters 2 presenting
the French de Créqui family 857 - ca 1700, and for Chapter 11,
the listing of Ahasverus de Créqui dit la Roche's known descendants
until approx. 1850. We hope and believe that you may still follow the
main lines of these two chapters in the Norwegian version. In particular,
Chapter 11 should be more or less self-instructive.
See also http://98.1911encyclopedia.org/C/CR/CREQUY.htm
with a description of the family's origin and some of its members from
mediaeval times until the 17th century.
Oslo/Newport/Asker
April 2001
The SIEC Newsletter is published in English only,
with a presentation of new discoveries or theories investigated or presented
within SIEC. See Table of Contents
for the various newsletters .
Contents of the SIEC
web site
The Norwegian flags lead to
the respective Norwegian main chapters in those cases where this version
contains more information than the English one. Where there is no flag,
the link leads either to a Norwegian version not translated (Chapers
2 and 11) or to chapters with English versions only (Chapter 12). NB:
Please note that in the interest of your ease of reading, the English
text does not always follow the Norwegian version chapter by chapter.
In particular, Chapters 6 to 10 have been strongly shortened.
| |
Chapter 1 |
- - a definition
of the areas in question
|
 |
Chapter 2, part 1
|
- - the noble family
de Créqui of Pas-de-Calais, France (857 - approx 1600)
|
| |
Chapter 2, part 2
|
- - the later generations
of the noble family de Créquy (approx 1600 - 1704)
|
| |
Chapter 3 and
4 |
- - the
de Créqui Coat of Arms and the shields
- The de
Crequi Coat of Arms
- Medieval
version
- About
Coat-of-Arms and Crest
- F.A.
de la Chenaye-des-Bois
- J.
Siebmacher
- Ahasverus de
Créqui dit la Roche's signature and seal
- The Jæger-shield
and its copies
- Ahasverus
Jæger , early 1700eds (the Jæger-shield)
- Carl Schelven
Lous, ca 1865
- Christopher
Morgenstierne Munthe (hte Delgobes-shield)
- The alter candle
light holder in the Helleland church, Rogaland, Norway
- The other Coats of Arms on the Jæger-shield
- Delordelie
- la Roche
- de Lys/de
Leis
- Rengers
- Voorthuysen
- Hangereuen
- Olderingk
|
| |
Chapter 5
|
- Ancestors
- Ahasverus
de Crequi dit la Roche's parents
- Jean de Créqui
dit la Roche and Gjertrud Rengers
- Grandparents
and great-grandparents?
- Delgobes
and Kielland's theories from the 19th century
- Theories
based upon SIEC's investigations 2001 - the Sedan
theory
- The de
Créqui coat of arms in the St. John Church of Gouda,
The Netherlands
- Does this
lead to Jean de Créqui dit la Roche?
- Not a brother
of Mareshal de France, François de Crequi!
- de/dit la Roche,
or what?
|
| |
Chapter
6 |
- - When was Ahasverus
de Créqui born, and when did he die?
- Two silk cloths
from the past
|
| |
Chapter 7 |
|
| |
Chapter 8 - Part 1 |
- - The 1st Carl
Gustav War 1657-58
|
| |
Chapter 8 - Part 2 |
- - The 2nd Carl
Gustav War 1658-60
|
| |
Chapter 9
|
- - Quiet years in
Stavanger 1660-1675
|
| |
Chapter 10
|
- - The Nordic Wars
1676-79
|
| |
Chapter 11 |
- - Descendants
( link to Norwegian version )
- Ahasverus
de Créqui dit la Roche's descendants until approx 1850
- This chapter
has not been translated, but the main concepts of the
Norwegian version may easily be understood by non-Scandinavians:
Sibling follow sibling in the presentation, and each sibling's
descendants are presented directly below the person in
question.
|
| |
Chapter 12 |
- The Sweers family
- ancestors of Ahasverus de Créqui dit la Roche's 1st
wife Judith Sweers. English version only.
|
| |
Sources |
|
We also have some material
which has not found its proper place in the above mentioned articles:
Chapter 1 - A definition of the areas in question
This article deals with the French noble family
de Créqui of Pas-de-Calais, the Dutch officers Jean (d. ca 1647)
and Ahasverus de Créqui dit la Roche (1617-1678) and Ahasverus
de Créqui dit la Roche's descendants until approx. 1850. Genealogical
problems investigated by SIEC include the link between the French main
house of de Créqui and the Dutch-Norwegian branch, the other
ancestoral lines of Jean and Ahasverus de Créqui dit la Roche,
and the biographies of the two officers Jean and Ahasverus de Créqui
dit la Roche.
Chapter 2, part
1 - The noble family de Crequy of Pas-de-Calais, France
The
Norwegian main version presents each generation
of the main house until approx 1580.
The d e Créqui family
coat of arms: On a Gold Field, a Red Plum tree with 7 Branches. Illustration
by Carsten Berg Høgenhoff, based upon the Jæger-shield
from approx. 1703 and J. Siebmacher's
grosses und allgemeines Wappenbuch
The origins of the family de Créqui
found in Nouvelle Biographie
Generale, Vol 11/12, page 422, Copenhagen, Denmark 1965.
Créqui, House of. One
of the oldest families in France, had it's origins in the area of ARTOIS,
from where it expanded into PICARDY and many other provinces. The manor
house, from which it took it's name, was in a small village near Fruges,
in today's county of Pas-de-Calais. This family, extinct a few years
before the Revolution in 1789, could be traced back, according to some
genealogists, to the year 857 where the existence was found of a lord
Arnould de Créqui, called the "Old" or the "Bearded",
who was one of the most ardent supporters of King Charles the Simple
[Charles III]. But, it is only in 986 that it is certain that a Ramelin,
Lord of Créqui, existed and who founded the Abbey of Ruisseauville,
near Boulogne-sur-Mer, and who had probably as a son, Baudouin, the
Great Baron, who's motto was "Don't Get Too Close." The various
branches of this family furnished the Lords of Bernieulles, de Fressin,
de Flechin, de Blicourt, de Canaples, de Blequin, de Hemont, de Clery,
d'Aufeer, de Ricey, de Heilly, de Bierbach, de Raimboval, de Torchy,
de Rayon etc. and produced a Cardinal, two Marshalls of France, a General
of Galleys and several bishops. The elder branch, called Sires of Créqui,
merged in 1543 with the House of Blanchefort, out of which came the
Dukes of Créqui and the Princes of Poix, who's principal members
were eventually merged into the House of Noailles.
About the village Créquy in Pas-de-Calais,
France
Créquy, a sleepy, little
village in Pas de Calais, is situated along road D 130, not far from
the English channel and just south of Calais
In Créquy, the Créqui
family built its first manor in the 10th century, and later the family
obtained land, among other places, around the village of Fressin not
far from Créquy. The family can probably follow its roots back
to a sire Arnould, mentioned in 857 as one of king Charles the Simple's
men. In Fressin, there is a Créqui festival each year, in remembrance
of a Raoul de Créqui.
The coat of arms used by the
village Créquy today is similar to the ancient coat of arms used
by the Créquy family: the seven branched plum tree.
Chapter 2, part 2 - The
later generations of the noble family de Crequy of Pas-de-Calais, France
The Norwegian main version
presents some generation of the main house from ca 1530 until the
family dies out in 1702 .
None of the generations presented in Chapter 2,
part 2 may have ancestored our family, as they lived at the same time
or later than our members of the Créqui family. This chaper is
included here because it gives an insight into some interesting personalities,
among them the marchal de France, François de Créqui who
played an important role during the reign of Louis XIV.
Chapter 3 and
4 - the de Créqui Coat of Arms and the shields
Click on the thumb image to the right for
a larger version of the Jæger shield. To the right, Ahasverus
de Créqui dit la Roche's seal (1660) and bottom left, his signature
(1659).
These two chapters include some of the most central
material in our genealogical research. The Norwegian main version include
a presentation of the so-called Jæger-shield (Jeager), a drawing
made some time after 1703 with a presentation of the de Créqui
Coat of Arms and seven others: Delordelie
., la Roche, de Lys
(or de Leis), Rengers, Voorthuysen
, Hangereuen (or Hanegreve) , and
Olderingk.
Some copies of the
Jæger shield are also presented; the Carl Schelven Lous
version (approx 1865), and the Delgobes version drawn by lieutenant Christopher Morgenstierne
Munthe (approx 1875). You also find Ahasverus de Créqui dit la
Roches signature and seal, as well as an altar candle light stake from
the Helleland Church with the de Créquy Coat of Arms engraved
in the silver.
Chapter
4 presents the other seven Coats of
Arms on the Jæger shield. Of particular interest to our genealogical
research, it should be mentioned that some new findings indicate possible
tracks which may investigated more closely:
The Rengers Coat of Arms (Gertrude Rengers was Jean de
Créqui dit la Roche's wife, and Ahasverus' mother) has long been
a puzzle, as the Coat of Arms used by the noble family Rengers is not
simular to the one presentes on the Jæger shield. Thus, Mr Sigurd
Lambek's discovery of a German family Rengers with the same Coat of
Arms as presented on the Jæger shield is of the greatest interst
to us. Read more about this in the SIEC Newsletter No
3, 2001 .
The Hangereuen Coat of Arms
as it is presented (and spelled) on the Jæger shield is simular
with the Hanegreve Coat of Arms of Northern Barbant (which include
the southern part of The Netherlands and some areas in the northern
part of Belgium). One particular finding of some interest is an entry
in the Repertorium op de Overstichtse
en Overijsselse leenprotocollen , at
the Overijssel State Archives (the actual page seems to have disappeared
from the internet by April 2002). It gives a presentation of some individuals
which may be of interest:
- 1541 nov 6 (OB1 fol
13)
- Jacob Reyners na de
dood van zijn moeder Margriete Goossens, vrouw van Geert Reyners.
- 1554 dec 4 (OB3 fol
9v)
- Elske, weduwe van Johan
Elderinck, na opdracht door Jacob Reyners. Hulder haar zwager
Goedert Hanegreve.
- 1557 mei 24 (OC1
fol 37)
- 1557 jun 16 (OC1
fol 53)
- Elske, weduwe van Johan
Elderinck. Hulder haar zwager Godert Hanegreve.
- 1571 sep 13 (OC2 fol 14)
Henrick ten Hoeve na opdracht door Elske, weduwe van Johan Elderinck.
Now, why is this interesting? For one reason mainly:
It combines the two names of Hanegreve and Elderinck.
Chapter 5 -Ancestors
This chapter is closely related with chapters 2,
3 and 4, but it deals more closely with what little is known for sure
about Ahasverus and Jean de Créqui dit la Roche's ancestors.
In this chapter, we also discuss some potential theories about possible
ways to go tom find the unknown ancestors and the link between the French
main house and the Dutch branch of the de Créqui family. Some
main parts are presented in the following:
Please note that much uncertainty
is connected with the earlier generations of the Dutch branch of the
de Créqui family as presented below!
We have found two generations
preceeding Jean de Créqui dit la Roche and his wife Gertrude
rengers presented with clear family lines in two separate sources: First,
in the book "Familien Kielland med dens kognatiske ascendents"
by Axel Kielland, published in Oslo (Christiania) 1897 (p 230). Then,
we have the renowned genealogist, Mr. Charles Antoine Delgobes' (born
1844) work at the Riksarkivet (the State Archives) in Oslo. A hand written
note on film No. 863 («de Créqui») presents the same
family line that Axel Kielland did. See illustration below!
Bear in mind, though, that
Mr. Delgobes called it a «formentlig anetavle», or a «possible
lineage». I do not know if these two genealogists knew each other,
and if so, who is whose source. We can, however, suspect that the line
is based upon an interpretation of the shield of coat of arms which
has been handed down from generation to generation both in the Jæger
and the Berner families ( see illustration
).
Olaf Jæger used the
same family names and coats of arms in his article from 1934, but without
organizing them as Kielland and Delgobes did.
It is only from the third
generation, Jean de Créqui, dit la Roche and his wife Gjertrud
Rengers, we may begin to feel confident that the sources are indeed
correct.
-
1st Generation(?) NN
de Créqui
According to Axel Kielland
married to NN la Roche, who carried a coat of arms with a "Mountain
in a Red Field".
2nd Generation (?)
NN de Créqui
According to Axel Kielland
married to NN Delordeli, who carried a coat of arms with a "braided
black Ribbon in a Gold Field". She was the daughter of NN Delordeli
and NN de Leis (or de Leys), who carried a coat of arms with a "golden
Lilly in a Silver Field".
Other possibilities - the Sedan path
After the 2nd generation as presented by Kielland and Delgobe above,
follow Jean de Créqui dit la Roche married to Gjertrud Rengers
and his son Ahasverus who emigrated to Norway in 1657. Before we go
forward with them - and thus with well documented information - let
us present another possible ancestral path which has revealed itself
recently (the winter of 2001). The foundations behind these theories
are presented in the SIEC Newsletter No 3, 2001 by Sigurd Lambek, Oregon,
USA
-
1st Generation (?)Jean
de Créqui of the Eglise Wallone in Sedan, France - or possibly
Daniel de Créqui of the Eglise Wallone in Amsterdam, Holland?
Jean de Créqui, quincailler (1581), later
fondeur (1585), married with Jeanne Femmelart, Sedan, France. In
1885 the wife is called Jeanne Fomelan. An Esther de Crequi, married
with Gerard de Blene 19 februar 1589, may possibly be a sister of
Jean. These all belong to the Eglise Wallone parish in Sedan, a
Protestant, French church.
This Jean was a quincailler which is an iron/hardware
dealer, who could also deal in weapons/arms and in 1585 is shown
as a fondeur which is a caster of cannons, bells, statues etc which
would be a logical progression from a quincailler. The other Créquis
later on were mostly in the Artillery and as Petardiers (explosives)
which are all closely related..
- Doughter: Jeanne, baptized 25 May 1581 at
Eglise Wallone (EW), Sedan, France
- Son: Bartolomy de Créqui baptized
21 Mar 1585 EW.
- Teoretically (!) this Jean de Créqui
also has the son Jean, married to Gertrude
Rengers . We have not seen this in any records, though;
only Jeanne and Bartolomy are mentioned.
Be aware: We do not know if the de Créqui's
of Sedan had anything to do with Amsterdam and The Netherlands at
all. What we do know, is that they were members of Eglise Wallone
- and we know this: On 29th November 1594 a Daniel de Crequi
is received as a member of the Eglise Wallone in Amsterdam. Where
he fits in the picture is unclear, but he is indeed the first known
de Créqui to be seen in Amsterdam (But, indeed. not the first
de Créquy in The Netherlands; see The Gouda Church window
below). This Daniel who arrived in 1594 may also be worth an investigation,
but its seems likely that he would be too young to be the father
of Jean de Créqui married to Gertrude Rengers. If he were
older and thus Jean's father, his family should have been mentioned
together with him in the church records. Or maybe not?
There are two indications which may tie the Créquy's
mentioned in Sedan theoretically with Jean and Ahasverus mentionend
below. Profession and religion.
Yet: Measured against the Delgobes and Kiellands
theories, the Sedan path is not by any means stronger or more plausible,
- and perhaps even a bit weaker? Delgobes and Kielland's theories are
based upon an analysis of the Jæger shield, which is indeed a
belieavable documentation in its own right. Yet, one has to keep an
open mind in these matters; nothing is certified.
Then we reach known material:
2nd Generation - or
3rd generation according to Kielland/Delgobe:
JonkheerJean de Créqui, gesigt Larosge
Married to Gjertrud Rengers.
Gjertrud Rengers' family line can also be found in Delgobes and Kielland's
work ( see illustration above ).
Illustration to the right, from the top, the
signatures of Ahasverus de Crequy dit la Roche, his mother Gertrud Rengers,
Ahasverus' brother Jean de Crequi de larochie and his sister Judiet
De Créquy. From Dutch archives 1647-55 (from Sigurd Lambek).
Olaf Jæger writes in his 1934 article in NST: "In a notary protocol
for The Hague,1647, we find a contract of 13th August 1641, where it
is stated that Mr. Jean de Créqui dit la Roche, dead before 1647,
left the widow Gjertrud Rengers and had the son Ahasverus*. The couple
were wed on July 3rd 1612 in the Dutch church in The Hague, but one
cannot find evidence that the son Ahasverus was born there". According
to FamilySearch ,
Gjertrud Rengers was born in The Hague. Suid-Holland in 1590.
* Olaf Jæger wrote in 1934 that Jean de Créqui
dit la Roche, father of Ahaserus and Jean, was a captain in the service
of the King of Portugal. It has later been discovered that Jæger
was wrong at this point. The Jean de Créqui dit la Roche who
was in the service of the King of Portugal was his son Jean. See the
SIEC Newsletter Vol 3, No 1 2001
The Military collection "Wakker" at the
Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie in Den Haag has fragmented bits of information,
among one is a 1632 notation that Jean de Crequy said La Roche was in
the Regiment Brederode. It is believed that he was the father of at
least 3 children, as follows:
The title of "Jonkheer" is shown on all
the official documents. The title of Jonkheer is according to the French
dictionary LaRousse: Noble Hollander whose rank is that of a Squire.
Also, can be called an "Ecuyer" which can be translated as
a title carried by a young noble nobleman not yet knighted. The rank
may be fairly low, but at least it shows noble descent , which would
indicate a connection to the great french family from Artois in France.
On 2 Jan 1651 a document in Notary Index shows that
Jonkheer Cyrus de Perceval and the Lady Judith de Créqui, his
wife, living in Monster, have received from his brother, Pieterde Perceval,
Capt. and Quatermaster the sum of 900 Pounds as maternal inheritance.
On 21 Mar 1655 Judith de Crequy de La Roche, late
wife of Jonkheer de Perceval makes list of all her possessions and debts,
a document 20 pages long. With her son Jan.
The widow took her son Joan
de Créqui, seigneur de la Rosse and her son-in-law, Syrus de
Parceval, as her guardians on June 27th, 1648, when she was in the small
town of Monster near The Hague. Thus, Jean and Gjertrud must have had
more children than Ahasverus and Jean, at least one daughter.
Not unlikely, Jean de Créqui
was the first of the family who came to Holland. We can see that he
was granted the right to live in a house in The Hague in 1622. As an
officer, he is mentioned already in 1607 and later in 1621 and 1632
in Dutch service.
Chapter 6 to 10
- 4th Generation Jonkheer Ahasverus
de Créqui dit la Roche
My father's impression
of Ahasverus de Créqui, ca 1660. Tempera 1999 by Einar H. Berg
(right)
Ahasverus de Créqui
dit la Roche is, in many ways, the main character on these pages. In
the Norwegian version, he is presented in alltogether five chapters,
of which some are short and others are quite large. In this English
version, we deal only with matters related to the genealogical research
connected to him. Thus, relatively large parts of the Norwegian edition
which deals with general war history of the period, other persons in
his surroundings, etc. are left out here.
Ahasverus de Créqui
dit la Roche's life in The Netherlands
An episode from Ahasverus
de Créqui dit la Roche's life in the Hague
He is mentioned in the official Notary Archives in Den Haag, dated
30 Nov 1647 - and found again the autumn 2000 by Sigurd
Lambek :
On this day Ahasverus was
out walking in Den Haag with a friend, Nicholas Ravensberg, when they
came across a glassmaker by the name of Martin Bemmewits. This man shouted
at Ahasverus: "Why don't you pay your debt?" and Ahasverus
answered him "I owe you nought, and if my brother owes you it shall
be paid". The glassmaker Bemmewits answered "I need not speak
to your brother and if he does not do me right I shall search my rights
myself". To that Ahasverus answered "Do that" . Ahasverus
then wanted to continue his walk, but Bemmewits called after him "You
are nothing but despicable cads" and upon hearing these words Ahasverus
turned around and pulled his sword and hit Bemmewits with the flat side
of his sword on the man's body without wanting to seriously wound him.
Hereupon, Bemmewits father came running, sword in hand...
Unfortunately, the report
stops here, as the second page is missing, so we shall never know how
it ended up, but surely nobody got hurt or taken to jail, let's hope...
Other mentionings of Ahasverus de Créqui
dit la Roche in Dutch arcives:
On 26 July 1648 the posting of the banns between
Jonkheer Assuerus de Créqui dict la Roche, young man living in
Den Haag and Judith Sweers, young daughter from Amsterdam took place
in the Wallone Church in Den Haag as well as in the church in Amsterdam.
The Church records in Amsterdam shows that the marriage took place on
1 Aug 1648.
Why did Ahasverus de Créqui
emigrate to Norway?
By the middle of the 17th
century, Denmark-Norway was in desperate need of trained officers. Sweden
had taken part in many wars where both officers and soldiers had achieved
much war experience, while more peaceful times in Denmark and Norway
had left the countries with weaker armies. In this weak condition, the
Danish-Norwegian king, Frederik III, still prepared an attack on Sweden.
The ancient Norwegian landscapes of Jämtland and Herjedalen and
the Danish landscape of Halland were lost to Sweden already in 1645,
and the war in 1657-58 was an attempt to regain the lost territories.
The outcome was disastrous,
as Denmark lost the county of Skåne, and Norway lost the counties
of Bohuslen and Trøndelag in 1658. By 1660, Norway had regained
Trøndelag, but the rest remains Swedish even today. Ahasverus
de Créqui's first assignment in Norway was in the 1657-58 Krabbe
War.
He was among the men who took the opportunity
for a military career abroad when Jørgen Bjelke went to Holland
in search of suitable men as a preparation for the coming war against
Sweden. Ahasverus de Créqui is mentioned in «Norges Historie»
(History of Norway) (1911) among other Dutch officers who should eventually
form the basis for the Norwegian Army's corpse of officers.
Ahasverus de Créqui's military career in Norway
In The Netherlands, Ahasverus
de Créqui dit la Roche was a soldier, a «sprengbuchsenmacher»,
a High Explosives, Artillery Shell Maker, and was married on 1st October
1648 in Amsterdam with the not yet 15 years old Judith Sweers, baptized
on 17th April 1633 in Neue Kirche in Amsterdam.
- Ahasverus de Créqui
dit la Roche was a captain in Trondhjems infantry regiment, and he
took part in the military actions against Sweden in Jämtland
1657-58 (the Krabbe War). In June 1657, just after arriving
in Norway the first time, Ahasverus de Créqui returned to The
Netherlands in order to obtain war material. At this occasion, he
brought what is believed to be Norway's first mortar to the country.
Captain at the New Trondhjemske national inf. regt. and in command
of Frostenske comp. 15th June 1657 to 1st May 1658. The New Trondhjemske
regiment was formed in 1657 when Trondhjemske regiment was divided
in a New and an Old regiment. Captain de Créqui served under
colonel Jørgen Bjelke, and Ahasverus de Créqui's company
consisted of 124 men from Leksvik, Frosta, Åsen, Skogn and Levanger
north of Trondheim. At the same time, he was an artillery captain
in Trondheim from 1st December 1657 to 10th May 1658, when he was
granted leave at the end of the Krabbe War.
- Ahasverus de Créqui dit la Roche is mentioned
in particular at the conquest of Frøsø Skanse in Jemtland,
Sweden. At the arrivel in front of this small fortres, a special artillery
force is set up under his command. The soldiers are probably from
the infantry, but this force took in use what is believed to be the
first mortar ever used by Norwegian forces.
- Jørgen Bjelke kept large parts of the
Norwegian force for later use, and despite the fact that all foreign
officers were officially dismissed on May 10th 1658 by a royal decree
of 11th April 1658, boats were prepared in June this year in order
to bring officers and soldiers atTrondhjemske Infanteriregiment down
to Bergen. Ahasverus de Créqui dit la Roche is mentioned in
the litterature as he is in Bergen on 12th July 1658. ( Dr. Yngvar Nielsen )
- After the Krabbe War, he
was again employed by the Army, this time as a Major at Vesterlenske
national infantry regiment and in command of Stavangerske comp. from
24th November 1658. The company is called Ryfylkeske from 1660.
-
In 1659, he participated in the defence of Fredrikshald (Halden),
and on February 4 1659 he took part in war actions agains Swedish
attackers together with captain Johan Nilsen's company - while de
Créqui's own company did not participate. On 6 February 1660,
he is reported to have been in Fredrikstad with 250 men while the
fighting with the Swedes took place at Borge church close to the city
(C. O. Munthe: Fredrikhald's history until 1720). ( C.O. Munthe
: Fredrikhald's history until 1720).
- In Stavanger, he is mentioned
in some sources: Major de la Roche moved to the farm Hapnes appoximately
1665. This farm was in Leranger at Vikedal parish in the northern
part of Rogaland (source: Ætt og heim
, p. 98), and it is mentioned that he sold a boat, the "Fortuna"
(source: En by i kamp
). Both these events are reported to me by Erik Tøndevold
by e-mail in July 1999.
- Ahasverus de Crequi was commandeered to the navy
in 1666, but asks himself excused as he easily gets sea sick. He
was promoted to lieutenant colonel in Ryfylkeske regiment on 12th
September 1675, at a time when his regiment had already left the Stavanger
area in preparation for the Gyldenløve War in Bohuslen.
In 1676 he was appointed to be General Adjutant at horse, but Bernhard
Christoffer Koss is on 26 Feb 1676 promoted in his place.
- He took part in the Gyldenløve
War, where his last major achievement was his command during the occupation
of Marstrand in July 1677. It also seems that he took part
in the Battle of Uddevalla in August 1677, a battle which is considered
among the most successful any Norwegian army has ever fought. Ahasverus
de Crequi was in Colonel Wyllem Coucherons staff at the Carlsten Fort,
where he is mentioned on 4th October 1677. On 15th
Januar 1678 Ahasverus de Crequi died here in his 61st year
of living.
The war actions on the Norwegian
side were successful in the Krabbe War. As in the Gyldenløve
War some 25 years later, the negative result was due to actions elsewhere.
This does not mean that the Norwegian army was unbeatable. The fact
that Sweden focused its forces on the more important Copenhagen and
on Denmark may explain most of it. Denmark was the real goal, Norway
was not that important. Yet, history shows that the Norwegian army did
well in those days, even if Sweden achieved most of its goals against
Denmark-Norway. This goes both for the 1657-58 and the 1675-79 wars,
in both of which Ahasverus de Créqui had the honour to serve
as an officer.
A closer presentation of
The Gyldenløve War 1675-79
Carlsten Fortress as it
looked during the military operations in 1677 (Ill.: From Carlsten Fortress,
reprinted from Danish original)
This war between the Danish-Norwegian
king Christian V and the Swedish king Charles XI was, from the Norwegian
side, lead by the king's half brother Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve.
Thus the name: the Gyldenløve War. One should not forget, though,
that this (part of the) war was merely a maneuver in the more important
Skåne War. As mentioned earlier, Sweden used her strength elsewhere,
in Skåne and by putting mainland Denmark in dire straits, a strategy
that indeed brought Sweden the victory. Had Sweden used her real force
in Bohuslen, the Norwegian army may indeed not have been as victorious
as it was.
But history shows otherwise,
and Gyldenløve himself was the commanding officer for the Norwegian
forces at Marstrand when Carlsten Fortress was conquered.
During the battle at Marstrand,
Ahasverus de Créqui was in command of one of the four companies
from Vesterlendske regiment, the other three were commanded by colonel
Vind, captain Hübert and captain Ripstorf.
On
5th July, two Battalions and some cannons were brought ashore at Koö
(the Ko Island) inside Marstrand, a small, summerly town in the skerries
just north of the Gothenburg archipelago. From 6th July the attack on
Hedvigsholm and Malepert started. The fortress at Malepert was conquered
on 12th July, and Hedvigsholm fell two or three days later. The town
itself and the fortress (skanse) at Gustavsberg fell on 18th July, and
on the 23rd, the main Fortress, Carlsten, was taken. The Norwegian forces
bombarded the Carlsten fortress from batteries in the hills north of
the town for several days before the Swedes gave up.
Carlsten Fortress as it may have been on 23rd July 1677 after heavy
artillery had been used on its north side for several days. At three
o'clock in the afternoon, the Swedish commander, Colonel Sinclair, capitulated
with honour. The gray area close to the entrance (I) stipulates the
position of the square tower, which was later surrounded by the much
taller and larger round tower that gives Carlsten its particular skyline
today. P: Wooden fence outside the stone walls. I: Main entrance where
Sinclair surrendered to Gyldenløve. K: The commanding officer's
office. B: The Courtyard. Today, the fortress is much larger. The fortress
of 1677 consisted of what is now called the "Övre Borggården",
or the Upper Courtyard. (Ill. by Carsten A Berg, based upon the brochure
"Carlsten Fästning" by Eiwe Svanberg and Per Zetterström,
Marstrand 1998. Some details may differ from the 1667 appearance, like
the three small prison cells in the upper room, second from the right.
They were constructed around 1840 as part of the so-called Philadelphia
system, where prisoners were left alone for five years with a visit
from the priest once a year only). To see a large image of Marstrand on 23rd July 1998, click here
! (Photo: Copyright Carsten A Berg)
This was a great victory,
as Carlsten was considered impregnable. In connection with this battle,
a medallion was made, with the portrait of Gyldenløve on one
side and the Town of Marstrand and the Carlsten Fortress on the reverse
side. The text says, in German: "Eroberung von Marstrand 1677"
(The conquest of Marstrand, 1677).
The Norwegian losses totaled
some 300 dead and wounded. A great majority of these, 208 men, were
wounded or killed during the ill-fortuned attack on Hedvigsholm on 13th
July. A large number of men fell when a barrel of gun powder exploded
amongst the Norwegian soldiers and officers who were hiding from Swedish
grenades and bullets behind a building.
The Swedes defended themselves
bravely, and the Swedish colonel, Sinclair, was allowed to march from
the Fortress under full military honour.
Colonel Willem Coucheron was
named commandant of the newly conquered fortress, with the now 60 years
old Ahasverus de Créqui as a member of his staff. In a list from
4th October 1677, Coucheron describes Ahasverus de Créqui as
«Lieutenant Colonel de la Ross»
This is the last time we see
him described in the military papers. On 15th January 1678
, he died at Marstrand.
Ahasverus de Créqui's
wives and children
His wife Judith Sweers (Sveris)
was the daughter of Johannes (Jan/Jean) Sweers* and Aleda de Vinck,
married on 14th July 1632. At their wedding, it is written that Jean
Sweers was 23 years old, and he came from Nijmegen in the province of
Gelderland, he lived by the Rauanche Kade and was the son of Arnt Sweers,
who was present at the wedding. Aleda de Vinck was 20 years old, from
Amsterdam, living at Köningsgracht, and she had her mother Maria
Ophoven present at the wedding. Judith Sweers seems to have died in
Stacanger, Norway no later than 1669.
* Comments to the paragraph
above: According to a letter from Annette
Sweerts in Amsterdam, The Netherlands (e-mail to Carsten Berg on 14
Feb 2001), Judith Sweers' father Jean Sweers was married on 17 June
1632 (not 14 June) with Aleda de Vinck, and later again on 14 Feb 1636
with Maria van de Voorde, Guiliam de Vick's widow. In this secong mariage
Jean Sweers had the son Johannis Sweers, baptized on 23 Oct 1636 in
Amsterdam Oude Kerk. Furthermore, Annette Sweerts say that Judith Sweers
was baptized on 17 April 1633, and that she was married on 1 Aug 1648
(not 1 Oct with Asuerus de Crequidiet la Roye.
Ahasverus de Créqui
had five children with his 1st wife, Judith Sweers (according to
Olaf Jæger, 1917 and 1934):
- Johanna
- or Jeanne de Créqui
. The church records for Monster or Den Haag do not show her baptism
any place. Married 1682 to the vicar to Helleland (Norway) 1655 to 1691
Mr. Christian Clausen Jæger, student 1643. he was the son of
vicar to Taarneby at Amager (Denmark) Mr. Claus Hansen Jæger
and his wife Maria Jensdatter.
- Alida, baptized on 22nd
October 1651 in the church records of 's-Gravensande, The
Hague, Holland, married with Herman Garman, Notary at Mjelde.
- Catharina, baptized 1st
February 1654 in the church records of 's-Gravensande, The
Hague, Holland, married ca 1683 to Peder Pedersen Lem, owner of a
manor and merchant, dead 1703 in Bergen, Norway
- Frederik Henrik, born 17th
June 1661 in Stavanger, Norway. Cadet at Indre Sogn, Norway
- Salomon, mentioned in the
East Indies in 1701, supposedly named after his uncle Salomon Sweers
It
was "rediscovered" in 1998 and is owned by Mrs. Britt Jæger
Lindhjem of Oslo, Norway, and this cloth states that he died on 15th
January 1678, in his 61st year of living, in the town of Marstrand.
Thus, he must have been born in 1617, or perhaps in 1618. Britt Jæger
Lindhjem got the silk cloth from her uncle, Cornelius Jæger,
who was born in Bergen and died in Oslo around 1970.
