HANSDATTER CUNNINGHAM, CHRISTINE [SSNE 5393]

Surname

HANSDATTER CUNNINGHAM

First name

CHRISTINE, KRISTINE, KIRSTEN

Text source

Christine Hansdatter Cunningham was an illigitimate child of Admiral John Cunningham, lensmand of Finnmark. She was born in Finnmark c.1620 and died in Bergen on 26 February 1699. Christine was officially adopted by her father during his second marriage in 1649. Cunningham made her his legal heir after the king and other creditors had been paid off. He also ensured they would get his house, Kjobstegard, in Elsinore. Christine and her husband, Hans Jenssen Orbech, got involved in an inheritace dispute with nephews of Admiral Cunningham, Lawrence Cunninghan and David Wellwood. While the couple lost the case relating to the manor house in Finnmark, they did manage to win Cunningham's property in Copenhagen. They had seven children, one of whom was called Helen (1649-1723). On 14 March 1691 the king wrote a letter concerning Christine Cunningham's dispute with the inheritors of Iver Christensen which had been ongoing since 1689.

Compiled by Steve Murdoch and Rune Hagen

R. Fladby, ed., Norske Kongebrev (6 vols., Oslo, 1962), V, p.78; Norske Rigs-Registraner, X, (Christiania, 1887), p.491. Letter of Hans Jensson Orbrech [Christine’s husband], 4 October 1652, noting the legal dispute with the Scots inheritors. Female.

Service record

DENMARK-NORWAY, BERGEN, NORWAY

Departed 1691-12-31

Purpose MISC.