Johan Gerhard Univær

[james unnever]

Hello,

Unfortunately, the fact that Johan Gerhard Univær's birth appears to be the only reference to the family in the parish records makes it unlikely that they stayed in Frederikshavn for very long after his birth. The first census after Johan Gerhard Univær's birth was not taken until 1834, and not until 1845 is place of birth or place of origin indicated in the census records. The minister of the parish was obliged to note arrivals and departures among the parishioners in the relevant sections of the parish register, but as is frequently the case, this obligation was fulfilled only very fitfully in Frederikshavn. All of this suggests that the research is going to be difficult.

Perhaps you might be lucky if you try to send your question to the English help forum of the association of Danish genealogists at https://www.slaegtogdata.dk/andet/forum-help-english

Can anyone help?

Many thanks,

James Unnever

Below are the previous emails....

Karl,

Thank you SO much for your help.  I have been trying to figure out what you translated for months with the help of Danish speakers but to no avail.  I will pass on what you found to the Thorvaldsen museum.

One other request please.  Is it possible now that we know the original version of the name was Rudolf Univær (I don't even have the key for æ) to find out where he was born and his date of birth?

I have my fingers crossed and am really looking forward to hearing back from you.

Many, many thanks,

Jim

From: spoergarkivaren [mailto:spoergarkivaren@sa.dk]
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2017 4:26 AM
To: Unnever, James <unnever@sar.usf.edu>
Subject: SV: Need help

Dear professor Unniver

Thank you very much for your e-mail.
Written with red you find my comments.

Best wishes and good luck with your research


Karl Peder Pedersen
Arkivar, Seniorforsker, Dr.phil.
Brugerservice og Formidling


Telefon: 33 92 33 10  | Direkte: 41 71 72 96
kpp@sa.dk  |  www.sa.dk
 
Fra: Unnever, James [mailto:unnever@sar.usf.edu]
Sendt: 16. februar 2017 16:25
Til: # Rigsarkivet
Emne: Need help

To whom it may concern:

My great great grandfather, Johan Gerhard Unneher, worked with Thorvaldsen and I have been trying to find out more about him using your databases (see emails below with the Thorvaldsen museum).

I have been researching the church/parish records. Those records include a document that contains Johan Gerhard Unneher, which indicates that he was born in 1822 in Frederikshaven. This apparently is the same year his father, Rudolf Univar, was married. The link below is to those records.

https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=17122732#162106,27238317
The parents are smith Rudolf Univær and his fiancé the widow Mette Jensdatter from F[rederiks]havn.

However, I am not able to translate the handwritten entries that are included with his name. Can you please help me decipher this information or direct me to someone who can? We may be able to piece together his age when he worked with Thorvaldsen and introduced his work to the US.

I also found the records that includes his father's name, Rudolf Univar, which is below.

https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=17148219#188585,31876617

Kleinsmed= Boilermaker? it means not a blacksmith but a smith working with smaller thing.
He is "svend" which tells us that he is a full educated person but not his own master.
They got married I 1822 (the exact date unknown), and at that time he was 25 years old.
(You may have to cut and paste these links.)

I am not able to translate the entry beyond his name (for example, I do not know what "" means). Does the other column indicate that he was married when he was 25? Could you please interpret the other column entries or direct me to someone who will help?

It looks like the name starts out as Univar, becomes Unneher, and then now is Unnever (my name).

Once I put this altogether I plan on sending it the Director of the Thorvaldsen Museum so they will have more information on the man that brought his work to the US!

Can you please acknowledge receipt of the email?

Many thanks,

Dr. James D. Unnever

James D. Unnever
Professor
Department of Criminology
University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee
8350 N. Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34243


________________________________________
From: Kristina Lindholdt <kristina.lindholdt@thorvaldsensmuseum.dk>
Sent: Thursday, June 9, 2016 7:21 AM
To: Unnever, James
Subject: J.G. Unnever

Dear James Unnever

I have been looking through our archives, to see if I could find any information regarding your ancestor John Gerhard Unnever.
Unfortunately, his name is nowhere to be found in The Thorvaldsens Museums Archive - our digital research and documentation centre on Bertel Thorvaldsen and his art - and I couldn't find his name in any of our encyclopedias of Danish artists.

The obituary mentions his arrival "as a custodian of Thorvaldsens 12 apostles" in 1853; this was the year of the Crystal Palace exhibition in New York, where the work of Thorvaldsen was represented by his statues of Christ, The Twelve Apostles and Ganymedes and the eagle. Regrettably, our records from this period is sparse, and I haven't found Mr. Unnevers name in the material concerning the exhibition.

I dug a little deeper, and although the material is sparse and scattered, this is what I found:

I found a small reference to a J.G. Unnever in the book "Danske i Amerika" ("Danes in America") published in 1907. Here he is mentioned as a Danish sculptor and the co-translator of J.M. Thieles books "Thorwaldsen and his works, containing 365 engravings, with explanatory text", but no further information is given.

With the names of Thiele and Sinding it was easier to find Unnever – but with a slightly different spelling, Unnevehr
(Perhaps "Unnever" was a result of Anglicism ?)
J.G. Unnevehr is stated as the New York publisher of Thieles book (which can be found in libraries, but I have also found a copy for sale, should you be interested: http://www.abebooks.com/Thorwaldsen-Works-Containing-365-Engravings-Explanatory/10761607824/bd
Thorwaldsen and His Works. Containing 365 Engravings with Explanatory Text. Volume III by Thiele, J. M.; Paul Sinding; Thorwaldsen: John G. Unnevehr, New York Hardcover - Caliban Books Pittsburgh PA, ABAA
www.abebooks.com
are clean and unmarked. Oversize, may require additional shipping.

)

Apparently, J.G. Unnevehr also published and manufactured photographs of Thorvaldsens work; I found a mention of his work in the English journal, "The Art Journal", from 1849 "... These truly remarkable works, without any exception the very finest photographic reproductions of sculpture that we have ever seen, have been printed in America by Messrs. Unnevehr and Hansen, of New York, from negatives taken in Denmark.." (Page 51, https://archive.org/details/gri_33125006187393).
Examples of these publications can be foundhere: http://www.worldcat.org/title/four-evangelists-jg-unnevehrs-photographs-taken-from-thorwaldsen-original-bas-reliefs/oclc/74906020 and https://books.google.dk/books/about/J_G_Unnevehr_s_Photographs_Taken_from_Th.html?id=nuaktgAACAAJ&redir_esc=y

Finally, J.G. Unnevehr is mentioned in the art magazine, "The Crayon" from 1855 as "importer and manufacturer of Thorwaldsen's Statuary and Bas-reliefs" (see first column, at the bottom http://www.jstor.org/stable/25527006?seq=2#page_scan_tab_contents)

To sum up: besides the short mention of him as a Danish sculptor, I have found no material indicating he should have left behind works of his own. It seems to me he worked hard to spread the knowledge of Thorvaldsen through photographing, translations and manufacturing copies of Thorvaldsens works (although, I cannot find a official permission given to him by the board of trustees in our journals)

Should you wish to investigate further, my last suggestion would be to contact The Royal Danish Academy of Art in Copenhagen. They might have information regarding previous students in their archives?

I hope this has been of some help. And I hope you enjoy your stay in Denmark!
Should you have any further questions, do let me know.

Kind regards
Kristina Lindholdt
Curatorial Assistant
Thorvaldsens Museum
_______________________________
KØBENHAVNS KOMMUNE
Kultur- og Fritidsforvaltningen
Historie & Kunst
Bertel Thorvaldsens Plads 2
1213 København K
Telefon   3332 1532
Email   kristina.lindholdt@thorvaldsensmuseum.dk

EAN   5798009780317



James D. Unnever
Professor
Department of Criminology
University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee
8350 N. Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34243

[Inger Toudal]

Johan Gerhard in the 1840 census, Copenhagen:

København, København (Staden), Udenbys Klædebo Kvarter, Udenbys Klædebo Kvt. 2, Blegdamsvej 93, 9, FT-1840, C9351
Name:     Age:     Marital status:     Position in household:     Occupation:     
H: Hansen     46     Gift            Strømpev: Svend        
Ellen Cath: Hansen     50     Gift            hans Kone        
Sophie Fred: Hansen     13     Ugift            deres Børn        
Emma Cathr: Hansen     6     Ugift            deres Børn        
Jens Chr: Lange     20     Ugift            Læredrenge        
Joh: Gerhard Unnivær     18     Ugift            Læredrenge

- he is an apprentice with a stocking weaver.

Maybe his father's planned marriage in Frederikshavn never took place:
https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=17122732#162106,27238425 - No 71

It seems that Rudolph married in Copenhagen in 1828:

Johan Rudolph Unnewehr - kleinsmedesv.  [journeyman locksmith]                        
Marie Wilhelm. Christiane Ide                                    Viet: 13.11.1828  
                                                                Sogn: Frederiks Tyske Kirke (83)
Source: http://danbbs.dk/~stst/kbh_kbg_reg/

https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=17114809#203609,38616342 - No 14

København, København (Staden), Sankt Annæ Vester Kvarter, , Borgergade 103, Baghuuset Stuen, 14, FT-1834, C5734
Name:     Age:     Marital status:     Position in household:     Occupation:
Johan Rudolf Duneheker     37     Gift            Kleinsmed Frimester       
Christijane Iden     33     Gift  

1834 census: https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?bsid=3678#3678,107514
- not sure the first letter in the surname is D

Best regards,
Inger Toudal

[Inger Toudal]

København, København (Staden), Købmager Kvarter, Købmager kvarter, Store Regnegade 201, stueetagen, 680, FT-1850, B6922
Name:     Age:     Marital status:     Position in household:     Occupation:     Birth place:
Ida Fÿla Jöhneke     45     Enke            mel- og grynhandel, huusmoder      Kjøbenhavn 
Carlotte Rosalie Uttenreÿter     33     Ugift            madamens söster      Kjøbenhavn 
Johan Gerhart Univehr ??     28     Ugift            billedhugger, logerende [sculptor, lodger]     Frederikshavn  

- source: indexed censuses at http://ddd.dda.dk/dddform_uk.asp

Best regards,
Inger Toudal

[Inger Toudal]

Hjørring, Horns, Frederikshavn Købstad, Frederikshavn Købstad, Vesterbyen, 144 F2, FT-1834, C0817
Name:     Age:     Marital status:     Position in household:     Occupation:
Johan Frederik Jacobsen     66     Enkemand            Skomager. Fattiglem        
Johan Gerhard Johansen     12     Ugift            Hans pleiesøn [his foster son]

Johan Gerhard's confirmation 1836 in Frederikshavn:
https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=17122732#162107,27238562 - No 11
- mother: the deceased Thomas Hjørring's widow
- birth year 1821 is one year off

His mother died 24 Mar. 1830 in Frederikshavn:
https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=17148219#188585,31876581 - left page

https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=17122732#162106,27238458 - right page, No 1 in 1830

Mette Jensdatter's marriage to Thomas Hjørring (from FamilySearch):

Name    Thomas Hjoring
Spouse's Name    Mette Jensdr
Event Date    22 Jul 1812   [Marriage]
Event Place    Bjergby, Hjorring, Denmark

https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=17121720#160203,26929082 - right page, top

Best regards,
Inger

[Inger Toudal]

Johan Rudolph Unnewehr's widow remarried 16 Apr. 1843:

Andreas Christensen Nyholm - fiskebløder                         
Maria Wilhelm. Christiane Unnevehr F Ide                         Viet: 16.04.1843 
Anm: ENKE  VAAGEKONE                                            Sogn: Alm.hospital/De Gamles By (74) 
- source: http://danbbs.dk/~stst/kbh_kbg_reg/ - Viede par

https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=17223447#203114,38522794 - No 1 in 1843

https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=17113965#147991,24436631 - No 1 in 1843

Best regards,
Inger

[Inger Toudal]

Johan Rudolph Unever/Uhnewehr died 19 Aug. 1838 of apoplexy at Frederiks Hospital, and was buried at Assistens Cemetery in Copenhagen:
http://www.kbharkiv.dk/kildeviser/#!?collection=16&item=441994

http://www.kbharkiv.dk/kildeviser/#!?collection=15&item=437762 - No 2432

https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=17118451#156159,26150904 - No 41

https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=17224660#205730,39045211 - No 41

- I think his profession is recorded as Schlossermeister und ??gesell

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederiks_Hospital

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assistens_Cemetery_(Copenhagen)

Since he was a master locksmith, there is a chance you might find him in the trade license protocols (Borgerskabsprotokoller)
at the Copenhagen City Archives, and if you are lucky, his birth place will be listed in the protocol:

http://www.kbharkiv.dk/wiki/Borgerskab_og_n%C3%A6ring_1685-1974

http://www.kbharkiv.dk/om-os/besog-os

According to my findings, Johan Rudolph never married shoemaker Thomas Hjørring's widow Mette Jensdatter.

It seems he left Frederikshavn by 1828, and Johan Gerhard was raised by his mother, and after her death by
shoemaker Johan Frederik Jacobsen.

Best regards,
Inger

[Inger Toudal]

I found the first part of Johan Rudolph's probate: https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=14815769#51198,37941094

https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=16515080#34796,33030198 - right page, No 709

- there is a reference to the Behandlingsprotokol, which unfortunately is not online for the years 1838 - 1841.

Would be interesting to know if his son Johan Gerhard is mentioned in the probate, but you have to visit the National Archives in
Copenhagen to find out. 

Best regards,
Inger