Sjæklen 2016

• Rheinheimer, Martin: Briefe des Querner Pastors Reinhold Ipsen an seine Oländer

Verwandten.

Rundbrief des Arbeitskreises für Wirtschafts- und Sozialgeschichte Schleswig-

Holsteins

115 2015, s. 17-44.

• Rheinheimer, Martin:

Die Insel und das Meer. Seefahrt und Gesellschaft auf Amrum 1700-

1860.

Stuttgart 2016.

• Rheinheimer, Martin:

Ipke und Angens. Die Welt eines nordfriesischen Schiffers und seiner

Frau (1787-1801)

. Stuttgart 2016.

• Schröder, Johannes von:

Topographie des Herzogthums Schleswig.

2. opl., Oldenburg (in

Holstein) 1854.

• Voigt, Harald: Die Abmusterungsprotokolle des Altonaer Wasserschouts 1764 bis

1770 und ihre Interpretation für die Handelsfahrt nordfriesischer Seeleute.

Nordfriesi-

sches Jahrbuch N. F.

17 1981, s. 41-72.

• Weber, Karl:

Zur Rechtsgeschichte der Wiesengemeinschaften der Hallig Hooge.

Leipzig

1931.

Upublicerede kilder

• Dansk Data Arkiv / Dansk Demografisk Database: Folketælling 1803, Oland.

• Hans Chr. Johansen, Database over skibstraffik i 1787.

• Ipke Petersen,

“Liebe ist hier die Losung“

(privateje).

• Kirchenkreisarchiv Nordfriesland (Breklum): Kirkebøger, Oland.

• Nordfriisk Instituut (Bredstedt), Nachlass Friedrich Paulsen (= NFP).

• Rigsarkivet (København): Rentekammeret 352.34.

• Stadsarchief Amsterdam: Ondertrouwregisters.

Summary

This article is based on a unique and not previously utilized col-

lection of letters by the sailor Ipke Petersen from the Schleswig

Wadden Sea island Oland. Petersen was mate, later skipper and

sailed from Amsterdam. Correspondence is preserved between

him and his shipowner in Amsterdam, and between him and

his wife in the period 1787-1801. The wife’s letters are among

the earliest known letters from a sailor’s wife. In addition, ship

accounts also are preserved. The sources give not only a good

impression of Ipke Petersen’s maritime activities, but also of the

influence of the contacts in Amsterdam on private life at the

periphery and of the the network that existed in Amsterdam.

Ipke Petersen went young to sea. As he could not get a position

as skipper, he went ashore in 1777 and became a sexton. After

conflicts with his pastor, he went back to sea in 1787. With bor-

rowed money, he bought himself a small ship, with which he

operated coastal travel along the north Frisian coast and up to

Hamburg. At the end of 1789, he sold the ship again, as it did

not make any profit. Subsequently, he again sailed from Amster-

dam as a mate. In 1792, with the help of relations, he succeeded

in becoming the captain of a ship with which he sailed between

Amsterdam, Norway and the western Baltic Sea. During this

time, there were repeated conflicts with the shipowner. In 1795,

he sold his share of the ship and went ashore. Afterwards we

find him on Oland and in 1801 again at sea on a fishing boat.

Agriculture on the Halligen was limited by periodical floods of

salt water, which meant that cattle and sheep could be raised,

but cultivation of corn was not possible. Therefore, the popula-

tion depended on other means like seafaring, which was then

mostly from Amsterdam. To this end, a network of relatives,

neighbours and acquaintances was established in Amsterdam,

which was very helpful. Ship and household formed an eco-

nomic unit. Ipke brought goods from Amsterdam home, and

Angens supplied the ship with food and clothing. The goods

were a temptation, which Angens could not resist despite her

high religiosity. While her husband was not a good merchant,

she did a catching trade on the Hallig with the goods he brought

or sent her. The couple was pietistic, and the conflict between

the metropolis and the outermost periphery was reflected in

the conflicts of conscience that Angens had when wishing for

“luxury” from the great city.