CHRISTOPHER KAHRS was born in Bergen. His mother died when he
was 2 years old, and his father when he was 4. He was then looked after
by his mother's brother Peter Greve. At the age of 12 he was sent to
school in Hamburg. He was confirmed in the Lutheran Church in 1772, and
returned to Bergen in 1776 to run the trading business left to him by
his father. On 31 March 1778 he bought back the house in Torvalmendigen
which his father had owned.
CATHARINA ELISABETH JOHANSEN was born in Rostock, Germany, the
daughter of Nicolaus Johansen and Anna Sophie Busch. When she was 10
years old she came to Bergen and was brought up by her mother's brother
Johan Jacob Busch and his wife Anna Alida Meyer. She was married from
their house "with a great crowd of people".
Christopher's business prospered and he was soon able to buy a
number of farms, including Toftegaarde and others on Lindaas. He bought
Lindaas Church on 9 July 1787, after Ludvig Daae died (see 66). He
owned a number of warehouses in Bergen and a summer house at Sandviken
(now within the suburbs of Bergen).
He served part-time in the militia, joining as a 2nd Sergeant
on 29 September 1780, becoming a Temporary Captain in 1790 and a Full
Captain in 1798. He was promoted to Major in 1801. He was for some time
the Treasurer for Bergen, with the responsibility for fixing taxes. He
became Stadthauptman (Mayor) of Bergen from 1796 to 1803. He was also a
member of the Storting (Norwegian Parliament) at some stage.
Christopher was small in stature. He played the piano, a rare
accomplishment in those days.
He was buried at 2 o'clock on the 6th of May 1807 in the vault
of St Maria's Church in Bergen. All the church bells and the hospital
bell were tolled.
CATHARINA married (19 Sep 1805) Peter Greve Bredal (b 12 Mar
1780), son of Iver Nielson Bredal and Dorothea Greve, who like his
father was a trader in Bergen. They had no children. After Catharina
died Peter married again. He died 16 September 1856.
DITMAR inherited Tellevigen in Hammer from his mother, and
lived there. He married (22 Feb 1810) Elisabeth Svanenhjelm Bredal (b 1
Feb 1788), daughter of tobacco dealer Jacob Bredal and Barbara Severine
Kahrs (a distant relative). They had 5 children. After Ditmar died
(apparently on the same day as his mother, but no connection is
recorded) Elisabeth lived on at Tellevigen till 1834. She died 27 Dec
1846.
ANNE SOPHIE married (6 May 1806) Johan Henrick Harrje (b 28 Dec
1776), son of trader Ahlert Harrje and Elizabeth Christine Bischoff.
Johan was also a trader in Bergen. They had 2 children. Anne was buried
at Nykirkeg. Johan died about 3 years later and was buried at Alversund
Church.
JOHAN JACOB BUSCH inherited property on Lindaas from his
mother, and lived at "Lindenberg" in Torvalmendigen. He married (15 Sep
1826) Dorothea Jacobia Becker, born 29 Sep 1797 at Enebak, daughter of
Johan Fredrick Becker from Kristiania. They had one daughter. Dorothea
died 11 Jan 1852 and was buried in the Cathedral, Bergen, where she had
been married.
NICOLAUS was a trader like his father and brothers. He married
(19 Nov 1821) Anne Margarethe Hille (b 17 Apr 1802) daughter of Lars
Mathias Hille from Indviken in Nordfjord and Jensine Byberg from
Stavanger. They had 7 children. Anne died 11 Feb 1853.
