Brock [Brok]

*** Part 1 ***

This first family of the surname Brock (or Brok) begins with an unknown man who had issue two brothers, as follows. They carried for arms argent, a fess azure.

1. Esge Brok, known abt. 1300-37
2. Niels Brok, known 1293-1330
2.1. Peder Nielsen Brok, known 1325, d. 1339, m. Sophie N.N.
2.1.1. Albert Brok, d. 1376 s.p.
2.1.2. Elne, known 1365-1400
2.2. Niels Brok, younger, known 1315-1356
2.2.1. Esge Brok, known 1355-80, m. Cecilie N.N.
2.2.1.1. Niels Brok, known 1392, d. 1419, closing the line, m. Elsef Christiernsdotter
2.2.2. Margarethe, m1. Niels (Hak), m2. Ebbe Jensen (Galt)
2.2.3. Ingeborg, d. bef. 1356
2.2.4. Johanne, d. 1372, m. Anders Jensen (Brok av Estrup), for whom see Part 2, below.

*** Part 2 ***

The family of Anders Jensen held as a Danish ancestral estate Essendrup (Estrup). They held further estates in Harjager, Ingelstad, Villand and Bara County Districts, County Scania. Anders Jensen, known 1340, died 1372, married Johanne Brok, above, Part 1, and had issue Jens Andersen, known 1358, a knight and judge, died 1408, married N. N. Jensdotter (Panter), and had issue Jens (or Niels) Jensen, known 1388, murdered 1404, who married Ide Lagesdotter (Panter), and had issue as follows.

1. Anders Jensen, known 1405.
2. Lage Jensen, known 1405, died 1435, married about 1425 Pernille Mogensdatter (Munk).
2.1. Mogens Lagesen, died before 1443.
2.2. Axel Lagesen, known 1443, died 1498, married Ellen Ovesdatter (Lunge).
2.2.1. Esge Axelsen, died young.
2.2.2. Pernille, married Albrekt Bydelsbach.
3. Niels Brok, known 1420.
4. Esge Jensen Brok, known 1417, knight, jusdge and Councillor of the Realm, killed in action 1441, married 1stly Sofie Andersdotter (Hak), 2ndly Kirsten Pedersdatter (H�g).
4.1. one or more unnamed children.
4.2. Lage Esgesen Brok, known 1462-1503, squire, knight.
4.2.1. Esge Brok, known 1482, died 1501, a canon.
4.2.2. Jens (Niels) Brok, known 1486, died 1502.
4.2.3. Knud Lagesen Brok, known 1496.
4.2.4. Margrete, known 1506-40, married Niels Clausen (Sparre av Ellinge).
4.2.5. Anne, known 1500, died 1524, married 1stly Ludvik Munk, 2ndly Axel Brahe.
4.2.6. Lage Brok, died 1508.
4.2.7. Niels Brok, known 1523, Councillor of the Realm, killed in action 1534, married Jytte Podebusk.
4.2.7.1. Niels Brok, known 1574-1578.
4.2.7.2. Esge Brok, born 1560, executed 1625, married Christience Axelsdotter (Viffert).
4.2.7.2.1. Anne, died young.
4.2.7.2.2. Anne, died young.
4.2.7.2.3. Sophie, died young.
4.2.7.2.4. Jytte, born 1595, died 1640, married J�rgen Skeel.
4.2.7.2.5. Margrete, born 1596, died 1615, married Steen Rosensparre.
4.2.7.2.6. Lage Brok, born 1597, died 1619.
4.2.7.2.7. Birgitte, born 1601, died 1639, married Tyge Brahe.
4.2.7.2.8. Lisbet, born 1603, died 1655.
4.2.7.3. Jens Brok, born 1563, died 1565.
4.2.7.2. Margrete, married J�rgen Bille.
4.2.7.3. Ide, born about 1532, died young.
4.2.8. Ide, died 1531/2, married Truid Gregersen (Ulfstand).
5. Sille, married 1426.

Arms: Argent, per pile transposed azure.

Esge Jensen Brok The Dictionary of Danish Biography (vol. 4, pp. 127-8) states the following regarding Esge: E.B. who is written at the ancestral estate of Essendrup is mentioned as a knight and Bailiff of Copenhagen Castle in 1429; in 1432 he was as a Councillor of the Realm involved in the finalisation of the settlement with the Hanseatic cities at Horsens. During the following years he was often used for diplomatic missions with the Hanseatic cities and in 1435 he ws the bailiff of Aalborghus, though he lost this position a few years later. He belonged to the circuit of nobles that exiled Erik VII of Pomerania and called Christoffer of Bavaria to the throne, and it is possible that he was returned to his position at Aalborghus after the enthronement of the latter. At the beginning of the peasants revolt in 1441 he died in a skirmish with the rebels, who hated him for his severity.

Lage Esgesen Brok There seems to be some uncertainty about his mothers identity. DBL (vol. 4, pp. 134-5) suggests that he was the son of his father's second wife, and she is here named as Ellen Gyldenstierne, daughter of Henrik Knudsen G. Kirsten Pedersdatter H�g, mentioned in Raneke as the second wife of Esge, Lage's father, is in stead in DBL recorded as Lage's second wife. According to the same source he was married 1stly, before 1460, to Else Laxmand (died after 1 July 1466), daughter of Poul Laxmand and Lisbet Eriksdatte Krummedige. Further to this DBL states the following regarding Lage: Alread in 1460 he was written at his ancestral estate of Essendrup. His other estates were Bregenholm, Aarhus parish and Vemmetofte, which he inherited in 1472. His family inheritance interested him the most and he is a prominent character in Gl. Estrups History. He began the construction of the still preserved main building and enthusiastically collected estates in the near vicinity. In 1469 he was given 'Birkebrev' [confirmation letter? -trans.] of his estates in Favsing and Avning parishes. His energy as a Lord of the Manor was coupled with a, even for that time, unbelievable brutality. He is particularly known for his long feud with the Rosenkrantz family, who, with their extensive possessions, were always in his way. His opposition was mainly against Ottr Nielsen adn Erik Ottese. His feud with them is mentioned for the first time in 1460 when a complaint is made that L.B. and sixteen henchmen laid siege to Sir Otte's estate of Bj�rnholm. Throughout the following fifteen years the Rosenkrantz family and tenants were subjected to L.B.'s animosity and he had many of them imprisoned or flogged. In 1468 he slew with his own hand a rich merchant at Randers, Mr. Niels Paaske. He was furthermore accused of harbouring outlaws at his estate. After his death it became clear that he had forced the bailiff for County District S�nderhald to write a 'Kendelse' [judgement/proclamation/confession? -trans.] for his benefit. Under these circumstances the battle was only interrupted briefly now and again by payments of blood-money and temporary settlements. Not until 1475 at the personal intervention of King Christian was the feud stopped. L.B. who was mentioned as sheriff at Koldinghus in 1469 was knighted in 1486. Age and dignity did not, however, dampen his temperament. In 1496 he ws declared 'Tremarksmand' and as such proclaimed unworthy to fulfill duties for the courts.

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