Rapp

The family name origins from Germany, but it is possible that the Rapp name originally comes from France. In Colmar in France, there is a statue of general Rapp, who fought with Napoleon. Family tradition make him one of our ancestors, but there are yet not found any link, that confirmes it.

Pauline Ane Johanne Rapp

Pauline was born november 19th 1877 in Randers. Later she moved with the rest of the family to Copenhagen. Here she met Jacob Hansen, whom she married december 19th 1897. It was surely about time for January 10 th 1898 she gave birth to their first child Axel Ejner Ove Hansen. Later came the children Vita and Tove.

When Paulines father, Ignaz; was jailed for arson, assurance fraud and fraud, Pauline was sent in the care of his older brother Anders Martin Rapp, who lived in Frederikshavn. Ironically Anders was keeper of a country gaol.

Pauline died november 21st 1969.She spent her last years at Oestervang old people's homes.

Ignaz Rapp

Ignaz was born september 5th 1832 in Dautmergen in Germany. He was trained as upholsterer.
He came to Denmark in 1853. In 1959 he married Pauline Ane Johanne Nielsdatter, who lived in Randers, and together they had nine children. My grandmotherr, Pauline Ane Johanne Rapp, was number 8 in the crowd of children.

After a few years in Hammershoej the family moved to Randers, where they live the next 17 years. In 1873 Ignaz became danish citizen.
In 1878 the family moved to Copenhagen and got an apartment in Oehlenschlaegergade 16.

I have been told that we in the family thought that Ignaz daughter, Pauline Ane Johanne Rapp, married beneath her station, when she was married to my great-grandfather Jacob Hansen. He was of course "only" railwayman by DSB, so I was very surprised when I encountered Ignaz name in a census from Herstedvester from 1890, for here he was listed as convict. At the provincial archives I found Vridsloese jail protocol, where I was surprised to read, that my great-grandfather had been sentenced for arson, assurance fraud, fraud.The following is a transcript of the prison protocol.

Vridsloese prison protocol 1859-1932

Judgment No. 8652 Prisoner nr. 77

Inserted to prison work for 3 year according to the judgment in 1 ' first instance the Copenhagen police d. 3 March 1888.

Handed over to prison March 8th 1888
Penalty time expires March 8th 1890
Departed March 8th 1890 at 3 o'clock (41)

Height: 60½ Shape:
Limbs: Thin Hair: gray
Eyes : Blue Nose: wellformed
Face colour: pale Talk : Danish with a German accent

Special characteristics: short-sighted, overlying toe on both feet

place of birth: Württemberg Previous criminal record: not punished
Living place: Copenhagen
Last place of residence: Copenhagen
Trade: Upholsterer
Age: 54 years (b) 5-9-1833
Religion: Evg Lutheran Confirmation.: Yes
Can read: Yes can write: Yes

has 8 children

Health on arrival: good

Crime, why the prisoner is cinvicted: Arson, assurance fraud, fraud
§ 281, 259, 253

information about the convicts former life: Father worked in Lindau in Bavaria, died 12 years ago. The mother died a few years after. 10 siblings, the majority in America. Then in upholsterer apprentice in Bremen, where he lived with a uncle, who was inn keeper. Since fed himselve by profession. Came to Denmark in March 1853. Worked in Randers, Lemvig and others places. Married 1858 and lived for 2 years in Hammershoej by Viborg, 17 years in Randers and since in Copenhagen. Have pledged a part trusted carpets and since he could not redeem them, set fire on his roo in the attic to give the appearance that they were burned. The entire floor burned and the money from the assurance paid and paid carpets owners. Sentenced to 2x5 d. v x br. (2x5 days water and bread?)
Grieved

After reading the prison protocol, it has been a bit difficult see how, how the family could talk about Pauline having married beneath her station. When I told my mother about Ignaz prison sentence, she was quite surprised. It was certainly not something that we had talked about in the family, so that was a story she had never heard.

One of Ignaz and Pauline's children, Julie Rapp, emigrated with her husband Carl Ferdinand Andreasen to Buenos Aires in the year 1900. Julie and Carl had two children: Svend and Kaj. They have repeatedly visited family in Denmark. I can remember that I have met with Svend in Vita and Leon's flat sometime in the 1950s.

Ignaz died may 14th 1899, and Pauline died October 6th 1919.

To the top of the page