Melva, This is why I follow the Norway list - I often learn things! For example, you mentioned Hirsch’s! Thanks! Do you have an online link to Hirsch’s, *Fortegnelse over Danske og Norske Offiserer 1648-1814*? I’d love to have such a link (or know where to buy/borrow/steal a copy/DVD)! ––––––––––––––––––––––––– Then you mention “I am not all that good with rankings and get quite confused…" I’m still quite confused myself and get more so with each passing year, so I understand confusion… But (in a case of the blind trying to lead those who can see) here are some quick thoughts on Dano-Norwegian Army military ranks (1690 through 1800) that might help with genealogy research a little… I caution that this isn’t carefully researched (more stream of consciousness this morning) but it is useful to me to write it out for my own use, so… ––––––––––––––––––––––––– The basic building block of the Dano-Norwegian Army (or any other army throughout Europe at the time) consisted of companies of about 100-200 men. A number of Dano-Norwegian officers served in armies elsewhere in Europe before winding up in Norway (e.g., oberst von Boynenbourg was clearly not Norwegian) so they learned from one another. A sample military company (picked out of 1688 because that’s the closest I found to your 1690) consisted, from the top down, of: OFFICERS 1 Captain – commanding officer of a company (some companies were led by premier lieutenants) 1 Lieutenant – second in command 1 Fenrik (or fænrik) - a trainee (similar to a midshipman in the US Navy, so not quite an officer, but in training to be one so if he does well, he’ll become one) ENLISTED 1 Master Sergeant – the senior enlisted man, typically a guy with leadership skills who could motivate and keep order amongst the men 2 Sergeants – platoon leaders (a platoon was ~ 30-to-40 men) 4 Corporals – squad leaders (a squad was ~8 to 12 men) – squads make up platoons 10 senior soldiers – led a small team (what is now called a fire team) – teams make up squads 2 drummers – typically boys – different drum rolls conveyed orders from officers to troops during combat – two are handy in case you lose one in combat 115 Common soldiers – reported to senior soldiers/corporals as member of team ––––––––––––––––––––––––– You’ll notice that military structure provides a certain amount of redundancy (e.g., an executive officer backs up a commanding officer & similarly there are several drummers). You expect to lose men in combat and have built in replacements throughout the chain of command to keep the company in the field & combat effective. ––––––––––––––––––––––––– Men with exceptional skills could see exceptional upward mobility (especially in periods of combat). I’m aware of at least one man who proceeded up from common soldier to colonel over a 7 year period. That said, an officer had to have both leadership skills & the ability to read & write well (reading & writing was a bit rarer back then). Since this required education, you often see the army career descend in a family (military sons of military fathers). For example I know of 3 sons of an officer who became officers, and several of his grandsons were also officers. Daughters of officers tend to marry officers as well. So looking for military descendants among the military is sometimes useful. Ovenstad has a book on Military officer's wives as well - can find it in google books. ––––––––––––––––––––––––– Companies were assembled into Regiments composed of perhaps 8 to 20 companies (roughly 1000 men), typically commanded by an Oberst (Colonel) or General. The Regiments commanding officer would have a staff consisting of: 1 Second in command – typically a colonel or major 2 or 3 Staff officers – typically majors or captains ––––––––––––––––––––––––– At the time (and probably later as well) these regiments were structured into armies north of the Dovrefjeld & south of the Dovrefjeld. This was a response to the difficulty in communication over such a distance at that time. And they all came together in reporting to the “Statholder” – in 1690 that was Ulrich Friderich Gyldneløve – who provided top level command. ––––––––––––––––––––––––– Officers might be billeted on farms designated for that purpose, but were well paid by the standards of the day & typically bought farms in the vicinity of their command. Officers tend to be both easier & harder to track through history. On the plus side, they appear in military records and also often own land, which shows in the civil records. On the minus side, they may move more frequently than others. ––––––––––––––––––––––––– Puzzling over history is part of the pleasure of seeking family history. Thanks for letting me think about this topic this morning. Best – Jim ––––––––––––––––––––––––– *From:* Melva Maguire <[email protected] <https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&fs=1&tf=1&[email protected]> > *Subject:* Re: [NOR] Boynenbourg's regiment in 1690 *Date:* Tue, 18 Apr 2017 01:14:21 +0000 *In-Reply-To:* < [email protected]om> Jim Thank you - I have been into Ovenstad now and found my 7x g.grandfather, one of his sons, his grandson and his son-in-law and daughter there. I already had been into Hirsch's and have managed to print out pages from those files. In Hirsch it has him as what looks like a Fendr in Boynenbourgs regiment in 1690 and a Lt in Gyldenlow's regiment in 1700 but in Ovenstad it shows him as Sersj. in Boynenbourgs infantry in 1689 and Fenr in the same regiment in 1700 and Captain in 1707. As you will understand, I am not all that good with rankings and get quite confused - difficult as I am trying to work out just when he could have been born, so I can try to find his parents. I did try to go into that other link you sent me https://media but unfortunately couldn't read it but thanks all the same. I also found an Oberst listed in Hirschs but am still unable to work out just who he was as there is no first name - definitely from my family though. Thank you again for your help. Regards, Melva