In memory of 36 fallen miners

The history of Blaafarveværket and Koboltgruven is an industrial adventure that spread to all corners of the world. But it was also an enormous workplace where risk was a big part of everyday life for many. For 36 of them, life would end at the Cobalt Mines. Here is an overview of those who lost their lives in the service of the Cobalt Works. 27 from Modum, 4 from Sigdal, 2 from Hole, 1 from Kongsberg, 1 from Eiker and 1 from Flesberg.

Bricklayer Hans Arnesen Grann
Born: Unknown
Place of residence: Modum
Dead: 27.10.1804
Cause of death: Arsenic poisoning[1]

Miner Christian Guldbrandsen
Born: 1796
Place of residence: Modum
Dead: 27.10.1823
Cause of death: Fell into the mine and killed himself[2]

Borhauer Peder Nilsen Schwartz
Born: 1771 (calculated)
Place of residence: Modum
Dead: 16.03.1826
Cause of death: Blasting accident[3]

Miner Anders Andersen
Born: 1806
Place of residence: Hole
Dead: 29.11.1826
Cause of death: Died in a fall of a large stone at Modums Blaafarveværk[4]

Miner Erik Pedersen Ødegaarsbraaten
Born: 1800
Place of residence: Modum
Dead: 23.11.1830
Cause of death: Killed by a gunshot in the mine[5]

Riser Amund Mathisen
Born: 1760
Place of residence: Modum
Dead: 11.03.1831
Cause of death: Killed by a gunshot in the mine[6]

Miner Ole Olsen Bæver
Born: 1777
Place of residence: Modum (originally from Kongsberg)
Dead: 26.07.1831
Cause of death: Smoke poisoning during stollen burning[7]

Miner Mads Henriks Likke
Born: Unknown
Place of residence: Modum
Dead: 14.03.1832
Cause of death: Killed in the mine by a rockfall that crushed his head[8]

Miner Jens Hansen
Born: 1808
Place of residence: Modum
Dead: 27.05.1832
Cause of death: Died from the injuries caused by a rockfall in the mine that crushed his head[9]

Elling Johansen
Born: 1789
Place of residence: Modum
Dead: 29.01.1834
Cause of death: Killed by a gunshot at the mine[10]

Tobias Pedersen
Born: 1805
Place of residence: Modum
Dead: 21.02.1836
Cause of death: Fell into the mine and killed himself[11]

Labourer Torger Andersen
Born: 1815
Place of residence: Modum
Dead: 29.03.1837
Cause of death: Killed by a wheel in the factory machinery[12]

Skeide boy Torger Hansen Emerud
Born: 1819
Place of residence: Sigdal
Dead: 30.07.1838
Cause of death: Died instantly when a stone splinter hit him in the temple. The splinter shot through the window of the skeide house during a gunpowder explosion nearby.[13]

Ellef Ellefsen (Unknown occupation)
Born: 1814
Place of residence: Flesberg
Dead: 3.12.1838
Cause of death: Blown to death during a "Murskudd" at Modum's Blaafarveværk[14]

Miner Hans Gunilsen
Born: 1800
Place of residence: Modum
Dead: 29.02.1840
Cause of death: Died after injury during mining work[15]

Miner Emanuel Fredrik Haraldsen Øverbyeiet
Born: 1798
Place of residence: Sigdal
Dead: 31.01.1841
Cause of death: Died 5 days after being hit in the head by a rock during mining work[16]

Miner Ole Kittelsen Bjertnæs
Born: 1797
Place of residence: Modum
Dead: 16.03.1841
Cause of death: Killed by a rock fall in the Skuterud mine[17]

Miner Nils Clausen Lobben
Born: 1811
Place of residence: Modum
Dead: 16.03.1841
Cause of death: Killed by a rock fall in the Skuterud mine[18]

Peder Gulbrandsen (Lundteigen)
Born: 1809
Place of residence: Spokes
Dead: 13.02.1843
Cause of death: Killed in a Cobolt Mine (Mellomgruven)[19]) at Modum of a fallen [presumably rock/stone or similar].[20]

Miner Gunder Pedersen
Born: 1802
Place of residence: Modum
Dead: 09.01.1844
Cause of death: Died immediately after a fall in the mine[21]

Skeidegutt Jacob Johannesen
Born: 1831
Place of residence: Sigdal
Dead: 15.04.1844
Cause of death: Fall in the mine[22]

Miner Anders Hendriksen Thon
Born: 1809
Place of residence: Modum
Dead: 05.12.1844
Cause of death: Died a few hours after falling in Mellomgruvene[23]

Skeide boy Johan Hansen
Born: 1834
Place of residence: Modum
Dead: 11.05.1845
Cause of death: Died in a fall in the mine[24]

Miner Peder Hansen Kjølstad
Born: 1807
Place of residence: Modum
Dead: 28.07.1845
Cause of death: Killed by rockfall at Nordgruvene[25]

Miner Ole Pedersen Eige
Born: 1808
Place of residence: Modum
Dead: 19.11.1845
Cause of death: Killed by a gunshot while mining at Mellomgruvene[26]

Miner Antonius Vilhelmsen Frisk
Born: 1800
Place of residence: Modum
Dead: 29.07.1846[27]
Cause of death: Died the day after having his legs crushed in a mining accident

Miner Ole Haraldsen Liie
Born: 1805
Place of residence: Modum
Dead: 28.04.1847
Cause of death: Killed in the mines by a rockfall[28]

Knut Knutsen (Unknown occupation)
Born: 1779
Place of residence: Hole
Dead: 21.04.1847
Cause of death: Died in an accidental fall at Modum Koboltverk[29]

Miner Lars Corneliussen Søya
Born: 1800
Place of residence: Modum
Dead: 13.12.1854
Cause of death: Killed during a large rockfall at Mellomgruvene[30]

Miner Ole Torstensen Sand making
Born: 1832
Place of residence: Modum
Dead: 13.12.1854
Cause of death: Killed during a large rockfall at Mellomgruvene[31]

Miner Torger Trulsen Berganeie
Born: 1822
Place of residence: Modum
Dead: 13.12.1854
Cause of death: Killed during a large rockfall at Mellomgruvene[32]

Miner Thorsten Christiansen Bærven
Born: 1804
Place of residence: Modum
Dead: 13.12.1854
Cause of death: Killed during a large rockfall at Mellomgruvene[33]

Miner Ole Arnesen Haugerud
Born: 1801
Dead: 13.12.1854
Place of residence: Modum
Cause of death: Killed during a large rockfall at Mellomgruvene[34]

Miner Cornelius Ellingsen Fossen
Born: 1831
Place of residence: Modum
Dead: 13.12.1854
Cause of death: Killed during a large rockfall at Mellomgruvene[35]

Miner Peder Helliksen
Born: 1820
Place of residence: Sigdal
Dead: 17.02.1857
Cause of death: Killed by a gunshot in the mines[36]

Miner Andreas Kristiansen
Born: 1834
Dead: 23.10.1874
Place of residence: Modum
Cause of death: Smoke poisoning during stoll burning in Ludwig Eugen stoll[37]

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[1]www.helsetilsynet.no:  https://www.helsetilsynet.no/globalassets/opplastinger/publikasjoner/rapporter2004/medisinalmeldingene_1804_rapport_062004.pdf s. 40

[2] Modum church books, SAKO/A-234/F/Fa/L0004: Ministerialbok nr. 4, 1818-1824, p. 237-238

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20070312620148

[3] Modum church books, SAKO/A-234/G/Ga/L0002: Klokkerbok nr. I 2, 1824-1832, p. 263-264

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20051114010465

[4] Hole church books, SAKO/A-228/F/Fa/L0004: Ministerialbok nr. I 4, 1814-1833, p. 250-251

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20070313640128

[5] Modum church books, SAKO/A-234/G/Ga/L0002: Klokkerbok nr. I 2, 1824-1832, p. 305-306

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20051114010488

[6] Modum church books, SAKO/A-234/F/Fa/L0005: Ministerialbok nr. 5, 1824-1841, p. 305-306

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20051109021017

[7] www.bokhylla.no: Den Constitutionelle, Monday 22 May 1837: https://www.nb.no/items/c70c952fc5c534818f2f2f33caa0c6d4?page=1&searchText=stoll

[8] Modum church books, SAKO/A-234/G/Ga/L0002: Klokkerbok nr. I 2, 1824-1832, p. 315-316

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20051114010493

[9] Ibid.

[10] Modum church books, SAKO/A-234/G/Ga/L0003: Klokkerbok nr. I 3, 1832-1842, p. 193-194

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20051109010734

[11] Modum church books, SAKO/A-234/F/Fa/L0006: Ministerialbok nr. 6, 1832-1841, p. 208-209

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20051109010110

[12] Modum church books, SAKO/A-234/F/Fa/L0006: Ministerialbok nr. 6, 1832-1841, p. 220-221

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20051109010117

[13] Sigdal church books, SAKO/A-245/G/Ga/L0002: Klokkerbok nr. I 2, 1835-1856, p. 352-353

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20070312640635

[14] Flesberg church books, SAKO/A-18/G/Ga/L0002: Bell book no. I 2, 1834-1860, p. 361

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20070315650515

[15] Modum church books, SAKO/A-234/F/Fa/L0006: Ministerialbok nr. 6, 1832-1841, p. 262-263

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20051109010139

[16] Sigdal church books, SAKO/A-245/G/Ga/L0002: Klokkerbok nr. I 2, 1835-1856, p. 366-367

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20070312640642

[17] Modum church books, SAKO/A-234/G/Ga/L0003: Klokkerbok nr. I 3, 1832-1842, p. 277-278

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20051109010786

[18] Ibid.

[19] Modums Blaafarveværk, RA/PA-0157/G/Gd/Gdd/L0269/0001: - / Regning over gruver pukkverk m.v., 1843, p. 76

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/db20120810690870

[20] Eiker church books, SAKO/A-4/F/Fa/L0013a: Ministerialbok nr. I 13A, 1832-1845, p. 463

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20051121010830

[21] Modum church books, SAKO/A-234/F/Fa/L0007: Ministerialbok nr. 7, 1841-1850, p. 357

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20051114020732

[22] Sigdal church books, SAKO/A-245/G/Ga/L0002: Bell book no. I 2, 1835-1856, p. 378-379

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20070312640648

[23] Modum church books, SAKO/A-234/F/Fa/L0007: Ministerialbok nr. 7, 1841-1850, p. 362

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20051114020737

[24] Modum church books, SAKO/A-234/G/Ga/L0004: Bell book no. I 4, 1843-1846, p. 55-56

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20051109011067

[25] Modum church books, SAKO/A-234/G/Ga/L0004: Bell book no. I 4, 1843-1846, p. 57-58

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20051109011068

[26] Modum church books, SAKO/A-234/F/Fa/L0007: Ministerialbok nr. 7, 1841-1850, p. 368

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20051114020743

[27] Modum church books, SAKO/A-234/F/Fa/L0007: Ministerialbok nr. 7, 1841-1850, p. 372

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20051114020747

[28] Modum church books, SAKO/A-234/F/Fa/L0007: Ministerialbok nr. 7, 1841-1850, p. 372

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20051114020747

[29] Hole church books, SAKO/A-228/F/Fa/L0005: Ministerialbok nr. I 5, 1833-1851, p. 395

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20051116030518

[30] Modum church books, SAKO/A-234/F/Fa/L0008: Ministerialbok nr. 8, 1851-1859, p. 623-624

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20051114021136

[31] Ibid.

[32] Ibid.

[33] Modum church books, SAKO/A-234/F/Fa/L0008: Ministerialbok nr. 8, 1851-1859, p. 623-624

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20051114021136

[34] Ibid.

[35] Ibid.

[36] Sigdal church books, SAKO/A-245/F/Fa/L0008: Ministerialbok nr. I 8, 1850-1859, p. 334

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20051110020739

[37] Modum church books, SAKO/A-234/F/Fa/L0010: Ministerialbok nr. 10, 1865-1876, p. 359

Use link for page view: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20061101370534