Problem with this page?
Good afternoon,
According to what I read on this project page Alexander Kersten was the last arrendator of Jõõpre estate. Alexander is a distant relative of mine and therefore I would be grateful for any information on him that goes beyond his Geni profile. E.g. I would like to know the timespan when he lived in Jõõpre. Was he divorced from his wife Marie, née Kontus? Did he marry again?
Best regards
Michael
Hello,
I got the fact, that he was the arrendator of Jõõpre estate from the book:
Jääajast siia ja edasi ehk Killukesi Audrust (compiled by Kersti Põllu)
https://www.digar.ee/arhiiv/et/raamatud/108390
From the chapter: JÕÕPRE VARAJANE AJALUGU JA MÕISAAEG / JÕÕPRE: EARLY HISTORY AND MANOR PERIOD (p172–206) written by Heljo Konts
In this article there is a list of Jõõpre arrendators and only one short paragraph about him (p 182 – 183):
"23.04.1900 – 23.04.1920 anti mõis rendile Aleksander Eduardi p Kerstenile (Kärstens). Arvatakse, et ta oli lätlane. Tegelikult tegutses ta mõisas 1910. aastani. Mai Kalm, ajakirjanik Jõõprest, on kirjutanud, et Kärsten oli oma aja kohta edumeelne põllumees. Näiteks rajas ta praeguse Kaseküla maadele 1,5 km lahtise äravoolukraavi, samuti raiuti võsa. Tegelikult juba 26.11.1911 on mõisa rentnikuks viimane Jõõpre mõisnik Baron Wolter Arnold von Stackelberg."
The translation would be:
"For 23.04.1900 – 23.04.1920 Jõõpre estate was leased to Aleksander Kersten, Eduard's son (Kärstens). It is believed that he was Latvian. In reality he worked at the manor until 1910. In fact, from 26.11.1911 the arrendator of the estate was Baron Wolter Arnold von Stackelberg, the last Jõõpre landlord.
Mai Kalm, a journalist from Jõõpre, has written that Karsten was a progressive farmer for his time. For example, he built a 1.5 km open drainage ditch on the lands of present-day Kaseküla, and also cut down brush."
You can make an enquiry with the National Archives of Estonia about him. Probably they can provide some more information. The enquiry forms are here
https://www.ra.ee/vau/index.php/en/enquiry/form/index (Genealogical Research)
All the best,
Aiki Agasild
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alexander Kersten
In this document from 1920, the testimonial of Marie Wilhelmine's brother-in-law Jaak Vunk for her Estonian citizenship application (https://www.ra.ee/dgs/_purl.php?shc=ERA.28.2.5527:9) he states that Marie Wilhelmine has been separated from his husband for about 15 years (since about 1905). I am not sure, how correct this timespan is.
In 1917 she moved to Russia to her children and later back to Pärnu.
But in 1926 she got a passport in Latvia, so I am not sure about their life.
I do not know if Alexander married later again, I did not see this in Estonan Parish books,
As I understand, he went back to Latvia and may have been married there.
I found the documents called Tallinn Address Pages.
They have both been registered to the same Tallinn address in 1926 for a short period of time.
These documents state that they are married ("abielus" in Estonian).
Alexander Kersten: https://www.ra.ee/apps/aadresslehed/index.php/sheet/view?id=269658&...
Marie Kersten: https://www.ra.ee/apps/aadresslehed/index.php/sheet/view?id=269685&...
So I think they did not divorce, but lived separately in the later years.
Dear Aiki,
This is to provide comments regarding your three contributions dated 10/12/2024.
To contrib. 1:
This perfectly clarifies the timespan when A.K. lived in Jõõpre.
The DIGAR link that you provided to the source of this information does not allow for inspection of this source document. Is it maybe accessible elsewhere? Reason is that I would like to inspect subject chapter from Heljo Konts for other (earlier) arrendators.
To contrib. 2:
In Saaga I found a clear indication that they got divorced on 18.04.1917. See frame 150 in eaa1273.1.398. But surprisingly this divorce is not reflected in their Latvian passports.
To contrib. 3
From inspection of their Latvian passports it seems that they finally reconciled and lived together in Riga. This reconciliation might have happened in Tallinn as indicated in the Tallinn Adress Pages.
By the way: My interest in A.K. and his wife(s) is caused by a mysterious old family foto seemingly taken in Jõõpre.
Many thanks for your help and all the best for you in the forthcoming new year.
Michael
Hello!
About the book by Helju Konts. I have the book at home, the real book :-) I don't think it is online. I made photos of some pages about the arrendators and managed to copy the text with my phone. So here is the excerpt in Estonian, and English below (the google translation).
--- EST
Mida on teada Jõõpre môisa härrasrahvast? Audru kirikumeetrikast, hingeloenditest ja Jõõpre mõisa immissiooniprotokollidest leidsin järgmisi fakte. Loetelu ei ole ammendav.
Võlla mõisa sai Friedrich Liphart († 1661 v 1663) 20.09.1649 kuninganna Kristinalt. Tuli sinna Revalist. Järglane oli tema poeg Johann Friedrich von Liphart. Jõõpre mõis ehitati tema või tema poja ajal, ei ole teada, 1641. aasta paiku.
• Oberlieutenant Johann Friedrich von Liphart
Vähemalt aastatel 1703 ja 1704 ning 1710-1724 on Võlla ja Jõõpre mõisa omanik olnud Oberlieutenant Johann Friedrich von Liphart (*1655, †21.04.1723 Võlla), abiellunud Elisabeth Maria von Tiesenhausen’iga (*1668, †16.01.1724 Võlla), kes ka hiljem mõisa omanik oli.
• Kapten von Taube
Kapten von Taube Jõõprest, oli Joh. Fr. von Lipharti väimees, elas Jõõpre mõisas, lapsed sündisid Jõõpres: poeg ja tütred Catharina Luise (*1719), Helene Eleonore (*1722). Ka on tema andnud vastused 1711. aasta inkvisitsioonilehele Jõõpre mõisa kohta.
• Magnus Johan von Liphart
• Justine Margarethe von Liphart (von Stackelberg)
1724 on Jõõpre mõisnik Johann Friedrich von Lipharti poeg Magnus Johan von Liphart. 1738, 1742 ja 1751 on mõisnik olnud leskproua Justine Margarethe von Liphart, sünd. von Stackelberg.
• Christoph von Liphart
Vähemalt 1774-1776 on Jõõpre mõis olnud Christoph von Lipharti käes, nagu Viljandi kohtuprotokollist nähtub.
• Anna Charlotta von Wacker
1795 (5. hingeloendus) on Jõõpres Audru mõisa omaniku Reinhold Johann von Kirchneri õde Anna Charlotta von Wacker, sündinud Kirchner, kes koos abikaasa Otto Johann Wackeriga on tulnud Jõõpresse 1791 Uduverest. Neil oli 4 tütart: Catharina, Elisabeth, Renate, NN.
• Oberlieutenant Carl Magnus von Kirchner
1811 (6. hingerevisjon) on Jõõpre mõisa rentnik Oberlieutenant Carl Magnus von Kirchner (67) († Pärnu), tema proua Majorin Helena von Kirchner. Temal on olnud poeg Reinhold Gustaw - 16a. Samal ajal on mõisas olnud ka preilid (Fräuleine) Elisabeth, Eva, Dorothea ja Christi(a)na von Handwigid. Nemad on elanud Jõõpre mõisas juba 1803. aastast kuni vähemalt 1812. aastani: olnud vaderiks. Õed Handwigid (ka: Handtwich) on vötnud mõisa rendile 26.08.1811. Milline oli nende suhe Kirchneriga, ei ole teada.
• Peter Albrecht Frey
Mõisa rentnik aastail 1814-1820 (k.a 7. hingerevisjon 1816) on Peter Albrecht Frey. Arendaator erulipnik (Dimittierter Fähnrich) Peter Albrecht Frey (*~1772).
Tema naine on lipniku proua Carolina Juliana, sünd Zabell (*~ 1780). Neil oli 3 tütart ja poeg:
1) Helena Carolina (*~1805), 2) Alexander Friedrich (*~1808), 3) Amalia Elisabeth (*~1809), 4) Elise Agnes (*~1812).
Lipnik Peter Frey andis mõisa 1828 üle Steinheilile.
• Helena Alexandra Steinheil
Immissiooniprotokolli järgi oli 1828-1840 Jõõpre riigimõisa rentnik krahv Fabian von Steinheil'i lesk. Siia tuleks selgituseks öelda, et krahvitiitli sai Fabian von Steinheil, pärandas selle edasi oma ainsale tütrele, ka väimees päris selle tiitli ja nime Steinheil. Arvata on, et Jõõpre mõisa rentnik oli Viiburis sündinud Helena Alexandra Steinheil (1803-1872), kes abiellus 22. juulil 1819 Viiburis Haminast pärit Helsingi komandandi, kindralleitnant Alexander Steveniga (1783-1842), kes sai krahvitiitli aastast 1824 - Stewen-Steinheil. Nõnda, et see lesk oli tegelikult krahv Fabian von Steinheili tütar, kes jäi leseks.
• Peter Johann Frey
Peter Johann Frey oli Jõõpre riigimõisa rentnik märtsist 1840 kuni maini 1852.
Peter Johann Frey (*10.04.1798) Vee mõisast (Weehof), (†19.10.1886 Pärnu) tuli Jõõpre mõisa 1825. Proua Marie Anastasie, neiuna Romberg (*08.03.1808 Olenetz, †27.03.1863 Jõõpre, maetud Audrus) laulatati temaga Audru kirikus 1827. Ka mõisnikel oli tol ajal palju lapsi. Nende lapsed sündisid Jõõpres:
1) Caroline Elisabeth (*23.04.1828, †07.12.1891 Pärnu),
2) Luise Juliane (*03.12.1829),
3) Marie Henriette (*16.12.1831), laulatati 26.06.1857 Audru kirikus Georg Wilhelm Jacoby’ga, Lihula vastutav ametnik kubermanguvalitsuse kolleegiumi merekohtus,
4) Caroline Alexandra (Alexandrine) (*21.04.1833), laulatati 20.07.1855 Audru kirikus Carl Eduard Const. Ignatius'ega, vene keele õpetaja Revali Toomkoolis.
5) Amalie Wilhelmine (*17.06.1834), laulatati 30.12.1858 Audru kirikus Theodor Sigismund Wallneriga, Kaltenbrunni mõisa valitseja,
6) Johanna Auguste (*24.06.1836),
7) Henriette Therese (*25.03.1839, †10.11.1921 Pärnu), suri vallalisena, nimetas end Jõõpre mõisaprouaks,
8) Peter Otto (*10.06.1841).
Võlla mõisas oli siis rentnikuks Alexander Friedrich Frey (* ~1805 Weehof, †21.10.1838 Pärnu). Tema proua oli Wilhelmine, sünd Krieh, abiellusid Audrus 24.10.1829. Nende lapsed: 1) Oswald Alexander Frey (*23.08.1830, †17.03.1851 Pärnu); 2) (Amalie) Wilhelmine Caroline (*29.06.1832 Võlla, †1832?), 3) poeg Peter Carl Frey (*16.08.1834, †06.05.1851 Pärnu), poeg Alexander Richard (*12.07.1838 Reval).
• Carl Theurich Fridrich Wolff
• Friedrich Ludschuweit
25.04.1870-23.04.1882 anti mõis rendile Carl Theurich Fridrich Wolffi kätte, kellel oli vabahärra staatus (ehk parun), kuid tegelikult lähevad rendiõigused loovutamise teel 23.06.1870 Friedrich Ludschuweit'ile, kelle kätte jäi Jõõpre mõis kuni 07.09.1881. Tema kohta on öeldud, et ta oli Preisi alam. Kuna ametlikult ei saanud õigusi veel üle anda, siis soovitati teha eelleping (Vorcontracte).
• Rittmeister Schmidt
Vahepeal on rentnikuks ka rittmeister Schmidt. Muud temast teada ei ole.
• Jaan Juntson
17.03.1882 läheb mõis rendile Jaan Juntson'ile (*12.01.1839), talumehele Torist. Tema proua oli Juuli (Julie) Juntson (*01.02.1840), laulatati Toris 22.11.1859. Nende lapsed: Anna Wilhelmine (*22.01.1864 Taali mõis), Elise (*20.12.1865 Vändra), Georg (*13.03.1868 Tori), Gustav Heinrich (*26.10.1872 Tori), Aleksander (*11.09.1877 Tori), Iida Marie (18.05.1880 Tori) ja Ella Sophie (*22.09.1882 Jõõpre).
J. Juntsoni ajal arvatakse mõisa koosseisust välja Lavassaare vesiveski, samblasood jääb vastavalt plaanile ainult 6 tiinu, Saarde kõrts ja Jõõpre mõisa kõrts, mis pandi kinni 1893. Tema ajal põles maha Agasilla kõrts. Selle asemele ehitati tuuleveski.
• Georg Juntson
23.04.1898 – 1899 oli mõis Jaan Juntson'i poja Georg Juntsoni käes.
• Johann Gintsenberg
1899 – ühe aasta oli mõis rendil Johann Gintsenberg'i käes.
• Alexander Kersten (Kärstens)
73.04.1900-23.04.1920 anti mõis rendile Aleksander Eduardi p Kerstenile (Kärstens). Arvatakse, et ta oli lätlane. Tegelikult tegutses ta 1910. aastani. Mai Kalm, ajakirjanik Jõõprest, on kirjutanud, et Kärstens oli oma aja kohta edumeelne põllumees. Näiteks rajas praeguse Kaseküla maadele 1,5 km lahtise äravoolukraavi, samuti raiuti võsa.
Tegelikult juba 26.11.1911 on mõisa rentnikuks viimane Jõõpre mõisnik.
• Baron Wolter Arnold von Stackelberg
1911-1918 oli Jõõpre mõisa rentnik Baron Wolter Arnold von Stackelberg. Isa Friedrich Karl Otto, Erbherr aus Oethel (*29.03.1839, †14.09.1913 Öötla mõis). Ema: sünd Anna Marie Gertrude Baroness Stackelberg (*22.08.1842, Pallo, +08.05.1928 Berlin). Vanemad abiellusid 24.01.1869. Sünd 05.12.1869 Prääma (Bremerfeld) mõisas. Järlepa mõisa rentnik. Õppis Paides Schottsche ja hiljem Knüpfferi erakoolis 1881-1883, seejärel Eestimaa rüütelkonna Toomkoolis Tallinnas 1883; 1884-1888 Tartu poeglaste erakoolis ja 1890 Pärnu gümnaasiumis. Peale kooli oli koduõpetaja Vodja mõisas; valitseja Vodja, Visu (Wieso), Aruküla ja Prümli (Heidemetz) mõisates; õppis 1893-1894 Jena ülikoolis; 1926 elas Saksamaal.
Abiellus 04.08.1903 Oötla (Oethel) mõisas Margaretha Dressler'iga (sünd. 08.03.1877 Glatz, Sileesia). Neil oli poeg Jürgen Johann Alexander Woldemar, sünd. 18.07.1910 Meldstern, Kuramaa. (EAA.1674.2.186,1.90р).
Parun Stackelberg ei olnud põllupidamisest huvitatud, hoolis rohkem jahist ja lõbusast elust. Proua ei olnud peen daam, näiteks laskis oma riided õmmelda Jõõpre külanaisel.
--- ENG
What is known about the gentry of Jõõpre manor? I found the following facts from Audru's church metrics, soul lists and Jõõpre manor immission protocols. The list is not exhaustive.
Friedrich Liphart († 1661 v 1663) received Võlla manor on 20.09.1649 from Queen Kristina. He came there from Reval. His son Johann Friedrich von Liphart was his successor. Jõõpre manor was built during his or his son's time, it is not known, around 1641.
• Oberlieutenant Johann Friedrich von Liphart
At least in 1703 and 1704 and 1710-1724, the owner of Võlla and Jõõpre manors was Oberlieutenant Johann Friedrich von Liphart (*1655, †21.04.1723 Võlla), married to Elisabeth Maria von Tiesenhausen (*1668, †16.01.1724 Võlla), who was also the owner of the manor later.
• Captain von Taube
Captain von Taube from Jõõpre, was the son-in-law of Joh. Fr. von Liphart, lived in Jõõpre manor, his children were born in Jõõpre: son and daughters Catharina Luise (*1719), Helene Eleonore (*1722). He also gave answers to the 1711 inquisition sheet about Jõõpre manor.
• Magnus Johan von Liphart
• Justine Margarethe von Liphart (née von Stackelberg)
In 1724, Magnus Johan von Liphart, son of the Jõõpre manor house owner Johann Friedrich von Liphart, was born in 1738, 1742 and 1751, the manor house owner was his widow Justine Margarethe von Liphart, née von Stackelberg.
• Christoph von Liphart
At least from 1774 to 1776, Jõõpre manor house was in the hands of Christoph von Liphart, as can be seen from the Viljandi court record.
• Anna Charlotta von Wacker
In 1795 (5th census), Anna Charlotta von Wacker, née Kirchner, sister of Reinhold Johann von Kirchner, owner of Audru manor house in Jõõpre, came to Jõõpre from Uduvere in 1791 with her husband Otto Johann Wacker. They had 4 daughters: Catharina, Elisabeth, Renate, NN.
• Oberlieutenant Carl Magnus von Kirchner
1811 (6th soul revision) the tenant of Jõõpre manor is Oberlieutenant Carl Magnus von Kirchner (67) († Pärnu), his wife Majorin Helena von Kirchner. He had a son Reinhold Gustaw - 16 years old. At the same time, the Misses (Fräuleine) Elisabeth, Eva, Dorothea and Christi(a)na von Handwig have also lived in the manor. They have lived in Jõõpre manor since 1803 until at least 1812: they were married. The Handwig sisters (also: Handtwich) have rented the manor on 26.08.1811. What their relationship was with Kirchner is unknown.
• Peter Albrecht Frey
The tenant of the manor in the years 1814-1820 (including the 7th soul revision 1816) is Peter Albrecht Frey. Deputized Ensign (Dimittierter Fähnrich) Peter Albrecht Frey (*~1772).
His wife is Mrs. Carolina Juliana, née Zabell (*~ 1780). They had 3 daughters and a son:
1) Helena Carolina (*~1805), 2) Alexander Friedrich (*~1808), 3) Amalia Elisabeth (*~1809), 4) Elise Agnes (*~1812).
Ensign Peter Frey transferred the manor to Steinheil in 1828.
• Helena Alexandra Steinheil
According to the immission protocol, the tenant of the Jõõpre state manor from 1828 to 1840 was the widow of Count Fabian von Steinheil. It should be explained here that Fabian von Steinheil received the title of count, passed it on to his only daughter, and his son-in-law also inherited the title and name Steinheil. It is believed that the tenant of Jõõpre Manor was Helena Alexandra Steinheil (1803-1872), born in Vyborg, who married on July 22, 1819, Lieutenant General Alexander Steven (1783-1842), the commandant of Helsinki from Hamina, who received the title of Count from 1824 - Stewen-Steinheil. Thus, this widow was actually the daughter of Count Fabian von Steinheil, who remained a widow.
• Peter Johann Frey
Peter Johann Frey was a tenant of the Jõõpre State Manor from March 1840 to May 1852.
Peter Johann Frey (*10.04.1798) from Vee Manor (Weehof), (†19.10.1886 Pärnu) came to the Jõõpre Manor in 1825. Mrs. Marie Anastasie, née Romberg (*08.03.1808 Olenetz, †27.03.1863 Jõõpre, buried in Audru) was married to him in Audru Church in 1827. The landlords also had many children at that time. Their children were born in Jõõpre:
1) Caroline Elisabeth (*23.04.1828, †07.12.1891 Pärnu),
2) Luise Juliane (*03.12.1829),
3) Marie Henriette (*16.12.1831), married on 26.06.1857 in Audru Church to Georg Wilhelm Jacoby, responsible official of Lihula at the Maritime Court of the Provincial Government College,
4) Caroline Alexandra (Alexandrine) (*21.04.1833), married on 20.07.1855 in Audru Church to Carl Eduard Const. Ignatius, Russian language teacher at Reval Cathedral School.
5) Amalie Wilhelmine (*17.06.1834), married on 30.12.1858 in Audru church to Theodor Sigismund Wallner, ruler of Kaltenbrunn manor,
6) Johanna Auguste (*24.06.1836),
7) Henriette Therese (*25.03.1839, †10.11.1921 Pärnu), died unmarried, called herself the lady of Jõõpre manor,
8) Peter Otto (*10.06.1841).
Alexander Friedrich Frey (* ~1805 Weehof, †21.10.1838 Pärnu) was then a tenant in Võlla manor. His wife was Wilhelmine, née Krieh, they married in Audru on 24.10.1829. Their children: 1) Oswald Alexander Frey (*23.08.1830, †17.03.1851 Pärnu); 2) (Amalie) Wilhelmine Caroline (*29.06.1832 Võlla, †1832?), 3) son Peter Carl Frey (*16.08.1834, †06.05.1851 Pärnu), son Alexander Richard (*12.07.1838 Reval).
• Carl Theurich Fridrich Wolff
• Friedrich Ludschuweit
From 25.04.1870 to 23.04.1882, the manor was leased to Carl Theurich Fridrich Wolff, who had the status of a free lord (baron), but in fact the lease rights were transferred by assignment on 23.06.1870 to Friedrich Ludschuweit, who retained Jõõpre manor until 07.09.1881. It has been said about him that he was a Prussian subject. Since the rights could not be officially transferred yet, it was recommended to make a preliminary contract (Vorcontracte).
• Rittmeister Schmidt
In the meantime, Rittmeister Schmidt is also a tenant. Nothing else is known about him.
• Jaan Juntson
On 17.03.1882, the manor is leased to Jaan Juntson (*12.01.1839), a farmer from Tori. His wife was Juuli (Julie) Juntson (*01.02.1840), married in Tori on 22.11.1859. Their children: Anna Wilhelmine (*22.01.1864 Taali Manor), Elise (*20.12.1865 Vändra), Georg (*13.03.1868 Tori), Gustav Heinrich (*26.10.1872 Tori), Aleksander (*11.09.1877 Tori), Iida Marie (18.05.1880 Tori) and Ella Sophie (*22.09.1882 Jõõpre).
During J. Juntson's reign, the Lavassaare water mill was excluded from the manor, only 6 'tiin's of moss bog was preservef, the Saarde tavern and the Jõõpre manor tavern were excluded from the manor, which were closed in 1893. During his reign, the Agasilla tavern burned down. A windmill was built in its place.
• Georg Juntson
23.04.1898 – 1899 the manor was in the hands of Georg Juntson, son of Jaan Juntson.
• Johann Gintsenberg
1899 – for one year the manor was rented to Johann Gintsenberg.
• Alexander Kersten (Kärstens)
73.04.1900-23.04.1920 the manor was rented to Aleksander Eduardi p Kersten (Kärstens). It is believed that he was Latvian. In fact, he operated until 1910. Mai Kalm, a journalist from Jõõpre, has written that Kärstens was a progressive farmer for his time. For example, he built a 1.5 km open drainage ditch on the lands of what is now Kaseküla, and also cut down brush.
In fact, 26.11.1911 the last Jõõpre landowner, Baron Wolter Arnold von Stackelberg, became the tenant of the manor.
• Baron Wolter Arnold von Stackelberg
1911-1918 was the tenant of Jõõpre Manor Baron Wolter Arnold von Stackelberg. Father Friedrich Karl Otto, Erbherr aus Oethel (*29.03.1839, †14.09.1913 Öötla Manor). Mother: born Anna Marie Gertrude Baroness Stackelberg (*22.08.1842, Pallo, +08.05.1928 Berlin). Parents married 24.01.1869. Born 05.12.1869 in Prääma (Bremerfeld) Manor. Tenant of Järlepa Manor. Studied at the Schottsche and later Knüpffer private schools in Paide 1881-1883, then at the Toomkool of the Estonian Knighthood in Tallinn 1883; 1884-1888 at the Tartu Boys' Private School and 1890 at the Pärnu Gymnasium. After school he was a home tutor at Vodja manor; a steward at Vodja, Visu (Wieso), Aruküla and Prümli (Heidemetz) manors; studied at the University of Jena in 1893-1894; lived in Germany in 1926.
Married on 04.08.1903 at Oötla (Oethel) manor to Margaretha Dressler (born 08.03.1877 in Glatz, Silesia). They had a son, Jürgen Johann Alexander Woldemar, born 18.07.1910 in Meldstern, Courland. (EAA.1674.2.186,1.90р).
Baron Stackelberg was not interested in farming, he cared more about hunting and a fun life. His wife was not a refined lady, for example, she had her clothes sewn by a village woman from Jõõpre.
Dear Aiki,
Many thanks for providing Heljo Konts‘ treatise on the tenants of Jõõpre and even an English translation thereof!
I screened it, but I couldn‘t find what I was looking for: In our family history there is a saaga that the first Kersten in our lineage is supposed to have been a Swedish soldier (lansquenet) called Alexander Kerstens. For his services in the war against the Polish in Livonia he was enfeoffed by king Gustav Adolf with Jõõpre. This, if true, should have happened around 1620, I think. Of this early Kerstens there is no mention in Heljo Konts‘ article.
I would be very grateful if you could let me know if there might exist further sources that I could inspect on subject matter.
Kind regards,
Michael
