The church owned the village of Borgvær until 1824, when parish priest Henning J Irgens bought the trading post for his son Leonard C Irgens. The former innkeepers Nils Christensen and Christian Alexandersen (Røvar-Alexander) were only tenants.
Since then, Borgvær has had the following owners: –
- 1824: The church
- 1824 – 1830: Leonard C Irgens
- 1830 – 1877:Henrik Irgens (the brother)
- 1877 – 1894:Johan Eliachim Tegnell Irgens (son of Henrik)
- 1894 – 1914: Ellen Irgens (widow of Johan E T I)
- 1914 – 1925: Emil Lind (Ellen’s new husband bought it at foreclosure)
- 1925 – 1967: Johan Irgens jr. (son of Johan E T I)
- 1967 – 1994: Graphic artist Svallaug Svalastoga and police chief Rolf Waldahl
- 1994 – 2004: Henry Val
Then there was the story of Captain Christian Alexandersen, who had lost ship and cargo, and was therefore supposed to be in bad shape?
Yes, he seems to have come out of it well too, because he eventually finds himself at Borgvær in Lofoten. It is not entirely clear when he came to Lofoten, but he received a deed of settlement for 1 våg in the farm Borgvær on 15 July 1814, and on 10 July 1816 a grant as an innkeeper on the site. Borgvær is located on the northwest side of Vestvågøya, outside the village of Vestresand.
Borgvær consists of a larger island, and 14 other grass-grown smaller islands and islets. Here there are unclean waters beyond which require good local knowledge to navigate with slightly larger boats. Borgvær was so-called mensal estate (presbytery estate). It was land owned by a priest, in this case the vicar of Borge.
Alexandersen was apparently a colorful person about whom many stories were later spun. He has been charged with smuggling of various kinds, importing flour and malt from Russia under the noses of the English, and extensive trade and commerce of various kinds.
He seems to have been a jolly fellow who had many irons in the fire, and at least in the beginning, they didn’t get so hot that he burned himself. Those were difficult times, but one must assume that Alexandersen’s transactions benefited the local population in and around Borgvær to a certain extent.
And if you want even more literature, “Røvar-Alexander” and the bark “Patriot” are available at a small book publisher owned by Svolværing Leif Joh. Andersen, who now lives in Prague.
