Peder Bruun came to Børøya in Hadsel in the mid-1760s to run a jekt trade. Among other things, he built the jekta Haabet. According to the family chronicle of Helga Bruun, he is said to have led as many as three jekts. We find in contemporary sources that he at least twice went to the local authority to get permission to build jekts, in both cases there was at least one already existing jekt in his possession.
The flag Peder’s jekt flew was a traditional Danebrog, i.e. a Danish flag. Today’s Norwegian flag was designed by parliamentarian Frederik Meltzer, and adopted by the Storting in 1821.
As you can see in the pictures, the flag probably had a lot of traffic during the years it sailed on his yachts south to Bergen and back.
In the middle of the cross on the flag, someone has meticulously painted the monogram of King Christian VII. Above the monogram we find a beautiful royal crown, also hand-painted. Below the monogram we find Peder’s own monogram, as well as the letters AB. It is unsure what these letters stand for. They may refer to his wife, who in some sources is referred to as Anna Marlena, or variants thereof. In most sources, however, she is referred to as Maren, so we cannot say anything for certain.
The fact that the hand-painted décor on the otherwise so thinly worn flag is still in such good condition is an ever so small wonder, and the Danebrog is now well preserved in the collection of Melbo Manor
Sources:
Bruun, Helga M. En gren av slekten Bruun Bodø Boktrykkeri. Bodø 1930
Bottolfsen, Øystein Lofoten og Vesterålens historie Fiskerbondesamfunnet : 1700-1837. Kommunene i Lofoten og Vesterålen. 1995