Danish Lægdsruller Workspace

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Danish Lægdsruller, What are they?
Lægdsruller are records of the men who could be listed for service in the army. These rolls have many different uses. For genealogical purposes they are used mainly to follow the mens movements or to find which military unit they were assigned and when they completed their obligation.

Some context for lægdsruller

In 1788, adscription was repealed and the foundation was laid for a civilian service. This was done by regulation on June 20, 1788. Previously the private landowners had the obligation to provide personnel for the army. After adscriptionøs repeal this responsibility was shifted to the king and the state. There was thus created a direct relationship between the state and the conscripts.

In subsequent years there was an agency created by the government known as a lægdsvæsen to watch over its conscripts. It was important for the government to know how large a force it possessed in case of war. Therefore it became the states responsibility to keep detailed records of the male population in lægdsruller.


 * Why use the Lægdsruller?
 * Content of the Lægdsruller?
 * How to follow someone in the same county.
 * How to follow someone to a different county.

Different Types of Lægdsruller

 * Army
 * Navy
 * Copenhagen
 * Other cities

Tools for using the Lægdsruller

 * List of the Lægdsnummer
 * Letter associated to the year of registration
 * Common abbreviations in the Army Lægdsruller.

Where do you find the Danish Lægdsruller?

 * Access through Statens Arkiver
 * Access through FamilySearch