Anna Krefting

Who was Anna Krefting?

Anna Paulsdatter Krefting née Vogt, was a Norwegian businesswoman who ran and expanded her family's business enterprises in and around Christiania for over 50 years. Among these enterprises were mines and ironworks, forestry, and trade.

Anna Paulsdatter Vogt was born into an affluent family in Christiania with ties to the government in Denmark. Her father, Paul Pedersen Vogt, was originally from Denmark and was responsible for the stores at Akershus Fortress but also a merchant, mill owner, and shipowner in Christiania. Anna's mother, Catarina née Bauman, was the daughter of Dominicus Brauman, war commissary and also in charge of the stores at Akershus.

Anna married Herman Krefting on 26 October 1699, when she was only 16 years old. The couple had at least seven children together. Anna was widowed while she was pregnant with the last child. She never remarried but took over the business and real estate interests of her husband and managed them for 54 years. In particular, the ironworks at Bærums Verk grew to be the largest of its kind in Norway during her time. But she was also responsible for purchase and sale of land, other ironworks, and mines.