He led several thousand men to protest against the high taxes which were imposed on the poor farmers and fishermen of Norway.
[2] In autumn 1762, the national government in Copenhagen established an extra per capita tax for every person over twelve years, which was later reduced to a charge per household.
These extra taxes were intended to help pay loans from foreign governments and to support the price of the Danish-Norwegian currency at the stock market in Hamburg.
The protests, which became violent, were particularly directed at Ulrik Fredrik de Cicignon (1698–1772), the local sheriff (stiftamtmann) .
It was called Anne Cathrine, and told the story of Jocum de Lange, his third wife and her struggles after his death.