information on my Great Great Grandfather

[Warren Martin]

My name is Warren Martin.  I have been doing research on my Great Great Grandfather that was born in Denmark on January 30th 1826.  His american name was Henry Martin and I think he came to the USA about 1856.  Our family records only indicate that he was from Denmark and nothing else.  His wifes name was Margrete Feddersen.  All the US census records indicated that she was from Germany.  Also indicated that they had a daughter Catherine born in Germany in 1854 before they came to the USA.  I discovered in the 1880 US census that a nephew was living with them.  His name was listed as Andrew Martin.  I later discovered that Andrew had another brother and sister that came to the USA.  After alot of research,  I found that there parents names where Jens Mortensen and Anna Paulsen.  After this I discovered that Jens had a brother that was born on January 30th, 1826 in Hostrup Sogn, Ribe, Denmark and was named Hans Mortensen.  Jens and Hans parents names are Morten Hansen and Johanne Jepsdatter.  Now I was starting to feel very confident that I had discovered my GGGrandfathers Danish name and birth location until a little later I discovered a marriage record of Hans Mortensen in 1848 to a Marie Mortensdr.  I have not been able to find any more info after this marriage.  Most of the sources that I used were either US census records or the Latter Day Saints Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.  If anyone would have anymore help on this, I would really appreciate It

[Peter Paluszewski]

Hi Warren,

Here are some hints to access records in Denmark:
http://sa.dk/ao has scanned records from the State archives. "Kirkebøger" is Church records, and "Folketællinger" is census records. Then they are subdivided in Regions "Amt", "Herred" and parish "Sogn".

Familysearch has some online as well in better quality here: https://familysearch.org/search/image/index#uri=https://familysearch.org/records/collection/2078555/waypoints

http://ddd.dda.dk/ddd_en.htm has indexed and transcribed records - especially census records.

---
As you write Hans Mortensen is born 30th jan 1826 in Hostrup, Skast, Hostrup. Father Morten Hansen, mother Johanne Jepsdatter, living in Sielborg.

I think this could be the family in the 1834 census:
Ribe, Skast, Guldager, Hjerting, et huus, 41, FT-1834, B5353
Nane:   Age:   Marital status:   Position:   Job:
Johanne Jeppesdatter    34    Enke       væver   
Hans Mortensen    8    Ugift       hendes børn   
Jens Mortensen    7    Ugift       hendes børn   
Metthe Thomasdatter    72    Enke       almisselem

The mother is a widow, which might explain why her kids emigrated.
I'll look for more, and write what I find.

Regards,
Peter

[John Wrenholt]

Birth of Hans: 1814-1828 Hostrup, Skast, Ribe ops 8
Birth of Jens: 1821-1834 Guldage, Skast, Ribe ops 12
Marriage of Jens: 1843-1923 Hjerpsted, Højer, Tønder ops 73
Birth of Andreas Poulsen Mortensen: 1763-1933 Hjerpsted, Højer, Tønder ops 139 (Andrew Martin)



There is a marriage of Hans Mortensen to Marie Mortensdatter recorded in 1848 here:

1836-1853 Eggeslevmagle, Søro ops 218

At first glance this appears to be a different Hans Mortensen.

[Peter Paluszewski]

Hi Warren,

Morten Hansen died March 31st 1831, in Ribe, Skast, Guldager (1821-34 opslag 90) aged 33, in Hjerting.

I've tracked Hans Mortensen through military records, see links below. It shows us that the 1834 census is correct, and that he emigrates to America around 1860.

http://www.sa.dk/ao/billedviser?epid=16481031#18039,977145
A139-117
http://www.sa.dk/ao/billedviser?epid=16481031#17939,946524
117-102 32H204 (moves to Guldager)
http://www.sa.dk/ao/billedviser?epid=16481031#17956,951099
H201-177 50L156 (moves to Ål)
http://www.sa.dk/ao/billedviser?epid=16481031#17974,956226
L156-141
http://www.sa.dk/ao/billedviser?epid=16481031#17994,962115
141-127
http://www.sa.dk/ao/billedviser?epid=16481031#18252,1046174
127-117 92U29 (moves to Emmerlev)
http://www.sa.dk/ao/billedviser?epid=16481031#18255,1048771
29-24
http://www.sa.dk/ao/billedviser?epid=16481031#18258,1050924
24-21
http://www.sa.dk/ao/billedviser?epid=16481031#18072,988725
21-12
http://www.sa.dk/ao/billedviser?epid=16481031#18660,1158010
12-5 Did not show up. Jan 1861: Is in America.

This part of Denmark is ceded to Germany in 1864, thus the label Germany could also mean this part of Denmark.

Further Censuses:
Ribe, Vester Horne, Aal, Grundsøehuus, en Gaard, 117, FT-1840, C7071
Navn:   Alder:   Civilstand:   Stilling i husstanden:   Erhverv:   Fødested:
Niels Christensen    63    Gift       Walkemøller og Gaardmand   
Mette Christensdt    65    Gift       hans Kone   
Christen Nielsen    36    Ugift       Sognefoged, deres Børn   
Paul Nielsen    31    Ugift       deres Børn   
Maren Nielsdt    24    Ugift       deres Børn   
Maren Kjerstine Nielsdt    22    Ugift       deres Børn   
Chrestine Nielsdt    20    Ugift       deres Børn   
Hans Mortensen    14    Ugift       Tjenestedreng

Tønder, Tønder, Højer og Lø, Emmerlev (Kongerigsk), Sønder Seierslef, en Gaard, 15, FT-1845, C5838
Navn:   Alder:   Civilstand:   Stilling i husstanden:   Erhverv:   Fødested:
Mikkel Høyring    63    Ugift       Gaardmand   Her i Sognet
Marie Høyring    57    Ugift       hans Søster, Huusholderske   Her i Sognet
Andreas Lassen    32    Gift       Tjenestefolk   Her i Sognet
Ane Marie Christensen    24    Ugift       Tjenestefolk   Her i Sognet
Hans Martensen    19    Ugift       Tjenestefolk   Aal Sogn Ribe Amt

I can't find him in the later censuses.

Regards,
Peter

[Peter Paluszewski]

Few more things:

Johanne remairries, twice, has a girl and stays in Ål. She is born in Janderup.
Second marriage to Peder Jacobsen in 1835, opslag 95 in Ribe, Skast, Guldager (1835-1849)
Peder Jacobsen dies 1840, opslag 119 in Ribe, Vester Horne, Ål (1833-1850)
Third marriage to Niels Hansen in 1840, opslag 95 in Ribe, Vester Horne, Ål (1833-1850)
Johanne died in 1875, opslag 148 in Ribe, Vester Horne, Ål (1864-1881)

Ribe, Vester Horne, Aal, Grundsøehuus, et Huus, 121, FT-1840, C7071
Navn:   Alder:   Civilstand:   Stilling i husstanden:   Erhverv:   Fødested:
Johanne Jepsdt    42    Gift       Huusmandskone, Manden tjener i Hjerting   
Jens Mortensen    11    Ugift       deres Børn   
Ane Marie Pedersdt    5    Ugift       deres Børn

Ribe, Vester Horne, Aal, Skjødstrup, et Huus, 70, FT-1845, B4550
Navn:   Alder:   Civilstand:   Stilling i husstanden:   Erhverv:   Fødested:
Niels Hansen    66    Gift       Huusmand, Aftægtsmand   her i Sognet
Johanne Jeppesdt.    47    Gift       hans Kone, Væverske   Janderup Sogn, Ribe Amt
Ane Marie Pedersdt.    10    Ugift       Konens Datter af et tidligere Ægteskab   her i Sognet

Ribe, Vester Horne, Aal, Skjødstrup, Et Huus, 70, FT-1850, C8136
Navn:   Alder:   Civilstand:   Stilling i husstanden:   Erhverv:   Fødested:
Niels Hansen    70    Gift       Huusmand, Aftægtsmand, Huusfader   Her i Sognet
Johanne Jeppesdatter    50    Gift       Hans Kone   Janderup Sogn. Ribe Amt
Ane Marie Pedersen    15    Ugift       Konens Datter af et tidligere Ægteskab   Her i Sognet

Ribe, Vester Horne, Aal, Skjødstrup By, En Gaard, 173 F3, FT-1860, D5819
Navn:   Alder:   Civilstand:   Stilling i husstanden:   Erhverv:   Fødested:
Johanne Jeppesdatter    61    Enke   Aftægtskone      Janderup Sogn Ribe Amt

Regards

[Warren Martin]

Thanks Peter

These military records could be helpful.  One of the things that was noted in our family history was that he was a sailor before he came to the USA.  We do not have any information about that.  Do you know if the military records would imply any sailing activities.  I am not sure when he came to the US.  I have he and his wife and three children in the 1860 US census for sure in Minnesota.  In the Minnesota 1857 Territorial Census, Henry Martin is mentioned with a wife and two children without any names other than Henry Martin.  The ages listed would be about right however so this listing I am not sure that I have the right family.

Warren Martin

[Peter Paluszewski]

Hi Warren,

There are no mentions of sailing activities anywhere, but also no mentions of what he did from 1850 onward. If he was a sailor when he grew up, he would have been in another military record. He was a soldier in 1850.

I believe John's reply proves that the Danish Mortensens matches the Martins, you describe.
For more proof of Henry Martin = Hans Mortensen, finding the marriage record or birth records on a child born in Europe would be perfect. Do you have any more information on his wife, as they were likely married where she was from?

Note btw that until mid 1800s non-noble danes did not have last names, but patronyms, so Mortensen is son of Morten, and his father Morten Hansen is son of Hans.

Regards,
Peter

[Ellen Steen-Petersen]

This could be Margrethe Feddersen in the 1850 census..

Tønder, Tønder, Højer og Lø, Sankt Johannis, Föhr, Sankt Johannin, Föhr, Nieblum, et Huus, 23, FT-1850, C3781

Navn:   Alder:   Civilstand:   Stilling i husstanden:   Erhverv:   Fødested:
Hans Hinrich Bohm    40    Gift       Læge   Hertugdømmet Schlesvig
Agna Friedericka Bohm    30    Gift       Hans Kone   Kiel
Johannes Gustaves Emilius Bohm    4    Ugift       Deres Børn   Her i Sognet ( Sct. Johannis)
Anna Bertha Charlotta Bohm    3    Ugift       Deres Børn   Her i Sognet ( Sct. Johannis)
Margaretha Feddersen    21    Ugift       Tjenestepige   Tønder Amt

Regards
Ellen

[Ellen Steen-Petersen]

This could be Hans Mortensen in the census of 1950. The birth parish fits.

Ribe, Vester Horne, Varde Købstad, Brogade, Brogade 12, 1, FT-1850, B5669

Navn:   Alder:   Civilstand:   Stilling i husstanden:   Erhverv:   Fødested:
Lorenz Hansen    56    Enkemand       Kammerraad, Amtsforvalter, Huusfader   Møgeltønder, Ribe Amt
Andreas Jørgen Chr. Kaas    18    ugift       Kontorist   Varde
Hans Mortensen    24    ugift       Tjenestekarl   Hostrup S. [Ribe Amt]
Juliane Sophie Jacobsen    39    ugift       Husholderske   Frederiksberg
Margrethe Kaas    24    ugift       Tjenestepige   Varde
Anthon Jensen Damgaard    12    ugift       Huusfaderens Pleiesøn   Varde

[Warren Martin]

I only have the name Margrete Feddersen coming from Schleswig-Holstein area in our family records and have not found anything with the exception of a possible connection with a listing in the 1845 census of a Margaretha Feddersen living in Fahretoft.  This record shows this person to be 20 years old for the census but that would make her 2 years older than the Margrete Feddersen that I am looking for.  Nothing else was found for her.

Thanks so much for your input
Warren Martin

[Ellen Steen-Petersen]

Hi Warren
I have no proof of the Margaretha Feddersen on the island of Föhr (or Fuhr) is your Margrete Feddersen. But just to explain...

I'm trying to narrow down the church records in which her and Hans Mortensen's marriage could be found together with the birth of their daugther.

The logic behind is also trying to bring Margrethe Feddersen and Hans Mortensen so close together that we can expect that they'll meet and marry. They did actually marry and got a daugther together before going to US.

When I look at the censuses in US on Ancenstry.com I can see that her birth place is sometimes stated as Denmark and sometimes as Germany (suggesting that she came from the border area). I can also see that there is some differences in the age, she is listed with (sometimes older, sometimes younger than her husband).

The southern region of what we today call Denmark was at that time called North Schleswig, and was a part of Schleswig-Holsten. In 1864 that area became a part of Germany, until 1920 when North Schleswig voted themselves back to Denmark.

Regards
Ellen

[Lise Østerberg Bahr]

Hallo.

Just saw the name Feddersen. Try and have a look too - at Helmut Martensens webside in Flensburg (area) the Feddersen´s there.

Maby they are "yours".

Some from our fam. Luise Lemmel, (Molinnus related) (von Löe) (Lee), went to Durham, England, Mawson fam., and USA, Salt Lake City.
Names from this part of the fam. = Landt, Lemmel. Struve, as far as I now remember. (dok. not here nere by)

Regards
Lise Østerberg Bahr with
(the Bahr-Family in theese regions, at Helmut Mattensen´s webside, www.Adelby.com)

[Peter Paluszewski]

At ddd.dda.dk almost the complete census of 1845 is available for Southern Schleswig - I've found approx. 10 Margrethe Feddersen aged 20-23.

There is a chance that they got married/had their child baptised in her birth parish. Unfortunately the Schleswig church records are not online.

Peter

[Warren Martin]

Thank you everyone for all your input.  I also will be in Europe in June and plan to be in that Schleswig-Holstein and Denmark area the end of June.  I have done DNA testing with ancestry.com and I was thinking if I could find a decendant of the Hans Mortensen family that is in that area maybe if they would be willing to submit a DNA test that could be another way to confirm my connection.  Any thoughts on that plan and how would I locate the decendant if any exists.

Warren Martin

[Peter Paluszewski]

Hi Warren.

I guess you have some research ahead of you then. You will need a male line decendant, right?
Morten Hansen does not seem to have other sons.

He could be of this family:
Ribe, Skast, Hostrup, Sielborg Bye, , 7de Familie, FT-1801, B7784
Navn:   Alder:   Civilstand:   Stilling i husstanden:   Erhverv:   Fødested:
Hans Mortensen    27    Gift   Mand    Boelsmand og Bonde skræder   
Kiersten Hansdatter    36    Gift   Hans Koene      
Karen Hansdatter    3      Deres Børn      
Morten Hansen    2      Deres Børn      

You should look through the Hostrup church book to see if Hans Mortensen has other sons.
I've found a Hans Hansens born 1801, father Hans Mortensen. Unfortunately many Hans Hansens are born within a few years.
Once again I've tried to track him through muster rolls, but he is removed in 1806, same reason as Morten:
http://www.sa.dk/ao/billedviser?epid=16481031#17844,920360
J115-97
http://www.sa.dk/ao/billedviser?epid=16481031#17852,923056
97-89

Morten Hansen has odd notes on hus muster roll in 1802 and 1806: Something about his father building a house, and thus becoming a free man. Morten is then removed from the rolls.
http://www.sa.dk/ao/billedviser?epid=16481031#17844,920359
G92-75
http://www.sa.dk/ao/billedviser?epid=16481031#17852,923055
75-71

I cannot find Hans Hansen i later censuses. Maybe you could ask for help on tracking him in the forum.

Regards,
Peter

[Warren Martin]

Peter

Yes, I expect the DNA rout to be not an easy road.  That is a good hint on the Hans Hansen.  It will warrant making a stop at the Hostrup church.  Do you think I will have  any problem finding someone to help me translate Danish.  I am planning on bringing a translation app for the smartphone but would be better to have someone to read and translate.

Thanks again

Warren

[Peter Paluszewski]

Hi Warren,

Translation will not be a problem - you will find that most danes younger than 50 speak English very well, and many above that age as well. Danes are quite shy and private compared to Americans, so we don't initiate contact, but if you speak to us, we are quick to include you in our trusted sphere.

Visiting all the places you have read/heard about will definitely be great. However records older than, say 50 years, will usually be at the national archives, and many of them online. I don't think locals have much knowledge on records and genealogy, so to make the most of you time here, I think you should try to find the relatives you want to meet before going. This forum may help you with that.

There is a small local archive in Hostrup (now in the municipality Esbjerg):
Hostrup Sognearkiv (Parish archive)

Kokspang Fritidscenter
Kokspangvej 54
6710 Esbjerg V
Post til: Leder Elna Vogt (Mailing address: Leader Elna Vogt)
Kokspang Hedevej 5
6710 Esbjerg V
Tlf. 75269165 (phone number, remember +45 country code)


Regards,
Peter