Relatives of Nichlous (Nicholas or Niklos or maybe Niels) Thomsen

[Bruce Thompson]

I am trying to find relatives of my grandfather, Nichlous Thomsen (born around 1867-1870) and migrated to the U.S. between 1888 and 1900.    He lived the rest of his life until 1943 in New Jersey, USA.  He was a farm laborer and taxi driver in a small town. 
 
He was from the Schlesvig area taken over by Germany in the 1964 war I believe .   He said that he was forced to speak German when he was a child. 

Here are the leads that I have: 
A letter written in 1906 from Groenebeit DK (translated)-- no longer have the original letter, I think it could be Gronnebaek from a sister Mariel Lauritsen, saying she just had a baby girl.  Not much to go on.
A letter dated 14 July 1912 from Groenebeit DK (or Gronnebaek?) from Nichlous' mother Marie Thomsen saying:
"Papa died in the spring.  He had a bad cough, but worked until his death on March 25.  The farm is to be sold to pay off the debts.  Your Uncle Martin (Morten?), the rich one, died also.   His farm, since he had no family of his own, is to be divided among your three brothers -- 4 kilos go to Thomas, three Kilos to Rolf and two Kilos to Martin.  I am sad that you did not inherit, but Uncle Martin was no happy you left home.  Your mother, Marie Thomsen".

Anything that you could provide for me regarding a) the deaths in 1912; b) the brothers listed in any census in DK after 1912 c) any clarification of the difference in the spellings of the town would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!
Gary B. Thompson 

[Ralph Rasmussen]

A town called Grønnebæk lies near Rødding, east of Ribe, and not far from where the 1864-1920 Danish-German border lay.

In the 1900 US census it appears that your grandfather lived in Bernards Twp, New Jersey, and was born in September 1867, with immigration in 1888.  He could have applied in New Jersey courts for naturalization.  When he eventually married he should have given the names of his parents. Roughly when was that, and who was his wife? 

Have you found any obituary?

[Inge Nissen]

There is a Grønnebæk in Jels, Gram, Haderslev and a Grønbæk in Felsted, Lundtofte, Aabenraa. Both places ind the part of Denmark, which was german from 1864-1920.

I have looked for det persons in Jels, without luck.
Perhaps the name was Nicolai.

Inge

[Brian Lauridsen]

Attached is a record from the 1921 census (Opslag 15) from Jels showing a Marie Thomsen living with her son Martin Thomsen in Grønnebæk. Both moved there in 1892 from Nustrup Parish.
Martin is listed as born in Halk Parish in 1872 and a Martin Gregers Thomsen was born there 20 July 1872 to Thomas Thomsen and Marie Ravn. (Halk, Haderslev, Haderslev 1845-1874 Opslag 234 nr. 17)
So far no trace of Nicholas born in Halk or Thomas Thomsen's death in Jels.

Brian Lauridsen

[vedhæfting slettet af admin]

[Brian Lauridsen]

Thomas Thomsen died i Grønnebæk 27 March 1915.
Here in the civil register:
http://www.sa.dk/ao/billedviser?epid=16521070#38320,5404247

The death can also be found in the church book Jels 1900-1942 Opslag 24 nr. 4.

Brian Lauridsen

[Erna Bjerregaard]

Hi Bruce!

If it the right Family Brian has found, your Nichlous Thomsen can be this man Niels Peter Thomsen.
He is born 2 September 1867 i Grarup:
Grarup churchbook 1851-1884 (opslag 30) number 14

His parents are the same as the parents of Martin Gregers Thomsen

Best regards

Erna Bjerregaard
Kolding

[Inge Nissen]

Marie Thomsen = Marie Nielsdatter Ravn, died 17.5.1922
Jels, Gram, Haderslev 1900-1942 opslag 35

Se was a widow, born 18.03 1840 in Grarup, her parents: Niels Madsen Ravn and Maren Skov.

[Brian Lauridsen]

Thomas Thomsen and Marie Nielsen Ravn married in Grarup 12 August 1866.
Grarup 1851-1884 Opslag 107 nr. 4.
The record tells that Thomas' parents are Peter Thomsen and Anna Sophia Clausen of Fruerlund.
Fruerlund is now a part of the town Flensburg in Germany, but some research has been made on this family:

http://www.adelby.com/html/p005022.htm#P5022

Brian Lauridsen

[Erna Bjerregaard]

Hi Bruce!

This is maybe his arrivel to the USA
http://www.castlegarden.org/quick_search_detail.php?p_id=6836441

If it is him, you can see he is coming from Grarup, an that is the birthplace of Niels Peter Thomsen born on 2 september 1867

Good luck

Best regards

Erna Bjerregaard
Kolding

[Brian Lauridsen]

If adelby.com is correct this is likely Peter Nicolay Thomsen in the 1803 census from Augustenborg:

Sønderborg, Als Sønder, Augustenborg, Hauptstrasse No 32, , 16, FT-1803, B8605
Navn:     Alder:     Civilstand:       Stilling i husstanden:       Erhverv:       Fødested:
Nicolay Thomsen    68    Gift    Hausvater    Becker    
Elisabeth Maria Jürgensen    55    Gift    dessen Frau       
Thomas Thomsen    28    Ugift    Beckergeselle    Sohn itziger Ehe    
Peter Nicolai Thomsen    22    Ugift    Beckergeselle    Sohn itziger Ehe    
Gunilda Maria Thomsen    24    Ugift    Tochter itziger Ehe       
Elisabeth Maria Thomsen    23    Ugift    Bruder-Tochter des Hausvaters       
Magdalena Charlotta Andersen    14    Ugift    Pflegetochter       
Ole Christian Bargmann    27    Ugift    Schwestersohn des Hausvaters    Steuermann    
Hinrich Jacob Bargmann    17    Ugift    Schwestersohn des Hausvaters       
Jacob Carstensen Brohrsgaard    28    Ugift    Beckergeselle       
Peter Petersen Toftmann    28    Ugift    Kutscher       
Margaretha Maria Asmussen    27    Ugift    Dienstin

Peter Nicolay Thomsen was born 11 August 1781:
Augustenborg (Ny udgave) 1744-1840 Opslag 19 nr. 7

Brian Lauridsen

[Bruce Thompson]

   Tak to Brian Lauridsen, Erna Bjerregaard, Igne and Ralph for giving me all of these leads on the relatives of Niels Thomsen from Grarup and Gronnebaek.    WOW!   Before you wrote me I had very very few leads and no confirmations of my leads.  God bless you and keep you safe. 
Tak. 

Confirmed:
Niels was born in 1867 in Grarup.
Marie and her son Martin were in Gronnebaek in 1921 census.  Marie died in 1922
That Martin and Niels are sons of Marie Ravn and Thomas Thomsen, who were married in 1866.


Next questions, if I may ask for your further help:

According to our records, there was another son, Rolf Thomsen, and maybe 2 sisters Mariel and Kirengaard.   Any information on them?  Mariel's married name was Lauritsen. 

Also, the so called "rich uncle' Martin who died in 1912.   Any leads there?

Tak. 

Bruce Thompson

[Brian Lauridsen]

Some of Niels Peter's siblings:

Grarup 1851-1884:
Hans Bane[?] Thomsen
*13 March 1870 (Opslag 35 nr.6)

From the church register Halk 1874-1926:

Ingeborg Sophie Thomsen
*7 March 1876 (Opslag 8 nr. 4)

Elsbe Maria Thomsen
*13 May 1878 (Opslag 19 nr. 18)

Dorthe Thomsen
*4 April 1880 (Opslag 26 nr.12)

15 January 1907 Marine Thomsen gave birth to a boy in Grønnebæk named Julius Lauritzen Thomsen.
Here from the civil register:
http://www.sa.dk/ao/billedviser?epid=16521066#38316,5402829
(Also Jels 1899-1942 Opslag 25 nr.8)

In the margin a Julius Jensen Lauritzen acknowledges that he is the father.

Marine and Julius married 6 May 1909:
http://www.sa.dk/ao/billedviser?epid=16521068#38318,5403524
(Jels 1879-1914 Opslag 84 nr.1)

Marine was born 9 October 1884 in Lunding in Sønder Starup Parish
(Sønder Starup, Haderslev, Haderslev) 1853-1898 Opslag 81 nr. 23.

Thomas Thomsen
*11 May 1882
Same book Opslag 84 nr. 16

Brian Lauridsen

[Brian Lauridsen]

One more:

Peter Nicolai Thomsen
*26 May 1874
(Halk 1843-1874 Opslag 267 nr. 15)

So far no Rolf.

Brian Lauridsen

[Bruce Thompson]

Tak Brian.   Marine must be the sister that we had down as Mariel Lauritsen.   

No sign of the rich Uncle Martin, who died around 1912?

Any idea where I would find a map of Gronnebaek for that period with the farms or family plots?

Any Thomsens in Gronnebaek today?

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP.   Where do you live?  What do you do for a living?

I was a librarian for 44 years, now retired.   Went around Jutland, Fyn, and Zealand in September.  Loved Denmark.    People are so nice and friendly and helpful, like you.

Tak, Bruce

[Brian Lauridsen]

Uncle Martin is probably Marie Ravn's brother. Here in the 1860 census living with his parents:

All persons in the household

Haderslev, Haderslev, Grarup, Grarup By, Landboelssted, 17, FT-1860, D7146
Name:     Age:     Marital status:       Position in household:       Occupation:       Birth place:
Niels Madsen Ravn    58    Gift    Jordbruger       Vejstrup Sogn, Vejle Amt
Maren f. Skov    54    Gift    Hans Kone       Hoptrup Sogn, Haderslev Amt
Anne Ravn    18    Ugift    Deres Barn       Grarup By, Grarup Sogn, Haderslev Amt
Mads Ravn    15    Ugift    Deres Barn       Grarup By, Grarup Sogn, Haderslev Amt
Morten Ravn    12    Ugift    Deres Barn       Grarup By, Grarup Sogn, Haderslev Amt
Peter Ytzen    9    Ugift    Plejebarn forsørges af Fattigvæsenet       Halk Sogn, Haderslev Amt
Kathrine Jensen    9    Ugift    Plejebarn       Haderslev, Haderslev Amt
Kristen Kristensen Qvelshede    2    Ugift    Plejebarn       Grarup By, Grarup Sogn, Haderslev Amt
Frederik Jørgensen    72    Enkemand    Forsørges af Fattigvæsenet       Åstrup Sogn, Haderslev Amt

Morten Nielsen Ravn was born 28 March 1848.
(Grarup 1789-1848 Opslag 155 nr. 5)

Brian Lauridsen

[Brian Lauridsen]

Julius Jensen Lauritzen fell in WWI.
He died 9 October 1916 in Le Lars at the Somme.
(Jels 1900-1942 Opslag 26)

20 Februar 1918 Marine married Oskar Johann Theodor Møbius.
(Jels 1915-1942 Opslag 4 nr. 1)

I think it is one of her descendants who has a tree on Geni.com:
http://www.geni.com/people/Marine-M%C3%B8bius/362448443150007114

Brian Lauridsen

[Inge Nissen]

www.sa.dk/ao/billedviser?bsid=38320#38320,5404270

The death of Julius Hansen Lauritzen in the "sønderjyske personregister"