Poul Møller Christensen Family
Denmark


Ane & Paul M.
        Christenson    Ane & Paul M.
Ane and Paul Møller Christensen in front of their bakery in Søndbjerg, Denmark c 1910-20,
This was the birth place of Pete Christenson has been torn down and replaced by an apartment building.


Poul M
øller Christensen
b. 26 Feb 1848
Søndbjerg, Refs hd., Thisted amt., Denmark [the tombstone date is not correct]
 
private baptism: 27 Feb 1848 Sønderbjerg, Thisted amt., Denmark
church baptism: 24 Apr 1848  [Dan Fam Search - Thisted, Søndbjerg 1843-1874 p 9]
d. 1 Nov 1934 SøndbjergRefs hd., Thisted amt., Denmark
"
85 år, 8 måneder og 5 dage / 85 years, 8 mo., 5 days"
buried: Søndbjerg graveyard [Søndbjerg church record]

m. Ane Johanne Pedersen 28 Apr. 1875 [N Nissum church book 1864-78, side 101 nr. 3 viet 28]
b. 20 Nov 1848
Fabjerg sogn, Skodberg hd., Ringkøbing amt., Denmark  [the tombstone date is not correct]
baptized: 26 dec 1848 Fabjerg parish, Skodborg, Ringøbing, Den. [Dan Fam Search p. 76.]
d. 28 Oct 1934 S
øndbjerg, Refs hd., Thisted, Denmark
"84 år, 11 måneder og 8 dage" / 84 years, 11 months, 8 days]
buried: Søndbjerg graveyard [Søndbjerg church record]
 her father: Laust Christian Pedersen b.1820
her mother: Ane Kristine Danielsen

his father: Christian Mikkelsen Møller b.13 Mar 1805 Ydby, Thisted, Denmark
his mother: Birgitte Marie Christensdatter b. 5 Dec 1805 Heller
ød, Thisted, Denmark

Children with Ane Pedersen
Anders Christian Pedersen/Kristensen
born to an unmarried woman while the father, Poul Møller Christensen is identified.
b. 20 Dec 1874 Nr. Nissum sogn, Skodborg hd., Ringøbing amt.,
private baptism: 28 Dec 1874 Nr. Nissum sogn, Ringkjøbing amt.
church baptism: 21 Feb 1875[LDS records]
immigrated 27 Feb 1892 to Groesbeck, TX [ddd.dda.dk]

d.13 Sep 1912 Cranfills Gap, Bosque Co., TX
m. Minni Rohne b 16 Sep 1882 Loten, Norway
(dau. of Evan Paulson Rohne)
Birgitte Marie Christensen b. 10 Feb 1876 Fabjerg sogn, Skodborg hd., Ringkjøbing Amt
[Fabjerg, 1842-1878, p.118,danishfamilysearch.com]
d.26 Dec 1951 Søndbjerg
buried: Heltborg
m. Jens Christian Olsen 9 Jul 1901 Søndbjerg
(b. 1 Mar 1876 Søndbjerg) parents: Kristen Olesen Hustru and Nikoline Pedersen.
Kristen "Kren" Møller Kristensen b. 25 Apr 1877 Søndbjerg, Refs hd., Thisted amt., Denmark d.26 July 1971 Lemvig m Karen Markussen 6 Oct 1876 Lemvig, (d. 17 May 1966 Lemvig, Denmark
Peder Legind Christensen b. 3 Jan 1879 Søndbjerg, Refs hd., Thisted, Denmark
private baptism 5 Jan 1879; church baptism 5 Mar 1879
d. 10 Aug 1881
buried: 17 Aug 1881 Sondbjerg church, Refs hd., Thisted amt. (2.5 years)*
m.
Anders Kristian Mogensen Kristensen b. 5 Feb 1881 Søndbjerg, Refs hd., Thisted, Denmark
church baptism:
d. 29 June 1881, (4.5 months)
buried: Søndbjerg church, 5 July 1881
Struer
*
m.
Peder Legind Kristensen b. 18 May 1882 Søndbjerg, Refs hd., Thisted, Denmark d. 25 Jun 1962 Grand Prairie, Dallas Co.,  TX 1m. Cora Rohne -12 Aug 1906 Texas
(dau. of Evan Paulson Rohne)
2m.Eva Johnson - 1922 Texas
Anders Kristian Mogensen Khristensen/Kristensen b. 21 Aug 1884 Søndbjerg, Refs hd., Thisted, Denmark private baptism: 19 Mar 1884
d. alive 1890 Søndbjerg m. Kirsten Marie Andersen 24 Nov 1908 Ydby.  (b. 28/5/1883 bapt. 29/7/1883 Ydby)
Søren Hedegaard Kristensen  [name changed to Søren Hedegaard] b. 19 Mar 1887 Søndbjerg, Refs hd., Thisted, Denmark
22 Mar 1939
d. 17 Jul  1967 Hvidbjerg, Denmark m. Karen Marie Pedersen 4 Nov 1911 Odby, DK
Jakob "Jake" Møller Kristensen b. 2 Feb 1891 Søndbjerg, Refs hd., Thisted, Denmark
(Søndbjerg parish rec.)
d. 4 July 1978 Brockton, Mass., USA [ US Death Records]
1m. Marie A. Whitman 26 Nov 1919
2m. Jennie Harriet Adamsen 16 Oct 1928 (two children died)
3m. Johanna Maria Sørensen  11 Jan 1959

* Sondbjerg Kirke records.

These people were hardworking farmers and millers living in a windswept area just off the North Sea. This wind provides today much electricity for the region through a series of high-tech wind generators near Nissum.

1848 - Feb 26- Poul Møller Christensen is born in Søndbjerg parish.  He is baptized on 27 Feb 1848 in a private ceremony - column 4. His father is listed a s Christen Mikkelsen Møller of Sondbjerg and mother is Birgitte Marie Christensdatter of Søndberg.  The first person as a witness seems to be Marie Elizabeth Poulsdatter of Søndberg the others are even more unreadable.
         [Dan Fam Search - Sondbjerg church 1843-74, p. 9] There are several versions of this date. 

Poul Moller Christensen birth 1848.
https://www.danishfamilysearch.com/sogn1774/churchbook/source23661/opslag4792723


1848 Nov 20  - baptized 26 Dec 1848.- Ane Johanne Pedersen is born in Fabjerg parish to Laurits Christian Pedersen and Anne Kirstine Danielsdatter of ?Svitholm.   The first witness is usually the godmother, Ane Pedersen of P Mølle and Anger Marie Pedersen of Skorgaard and Neils Pedersen Søegaard. .  [Dan Fam Search p.76]

Ane Johanne Pedersen birth 1848
https://www.danishfamilysearch.com/sogn1309/churchbook/source4946/opslag2013280


Sondbjerg aerial view.
Søndbjerg town, Denmark.  church in the right corner, bakery just to lower rt. of that.
photo courtesy of Kent Christoffersen 2005

Sondbjerb church
Søndbjerg Kirke, Denmark. 
photo courtesy of Kent Christoffersen 2005

Built about 1100 in the Romanesque Style it was a center of Catholic culture and records until the Reformation brought in Lutheran beliefs. Unlike many churches that went through the Reformation this church was able to maintain its frescoes, altarpiece and crucifix.  Most of the relatives who lived in the area had some association with the church in this very small town.  Some of the children were christened here and earlier relatives may have been married and buried here.  

The short growing season and climate still controls much of the activity and economy of the area, predictably creating a group of people that can put up with great adversity and are very persevering.

There is a good deal of variation on the spelling of the last name.  Census records use a "C" and church records use  the "K".  It may depend on the deposition of the vicar or census taker at that time. According to Lars Balleby, researcher who has checked the records above against the original documents, the private baptism known as "hjemmedøbt" was given when the child was ill or unable to find a vicker.   Church baptism would happen later known as "Fremstillet i kirken"

Søren becomes a baker in the area, following his family's tradition. My grandfather, Pete Christenson, had several skills when he comes to the United States. He is a brickmason, a baker, and a blacksmith. Jake Christenson, (far rt.) in the above picture immigrated to the states and becomes a policeman in Boston where he retires. Anders Christenson becomes a farmer in the region near my grandfather. The other Danish relatives seemed to stay close to farming in this very rugged area. They raise pigs, horses, cows and grains to feed them. Some relatives raised mink when it seemed fine for a good coat.

Neils Hedegaard, son of Søren, was responsible for the introduction of mink farming in the Jutland area. Søren Peter Hedegaard  operated the mink farm up to about 2006.

Kristen Møller Christensen (known as Kren Moeller) became a brick layer in Lemvig (a town apx. 30 km from Odby).[Brian Hedegaard 9/12/04]

Anders Kristian Mogensen Christensen, had an unknown occupation, he was living in Struer (a town apx. 25 km from Odby). [Brian Hedegaard 9/12/04]

1850 Census. Here Poul is shown in the house of his parents at age 2.

Thisted, Refs, Søndbjerg, Søndberg, , En Gaard, 6, FT-1850

Name: Age: Marital status: Occupation in household: Occupation: Birth place:
Christen Mikkelsen Møller 45 Gift
Gaardmand og Huusfader Ydby Sogn, Thisted Amt
Birgithe Marie Christensdatter 45 Gift
Hans Kone Her i Sognet
Mads Christensen 14 Ugift
Deres Barn Her i Sognet
Kirstine Christensen 12 Ugift
Deres Barn Her i Sognet
Mikkel Christian Christensen 10 Ugift
Deres Barn Her i Sognet
Peder Løgind Christensen 8 Ugift
Deres Barn Her i Sognet
Poul Møller Christensen 2 Ugift
Deres Barn Her i Sognet
Poul Nielsen 35 Ugift
Tjenestekarl Lyngs Sogn, Thisted Amt

1855 Census. This is the second census in which we find Poul Møller Christensen now at the age of 7.

Thisted, Refs, Søndbjerg, Søndberg, , En Gaard, 5, FT-1855

Name: Age: Marital status: Occupation in household: Occupation: Birth place:
Christen Mikkelsen Møller 50 Gift Gaardmand og Huusfader
Ydbye S, Thisted Amt
Birgithe Marie Christensdatter 50 Gift Hans Kone
Her i Sognet
Peder Stokholm Christensen 22 Ugift Deres Barn
Her i Sognet
Kirstine Christensen 18 Ugift Deres Barn
Her i Sognet
Peder Christensen 14 Ugift Deres Barn
Her i Sognet
Poul Møller Christensen 7 Ugift Deres Barn
Her i Sognet

1870 Census.  Poul is living with his elder brother's family along with his father and mother and is not married.  Lars Nielsen is a "widower". Gift means "married". 

Thisted, Refs, Søndbjerg, Søndbjerg, , Gaard("farm") 27, FT-1870

Name: Age: Marital status: Occupation in household: Occupation: Birth place:
Peder Stokholm Christensen 36 Gift Huusfader Agerbruger Søndbjerg, Thisted amt
Ane Nielsen 32 Gift Huusmoder
Hvidbjerg s., Thisted amt
Christen Mikkelsen Møller 64 Gift Fader Aftægtsfolk Ydby sogn, Thisted amt
Birgithe Marie Christensen 64 Gift Moder Aftægtsfolk Søndbjerg, Thisted amt
Poul Møller Christensen 21 Ugift Tyende
Søndbjerg, Thisted amt
Lars Nielsen 71 Enkemand Kostgænger Almisselem Søndbjerg, Thisted amt
Margrethe Christensen 17 Ugift - Syepige Hvidbjerg s., Thisted amt

1874, 20 December - The birth record for Anders, the first son, is interesting because if states that he was born to a woman (apparently meaning  a single woman) of Kalboer.  The "alleged father" being Poul Møller Christensen of Pine Moderen age 26.  Mother is age 26.  Poul Møller C. eventually seems to adopt Anders but we are still looking for the records.  He is named after his mother's family here. Anders Christian Pedersen.  Anders was very accepted with the witnesses being two of Ane's brothers, Daniel and Anders. 
[Nr. Nissum kb(church book). 1864-78, opslag 25, side 25.]

Anders christensen bapt. 1874
http://www.danishfamilysearch.com/sogn1319/churchbook/source17033/opslag3421603

1875, April 28. Poul Møller Christensen of Ungkarl, Humlum Sogn, 27 years marries single woman Ane Johanne Pedersen of N. Nissum Sogn, 26 years. [Dan Fam. Search , Nørre Nissum, p. 86]

Poul Moller and
          Ane Pedersen mar. 1875
http://www.danishfamilysearch.com/sogn1319/churchbook/source17033/opslag3421664

1880 Census.  Poul is listed as a baker.  The Peder Løgind listed here dies shortly after this census.  My grandfather was born in 1882 and given the same name.  Kjerstine Nielsen is probably a niece of Poul and Ane and a servant.  

Thisted, Refs, Søndbjerg, Søndbjerg By, , Et Huus, 4, FT-1880

Name: Age: Marital status: Occupation in household: Occupation: Birth place:
Poul Møller Christensen 31 Gift Huuseier og Bager
Her i Sognet
Ane Johanne Pedersen 31 Gift Hans Hustru
Fabjerg, Ringkjøbing Amt
Anders Christian Pedersen 5 Ugift Deres Barn
Nissum, Ringkjøbing Amt
Birgitte Marie Christensen 4 Ugift Deres Barn
Fabjerg, Ringkjøbing Amt
Christen Møller Christensen 2 Ugift Deres Barn
Her i Sognet
Peder Løgind Christensen 1 Ugift Deres Barn
Her i Sognet
Kjerstine Nielsen 14 Ugift Tjenestepige
Hvidbjerg, Thisted Amt

1881, June to August  - A deadly illness goes through the community.   Within a month two of the children die.  We don't know what the cause of the deaths may have been but there was an outbreak of cholera in German and France in this year.  Anders Christian Mogensen(1) dies Jun 29th at 4.5 months old and Peder Legind (1) dies August 10th at 2.5. years.
                        [www.danishfamilysearch.com/sogn1774/churchbook/source23662/opslag4792981]

mogensen and peder christensen burial
        1881
[www.danishfamilysearch.com/sogn1774/churchbook/source23662/opslag4792981]


1882, May 18 - Peder Legind Kristensen is baptized, son of Baker Poul Møller Kristensen and his wife Ane Johanne Pedersen age 33- Søndbjerg.
[Danish Fam. Search p. 15]

Peder Legind Christensen bapt 1882
http://www.danishfamilysearch.com/sogn1774/churchbook/source23663/opslag4793013

1890 Census.

Thisted, Refs, Søndbjerg, Søndbjerg, , , 35, FT-1890

Name: Age: Marital status: Occupation in household: Occupation: Birth place:
Poul Møller Christensen 41 Gift Husfader Bager Søndbjerg
Anne Johanne Pedersen 41 Gift Husmoder
Fabjerg
Anders Christian Christensen 15 Ugift Barn
Nesum
Birgitte Marie Christensen 13 Ugift Barn
Fabjerg
Kresten Møller Christensen 12 Ugift Barn
Søndbjerg
Peder Legind Christensen 7 Ugift Barn
Søndbjerg
Anders Christian Mogensen Christensen 5 Ugift Barn
Søndbjerg
Søren Hougaard Christensen 2 Ugift Barn
Søndbjerg

1892, Feb 27 - Anders C. Christensen is registered with the police to emigrate to Groesbeck, Texas on the ship "Indirekte" which really means by an indirect route.   He is contract #73500 at age 17,  last res. parish was Søndbjerb (Tyholm), last residence Søndbjerg, Thisted,  occupation listed as Tyende ( farm hard ). [Dansk Demografisk Database]

1901, 18 Feb - Peder Legind Christensen is registered with the police to emigrate to Clifton (unlisted is the state of Texas) on the ship "Indirekte".  He is contract #39900 at age 18, last res. parish is blank, birth place is blank, last residence is Sandbjerg (sic).  His occupation is "Bager" or baker.  Destination country and state are both blank.  [Dansk Demografisk Database]
Other US ship records indicate that he came over on the "SS Numidian" of the Allan Line  from Esberg, Denmark stopping in Liverpool on it way to Portland, Maine.  He arrived on March 18, 1901.

1901, July 9 - Birgitte Marie Kristensen (age 25) marries Jens Christian Olesen (age 25) in Sondbjerg. his parents:
Kristen Olesen Hustru and Nikoline Pedersen. of Søndbjerg.
                            [Thisted, Refs, Søndbjerg Parish, Church book 1892-1913, page 127, -  danishfamilysearch.com]

1901 Danish Census,  Thisted, Refs, household #48, Søndbjerg, living children 7, dead children 2, last place of residence Fabjerg, occupation "Baker". 
Name:  Age:  Married?:  Pos. in household:  Occupation:  BirTD place:
Poul Møller Kristensen   18480226   G   Husfader   Bager   Søndbjerg  
Ane Johanne Pedersen   18481120   G   Husmoder      Fabjerg  
Peder Sogind Kristensen   18820518   U   Barn      Søndbjerg  
Søren Hedegaard Kristensen   18860319   U   Barn      Søndbjerg  
Jakob Møller Kristensen   18910213   U   Barn      Søndbjerg  
 

1906 Dnaish Census, Thisted, Refs, Sondbjerg ,  [danishfamilysearch.org, Census 1906

Name:  Age: birth Married?:  Pos. in household:  Occupation:  BirTD place:
Poul Møller Kristensen   57 / 1848
G   Husfader   Baker
Søndbjerg  
Ane Johanne Pedersen   57 / 1848
G   Husmoder    
Fabjerg  
Søren Hedegaard Kristensen   18 / 1887
U   Barn    Bakers helper
Søndbjerg  
Jakob Møller Kristensen   13 / 1892 
U   Barn      Søndbjerg  

1908 - Jacob Christensen is supposed to have immigrated to the USA.  I have not been able to find the record to proved this except for the 1910 US census record.  In this record he is living with his brother P. L. Christenson in Hamilton Co., Texas.   page 187. 

1920, June 17 - Pete Christenson visits his parents in Denmark according to his passport application in June.  This photo does not identify the individuals except for Pete (third from the left). The first person on the left we assume to be Paul Møller Christenson next to his wife Ane Johanne Pedersdatter.  They should both be 70 year old here.  Pete would be 38. 

Christensen family Denmark 1920
Poul Møller Christensen, Ane Johanne Pedersdatter, Pete Christenson, and several other unknown relatives. 1920 Denmark.
The two women in the middle could be sisters of Pete or wives of the other brothers.  It is unknown whether Pete traveled to Denmark alone or with one of his brothers.  Both Poul Møller and Ane died in 1934 within days of one another.  The photo is identified on the reverse side to have been taken in "1919" "when Dad took his last trip to Denmark to see his family" probably writen by Clarice Christenson Witte, Pete's daughter. 
actual size of the photo 4.25 x 3,25, photo from the collection of Elroy Christenson. 2015

1921 Danish Census, Søndbjerg, Refs, Thisted, page 10, family #31

                 Paul Møller Kristensen                26/02/1848       no occupation listed. 
                 Anne Johanna Kristensen             20/11/1848    

The photo below may include three of the brothers in the photo above.
Christensen brothers
Beginning on the far left, are the brothers Kristen M
øller Christensen (known as Kren Møller) the brick mason, Anders Kristian Mogensen Christensen, Søren Hedegaard Kristensen (the baker), and Jacob Christenson, who emigrated to Boston and became a policeman. photo taken about 1955 in Denmark.
photo size 4.25 x 3", collection of Elroy Christenson.

1934 - Oct 28 and Nov 1st - Grave stone of Poul Møller Christenson and Ane Johanne Petersen Christensen.  Birth and death dates are given for both on the stone in the Sondbjerg Kirke cemetery.   It shows that they died within days of one another.   I have wonder if there was an epidemic that hit the area. 
Note that the dates of birth are wrong based on the church records of 1848 above.

Poul Moller Christensen tombstone
tombstone in the Sondbjerg Kirke cemetery.
The stone shown here has since been removed and broken up as is traditional after fifty years.
courtesy of Søndbjerg kirke



Source:
          Balleby, Lars. researcher in Denmark.  email - balleby@post7.tele.dk
          Census records - Dansk Demografisk Database, http://ddd.dda.dk/
          Christenson, Elroy - photos
          Christoffersen,  Cora Hedegaard. Udby, Denmark
          Christoffersen, Kent.  photo of Søndbjerg Kirke 2005
          Danish Family Search, Nørre Nissum and Søndbjerg church, -  http://www.danishfamilysearch.com/
          Hedegaard,
Brian. Noeddevang 7, 3550 Slangerup, Denmark - email 9/16/04 - bhe@get2net.dk
          Hedegaad, Søren Peter. records 2021.
sphedegaard@gmail.com          
          LDS records.  www.familysearch.org -
                      christening records of Thisted county 1705 - 1814 -  batch number - C204641
                      christening records of Thisted county 1814 - 1845 -  batch number - C204642
                      christening records of Thisted county 1844 - 1874 -  batch number - C204643
          Søndbjerg Church records, (in Danish) http://www.skodborgherred.dk/sondbjerg/ 
Pedersen Index | Elroy's Family Index || Ancestor Chart #1
EC'S HOMEFamily HISTORYALBUMART INDEXMY TRAVEL buttonemail - elroy@next1000.com

All information and photos included within these pages was developed by the help of hundreds of researchers. The information here is for the express purpose of personal genealogical research and is freely offered as long as this site is listed as a source. It may not be included or used for any commercial purpose or included in any commercial site without the express permission of Elroy Christenson. Copyright Elroy Christenson 1998-2022.

web pages created by Elroy Christenson- elroy@next1000.com - last updated 1/27/2022