Poul Møller Christensen Family
Denmark

   
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 Møller 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 Søndbjerg,  Refs 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 Søndbjerg, 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

* 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. 

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]

https://www.danishfamilysearch.com/sogn1309/churchbook/source4946/opslag2013280

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

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

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

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

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.]

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]

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

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]

[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]

http://www.danishfamilysearch.com/sogn1774/churchbook/source23663/opslag4793013

1890 Census.

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

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]

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.

Beginning on the far left, are the brothers Kristen Møller 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.

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

Pedersen Index | Elroy's Family Index || Ancestor Chart #1

---

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