Hans Christian Nielsen 1834

Hans Christian Nielsen 1834

My Dad's Dad

As written by Birthe Marie Lindhardt

My Bedstefar was from an adoptive family. He was born Dec 1 1834 in Stoense, Langeland. His mother was an unmarried maidservant in Tranekær castle named Hilleborre Rasmusdatter. Hans Christian, together with his 2 older sisters were raised up with their Bedstefar Rasmus Godfredsen who was a blacksmith widow to 6 children. Rasmus died when Hans Christian was 12 years old. He went to a gardening school in Stengard and loved flowers and to see things grow…later when he had his own home, he had a beautiful pond that he was very proud of. He became a soldier and was in the war in 1864. He joined Service 2 in Jylland (southern Jylland) but was only in the reserves and never went on the front lines. He did receive however, a remembrance medal and every year gathered together with his soldier companions. He married when he was 34 years old on November 21 1868 to Anine Regine Hansen. He received 2 pieces of land from Tranekaer castle and with the families help, built a little country house that still exists today. To pay for the land, he was to pay 10% of all his profits to the Count. The children began to come and Anine had 3 boys and 3 girls. My dad used to tell me in detail about his childhood memorie, On how they butchered and baked bread. So we learned a lot in detail on how they live their daily lives. In 1918 Hans and Anine celebrated their golden anniversary with all of their children to celebrate with them. Bedstefar died April 27, 1923 at the age of 89 and Bedstemor died November 26, 1931 at the age of 81.