Birth Mystery

[Art Berggreen]

In researching Ann Birthe Hansen the second wife of my great-uncle Gunnar Hjorth, I have not been able to determine her exact birth date and parish.

In her death/funeral record (maybe least reliable):
https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=17126020#168398,28277918
It lists her birth date as 13 Sep 1878 in Harridslev, Randers.

In the 1925 census:
https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?bsid=91081#91081,15186496
It lists her birth date as 13 Sep 1884 in Hals, Aalborg.

In the 1930 census:
https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?bsid=101616#101616,16133281
It lists her birth date as 13 Sep 1884 in Ulstrup, Aalborg.

In the 1940 census:
https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?bsid=226746#226746,42769838
It lists her birth date as 13 Sep 1889 in Ulstrup, Aalborg.

I have been unable to find a birth/baptism record in any of those parishes through the possible date ranges.
Also the 1930 census lists their marriage year as 1922, but I haven't found that event either.

Any ideas what to try next?

Art

[Inger Toudal]

Anna/Ane Berthine Hansen, married 16 Oct. 1923 in Sæby:
https://www.danishfamilysearch.com/churchbook/sogn384/churchlisting322684/opslag20293696

- born 13 Sep. 1877 in Østrup, Suldrup parish

https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=21584194#357538,70463880 - No 9

1880 Census, (Skarp) Salling parish: https://www.danishfamilysearch.com/cid10167630

1890 Census, Hals parish: https://www.danishfamilysearch.com/cid12744361

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Inger Toudal

[Gitte Johansen]

Maybe

nr. 9

https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?bsid=0357538#357538,70463880

[Art Berggreen]

Inger and Gitte, many thanks for your help.  The death and later census records were very misleading!
Any reason why their marriage does not seem to be in the main Kontraministerialbog for 1923?

Art

[Inger Toudal]

It's a civil marriage: https://www.danishfamilysearch.com/sogn384/churchbook/source322684/opslag20293684

https://www.danishfamilysearch.com/sogn384/churchbook/source322684/opslag20293688

One of the witnesses is Vermund Hansen. Could be her brother (see 1890 Census).

Civil marriages: https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/en/geo/geo-collection/12

The marriage took place in Sæby, but they were both living in Hasseris, where the marriage is also recorded:
https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/en/billedviser?epid=21711110#413420,76026542 - No 11

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Inger

[Inger Toudal]

As I read it, both Gunnar Hjorth and Ane Berthine Hansen were single at the time of their marriage 1923. 

His 2nd marriage 29 Jul. 1936 in Aalborg:
https://www.danishfamilysearch.com/churchbook/sogn2874/churchlisting323001/opslag20310673

- https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/en/billedviser?epid=19193117#251324,47360979 - No 74

He died 6 Sep. 1969 in Dronninglund:
https://www.danishfamilysearch.com/churchbook/sogn376/churchlisting4104/opslag1835042 - No 50

In the 1940 Census, both Gunnar and Ann Birthe are divorced (F).

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Inger

[Art Berggreen]

Gunnar spent some time in the States where he married Karen Sofie Andersen on 13 Oct 1906 in Schenectady, New York.  Their first son, also name Gunnar, was born 29 Sep 1908 in Schenectady, New York.  Sometime between 1908 and 1911 they must have moved back to Denmark where their second son was born 01 Oct 1911 and baptised in Helligånd parish, Copenhagen.  I don't have the birth location for Karen Sofie Andersen (born 28 Feb 1886) but apparently she eventually moved back to the USA and died in Wisconsin.  I don't have the year range, but Gunnar spent time piloting a river boat in Africa.  During this time he collected many artifacts which were displayed when he acquired and operated the Voersaa Kro.  A couple of ivory items were sent to his eldest sister Esther (my grandmother) which are still in our family.  I am still trying to develop a better picture of his life.

Art

[Inger Toudal]

Gunnar Hjorth in Copenhagen 1903-1904: https://kbharkiv.dk/permalink/post/17-566097

- and 1904-1911: https://kbharkiv.dk/permalink/post/17-386305

The son was born in Copenhagen, but baptized in Aalborg Budolfi:
https://www.danishfamilysearch.dk/churchbook/sogn605/churchlisting9230/opslag2965411 - No 106

https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=17128412#173028,29058563 - top

- he married 1939 in Aalborg Budolfi:
https://www.danishfamilysearch.dk/churchbook/sogn36/churchlisting1810/opslag1337830 - nr. 59

Aalborg, Hornum, Budolfi Landsogn, Thuren, 6 e, 8, FT-1916, C0850
Navn:     Alder:     Status:     Stilling i familien:     Erhverv:     
Karen Sofie Hjorth     29/2 - 1886     Gift      Husmoder             
Gunnar Hjorth     29/11 - 1908     Ugift      Barn             
Poul Hjalmar Hjorth     1/10 - 1912     Ugift      Barn

Aalborg, Hornum, Budolfi Landsogn, Vesteralle, , 209 F3, FT-1921, C8537
Navn:     Alder:     Status:     Stilling i familien:     Erhverv:     Fødested:
Karen Hjort     28/2 1886     Gift      Husmoder      Lærerinde      Aalborg
Poul Hjort     1/10 1911     Ugift      Søn            Aalborg 
Gunner Hjort     23/9 1907     Ugift      Søn            Aalborg 
Ludvig Eriksen     15/12 1878     Ugift      Logerende      Fabriksmester      Aalborg

1921 Census: https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?bsid=78614#78614,13503864

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Inger

[Inger Toudal]

G. Hjorth, confirmation 1921, Budolfi Landsogn:
https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=17128416#508699,27466804 - No 26

P. H. Hjorth, confirmation 1926, Budolfi Landsogn:
https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=17128416#508699,27466819 - No 5

1925 Census, Budolfi Landsogn:
https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?bsid=101604#101604,16132159

Navn:    Andersen, Karen Sofie   Stilling:    Jomfru
Alder:    20   Bestemmelsessted:    Schenectady
Kontrakt nr.:    428700   Forevisningsdato:    9/6/1906
Fødested:    Haslev   Fødesogn:    Haslev
Sidste oph.sogn:    København   Sidste oph. amt:    København
Sidste oph.sted:    Kbhvn.   Bestemmelses land:    USA
Bestemmelses by:    Schenectady   Bestemmelses stat:    New York State
Skibsnavn:    Hellig Olav
Bemærkninger:    ANM: Hellig Olav.   IDkode:    D0507A2304

- source: https://www.udvandrerarkivet.dk/udvandrerprotokollerne/

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Inger

[Inger Toudal]

Karen Sofie/Sophie Andersen in Copenhagen 1900-1902: https://kbharkiv.dk/permalink/post/17-501229

1901 Census: https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?bsid=24829#24829,2838927

Perhaps KSA in 1903: https://kbharkiv.dk/permalink/post/17-752467

- same address where G. Hjorth and wife were living at the time son P. H. Hjorth was born. Yes, it's her:

1906 Census, Dybbølsgade 55: https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?bsid=14996#14996,536264

1911 Census, Dybbølsgade 55: https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?bsid=67798#67798,12727266

Navn:    Hjorth, Gunnar   Stilling:    Maskinarbejder
Alder:    21   Bestemmelsessted:    N.Y.
Kontrakt nr.:    35500   Forevisningsdato:    2/15/1906
Fødested:    Hvorup   Fødesogn:    Hvorup
Sidste oph.sogn:    Hvorup   Sidste oph. amt:    Aalborg
Sidste oph.sted:    Hvorup   Bestemmelses land:    USA
Bestemmelses by:    New York City   Bestemmelses stat:    New York State
Skibsnavn:    United States
Bemærkninger:    ANM: United States.   IDkode:    D0507H0707

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Inger

[Art Berggreen]

In the 1906 census Karen Sofie Andersen's birth place is listed as Terslev.  Most references agree on a birth date of 28 Feb 1886.  In the Terslev church records there is the birth of a Karen Sofie on 28 Feb 1886 to an unmarried mother with the last name of Andersen.  On 6 Sep 1906 a Karen Sofie Andersen from Haslev registers for emigration to Schenectady, New York.  Terslev appears to be near Haslev.  On 15 Feb 1906 Gunnar Hjorth registers for emigration to New York.  On 13 Oct 1906 Gunnar Hjorth and Karen Sofie Andersen marry in Schenectady.  I wonder if this is the same Karen Sofie and if they knew each other in Denmark?  Could Karen have followed Gunnar to the USA?

Art

[Inger Toudal]

Yes, she followed Gunnar Hjorth to the USA.

Gunnar Hjorth arriving in New York 7 Mar. 1906:
https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/show-manifest-big-image/czoxNzoidDcxNS0wNjcyMDcwOS5qcGciOw==/1 - line 20

Karen S. Andersen [transcribed as Karen L. Anderson] arriving in New York 18 Sep. 1906:
https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/show-manifest-big-image/czoxNzoidDcxNS0wNzY3MDc2My5qcGciOw==/1 - line 30

Karen Sophie, born 28 Feb. 1886 at Kværrede Overdrev, Terslev parish:
https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=21883033#423166,78041704 - No 3

The main book: https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=17119112#206138,39128143 - No 3

- biological parents: (Johanne) Lisbeth Andersen, 22 years old, and joiner [snedker] Niels Algren/Algreen.

- Karen Sophie was adopted by worker Hans Andersen and wife Kirstine Thomsen in Kbh. [Copenhagen] 1 Dec. 1890.

Hans Andersen: https://kbharkiv.dk/permalink/post/17-1503345

- he died 16 Jan. 1894: https://kbharkiv.dk/permalink/post/1-206392

(Inger) Christine Andersen: https://kbharkiv.dk/permalink/post/17-750290

1895 Census: https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?bsid=254701#254701,47696075

1901 Census: https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?bsid=24829#24829,2838927

- widow Kirstine Andersen is housekeeper, and Karen Andersen is adopted child.

Politiets registerblad for Karen Sofie: https://kbharkiv.dk/permalink/post/17-501229

- born at Kværede Overdrev

1911 Census: https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?bsid=67798#67798,12727266

- Karen Hjort and son Gunnar are visitors [besøgende] in Kirstine Andersen's home (N 'temporarily present')

The above mentioned must be the same Karen Sophie Andersen who married Gunnar Hjorth.

Seems that she is still in Denmark in 1930:

Karen Sophie Hjorth
1930 Denmark Census
    Birth Day Month 1886
    Residence Day Month 1930 - Place

- source: MyHeritage, which I don't have access to.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Gunnar Hjorth is mentioned in an article about maskinmester L. Bjerring from Aalborg, who spent 5 years in Congo 1915-1920:
https://www2.statsbiblioteket.dk/mediestream/avis/record/doms_aviser_page%3Auuid%3Aba749bda-42b0-465b-812c-ac874d9dc6b5/query/%22gunnar%20hjorth%22

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Inger

[Art Berggreen]

Wow Inger, you've uncovered much more detail than I expected! Mange tak!

By the way, all of the links to kbharkiv.dk I haven't been able to use.  It is all in Danish, but I think I need an account there.  Some of the records I might be able to find using MyHeritage.com.

Thank you for the link to the article that mentions Gunnar Hjorth in the Congo.  I was able to download a pdf copy, but between the machine transcription and the limits of Google Translate the result is not too readable.

I hope it has been cooler where you are.  The last few days in Solvang, California have been up to 42-43C.

Art

[Inger Toudal]

It should not be necessary to log in at kbharkiv.dk: https://kbharkiv.dk/om-os/om-hjemmesiden-kbharkiv-dk/browserunderstoettelse/

- I do not have an acoount there.

Here are the links using copy and paste in stead of permalink. I don't know if that's any better:

https://kbharkiv.dk/brug-samlingerne/soeg-i-indtastede-kilder/post/17-566097

https://kbharkiv.dk/brug-samlingerne/soeg-i-indtastede-kilder/post/17-386305

https://kbharkiv.dk/brug-samlingerne/soeg-i-indtastede-kilder/post/17-501229

https://kbharkiv.dk/brug-samlingerne/soeg-i-indtastede-kilder/post/17-752467

https://kbharkiv.dk/brug-samlingerne/soeg-i-indtastede-kilder/post/17-1503345

https://kbharkiv.dk/brug-samlingerne/soeg-i-indtastede-kilder/post/1-206392

https://kbharkiv.dk/brug-samlingerne/soeg-i-indtastede-kilder/post/17-750290

The article doesn't tell much about Gunnar Hjorth:

L. Bjerring travelled via London, Paris, and Toulon to Belgian Congo, and from there to Brazzaville in French Congo in 1915.

"Der er ikke mange danske; i de fem Aar, jeg opholdt mig her, traf jeg kun tre, hvoriblandt en ung Mand, Gunnar Hjorth fra Vendsyssel,
en Fætter til Brofogden i Aalborg."

Gunnar Hjorth at one point saved L. Bjerring's life. Bjerring had a darkroom aboard the steamer where he was working, and one
Sunday afternoon when he was in the room, the door was slammed and locked from the outside. He had an appointment with Hjorth,
who was supposed to come to the steamer that same afternoon. When Hjorth arrived he couldn't understand that Bjerring wasn't
around. Strangely enough he tried to open the door to the darkroom, and eventually managed to get it open and pull Bjerring out of
the room, where there was no supply of fresh air, in the nick of time. 

Venlig hilsen
Inger

[Art Berggreen]

It should not be necessary to log in at kbharkiv.dk: https://kbharkiv.dk/om-os/om-hjemmesiden-kbharkiv-dk/browserunderstoettelse/

- I do not have an acoount there.

Sorry, it was an browser security issue on my end.  I am now able to see those images.

Art

[Inger Toudal]

Is this his sister Esther Hjorth, arriving in New York 27 Nov. 1906:
https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/show-manifest-big-image/czoxNzoidDcxNS0wODAyMDM2MS5qcGciOw==/1 - line 4

Brother Poul arriving 24 Mar. 1909 to visit Gunnar:
https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/show-manifest-big-image/czoxNzoidDcxNS0xMjI0MDA2NC5qcGciOw==/1 - line 7

https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/show-manifest-big-image/czoxNzoidDcxNS0xMjI0MDA2NS5qcGciOw==/1 - line 7

Venlig hilsen
Inger

[Art Berggreen]

Yes these are my grandmother and great uncle.  I knew them both from my childhood.  Esther lived her last years in a small house on our property.  Poul/Paul would often visit the family.  When Esther came to the USA, she took a job keeping house for Andreas Peter Berggreen, a recent widower with 4 children in a Danish community in Wisconsin.  They were soon married and my father and his full sister were born.

Art