Peder Jensen and Margrethe Rasmusdatter – Lars Thomsen’s Great-grandparents
Peder Jensen was born on November 30, 1766, in Adslev
where he was baptized. The parish priest recorded him as a
healthy baby. Peder was the only child born to Jens Pedersen
and Karen Thogersdatter. He received a good education and
had excellent handwriting. The Mjessing Parish record (also
spelled as Mesing) reported Peter being engaged to Margrethe
on January 19, 1787. They were married on March 30, 1787, at
the Adslev parish church. Peter took over the family farm
when he was twenty-two years old; the farm was the largest
farm in Adslev. He was of average height, strict, precise
and a confident hunter. He was known for being smart and was
esteemed in the community.
Margrethe Rasmusdatter was born on Dec 16, 1768, in Mesing.
She was described as a most religious of women and as a good
wife. She had many beautiful characteristics including
endurance, caring for the poor, and understanding other’s
needs. Her table prayer was “Around this table, we are
dedicated to Thy truth; let us live by this truth.” Upon her
death on May 5, 1856, an article in the Aarhus newspaper
said that she left a remarkable and fruitful family. Perhaps
what led to the organization of a family society, which now
has over 8,000 descendants, is her great love for her
children. The Adslev-Slaegten book shows her numerous
descendants.
The family home located in Adslev burned down in 1908. On
this home site, a park was added that includes a monument to
this family. In Denmark, the home and barn were normally
attached; the thought was that cattle helped keep the home
warm. The drawing of Peder Jensen’s and Margrethe
Rasmusdatter’s home and barn is attached; in their case, the
home and barn are separated. The home construction was of
wood beams filled in with rock and plaster (a beam-work
house). The roof was thatched with many layers of straw.
Source:
Alslev-Slaegten Book, 1981
Translated by Richard W. Thomsen
Peder’s Home in Adslev
Peter Jensen’s signature in 1783 at the age of 16
Mesing in relation to Adslev, see section 4 for a larger map, Margrethe was born in Mesing.
Peder Jensen’s Barn in Adslev
Adslev Parish Church in 1910 before the tower was added.
Layout of Barns and Home
Top: barn, wagon port, turnip-beet storage
Left side, top to bottom: pig house, hen house, sheep house, branding and blacksmith, milking room
Bottom, left to right: two small bedrooms, sitting room, sleeping room, parlor, servants’ room, kitchen, girl’s bedroom, workers bedrooms and living area.
Right side, top to bottom: cow stalls, storage rooms, horse stalls
Stone monument for Peder Jensen (1766 to 1850) and Margrethe Rasmusdatters (1768 to 1856) in the park in Adslev
Silver cup owned by Peder Jensen and inscribed with his name in 1797
Accounting Book in Peder’s handwriting
Park in Adslev and Monument to Peder and Margrethe
Baptisimal Font at the Adslev Church
Danielle Thomsen in 1997
Interior of the Adslev Church
Marilyn in the Sacramental Wine
Adslev Church in 1997 with tower that was added after 1910