Hans Rasmussen and Maren Madsen – Christian Thomsen’s Grandparents
Hans Rasmussen was born March 7, 1822, in Bredal, Vejle,
Denmark. Hans and Maren were married on November 5, 1852, in
Odsted, Vejle. They had four children. Hans died on October
19, 1872; a month before their fourth and last child was
born, making Maren a widow at the age of forty-one.
Maren Madsen was born on August 6, 1831, in Amnitsbo
(correctly spelled as Ammesbol), Odsted, Vejle, Denmark. Her
father, Mads Jensen, died before she was born. She was
raised by Karen Jensdatter, her mother, and Anders Laursen,
her stepfather, who managed a farm and was an inn keeper.
Maren in 1911 lived at “Alderdomshjemmet” in Aarhus,
Denmark, a rest home. She was living here in 1910 when Bodil
Hansen, her daughter, emigrated to the United States. Her
death date has not been found.
Sources:
1. Ellis Island Record
2. Family group sheet by Christian Peter Thomsen
3. Danish Census
Written by Richard W. Thomsen
Maren Madsen in about 1905, with her grandson, Hans Otto who was born in 1902.
From 1911, showing the Institution called De Gamles Hjem (the old’s home) where Maren lived.
Bredal, Odsted and Ammesbol are located outside Vejle
The Breinholts came from Vinding, Marilyn Thomsen’s Danish roots.
Odsted Parish Church
Four of Hans and Maren’s children were christened here.