Father of Kirsten Christensdatter, born in Skyum, hassing, Thisted, Denmark?

Question

I'm trying to find/confirm the identity of my 4th great-grandmother's father. She is Kirsten Christensdatter, born about 1741 in Skyum. I have found a possible candidate, but have not found her birth record. His name is Christen Michelsen, but in various records, his last name is listed as Michelsen, Hammar, and Hummelsøe. He is listed on her marriage record as a sponsor along with her husband's (Thomas Christensen) step-father, which led me to believe he may be her father. Here is a link to the marriage record:

https://www.danishfamilysearch.com/ao/source21627/opslag4391773

Any help appreciated confirming his identity, and why so many surnames?

Comments

Will need her exact date birth,in this period of time,names were very long.

Just first and last name was not used until abt 1875.When they immigrated

then they would have name adjusted.Or Anglicized.

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There are several names because the original one would be the patronymic then to distinguish him from others with the same name a locational name may have been added. This could change if he moved to a different farm or village.

Answer 1

Richard, have you found any records of Kirstine and Thomas' children?  I've found that if I move forward and look at other names that show up in the children's baptismal records, sometimes I pick up clues that help me to figure out who some of the relatives were or where they came from.

What leads you to believe she was born in Skyum Sogn?  Many young people left home to work in nearby sogne several years before marrying. Have you checked surrounding sogne for her birth record?  Are there possible clues in the other data you have on relatives with the Hammar, and Hummelsøe names that would give you clues on other places to look for her birth record.

Comments

She was married in Skyum so I figure she was probably born there. I've checked other sogne's and didn't find a birth record for her. She had her children in Træholm, Harring, Hassing, Thisted and godfather for her firstborn, Maren Thomasdatter, was Christen Hummelsøe, the same name as the sponsor at her wedding. Christen Hummelsoe's wife was Maren Christensdatter, and there is a Maren Christensdatter as a witness to Maren Thomasdatter's birth. This may also be Kirsten's sister, as Christen Hummelsoe and Maren Christensdatter had three other daughters: Anne, Maren and Zidsel, all born in Skyum. I did find all three of those birth records. Thomas and Kirsten also named three of their daughters Anne, Maren and Zidsel. Maybe just a coincidence?

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Richard,

I've had similar issues with some of my Danish ancestors about that time. I've found you really can't assume they were born where you think they were. You might want to put some of this in Kirsten's Wikitree profile, as I went looking to see what other primary sources you might've had.

How confident are you in her birth year? Is there much variation? I tend to go straight to Rigsarkivet records. Here's the link to Skyum: https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/en/billedviser?epid=17124260#165024,27719671 You could try carefully scouring the birth records in the years surrounding 1741.

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She died 13 September 1814 in Træholm and it lists her age as 74. I've gone through the Skyum birth records from 1737 to 1745 and didn't find her. Also looked in Hassing and Stagstrup with no luck.

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Have you found her in the 1787 and 1801 censuses?  What do they give as her age?

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Age 47 in 1787 and age 61 in 1801. So 1740 seems like a reasonable birth date.

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UPDATE: I more closely examined the birth records of Kirsten's children, and I found a witness, Maren, from Skyum in one record. I believe this is Maren Christensdatter who is a confirmed daughter of Christen Michelsen and most likely Kirsten's sister. I also found another witness: Mads Knackergaard of Skyum, who is the husband of Anne Christensdatter another confirmed daughter of Christen Michelsen, and most likely Kirsten's other sister. I don't know why there is no birth record for Kirsten in Skyum in 1740 - perhaps it got omitted from the records? I suppose that can happen.