This is thought to be a portrait of Frederik Hansen and wife Maren Sophie Hansen

This is thought to be a portrait of Frederik Hansen and wife Maren Sophie Hansen

Frederik Hansen was born on November 25, 1826 in the village of Qvellinghoi in Stenlille Parish, Merløse District, Holbæk County, Denmark.  Stenlille Parish is located on the island of Zealand, roughly fifty miles from the capital city of Copenhagen.  Frederik was the third child, and first son, of woodworker Hans Frederiksen and his wife, Inger Andersdatter.  Frederik was baptised in Stenlille Kirke on November 29.

At some point during his childhood, Frederik’s family moved to the village of Assentorp in Stenmagle Parish, Alsted District, Sorø County.  The county of Sorø borders on Holbæk.  Assentorp was also the hometown of Frederik’s father, Hans.  On

In 1841, Frederik was confirmed in Sorø Kirke.  Unlike many young people in Denmark at that time, Frederik did not leave home to find work after his confirmation.  Instead, he remained at home with his family.  This is where we find him in 1845, still living at home in Stenmagle.  We know that Frederik, like his father, would become a woodworker, and it is possible that he stayed at home while learning the trade from his father.

In 1849, Frederik moved to the parish of  Ondløse (Undløse).  It was here that he met Undløse resident Maren Sophie Hansen.  They were engaged on January 14, 1852 and were married on February 14 in Sorø Kirke.  Shortly after their wedding, the couple moved to Stenlille Parish and the town of Skurrup.   The family would move frequently, usually among the counties of Holbæk and Sorø.  This was likely caused by Frederik’s need to move around for work.

Frederik and Maren Sophie would have seven children:

  • Ane Sophie Frederiksen – born May 9, 1853, died July 28, 1859
  • Hans Christian Frederiksen – born March 13, 1854
  • Ingeborg Frederiksen – born February 6, 1856
  • Karen Kirstine Frederiksen – born September 14, 1857
  • Lars Peter Frederiksen – born October 7, 1859
  • Unnamed daughter – stillborn on November 24, 1860
  • Herman Frederiksen (Frederick) – born November 6, 1870
  • Ane Sophie Frederiksen – born May 29, 1872

The family would continue to move around throughout the 1850’s through the beginning of the 1870’s (the period of 1861 to 1870 is still somewhat of a mystery – their location during that period still has not been found in records).  Perhaps hoping for a better life for his family, Frederik decided that he and his family would leave Denmark and emigrate to America.  Apparently out of necessity, that would not happen all at once.  Frederik was the first to leave.  He sailed from Copenhagen, bound for New York City, on March 17, 1873 aboard the ship Franklin.

It isn’t known where Frederik lived during his first few years in America, but he eventually settled in Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey.  Here, he found work as a terra cotta presser in the town’s thriving clay and terra cotta industry.  Over the next several years, he likely saved money to allow his family to leave Denmark and live with him in America.  After more than six years, his wife and two youngest children, Herman and Ane Sophie, were finally able to join him in New Jersey.  Two of his oldest children, Ingeborg and Lars Peter, eventually joined their family in New Jersey as well.

Frederik and Maren Sophie, along with children Herman (age 9) and Anna S. (age 7).  Also listed with them is their “son” named “Engborg,” who works in the clay mine!  It appears that Lars Peter and Ingeborg may have been inadvertently grouped together as one individual by the census taker.  The emigration records for April 3, 1880 show that Ingeborg left Copenhagen on that date aboard the Thingvalla, bound for New York.  Another record shows that her brother, Lars Peter, accompanied her on the voyage to America (although it appears that Lars Peter went back to Denmark for a period of several years before returning to America in 1886).

No other records have yet been found for Frederik until December 14, 1893.  On that date, he is listed as a witness at the baptism of his granddaughter, Margaret Sophie Kirstine Frederick, at St. Stephen’s Danish Lutheran Church in Perth Amboy.  Margaret was the first child of Frederik and Maren Sophie’s son Herman, who had shortened his surname to Frederick.

What became of Frederik after this is not known.  No additional records have been found for him, including any record of his death.  Neither he nor his wife Maren Sophie are found in the census records for New Jersey in 1900.