Lars Christian Caspersen

Notes:

Information on Lars comes from Cai Mygind's book, 'Some
Families From the two Counties Hanherred and Hillerslev Herred
in Northern Jutland,' pages 52 and 53. He was born a twin (his
brother was Christian Peter Caspersen) on the tenant farm of
Kjerup parsonage. The brothers were separated at an early age,
and Lars was brought up to about age 12 by his grandmother,
Mariane Prµtzman, at Diernesgaard. The 1840 census for
Djernisgaard shows Lars, age 2, listed as Mariane's foster son
(Plejes²n). The 1845 census lists him as her foster son and
the son of her son.
He returned at some time after 1845 to his mother and her
second husband, Lars Larsen Diernis, helping on the farm. He
left for Lild at age 17, becoming a farmhand at the inn. The
Lild Parish Register, FHL MF 0053228, pages 85 and 86, shows
that Lars was confirmed April 8, 1852 at the T²mmerby Church
with his twin brother, Christian Peter Caspersen. The
confirmation record lists his residence that year at age 14 as
Madsb²l in Hjardemaal Parish.
Lars was drafted in 1860, according to an undated document
written by his son, Casper L. Djernes of Clearbrook, Minnesota.
In 1861 he came home for two months, but was called back in
1862. He was sent to Slesvig, probably along the southern
border, to fight in the 1864 war against Prussia and Austria.
He was taken prisoner during the battle at Dybboel, one of over
3,000 prisoners. He spent two months in a prison camp at
Rendsborg, returning to northern Jutland on foot with a friend
after his release. Lars' military record, Record #51, Thisted
Amt, Vesterhanherred, 1864, Rigsarkivet-Kobenhavn M
Folkarkivet--12707, says that Lars was in the 9th Battalion,
3rd Company, service number 236. When Lars returned, he found
that his stepfather had lost the farm and money in gambling and
drinking. In 1865 Lars moved with his mother and half-brother
to Glaede and then Kaeret in Lild parish. He continued to live
with his mother even after his marriage to Maren Andersdatter
in 1868. A child, Helene, was born in 1869, but Maren died in
1870.
Lars married Mariane Olesen in 1876; they had 12 children.
Lars made his living fishing in an open boat, and also had a
small plot of land with sheep and cows. Lars' death date is
given as 1920 in the Mygind book, but Viola May Djernes Carter
says (1996) that it was 1925, since he nearly celebrated a
Golden Wedding anniversary with his second wife. In 1996 Gudrin
Kaspersen, wife of Gunner Kaspersen, a grandson of Lars' twin
brother, Christian Peder Kaspersen, sent a clipping from a 1923
local newspaper in Denmark, apparently near T²mmerby. She
translated the article as follows: 'Twins 85 Years Old--It is
very seldom that twins reach so high an age as the brothers
ex-farmer at Tommerby Christian Kaspersen and small-holder Lars
Christian Kaspersen at Kaeret who on Sunday 25 March will be 85
years old. Both are of good health and mind, really two fine
stout men who have worked hard throughout their lives never
giving up, and now they can look back on along life's good
work. Both brothers have had many children, and it is worth
mentioning that Lars Christian Kaspersen has 8 children in
America, one of whom volunteered as an American soldier in
World War I. Lars Christian Kaspersen himself is a veteran
from the war in 1864 between Denmark and Prussia. The two old
twins are the eldest of six still living brothers and sister.
The others are not young either and their ages counted together
reach the high number of 470.'

Lars married on 16 Mar 1876 in Lild, Vester Han, Thisted, Denmark. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The marriage record in the Lild Parish Register is signed by
OleNielsen, Mariane's father, an d Lars Christian Nielsen,
husband of Lars'aunt Caspara Larsen Djernes.

Lars married on 06 Nov 1868 in Thisted, Denmark. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The parish records list as witnesses at Casper's baptism his
uncle Erich Zacharias Prµtzman of Oddersb²l, Jens Rasmussen,
Margrethe Prµtzman, grandmother Karen Svendsdatter Norgard
(listed as Madame Casper Prµtzman of Oddersb²l) and uncle Lars
Christian from Koldkjargaard. Kasper, as his name was recorded
in the confirmations, was confirmed in 1818 when he was 15
years old. Cai Mygind's book, 'Some Families from the Two
Counties Hanherred and Hillerslev Herred in Northern Jutland',
1972, pages 45-47, says that Casper was unmarried in the 1834
census. He was living as tenant of Kjerup Parsonage in
T²mmerby with a housekeeper, Helene Pedersdatter, and two
farmhands. In December 1836, Casper and Helene were married in
T²mmerby Church. Twin boys were born in 1838, but by 1840 one
of them, Lars Christian, was living in Diernesgaard with his
grandmother, Marianne Prµtzmann. In the 1840 census Caspar
Josva Larsen, 37, was still a leaseholder (Forpagter) at the
Kjerup Parsonage with wife Helene, 27 and son Christian, 2.
The parish minister, Frederik Christian von Haven and his wife
and child also lived there, along with three maids and two male
servants.
By the time daughter Marie was baptized in 1842, Casper
was no longer tenant of the parsonage, but lived in Rotb²lgaard
with some family. He had bought the farm Madsb²l near the sea,
but was never able to move out there as he was seriously ill.
He spent his last days with his mother at Diernesgaard, and
died at age 39.

Casper married Helene Pedersdatter on 16 Dec 1836 in Tømmerby, Vester Han, Thisted, Denmark. Helene (daughter of Peder Thomassen and Karen Andersdatter) was born on 19 Dec 1813 in Arup, Vr. Han, Thisted, Denmark; died on 21 Feb 1878 in Kjaret, Vester Han, Thisted, Denmark. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In the census of 1834, Helene was a housekeeper for Casper
Djernes in Kaerup parsonage. She married him in 1836. Twin
boys were born in 1838, but Helene and Casper sent one of their
infant twins to live with Casper's mother at Diernesgêard. A
daughter was born in 1842, but by this time Casper was living
with some of his family at Rotb²lgêard. After his death in
August of that year, Helene went to live with her own parents,
farmer Peder Thomassen and Karen Andersdatter.
In 1844 she married her brother-in-law, Lars Larsen
Djernes, and moved with him and her children to Madsb²l. The
1845 census for Thisted, Hillerslev, Hjardemaal, Klitten, En
gaard, Madsb²ll, shows Helene with Lars and two
children--Christian, 7, and Marie, 4, both listed as
Diµrnis--and two servants, Lars Nielsen, 18, from Hjardemaal,
and Johanne Pedersdatter, 24, from Arup. The 1850 census shows
the family still at Madsb²ll with Lars and Helene each 38 years
old, and the children now enumerated as Lars Chr Larsen, 12,
born in T²mmerby; Sophie Marie Larsdatter, 9, born in Lild,
Caspara Larsen, 4, born in Hjardemaal and Casper Josva
Prµtzmann Larsen, 1, born in Hjardemaal. Maren Ludvigsdatter,
10, listed as a foster daughter, born in Hjardemaal was also in
the household. At this point I don't know whether or not she
was related in some way.
Helene's second marriage was not a happy one; Lars drank,
gambled,and did not look after his property. Helene and Lars
had four children, but finally Helene separated from her
husband, by then known as Lars Madsb²l. She bought a small
homestead in Kaeret, Lild about 1865, eldest son Lars Christian
and youngest son Erik joining her. She kept house for Lars
Christian, who had become a widower after only a year of
marriage, and lived to welcome Lars' second wife when he
married again in 1876. Helene died alone 21 Feb 1878 when Lars
and his wife were away from home. Lars' daughter, little
Helene, heard strange noises from her grandmother, but by the
time she could fetch neighbors, Helene had died.The Parish
record of her death and burial refers to her as the separated
wife of Lars Larsen Djernµs.

Notes:

Cai Mygind's book on families from Hanherred and Hillerslev
Herred provides Lars' birth year ( page 43), stating he was
born at Djernesgaard and other details about his life. Lars
became the owner of Djernesgaard in 1786; by this time it had
been in the family for some forty years. In the same year he
was married for the first time. The 1787 census shows Lars
Nielsen, 33, farmer and farm occupant (gaardbeboer) living in
Glµde bèye with wife Anne Marie Christensdatter, 18, and
daughter Giertrud Larsdatter, 1. Also in the household were
Anders Christendsen, 31, servant and national soldier and maid
Johanne Jensdatter.
Wife Anne Marie Christensdatter Rotb²l died in the summer
of 1800 leaving five children. Lars married again late in 1800
to Mariane Prµtzmann, with whom he had seven children who
survived to adulthood. Lars and Mariane are listed in the 1801
census in in Glµde bèye with the five surviving children from
Lars' first marriage along with servants Christen Jensen and
Anne Marie Larsdatter. In this census his name is given as
Lars Nielsen Diµrnis.
Lars remained the head of Djernesgaard until his death at
age 80. The census of 1834 showed all the surviving
children--Jens, Christen Kold, Svend, Lars, Karoline and Anne
Marie--by his second marriage except the eldest living at
Djernesgaard with Lars, 83 and Mariane and a maid. A close
examination of the parish records shows Lars actually fathered
eight children by his first wife and ten by the second. His
name was recorded as Laurids in the Lild Parish Register. He
was born at Diernesgaard. Witnesses at his baptism include
Anne Nielsdatter.

Lars married Mariane Prµtzmann on 07 Dec 1800 in Thisted, Denmark. Mariane (daughter of Casper Josva Prµtzmann and Karen Svendsdatter Norgaard) was born in 1779 in Hjardemêal Klit, Hillerslev, Thisted, Denmark; died on 12 Mar 1863 in Lild, Vester Han, Thisted, Denmark; was buried on 23 Mar 1863 in Lild, Vester Han, Thisted, Denmark. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cai Mygind's book on families from Hanherred and Hillerslev
Herred, pages 43-44, gives information on Mariane. She was
born at Oddersb²l and baptized in Hjardemaal Church. She was
confirmed in 1794, and in 1800 became the second wife of Lars
Nielsen Djernes, a recent widower with five children. Her name
was given as Mariane Caspersdatter in the 1787 census when she
was 8 years old. She was listed as Mariane Prµtzmann in the
1801 census with Lars, his five children, and two servants, and
continued to be lilsted that way in census records until 1850.
Mariane and Lars had seven children. After her husband's death
in 1835, Mariane retained undivided possession of Djernesgaard
for many years. The 1840 census lists her at Djernisgaard, age
61, as a farmer's widow. Five of her children lived there at
that time, as well as her grandson, Lars Christian Caspersen,
Svend Jacobsen, a renter and carpenter, and Martha
Andersdatter, a maid. In 1845 three of the children lived with
her at Djernisgaard, along with her grandson and three
servants.
Finally she let her son Christen Kold become owner, while
she became a pensioner and lived with Christen and his wife.
She is listed as a 71 year old widow under her son's care in
the 1850 census. Her name is recorded as Mariane
Kaspersdatter. After Christen's untimely death in 1853,
Mariane lived with her daughter-in-law and her second husband.
She died at age 84.

Notes:

Peder is listed as Helene Pedersdatter's father and a farmer in
CaiMygind's book.

Peder married Karen Andersdatter in 1804 in Arup, Vr. Han, Thisted, Denmark. Karen was born in in Denmark; died in in Denmark. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Karen is listed as Helene Pedersdatter's mother in Cai
Mygind'sbook, page 45.

Notes:

Cai Mygind, in his book on Hanherred and Hillerslev Herred
families, page 43, says that Niels and Karen moved from the
family farm, Djernesgard, when their son Lars Nielsen Djernes
became owner of it upon his marriage in 1786. They purchased,
from Thoger Pedersen Buxhauge for 395 rix-dollars, another farm
called Myrup near the sea.
The 1787 census for N²rklitt, Lild, lists Niels Christian
??, 63, as a farmer, cottager and harbor fisherman with wife
Karen Pedersdatter, 57 and children Peder, 22; Lars Christian,
20; Niels, 18; and Anne, 15. Also in the household was servant
Kirsten Christensdatter.

Niels married Karen Pedersdatter in 1751 in Lild, Vester Han, Thisted, Denmark. Karen was born about 1730 in Denmark; died after 1801 in Denmark. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Karen Pedersdatter, 57, is listed with her husband and four
children in the 1787 census for N²rklit, Lild. In 1801 she is
listed there as a 71 year old widow in a household with son
Niels Nielsen, 32 and two servants.

Notes:

Information about Casper is from Cai Mygind's book on families
from Hanherred and Hillerslev Herred, page 42. Casper married
Karen Svensdatter Norgaard in Klim Church in 1770. After his
mother's death in 1796 Casper became owner of Oddersb²l. In
1804 he transferred ownership of Oddersb²l and 'Little
Oddersb²l' to his son, Erich Zacharias Prµtzmann for 2000
rix-dollars. He and Karen had eight children.
Casper is listed as Casper Zachariesen, age 46 in the 1787
census and 60 in the 1801 census record for Thisted,
Hillserslev, Hjardemaal, Klitten, Odersb²l. He was a farmer
and occupant (presumably owner) of the farm Odersb²l. The
household in 1787 consisted of Casper, wife Karen, six
children, mother Margrethe Nielsdatter, and four servants. In
1801 Casper and Karen, four children, and four servants were in
the household.

Casper married Karen Svendsdatter Norgaard in 1770 in Klim, Vester Han, Thisted, Denmark. Karen (daughter of Svend Nielsen Klim and Anne Nielsdatter Kiib) was born in 1749 in Klim, Vester Han, Thisted, Denmark; died in 1821 in Hjardemêal Klit, Hillerslev, Thisted, Denmark. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Information about Karen is in Cai Mygind's book on families in
Hanherred and Hillerslev Herred, Denmark. She married Casper
Josva Preetzmann in 1770 in Klim Church. She died a widow in
Oddersb²l.
Karen is listed in the 1787 census for Thisted,
Hillerslev, Hjardemaal, Klitten, Odersb²l at age 37 and in the
1801 census at age 52.