Jens Peder Eskildsen

Jens was Grandpa's paternal grandfather.

Birth

His birthplace is uncertain. One census has him born in Langstrup Parish in Randers County, but another census has him born in "Volby" in Randers County . I don't know of any Langstrup, except one near København. I haven't found any instance of Volby. Perhaps Voldby or Vejlby was intended.

A locality on the western end of Fyn presents an interesting example. Three adjacent towns have similar names: Voldby, Vejlby, and Vejlby Fed. I encountered this locale when searching www.mapquest.com for Volby. Could this mean these names have a similar origin, and are perhaps interchangeable in some cases? Could they be pronounced similarly enough to cause spelling errors?

Jens' son Marius was born in Vejlby Parish in Randers County. Perhaps Jens found out about a job in Vejlby from a relative or friend, and hence returned with his family.

Unfortunately, there are two parishes with the name Vejlby in Randers County, but one is nearer to the other villages where Jens lived. It is also the only Vejlby in Sønderhald Herred, which is the district that includes Lime Parish, where Jens' wife Ane was born, and Marie Magdalene Parish, where Jens' son Peder was born. This Vejlby is near a village named Langkastrup, which could be the Langstrup we're looking for.

Social Class

Jens was probably a rural farmer of little social consequence.

  1. According to the 1890 (?) census, he was a day laborer (daglejer).
  2. His youngest child Niels was named patronymically in 1870.
  3. He was identified as a cottager (husmand) in the Mørke Parish records.

Dad remembers that Jens' son Niels behaved in a civilized manner, as though he was from a higher social class than Grandpa. In light of the above list, it appears likely that Niels may have acquired his urbane demeanor from someone other than his parents.

Family Life

He was married in Mørke Parish to Ane Kirstine Pedersdatter.

Among the other places they lived after marrying were Kjoreorde (?), Marry Magdalene Parish and Vejlby Parish (near Århus). By the time Niels was born, they were residing in Ugelbølle (Mørke Parish). They were still in Ugelbølle a year later when Lanssine was confirmed. By Fenruary 1880, they were living in Hornslet.

Hornslet, Hornslet Parish, 1880:

  

54  Jens Peter Eskildsen        55  Langstrup Sogn       daglejer
55  Anne Kirstine Pedersdatter  53  Lime Sogn            hans kone
56  Peder Jensen                18  Marie Magdalene Sogn deres barn
57  Marius Jensen               12  Vejlby Sogn          deres barn
58  Niels Johan Jensen           9  Mørke Sogn           deres barn

daglejer = Day tennant (lit.)
hans kone = his wife
deres barn = their child

Jens and Ane were still living together in Hornslet in February 1890. Niels may have resided with them when he was staying in Hornslet in January 1891.

Jens was living with his wife Ane in Hornslet from before Feb 1880 to after January 1890. He was 65 years old in early 1890.