Christiansen & Nielsen Family - Ronald's Genealogy

This particular family line has its Scandinavian origins in Denmark. They can be traced to Nebsager Parish near Stenderup and Bjerre in Denmark. Nebsager Church is located about 255km west of the Danish capital, Copenhagen.

This family line starts with Henrik CHRISTIANSEN & Mette Marie SØRENDATTER who were the parents of Krestian HENDRIKSEN, born 1803 in Rårup which is south east of Bjerre. Krestian married Barbare Marie PEDERSDATTER at Åstrup in 1835. They later both died in Rårup. Krestian (who was also known as Christian CHRISTIANSEN) was a clog maker and later a smallholder labourer. This family appear to have lived at Rårup since the late 1700's.

Søren KRESTIANSEN is the son of Krestian & Barbare HENDRIKSEN and was born in 1837 at Nebsager . In New Zealand he was known as Soren CHRISTIANSEN.

Soren married Gyda Marie JENSEN in August 1862 at Rårup. Gyda (also known as Gyda JENSDATTER) was born in 1838 at Barrit , the daughter of Jens HANSEN (a furniture maker) and Antonette E SØRENDATTER.

Soren and Gyda had a total of six children, three sons and three daughters. Soren worked as a bricklayer in Denmark before coming to New Zealand.

The NIELSEN family also have their Scandinavian origins traced back to Denmark. They once lived at Magleby which is about 136km due south of the Danish capital, Copenhagen. It is on the eastern side on the island of Møn . The family has links dating from around 1785 to the Magleby Kirke or Church. Henrik (Henry) NIELSEN was born in April 1829 in Magleby and was the son of Niels HENRICSEN (a farmer) and Sidse Kirstine HANSDATTER.

Henry married Anna Marie RASMUSSEN there in 1850. Anna Marie was born in nearby Borre in Sep 1830. She was the daughter of Rasmus JENSEN (a Smallholder) and Marthe Catrine NIELSDATTER.

Henry and Anna Marie had eight children, three sons and five daughters all born at Borre.

The growth and spread of the German Empire after the Prussian War ended in 1871, resulted in Germans moving into Denmark to grow food. This appears to be the catalyst, for both these Danish families travelled from their respective Danish hometowns to leave for New Zealand. They sailed here on the ship named the HUMBOLDT which departed Hamburg, Germany, on 19 Oct 1874.

The New Zealand newspapers gave the following reports of the arrival of this ship and its immigrant passengers to this country:

Newspaper Reports - Click to expand

Mon 25 January 1875

Signalled outside the Heads (of Wellington), ship Humboldt, from Hamburg, with about 400 immigrants, after a passage of 108 days.

Thu 28 January 1875

The ship Humboldt, with immigrants, arrived in port this afternoon, after having been driven quite out of sight by the recent NW gales. The Phoebe spoke to her, and offered to tow her in for £40, a very reasonable offer, considering that, she was fully 12 miles outside the Heads, and the towage would cause the Phoebe to lose a day. The captain of the Humboldt, however, refused to give more than £25, and as the one skipper would make no advance, and the other no abatement, the steamer went on her way and left the economical Humboldt to fight her own battle with the nor’-wester.

Fri 29 January 1875

The Health Officers have inspected the German ship Humboldt, and have reported favourably of the health of her immigrants, who, therefore, will be permitted to land without delay.

Sat 30 January 1875

The Swedish, Norwegian, and German immigrants, each in their own language, have presented Captain Bush (of the German ship Humboldt) and his officers with a testimonial, thanking them for the kind treatment they received during the voyage.

Tues 2 February 1875

Most of the Humboldt’s immigrants are intended for Wanganui, Napier and Taranaki.

Thur 4 February 1875

The Humboldt’s immigrants seem to be steady, respectable, and not at all impecunious lot.

Fri 5 February 1875

Seventy immigrants ex Humboldt were sent away by the s.s Wellington this afternoon, bound for New Plymouth.

Wed 10 February 1875

The German immigrants per “Humboldt” are all engaged. The single girls were taken up immediately on wages from 6s to 8s per week. Married couples at £40 to £50 a year.

Thur 11 February 1875

Almost all the Humboldt immigrants sent to the Manawatu found immediate employment at Foxton. The remainder were sent on to Palmerston, where it was understood engagements awaited them.

Soren and Gyda CHRISTIANSEN, along with Barbara, Christian H, Jens and Antonette all feature on the passenger list of arrivals in Taranaki although Christian H was listed with the surname Larsen for an unknown reason. The family took up farming around Inglewood, Stratford & Midhirst.

Henry and Anna Marie NIELSEN arrived with their children, Niels, Anna, Minnie, Henrietta, Laurence, Charles and Martha. One daughter married Rev. Lewis Johnson and they moved to the USA in 1873. The Nielsen family landed at Foxton Beach in surf boats and went to Marton to work for Major A W Marshall at "Tutu Totara" Farm. Hendrik drew a farm of 50 acres standing bush at Midhirst on the corner of Stanley & Beaconsfield Roads, opposite the present Stanley Rd School. Charles took over the farm and later sold it to Anna's husband (Rasmus NEILSEN). Using literature from daughter (Kristine) in USA, they became Seventh Day Adventists and conducted the first meetings in Stratford. Anna Marie broke her hip when her granddaughter trod on her dress as they were crossing the paddock and she remained bedridden until her death in 1907. Henrik lived with his son Charles and wife Annie near Eltham. Charles was a Bridge Building Foreman for Stratford County Council.

On 19 Aug 1891 the marriage of Christian Henrick, eldest son of Soren and Gyda Marie CHRISTIANSEN, to Martha Catherine, youngest daughter of Hendrik and Anna Marie NIELSEN, took place at Stratford. They had a large family of eighteen children.

Their eldest daughter, Clara Catherine CHRISTIANSEN married Noel H.S. HERMON in 1914.

An enjoyable evening was spent in the Druid’s Hall on Tuesday evening last, when a large number of friends of Mr and Mrs C H Christiansen assembled to do honour to them on the 50th anniversary of their wedding. His Worship the Mayor, Mr F Ramsbottom, who was present, in a brief and happy speech congratulated Mr and Mrs Christiansen on having enjoyed 50 years of married life, and wished them every happiness in the future. On behalf of their friends he asked them to accept a very handsome fireside set with their best wishes for their future.

Mr Christiansen suitably replied, and expressed his pleasure at seeing so many old friends and relatives present. On behalf of Mrs Christiansen and himself he thanked them for their handsome gift.

It is interesting to note that there were four generations of family present. Congratulations were also extended to Mr and Mrs Christiansen on behalf of the relatives present, who numbered some 50 odd.

Family research in Denmark can be difficult since patronymic surnames where used for many years. These surnames are derived from a father’s first name with SEN (for son) or DATTER (for daughter) added hence the son of Henrick CHRISTIANSEN has a surname of HENRICKSEN. Slight variations in spelling people’s names when written down also occurred. This form of naming family members can easily confuse one while doing their best in family research. For this reason I wish to acknowledge the significant contribution towards the genealogical events recorded in the family tree, that originate in Denmark, as provided by John Vennervald. Denmark does however have Census and other records going back into the late 1700’s which can assist families to be traced back that far.

CHRISTIANSEN Family

NIELSEN Family

Migration to New Zealand

The Family Connection Between
CHRISTIANSEN & NIELSEN

Golden Wedding - Christian H & Martha C
CHRISTIANSEN - August 1941

Researching Danish Records