Individual Details
Jens Henrik Hansen
(19 Aug 1792 - 22 Nov 1872)
Vefsn is a municipality in Nordland flke (county) and traces settlement back to the Stone Age. It gets its name from the Versna River which runs through it.
In his journal translated from Norwegian by Helen Jenson Bethel and Gurina Jenson in 1949, Grandpa Jenson (Nels Johan 1858-1934) said he was "born in my father's house in Storholmen, Utskarpen, of my dear mother Zakarine Oldsdatter on the 22nd day of August 1858. My father's name was Jens Henrik Hanson who then was about 75 years old and very unable to support the family". This would make Jens born about 1783.
Jens was 56 and living at Bersnev, Urland, when he and Zakarine Olsdatter, age 32, of Dalosen, were married on 12 January 1851. This would make him born about 1795. At their marriage they already had three children together, Hans Hendrik born in 1840, Gulle Andrea in 1846 and Gisken Kristine in 1850, the minister dutifully noting at Gulle's birth that "this is the second indiscretion of this couple". At Gisken's birth the minister noted that the couple was engaged.
In the 1865 census for Hemnes, Jens, age 80, is a farmer "with land" living on the Storholm farm with his wife, Zakarine Olsdatter, age 48, and their daughter, Jensine Jensdatter, age 11. This would make him born about 1785. He has a cow, three sheep and raises barley and potatoes. Nels (Grampa Jenson) is a foster child living with Peder A. Larsen and wife, Sare M. Benonisdatter, on the Hagen farm, also in Hemnes parish. Sons Gulle Andreas, age 19, logerende, fisker, and Ole Andreas, gjaetergut, age 14, are living in the household of Gulle Mekal Johassen and wife Anne Kristina Iversdatter on farm Luktslidvandet ovre in Heimnes parish.
He was a pauper residing at Utskarpen when he died 22 Nov 1872 at age 80. This would make his birth about 1792 and matches his christening record in the Vefsn churchbook--"Jens Henrik, son of Hans Henrich Jensen, Bergnov and Giesten Oldsdr." was christened on the 11th Sunday after Trinity (19 Aug 1792).
The factual information for Zakarine was just as illusive. We found two birth records for a Zakarine Olsdatter in the Hemnes records but only one born at Dalosen, the place of her birth from the marriage record. The more likely person to be "our" Zakarine, was christened on Pentcoste Sunday (25 May 1817), the illegimate daugther of Ole Steffen of Dalosen and the girl Kirstinia Maria Hansdatter. The record states she was born 21 May. At her marriage to Jens marriage in 1851 she is 32 years old, born Daolsen. This would have her born in 1819. Her father's name is not given on the marriage record (only an "O").
Ole Stephan Benjaminsen was born on the farm Langset in 1786. His mother was working at the farm. His parents were not married. The child was put away on a farm called Nordfjord, where he was living in 1801.
The Nesna church book for 1819 lists the baptism of Hans Olsen, aged four weeks, son of Ole Stephan Benjaminson and Kristina Maria. It's likley that Zakarine and Hans are both children of Ole Stephan Benjaminson and Kristina Maria Hansdtr.
An entry from Grampa Jenson's Journal in September 1883 records a visit from his mother, Zakarine, and sister Gisken. "My family is growing bigger. We have now got a little daughter called Karen Marie. She was born the 23rd of August. Eriksen sent me word by telegram at Sonnosjoen. Now we still live here at Bergnosted, but we have a chance for a house if we only knew of a place for it. Now my mother is with us. She is going to be here awhile. Also my sister, Gjerken, was here for awhile. She has gone home to Horo. . ."
From the journal we learn that Zakarine went to Nesna in 1884, "My mother had left in the spring of 1884 to Naesne. She and Jensine couldn't get along very well any more, and my family got too big for me to keep my mother. It does not make me happy that she had to go out and start making her own living in her old age." Zakarine would be about 67 years of age at this time.
In the 1875 -telling for Nesna, Zakarine Olsdatter, a widow, is a tyende, a servant or helper, in the household of Hans Olsen, adding to the probably that Hans and Zakarine are brother and sister..
Zakarine died ten years, on March 4, 1895, at the home of her daughter Gidsken on Heroy. Her brother Hans dies less than three months later, on May 20, 1895, at Nesna.
In his journal translated from Norwegian by Helen Jenson Bethel and Gurina Jenson in 1949, Grandpa Jenson (Nels Johan 1858-1934) said he was "born in my father's house in Storholmen, Utskarpen, of my dear mother Zakarine Oldsdatter on the 22nd day of August 1858. My father's name was Jens Henrik Hanson who then was about 75 years old and very unable to support the family". This would make Jens born about 1783.
Jens was 56 and living at Bersnev, Urland, when he and Zakarine Olsdatter, age 32, of Dalosen, were married on 12 January 1851. This would make him born about 1795. At their marriage they already had three children together, Hans Hendrik born in 1840, Gulle Andrea in 1846 and Gisken Kristine in 1850, the minister dutifully noting at Gulle's birth that "this is the second indiscretion of this couple". At Gisken's birth the minister noted that the couple was engaged.
In the 1865 census for Hemnes, Jens, age 80, is a farmer "with land" living on the Storholm farm with his wife, Zakarine Olsdatter, age 48, and their daughter, Jensine Jensdatter, age 11. This would make him born about 1785. He has a cow, three sheep and raises barley and potatoes. Nels (Grampa Jenson) is a foster child living with Peder A. Larsen and wife, Sare M. Benonisdatter, on the Hagen farm, also in Hemnes parish. Sons Gulle Andreas, age 19, logerende, fisker, and Ole Andreas, gjaetergut, age 14, are living in the household of Gulle Mekal Johassen and wife Anne Kristina Iversdatter on farm Luktslidvandet ovre in Heimnes parish.
He was a pauper residing at Utskarpen when he died 22 Nov 1872 at age 80. This would make his birth about 1792 and matches his christening record in the Vefsn churchbook--"Jens Henrik, son of Hans Henrich Jensen, Bergnov and Giesten Oldsdr." was christened on the 11th Sunday after Trinity (19 Aug 1792).
The factual information for Zakarine was just as illusive. We found two birth records for a Zakarine Olsdatter in the Hemnes records but only one born at Dalosen, the place of her birth from the marriage record. The more likely person to be "our" Zakarine, was christened on Pentcoste Sunday (25 May 1817), the illegimate daugther of Ole Steffen of Dalosen and the girl Kirstinia Maria Hansdatter. The record states she was born 21 May. At her marriage to Jens marriage in 1851 she is 32 years old, born Daolsen. This would have her born in 1819. Her father's name is not given on the marriage record (only an "O").
Ole Stephan Benjaminsen was born on the farm Langset in 1786. His mother was working at the farm. His parents were not married. The child was put away on a farm called Nordfjord, where he was living in 1801.
The Nesna church book for 1819 lists the baptism of Hans Olsen, aged four weeks, son of Ole Stephan Benjaminson and Kristina Maria. It's likley that Zakarine and Hans are both children of Ole Stephan Benjaminson and Kristina Maria Hansdtr.
An entry from Grampa Jenson's Journal in September 1883 records a visit from his mother, Zakarine, and sister Gisken. "My family is growing bigger. We have now got a little daughter called Karen Marie. She was born the 23rd of August. Eriksen sent me word by telegram at Sonnosjoen. Now we still live here at Bergnosted, but we have a chance for a house if we only knew of a place for it. Now my mother is with us. She is going to be here awhile. Also my sister, Gjerken, was here for awhile. She has gone home to Horo. . ."
From the journal we learn that Zakarine went to Nesna in 1884, "My mother had left in the spring of 1884 to Naesne. She and Jensine couldn't get along very well any more, and my family got too big for me to keep my mother. It does not make me happy that she had to go out and start making her own living in her old age." Zakarine would be about 67 years of age at this time.
In the 1875 -telling for Nesna, Zakarine Olsdatter, a widow, is a tyende, a servant or helper, in the household of Hans Olsen, adding to the probably that Hans and Zakarine are brother and sister..
Zakarine died ten years, on March 4, 1895, at the home of her daughter Gidsken on Heroy. Her brother Hans dies less than three months later, on May 20, 1895, at Nesna.
Events
| Birth | 19 Aug 1792 | Vefsn, Nordland, Norway |  | ||
| Christen | 19 Aug 1792 | Vefsn, Nordland, Norway | | ||
| Marriage | 12 Jan 1851 | Hemnes, Nordland, Norway - Zakarine Olsdatter | | ||
| Death | 22 Nov 1872 | Hemnes, Nordland, Norway, Utskarpen | |
Families
| Spouse | Zakarine Olsdatter (1817 - 1895) |
| Child | Hans Hendrik Jenson (1840 - 1905) |
| Child | Gulle Andreas Jensen (1846 - 1903) |
| Child | Gidsken Kristine Jensdtr. (1850 - 1915) |
| Child | Ole Andreas Jenson (1852 - 1930) |
| Child | Jensine Helene Jensdtr. (1856 - 1891) |
| Child | Nils Johan Jenson (1858 - 1934) |
| Child | David Andreas Jenson (1860 - 1860) |
| Father | Hans Henrik Jensen (1743 - 1813) |
| Mother | Gisken Oldsdr. (1752 - 1800) |
| Sibling | Maren Hansdtr (1797 - ) |
Endnotes
1. Den Norske kirke. Nord-Rana prestegjeld (Nordland) (Main Author) , Kirkebøker Genealogical Society of Utah, FHL 0,125,278; Norway Baptisms, 1634-1927,Vefsn.
2. Den Norske kirke. Nord-Rana prestegjeld (Nordland) (Main Author) , Kirkebøker Genealogical Society of Utah, FHL 0,125,278; Norway Baptisms, 1634-1927,Vefsn.
3. Hemnes Church Book, FHL #0,307,095, Book 11, Marriages 1842-1862, p401, item 1.
4. Den Norske Kirke, Hemnes prestegjeld (Nordland), Kirkebøker Genealogical Society of Utah, FHL #0,125,107, Book 16, p20, Item 67.