Katherine Ann Nikolaisen

Notes:

The surname in Denmark and on her marriage license is spelled Nicolaisen. However, the family name in America was spelled Nikolaisen. An alternative spelling in Denmark is Nicolajsen.

Katherine married Paul Brahe Sorensen 15 Jan 1950, Ormslev Kirke, Denmark. Paul (son of Julius Marinus Sorensen and Hilda Katrina Christiansen) was born 18 Jan 1914, Aarhus, Denmark; died 2 Jun 2007, Providence, Providence Co., RI; was buried Jun 2007, Quidnessett Memorial Cemetery, North Kingstown, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

I have two copies of their marriage certificate, one from Aarhus and one from Aabyhoj.

1. Richard Brahe Sorensen was born 25 Sep 1951, Minneapolis, MN.
2. Sheryl Ann Sorensen was born 22 Aug 1962, USA.

Notes:

As a young man, Peter Nils Nikolaisen (Katherine Sorensen's father), went to stay with his Uncle Jorgen for two years. He told how all the corn was harvested by hand. A couple of years later Jorgen's brother, Uncle Hans, got a harvesting machine. Every morning the cows were brushed. It was considered a shame to take out a horse with dirt on it.

Peder and Katrine came to America in May 1911, and were married later that year.

Niels married Ann Katrine Bothilde Sorensen 19 Sep 1911, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, MN. Ann (daughter of Soren Sorensen and Ane Katrine Brahe Christensen) was born 24 Jan 1888, Tved, Mols, Denmark; died 6 Aug 1974, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN; was buried 10 Aug 1974, Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Katrine's mother died within the year after Katrine was born. Her father remarried in 1892. Trine loved her father very much and he was particularly fond of her, too. At one of his places of employment, she would bring him his lunch. She also loved her step-mother, Kirstine, and cried when she received the news in America that she had died.

After Trine's grandmother on her mother's side died, the grandfather married again. He was a very good carpenter -- a builder -- but Trine saw him only occasionally. The step--grandmother lived on Mols, and Trine went there frequently to visit and spend vacation days.

Notes:

I have a photocopy of the ship's manifest showing their names when they came to Ellis Island on 31 May 1911.

Notes:

Josias worked for his brothers. Jorgen helped him build a house in Jersore.

Some records give his name as Gunnar Josias.

Josias married Maren Kirstine Nielsen Abt 1875. Maren (daughter of Niels Pedersen and Ane Kirstine Larsdatter) was born Abt May 1844, Jorgen So, Denmark; died 4 Jul 1896, Bogense Sygchus, Bogern Sogn, Denmark; was buried 8 Jul 1896, Klinte Kirkegaard, Skam Herred, Odense, Denmark. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The birth record for her children identifies Maren as "Maren Kirstine Nielsen." Her father was Nels or Niels Pedersen, but at this time children received the father's first name, with "sen" after it, as a surname.

Notes:

Soren worked in several different places, as Katrine later remembered. At one time he was a fireman in a boiler room in Sofie Amaliegaard (old Hornslet). He also worked in a candy factory, as did his son, Peter. But Soren felt it wasn't a healthy place to work! He was also a miller, and bought the Ormslev Molle in 1902.

Soren married Ane Katrine Brahe Christensen 3 Nov 1880, Tved Church, Mols, Denmark. Ane (daughter of Jens Brahe Christensen and Bodil Cathrine Nielsdatter) was born 20 Sep 1857, Tved, Dejret, Mols, Denmark; died 17 Sep 1888, Denmark; was buried , Graven 16, Damsogn, Aarhus, Denmark. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Her name on the birth/baptismal records is Ane Cathrine Christensen.

Ane Katrine (Brahe Christensen) Sorensen died from after-effects of childbirth in 1888, within a year after her daughter Ane Katrine Bothilde was born. Her son Julius used the name Brahe as a middle name for all his sons. The origin of this name within the family is uncertain; it is in parentheses in the birth record of her sister Maren, and is also written in Ane's marriage record to Soren. It may have come from the area around Grenaa-Ebeltoft, according to our relative Bodil.

Is there a connection with famous Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe? At this point it is only an intriguing possibility. Read about him at the following web sites (or simply do an internet search for his name):

http://www.nada.kth.se/~fred/tycho/index.html

http://es.rice.edu/ES/humsoc/Galileo/People/tycho_brahe.html

http://www.phys.virginia.edu/classes/109N/1995/lectures/tychob.html

http://www.landskrona.se/kultur/tychobrahe/sis.html
http://www.landskrona.se/kultur/tychobrahe/sis.html

Notes:

I have estimated the birth years of some of Nicolai's children.

Nicolai married Maren Knudsdatter Abt 1830. Maren (daughter of Knud Willumsen and Maren Jorgensdatter) was born Abt 1809, Horrestlev, Fyn, Denmark; died 16 Apr 1878. [Group Sheet]

Niels — Ane Kirstine Larsdatter. Ane was born 1808, Norup, DK. [Group Sheet]

Jens married Julie Marie Rasmusdatter 21 Aug 1855, Vistoft Church, Denmark. Julie (daughter of Rasmus Michelsen and Dorthe Maria Sorensdatter) was born 24 Dec 1827, Boeslum, Draby, Denmark; died 16 Dec 1913, Vistoft, Mols, Denmark; was buried 22 Dec 1913. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

She was presented at Draby Church on 16 March 1828.

Julie Marie was a maid for the family of the lighthouse keeper on the island of Hjelm. They were the only family on the island.

Notes:

The name on the chart from Bodil is written: Jens Christensen (Brahe). I do not know if the name Brahe is on any of the original documents.

Jens was "presented at Vistoft Church" on 27 Feb 1825.

Jens married Bodil Cathrine Nielsdatter 5 Jun 1857, Tved Church, Mols, Denmark. Bodil (daughter of Niels Rasmussen and Karen Sorensdatter) was born 2 Jan 1825, Dejret, Mols, Denmark; died 3 Apr 1877, Tved, Denmark; was buried 9 Apr 1877. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Bodil was baptized at home on 3 Jan 1825, and presented at church 20 Feb 1825.