HENRY OLAF HANSEN 

(Hans Joergensen Hansen) 

1847 – 1934

Henry was described in his obituary as “cultured, of noble character, of high and buoyant spirit, refined and with integrity. Cultured, keen in judgement, strong in mind and heart, his refinement and integrity were an example for all to follow. He was kind and charitable, which was often unknown to others.”

HENRY'S PARENTS

ANDERS HANSEN AND LENE THORSDATTER

Henry's parents - Anders Hansen and Lene Marie Thorsdatter lived in Skaerbaek Parish. They were married on February 20, 1844, Anders Hansen was a 27 year old tailor and living in Melby. Lene Marie Thorsdatter was a 28 years old servant and working in Melby.

SKAERBAEK PARISH

AND MELBY VILLAGE

Skaerbaek is the town in Denmark where Henry Hansen came from. Melby village in South Skaerbaek is where his father Ander Hansen, moved around 1840 where he first became a lodger with Nis and Hanne Nissen. In 1841 Hanne Nissen become a widow and Henry's father bought the house at Melbyvie 25 from the widow.

HENRY'S  PATERNAL
GRANDPARENT'S

HANS SOERENSEN AND KAREN HANSDATTER

Henry's grandparents - Hans Soerensen and Karen Hansdatter owned a farm near Borre, Aal parish in Ribe county. Henry's father Anders was born on the farm and his Aunt Maren Hansdatter and Christen Pedersen her husband, took over running the farm when her father retired. Henry no doubt would have visited the farm many times.

HENRY'S MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS

Thor Hansen and Ane Larsdatter

Thor Hansen and Ane Larsdatter were Henry's mother's parents and after getting married they settled in Oesterbye, where they purchased a small house. The house did not have its own land, but Thor Hansen rented a small bit of land to help out the family with food.

HENRY ARRIVES IN AUSTRALIA
Alaluen Gold Fields 1867

Arriving in Sydney as a young man of 19 years, Henry already had a trade as a jeweller and watchmaker which he had learnt in Denmark. He also had an engagement with a watchmaker and jeweller named Jensen who lived on the Araluen gold fields in NSW.  So shortly after arriving Henry found himself in what was considered even then as the 'wild west' of the colony,

HENRY & THE STRASBURG CLOCK 1891

In 1891 Henry worked in Sydney with a relatively famous clockmaker who described Henry as....
"a thoroughly experienced practical watchmaker, and well known in many parts of the colony, having conducted businesses of considerable magnitude in Braidwood, Inverell, and Orange."

WHO is WHO in 1908

Henry's Family

In 1908 Henry's family had an interesting family studio portrait done. At the time this photograph was taken, both Henry and his wife Mary were 61 years old and all their children were now adults and the second generation of Henry’s descendants had begun to be born. 

HANSEN WOMEN

coming soon