

Anders Hansen born on June 1, 1817, in Borre. He was baptized at home on June 19 and in church on June 29. Witnesses were farmer Jens from Kaerup, Hans Pedersen from Borre, Mathias Soerensen from Kaerup, Mette Pedersen from Kaerup & Maren Nielsdatter from Borre.
His parents were farmer Hans Soerensen Kielst and wife Karen Hansdatter. Anders Hansen was enrolled in the military navy, but whether he ever served in active duty is not known.
Anders grew up on his father's farm near Borre and while he and most of his siblings worked on the farm he also became a tailor. When Anders was in his early 20’s, sometime before 1840 he moved to Melby in Skaerbaek parish where he first became a lodger at the family of Nis Nielsen Friis and Hanne Kierstine Nissen.
Anders Hansen was a tailor, and the Skaerbaek parish was special in the sense that there was a high ratio of craftsmen and clothes manufacturer, of which many was concentrated in the village Melby. Melby was well known as an artisan community so he may have moved there to work or learn from the artisan tailors in the area.
Lene Marie Thorsdatter was born May 9, 1816 in Oesterby, Daler parish. Her parents were smallholder Thor Hansen and Ane. She was confirmed March 4, 1832, in Daler church while still living with her parents in Oesterbye. It turns out that the father of Lena Marie Thorsdatter and the mother of Anders Hansen were siblings which means that Lena and Anders were cousins.
Lene lived at home with her mother until at least 1834, and before 1840 she came to work for the priest Peter Severin Foenss (1799-1862) in Moegeltoender as a servant. The church was right next to Schackenborg castle, so she has in all probability been familiar with the servants on the castle and possibly have been helping out there during large parties.
In November 1840, Lene moved on to Skaerbaek parish as a servant where Anders Hansen was now living.