Thor Hansen was born 1782 and baptized September 8, 1782, in Borre, Aal parish, Ribe county. He was the son of carpenter Hans Thorsen and Maren Pedersdatter in Borre. In 1787 at age 5, Thor Hansen was living with his family in Borre village – there was three siblings, Maren, Karen and Peder.

Ane Larsdatter was born 1778 and baptized July 16, 1778, in Oesterby, Daler parish, Toender county, as the daughter of smallholder Lars Clausen and Maren Andersdatter. In 1787, Ane was living with her family in Oesterbye which was a typical embroidery home – the mother was making yarn and all the daughters (4 of them) were making embroidery also the youngest was just 10 years old.

Thor Hansen and Ane Larsdatter were married on January 20, 1810, in Daler church. They settled in Oesterbye, and in 1815 they were able to purchase a small house in Oesterbye (house number 288) for 120 Cour. The house did not have its own land, but Thor Hansen rented a small bit of land to help out the family with food.

The children of Thor and Ane were: 

Hans Thorsen was born on April 12, 1813, in Oesterbye, Daler parish, and baptized on April 15. Witnesses were Hansen from Oesterbye, Peter Hansen from Skads, Lorentz Christensen from Oesterbye, Maren Hansdatter, Hellene Petersdatter from Oesterbye. 


Lena Marie Thorsdatter was born May 9, 1816, in Oesterbye, Daler parish, and baptized in church on May 12, 1816. Witnesses were Maren small holder Christen Lassen’s wife in Oesterbye, Botilla Nielsdatter from Abild, Maren small holder Peder Jensen’s daughter I Oesterbye, Nis Johnsen farmer from Oesterbye and Jens Holgersen servant from Moegeltoender. 


Maren Thorsdatter was born March 15, 1823, in Oesterby, Daler parish, and baptized at home March 16, 1823. Witnesses were Inger farmer Christen Thomsens wife, Dorthea small holder Peder Jensen’s daughter, Bodel Marie Jensdatter, Hansen, and Laus Christensen, all from Oesterbye. 

Thor Hansen's smallholder home in Oesterbye

It was a typical low income family. Besides a bit of land around the house, Thor Hansen also had to go out and help on other farms in the area. In 1834, he was actually not living with his family but doing steady work on a farm in Daler village belonging to Hans Bennedsen. There were three servants on the farm and Thor Hansen was one of them.

This meant that his wife Ane was living also by herself on the house they had in Oesterbye. Two of the children was living with her, Lene Marie age 18 and Maren age 11.

However, Ane Larsdatter did not have a long life. She died on August 16, 1835, in Oesterbye, Daler parish, at the age of 57 years.

A few years later a new woman moved into the house of Thor Hansen. Zille Marie Olesen was a widow herself and she became engaged to Thor Hansen. He was 58 years old and she was 43 years old. As they wanted to get married, Thor Hansen had to pay out to his three children the heir from their deceased mother.

Therefore, the probate court turned up at his house to make a total inventory of all things of value in and outside the house. This gives a unique opportunity to understand what a typical household of a smallholder in the 19th century consisted off.

Here is the list of anything of value:

1 clock

1 oak table

4 chairs

1 bench

8 tea cups

1 cobber fireplace

Some tools

1 wooden scale

1 bureau

1 cobber funnel

2 mirros

4 Dutch dishes

7 milk bowls

1 brass candlestick

1 iron and 6 flowers pots

1 bed cover

1 lamp

1 quilt

Glass house for candle and candle scissors 1 table

1 shrine

Some sticks

1 flour barrel

1 special cup, 1 bottle

4 dishes

1 iron pot

1 iron pot

1 iron pot

1 old chair

1 coffee kettle, 1 metal kettle

1 handle for chest and some locks Wooden spoons, forks and knives

Old pots

2 water pitchers

1 old cabinet

1 fork and 1 showel

1 jump pole, 1 sail, 1 fishing tool

1 tool, 1 bench

1 basket, 1 trough

Fishing tools

1 hay fork, 1 wooden leg

1 tub, 1 old spoon, 1 beer barrel

1 sheaf of corn Firewood

1 tub

1 board and 2 dishes 1 milk stir

1 bucket and choppers 1 arm basket

1 yarns holder

3 pots and 1 dish

1 salt barrel and table plate

1 old bag

2 big spoons and 1 foam spoon 1 fire tong

1 flour box and some pots

1 iron frying pan

1 oak table

1 cow

2 tubs for peat

1 sheep and 2 lamb

1 tool

1 rake and 1 separator

1 baking trough and 1 hay fork 1 sheaf of hay

2 hay cutters

4 portions of hay

The dunghill near the house

The value of the house was set to 120 Cour. and the value of the inventory was evaluated at 52 Cour., a total of 172 Cour., or 276 Rdl.

From this was deducted debts of 85 Rdl. and the cost of the probate proceedings of 10 Rdl., leaving a total value of 180 Rdl. to be shared.

This is equivalent to about $2,800 in Australian dollars today.

Thor Hansen, as the husband of deceased wife, inherited half of the value, so 90 Rld. The rest, 90 Rdl. was split between the children. The son Hans Thorsen, who was 26 years old, inherited 45 Rld., as it was the law at these times that boys inherited a full portion and girls inherited half a portion.

For each of the two daughters the inheritance was 22 1⁄2 Rdl. Lena Marie who was 24 years old was represented by the guardian Jens Nielsen from Oesterbye and Maren who was 17 years old was represented by the guardian Hans Caspersen.

Thor Hansen in all probability did not have to pay out the inheritance in cash but he could pay out the amount over time or even only when he died, as long as he paid interest for the amount he owed to the children. He also made the point that Maren was sickly and had to remain under care by the home, that her inheritance over time would be balanced by their expenses for keeping her at home.

The probate is found in the probate protocol 1820-1840 for Moegeltoender area (2434), page 424.