christian

5th Generation

Christian Constantine 'Ferdinand' Jans 1815

& Anna Maria Grau

Great Great Grandparents of Max

Birth: Christian Constantine Ferdinand Jans (known as Ferdinand) was born 1815 Tonning Schleswig Holstien Germany the son of Lorenz Jans and Anna Karine Anderson.

Death: He died 20th April 1901 at Ketting Austenborg Denmark. He had lived the last years of his life with his son Jacob and family at HardeshØj on the northern part of Alsen where his son was a merchant.

Marriage: Christian married Anna Maria Grau on 22nd October 1843 at Austenborg Denmark.

Wife Birth: Anna Maria Grau was born at Sebbelev Denmark in 1821 the daughter of Jorgen Andressen Grau and Anna Sophia Vogt.

1845 Census: County-Sønderborg, District- Als Sønder, Parish- Ketting, Place Name- Dorf Ketting

Ferdinand Jans (Christian Constantine Ferdinand) age 30 years (b.Tönning) Occupation- Häuerling, Tagelöhner (servant/labourer) and Anna Maria geb(nee) Grua aged 25 years(b.Sebloe) & son Johann Jans (John) then aged 2 years birth place Ketting.

Occupation word meanings: People without land are called "Inste" (also: Einlieger, Häuerling, Häuerinste) ("Häuer" = rent)
and "Tagelöhner" (day laborers/hired hands). ("Tag" = day, "Lohn" = wage)

Wife Death: She died 13th March 1899 at Osbæk Denmark.

Employed by a '"Duke'"

Information below taken from letters I received from Merry Grau MØller & Per Grau MØller. Merry is a great granddaughter of Christian Jans and granddaughter of Jacob Jans.

Christian & Anna Jans first son was born 1837 prior to their marriage in 1843. At this time (and for many years after) Christian was a servant gardener/herdsman at the castle of Duke Christian Karl Friedrich August Herzog of Augustenburg and Anna was living at home with her parents in Sebbleleb. After their marriage they moved to Ketting buying the house of his parents. Then in 1855 they bought a smallholders cottage in Osbæk quite near the castle. In later years the house was unfortunately burnt down and no new building erected on the place.

Augustenburg Castle: now a hospital

Christian Jans worked as a gardener at the castle for many years.

The Schleswig-Holstein Uprising & Duke of Augustenburg

The Schleswig-Holstein uprising, the rebellion that was the reality behind the First Schleswig War of 1848-51 in Denmark.

Duke Christian of Augustenburg was the leader of the uprising. He took the party of Schleswig-Holsteiners, who wanted a more independent state, but associated with Prussia or at least it was to the benefit of Prussia. Their opponents were those who wanted a closer integration with Denmark. The result was Denmark won against Prussia and the Schleswig-Holsteiners. Danish military occupation took over and the Duke was made homeless and went to reside at his hunting seat of Grasten Germany. He was branded as a traitor by the Danes but acclaimed as a hero by the Schleswig-Holsteinists. The occupation meant that the people of Augustenburg had been forced to see their world topple into the sand. The castle was taken over by the Danish state in 1852 and made into a military hospital, later into a barracks and from 1876 to 1919 into a women teacher's college and now again used as a hospital..

Gifts from Princess Amelie of Augustenburg

What was the relationship between a herdsman/gardener Christian and Anna Jans and the Duke of Augustenburg and his family. Was it because of the Jans boys closeness with the princesses. Story has it that Christian & Anna's sons were invited to have their schooling tuition with the girls. )But the age gap between the princesses and the Jans boys seem to big.) I wonder if it wasn't Christian Jans himself and his brothers who were the ones to have tuition with the princesses as their ages were similar and this is where the the relationship between the families has stemmed. The Duke and his family had fled their castle home in 1848 as the result of the uprising and were living at Grasten in Germany, yet 45years later in 1893 on the occasion of their golden wedding anniversary Princess Amelie of Augustenburg presented Christian and Anna Jans with a beautiful bible with a silver clasp and a sugar and jug set in a padded box, with a dedication from the Princess. Both gifts are still in the possession of family members in Denmark.

Gift Set from the Duke of Augustenburg's Family, presented by Princess Amelie.

Family of Christian & Anna Jans

1. Christian August JANS b. 25 Dec 1837 in Sebbelev, Ketting sogn. Denmark (prior to parents marriage), d. 01 Feb 1929 in Flensborg Tyskland, m. He married Sofie Margrethe Lorenzen 09 Nov 1860 in Sonderborg, daughter of Lorenze Lorenzen and Sofia Jorgensen.

Link to more details on this family

2. JØrgen 'John' JANS b.20.Nov 1843 at Kettering Austenborg Denmark. m. John Jans was 38year old when he married 17year old Louise Marie Hansen on 11th February 1882 in a double wedding ceremony with his 34year old brother Andrew Jans and Louisa's young 14year old sister Eleanor Hansen at 108 Johnson Cresent Emerald Hill (South Melbourne), Victoria Australia.

Link to more details on this family

3. Andeas 'Andrew' JANS b.26 Nov 1846 born Kettering Austenborg Denmark. m. Ellen / Ellenor Theresa Hansen on 11 Feb 1882 at Emerald Hill Victoria in a double wedding ceremony brothers marrying sisters. (Marriage Reg. no.1060).

(Link to more details on this family

4. Jacob JANS b.6 Feb 1843

5. Jacob JANS b.10 Jan 1856 grandfather of Merry GrauMoller

6. Anna Katrine JANS b.31 Oct 1849

7. Anne Sophie JANS b.23 Sept.1863, bapt. 10 Oct.1863, died age 6½years 1871 Ketting

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