Hals, Denmark

Most of the Jeppson line comes from the tip of the Jutland of Denmark, stretching from Aalborg to Hjorring and Skallerup.  We were limited on time, so we only picked two towns to look around.  Next in our line up was Hals, Denmark...on the coast due East of Aalborg.

Here is where Pedar's great-grandpa and grandpa were born.  Jeppe Thomasen was born, married and died here, and Christian Jeppesen was born here then married outside of town a ways.  We found the church where Jeppe and Anna Christensdatter were most likely married.  It was the only church for 30 miles, and the center of Hals.  It was built in 1741, so a year before Jeppe was born.  It is the church he grew up with.  We thought that was really neat.

 Unfortunately, they recycle cemetery's in Denmark (most of Europe actually)  A common practice is to keep the plot for a generation, then if the family is no longer there to pay the "rent", it is given to another family.  Jeppe Thomasen and Christen Jeppesen, were no longer there.  The danes would bury individuals in wood boxes, so everything would disolve and a new casket could be buried when the time came.  We did find evidence of the Jeppesen family all over the cemetery though...it is a very common name in this area, so probably distant cousins.  We even found a marker for an Aksel Jeppesen...which was a nick name we used for Hunter (baby A for Axil) in the womb before he was born...spelled differently though.  But we laughed when we saw it...it's a family name, who knew?!  I took a picture...but I can't find it, so it must be on Matt's phone.

 There were a lot of thatched roofed cottages in this town.  It really was very charming!

 Another Thatched roof!

The town square had this huge ancor and ship mast in the center.

It was cold!

 This, obviously, was a fishing village, and probably an old whaling village.  We can surmise that our ancestors were fishermen.  These whale bones are in the center of town, and were there in 1752, so Jeppe and Christen saw these as part of their day to day life.

 I love this sign...don't drive off the dock!

 Hals, fishing town

A Lobster boat.

It was neat to see where Matt and my children "come" from.  It was so cold, we didn't stay out much.  We had checked the weather before we left and it was supposed to be 0% precipitation ..but would you believe it snowed off and on pretty much our whole trip!

Still it was such a unique experience!  I am glad we went!