Jorgensen Family
Jens Peter and Henriette Rosalie Jorgensen
Jens was born in 1830 on the Danish Island of Mon. He married Henriette Rosalia Hasen in 1859 and the first five of their children were born at Stege, Denmark. The family emigrated to New Zealand in 1872 and their last two children were born in Wellington. There were six sons in total, with one having died as a child.
Jens Peter Jorgensen, courtesy of Ancestry family tree
Jens owned and ran a store in Charles Street, Kilbirnie (later renamed Moxham Ave). The property on which the store sat was nearly an acre and contained his house also. In 1888 he tried to enter politics, being nominated for the office of Councillor for the Kilbirnie Ward of the Borough of Melrose. He was not successful. In 1894 he was nominated for the City Licensing Elections.
On behalf of a committee, in March 1891 he invited the ratepayers of Kilbirnie to a meeting to consider the ways of cutting the hill between Kilbirnie and Newtown to gain easier access to the city. As a result of the meeting, a subcommittee including Jens was formed to wait upon the Melrose Borough Council and ask for its aid in carrying out the project. As the work would be done within the city boundary, it was necessary to approach the City Council. They did so in July by a deputation to the Public Works Committee. The Committee agreed to the work but could not contribute to the cost. The work was later estimated at £1000 and the Melrose Borough proposed sharing the costs with Wellington City. It took several more years of negotiation before the cutting was constructed. It must have been life changing for the suburb.
In 1894, Jens was part of a deputation representing 1000 of his countrymen congratulating Mr H.D. Bell on being appointed Danish consul. He later made Mr Bell one of the trustees of his Will.
Jens died in 1899, leaving Henrietta [Henriette] the use of the house and shop and an allowance for their second son Johannes. The rest of the property was ultimately to be divided among the remaining sons. Henrietta remained running a store at Kilbirnie until the trustees put it up for sale in 1906. She remained living in Charles Street, as did many of her married sons. At the age of 75 she travelled to Europe and at the age of 80 she went on a trip to Australia. She died in 1919 in her 86th year having lived the previous 40 years in Kilbirnie.
Henriette Jorgensen courtesy of Ancestry family tree/
Johannes died at Porirua Hospital, having been admitted in 1913 suffering from delusional insanity. He also had a congenital club foot. He was frequently visited by his relatives.
Karori Cemetery Plot: *Public/G/57
Aldersley, David James, 1862-1928. Kilbirnie, Wellington. Original photographic prints and postcards from file print collection, Box 15. Ref: PAColl-7081-18. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22375232.
The Wellington suburb of Kilbirnie, circa 1915, photographed by David James Aldersley.
Notes on back of file print read: "Left - Moxham Ave (formerly Charles Street). 2 houses in centre of photo on cnr Moxham Ave built by Mr Compton for Albert Jorgensen ca 1899. On right side of Moxham Ave - (right side photo) William (Bill) Price's home - he was killed at Gallipoli and left two maiden sisters. Old Anglican Church off Hamiliton Rd. Later replaced by brick building. This one then used by Sunday School. Vicar Mr Sykes. Vicarage on corner. House next to church belonged to the Fitzgeralds (and previously the Sidey family). Primary school in Raupo St."
Sketch of the Jorgensen plot, Karori Cemetery, October 2024.
Photo of the Jorgensen headstone, Karori Cemetery, October 2024.