Consul Edward Groth forwarded the request to the Rev. Tage Jensen, pastor of a Lutheran church in Kalundborg, Denmark , a small seaport on the island of Sjaelland, 60 miles west of the Danish capitol. Rev. Jensen searched his church’s records and forwarded the following information:
The family is descended from a Danish fisherman, Neils Albrecht Kirkemann, and his wife Ane Josefine Atchinson Kirkemann of Kalundborg, both were born about 1805-1810 in Copenhagen. They had seven children, all born in Kalundborg:
1. Christian Wilhelm Kirkemann, born Aug. 5, 1828.
2. Christoffer Nielsen Kirkemann, born Feb. 17, 1831.
3. Frederik Christian Kirkemann, born June 27, 1833.
4. Wilhelmine Josephine Kirkemann, born March 17, 1835.
5. Nielsine Henriette Kjerkmann, born Jan. 12, 1838.
6. Carl Christian Ferdinand Kirkemann, born Aug. 8, 1840
7. Caroline Christine Kirchman, born April 2, 1842
Besides the obvious facts that Neils and Ane were hung up on names beginning with Christ and spelled the family name three ways, nothing much is known about them. Christian Wilhelm apparently was their only child to emigrate to America.
Christian probably left home after a disagreement with his parents or may have wanted to see the world and the sea was his escape hatch. We must also note that 19th century Denmark had a class-ridden society which didn't provide many opportunities for its lower class and encouraged immigration.