Validation of Exceptional Longevity Age Validation of the Oldest Man Annexes

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Detailed description of available information and documentation

Birth registration

Family

Confirmation of baptism

Census 1880

Skaarup village, Fruering parish, Hjermslev district, Aarhus county.
Enumerator: Knud Mikkelsen

No.	Name	Sex	Age	Marital status	Faith	Place of birth
14	Jens Mortensen	M	37 yrs.	Married	Lutheran	Skanderborg
15	Maren Mortensen, nee Therkelsen	F	37 yrs.	Married	Lutheran	Skanderborg
16	Hans Johan Mortensen	M	10 yrs.	Unmarried	Lutheran	Søvind parish, Voer distr.
17	Karl Emil Mortensen	M	4 yrs.	Unmarried	Lutheran	In this parish
18	Anders Peter Julius Mortensen	M	1 yr.	Unmarried	Lutheran	In this parish

Census 1890

Skaarup village, Fruering parish, Hjermslev district, Aarhus county.
Enumerator: Johannes Christensen

House 3:

No.	Name	Sex	Age	Marital status	Place of birth	Occupation
11	Jens Karl Martinus Mortensen	M	47 yrs.	Married	Skanderborg	Tailor
12	Maren Therkelsen Thybo	F	47 yrs.	Married	Skanderborg	Housewife
13	Anders Peter Julius Mortensen	M	11 yrs.	Unmarr	Fruering	Child
14	Thomas Peter Thorvald KristianFerdinand Mortensen	M	7 yrs.	Unmarr.	Fruering	Child

Census 1901

Skaarup village, Fruering parish, Hjermslev district, Aarhus county.
Enumerator: Johannes Christensen

Title no. 24:

Census 1901

The town of Skanderborg
House list no. 153
Lillegade title 149; Owner: A. Andersen
Thomas Christian Mortensen; Male; Born 16 August 1882; Unmarried; Lutheran Church; Place of birth: Skaarup, Skanderborg county
Arrived in Skanderborg 1898; Last residence Skaarup, Skanderborg county
Apprentice (tailor); Working for Jens Overgaard

Conscript register

A certificate, containing the above information and verifying the entry in the conscript register, was issued 1 January 1900 to CM. It was still in his possession in 1997.

Emigration record

In the Danish Emigration Archive emigrants who travelled from Denmark to the US are registered. Below is shown CM's entry.

Name:	Mortensen, Chr.
Occupation:	Tailor
Age:	21
Destination:	Chicago
Contract no.:	3209
Date shown:	August 26, 1903
Place of birth:	Skaarup, Skanderborg
Country:	USA

Immigration record

CM's immigration record was found at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

Handwritten items on the form are shown in brackets [] to distinguish them from printed items. The information on each line of the form was divided into 22 columns. The headings for the columns and the recorded information about CM are shown below.

Transcription:

List [C]

LIST OR MANIFEST OF ALIEN PASSENGERS FOR THE U.S. IMMIGRATION OFFICER AT PORT OF ARRIVAL.

Required by the regulations of the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, under Act of Congress approved March 3, 1903, to be delivered to the U.S. Immigration Officer by the Commanding Officer of any vessel having such passengers on board upon arrival at a port in the United States.

S.S. [United States] sailing from [Copenhagen], [Aug. 26th], 190[3], arriving at Port of [New York], [September 8], 190[3].

1	No. on List. [20]
2	NAME IN FULL. [Mortensen, Chr.]
3	Age. Yrs. [21] Mos. [-]
4	Sex. [m]
5	Married or Single. [s]
6	Calling or Occupation. [tailor]
7	Able to Read. [yes] Write. [yes]
8	Nationality. (Country of last permanent residence.) [Danish]
9	Race or People. [Scandinavian]
10	Last Residence. (Province, City, or Town.) [Jutland]
11	Final Destination. (State, City, or Town.) [Chicago, Ill]
12	Whether having a ticket to such final destination. [yes]
13	By whom was passage paid? [self]
14	Whether in possession of $50, and if less, how much? [$21]
15	Whether ever before in the United States; and if so, when and where? [no]
16	Whether going to join a relative or friend; and if so, what relative or friend, and his name and complete address. [4022 Kenillworth Ave. Oak Park, Chicago Ill. Cousin Niels Hansen]
17	Ever in prison or almshouse, or institutions for care and treatment of the insane, or supported by charity? If so, which? [no]
18	Whether a Polygamist. [no]
19	Whether an Anarchist. [no]
20	Whether coming by reason of any offer, ..., promise, or agreement, ... [no]
21	Condition of Health. Mental and Physical. [a little shortsighted, otherwise good.]
22	Deformed or Crippled. Nature, length of time, and cause. [no]

Application for the Danish Brotherhood in America

On 26 March 1905 CM applied for membership in the Danish Brotherhood in America, Lodge 35, and he was accepted on 5 May 1905 at the age of 22. In his application, he gives his date of birth as 16 August 1882 and place of birth as Skaarup, Fruering parish, Aarhus county.

On the medical report that was required by the Brotherhood, his height is given as 5 foot 4 inches (162.6 cm) and weight 135 pound (61.2 kg). CM correctly states the age of his two older brothers (26 and 30 years) as well as his mother's age (63 years). Asked when he last consulted a physician and whom, CM reported a visit that occurred in 1900 and mentioned Dr. Hindhede, who was a physician in Skanderborg, Denmark, where CM lived at that time.

Census 1920 in the United States

The following information was taken from the 1920 census listing for the 22nd Precinct, Chicago, Illinois. The form was filled out on 16 January 1920 by Jessie E. Huiscoe. At entry 84, the following information is given (with handwritten items on the form shown in brackets [] to distinguish them from printed items):

1	Street, avenue [Union Ave]
2	House number or farm [6034]
3	Number of dwelling house (visitation order) [173]
4	Number of family (visitation order) [234]
5	Name [Mortensen, Chris F.]
6	Relation to head of household [Head]
7	Home owned or rented [R]
8	If owned, free or mortgaged
9	Sex [M]
10	Color or race [W]
11	Age at last birthday [37]
12	Single, married, widowed or divorced [Married]
13	Year of immigration to U.S. [1904]
14	Naturalized or alien [Na]
15	If naturalized, year of naturalization
16	Attended school anytime since Sept. 1, 1919
17	Able to read [Yes]
18	Able to write [Yes]
19	Person, place of birth [Denmark]
20	Person, mother tongue [Danish]
21	Father, place of birth [Denmark]
22	Father, mother tongue [Danish]
23	Mother, place of birth [Denmark]
24	Mother, mother tongue [Danish]
25	Able to speak English [Yes]
26	Trade, profession, or particular kind of work done [Teamster]
27	Industry, business, or establishment in which at work [Dairy]
28	Employer, salary, or wage worker, or working on own account [W]
29	Number of farm schedule

Entry 85 in the census list contains the wife of CM (age 38). Also, at entries 86-88, are listed other residents of the house: his wife's mother (age 54), his wife's "brother" (age 16), and a roomer (age 32). (In reality, the wife's "brother" was probably her child from a previous marriage or relationship.)

Certificate of Naturalization, United States of America

On 15 June 1922 CM was admitted as an American citizen according to Certificate of Naturalization, Vol 147B, number 42684. Among the information given on the certificate is the following:

-	Age	[39]
-	Height	[5'5"]
-	Color	[White]
-	Complexion	[Light]
-	Color of eyes	[Blue]
-	Color of hair	[Blond]
-	Visible distinguishing marks	[None]

Additional documents containing information for the verification

-	CM held a Social Security card that was issued 23 December 1936.
-	Florida Operator License was issued August 1968, expiring in 1970. His correct date of birth was given as well as other information compatible with that given in earlier documents, color of eyes (Blue) and height (5'5").
-	In 1970, CM transferred his freemasonry affiliation from Chicago to a lodge in Texas. For this purpose, a "Dimit" was issued by the John B. Sherman Masonic Lodge in Chicago, dated 14 July 1970. The document indicates that CM received his "MM" degree on 23 March 1925, and contains his correct date and place of birth.

Employment records

- Continental Can Company 1929-1950

The following information was taken from records supplied by the pension administration office of Crown Cork & Seal Company of Philadelphia, which acquired the Continental Can Company in 1990.

CM was hired by the Continental Can Company on 7 June 1929 and retired 21 years later on 31 July 1950. He was a member of the United Steelworkers of America. He spent most of his time at Continental Can working in a factory in Clearing, Illinois.

On his pension application, CM put 16 August 1882 as his date of birth. The pension application gives information about earnings during only the last 10 years of his employment at Continental Can. From 31 July 1940 through 31 July 1950, his total earnings are listed as $24,445.81. On the pension "register card," his (annual) base earnings appear to be listed as $2,932.20.

Visits to Denmark

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