Kerry Hall has been so kind to send me this. She has resaved this letter from Hans Biltoft Jensen.
Letter from Christian Madsen Biltoft to his uncle in Denmark
Upper Freestone Creek
August 12th 1894
Kjære…
English translation
Farmer at Freestone Creek, Christian Madsen Biltoft and wife Dorothea Christine, nee Hansen, and 4 children (1 Girl and 3 boys); from left Peter Vedsted Biltoft 6 y.o., Maria Mathilde Biltoft 9 y.o., (front) James Martin Biltoft, 4 y.o. And Christopher Adolphus Biltoft 2 y.o.
Upper Freestone Creek
August 12th 1894
Dear Uncle and Aunt
Yes it is now 22 years ago I left you and we walked together as far as Lunøe Church [now spelled Lundø]. Time is running fast I think it is only few years ago and yet if I took the voyage home again everything would be alien to me and I would hardly no anyone. Now Australia is home. As to us we are all healthy and things are well. I mail our portrait to you; the eldest of my children who would have been 11 years old now, has passed on, so the eldest alive is our only daughter 9 years old Maria Mathilda. Maria takes after mother, the eldest son 6 years old is named Peter Vedsted – you know after whom he is named. After then it is James Martin 4 years old and the 4th is Christopher Adolphus 2 years old. Brother Jens has 4 children, 3 daughters 1 son. Morten has 3 children he is a merchant. Helene and Lundager lost 2 children 3 years ago Maria and Scherning I believe has many children, I have not heard from them for many years now. He is a Saddler and lives in North Queensland. Christian is not married he is a Photographer. Anne Stine is also married but others than that I know very little about her. It is 18th month ago I last had a letter from your dear Son, cousin Hans, he was then healthy and in goods spirit, he wrote that [looks like he and his brother]… that he had been in the goldmines and lost everything. Cousin Hans promised to come and visit me one day but he might probably come. I have had his portrait he is a healthy and good spirited human he is in New South Wales the neighbouring colony to us. I told him that we have many gorgeous girls in Queensland. I see cousin Line who has ended up in Esbjerg [harbour city in south east Jutland] is somewhat weakly and I received a letter of hears last year from Lundager regarding Hans, I immediately mailed his address to Lundager I have not heard from him since. His address was P.O. Mount Aubrey via Wellington, New South Wales, Australia. Dear Uncle I see that your children are now all grown ups one is in America and the pensioners are dead. Now I mail to you our portrait and a walking stick and two chains which are a flower that grows in our garden, they are all a gift from me and my wife. The walking stick and its handle I give you as a recollection of Australia. My dad is living 100 miles from here, he was with us for several years and it is our biggest wish that he would have stayed with us the rest of his life. He is though very strong and healthy and turns 69 years. I pass on his greetings to you and Auntie from him; he is coming up to me at Christmas. I would ask if you could write to me. You are also getting a bit old now and if you have a portrait of you ane Aunt it would be wonderful we have a large album.
I mail you these things with a friend and neighbour Jens Skjønnemand [Jens Peter Lauritzen SKJØNNEMAND, Farmer b. abt. 1857 naturalised 1890 Warwick: Upper Freestone Creek, arrived 1887 on board the ss Dacca] I and brother bought up his property. I see that uncle Peter in Nourup is dead. Sine and Marthea and Hans Lauridsen and Niels Hansen are all dead. Uncle and Aunt at Roborghus must be way past 80 now. Greetings to all acquaintances in Lydum Parish. I see that times in Denmark are not the best and the properties have lost value. I see that butter production in Denmark has experienced progress since I left but now they are capable of sending butter from New Zealand and Australia to England in great quantities it might not be easy for Denmark. Big factories are built all over Australia. Now ending this letter I wish that these lines will find you in the same good position as they leave me. Many warm greetings to all of your children and fore mostly to your self. Your brother son and family
Christian Biltoft
Upper Freestone Creek
Warwick Queensland
Australia