Jens is said to have been born in 1813, but I have not found the birth in any churchbook. His father was Hans Jensen Fossum.
Jens married May 30, 1839 Dorthe Christensdatter Skavan, born ca 1818 and her father was Christen Jansen Skavanhagen.
Skavanhagen was a farm half a kilometer north of Fossum, where Jens and his family probably lived.

In the census of 1835 we find Jens as a servant on the Fossum estate where the wealthy family Løvenskiold lived. Løvenskiold owned the Fossum Ironworks, and Jens was one of many people who did various work for the family. In the same household we also find Dorthe Christensdatter, age 17 and called a “weavergirl”.
In 1845 (census) we find the family living in a house belonging to the fam Lille Mæla which was owned by Mrs Cappelen. Lille Mæla was situated close to the north of the city of Skien.

The people who lived together in the house were:
Jens Hansen, carpenter, married, age 31
Dorthe Christensdatter, married, age 26

Karen Marie Jensdatter, age 6
Andrine Henriette Jensdatter, age 3
Hans Christian Jensen, age 1
Peter Ingebretsen, carpenter’s apprentice, unmarried, age 35
Anne Marie Gundersdatter, servant, age 26

Jens and Dorthe had the following children:

1. Karen Marie, b. Sep 29, 1839 – Lille Mæla

2. Andrine Henriette, b. Feb 3, 1842 – Lille Mæla
3. Hans Christian, b. Sep 2, 1844. – Lille Mæla.

The family emigrated to Merton township.
One more child was born in Pine Lake:
4. Ferdinand, b. Mar 26, 1852.