There are 2 Niels Nielsens born in Hesselballe in 1828: one to Ane Marie Laursdatter and Niels Christensen (of B...ing? Spørring? Skørring?) and the second to Niels Sørensen & Ane Sørensdatter. We know that the first one is our Niels Nielsen because he is living with Ane Marie and her husband Niels Pedersen in the 1870 Census.
His birth parents were never married. He was raised by Niels Pedersen and continued this relationship into his 40’s. We can therefore consider him adopted.
!BIRTH Parish Record, Hjortshøj, Randers, Danmark, 1691-1833 (#51038). Also Confirmation record, Parish Records, Hjortshøj, Randers, Danmark, 1833-1848, p. 216.
!MARRIAGE Parish Record, Feldballe, Randers, Danmark, 1846-1864, Bk. #5 (#50954)
!DEATH Parish Record, Hjortshøj, Øster Lisbjerg, Randers, Danmark 1892-1910 p 191, Dansk Rigsarkiv,
Arkivalieronline.dk data_kirkeboeger1892_C344B_G_002_0191a-DM.
The family moved from Feldballe to Hjortshøj on 9 Jun 1854. Their oldest son, Søren, was 6 months old. (Tilgangsliste, Parish Records, Hjortshøj, Randers, Danmark, 1849-1858 (Dansk Rigsarkiv,
Arkivalieronline.dk).
He was a weaver. Christening Record for his son Niels Peder Nielsen lists last name as "Kudsk", which means "carriage driver" in Danish. This may have been his profession. In 1860 Census he is called "Daglier".
Census 1870, Hesselballe, Hjortshøj, Øster Lisbjerg, Randers, Danmark (#263015) shows his birthplace as Voldum Sogn (this is an error caused by “ditto” from the family above) and his age as 41.
At the time of the 1880 Census (Hjortshøj) Niels, Kirsten and their 2 youngest children were living with Frands Adam Hans Bülow, the “sognepræst” (minister) and his family. Both Niels and Kirsten Marie are 52 years old and his birthplace is listed correctly as Hjortshøj.