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Shirley Griffith
Starting member
USA
10 Posts |
 Posted - 28/06/2005 : 23:19:03
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I found my great grandparents, Steen and Thomina Olsen. Then someone on Ancestry.com had info on Steen's parents. He stated his information as coming from IGI. Said it showed Steens parents as Ole Steensen and Helje Gundersdatter with other children being , Gunder, Ingebor, Peder, and Knud. All this seems to fit my family but how do I know his information is correct? He had the marriage date as 23 Jul 1826 and verified that from marriage records, but where did the information on the children come from? Will appreciate any assistance.
Shirley  |
Edited by - Shirley Griffith on 28/06/2005 23:27:52 |
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jwiborg
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
4961 Posts |
Posted - 29/06/2005 : 00:22:58
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Hi,
a "parent search" at LDS proofs this information. Previous census information has also shown that Steen was from Vegaardshei.
Children to Ole Steensen and Helje Gundersdatter:
- Steen Olsen - Christening: 08 JUL 1827 Vegaarshei, Aust-Agder, Norway
- Gunder Olsen - Christening: 31 JAN 1830 Vegaarshei, Aust-Agder, Norway
- Ingebor Olsen - Christening: 07 AUG 1831 Vegaarshei, Aust-Agder, Norway. Note: Prob. dead before 26 DEC 1842
- Peder Olsen - Christening: 10 JAN 1836 Vegaarshei, Aust-Agder, Norway
- Knud Olsen - Christening: 20 MAY 1839 Vegaarshei, Aust-Agder, Norway
- Ingebor Olsen - Christening: 26 DEC 1842 Vegaarshei, Aust-Agder, Norway
They are extracted records from the original churchbooks. Of course there could be another Steen Olsen born at the same time, but for that to happen in the very small village of Vegaardshei is very unlikely. The age fits with the 1865 census, so it must be the right people! 
To do a parent search, just fill in Father - Last Name, Mother - Last Name here
Marriage record: click here
Jan Peter |
Edited by - jwiborg on 29/06/2005 00:30:29 |
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Shirley Griffith
Starting member
USA
10 Posts |
Posted - 29/06/2005 : 19:26:40
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Hi, Jan,
There you are again; my rescuing angel. You are so helpful. Thanks to you I have found relatives in Nebraska who are just as excited as I am about finding each other. I could never have found all of this on my own; I had so little to go on and it all just keeps getting better and better, thanks mostly to you. Also, I want you to know that quite by accident and diligent searching I did find the ship my family arrived in New York on - they actually left from Glasgow, which I would never have guessed. Don't know how they got there; but they did. Again thank you, thank you.
Shirley Griffith |
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Shirley Griffith
Starting member
USA
10 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2005 : 08:51:23
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My newly found "cousins" in Nebraska sent me information they had gotten from a researcher at the Vesterheim Genealogical Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Although he had the 1865 census also which does state that Steen Olsen came from Vegaarshei, he has Steen as being born 19 Nov 1826 in Holt, Aust Agder; has Thomine being born 19 Oct 1833 in Tromoy (there's a slash in the last "o") Aust Agder; and he gets different parents for Steen: Ole Stiansen and Helje Aslaksdatter. I have no idea how far apart Vegaarshei and Holt are but that's pretty coincidental that there would be two Steen Olsen's born in the same year and marry the same woman. It seems like the information I got here is a better fit. Forgive me for "beating this horse to death" but I need help convincing the relatives their researcher picked the wrong man and satisfy myself that I have the right information.
Shirley |
Edited by - Shirley Griffith on 05/07/2005 08:54:34 |
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jwiborg
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
4961 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2005 : 21:36:43
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Hi again Shirley,
Vegårshei has "always" been under Gjerstad parish, but with one exception; between 1812-1828 it was under Holt parish!!
Holt parish is the area around Tvedestrand, between Arendal and Risør. Se map of Aust-Agder county below.
So if Steen was born 1826 in Vegårshei, it would be correct to say that he was born in Vegaårshei in Holt parish in Nedenes Amt (older name on Aust-Agder county).
Map of Nedenes Amt, 1801
I still believe this is the right Steen. It might actually be the same one the researcher at the Vesterheim Genealogical Center found.
Ole Steenersen / Ole Stiansen could be the same man. Maybe it is written of an original churchbook with a "bad" handwriting? Helje Gundersdatter / Helje Aslaksdatter does not look to be the same person, although the firstname are indentical...
However, being born in November, and christening after almost 8 months...? A bit late...
But then again, marriage date 3-4 months before his birth! Very common these days, having a legitimate child was very important!!
Tromøy is a big island just outside Arendal.
Jan Peter |
Edited by - jwiborg on 05/07/2005 21:54:47 |
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Shirley Griffith
Starting member
USA
10 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2005 : 23:44:18
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Hi again Jan, Thanks for the information and maps. I am still confused and I still feel as though your information is probably the way to go but it makes a difference in the family tree with those different Helje's! From your response, I gather you too have seen the information the researcher at Vesterheim found. Does Tromoe sogn mean the same thing as Tromoy? I know sogn means parish and you said Tromoy was a large island off Arendal. To confuse things further the monument that Steen's children erected to their parents a year after he died (1892) says: Steen Olsen died 29 Nov 1891 at 64 years 4 months and 24 days old; none of which fits either birth date, Jul 1827 or Nov 1826. But my grandfather's date of birth is wrong on his tombstone I have discovered since researching all our family. We have 1872 and if my information is correct on their sailing in 1869 and arriving in 3 Sep 1869, we have our tombstone wrong. Wow! Is it ever possible to be certain we have the correct family tree? I'm 70 years old and my thinking is slowing down! I should have done this years ago but then I did not have the computer!
Again, many thanks, Friend.
Shirley |
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jwiborg
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
4961 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2005 : 01:49:31
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Hi,
No, I dont think I've seen the information from the researcher at Vesterheim. Everything I've seen regarding this case has been put up here.
I have never come across Ole Stiansen and Helje Aslaksdatter before you put up the names here today...
Yes, Tromoe sogn is Tromøy sogn. Actually, it's only the island which I refer to as "Tromøy", but I see that the parish also covers part of the nearby mainland, east of the city Arendal. (On the map, it's the area around Eydehavn)
08 JUL 1827 is the christening day of Steen Olsen in Vegårshei, it's not his birthdate! He would probably be born some months prior to the christening, maybe around February. Even though it sounds unlikely with christening of an 8 months old boy, it might be possible... It could depend on local traditions.
The tombstone indicates d.o.b. = 05 Jul 1827. Hmmm... ?
Jan Peter |
Edited by - jwiborg on 06/07/2005 02:00:28 |
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Brining
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
868 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2005 : 02:27:50
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quote:
Originally posted by Shirley Griffith
But my grandfather's date of birth is wrong on his tombstone I have discovered since researching all our family. We have 1872 and if my information is correct on their sailing in 1869 and arriving in 3 Sep 1869, we have our tombstone wrong. Wow! Is it ever possible to be certain we have the correct family tree?
If your grandfather is Thomas you probably have the correct information. In the 1880 census he is listed as being born in 1872 in Nebraska so he was born after they came over.
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
Steen OLSEN Self M Male W 52 NOR Farmer NOR NOR
Thomina OLSEN Wife M Female W 47 NOR Keeping House NOR NOR
Ole OLSEN Son S Male W 21 NOR Works On Farm NOR NOR
Gunder OLSEN Son S Male W 15 NOR At Home NOR NOR
Thorwald OLSEN Son S Male W 14 NOR At Home NOR NOR
Halder OLSEN Son S Male W 11 NOR NOR NOR
Thomas OLSEN Son S Male W 8 NE NOR NOR
Helena M. OLSEN Niece S Female W 11 NOR NOR NOR
The 1870 census has Steen age 46 Thomina age 35 and children Annie 14, Olle 11, Knud 8, Gunder 5, Torwal 3 and Halder 1. It looks like Steen and Thomina's age are wrong here which often happens in census.
The only way to be sure as to his parents and birth date would be to rent the parish register microfilm from the LDS and see for yourself.
Carla
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Shirley Griffith
Starting member
USA
10 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2005 : 05:45:02
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Hi again,
Sorry I am such a novice at this. My grandfather, Hulder Olsen, was the fifth son of Steen and Thomine Olsen and he is buried in Pampa, Texas using 1872 as his birth year but I now believe it to be 1869. Thomas was the last son born to Steen and Thomine and was born in 1872 in Nebraska.
Jan, I don't know about the 5 July 1827 on the tombstone - it said he died 29 Nov 1891 at age 64 yr 4 mos and 24 days. Oh, I said I was slow - your figured it out that be would 5 Jul 1827! Right! I get it now. I would like to be brief but I seldom manage it, so I am going to quote the Vesterheim researcher. He sent lots of paper work which included an Ancestor Chart that says:
Steen Olsen b 19 Nov 1826
m. 29 Dec 1854
d. 29 Nov 1891 (info from my relatives)
father: Ole Stiansen Garta
b. 19 May 1799
m 11 Aug 1826
paternal grandfather: Stian Gunleksen Garta
paternal grandmother: Ingeborg Olsdatter
mother: Helje Aslaksdatter
b. 8 Apr 1792
maternal grandfather: Aslak Knudsen
b. 1759
d. 1824
maternal grandmother: Birta Olsdatter
b. 1766
d. 1833
Steen's wife was Thomine Andersdatter
b. 15 Oct 1833
d. 19 Jan 1881 (provided by my relatives)
father: Anders Thomassen
mother: Anne Gurine Hansdatter
"I next returned to the church records for Norway and found the following. The birth of Steen's parents both occurred in Holt parish, Aust Agder, Norway. They were married in the same parish in 1826. The following children were born to them:
Steen b. 19 Nov 1826
Anders b. 20 Oct 1830
Ole Tybring b. 17 Sep 1832 and d. 9 Mar 1833
Ole's first wife, Helje died also in 1833 and he remarried to a Marthe Larsdatter from Klamplien farm in Austre Moland, AA, Norway. They had the following children:
Helene b. 3 Aug 1835
Lars b. 3 Dec 1837
Moving onto Steen's family now, I found the birth of his wife Thomine, 15 Nov 1833 on the Barbo farm in Tromoy parish, AA, Norway. They were married 1854 in the same parish. In all records, Steen is referred to as a blacksmith. The following children were born to them in Tromoy parish, Norway:
Anna b. 14 Sep 1855
Ole Andreas b. 18 Sep 1858
Knud(e) b. 16 May 1862 [is this a male or female? Shirley]
Gunder b. 330 Jul 1864
I have enclosed a copy of the family living in Arendal parish in the 1865 census. I went back to the copy of the utflyttede record that you provided which indicates that they left this parish in May of 1866. This may be a recording error for when you look at the indflyttede record for Arendal it indicates Sep of 1865. Anyway the birth of the next child was in Arendal:
Thorvald b. 26 May 1866
As to the son, Halder, I have not been able to locate his birth as of yet. I looked at the records for Arendal Tromoy and Holt with no luck. It may be that they moved elsewhere prior to coming to America. I found nothing in the utflyttede records in Arendal indicating them departing that parish. It would appear that they came to America sometime during the period between Halder's birth and Thomas. I looked for departure port records for Oslo and Bergen and found nothing."
I hope this is not too discouraging to you! Thank you for your efforts. That's a good idea to rent the parish records from the LDS. Is the parish Vegaarshei, Holt an/or Tromoy? Again thank you.
Shirley |
Edited by - Shirley Griffith on 06/07/2005 05:53:09 |
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Brining
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
868 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2005 : 15:07:21
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Hi Shirley, I thought with all that information it would be easy to find someone in the 1801 census, but no luck. I am not sure if the census is complete.
As to the microfilms, probably all of the above. You can look up what is available at the LDS Click Here
Put aust-agder in the place box (you need to use the - between aust and agder) Click on Norway, Aust-Adger on the next page, and then click on the view related places button. You can select the place you want to look at and then click on church records, click on the Kirkebøker button and you should come to a page that has a view film notes at the top. If you click on that, you will see the films available.
Carla |
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Shirley Griffith
Starting member
USA
10 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2005 : 18:14:47
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Hi Carla, Wow! I really learned something with those brief instructions. It looks as though I can almost see everything on one film for the years 1813-1829 and will probably cover Vegaarshei, Holt and Tromoy. I've never been to the LSD but it looks as though I may spend the day there. Do you think I'll be able to understand the records if I spot the names since it is in Norwegian. Wonder if they have a Norwegian/English dictionary?
Thank you for your guidance and kind assistance. I really appreciate it. If I find a definite answer to all this, I'll post it here!
Shirley |
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Jo Anne Sadler
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
1100 Posts |
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Brining
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
868 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2005 : 02:25:03
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I'm glad the intstructions "worked" sometimes it is difficult to explain and I know I got lost more than once navigating through that site
You may have to order the films to be delivered, which can take a couple of weeks. I don't know if you can do that over the phone but I guess it would be worth a call.
John Follesdal's article is worth reading and should help Click Here
Carla |
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Trying to verify information on G G Grandparents
