From the Grave brothers discussion it seems like they all used about 3 weeks from Oslo to "the new world". Does it make sence to spend 4 months from Trondheim to Ellis Island?
"Alexander Br'k" (Alexander Pettersen from the farm Brekk/Bræk - the ' is a misprint) left Trondheim on may 22nd, 1901 on Tasso, Cunard Line according to Digitalarkivet. The only suitable arrival I can find at Ellis Island is "Alexander Peterson" (which I know he called himself in the US) who arrived on Teutonic, Cunard Line on september 20th same year. Is this too long time to believe it's the same person? And how accurate are the papers - he was listed 27 years old when he left and 30 when he arrived. (The age when leaving fits perfectly as he was born 1874...). Was it common/sencible/smart to lie about your age - or were the passenger list that inaccurate. Or is it probably not the same man?
It is much to long for such a voyage. My guess is that Alexander Paterson is not your man.
The Cunard Line also had a route to Boston, and I don't think those records will show up in the Ellis Island database. Another thing, the Teutonic did not belong to the Cunard Line, but to the White Star Line.
Of course you're right about the line - I must have mixed the lines when I wrote here as I had a print of the passenger list and it clearly listed the white line. I'm sorry. Pity it was the wrong man, too. But thanks for clearing it up so I don't have to waste more time on the wrong one.