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tree
Starting member
USA
25 Posts |
 Posted - 05/03/2006 : 03:50:54
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Hello,
Today is a pretty terrific day. A riddle lasting three generations has been partially solved.
The riddle which is now partially solved is that I now know the real name of my Great Grandfather and his parents all from Norway.
My Great Grandfather Severin Ludvigson was born in 1879 and imigrated to Michigan USA as a young child sometime between 1882 and 1884.
The ole family history only partially matches up with the following information provided by the State of Michigan.
According to the state of Michigan,
Severin Ludvigson (born 1879) and his sibling Mareusius Ludvigson (born about 1875) were abandoned by their father in Menominee County Michigan and made dependents of the county probate court and committed to the State School in Coldwater Michigan in August of 1884.
The State of Michigan records indicate their mother was an inmate of a "Lunatic Asylum" in Norway.
The fathers name is listed as Ludwig Matherson.
The mothers name is listed as Marin matherson.
Severin was indentured to the Graham family in Hope Michigan from 1887 until 1898. While he was never apparently adopted by the Graham family he appears to have taken their name in as much as he was always known as Severin Graham.
The riddle which is now partially solved is I now know what Severin's original name was, and the name of his mother and father.
Of course there is a great deal to discover which is why I have thrown myslef into this message looking for assistance.
Can someone please steer me in the right direction in what I should do now?
I would like to discover what ship Severin Ludvigson, his brother, and his father Ludwig Matherson made passage on.
I would like to know how I might best find out more about the parents, and where they may have originated.
Is there an Idiot's guide to searching for Norwegion relatives somewhere on the web. The entire sirname is a bit different from my english german roots.
I have not had a chance to pour over this site, and I hope to do so, I just wanted to start my jorney with relaying my excitment of my Norwegion roots, and my desire to dig deeper.
Best regards,
tree aka Eric |
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jwiborg
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
4961 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2006 : 12:02:04
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Hi,
the Lunatic Asylum you're talking about might be the Gaustad asyl in Vestre Aker parish, Akershus, just west of the capital Oslo. Opened 1855 as Norway's first lunatic asylum.
The 1865-census shows 269 "lunatic" people living there, but 1865 must be too early to find "Marin" there... Records of inlaids from the 1880's might be available.
The list of Emigrants from Kristiania (=Oslo) 1871-1930 shows brothers Severin G. Ludvigsen (11 months old) and Karl A. Ludvigsen (3 years old) going to Stillwater on 09-JUN-1882. It's very strange, 'cause they look to be travelling alone...  Hometown is Sarpsborg, Østfold county. Link
Jan Peter
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Trond
Moderator
Norway
174 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2006 : 18:14:15
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| There is a Ludvig Mathisen traveling from Kristiania/Oslo Sept 22 1883 on the S/S Drammen with destination Stephenson (?). Traveling with him an Adam Iversen and what looks like his children Marensius Iversen 7, Herman Iversen 5, Severin Iversen 3 and Klara Iversen 1. Maybe this is a coincidence but the age’s fits? They are all from Onsøy, Østfold (County). |
Trond Austheim |
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tree
Starting member
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2006 : 22:49:54
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Thank you to both of you for your reply.
Trond, I believe you may have solved the riddle.
Before Severin & his brother were placed in the State School, they had been placed in a home belonging to Halver Gulbranson of Stephenson Michigan, which according to your information was the destination of the family.
The family history relayed to me by my Aunt was as follows:
Serverin was the youngest of 7 Children who were left at the Cold Water Michigan state home by their father. They were from Norway. He aledgedly went back to Norway with a promise to return for the children. The mother never made the trip to the United States. Reason Unknown. Reason for Fathers return to Norway is unknown. The father never returned for the children and they were all adopted out to different families.
My Aunt relayed to me that she met Severin's sister many years ago at Severin's funeral. Her name was Clara (Klara). Klara, supposedly went back to Norway at some point and met the mother.
Some of the above turns out to be true, or at least it would seem so based upon what you have provided.
There appear to be numerous siblings, and the father made the journey with the children.
Can you please help me with some Norwegian terms?
Etternamn - Does this mean Sir name?
Sivilstand - What does this mean when there is a small "g" ?
Fam. stilling - Does this mean the relation within the family, such as B for brother?
Yrke - Does this mean job or profession? What does this mean when there is a "Arb" ?
As I look at the ships passenger list, I notice, as you no doubt have, that Severin appears to have a different sir name.
instead of Severin Ludvigson as noted by the State of Michigan, I see that it appears to be Severin Iverson.
Is it possible that this was because as he and his siblings registered to emigrate that Severin, may have been behind Adam Iverson, and the clerk wrote the worng sir name?.
Or does the state of Michigan have it wrong, and maybe Adam Iverson was the father after all?
Who is the father? I am confused.
What does the term Ny fam.gr. mean?
My last question is what is Onso? Is this Oslo?
Thank you for the information so far, this is rewarding and exciting beyond measure.
We have always had this affection for or Norwegion heritage. Its very nice to be able to matcvh it up with reality.
Best regards
Eric Horton
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jwiborg
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
4961 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2006 : 23:42:19
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Etternamn - Surname
Sivilstand - marital status, g = gift, ie. married.
Fam. stilling - Relation within the family, B = barn, ie. child
Yrke - Profession, Arb = Arbeider, ie. worker
Ny fam.gr is short for Ny familie gruppe, ie. New Family Group. It means that a new family starts by this position, ie. the person listed above is not a part of this family.
Onsø = Onsøy, a former municipality in Østfold county. From 1994 a part of Fredrikstad municipality.
Jan Peter |
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tree
Starting member
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2006 : 23:57:59
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Thanks Jan,
I appreciate the translation.
May I please impose upon you further?
Linje - is this the Cruise line or company who owns the ship?
Skip - is this the name of the Ship?
My daughter tells me I should learn norwegian.
Do you care to guess about my question as to who the father is in my post above?
Thank you again,
Eric |
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Trond
Moderator
Norway
174 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2006 : 23:59:40
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The Steamship Drammen sailed every fortnight from Oslo to Amsterdam. Passengers using this route embarked a lager ship in Amsterdam for America, most with the Holland American Line to New York.
There could be a typo error when the police wrote the list or when the list was digitized. Both Ludvig Mathisen and Adam Iversen were married and in the right age for having those children. Ludvig was the one who paid the tickets. Adam (born in Sweden) however was married according to the census 1865 and had a family in Onsøy. Ludvig was single and living with his mother, a widow. (Census 1865)
Looking up the parish books for Onsøy could be the next way to solve the children’s right surnames.
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Trond Austheim |
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jwiborg
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
4961 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2006 : 00:07:56
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What about this marriage record? 
Herman Ludvig Mathisen & Maren Kristine Andreasdatter
Marriage: 14 SEP 1873 Onso, Østfold, Norway Click here
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Christening record:
Herman Ludvig Mathiasen
Birth: 02 May 1851, Onsøy, Østfold, Norway
Christening: 15 Jun 1851, Onsøy, Østfold, Norway
Parents: Mathias Larsen & Elen Andrea Hansdatter
Jan Peter |
Edited by - jwiborg on 06/03/2006 00:32:45 |
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tree
Starting member
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2006 : 00:34:17
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Jan & Trond
WOW!!!
My mind is spinning too fast. I am dizzy.
Thank you for the census links.
Ludvig had a brother named Severin. The same name as my Great grandfather. That seems to cement the relationship.
Thank you for the possible marriage record. Having Maren's maiden name was more than I could have hoped for.
The marriage date looks like a possibility, ....10 years before Ludvig emigrated with the children. 3 years before the first Child.
At some point, I will need to find out more about the father, perhaps finding out if he went back to Norway, and lived his life there, or if he somehow died and could not return to the children.
I also will want to discover more about the mother Maren.
Perhaps some census data after 1883 may shed some light.
Thank you again for all of your help.
Incidentally, it is 6:31 PM here in Michigan. What time is it where you are at in Norway ?
Eric
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jwiborg
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
4961 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2006 : 00:57:12
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Hi,
you'll see the local norwegian time at the top of each posting, where is says Posted - date - hr...
Adam Iversen & Elen Sophie Erichsdatter are registered with the following children at LDS:
Annette Emilie Adamsdatter, christening: 22 MAY 1861 Skjeberg, Ostfold, Norway
Karoline Marie Adamsdatter, christening: 01 JAN 1864 Skjeberg, Ostfold, Norway
Carl Johan Adamsen, christening: 14 OCT 1866 Tune, Ostfold, Norway
Josephine Augusta Adamsdatter, christening: 13 JUN 1869 Sarpsborg, Ostfold, Norway
Selma Ottilie Adamsdatter, christening: 27 OCT 1872 Sarpsborg, Ostfold, Norway
The christening records for Onsøy 1877+ are not available at LDS, so it does not look to be possible to find Severin's christening record online.
The solution must be to go to a local LDS center and scan through the christening records manually. It should be "pretty straight forward", when you know the church (Onsøy, Østfold), and years (1877-1881)... 
Jan Peter |
Edited by - jwiborg on 06/03/2006 01:02:37 |
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jwiborg
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
4961 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2006 : 01:40:34
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Marentius Mathisen, birth: 25 SEP 1875, christening: 21 NOV 1875, Onso, Ostfold, Norway
Parents: Herman Ludvig Mathisen & Maren Kristine Andreasdatter Click here
Jan Peter |
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Hopkins
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
3351 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2006 : 20:41:53
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Eric - If you've never used the Norwegian church records (or other original resources) that are available on LDS microfilm/microfiche copies then you'll find an excellent article on how to read them in this collection -
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~norway/articles.html
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tree
Starting member
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2006 : 21:28:46
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Thank you Hopkins.
I will be sure to review in detail. I think it will be helpful.
I still can't get over how much I have been helped so far on this web site.
I wish my Aunt were alive to have learned what I have learned. She passed on a year ago November. Makes me wish I would have looked into this a couple years ago. I was unraveling other family histories.
She adored her Grandfather Severin.
I have many other questions and mysteries to solve, however, I need to collect those questions, and review what I have learned so far, to make sure I move in a positive direction and not waste anyone's time.
Some of these answers are to be found here in America. However, I would not beaware of the proper questions were it not for the information I have obtained from Jan & Tron.
I need to inquire about Severin's brother Herman.
I know from my Aunt that the Sister Klara was married and her married name was Westerdahl. What I would like to find out is if they were official wards of the State of Michigan and indentured or adopted by others, or if they were simply taken in by families in the U.P. of Michigan. I know Klara lived her life in the UP.
I of course need to find the Mother Maren Andreasdr, and find out what happened to the father.
Best regards,
Eric |
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jwiborg
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
4961 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2006 : 21:44:04
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Hi Eric,
I've quickly searched through the Norwegian 1900-census, but have not found traces after either Herman Ludvig Mathisen or Maren Kristine Andreasdatter...
The people at the Gaustad Asylum at the census-1900 are available online, but she's not there....
However, if you believe she was at an Asylum, Gaustad just outside Oslo would be most likely location.
Maybe they [Gaustad hospital] can give you more information if you contact them? Available online is only records of "lunitics" from 1865 and 1900.
Jan Peter |
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Trond
Moderator
Norway
174 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2006 : 21:46:05
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The S/S Drammen left Oslo Sept 22 1983 for Amsterdam or Rotterdam, Holland and arrived there some 3 days later. The average passage times for the Atlantic Ocean in 1883 were 7-8 days. The Steamship W. A. Scholten of Holland American Line departed Rotterdam late September and arrived in New York Oct. 5 1883.
This could be the ship, arriving date and port Ludvig and family used in1883.
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Trond Austheim |
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tree
Starting member
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2006 : 22:59:47
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Thank you Jan for checking the 1900 census.
Aledgedly, the Sister Klara went back to Norway and saw the mother Maren.
I have no knowledge, but perhaps her stay at the Asylum, may have been short. If she were there in 1883, perhaps by 1900 she was living a normal life somewhere in the area. Maybe she was there with an illness such as TB or something and not as a "lunatic".
Is Gaustad hopsital & Gaustad Asylum the same facility, or located adjacent to each other.
Trond, Thank you for the ships reference. I was wondering about the duration of the transatlantic trip. It seems your suggestion of the W.A. Scholten may be the correct one. I have looked and do not see a passnger list on line for that journey. I am not sure where to go for that.
You may find it interesting that my Aunt relayed a story that severin relayed to her.
He stated when he was on the ship, he was crying a great deal and making a nuisance of himself, because he missed his mother. He said the captain picked him up by the feet held him over the side and threatened to throw him overboard if he did not quiet down. He stated he stoped crying.
Who really knows if it was the captain, however it was a very vivid memory for Severin. I wonder if it was on the Drammen or the Holland American line ship?
I did look at informaiton on the S/S W.A. Scholten. Facinating!
Thanks again,
Eric
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Edited by - tree on 06/03/2006 23:02:12 |
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Great Grandfather Severin Ludvigson origins?
