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nwfrances
New on board
USA
1 Posts |
 Posted - 03/12/2006 : 19:05:12
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My ancestor, Didrik Olsen b.1838, and listed in the parish records of 1894 as a "sagmester" (sawmill operator) died in Port Hadlock, Washington, USA of a stroke? and I presume buried at sea. His home was in Sogne, Vest Agder and I am trying to figure out why he was in Washington. I've learned that Port Hadlock was a fairly new area developed by Sam Hadlock for the purpose of operating a Sawmill. So my question is: was sagmester a typical job aboard a logging ship? Was Norway importing or exporting? What is known about logging ships? Speculate please.
Thanks, Frances |
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Hopkins
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
3351 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2006 : 04:16:48
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The saw mill would have been located in Hadlock - ships would carry logs and lumber away as the products of the mills. Sometimes a logging ship might also carry unmilled logs to a saw mill for processing.
The 1900 US census shows quite a few living in Hadlock precinct, Jefferson county, Wash. Quite a few Norwegian born working in the saw mill or related jobs, and others such as Japanese mill workers, Welsh, etc. I noticed at least a couple of Chinese laundrymen, a Danish bartender, at least one barber - all in all quite a mix of nationalities and many with their wives and families living in households. It may not have been an incorporated town - but must have been an active community.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~wajeffer/history.html
http://www.rootsweb.com/~wajeffer/
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passenger or crew?
