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Neville Rasmussen
Junior member
South Africa
32 Posts |
Posted - 27/04/2009 : 15:14:24
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My Great Grandfather Amund Rasmussen is proving rather elusive to trace. He came to South Africa in the mid 1800's and according to family folk lore was shipwrecked in Algoa Bay (The bay on which Port Elizabeth stands). We know nothing of him until he appears in the Orange Free State as a farmer with at least two farms and a store in the town of Winburg. He died during the Anglo Boer war fighting for the boers.
Family legend has it he came from Somewhere near Kopervik on Karmoy. We don't know how old he was when he left, if he was an immigrant or a sailor. Again ledgend has it the ship was the 'Norman' but the only trace I can find is of the ship docking in Cape Town in 1895 which would be too late for him to acuire farms a wife and several children by the time the war broke out.
Any assistance would be appreciated in finding when he left Norway as that would help tremendously with finding the South African bits |
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Hopkins
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
3351 Posts |
Posted - 27/04/2009 : 16:06:15
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Without some information about when he was born and a better idea of when he went to South Africa - your search for him and his family in Norway will be tedious and hard to make successful. You can search the bygdeboker for those districts of the island of Karmøy in the area Karmsund (includes Haugesund, Sjold, Kopervik, Skudenes, Tysvær, Avaldsnes and Torvastad.) The parish records for those areas are also included in the online scanned collection of the Digitalarkivet website. The 1865, partial 1875 and 1900 Norwegian censuses are searchable in electronic database form IF you have more identifying information about ggreat grandpa.
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wgnorway/good-queries.htm http://www.slektsforumkarmoy.no/english/
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Kåarto
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
5861 Posts |
Posted - 27/04/2009 : 16:13:06
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I have a possible canidate for you from Avaldsnes, Karmøy. Omund Rasmussen age 18 on farm Qualevaag in 1865, he was at sea, his parents were Rasmus Omundsen and Anne M. Baardsdatter, one brother Hans and a sister Ingeborg. Does this names seems familyare to you?
Kåre |
Edited by - Kåarto on 27/04/2009 17:56:36 |
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Neville Rasmussen
Junior member
South Africa
32 Posts |
Posted - 27/04/2009 : 18:27:14
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quote: Originally posted by Kåarto
I have a possible canidate for you from Avaldsnes, Karmøy. Omund Rasmussen age 18 on farm Qualevaag in 1865, he was at sea, his parents were Rasmus Omundsen and Anne M. Baardsdatter, one brother Hans and a sister Ingeborg. Does this names seems familyare to you?
Kåre
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Neville Rasmussen
Junior member
South Africa
32 Posts |
Posted - 27/04/2009 : 18:36:20
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OOPS! sorry about the reposting.
Yes there seems to be a possible link. Could OMUND and AMUND mean the same? . I recall a Baarsdatter somewhere among the old school certificates I got from my great Aunt Emma Gaard in the USA. I know that Emma has Osmund in her line.
1865 and being 18 would make him 53 when the Anglo Boer was broke out makes sense.
I was told by my Gfather that his gran's name was Anne Maline and in the family he had a sister called Anne Maline.
How can I get more info? I will in any case dig out the old papers and see if there are any other clues
Many thankx |
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Kåarto
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
5861 Posts |
Posted - 27/04/2009 : 19:07:17
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Hi, Omund and Amund is the same, local dialect, dif. spelling. He was born Feb. 19. 1848 #28.
I bring up some more information for you, perhaps a name will solve it, so fare it looks promising, but it might be a blind track.
Interesting that his is mother was Anne Malene Baardsdatter, she was born 1816.
Omund also had three sisters, Ingeborg Asseline born 1842 (she married in 1864), Anna Serine born 1846 and Berta Malene born 1853 and brother Hans born 1860.
Take yourself good time.
Kåre |
Edited by - Kåarto on 07/05/2009 11:21:59 |
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Hopkins
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
3351 Posts |
Posted - 27/04/2009 : 19:26:29
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Yes, Omund and Amund can indicate the same person -- especially with a move to another country and natural spelling variations that happen in earlier time periods.
You should study the basics about working in Norwegian genealogical documents, then ask questions as might be occasionally necessary. Good basics for your study - http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~norway/articles.html
From the pertinent bygdebok for Avaldsnes (available in an earlier link I gave to you): Anna Malene Bårdsdatter was born in 1816 (probably on the Kvalavåg farm in the parish of Avaldsnes on the northern end of the island of Karmøy. She married Rasmus Omundsen (b. 1805, d. 1881) and they resided on a portion of the Kvalavåg farm where they had 8 children (at least 3 or 4 of those living to adulthood). This Omund had surviving sisters named Anne Serine and Berta Malene. The "basics" above will explain what a bygdebok is and how you can use one.
Was your Omund born about 1848? That's the most important first question. |
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Neville Rasmussen
Junior member
South Africa
32 Posts |
Posted - 29/04/2009 : 21:52:27
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I have managed to find the old papers I had from the American great aunt Emma Gård. Took a while to scan them before I looked at them,as they are very brittle. It appears from one of these, a Baptismal Certificate I think, that is for a Berthe Malline Rasmusdatter (her Mother) was baptised on 15th June 1857 at age 3 3/4 years. That would make her born in 1853 and match the date you gave for her birth.
Her parents are listed as Rasmus Ommundsen (double m?) and Ane Malline Baarsdatter from the farm Qualevaag in Avaldesnes.
As Emma and my Grandfather were cousins it would seem that this Berthe was my GG Father Omund's sister.
This is great as I am getting somewhere at last, thanks to you kind folk. Now I have to try and find out how and when he left for SA and if it was as a seaman or passenger. That is my first priority before I go the other way back from Rasmus Ommundsen to his antecedents.
A few questions;(1) the papers I have give the mother's name as Ane not Anne.or Anna. (2) On the daughter's baptismal cert she is given as Berthe Malline Rasmusdatter and on another , I think marriage cert, as Berthe Malene Kvalevåg, I understand that this was common to list the farm as part of the name to make identification easier, is this correct? and the spelling of Malline varies too. Am I correct in saying that the Name Malline is equivalent to Magdalene? |
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Kåarto
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
5861 Posts |
Posted - 29/04/2009 : 22:40:23
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You are welcome. I am fairly sure Omund is your g.grandfather. Omund, Ommond, Amund, Åmund, dif.spellings for the same name depending on where you lived in Norway, the priest wrote what he heard (I change myself between old to modern names) Ane, Anne and Anna has the same explonation as Omund. Locals use Kvalavåg.
Names often changed when a person emigrated, often the initials were kept or a simulare name used.
Kvalevåg/Qualevaag; Kval means Whale and våg means bay (Whale bay)
Not unusual Berte Malene used Kvalevåg as last name, Omund could have been Omund Kvalevåg, most liklely papers on his father as Rasmus Kvalevåg exist in the archives.
No wonder he mentioned Kopervik, his confirmation was taken place in the new Kopervik church from Oct. 1861 Oct. 5. 1862, he was 14 years, bottom page #16
Kopervik seperated from Avaldsnes 1866, from Kvalvåg to Kopervik was a plesent journey by boat, a fjord almost divided Karmøy so from the boat it was about one mile by foot.
Interesting name Gård (Emma Gaard/Gard/Gård). Berte Malene Rasmusdatter married Endre Mikael Omundsen Gard, could be Gard from Torvastad on Karmøy. Only a strange coincidence? Gård/Gard means farm
Omund was christened in Avaldsnes church (Olavs church). The Cradle of Norway started her about 870 when Norway became one kingdom, historians assume that King Harald 1 recidence Gard (Gård/Gaard) is most likley under asphalt on the parking place to the church.
Kåre |
Edited by - Kåarto on 30/04/2009 00:34:22 |
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Kåarto
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
5861 Posts |
Posted - 29/04/2009 : 23:52:43
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The pages Hopkins found is here, have you tried to searched them?
Its interesting to look into Kvalevåg, farm nr Ao-26, the firtsborn Omund died 1843, 2. Omund died 1845 and 3. we are investigation was born 1848. Karmøy Historian assosiation has no records on him exept the christening and the confirmation or on his brother Hans Jacob born 1860.
I doubt Omund is recorded as a emigrant in the Norwegian records, he was a sea man, he could jump off a ship as many sea men did if he wanted.
This map from Rogaland shows Karmøy north-west in the County, Qualevaag is north-west on Karmøy at the sea shore at F in Fiskå.
Kåre
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Edited by - Kåarto on 30/04/2009 10:56:42 |
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Kåarto
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
5861 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2009 : 10:30:55
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Hi. I understand you need some time to classify all the information. You can keep this next for a later occasion. Return back if you want help with the parents ancestors, I have the names.
Omund´s sister Ingeborg Asseline Rasmusdatter born 1842 died 1890, she married Knut Bjørnsen 1837-96, they settled down on farm Skeie in Avaldsnes and got 8 children, 3 of them died young. Laura Olava born 1880 not found, the last 4 of them emigrated to USA, last name Knudsen; Magel Serine born 1896 emigrated 1890, Berta Jacobine born 1872 emigrated 1893, Marta Malene born 1866 emigrated 1897 together with her brother Laurits Olai Bertil born 1881.
Kåre |
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Neville Rasmussen
Junior member
South Africa
32 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2009 : 19:55:31
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Yes you're right I need some time to put all the information into perspective and update my information records I got from looking at the records on the links I got from you and Hopkins, many names of cousins and relatives are evident. I already have questions about farm numbers but that can wait for now.
I will also look up on Google earth for pictures of the Karmøy - Avaldesnes area
So far I see that Omund's father was born Rasmus Omundsen (1805 - 1881) and that his parents were Omund Hansen and Asseline Rasmusdatter, they lived on the farm Skoggedal bnr 1, but I can' t find this farm anywhere.
I have also found Omund's Sofarts Bog Hoverdrulle No. 538 , it has entries from a few voyages but writing is so poor I can't make out words; can I use this in any way?
We are having many public holidays here at the moment and many festivals for food, cheese and wine so I am off to join the olive and wine festival the next three days. Thanx for all your help so far |
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Kåarto
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
5861 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2009 : 21:09:14
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It could perhaps be a way to include the document in this forum.
County books, left colunn, 2. chapter "Farms from Avaldsnes", Stoggdal; Omund Hansen 1764-1832 (unknown parents) married 3. time to Asseline Rasmusdatter 1763-1820, farm nr 6.
Guess fall in South Africa is warmer than spring in Norway. Cheese and vine sounds good, have a nice weekend.
Kåre |
Edited by - Kåarto on 01/05/2009 11:07:11 |
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eibache
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
6495 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2009 : 00:08:39
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quote: A few questions;(1) the papers I have give the mother's name as Ane not Anne.or Anna.
Ane or Anne dependant on the writers "privat" spelling - the baptismal record says Anne Malene, see bottom of left page. quote: Am I correct in saying that the Name Malline is equivalent to Magdalene?
yes could have developed: Magdalene - Malene - Maline (Malline). quote: So far I see that Omund's father was born Rasmus Omundsen (1805 - 1881) and that his parents were Omund Hansen and Asseline Rasmusdatter, they lived on the farm Skoggedal bnr 1, but I can' t find this farm anywhere.
Rasmus baptismal record July 7 1805 next to the last one on right page says that the farm was Stokdal. (Could easily have been read as Skoggedal) |
Einar |
Edited by - eibache on 01/05/2009 00:44:05 |
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Neville Rasmussen
Junior member
South Africa
32 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2009 : 22:03:18
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Well I have now sorted all the information and together with the papers from my Great aunt Emma Gård added quite a lot of people who went to America. Most of them seem to have changed their names and Emma's father dropped the Endre and changed the Mikkal to Michael and took the surname Gorden, they lived in Minnesota, although Emma in later life went back to Gaard. Omunds brother Hans Jacob changed his name to Jake Walker and lived in Idaho.and Emmas brother Bernt moved to Canada. So a lot of information to add.
I have scanned the images from Omund's seamans logbook which if anyone could decipher it would be wonderful
What do the letters and numbers at the end of the farm name mean, Portion or allotment numbers? and is there a way to get diagrams of the actual farms?
Kåre, you said that you had some more forefathers?
I have looked at the picture of the Kopervik church (the big white one) would this be the same church you mentioned that Omund was confirmed in? what denomination is it?
Neville |
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Kåarto
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
5861 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2009 : 23:04:28
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Hi, enter 1856 census for Qualavaag. The numbers and letters for Qualevaag 3.line from top, behind means: "Stort kveg" Cattle 1, "Får" cheeps 4, "Havre" oats 3/ 4 of a barrel (sowing) Potatoes 1/2 a barrel (sowing).
All farms were numbered in a farm register, Qvalevaag was farm nr 17, Headline from left: "Distriktsnr" District nr 5 Page 89 Kvalevaag and Kalstø school district, Avaldsnes parish, Avaldsnes main parish farm Qvalavaag Marks (farm) 17 "Overskrift" Headline 1. The congregation in Kopervik church as for Norway was Protestants. Yrke means occupation, g (gift) is married, ug (ugift) is unmarried, "Kjønn" Gender, m=man, k-woman.
Omunds sister Ingeborg married to Knud Bjørnsen "Svigersønn" Son-in-law lived as renters on Qvalevaag, he was a Fisheman.
It should be possible to deshiper the document , I am not able to do it online , some members here should be able to help you with that. It should bhave e interesting to see it. As for the ancestors, I can bring them up tomorrow for you after work.
Qvalevaag is called Kvalavåg today.
Kåre
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Edited by - Kåarto on 06/05/2009 00:02:10 |
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