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 Kiwi Vikings & Aussies
 Sven August Swensen, Orphan Born 15 May 1894
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johnswensen
Starting member

Australia
9 Posts

Posted - 10/02/2015 :  10:43:30  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hello,

I am trying to find out any information that I can about my Paternal Grandfather who supposedly Jumped Ship, (so the family story goes), in Port Pirie South Australia in around 1907 or 1908.

No one in the family knows anything about his history and he has at various times called himself Svendt, Sven, or even Swend Swensen, (the last name never changed), He always told people in the family that he was an orphan, and had no family back in Norway. We have no way of knowing if this is true.

His birth date is 15 May 1894, (listed on his Australian Army WW1 and WW2 enlistment paperwork). His birthplace is variously recorded on different Australian Army Documents as being Hilden, Fredrickshald, or Halden.

He would have only been 17 or 18 years old when he came to Australia. His occupation at the time was listed as Seaman.

He is an enigma to our family, speaking several languages fluently. During his life in Australia he worked as everything from a Labourer, through seaman, to Ships Captain and also he was a Lighthouse keeper and Customs Searcher. He also managed to serve in the Australian Army during both WW1 and WW2.

We are at a dead end and can find nothing out. HELP!

Thank You.

John Swensen

Kċarto
Norway Heritage Veteran

Norway
5861 Posts

Posted - 10/02/2015 :  13:11:23  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Most likely him.
Svend August Svendsen born Mai 15. 1894 in Halden

Parents; Svend August Larsen and Tomine Mariane, see #4

Kċre

Edited by - Kċarto on 10/02/2015 19:45:17
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johnswensen
Starting member

Australia
9 Posts

Posted - 10/02/2015 :  13:13:24  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Ok....... Thankyou. Do you know in which Parish they were from?

Regards,

John
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Kċarto
Norway Heritage Veteran

Norway
5861 Posts

Posted - 10/02/2015 :  13:26:43  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
It looks like his father was dead, it is a cross in front of his name, when he was bapt. Jan. 27. 1895

Svend also had a brother Johan Alfred Fritjof b. August 14. 1890.

Kċre

Edited by - Kċarto on 10/02/2015 13:36:52
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JaneC
Norway Heritage Veteran

USA
3020 Posts

Posted - 10/02/2015 :  14:27:25  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
The posted birth record is from Halden church book in Ĝstfold fylke.

1900 census, living at 488 Liljegd-Strandgaden in Halden, Ĝstfold:
http://www.rhd.uit.no/folketellinger/ftliste.aspx?ft=1900&knr=0101&kenr=009b&bnr=0001

Thomine Svendsen, widow, born 1866, occupation Skurekone and vasekone
Carl Oskar Hjalmar Svendsen b 1888
Johan Alfred Fritjof Svendsen b 1892
Sven August Svendsen b 1894
Einar Fritjof Svendsen b 1898

Everyone noted as born in Fredrikshald except Johan Alfred Fritjof Svendsen, born in Moss.

Perhaps the first Johan b 1890 has died, and a later child b 1892 has been named the same? (a traditional practice)

Johan Alfred Fritjof Svendsen b 10 Dec 1892 in Fr.hald emigrated to Canada 1924:
http://da4.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&sidenr=1&filnamn=emikra1&gardpostnr=257084&personpostnr=257084

Edited by - JaneC on 12/02/2015 13:43:02
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eibache
Norway Heritage Veteran

Norway
6495 Posts

Posted - 10/02/2015 :  14:33:55  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Svend Augusts parents, Sven August Larsen and Tomine Mariane Eriksen were married Nov 9 1888, see #52.
His father was born 1865 in Sweden. He was the son of Johan August Larsen.
The mother was born 1867, her father was Karl Eriksen.

Einar
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eibache
Norway Heritage Veteran

Norway
6495 Posts

Posted - 10/02/2015 :  15:13:15  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
In 1910 Svend August is recorded as August Svendsen only, and he was a seaman.
His mother was married 2nd time with August Olsen and had 3 children with him, link.

Einar

Edited by - eibache on 10/02/2015 16:33:10
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JaneC
Norway Heritage Veteran

USA
3020 Posts

Posted - 10/02/2015 :  15:33:26  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
In the 1910 census eibache posted, all three of Tomine's Svendsen boys have sea-going occupations and all three called by middle names: Hjalmar born 27 Aug 1888; Alfred born 10 Dec 1893; August born 15 May 1894. Einar, the youngest, is missing. (Carl Oskar) Hjalmar is enumerated here, but noted as living in Bergen. (Click the number by his name to find the additional info.)

Since Sven August is age 16 and still enumerated in census with mother, and brothers, he's clearly not an orphan.

Edited by - JaneC on 10/02/2015 15:36:13
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eibache
Norway Heritage Veteran

Norway
6495 Posts

Posted - 10/02/2015 :  16:40:20  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
quote:
Einar, the youngest, is missing.
if the "youngest" is Einar Fritjof, he his father was Hjalmar Lindberg, see #62.
Why he is not in the family in 1910 is difficult to say.

Einar
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eibache
Norway Heritage Veteran

Norway
6495 Posts

Posted - 10/02/2015 :  16:44:47  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
quote:
Hjalmar is enumerated here, but noted as living in Bergen.
- I believe it says he and his ship at the time is in Bergen, he is not living there.

Einar

Edited by - eibache on 10/02/2015 16:46:16
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JaneC
Norway Heritage Veteran

USA
3020 Posts

Posted - 10/02/2015 :  17:00:38  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Yes, that's right Einar, by "the youngest" I meant the youngest of the children enumerated in 1900 and listed in 1900 census as "Svendsen" (even though Einar could not be a child of Sven August's father, who had died).

Marriage in 1901, Tomine and August:
http://digitalarkivet.arkivverket.no/kb/vi/person/pv00000000831067

Tomine Larsen - she is using her late husband's last name.
August Olsen - born at Berg.
Karl Ericksen and Simon Olsen seem to be the fathers.

Edited by - JaneC on 10/02/2015 19:15:43
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JaneC
Norway Heritage Veteran

USA
3020 Posts

Posted - 10/02/2015 :  17:03:01  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by eibache

quote:
Hjalmar is enumerated here, but noted as living in Bergen.
- I believe it says he and his ship at the time is in Bergen, he is not living there.


Thanks Einar. . I looked again at the transcription, and it says Assumed Residence: Bergen. I do believe you, but wondering how you figured out he doesn't live in Bergen, but instead is only docked there? Maybe it's because if he maintained a permanent residence of his own, he would not be enumerated with his parents.

*****************

A search on Google turns up a family tree for Tomine, August Olsen, and their three boys Aksel, Vilhelm, and Reidar from the 1910 census.

August's father was Simen Olsen. The tree lists August as August Simensen, Berg.

August Simensen born 26 December 1873 at Berg in Halden
Tomine Marianne Simensen born 18 August 1866 in Fredrikshald
Aksel Norman Simensen died 1971; married Ragnhild Marie
------children Anne Lise Thomassen and Sven-Aage Simensen
William Ludvik Simensen died 1984; married Berthe Sofie
Reidar Marinius Simensen died 1984

So if the tree is correct - if - then Tomine's second family adopted August's patronymic name as a permanent family surname.

Tree says Sven-Aage Simensen was born 1934, died age 17.
Tree says Anne Lise Simensen married Asbjĝrn Thomassen. She died 2013.

Tree is posted on GENI. Does not include Tomine's first family.
GENI tree link:
http://www.geni.com/people/August-Simensen/6000000030652882090

Edited by - JaneC on 10/02/2015 19:09:05
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johnswensen
Starting member

Australia
9 Posts

Posted - 10/02/2015 :  22:31:15  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
This is fantastic...... I heartily thank you. this is more information than I could ever envisage.

Regards,

John
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eibache
Norway Heritage Veteran

Norway
6495 Posts

Posted - 10/02/2015 :  22:48:19  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Beware of family trees - names and dates may often be wrong.

Tomine Mariane was born Aug 15 1867 and baptized June 1 1868, see #61.
Her parents were Carl Eriksen and Andrine Gundersdatter.

Marriage of Tomine and August, see #3 - it says August Olsen and Tomine Larsen, née Eriksen.

Einar

Edited by - eibache on 10/02/2015 22:58:53
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johnswensen
Starting member

Australia
9 Posts

Posted - 11/02/2015 :  03:32:56  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Svend, as I mentioned earlier was a bit of an enigma. He never encouraged any conversation about his family back in Norway and indeed told my father on many occasions that he was an Orphan, (clearly not so). I would be interested to find out how my Great Grandfather, (Svend August Larsen), died. It seems that he was already dead by the time of Swend's Baptism in 1895. Would the death certificate mention his occupation and cause of death? Going by the information above Tomine had to make ends meet as a Cleaning Lady until she married her second husband.

My Grandfather apparently used to get quite angry whenever he was questioned by his children as to their family History. I am guessing that with the arrival of the second husband and more children, that he felt a bit left out, and perhaps that built some resentment.

It is sad I think that he completely cut himself off from his homeland and his family after arriving in Australia.

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JaneC
Norway Heritage Veteran

USA
3020 Posts

Posted - 11/02/2015 :  17:45:10  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hi, about finding the death of Svend August Larsen, we would expect to find it from about Oct 1893 to Jan 1895. Churches served the civil function of recording births, marriages, deaths, so the death would be recorded in (perhaps) the Halden church book. I did not see it. Probates can be searched separately, but of course the databases are not complete.

The posted family tree may have been created by a direct descendant of Tomine. You can contact via the GENI system I think. Tree creator may have family stories and photos.

Hope Svend August Larsen's death record can be found.

Edited by - JaneC on 11/02/2015 19:57:03
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