Johanna Carolina Samuelsdotter

Johanna Carolina

My 3rd-great-grandmother Johanna Carolina Samuelsdotter (Samuelson, Erickson) was born 180 years ago today, on 18 August 1836, in Västra Harg, Östergötland, Sweden. She was the daughter of Samuel Eriksson/Erickson and Anna Lisa Torstensdotter.

Johanna was baptized on 21 August 1836.

Västra Harg C:1 (1797-1840) Image 250 / page 483 (AID: v42201.b250.s483, NAD: SE/VALA/00446).

In 1851, Johanna, her parents, and her brothers Anders and Samuel left Sweden. Johanna's oldest brother Johan Peter did not go with them.

The family arrived in New York, New York on the Preciosa on 8 September 1851.

Passenger list, Preciosa, 1851. Ancestry.com. New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

The family spent a year in Chicago, and then settled in Westchester, Porter County, Indiana. Johanna married Johannes "John" Borg, and their first child, Clara Matilda, was born on 29 August 1858. Their second child, Anna Christina, was born on 24 August 1860.

1860 United States census, Westchester, Porter County, Indiana, population schedule, page 466, family 281. Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.

By 1860, Johanna's brother Johan Peter had joined the family in Porter County, Indiana.

John and Johanna's third child, my 2nd-great-grandmother Mary/Marie Louise Borg, was born on 13 January 1864. Their first son,  Alfred, was born almost exactly two years later, on 15 January 1866. Another son, Carl Gust, was born a little over two years later, on 26 January 1868.

Johanna's mother Anna Lisa had died by 1870. Johanna had four more children during the 1870s: Emil Richard (born 11 June 1870), Minnie (born September 1872), Malinda (born 16 March 1875), and Carl/Charles John (born 28 July 1878).

1880 United States census, Westchester, Porter County, Indiana, population schedule, enumeration district 136, p. 399A, family 243. Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.

Johanna had two more children during the 1880s: David Theodore (born 21 October 1880) and Daniel Elvin (born 17 October 1882).

In September 1888, the family moved into a new house, which was designed by A. J. Lundquist.

Johanna experienced two losses in less than two years. Her son Carl/Charles John died of typhus fever on 18 October 1889. Her father Samuel Erickson died of dropsy on 18 July 1890. Six years later, Johanna became a widow; her husband John died of cancer on 20 September 1896.

In 1900, Johanna lived with her daughter Clara and her sons David and Daniel. Three months after the census was taken, Clara married Nels A. Samuelson, whose family was listed underneath the Borg family in the 1900 census.

1900 United States census, Westchester, Porter County, Indiana, population schedule, enumeration district 95, p. 8B, families 168 and 169. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

Johanna died on 11 May 1903 in Westchester, Porter County, Indiana. The cause of death was carcinoma of the stomach. She was buried in Augsburg Lutheran Church Cemetery in Porter, Porter County, Indiana.

Indiana State Board of Health. Death certificate no. 23, Johana Carolina Borg, 1903. Ancestry.com. Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

Church Record Sunday: Baptism of Theodor Mandius Eriksen

Theodor Mandius Eriksen, the son of my 2nd-great-grandmother Marthe Elisabeth Eriksdatter/Erickson's brother Svend Jacob Eriksen/Erickson and his wife Laura Thomsen, was baptized at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Chicago, Illinois on 9 March 1884.

Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Chicago, Illinois. Ancestry.com. U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. ELCA, Birth, Marriage, Deaths. Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Chicago, Illinois.

Theodor was born on 20 December 1882.

The baptismal sponsors were Jorgen and Antonetta Thompson, Andreas and Martha Anderson (my 2nd-great-grandmother Marthe Marthe Elisabeth Eriksdatter/Erickson and her husband, my 3nd-great-grandfather Andreas Troedson/Andrew T. Anderson, and Hans Olson.

Wednesday's Child: Sara Amalia (or Sarah Emilie) Eriksen

My 2nd-great-grandmother's brother Elias Eriksen (also spelled Erickson) and his wife Ingeborg became the parents of a daughter on 30 December 1874. Sara Amalia was baptized on 16 May 1875 at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Chicago, Illinois.

Baptismal record for Sara Amalia, daughter of Elias Eriksen, 16 May 1875. Side 1. Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Chicago, Illinois. Ancestry.com. U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. ELCA, Birth, Marriage, Deaths. Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Chicago, Illinois.

Baptismal record for Sara Amalia, daughter of Elias Eriksen, 16 May 1875. Side 2. Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Chicago, Illinois. Ancestry.com. U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. ELCA, Birth, Marriage, Deaths. Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Chicago, Illinois.

Sara died the following year. She was buried on 25 February 1876.  She was listed as Sarah Emilie Eriksen on her burial record.

Burial record for Sarah Emilie Eriksen, 25 February 1876. Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Chicago, Illinois. Ancestry.com. U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. ELCA, Birth, Marriage, Deaths. Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Chicago, Illinois.

Census Sunday: Living with Cousin's Family in Haugesund, Rogaland, Norway

After her father died in 1865, my 2nd-great-grandmother Marthe Elisabeth Eriksdatter (Erickson after immigrating to the United States) and her siblings went to live in different households. Their mother had died in 1856. When the 1865 Norway Census was enumerated, Marthe was living with her first cousin Svend Knudsen Torvestad, his wife Emma Tomine Knudsen (née Jacobsen), and their son Knud Johannes Knudsen in Haugesund, Rogaland, Norway. Marthe's occupation was Tjenestepige (servant girl). Sven's occupation was Søfarende (sailor). 

Rogaland fylke, Torvastad prestegjeld, Haugesund ladested, Statlig folketelling [Rogaland County, Torvastad parish, Haugesund seaport, Government census ] 275 (RA/S-2231/E), 1865-1865, oppb: Riksarkivet. http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-ft20090803640064.jpg

Church Record Sunday: Matilde Josefine Eriksen

Chicago's vital records prior to 8 October 1871 were destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire. However, church records record the birth, baptism, and burial of Matilde Josefine Eriksen.

Matilde Josefine was the daughter of my 2nd-great-grandmother's brother Elias Eriksen (also spelled Erickson) and his wife Ingeborg. She may have been their first child; I have not found records for any earlier children. She was born on 4 November 1863.

Records for Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Chicago, Illinois are available on Ancestry.com in the collection U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940. Although it would seem from the name of the collection that no records are available before 1875, some earlier records are available for Our Saviour's Lutheran Church.

Contents of Membership Record Books #2, #3, and #4, Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Chicago, Illinois. Ancestry.com. U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. ELCA, Birth, Marriage, Deaths. Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Chicago, Illinois.

On 31 January 1864, Matilde Josefine was baptized at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church.

Baptismal record for Matilde Josefine, daughter of Elias and Ingeborg Eriksen, 31 January 1864. Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Chicago, Illinois. Ancestry.com. U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. ELCA, Birth, Marriage, Deaths. Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Chicago, Illinois.

An August 1864 burial was recorded for Elias Eriksens Barn (Elias Eriksen's child.)

Burial record for Elias Eriksens Barn [Elias Eriksen's child], August 1864. Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Chicago, Illinois. Ancestry.com. U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. ELCA, Birth, Marriage, Deaths. Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Chicago, Illinois.

Although no name is given, I believe that this child is Matilde Josefine. I have not found any earlier children of Elias Eriksen, and I have found no further record of this Matilde Josefine. Another child of Elias Eriksen, born on 24 September 1869, was given the same name and was baptized at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church on 25 December 1869.

Without these church records, I would not know about the first Matilde Josefine Eriksen. Now she will be remembered.

Mappy Monday: Urban Areas of Karmøy

 

Urban areas of Karmøy 2005. 20 June 2011. By Statistisk sentralbyrå (Statistisk sentralbyrå tettstedskart 2005) [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)]. Available from Wikimedia Commons.

This map shows the urban areas of  Karmøy, a municipality located in Rogaland, Norway. Most of  Karmøy is located on Karmøy Island.

My 2nd-great-grandmother Marthe Elisabeth Erickson (Eriksdatter) was from Avaldsnes, which is now part of the municipality of Karmøy. Her mother Marthe Maria Jacobsdatter was also from Avaldsnes. Her father Erik Svendsen Haavig was born in Torvastad, which is also now part of Karmøy.

The map also shows the nearby town of Haugesund. Marthe Elisabeth and her sister Marte Marie lived in Haugesund before they emigrated.

52 Ancestors: Week 1 "Fresh Start": Marthe Elisabeth Erickson

My great-great-grandmother Marthe Elisabeth Erickson (Eriksdatter) was born on 8 April 1853 in Avaldsnes, Rogaland, Norway. She was the youngest child of Erik Svendsen Haavig and Marthe Maria Jacobsdatter.

When Marthe was three years old, her mother died. When she was twelve years old, her father died, and her family splintered into different households. In 1865, after her father's death, she lived with her first cousin Svend Knudsen Torvestad and his wife and son in Haugesund. Her sister Marte Marie lived nearby in Haugesund. Her sister Inger Oline and her brother Svend Jacob lived in separate households in Torvastad. Her brother Andreas lived with his wife in Rennesøy. Her brother Elias may have already immigrated to the United States.

In 1873, Marthe and her brother Svend Jacob immigrated to the United States. They sailed from Bergen, Norway on the Haakon Adelstein and arrived in New York on 20 May 1873. They settled in Chicago. Marthe lived with her sister Marie and Marie's husband Peter Johnson, and she worked in a custom vest shop.

On 31 March 1877, Marthe married Andrew T. Anderson (born Andreas Troedsson), a Swedish immigrant. Their first child, Anna Matilda, was born on 13 April 1878. Their second child, Emma Christina, was born 2 June 1880 according to Bible records, but is listed in the 1880 United States census as born in May 1880, and her age is given as 10 days. The family lived at 288 Division Street, Chicago in 1880. Andrew's niece Christine Nelson was also living with the family at that time.

Marthe and Andrew's daughter Emma Christina died on 9 June 1881. Their next child, my great-grandfather Edward Theodore, was born on 10 August 1882 at the family's home on 97 Townsend Street, Chicago. After my great-grandfather's birth, Marthe and Andrew had four more children: Albert Bernard (born 28 March 1885), Esther Elizabeth (born 1 September 1889), Reuben Alexander (born 19 December 1892), and Ruth Elvira (born 18 June 1896).

In 1900, the family lived on 5915 South Morgan Street, Chicago. In 1910, they lived at 5922 Sangamon Street, Chicago.

Marthe's husband Andrew died on 24 January 1916. In 1920, Marthe lived at 911 W. 72nd, Chicago with her daughters Anna and Ruth. In 1930, she lived at 1511 Balmoral Avenue, Chicago with her daughter Anna.

Marthe died on 7 December 1930 at Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago. Her funeral was held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. She was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery on 10 December 1930.

Rogaland county, Avaldsnes in Avaldsnes, Parish register copy nr. B 2 (1848-1856), Birth and baptism records 1853, page 90. http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20070306640026.jpg

Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897. Microfilm Publication M237, 675 rolls. Records of the U.S. Customs Service, Record Group 36. National Archives at Washington, D.C. Available from Ancestry.com. New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

Cook County, Illinois. Marriage license and return, Andrew Anderson and Marte E. Eriksen, 1877.

Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Statistics. Death certificate, Martha Elizabeth Anderson, 7 December 1930, no. 32731.

Marthe, 1906

52 Ancestors: #50 Halvor Eriksen Otterholt

My 3rd-great-grandfather Halvor Eriksen Otterholt was born on 28 June 1821 in Bø, Telemark, Norway, and was baptized on 1 July 1821. He was the son of Erik Halvorsen Sønstebø (also known as Erik Halvorsen Brenne) and Aaste Kittilsdatter. Erik was the sister of Kari Halvorsdatter Sønstebø; both are my 4th-great-grandparents through different lines of descent.

On 17 July 1845 in Bø. Halvor married Guro Hansdatter Askilt. They had seven children in Norway: Erik, born 25 April 1846; Hans, born 5 August 1847; Kittel or Kjetil (later known as Charles), born 11 September 1850; Torkel, born 6 September 1852; my 2nd-great-grandmother Aaste, born 3 February 1854; Anne, born 25 February 1858; and Kari, born 7 September 1861.

In 1865, Halvor and his family lived on the Otterholdt (or Otterholt) farm in Bø. He was listed as a Gaardbrgr og Selveier (farmer or owner, freeholder).

In 1867, Halvor and his family immigrated to the United States. In Boe (Bø) and Halvorson-Otterholt: Shared Roots in Telemark (compiled by Melvin and Alpha M. (Boe) Brodshaug, 1984; published by Arlene (Boe) Christensen and Marjorie (Boe) Bergee; printed by Anundsen Publishing Co., Decorah, Iowa), there is a quote from a letter written to Leland Otterholt by Aaste Lie: "The Otterholts were a prosperous people. Halvor loved the horses and bet on them but lost. Being proud, he decided to emigrate to America with his family." Although there may have been other reasons for the family's emigration, I suspect that there is at least a grain of truth to that statement. The family left Norway from Skien, Telemark on the Rjukan, and they arrived in Quebec, Canada on 30 May 1867.

Halvor and his family settled in Canisteo, Dodge County, Minnesota. About 1868, Halvor and Guro's last child, Johanna, was born. The family was enumerated in Canisteo in the 1870 United States census. Halvor was a farmer. His real estate had a value of $800, and his personal estate had a value of $340. In the United States, he was usually known as Halvor Erickson. Some of his children used the surname Halvorson, and some used the surname Otterholt.

By 1875, the family had moved to Swenoda, Swift County, Minnesota. In 1880, they lived in West Bank, Swift County, Minnesota. Halvor became a citizen of the United States on 18 May 1880.

Halvor applied for a land patent through the Homestead Act of 1862, for 80 acres of land located in the south half, northwest quarter, section 32 of Township 120 North of Range No. 41 west of the Principal Meridian, Swift County, Minnesota. He had settled on the land in June 1873 and built a house and a stable, and dug a well. His patent was issued on 25 July 1882. His son-in-law Jorgen Jorgensen Boe (my 2nd-great-grandfather) received his certificate the same day, for nearby land. Halvor later applied for an additional land patent, for 80 acres of land located in the east half, northeast quarter, section 31 of Township 120 North of Range No. 41 west of the Principal Meridian, Swift County, Minnesota. His patent was issued on 1 April 1892.

Halvor died on 14 January 1898. He was buried in Big Bend Lutheran Church Cemetery in Milan, Chippewa County, Minnesota.

Telemark county, Bø, Parish register (official) nr. 6 (1815-1831), Birth and baptism records 1821, page 100-101. http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20051011061114.jpg

Telemark county, Bø, Parish register (official) nr. 7 (1831-1848), Marriage records 1845, page 289. http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20051011050327.jpg

Telemark county, Bø, Parish register (official) nr. 9 (1862-1879), Migration records 1868, page 382. http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20051011051208.jpg

Passenger list, Rjukan, 1867. Passenger Lists, 1865–1935. Microfilm Publications T-479 to T-520, T-4689 to T-4874, T-14700 to T-14939, C-4511 to C-4542. Library and Archives Canada, n.d. RG 76-C. Department of Employment and Immigration fonds. Library and Archives Canada Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Available from Ancestry.com. Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.

Halvor Erikson naturalization, 18 May 1880. Swift County District Court, State of Minnesota. From Halvor Eriksen land entry case file no. 4485, 1882.

Halvor Eriksen, Swift County, Minnesota. Certificate no. 4485. United States Bureau of Land Management, 25 July 1882.

52 Ancestors: #39 Helen Martha Marie (Anderson) Gatlin

Today would have been the 103rd birthday of my paternal grandmother, Helen Martha Marie (Anderson) Gatlin. Helen was born on 27 September 1911 at Englewood Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. She was the firstborn child of Edward Theodore Anderson and Ellen Victoria Dahlquist. Her two middle names were the first names of her paternal grandmother, Martha Elizabeth Erickson, and her maternal grandmother, Marie Louise Borg.

On 2 December 1936, at the time that she filled out her application for a Social Security account number, Helen was working for Edwin Kirschbraun. He was an executive in the butter industry.

On 20 June 1939, her parents' 29th wedding anniversary, Helen married Henry Cornelius Gatlin at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Chicago. They were married by  H. E. Sandstedt. Their wedding reception was at the Fairfax Hotel.

Helen and Henry had a son and a daughter. They lived in Chicago at first, and then moved to Park Ridge, Illinois. They attended the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Chicago and St. Luke Lutheran Church in Park Ridge. In 1959, they moved to Ridgewood, New Jersey. They became members of West Side Presbyterian Church. After many years in Ridgewood, they moved to West Milford, New Jersey.

Henry died on 29 December 2001. Helen died on 30 September 2005, three days after her 94th birthday. I sang the Lord's Prayer at her memorial service, just like I did at my grandfather's. Their ashes were interred at West Side Presbyterian Church Memorial Garden on 13 May 2007.

Grandma Gatlin was very proud of her Swedish heritage. I fondly remember her rice pudding. I still have the Dala horse that she gave me when I was a child.

Report of Birth. Baby Anderson. State of Illinois, Cook County. Vital Statistics Department, County Clerk's Office. Dated 28 September 1911.

 Ellen (Dahlquist) Anderson with daughter Helen, 19 December 1911

 Helen, 1913

Inscription on back: Helen with pkge of linen, at my shower.

 

Helen in her wedding gown

Henry and Helen Gatlin

Those Places Thursday: Avaldsnes, Rogaland, Norway

Avaldsnes med Avaldsnes kyrkje frå Karmsundet. Photo By Michael Spiller from Bradford, UK (Trees). File licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic. Available from Wikimedia Commons.

My great-great-grandmother Marthe Elisabeth Erickson (Eriksdatter) was born in Avaldsnes, Rogaland, Norway on 8 April 1853. Her mother Marthe Maria Jacobsdatter was also born in Avaldsnes. Avaldsnes is now part of the municipality of Karmøy, along with other towns on Karmøy Island, including Torvastad, the birthplace of Marthe's father Erik Svendsen Haavig (or Håvik).

Avaldsnes was named after King Augvald, who had lived there according to the Norse sagas. Harald Fairhair, the first king of Norway, resided at Avaldsnes after the unification of Norway about 870. Notow was a trading port in Avaldsnes.

King Håkon Håkonsson ordered the construction of a church about 1250. The church, St. Olav's Church of Avaldsnes (Olavskirken), was completed in the early 1300s.

 Avaldsneskirken, 2004. Photo by Tor-Egil Farestveit. Available from Wikimedia Commons.

The Virgin Mary's Sewing Needle is a monumental stone near the wall of the church.

Die Nähnadel der Jungfrau Maria [The Sewing Needle of the Virgin Mary]. 29 January 2011. Photo by Frank Hüncke. Available at Wikimedia Commons and www.huencke.de. File licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Germany.

Rekonstruiertes Winkingerlanghaus auf der Insel Bukkoya bei Avalsnes (Reconstructed Viking boathouse at the Nordvegen History Centre). 29 January 2011. Photo by Frank Hüncke.Available at Wikimedia Commons and www.huencke.de. File licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Germany.

Archaeological discoveries at Avaldsnes have shown that the coast of Norway was controlled by kings long before the Viking Age, and confirmed that a royal manor was present in the Middle Ages.

References
Avaldsnes
Avaldsnes – Norway’s oldest royal seat
Avaldsnes, Norway's oldest throne
Avaldsnes in Norway (Viking Ship Museum)
Viking Settlement at Avaldsnes - a feeling of being back in the Viking Age
Church of Avaldsnes
Nordvegen Historiesenter
Pre-Viking hotspot on the Norwegian Coast
Archaeologists discover medieval Royal Estate
Avaldsnes Royal manor project
13th Century Rural Residence Discovered in Norway
Medieval Royal Hall: Royal Norwegian Estate from 13th century found at Avaldsnes
Ancient coin confirms saga