Maritime Monday: Andreas Eriksen

My 2nd-great-grandmother's brother Andreas Eriksen was born on 18 May 1835 in Avaldsnes, Rogaland, Norway. He was the son of Erik Svendsen Haavig and Marthe Maria Jakobsdatter.

Rogaland fylke, Avaldsnes sokneprestkontor, H/Ha/Haa/L0005: Parish register (official) no. A 5.1, 1825-1841, p. 121. https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/kb20051108030134

In 1865, he and his wife Marthe Johanne Hansdatter lived in Rennesøy, Rogaland, Norway with Anders Hansen and his family. Andreas was a styrmand (ship's mate).

Rogaland fylke, Rennesøy prestegjeld, Statlig folketelling [Rogaland County, Rennesøy parish, Government census] 178 (RA/S-2231/E), 1865-1865, p. 12.oppb: Riksarkivet. https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/ft20090731650431

In 1875, Andreas and his family lived in Torvastad, Rogaland, Norway.  He worked as a skipper.

In 1885, Andreas and his family lived in Haugesund, Rogaland, Norway. By this time, he was a skipperborger (skipper/ship master, social layer above the working class).

Haugesund is located on northern end of the strait of Karmsund.

Physical map of Fjords and Sunds between Bergen and Stavanger. By Ulamm (www.maps-for-free.com) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], 29 January 2008. Available from Wikimedia Commons.

Fishing and shipping were important industries in Haugesund. Herring were plentiful in the coastal waters. (The Birth of the Town of Haugesund)

Nordre havn, Haugesund, Stavangers amt. 1900-1910. Riksarkivet [National Archives], Havnedirektoratet [Harbor Directorate]. Public domain. Arkivverkets fotoarkiv.

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.

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.

European Maritime Day

May 20 is European Maritime Day. The purpose of the day is to raise awareness of the importance of the oceans and the role that they play in the lives of Europeans.

On 20 May 2008, the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, and the European Commission signed a Joint Tripartite Declaration Establishing a "European Maritime Day".  This was done as part of the Integrated Maritime Policy, which was proposed by the European Commission in October 2007 and endorsed at the European Council on 14 December 2007.

Each year, a European Maritime Conference is held. This year's conference is in Piraeus, Greece.

The sea has played a role in the lives of Europeans in my family. My great-great-grandfather's brother Ola Peter Troedson was a sjöman (seaman) in Grevie, Skåne, Sweden. My great-great-grandmother's brother Andreas Eriksen was a skipperborger (skipper/ship master, social layer above the working class) in Haugesund, Rogaland, Norway. My 4th-great-grandfather Hugh Winters lived in the port city of Leith, Scotland and worked as a fireman, probably on ships. James Mapplebeck's father's family was from Rawcliffe, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, which is about 3 miles from the port city of Goole. His father's brother Robert Mapplebeck was a mate of a home trade passenger ship, and his father's brother William Mapplebeck was a captain who drowned when his ship was lost at sea.

References
European Commission: European Maritime Day
European Commission - PRESS RELEASES - Press release - 20 May: European Maritime Day set up by European institutions
European Maritime Day

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.