Understanding the cultural context in which our ancestors lived can help bring historical records—with only names, dates, and places—alive.
NAMES
Last Names
Norway, prior to the 20th century, did not use permanent surnames that would be passed, unchanged, from generation to generation. Instead, they employed a patronymic naming system in which one’s last name was formed by one’s father’s first name, followed by a gendered suffix (“-sdatter” if female and “-ssen” or “-sen” if male).[1] So, in my case, as I am the son of Richard, I would have been David Richardsen. But if I had had children, say a Jack and a Jill, they would have been Jack Davidsen and Jill Davidsdatter.
Surnames
Starting in the mid-19th century in urban areas, there was a gradual move towards adopting either a patronymic or a farm name as a permanent surname. However, it was not until the Names Act of 1923 that surnames, as we know them in the United States, were mandated. Norwegians immigrating to the U.S., a culture that employed surnames, had to adopt a permanent family surname, many choosing either their farm name or their current patronymic (then known as a “frozen patronymic”).[2]
Women’s Names
A woman’s name would remain constant throughout her life, not changing when she married. Towards the end of the 19th century, more and more women began to adopt the male “sen” version of their patronymic rather than the “datter” version. The 1923 Names Act required women to adopt their husband’s surname. That requirement was rescinded in 1965, when women were once again allowed to keep their own names.[3] In the records included here, the suffix “datter” is often abbreviated as “dtr” or “dr.”[4]
First Names
While not followed universally, there were customary rules for naming children. The first son would be named after the paternal grandfather. The second son after the maternal grandfather. The first daughter after the paternal grandmother, and second daughter after the maternal grandmother, and so on.[5]
It was common practice in Norway that if a child died, and later, another child of the same gender was born to the family, the new child would be given the name of the deceased.[6] There were other rules as well. For instance, the death of a child, beyond the immediate tragedy, had bigger implications. It meant that that particular first name would disappear from the family line. So, when the death of a child occurred, the next child born of the same gender was to be given the name of the deceased child. Similarly, if someone was widowed, remarried, and then had a child of the same gender as the late spouse, the child would be given that spouse’s name.
Farm Names
Farms were a major geographical division in 19th-century Norway. In parish records, the name of the farm on which one lived was sometimes included after the patronymic, but it functioned as an address, not a surname.[7] Most farms were subdivided into smaller units. To indicate one of these sub-farms, the suffix eie would be added to the name of the farm. But many sub-farms carried their own unique names. They were often referred to as being under the main farm. So, in my family’s case, Grasdalen under Haavik.
Spelling Variations
The consistent spelling of names was not a cultural norm in Norway and therefore not expected.[8] The records included here may contain multiple variations of the same name. Church records were created by the local parish priest, who was likely educated in Denmark, and therefore might have employed Danish spellings. In addition, because of Norway’s rugged terrain and geographical isolation, it has hundreds of dialects, many based on Old Norse. Spellings may be influenced by dialect or local preference.[9]
RECORDS
Parish Records
As Norway had a State Church until 2017, records kept by parishes were official governmental records. Some parishes started keeping records in the early 17th century, but it wasn’t until later in the 18th century that most parishes did so. Records were kept in what is known as a ministerialbok. After a few notable church fires in which records were lost, in 1812 it was ordered that each parish was to keep a copy of the ministerialbok, called a klokkerbok, and that they should never be kept under the same roof at night.[10] Ministerialbøker (plural) are classified as original sources―the first record of an event, presumably created by those with firsthand knowledge. While they can contain errors, in general, they are considered highly reliable. Klokkerbøker are classified as derivative sources, as they are based on an original source, and are more prone to error. (See “Evaluating Genealogical Records,” below.)
Records were kept of baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and deaths, and sometimes smallpox vaccinations, moving into and out of the parish, engagements, and more. Prior to 1812, records were not categorized by the type of event, but simply kept in one long chronological list. So, a baptism could be followed by an engagement, then a death, a public confession, another baptism, a marriage, and so on. These lists are challenging to search.
Ditto is used throughout these records, abbreviated by variations of “D” or “Do.” The original text it refers to is included in [square brackets]. In addition, any editorial comments are enclosed in [square brackets].
Census Records
The census of the entire population happened infrequently in Norway throughout the 19th century, only taking place in 1801, 1865, 1875, and 1891.
Bygdebøker
During the 19th century, over 800,000 people emigrated to the United States. Norway recognized that as so many left, so did the knowledge and history that they carried. So, efforts began to systematically collect and publish this information before it was lost.
In 1906, the Norwegian Historical Association, an arm of the Norwegian government, created a nationwide plan for the collection of comprehensive family, farm, and community histories dating back centuries. This governmental project developed and taught a curriculum throughout the country to historians and authors on how to systematically research, gather, and create these histories.[11] The result of these efforts is a collection of over 2,000 volumes, or bygdebøker [plural of bygdebok]. They contain a stunning wealth of information – and not just about the wealthy. Included are decidedly un-wealthy families like our tenant-farmer ancestors. I find it amazing that the Norwegian government had the foresight and vision to create such a rich repository of rural history.
The result is a collection of over 2,000 volumes. They are published by parish, with a chapter devoted to each farm in that parish. They vary widely in accuracy and the level of detail included, but they can provide a wealth of genealogical information. Because they are based on information from other sources, they are considered derivative sources and authored narratives, therefore less reliable than the original sources.[12] Additional research―finding the original records―is required to verify any information found in a bygdebok.
CUSTOMS
Husmann
A husmann (sometimes husmand) was a tenant farmer who held a lease for one of these sub-farms. Some leases included its own piece of land to farm (meg Jord or with land), while others were jordløs, or landless, meaning that he only held a lease for a dwelling. In those cases, they either provided labor for the main farm or had their own occupation. Lease payments could be made in currency, an agreed-upon number of days of labor each year, or a combination of those two. Records from this time often abbreviate husmann as Hm or Hmd. A husmann’s wife was a hustru, often abbreviated H.[13]
Home Baptisms
Home baptisms were often conducted when a child was born sickly and there was a fear that the child would not survive. Laity were empowered by the State Church to perform baptisms. A parent, midwife, or others could perform the rite using clean water, or if that was unavailable, beer. If the child survived, the baptism would later be affirmed by the priest in church.[15]
Smallpox Vaccination
First administered in Norway in 1801 and made compulsory in 1810, the smallpox vaccine had a dramatic impact on death rates in Norway. This led, in part, to Norway’s 19th-century population explosion, a major cause of the mass emigration to the United States.[17] Proof that one had received the smallpox vaccination was required in order to be confirmed, married, or secure reputable employment.[18]
Aiding this growth was improved nutrition from herring and potatoes, improved hygiene, and sharply lower infant mortality rates, due in great part to the introduction of the smallpox vaccine earlier in the century.[19]
Confirmation
Confirmation was a major rite of passage from childhood to adulthood, and soon after, many young people would leave home and begin life on their own. It was required by law, and without proof of confirmation, one could not get married, enter military service, serve as a godparent, or testify in court.[20]
Marriage Banns
Marriage banns, announcements of an impending marriage, were to be made in church on three successive Sundays prior to the wedding. These were meant to allow anyone with knowledge of why the couple should not wed to speak.[16]
Graves
Embalming was rarely practiced in Norway. As a result, graves would be reused after twenty years or so and the gravestones destroyed.[14]
[7] Solveig Schavland Quinney, Norwegian American Genealogical Center, Madison, Wisconsin, interview by David Hovick Lohman, 6 May 2016; transcript on private computer of interviewer, 1012 Westbrooke Way, Hopkins, Minnesota.
[8] Dana Kelly, “Norwegian Patronymic Names Versus Farm Names,” video lecture, RootsTech 2021, minute 17.
[17] For vaccine, Hanne Jakobsen, “The Epidemic That Was Wiped Out,” Science Nordic (sciencenordic.com/epidemic-was-wiped-out : accessed 5 August 2019). For causes of population increase, Ingrid Gaustad Semmingsen, “Norwegian Emigration to America During the Nineteenth Century,” Norwegian-American Historical Association (www.naha.stolaf.edu/pubs/nas/volume11/vol11_5.htm : accessed 5 August 2019).
[18] Solveig Schavland Quinney, Norwegian American Genealogical Center, Madison, Wisconsin, interview by David Hovick Lohman, 6 May 2016; transcript on private computer of interviewer, 1012 Westbrooke Way, Hopkins, Minnesota.
[19] Stenersen, Ivar, and Oivind Libaek, History of Norway from the Ice Age to the Oil Age (3rd ed. Dinamo Forlag, 2007).
What little our family knew about the life of our great-grandmother, Gunhild Mathea (Johannesdatter) (Peterson) Braaten (1844–1921), was thanks to the writings of our late family historian, my beloved Aunt Mildred (Hovick) Monge (1907–2003). Her 1974 book, Remember, is a wealth of collected oral history. Reading that book at age 13 lit the fire of my life-long passion for genealogy.
Family lore held that she was born in 1844 in Drøbak, Norway. She married Nils Pedersen, had six children, and was widowed before coming to America.
However, oral history, while treasured, is sometimes flawed. Memories fade, details can get fuzzy or lost, and stories can alter through decades of retelling. Extensive research corrected the name of her father and provided the name of her mother, along with their parents. Her presumed birthplace proved to be untrue. Instead of Drøbak, she was born in the neighboring parish of Vestby. Since Drøbak was the nearest, larger, and better-known town, perhaps it was easier for Mathea to tell people that she had been born there instead of in lesser-known Vestby Parish.
My family line is descended from her second marriage to Mikkel Braaten, which occurred in 1883 after she immigrated and settled in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.
Let us begin this journey into her life by identifying her family and where in Norway she lived.
Mathea’s Family Tree
Mathea in Southeastern Norway
The old Akershus and the new Viken CountiesOslo, with Vestby and Nittedal Parishes in the surrounding Viken County
Mathea’s Childhood: Vestby Parish (1844–ca. 1858)
My great-grandmother, Gunhild Mathea Johannesdatter (1844–1921), known all her life as Mathea, was born 17 October 1844 and baptized two months later on Christmas Day. She was the daughter of Johannes Andersen (1797–1858) and Kirstine Andreasdatter (1818–1891).
Her family lived and worked on the Stokkholm farm, a subdivision of the Torp farm, in Vestby Parish, Viken (formerly Akershus) County, Norway. The farm was 45 kilometers/28 miles south of Oslo.
Torp Road
Where They Lived and When Family Farms and Years of Documented Residence
Johannes was issued a lease for the Stokkholm farm in 1829. The terms stipulated that he would either pay rent for the land or else provide twelve days of labor to the owner of the Torp farm per year.
Johannes was the youngest of three known children born to Anders Hansen (b. 1751) and Helvig Andersdatter (1757–1823). His marriage to Mathea’s mother was his third. His first wife, Gunhild Syversdatter (1799–1834) died, leaving him with six children. His second marriage, seven and a half months later, to Malene Christensdatter (1792–1843) ended in her death and produced no children. Four months later, he married Mathea’s mother Kirstine on 3 June 1843, when he was 47 and she was 24.
Mathea’s mother, Kirstine Andreasdatter, was born 7 August 1818. She was the second of six children born to tenant farmer Andreas Johannesen and his wife Johanne Johannesdatter, who, since 1800, had lived and worked on the Hauger Farm, not far from the Stokkholm farm.
Hauger Farm, Main House
As was the practice at the time, Gunhild Mathea was named after her father Johannes’ late first wife, Gunhild. (See Norwegian Cultural Background: First Names.) One can wonder how Kirstine felt about a constant reminder of her husband’s first wife running around the house. This might explain why Gunhild Mathea always went by her middle name.
Mathea received the smallpox vaccination on 20 November 1845. First administered in Norway in 1801 and made compulsory in 1810, the smallpox vaccine had a dramatic impact on death rates in Norway. This led, in part, to Norway’s 19th-century population explosion, a major cause of the mass emigration to the United States. Proof that one had received the smallpox vaccination was required to be confirmed, married, or secure reputable employment.
When Mathea was two, her mother gave birth to her only full sibling, brother Carl (later spelled Karl) August Johannesen, on 8 January 1847. He married Samuline Marie Samuelsdatter (1846–1903) on 18 December 1866, and they had seven children. By the time of his death at age 35 on 28 December 1882, he had left the State Church (Lutheran) and became a Methodist, an act that labeled him a dissenter in the eyes of the Norwegian government. Norway did not have separation of church and state until 2017.
Carl August Johannesen
Presumably, she spent much of her childhood learning to become a seamstress, skills that would later become so important to her family’s economic survival.
Just shy of her 14th birthday, Mathea was confirmed on 3 October 1858. Confirmation was considered a major rite of passage from childhood to adulthood. Many young people, upon being confirmed (around 14 or 15), left home to begin earning their own living. Like the smallpox vaccination earlier in life, confirmation was compulsory.
Two months after her confirmation, Mathea’s father, Johannes, died at the age of 62. Despite his being only a tenant farmer, by the time of his death, he owned their dwelling and an outbuilding on the Stokkholm Farm.
Torp Farm
Ten months after his death, Kirstine married again, this time to Anders David Christiansen (b. 1825) in 1859. In 1865, Kirstine and Anders, along with her son Carl August, then 19, were living on the nearby Brånan Farm. Kirstine died of influenza and asthma on 12 May 1891.
It is unknown when Mathea left their Stokkholm farm. Perhaps it was after the death of her father or when her mother remarried, both in 1859 when she was 14, or sometime later. In any case, by the time she was 21 in 1865, the life of this humble farmer’s daughter had dramatically changed.
Vestby Kirke
The center of their religious life was the Vestby Kirke (church) in the nearby town of Vestby. The kirke in which Mathea was baptized and confirmed was built in about 1200 and demolished when the current church was built in 1885. The baptismal font, still in use, comes from the medieval stone church and would likely have been the font at which Mathea was baptized.
The Former Vestby Kirke during Mathea’s LifetimeVestby’s Medieval Baptismal Font
A Young Woman on Her Own: Oslo (ca. 1865–1866)
Sometime prior to the very end of 1865, Mathea had moved north from Vestby Parish to the city of Kristiania (which in 1925 was renamed Oslo). With the advent of industrialization and rapid population growth, the city was undergoing major changes. Warehouses and factories were proliferating, many centered in a newly expanding part of town called Grünerløkka.
Mathea in Oslo
It was in this bustling and changing environment that Mathea lived and worked. Mathea was 21 and worked as a servant to a member of the Norwegian infantry, Captain Christian Frederik Vanelius, along with his wife, mother-in-law, and their seven children. Mathea and the Vanelius family lived at 77 Thorvald Meyers Gate (gate means street).
The building now at 77 Thorvald Meyers Gate, built after 1870
The building that stands there today, along with most of the neighborhood, is estimated to have been built sometime after 1870, so the house that she lived and worked in was likely torn down to make way for a wave of new construction.
The Norske Folkemuseum in Oslo includes an open-air museum of 160 historic buildings relocated from across of Norway, including the Gol Stavekirke from 1200 CE. Among them is an apartment building, with each apartment decorated as it might have been in each decade from the 1870s to the present. Of particular interest is the 1870s apartment, as this was just after Mathea’s time with the Vanelius family.
This apartment’s décor, typical of an upper-class family living in Oslo at the time, was inspired by descriptions in Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen’s play, A Doll’s House. This provides a glimpse into what Mathea’s life could possibly have looked like.
Interestingly, had Mathea continued to live and work at 77 Thorvald Meyers Gate another ten years, the Norwegian artist, Edvard Munch (1863–1944), famous for The Scream, would have been a neighbor down the street at number 48.
Marriage and Motherhood: Nittedal Parish (1866–1877)
By the spring of 1866, only a few months after having lived in Oslo, Mathea had left and moved 17 kilometers/11 miles north to Nittedal Parish. She lived on the Slattum farm, worked as a servant on the Markerud farm, and most importantly, was engaged to wed a shoemaker named Nils Pedersen (1842–1876).
Where They Lived and When Family Farms and Years of Documented Residence
Nils and His Family
Nils was the only child of Peder Hansen (1808–aft. 1875) and Johanne Andersdatter (1808–aft. 1865).
When his father Peder was born, Norway was experiencing widespread famine. Norway had been ruled by Denmark for centuries, and as the Napoleonic Wars raged on in Europe, countries were increasingly forced to take sides. Denmark ultimately chose to side with France, and in retaliation, Britain began a naval blockade of Norway. Exports of Norwegian timber, fish, and iron ceased, as did the vital import of grain, upon which southeastern Norway, in particular, was wholly dependent. Norway was completely isolated, and the loss of grain caused widespread famine. In Akershus County, where 40% of the population lived, death rates rose dramatically—153% in 1808, and 258% in 1809 when the blockade was finally lifted. During this time, Peder’s family received supplies of oats from the government which kept them from starvation. After France and Denmark lost the war, Denmark lost its control over Norway, which not long thereafter, signed its constitution on 17 May 1814, a date celebrated annually as Syttende Mai (the seventeenth of May).
Terje Vigen, artist unknown
In 1862, famed Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906) wrote an epic poem entitled Terje Vigen inspired by the British blockade of Norway. Curiously, this was the same year that Victor Hugo published Les Misérables, a story with many parallels. While fictional, it is based on actual events. It tells the story of Terje, a fisherman, who, to save his wife and daughter from starvation, rowed a small boat across the North Sea to Denmark in search of food. During his return journey, loaded with grain, his boat was confiscated by the British, and Terje imprisoned. He was released after the war ended five years later, but upon his return home, he learned that his wife and daughter had died. But, like Les Misérables, the tale does have a redemptive ending. A silent film version was made in Sweden in 1917 and is currently available, subtitled in English, on YouTube.
Nils’ parents, Peder and Johanne, were married on 27 December 1836. Nils was born in 1842 while they lived on the Skytta farm in Nittedal. In 1859, Peder signed a lease for Gata, a small farm that was part of the larger Slattum farm. Most farms were subdivided into smaller units. To indicate one of these sub-farms, the suffix eie would be added to the name of the farm, in this case, Slattumeie. But many sub-farms carried their own unique names. They were often referred to as being under the main farm. So, Gata was also known as Gata under Slattum. Peder’s lease stipulated that, in addition to providing labor to the owner of the Slattum farm, he would pay 12 skillings per year. He was also entitled to harvest firewood and fencing materials from the surrounding forest. In addition to being a farmer, Peder was a shoemaker, a trade he taught to his son, Nils. In 1865, the potato crop he planted was small, making it likely that he earned most of his income, not from farming, but from shoemaking.
Mathea and Nils
How they met will remain a mystery. By the spring of 1867, Mathea and Nils were engaged and both living, presumably together, on the Gata under Slattum farm. Marriages in 19th century Norway were often negotiated between the parents of the bride and groom. As Mathea’s father had died, and her mother lived 60 kilometers south in Vestby Parish, it is unknown how their marriage was negotiated. But once the details of a marriage had been agreed upon, there was often a festermål, a public announcement, and a small celebration of the impending wedding. At that point, in the eyes of the community, the couple was considered all but married, and could begin living together. The upcoming ceremony in the parish church was merely a formality. As a result, many brides in Norway were already pregnant at their wedding.
The Proposal by Adolph Tidemand
However, before any marriage could take place, marriage banns, or announcements, had to be made on three successive Sundays in the parish church, giving people an opportunity to speak if they knew of why the couple should not wed. Their banns took place on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays after Easter, which in that year were May 12, 19, and 26. Mathea and Nils’ wedding then took place on Tuesday, 9 July 1867 at the Nittedal Kirke. Presumably without scandal, Mathea was very pregnant with twins.
A mere two months after their marriage, Mathea gave birth to daughters Caroline Janette (4 September 1867–22 December 1919) and Inga Patrea Nilsdatter (4 September 1867–7 June 1946).
Their first son, August Hjalmer Nilsen, was born on 16 May 1870 (he died on 1 October 1943), and like his mother, was baptized on Christmas Day. A second son, Rudolf Alfred(1) Nilsen, was born on 30 November 1872, but died only four months later on 21 March 1873.
As was the custom, they named their next son after their deceased child (see Norwegian Cultural Background: First Names.). Mathea gave birth on 11 August 1874 to a second son named Rudolf Alfred(2) Nilsen (who died on 8 August 1898).
By 1875, Nils had taken over the Gata farm from his father. Nils, in addition to being both farmer and shoemaker, also worked transporting goods by carriage, using the single horse they owned. Their last child, daughter Ragnhild Lydia Nilsdatter, arrived on February 19, 1876 (she died on 2 April 1956).
Nittedal Kirke
The current Nittedal church was built in 1869. Mathea and Nils had been married two years prior in the medieval church, later torn down to make way for the church that stands there now.
The Current Nittedal Kirke“Nittedal church was built and consecrated in 1869. It stands partly on the wall of the old medieval church that was dedicated to St. Olav. The altar of this church (from about 1665), the baptismal font in brass, mentioned in 1629, and a soapstone baptismal font from the 12th century, are preserved in the church. In 1969 the church was restored, and portions of the medieval church were revealed. …”
Widowed at 31: Oslo (1877–1882)
A mere three months after the birth of their youngest child, Ragnhild, Mathea’s husband Nils died of pneumonia on 26 May 1876, leaving her with five children under the age of eight. She remained in Nittedal for ten months following Nils’ death before moving back to Oslo with her children. Control of the farm went back to Nils’ father, Peder. It was common practice to record people moving into or out of a parish in the church record books. Their departure from Nittedal Parish was recorded on 28 March 1877, and it included their intent to move to the parish of Østre Aker on the outskirts of Oslo. However, not all parishes were diligent at keeping these arrival and departure records, and so far, any record of their arriving in the new parish has not been found. And because there was not a census conducted during the years between their departure from Nittedal in 1877 and their emigration in 1882–1883, it is unknown where exactly they lived.
Østre Aker Parish, ca. 1880
In Remember, my aunt Mildred writes:
“Nils died young, leaving Mathea alone to care for their needs. Dressmaking became her means of livelihood. She would stay up all night at her work, catching snatches of sleep with her head on her arms on the sewing machine, wondering how long she could keep going in this manner. However, her reputation as a seamstress won her the enviable position as official Seamstress for the Court in Oslo.”
Written on the reverse: “Mathea made this dress; she sheared the sheep, carded the wool, spun it into yarn, dyed it a blue-green color, wove it into cloth, designed the pattern, cut it out and sewed it.”
She truly was a fine seamstress, as the photo above attests. But as mentioned earlier, oral history can exaggerate with each retelling. While possible, no evidence has surfaced that she ever worked for the royal court.
Mildred continues:
“While working in Oslo she met the Ruud family. Mr. Ruud was an evangelist traveling about the country, finally crossing over to America. Finding the New Country so promising, the Ruuds wrote to Mathea, inviting her to come live with them; and taking only one daughter, Lydia, with her, she arrived in America, making their home in Fergus Falls.”
A story that has been passed down in another branch of the family states that she had started some kind of Sunday school for children. It was through this work that she met and greatly impressed Pastor Ruud. His actual identity is unknown. Immigration records, as well as Minnesota and United States censuses have not revealed anyone with that surname born in Norway who lived in the Fergus Falls area at that time. He may always be a mystery.
What made her accept the Ruuds’ dramatic, life-changing offer? Why would she leave all she knew for a small town across the ocean in northwestern Minnesota? If she was truly sewing late into the wee hours, her decision to leave Norway was most likely due to financial desperation, and like immigrant mothers throughout time, her desire to make life better for her children. Likely because money was limited, when she left, she took with her only one child – the one who needed the most care – her youngest, five-year-old Ragnhild Lydia. To whom did she entrust her other four surviving children? Perhaps it was her mother, Kirstine, her brother August, one of her half-siblings, or someone is Nils’ family. In any case, one can only imagine how difficult it was for her to leave them behind.
Journey to a New Life: Immigration (1882–1883)
On Thursday, 5 October 1882, Mathea and Ragnhild made their way to the Oslo harbor, where they bravely boarded the SS Geiser, bound for New York. The Geiser had begun its journey in Copenhagen, Denmark before stopping in Oslo, and made a stop in Kristiansand on the southern tip of Norway before crossing the Atlantic. Part of the Danish shipping line Thingvalla, it was a single-stack, three-masted steamship. Built just the year prior in 1881, the ship had accommodations for 900 passengers in steerage (not to mention first and second classes).
SS Geiser
After a sixteen-day journey across the ocean, they arrived in New York harbor on 21 October 1882. This was a dramatically different experience than that of her soon-to-be second husband, Mikkel Mikkelsen Braaten (1834–1901), who endured a torturous 78-day voyage aboard a sailing ship in 1868.
From 1855–1890, immigrants to the United States were processed at the Emigrant Landing Depot at Castle Garden on the southernmost tip of Manhattan (Ellis Island did not open until 1892).
Castle Garden
Therefore, it was here at Castle Garden that Mathea took her very first steps onto American soil, her hand most certainly gripped tightly to Ragnhild’s. What must she have been thinking and feeling? Her move from the farm to Oslo years prior had been a big change. But none of that could have prepared her for New York City.
Castle Garden
Immigrant ships anchored in the harbor, and barges and tugboats transported passengers and their luggage to the pier. There they would be given a brass claim ticket for their luggage. After passing a health inspection, they proceeded into the building to be registered. From there, they could meet with railroad company clerks to book their travel to destinations beyond New York. Their bags were then transported to the train depot to begin the next leg of their journey.
Mathea settled in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and in less than six months, she met and married a dairy farmer, Mikkel Mikkelsen Braaten (1834–1901), himself an immigrant from Norway and a widow with six children. Oral history from the Pedersen family held that Mathea had refused to marry Mikkel until he agreed to pay for the rest of her children to join them in Fergus Falls. Money was sent, and the twins, Inga and Caroline, arrived in July 1883, and sons August and Rudolf that November. And once reunited, their blended family of thirteen settled on a farm just north of Fergus Falls.
Mathea would go on to live most of her life in the Fergus Falls area, spending some time at a homestead that she purchased in North Dakota. She and Mikkel had two more children: Inger Pauline (my maternal grandmother), born 29 January 1884, and Johan Arndt, born 16 June 1886 and died 3 February 1887. Mathea died at the age of 76 from heart failure after breaking her femur, while visiting her daughter Inger Pauline (Braaten) Hovick (1884–1975) in Madison, Minnesota. She, her second husband Mikkel, and their son Johan are buried in unmarked graves in the Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.
Mathea’s Timeline
YEAR
DATE
EVENT
NAMES AS THEY APPEAR
RESIDENCE
1842
16 January 26 May
birth baptism
Nils Pedersen
Skytta Skytta
1844
17 October 25 December
birth baptism
Gunnhild Mathea
Hvitsen Hvitsen
1845
20 November
vaccination
Gunnhild Mathea
–
1858
3 October
confirmation
Gunnhild Mathea
Stokholm
1865
31 December
census
Gunhild Mathea Johannesen
Oslo
1866
spring
arrival in Nittedal Parish
Gunhild Mathea Johannesdatter
Slattumeie
1867
9 July
marriage
Gunhild Mathea Johannesdatter and Nils Pedersen
Stockholm Slattumeie
4 September
birth
Inga Patroa and Caroline Janette
Slattumeie
1868
5 April
baptism
Inga Patroa and Caroline Janette
Slattumeie
1870
5 June 25 December
birth baptism
August Hjalmer
Slattumeie
1872
30 November
birth and baptism
Rudolph Alfred(1)
Slattumeie
1873
21 March
death
Rudolph Alfred(1)
Slattumeie
1874
11 August 6 September
birth baptism
Rudolph Alfred(2)
Slattumeie
1875
31 December
census
Mathea Johannesdat. and family
Gata
1876
19 February 26 March
birth baptism
Ragnhild Lydia
Slattumeie
26 May
death
Nils Pedersen
Gata, Slattumeie
1877
28 March
departure from Nittedal Parish
Gunnhild Mathea Johannesdatter and children
Gata
1882
5 October
departure from Oslo
Mathea Peders. and Ragnhild Peders.
Kristiania (Oslo)
21 October
arrival in New York
Mrs. M. Pedersen and Ragnhild Pedersen
Norway
1883
2 April
marriage
Mrs. M. Pedersen and Mikkel Braaten
Otter Tail County, MN
28 June
departure from Oslo
Inga Peders. and Caroline Peders.
Nittedal
12 July
arrival in New York
Inga Pedersen and Caroline Pedersen
Norway
18 October
departure from Oslo
August Peders. and Rudolf Peders.
Nittedal
5 November
arrival in New York
August Pedersen and Rudolf Pedersen
Norway
Note slight variations in spelling
THE RECORDS
Baptism of Niels Pedersen (1842)
Any editorial remarks―information not included in the original records―are enclosed in [square brackets], as are guesses as to what the sometimes-inscrutable handwriting says. Any words in these records that are illegible are indicated by “[–?–]”
Vestby Parish (Akershus, Norway), Ministerialbok nr. I 4, 1836–1849, Fødte og Døpte [Born and Baptized], p. 17, line 8, baptism of Niels Pedersen, 27 March 1842; digital images, National Archives of Norway, Digitized Parish Registers (media.digitalarkivet.no/view/7626/38600/16 : accessed 28 February 2021).
Extract and Translation:
Date of birth: 16 January 1842 Date of baptism: 27 March 1842 Name: Niels Parents: Peder Hansen and Johanne Andersdatter of Skytta
Baptism of Gunnhild Mathea Johannesdatter (1844)
Vestby Parish (Vestby, Akershus, Norway), Ministerialbok no. I 6, Fødte og Døpte [Born and Baptized] 1827–1849, p. 356, line 71, baptism of Gunnild Mathea, 25 December 1844; digital images, National Archives of Norway, Digitized Parish Registers (media.digitalarkivet.no/view/7540/38292/99 : accessed 25 February 2021).
Date of birth: 17 October 1844 Date of baptism: 25 December 1844 Name: Gunnild Mathea Parents: Johannes Andersen and Kirstine Andreasdatter
Confirmation of Gunnhild Mathea Johannesdatter (1858)
Vestby Parish (Vestby, Akershus, Norway), Ministerialbok no. I 7, Konfirmerte [Confirmed] 1850–1862, p. 148, line 26, confirmation of Gunnild Mathea Johannesdatter, 3 October 1858; digital images, National Archives of Norway, Digitized Parish Registers (media.digitalarkivet.no/view/5745/29242/30 : accessed 5 March 2021).
Date: 3 October 1858 Name: Gunnild Mathea Johannesdatter Date of birth: 14 October 1844 [this differs from her baptismal record above] Residence: Stokholm
Gunhild Mathea Johannesen in the 1865 Census of Norway
1865 census for Norway, Kristiania (Oslo), census district 000, Gamle Akers Parish, image 4603, line 11 (unnumbered), Christian Frederik Vanelius household; digital images, Digitalarkivet (media.digitalarkivet.no/view/38027/4603 : accessed 8 July 2020). For transcription, see Digitalarkivet, 1865 census for Kristiania, census district 000, urban residence 2061, 77 Thorvald Meyers Gate, transcription; (www.digitalarkivet.no/en/census/person/pf01038027049386 : accessed 8 July 2020).
Arrival of Gunhild Mathea Johannesdatter in Nittedal Parish (1866)
Nittedal Parish (Akershus, Norway), Ministerialbok nr. I 6, 1863–1878, Innflyttede [In-Migrated], p. 343, line 6, arrival of Gunhild Mathea Johannesdatter, spring 1866; digital images, National Archives of Norway, Digitized Parish Registers (media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/6247/330 : accessed 8 July 2020).
Date: Spring 1866 Name: Gunhild Mathea Johannesdatter Born: 14 October 1844 in Vestby Father: Johannes Andersen Age: 22½ Reason: To work as a servant on the Markerud farm and to marry shoemaker Nils Pedersen of Slattumeie
Marriage of Gunhild Mathea Johannesdatter and Nils Pedersen (1867)
Nittedal Parish (Akershus, Norway), Ministerialbok nr. I 6, 1863–1878, Viede [Married], p. 235, line 14, marriage of Nils Pedersen and Gunhild Mathea Johannesdatter, 9 July 1867; digital images, National Archives of Norway, Digitized Parish Registers (media.digitalarkivet.no/view/6247/32263/10 : accessed 8 July 2020).
Date: 9 July 1867 Groom: Shoemaker Nils Pedersen, age 25¼, born Skytta in Nittedal Bride: Gunhild Mathea Johannesdatter, age 22½, born Stockholm in Vestby
Baptism of Twin Daughters, Inga Petroa and Carolina Janette Nilsdatter (1868)
Nittedal Parish (Akershus, Norway), Ministerialbok nr. I 6, 1863–1878, Fødte og Døpte [Born and Baptized], p. 94, line 5, baptism of Inga Petroa, 5 April 1868; digital images, National Archives of Norway, Digitized Parish Registers (media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/6247/92 : accessed 8 July 2020).
Nittedal Parish (Akershus, Norway), Ministerialbok nr. I 6, 1863–1878, Fødte og Døpte [Born and Baptized], p. 95, line 6, baptism of Caroline Janette, 5 April 1868; digital images, National Archives of Norway, Digitized Parish Registers (media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/6247/93 : accessed 8 July 2020).
Date of birth: 4 September 1867 Date of baptism: 5 April 1868 (Palm Sunday) Name: Inga Petroa Name: Caroline Janette
Baptism of Son, August Hjalmer Nilsen (1870)
Nittedal Parish (Akershus, Norway), Ministerialbok nr. 1 6, 1863–1878, Fødte og Døpte [Born and Baptized], p. 32, line 32, baptism of August Hjalmar, 25 December 1870; digital images, National Archives of Norway, Digitized Parish Registers (media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/6247/34 : accessed 8 July 2020).
Date of birth: 16 May or 5 June 1870 Date of baptism: 25 December 1870
Note:
Mathea claimed that the birthdate was 16 May, while the midwife claimed it was 5 June.
Baptism of Son, Rudolf Alfred(1) Nilsen (1872)
Nittedal Parish (Akershus, Norway), Ministerialbok nr. I 6, 1863–1878, Fødte og Døpte [Born and Baptized], p. 40, line 11, baptism of Rudolf Alfred, 30 November 1872; digital images, National Archives of Norway, Digitized Parish Registers (media.digitalarkivet.no/view/6247/32257/41 : accessed 8 July 2020).
Date of birth: 30 November 1872 Date of baptism: [left blank]
Death of Son, Rudolf Alfred(1) Nilsen (1873)
Nittedal Parish (Akershus, Norway), Ministerialbok nr. I 6, 1863–1878, Døde og Begravede [Died and Buried], p. 290, line 3, death of Rudolf Alfred Nilsen, 21 March 1873; digital images, National Archives of Norway, Digitized Parish Registers (media.digitalarkivet.no/view/6247/32253/20 : accessed 8 July 2020).
Date of death: 21 March 1873 Date of burial: 30 March 1873 Name: Rudolf Alfred Nilsen Age: 4 months Cause of death: convulsions
Baptism of Son, Rudolf Alfred(2) Nilsen (1874)
Nittedal Parish (Akershus, Norway), Ministerialbok nr. I 6, 1863–1878, Fødte og Døpte [Born and Baptized], p. 48, line 29, baptism of Rudolf Alfred, 6 September 1874; digital images, National Archives of Norway, Digitized Parish Registers (media.digitalarkivet.no/view/6247/32257/49 : accessed 8 July 2020).
Date of birth: 11 August 1874 Date of baptism: 6 September 1874, the 14th Sunday after Trinity Name: Rudolf Alfred
Mathea Johannesdatter and Family in the 1875 Census of Norway
1875 census for Norway, Akershus county, Nittedal parish, census district 002, image 304, line 1, Gata, Nils Pedersen household; digital images, Digitalarkivet (media.digitalarkivet.no/view/52048/304 : accessed 3 August 2020). For transcription, see Digitalarkivet, 1875 census for 0233P Nittedal, census district 002, rural residence 0071 Gata, transcription; www.digitalarkivet.no/en/census/person/pf01052048001110 : accessed 3 August 2020).
Location: Gata farm, Nittedal Parish
Residents: Nils Pedersen, tenant farmer and coachman, born 1842 in Nitedal Mathea Johannesdatter, seamstress, born 1844 in Vestby August Jalmer Nilsen, born 1870 in Nitedal Rudolf Alfred Nilsen, born 1874 in Nitedal Inga Petria Nilsen, born 1867 in Nitedal Karoline Nilsen, born 1867 in Nitedal
Baptism of Daughter, Ragnhild Lydia Nilsdatter (1876)
Nittedal Parish (Akershus, Norway), Ministerialbok nr. I 6, 1863–1878, Fødte og Døpte [Born and Baptized], p. 128, line 7, baptism of Ragnild Lydia, 26 March 1876; digital images, National Archives of Norway, Digitized Parish Registers (media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/6247/126 : accessed 8 July 2020).
Date of birth: 19 February 1876 Date of baptism: 26 March 1876 Name: Ragnhild Lydia
Death of Husband, Nils Pedersen (1876)
Nittedal Parish (Akershus, Norway), Ministerialbok nr. I 6, 1863–1878, Døde og Begravede [Died and Buried], p. 297, line 17, death of Nils Pedersen, 26 May 1876; digital images, National Archives of Norway, Digitized Parish Registers (media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/6247/283 : accessed 8 July 2020).
Date of death: 26 May 1876 Date of burial: 3 June 1876 Name: Nils Pedersen Cause of death: pneumonia
Departure of Gunhild Mathea Johannesdatter and Children from Nittedal Parish (1877)
Nittedal Parish (Akershus, Norway), Ministerialbok nr. I 6, 1863–1878, Utflyttede [Departed Parish], p. 374, lines 9–14, departure of Gunnild Mathea Johannesdatter and five children, 28 March 1877; digital images, National Archives of Norway, Digitized Parish Registers (media.digitalarkivet.no/view/6247/32259/42 : accessed 8 July 2020).
Date: 28 March 1877
Widow Gunhild Mathea Johannesdatter, of Gata under Slattum, with five children: Inga Petrea, born 4 September 1867, age 9½ Caroline Janette, her twin, age 9½ August Hjalmar, born 5 June 1870, age [–?–] Rudolf Alfred, born 11 August 1874, age 2¾ Ragnild Lydia, born 19 February 1876, age 1
Destination: Østre Aker Parish, certificate dated 28 March
Emigration of Mathea and Daughter Ragnhild (1882)
Digital image of this record is not available.
For Mathea, “Emigrants from Kristiania 1871–1930, edited version,” Mathea Peders, 5 October 1882; transcription, Digital Archives (www.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/8/pe00000000976976 : accessed 8 July 2020). For Ragnhild, “Emigrants from Kristiania 1871–1930, edited version,” Ragnild Peders, 5 October 1882; transcription, Digital Archives (www.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/8/pe00000000976977 : accessed 8 July 2020).
Names: Mathea Peders[en]. and Ragnhild Peders[en]. Ages: 38 and 6 Residence: Kristiania (Oslo) Date: 5 October 1882 Destination: Fergus Falls Ship: Geiser
Arrival in New York of Mathea and Ragnhild (1882)
“New York, Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820–1957,” 21 October 1882, SS Geiser, line 388, Mathea Pedersen; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 July 2020); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm publication M237, roll 458, list number 874.
“New York, Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820–1957,” 21 October 1882, SS Geiser, line 389, Ragnhild Pedersen; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 July 2020); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm publication M237, roll 458, list number 874.
Names: Mathea Pedersen and Ragnhild Pedersen Ages: 38 and 5 Occupation: Mrs. and child Country of origin: Norway Destination: USofA Part of the vessel occupied: steerage
Emigration of Daughters, Inga and Caroline (1883)
Digital image of this record is not available.
For Inga, “Emigrants from Kristiania 1871–1930, edited version,” Inga Peders, 28 June 1883; transcription, Digital Archives (www.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/8/pe00000000988304 : accessed 8 July 2020). For Caroline, “Emigrants from Kristiania 1871–1930, edited version,” Caroline Peders, 28 June 1883; transcription, Digital Archives (www.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/8/pe00000000988305 : accessed 8 July 2020).
Names: Inga Peders[en]. and Caroline Peders[en]. Ages: 15 and 15 Residence: Nittedal Date: 28 June 1883 Destination: Fergus Falls Ship: Island
Arrival in New York of Daughters, Inga and Caroline (1883)
“New York, Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820–1957,” 12 July 1883, SS Island, lines 33–34, Inga and Caroline Pedersen; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 July 2020); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm publication M237, roll 468, list number 874.
Names: Inga Pedersen and Caroline Pedersen Ages: 15 and 15 Occupation: child and child Country of origin: Norway Destination: USofA
Emigration of Sons, August and Rudolf (1883)
Digital image of this record is not available.
For August, “Emigrants from Kristiania 1871–1930, edited version,” August Peders, 18 October 1883; transcription, Digital Archives (www.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/8/pe00000000992184 : accessed 8 July 2020). For Alfred, “Emigrants from Kristiania 1871–1930, edited version,” Alfred Peders, 18 October 1883; transcription, Digital Archives (www.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/8/pe00000000992185 : accessed 8 July 2020).
Names: August Peders[en]. and Rudolf Peders[en]. Ages: 12 and 9 Residence: Nittedal Date: 18 October 1883 Destination: Fergus Falls Ship: Island
Arrival in New York of Sons, August and Rudolf (1883)
Names: August Pedersen and Rudolf Pedersen Ages: 7 years, 9 months, and 6 years Occupation: child and child Country of origin: Norway Destination: USofA
In 1829, Andreas [Botolfsen, owner of the Torp farm] issued a lease to Joh[anne]s Andersen, born 1797, and his wife, stipulating that during their life, living at Stokkholm, he would provide 12 days of work per year or the amount of 3 speciedaler, 2 marks, and 12 skillings. Stokkholm was located in the southeastern part of the farm area and is today a separate part.
Johannes’ first marriage was to Gunhild Syversdatter.
Children: 1) Jørgen Johannesen (b. 1819) 2) Reinert Johannesen, who later lived in Tuft 3) Anton Johannesen (b. 25 Aug 1827), who later lived in Kra. 4) Hans Johannesen (b. 3 Mar 1830, d. before 1858), who was a tenant farmer on the 5) Strand farm and had three children 6) Jørgen Johannesen, who lived on the Grøstad farm in 1858 7) Helene Johannesdatter, who married tenant farmer Ole Olsen of the Hauger farm
His second marriage to Malene Christensdatter (b. 1792), produced no children.
By the time of his death, Johannes owned a one-story dwelling and an outbuilding on the site. The tenant after his death was Botolf Olsen of Torp. The building was valued at 100 speciedaler, with a debt of 50 speciedaler.
Note:
This published list includes two sons named Jørgen. Diligent searches of the Vestby Parish records found a baptismal record for only a single Jørgen, and no death record during this time. The two listed above are likely the same person. Research also revealed an additional son, Ole, not included above.
The following is likely the correct list of children: 1) Jørgen Johannesen (b. 1819) 2) Reinert Johannesen (b. 1822) 3) Helene Johannesdatter (b. 1823) 4) Anton Johannesen (b. 1827) 5) Hans Johannesen (b. 1830) 6) Ole Severin Johannesen (b. 1832)
Mathea’s Mother Kirstine’s Birth Family on the Hauger Farm, Vestby Parish Bygdebok
From 1800 onwards, records mention tenant farmer Andreas Johannesen, his wife, Johanne Johannesdatter, and their children:
1) Kirstine Andreasdatter (b. 7 August 1818) 2) Anne Oline Andreasdatter (born 10 March 1821) 3) Anne Andreasdatter (b. 7 March 1824) 4) Karen Andreasdatter (b. 11 November 1826) 5) Jacob Andreasen (b. 14 October 1830)
Note:
Research revealed that their eldest son was left off this list. The following is likely the correct list of children:
1) Johannes Andreasen (b. 3 October 1816) 2) Kirstine Andreasdatter (7 August 1818–23 November 1905) 3) Anne Oline Andreasdatter (b. 10 March 1821) 4) Anne Andreasdatter (b. 7 March 1824) 5) Karen Andreasdatter (b. 11 November 1826) 6) Jacob Andreasen (b. 14 October 1830)
Mathea’s Father Johannes’ Birth Family on the Svingen under Rustad Søndre Farm, Vestby Parish Bygdebok
The 1801 census lists one tenant farmer’s home on the Rustad farm, called Svingen. Living there was “landless” tenant farmer and shoemaker Anders Hansen and his wife Helvig Andersdatter, born respectively in 1751 and 1757. Helvig died 9 February 1823.
Children: 1) Hans Andersen (born 1785) 2) Maria Andersdatter (born 1792) 3) Johannes Andersen (born 1796)
Johannes also lived here as an adult, and married Gunhild Syversdatter, and had these children: 1) Jørgen Johannesen (born 2 April 1819) 2) Anne Olea Johannesdatter (born 24 January 1824)
Nils’ Paternal Ancestors on the Prestegard, Nittedal Parish Bygdebok
Birger Kirkeby, Nittedal og Hakadal: I. Nittedal Gardshistorie, (Rotnes, Norway: Nittedal Kommune, 1965), 539.
Translation (potential and actual direct ancestors of Nils are in boldface):
NER-BAKKEN. 1) Hans Hansen [possibly Nils’ great-great-grandfather], tenant farmer here ca. 1779, who later lived at Haugeriet, married Mari Svensdatter. Children born here: Kari. 2) Håken Hansen [possibly Nils’ great-grandfather], who married Anne Olsdatter, was tenant farmer in the late 1780s. Children: Mari, born 1786. Håken later moved to Glømmi. 3) Erik Persen, born 1756, tenant farmer here before 1791 until 1801, when he bought Øvre Tærud in Skedsmo, married Anne Torgersdatter, born 1754. Erik was succeeded by 4) Hans Håkensen [Nils’ paternal grandfather], tenant farmer to approximately 1810, married Anne Kristoffersdatter. Children: Ola, born 1806, Pe[de]r [Hansen, Nil’s father], born 1808, when Hans planted 2 barrels and 5 bushels of oats, which they had frequently received from the government to save their lives.
Nils’ Birth Family, and Mathea and Nils’ Family on the Gata under Slattum Farm, Nittedal Parish Bygdebok
Birger Kirkeby, Nittedal og Hakadal: I. Nittedal Gardshistorie, (Rotnes, Norway: Nittedal Kommune, 1965), 122.
GATA. Pe[de]r Hansen [Nils’ father], born 1808, from Omsibakken, was married in 1836 to Johanne Andersdatter, born ca. 1806 in Vestre Toten [parish in Oppland County].
Children: a. Nils (see next entry)
Per received a contract for the farm in 1859, which included working for the [Slattum] farm owner as well as an annual payment of 12 skillings. He was entitled to harvest firewood and fencing materials in the forest. Per was a shoemaker. In 1865, he had no livestock and planted only ¼ ton of potatoes in seed. Per’s son, who transported goods in a horse-drawn carriage, took over the place from his father.
Nils Pe[te]rsen, died in 1876 at the age of 34. He married Gunhild Johannesdatter, born 1844 in Vestby.
Children: a., b. Inga Petra and Karoline Janette, born in 1867 c. August Hjalmer, born in 1870 d. Rudolf Alfred, born in 1874 e. Ragnhild, born in 1876
In 1875, they planted ¾ barrels of oat seed, 1½ barrels potato seed, and the household had 1 horse and 1 cow. Per Hansen [Nils’ father] later purchased the farm.
Hovick Lohman History 