[#14223] Is Killen the name of a farm or another geographic site in Norway?

[Guest Verlyn Anderson]

I am assisting a family seeking their great grandparents' birthplace and residence in Norway. The great grandfather's name in America was Samuel Killen, born 16 May 1864, parents: Christopher Andersen and Johanne Simonsdatter. Family tradition tells of hearing the words Bjornstad Gredker(??). Records indicate that Samuel emigrated in 1888 to Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Samuel had a brother, Leonard who also emigrated. Samuel's wife was Julia Hansen (Hansdatter?), born 5 April 1866, parents: Hans Andersen and Martha Christensen. She is thought to have emigrated in 1892. Both Samuel and Julia died young, leaving young children. It is not known if Samuel and Julia were acquainted in Norway. Thanks for your assistance.

[Guest Bjarne Birkrem]

Do you know roughly what part of Norway Samuel was from? A quick search in the 1900 census reveals a number of farms called Kilan, Kiland, Kilden, Kildin, Kilen or Killand (but none with the exact spelling you used) in every county in Norway (except, as expected, the two urban counties of Kristiania/Oslo and Bergen).

[Guest Bjarne Birkrem]

Verlyn, I searched through the 1865 census looking for Samuel, but he doesn't seem to be registered there. Are you sure about his date of birth? The only married couple in Norway in 1865 with names matching your query are Christoffer Andersen (aged 40) and Johanne Simensdatter (aged 30), who lived on a farm called Børstad (could this perhaps be the name you refer to from your family tradition, rather than Bjørnstad?) in the parish of Tune in what was then Smaalenenes Amt (now Østfold fylke). The nearest town, if you need to look for it on the map, would be Sarpsborg. Christoffer and Johanne, however, did not have a son called Samuel in 1865, but they did have the daughter Annette (aged 6) and the son Simen (aged 2). So perhaps they're not the people you're looking for after all.

[Guest Bjarne Birkrem]

BTW, someone with access to the church books for Tune parish should be able to find out relatively easily whether Christoffer's and Johanne's son Simen is identical to your Samuel. If the date of birth matches (16 May 1864), it's probably too much of a coincidence for the two not to be one and the same person.

[Guest Lars E. Øyane]

Dear Verlyn,FamilySearch reveals that Christopher Andersson and Johanna Sophie Simonsdotter had several children born in Tune parish (County), Ostfold Province, including:* Simon Christian, christened June 12, 1864In 1865 the family is found farming the Borstad farm in Tune Co., Christopher aged 40, born in Tune and Johanna aged 30, born in the neighboring Borge Co., Ostfold. So Borstad must be the farmname rather than Bjornstad...! And Greaaker isn't too far away either...Hans Andersson and Martha Christensdotter also had several children born in Tune parish (County), Ostfold Province, although Julia doesn't show on FamilySearch. The 1865 census shows Hans aged 41, born in Skiptveit Co., Ostfold Province, and his wife Martha aged 41, born in Tune Co., farming the Vestby farm in Tune Co., Ostfold.I hope this will be of some help!?Very sincerely yours,Lars E. Oyane

[Guest Geir Eide]

I searched the 1865 census as well, comming up with the same results as Bjørn and Lars. I think they have found your 'Samuel' Christofferson.Below here Simen is mentioned among emigrants leaving Kristiania (Oslo) in 1888 (destination Eau Claire):Digitalarkivet: Emigranter over Oslo 1871-1930. [753190/38] Rettar til dataene: Digitalarkivet emikra1.htm107491 1888 434 10 27.04.1888 27.04.1888 Simen Kristoffers. Gbr m 24 Tune Smaal Eeu Claire Elster Rollo FripasBest regards Geir Eide

[Guest Geir Eide]

Sorry, mentioning you by wrong firstname, Bjarne.Geir