[#16619] Search for great grandparents, grandmother, emigration to United States 1869

[Gjest Grace Ellis]

My great grandparents and grandmother left Norway in spring 1869. They were from Hemnes in Nordland so the nearest port would have been Trondheim. Unable to find them in the emigrant registration lists. Alesund would be the next closest but the digital records cover only years 1878-1930. Bergen would be the next closest port although quite distant, but those records do not go back that far either. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Gjest Astrid Ryen]

Maybe you could give us their names?

[Gjest Berit Knudsen]

In 1869 18 persons from Hemn...(æs/es) emigrated from Trondheim.

[Gjest Grace Ellis]

Olaus Benjamin Benonisen (b 31 Dec 1841) son of Benoni Johansen and Gertru Eliasdatr of Kongsdahl; Anna Olava Henriksdtr (b 25 Aug 1845), daughter of Henrik Larssen and Maren Jonsdtr of Nedreler (Leiren nedre), and Helene Marie (b) 25 Aug 1845).

[Gjest Astrid Ryen]

I could not find them in the list of emigrants from Trondheim. The great majority of emigrants from Hemnes (approximately 1200)are to be found in the Trondheim emigrant list. Very few from Hemnes are to be found in lists from other ports along the west coast to Bergen.Have you located the family in the US 1880 census? What was their second name?(Searching the emigrant list I did come up with an Olaus Benjamin Kambak, American citizen living in Juwell Iowa, born 1843, who apparently was home on a visit in 1908. But he is not the one, he emigrated from Leksvik (Lexvig) in Nord-Trøndelag in 1878.)

[Gjest Laila N. Christiansen]

Grace, have you found the family in 1865-census in Norway? I don't find them..What familyname did they use in the US? Laila

[Gjest Astrid Ryen]

Laila.Hemnes Nordland 1865:Olaus B. Benonissen, 24, Nedreler farm. (servant)Anne O. Hendriksdatter, 21, Buvigen farm (servant)They were not married in 1865.Astrid

[Gjest Grace Ellis]

Last name used by Olaus Benjamin Benonisen in the United States = Benson, but early on he was known by the name Benonisen. I do have the 1865 information concerning both Anne (Anna)at Buvigen and Olaus at Nedreler. I believe my next option is to scan the ships passenger lists into NY harbor in 1869 which are available to me at the Denver Public Library. However, there is the question about how they entered America--could have been via Quebec. They did not marry until after arrival in this country.

[Gjest Otto Jørgensen]

The family is to be found on page 741 in 'Hemnes Gård og slekt II'

[Gjest Laila N. Christiansen]

Grace, what is your source for the immigration year? Is it possible that they immigrated earlier? And, another thing, where did they settle in the US? Laila

[Gjest Grace Ellis]

Many thanks to each of you who have responded to my query about my great grandparents and grandmother. I do have the information concerning 1865 census as well as the Hemnes bygdebok information. What I am lacking is their emigration date and US port of entry. My assumption is they would have departed Norway from Trondheim which is the port from which the other family members left and is the nearest to Hemnes. I'm told that all available 1869 emigrants have been entered into the database on-line, but that not all individuals registered with the police. The information that they came to America in the spring of 1869 comes from a couple of newspaper articles in this country about them. I too considered that they might have been off a year or so and have researched the years 1867 through 1870. Thank you again for the interest you have demonstrated in offering your support! Grace Ellis

[Gjest Grace Ellis]

Sorry, I overlooked a question. They first lived in Minnesota and later North Dakota. I have copies of official records in this country, i.e., marriage certificate, homestead claim, death records and the like. ge