In Search of Information: Charles Burton Johnson (Not His Norwegian Name) Born 1867, from Spitsbergan, Norway

[Barbara Scates]

Hello from the United States. My great grandfather was allegedly born in Spitsbergen, Norway. From what I have been told his father's name was Canute, he had a brother Andreas and a sister Elvira. The were in the construction business. He owned a property on top of rocks were a house was built for him by his brother Andreas. He came to the United States several times - first time possibly 1886. He worked in the United States for a while and then came back to Norway. In 1903 Detloffa Albertine Moller met him in the United States to marry. They then came back to Norway around 1907 and he worked again in construction. 

 

No information was found about my great grandfather. I am trying to find out his real Norwegian name since my grandmother stated that the "clerk" in the US changed his name from Karl Burton Spitzer to Charles Burton Johnson when he was naturalized. 

 

Any kind of help will be greatly appreciated.

 

 

[tom askerøi]

Hello United States!

 

What a riddle you've given us here. I'd love to solve it. But after 7 hours I must admit I didn't make it - your information points in so many directions I'm getting nowhere. So here is a few comments:

 

Re: born in Spitsbergen: Spitsbergen - Wikipedia

 

Extremely few people are known to have been born on this arctic island. And the few I've found are all from the 1910s - or later. So I'm pretty sure this information is wrong. 

 

Re: fathers name Canute: Canute is not a norwegian/scandinavian name, but english speaking people can't prenounce a K before an N in the beginning of a word, you KNow.           So, if they say Canute the norwegian name is KNUT. It is a very common name.

 

Re: brother Andreas: This is a very common name. AND it's often mixed with the just as common name Anders.

 

Re: sister Elvira: Not the most common name, but common enought...

 

Re: Surname Jonsen/Johnsen/Johansen/Johannesen (spelled in many ways is the most common name in Norway.

 

Re: your great grandfather's name: Karl (and Carl) is pretty common, but Burton (english?) and Spitzer (german?/austrian?/dutch?) doesn't look norwegian at all. Of course some people had "foreign" names like this but extremely few. Only one single Spitzer is found in the (so far) registered database here at Digitalarkivet (and she died in 1783).  There are 22 times as many called Burton, but none seems to fit:

 

Avansert personsøk - Digitalarkivet

 

BUT:

Do you know when Andreas and Elvira were born - or at least if they were older or younger than Charles? 

 

Do you know where they settled after they came back to Norway around 1907?

 

Did any children accompany them to Norway? Did they have any children after they came back? 

If so any information of name(s) or birth(s) could be helpful.

 

I'm sorry - hope someone else can do better!

 

 

 

 

Endret Juni 27, 2021 av tom askerøi

[Barbara Scates]

Wow Tom, thank you for responding and for researching.  I'll repost the information you suggested. I have so little information. Charles put on a US Census he was born in Bodo.

 

Tomorrow I will gather what I can find and post it here.  I have been looking for two years. One good thing is that my suppositions were correct as far as Anders possibly being the first name, I have found Spitzer is normally German. I truly appreciate your help.

 

Barbara 

[Barbara Scates]

15 hours ago, tom askerøi said:

Hello United States!

 

What a riddle you've given us here. I'd love to solve it. But after 7 hours I must admit I didn't make it - your information points in so many directions I'm getting nowhere. So here is a few comments:

 

Re: born in Spitsbergen: Spitsbergen - Wikipedia

 

Extremely few people are known to have been born on this arctic island. And the few I've found are all from the 1910s - or later. So I'm pretty sure this information is wrong. 

 

Re: fathers name Canute: Canute is not a norwegian/scandinavian name, but english speaking people can't prenounce a K before an N in the beginning of a word, you KNow.           So, if they say Canute the norwegian name is KNUT. It is a very common name.

 

Re: brother Andreas: This is a very common name. AND it's often mixed with the just as common name Anders.

 

Re: sister Elvira: Not the most common name, but common enought...

 

Re: Surname Jonsen/Johnsen/Johansen/Johannesen (spelled in many ways is the most common name in Norway.

 

Re: your great grandfather's name: Karl (and Carl) is pretty common, but Burton (english?) and Spitzer (german?/austrian?/dutch?) doesn't look norwegian at all. Of course some people had "foreign" names like this but extremely few. Only one single Spitzer is found in the (so far) registered database here at Digitalarkivet (and she died in 1783).  There are 22 times as many called Burton, but none seems to fit:

 

Avansert personsøk - Digitalarkivet

 

BUT:

Do you know when Andreas and Elvira were born - or at least if they were older or younger than Charles? 

 

Do you know where they settled after they came back to Norway around 1907?

 

Did any children accompany them to Norway? Did they have any children after they came back? 

If so any information of name(s) or birth(s) could be helpful.

 

I'm sorry - hope someone else can do better!

 

 

 

 

 

[tom askerøi]

I'm still working on this. But don't be too optimistic. Suddenly I found out how to enlarge your paasenger list and were able to read it. Only problem: isn't it from 22. january 1909 - after they were supposed to be back in Norway?

 

I could suddenly see that their last permanent residence was Haugesund - but I can't find them there or around there in the 1900-cencus. And I can't find baptising of Albert or Johannes in the churchbooks from this area which is strange as at least Albert who's only 11 months old should have been born in Norway considering his age?

 

The only person I can find in the 1900-cencus is the brother-in-law(?) capt. Chr. Hauge in the nearest relative colomn:

 

001 Kristian Hauge - 07 - 0028 Sørhauggaden 42 - 003 - Tellingskretsoversikt - Folketelling 1900 for 1106 Haugesund kjøpstad - Digitalarkivet

 

His wife, Anolda doesn't sound much like Elfrida so this might be another sister? And she's born in Haugesund. I'll follow that trace...

 

 

Endret Juni 27, 2021 av tom askerøi

[Carl Nilsen]

Arnolda Hauge is the daughter of Ditlef Møller, so I assume she is Charles Burton’s wife’s sister:

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/view/327/pv00000002374386

[Carl Nilsen]

Charles Burton’s wife in the 1875 census?

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/census/person/pf01052237000193

[Carl Nilsen]

According to Ditlofa Møller’s mothers death record from 1906, Ditlofa is married to a man called Knut Johnson in America:

https://media.digitalarkivet.no/view/52559/46

Endret Juni 27, 2021 av Carl Nilsen

[Ivar Moe]

This to be find on Svein Thommasens family site.

Navn	Charles B. Johnson
Fødsel	feb 1867     Norway
Død	14. des 1937     Mays Landing, Atlantic, New Jersey, USA

Medlemmer innen familien

Kone	Albertine Dilofa Ditlefsdatter Johnson (født Møller) 1872 - 1929
Barn	Charles Ditlof Johnson 1903 - 1955     Albert E. Johnson 1907 - 1979     Arnold Christian Johnson 1912 - 1974   Johannes Martin Johnson 1905 - 1980     Thelma Currie (født Johnson) 1909 - 1990     Elvera Andrea Proctor (født Johnson) 1915 - 1998

 

Endret Juni 27, 2021 av Ivar Moe

[Carl Nilsen]

https://www.nb.no/items/86e4a62acf49aacd41dcbc660fc7c1aa?page=6&searchText=

[Ivar Moe]

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/census/person/pf01052237000193

 

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/census/person/pf01037298002532

Endret Juni 27, 2021 av Ivar Moe

[Barbara Scates]

Wow, so many people helping me.

 

Yes, Arnolda was Ditloffa's sister. She was married to Christian Hauge

 

Sven Thommasen is a distant relative.....

 

The children were all born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

 

For some reason I cannot attach my grandmother's letter but I will take down excepts and post.

 

Carl Nilsen, that is awesome you found that!!!!!!!! That is Ditlofa in the 1875 Census. I also search on the DA site.

 

 

[Barbara Scates]

If anyone out there is on Ancestry.com my tree is public - bs796

 

I am going to look at the letter and send excerpts in a minute

 

[Barbara Scates]

Hello my friends in Norway....

 

Ditlofa left Norway in 1903 and arrived at Ellis Island, from there she traveled to Philadelphia, Pa. to marry Charles. Charles was in the US for a few years before 1903 and became a citizen. He sent money home to his brother Andreas to build a house in Spitsbergen. The home was built on rocks and Charles was very angry about that. All of the children that accompanied them to Norway were born in Philadelphia. Charles found work as a foreman/ships rigger. They lived in Norway for two years and then returned to the US, which is probably the 1909 Philadelphia Passenger list

 

Ditlofa's mother was Albertine Sofie Elvig and she was married to Ditlef Moller.

[Anton Hagelee]

For the record, also includes links to 1920 Census 

 

1910 US Census 

 

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGW8-BQC

 

The transcription of the arrival manifest posted by the OP above also mentions Bodo as a place of birth. 

 

Charles B Johnsen

 in the Pennsylvania, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1800-1962

Name:Charles B Johnsen

Gender:Male

Nationality:Scandinavian

Arrival Age:39

Birth Date:abt 1870

Birth Place:Bodo, Norway

Last Residence:Norway

Departure Place:Liverpool, England

Arrival Date:5 Feb 1909

Arrival Place:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Friend or Relative:Chr Haage

Ship:Dominion

 

 

Endret Juni 27, 2021 av Anton Hagelee

[Barbara Scates]

Carl Nilsen, I see on page 7 of the newspaper there is an article about Ditlofa. Could you cut that for me and attach. For some reason I can't get it.

[Carl Nilsen]

2 minutter siden, Barbara Scates skrev:

Carl Nilsen, I see on page 7 of the newspaper there is an article about Ditlofa. Could you cut that for me and attach. For some reason I can't get it.

It’s unfortunately only a single line stating that she died, that she worked at a dairy company in the 1890s and left for the US in 1898:

[Anton Hagelee]

The marriage record for Charles B Johnson lists a year of 1903 

 

Charles B Johnson

 in the Pennsylvania, U.S., Marriages, 1852-1968

Name:Charles B Johnson

Gender:Male

Spouse:Detlofa Miller

Spouse Gender:Female

Marriage Place:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Marriage Year:1903

Marriage License Number:158207

Digital GSU Number:4140444

 

A Family Tree on Ancestry gives the date as 15 March 1903. Do you know if that is accurate?

 

A record shows Detlofa Moller traveling to America in February of 1903.

 

Detlofa Moller

 in the UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960

Name:Detlofa Moller

Gender:Female

Age:28

Birth Date:abt 1875

Departure Date:18 Feb 1903

Port of Departure:Liverpool, England

Destination Port:Philadelphia, USA

Ship Name:Westernland

 

That is a rather short time frame to meet and get acquainted and get married. Perhaps they knew each other before the marriage?

 

 

Endret Juni 27, 2021 av Anton Hagelee

[Anton Hagelee]

The arrival record shows she is going to Chas B Johnson in Philadelphia.

 

Detta Moller

 in the Pennsylvania, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1800-1962

Name:Detta Moller

Gender:Female

Nationality:Nt

Arrival Age:29

Birth Date:abt 1874

Last Residence:Bergen

Departure Place:Liverpool, England

Arrival Date:5 Mar 1903

Arrival Place:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Ship:Westernland

 

 

 

Endret Juni 27, 2021 av Anton Hagelee

[Anton Hagelee]

For the record. A place where the father is referred to as Canerte (Knut)

 

Charles B Johnson

 in the Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1967

Name:Charles B Johnson

Gender:Male

Race:White

Age:68

Birth Date:abt 1869

Birth Place:Novmay

Death Date:14 Dec 1937

Death Place:Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Father:Canerte Johnason

Spouse:Albertina

Certificate Number:111270

 

 

Endret Juni 27, 2021 av Anton Hagelee

[Barbara Scates]

Yes Anton I think she knew Charles from Norway. Of course my grandmother said his real name was Carl (Karl) Burton Spitzer (Spitser). I can't seem to find records of when he first came to the US.

 

I have been trying to figure out his birth name for years. Carl Nilsen found his name to be Knut Johnson in the death notice published in Norway. 

 

[Carl Nilsen]

4 minutter siden, Barbara Scates skrev:

Carl Nilsen found his name to be Knut Johnson in the death notice published in Norway.

 

Remember that this doesn't necessarily have to be accurate. However, the reporter of Albertine Møller's death was Ditlofa's sister Arnolda Hauge, by whom I assume the information about the family was given. Arnolda seemed to have a close enough relationship to her sister to post her death notice in the paper in 1929, so it would make sense that she knew the name of her own brother-in-law.

[Barbara Scates]

You are 100 percent right Carl. Ditlofa named some of her children after Arnolda and Christian Hauge (Arnold Christian). I know that Christian was close with Charles (a/k/a Knut).

 

I have to state again - I am so appreciative of all of the help I have been given. There are so many unanswered questions.

 

I just decided I have to reach out for help because I really would like to know more about Charles and his family

[Carl Nilsen]

Complete shot in the dark: Can Spitsbergen/Spitzer be a mix-up with Spitsøen? I have a Knud Bertinius (=Burton?) Johannesen born 1869, from Spitsø:

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/census/person/pf01052268001183

 

He is the son of Johannes Godtskalksen. He is still living there in 1891, so if this is the guy he must have emigrated later. He has a brother Elling Andreas, and a sister Ingeborg Eliane (=Elvira?):

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/census/person/pf01037302004805

[Barbara Scates]

OMG, OMG  - I THINK YOU FOUND IT.

 

I have to go over to my mother's. I take care of her, she has dementia.  If you find anything let me know.

 

Also, am I allowed to ask, do you live in Norway? Just curious.......