Genealogy help for Samuel Arentz (b. 1818, Bergen)

[Sheryll Poe]

Hello, 

I will be travelling to Norway in September and have been researching my Norwegian ancestors. My third-great-grandfather was Samuel Christopher (Didrikson) Arentz. It is him that I mostly wish to know more about. 

 

Here's what I do know: 

• Samuel Christopher Arentz was born in Bergen January 3, 1818. He emigrated to America in 1843 at the age of 25 and settled in Chicago, Illinois. But I can find absolutely no record of his passage. Not at Ellis Island in the U.S. or through the passport records for the Bergen Police Chamber at the Norwegian National Archives. Is there any instance where this would be possible?
• Once settled in Chicago, Samuel married another Norwegian immigrant, Bertha Marie, known as Maria Nilsdotter from Gjerpen. She was born March 31, 1823 on Brekkejordet, close to Skien.  Her parents were Niels Axelsen and Anne Kirstine Saamundsdatter and the family lived at house number 16 under Nordre Brekke as of 1845.
• Bertha Marie emigrated to the U.S. in 1847, when she was 24 years old. I have confirmed her information through her parish passport ("reisepass") through this website: https://slekt.org/utvandring/utvandring.html .
• Back to Samuel Arentz: In 1846, Samuel’s mother (Anna Maria Phillipsdtr Fraas) dies back in Norway. At some point after this, Samuel’s father, a copper master named Didrich Bay Arentz, must have come to America, but again, I cannot find any information on a ship or port of entry or date of entry. But, Didrich dies in Chicago in 1857 at the age of 68.
• Didrich and his wife Ann Maria do show up on church rolls in Bergen until 1827. Then, they apparently lived in Stavanger, matrice number 369 (Prahlehagen) between 1831 till 1847, which is when I assume he emigrated to the U.S. I’ve searched all the manifests I can find for that year on this website (https://www.norwayheritage.com/p_year.asp?ye=1847) and do not find Didrich Arentz on there.
• Samuel had other sisters who came over: His sister Phillippine entered the U.S. on July 15, 1846 at New York on a ship called Norden (or Narden, according to Ellis Island records, which also misspells her name as “Philippins Ahrentz”). Another sister, Birgitte Marie, died in Minnesota in 1877, so she also came over at some point (probably under her married name, "Ericksen.") 

 

There are many things I would like to know, including: Why did Samuel, the oldest son who could have taken over his father's business, leave & come to the US? And why Chicago. What ship did Samuel come over on and where did it land? His father came over at some point – when, why, what ship and where? How can I track down more information on where Samuel/Didrich might have lived or worked in Bergen? The property in Stavanger where Didrich and Anna Marie lived -- is that still around? How would I find that house/farm? And what is a copper master? What kind of work would Didrich have done and where would that put him on the socio-economic scale? 

 

So, that's basically as far as I've gotten. I did find one article about Samuel, which I treasure very much and have copied and pasted here: 

 

Skandinaven -- December 20, 1900

Samuel Arentz Is Dead Well-Known Pioneer Succumbs to Heart Failure

Samuel Arentz passed away the other day at the age of eighty-three years. He died in his home at 155 Green Street where he had lived during the past forty-four years. In him the little circle of pioneers of the Norwegian nation in Chicago has lost one of its few early members, for Mr. Arentz belonged to the very oldest group of settlers; his remembrances extended back to the time when Chicago was more of a village than a city.

 

The real cause of Mr. Arentz' death was heart failure; since the death of his wife about eighteen months ago the old man's health began to fail, and his heart grew ever weaker. Before the death of his wife Mr. Arentz had never spent a day in bed because of illness. A short time ago he caught a cold which speedily developed into pneumonia, and this illness, together with the weakness of his heart, brought down the old giant.

 

Samuel Arentz was born near Bergen, Norway, on January 3, 1818. At the age of ten he went to Stavanger, Norway where he was later employed by a sheet metal firm. He left Stavanger in 1843 and emigrated to America, settling in Chicago. This city remained his home during the rest of his long and active life.

 

Three years after his arrival he met the woman who was to become his wife. They were married in 1847, one of the first if not the very first Norwegian couple to be married in Chicago. Three years ago the couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, the first golden wedding to be celebrated among Norwegians in the city.

Almost immediately upon his arrival in Chicago Mr. Arentz obtained employment in his trade with Charles Van der Cook and Company, and with this firm he remained until he started his own business at Kinzie Street, the name of his firm being Arentz and Paulson. In this business, which comprised iron goods and related articles, he continued until he retired from active business a few years ago.

 

A conversation with Arentz about "old days" was something highly prized by anyone at all interested in the past; for not only had Mr. Arentz resided in Chicago before any considerable number of Norwegians had settled in the city, but his capacity for observation was keen, and his memory unusually good. His tales of Chicago in the days when he came here two generations ago were, therefore, of unusual interest. Yet he was not, as is the case with many old people, so enamored with the past that he could not see anything good in the present. On the contrary, he had his eyes open for progress, and his descriptions of life in the Chicago of old were ever spiced with comparisons with conditions as they are now.

 

Arentz and his wife had eight children, five of whom survive them. The oldest, Mr. A. C. Arentz, is employed at the Recorder's office where he has charge of the index books; a second son is an insurance agent, and the third is book-keeper for a firm on Michigan Avenue and Water Street. Two daughters, Mary and Amy, assumed the household duties after the death of Mrs. Arentz.

 

[Egil Johannessen]

5 timer siden, Sheryll Poe skrev:

In 1846, Samuel’s mother (Anna Maria Phillipsdtr Fraas) dies back in Norway. At some point after this, Samuel’s father, a copper master named Didrich Bay Arentz, must have come to America

 

Anna Marie died 16th June 1849 - "kobberslager Arentz kone, Ane Maria, alder 62" (coppersmith Arentz's wife, Ane Maria, age 62)

 

#90 - Rogaland county, Domkirken, Frue, Randaberg, Hetland in Stavanger, Parish register (official) no. A 13 (1841-1851), Deceased and buried 1849, Page 73, Quick link: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20051214030674

 

Transcribed - https://www.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/267/pg00000006147007

Endret Mars 27 av Egil Johannessen

[Matthias Kolberg]

 

1 hour ago, Sheryll Poe said:

Samuel had other sisters who came over: His sister Phillippine entered the U.S. on July 15, 1846 at New York on a ship called Norden (or Narden, according to Ellis Island records, which also misspells her name as “Philippins Ahrentz”). Another sister, Birgitte Marie, died in Minnesota in 1877, so she also came over at some point (probably under her married name, "Ericksen.") 

Another sister, Louise Petronelle, died in San Diego in 1916

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8764787/louisa-petronelle-irgens
 

Her baptism in Bergen

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/255/pd00000007605787

 

When she was born, they lived at ”Rode 13 No 17“ in Bergen

Endret Mars 26 av Matthias Kolberg

[Matthias Kolberg]

The address is close to Torgallmenningen in the city center of Bergen

 

If I read this old map correctly,, it corresponds to Strandgaten No8

 

https://www.bergenbyarkiv.no/oppslagsverket/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/03/131415-og-16.pdf

Endret Mars 26 av Matthias Kolberg

[Dag Arne Danielsen]

Hello

Have you seen this page? 

https://sveaas.net/getperson.php?personID=I144736&tree=tree1

[Dag Arne Danielsen]

Hello

Have you read this book? 

https://www.nb.no/items/3acabbfca0d1a73e5b995b6773703606?page=8&searchText="Samuel Christopher Arentz"

[Anne-Lise Hansen]

5 timer siden, Dag Arne Danielsen skrev:

Hello

Have you read this book? 

https://www.nb.no/items/3acabbfca0d1a73e5b995b6773703606?page=8&searchText="Samuel Christopher Arentz"

 

You are not allowed access to The National Library’s digitized material without a Norwegian IP-address.

 

I have copied the page Dag Arne linked to, and a couple of following pages and also the front with the name of the book and the writer.

Endret Mars 27 av Anne-Lise Hansen

[Anne-Lise Hansen]

[Anne-Lise Hansen]

[Anne-Lise Hansen]

[Matthias Kolberg]

9 hours ago, Matthias Kolberg said:

The address is close to Torgallmenningen in the city center of Bergen

 

If I read this old map correctly,, it corresponds to Strandgaten No8

 

https://www.bergenbyarkiv.no/oppslagsverket/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/03/131415-og-16.pdf

It is hard to identify the Rode boundaries on the map, but looking at it again, I think I have to reconsider my first guess.
House No 17 in Strandgaten 8 belongs to the 14th Rode.
 

House No 17 (16&17) in the 13th Rode is located in Mowinckels Gaarden 4.

 

Unfortunately, this quarter was destroyed in fire in 1916.

https://www.bergenbyarkiv.no/bergenbyleksikon/arkiv/1422336

Endret Mars 27 av Matthias Kolberg

[Grethe Flood]

From "Rode" to streetnames in Bergen 1906-1907

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/11/gc00000000201907

 

The original Monwinckelgården was destroyed in the Bergen fire in 1916. Here is some more information on the fire:

https://www.uib.no/en/news/95073/fire-changed-bergen

 

 

 

 

[Sheryll Poe]

9 hours ago, Anne-Lise Hansen said:

 

You are not allowed access to The National Library’s digitized material without a Norwegian IP-address.

 

I have copied the page Dag Arne linked to, and a couple of following pages and also the front with the name of the book and the writer.

 

I had not seen this book, so thanks for that. It does seem to be suggesting that Samuel Christopher emigrated to the U.S. in 1845, not 1843 like the news article had reported. I'll check out manifests for that year as well. 

[Sheryll Poe]

Does anyone have access to the passport records for the Bergen Police Chamber? I understand that starting in 1842, they began compiling/registering "reispasses" for emigrants to the USA. According to the National Archives website information (translation)" "Marta Eide, the State Archives in Bergen has made an extract printout from the passport protocols 1842-1860 of people who received passports to go to the USA. This database is built on the extract prints. In total, the database includes around 1,900 emigrants, but since it is often only the father of the family who has entered his full name, there are only just under 1,200 registrations in the database."  

 

I'd like to see if any/all of the Arentz immigrants (Samuel Christopher, Didrich Bay, Phillippine Christophine, Birgitte Marie or Louise Petronelle) show up in those records -- what dates/ships they may have taken, where they were living at the time, etc. 

[Sheryll Poe]

5 hours ago, Grethe Flood said:

From "Rode" to streetnames in Bergen 1906-1907

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/11/gc00000000201907

 

The original Monwinckelgården was destroyed in the Bergen fire in 1916. Here is some more information on the fire:

https://www.uib.no/en/news/95073/fire-changed-bergen

 

 

 

 

Ah, that is unfortunate. Still good information to know. Thank you. 

[Sheryll Poe]

7 hours ago, Matthias Kolberg said:

It is hard to identify the Rode boundaries on the map, but looking at it again, I think I have to reconsider my first guess.
House No 17 in Strandgaten 8 belongs to the 14th Rode.
 

House No 17 (16&17) in the 13th Rode is located in Mowinckels Gaarden 4.

 

Unfortunately, this quarter was destroyed in fire in 1916.

https://www.bergenbyarkiv.no/bergenbyleksikon/arkiv/1422336

That is unfortunate. I do, however, appreciate the information and the map. 

[Sheryll Poe]

10 hours ago, Anne-Lise Hansen said:

 

What do the footnotes say (there are two of them and one of them is an astericks by the S.C. Arentz entry) 

[Egil Johannessen]

2 timer siden, Sheryll Poe skrev:

I'd like to see if any/all of the Arentz immigrants (Samuel Christopher, Didrich Bay, Phillippine Christophine, Birgitte Marie or Louise Petronelle) show up in those records -- what dates/ships they may have taken, where they were living at the time, etc. 

 

If they lived in Stavanger, they probably would emigrate from Stavanger and not Bergen. 

 

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/content/79/emigrasjon-og-flytting

 

"Unfortunately, the emigrant records for Stavanger (1867-1928) were lost in a fire in 1929, but a "reconstructed" database of emigrants from Stavanger 1825-1970 has been created. However, this has major shortcomings. The database counts 121,806 names. The digital archive has chosen not to publish this in the usual way because the source basis is not secure."

 

Endret Mars 27 av Egil Johannessen

[Sheryll Poe]

2 minutes ago, Egil Johannessen said:

 

If they lived in Stavanger, they probably would emigrate from Stavanger and not Bergen. 

 

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/content/79/emigrasjon-og-flytting

 

"Unfortunately, the emigrant records for Stavanger (1867-1928) were lost in a fire in 1929, but a "reconstructed" database of emigrants from Stavanger 1825-1970 has been created. However, this has major shortcomings. The database counts 121,806 names. The digital archive has chosen not to publish this in the usual way because the source basis is not secure. We will post the file itself here if anyone can enjoy it:"

 

Different family members lived in both at different times - Stavanger and Bergen. Samuel, for example, lived in Bergen. Didrich (Samuel's father) emigrated from Stavanger, I believe. 

[Egil Johannessen]

4 minutter siden, Sheryll Poe skrev:

Samuel, for example, lived in Bergen.

 

Do you have sources confirming he lived in Bergen at that time?

Endret Mars 27 av Egil Johannessen

[Jackie K Marler]

Here is an instance of letters the Stavanger pm was advertising that were unclaimed one in May 1843

https://www.nb.no/items/04201fc7f147cf2a6a3be17f4d22898e?page=1&searchText="samuel arentz"

 

And there are two auction announcements in Stavanger of equipment of D B Arentz and Samuel Arentz:

https://www.nb.no/items/6f64cb40e3e76b070128c35aea3167df?page=1&searchText="samuel arentz"

https://www.nb.no/items/7307d3bb733c05b7445f97e27dbb49be?page=3&searchText="samuel arentz"

 

 

[Anne-Lise Hansen]

20 timer siden, Sheryll Poe skrev:

 

What do the footnotes say (there are two of them and one of them is an astericks by the S.C. Arentz entry) 

 

1) Didrich Bays Slegt opholdt sig henimot 1700 i Bergen NK-Sogn (Nykirkens sogn); hans Fader hed Jan (Jens?) Bay, og hans Farbroder Anders Bay var Styrmand.

 

Didrich Bays family stayed towards 1700 in Bergen NK-parish; his father was calles Jan (Jens?) and his uncle (father’s brother) Anders Bay was steersman (correct translation?).

 

2) Findes dog ikke i Klokker Smiths Dagbog.

 

Is not, however, found in  Klokker (=bell ringer)  Smith’s diary.

Endret Mars 28 av Anne-Lise Hansen

[Sheryll Poe]

13 hours ago, Jackie K Marler said:

Here is an instance of letters the Stavanger pm was advertising that were unclaimed one in May 1843

https://www.nb.no/items/04201fc7f147cf2a6a3be17f4d22898e?page=1&searchText="samuel arentz"

 

And there are two auction announcements in Stavanger of equipment of D B Arentz and Samuel Arentz:

https://www.nb.no/items/6f64cb40e3e76b070128c35aea3167df?page=1&searchText="samuel arentz"

https://www.nb.no/items/7307d3bb733c05b7445f97e27dbb49be?page=3&searchText="samuel arentz"

 

 

Oh, this is a very interesting find. Thank you so much.

 

Were these type of announcements/events very common? (In the U.S., an announcement and auction like this would be if someone owed someone (a spouse or the government) money). Who arranged the Stavanger auctions and what happened to the funds? Also, is it strange that Samuel and Didrich would have left all their equipment behind? 

[Egil Johannessen]

As stated previously by @Anne-Lise Hansen: You are not allowed access to The National Library digitized material without a Norwegian IP-address, hence I post the following:

 

3 announcements published in the Stavanger Amtstidende og Adresseavis on these dates: 

Thursday 21. December 1843, Sunday 14. January 1844 and Sunday 21. January 1844

 

Below is a clip from the one published 21. December 1843 and the text. (The other 2 announcements have the same wording except variation of goods listed).

 

Efter Reqvisition fra Lensmand Blir paa Kobberslager D. B. Arentz’s Vegne,

grundet på Panteobligation og Kommisjonsforlig af 9de Dennes, bliver Torsdagen den 4de Januar førstkommende, Kl. 2 Eftermiddag,

offentlig Auction afholdt i Kobberslager Arentz iboende Huus heri Byen, over endeel, Handelsmand Samuel Arentz tilhørende Krambodvarer, bestående i Bomuldstøier, Tørklæder, Baand, Tegnebøger, Børster, forskjellige Jernvarer, Speile, Knappe, Lak, 5 Stk. Skindburer, f(s)aa? og over 11 Stkr. Birketræes Stole, et Do. Bord, 1 Do. Sheffounie(?) og 5 Stkr. Skilderier m. m., der Alt af S. Arentz er pantsat til førnævnte Kobberslager Arentz for Gjeld. Conditionerne erfares paa Auctionsstedet, hvortil Lysthavende indbydes.

 

Stavanger Byfogedcontoir den 16de Decbr. 1843.
Christensen

 

 

I’m not translating the whole piece, but it states Samuel Arentz had mortgaged these goods to his father and his father now sold these items by auction.

 

This suggests trader Samuel Arentz had a shop in Stavanger at the time (1840’s) and perhaps funded his trip & startup in the US by mortgaging his assets?

 

Question: Had he already left Norway by December 1843 or was he about to do so in 1844?

 

I do see that several newspapers (OBIT 1900) wrote he arrived in 1842.

 

Chicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois • Thu, 20 Dec 1900 Page 7 - https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/144297199/

 

The Hartford Press Hartford, Wisconsin • Thu, 27 Dec 1900 Page 1 - https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-hartford-press/144297010/

Endret Mars 28 av Egil Johannessen

[Egil Johannessen]

You stated previously “Samuel, for example, lived in Bergen” and I asked you a question: "Do you have sources confirming he lived in Bergen at that time?"

 

Great if you could answer.

 

Both the unclaimed letter in May 1843 in Stavanger (sent from Bergen) (ref. JK Marler's post) & the auction of Samuel's assets in Stavanger indicates he was living in Stavanger at that time.