Records Prior to 1837

[Patricia Gissenas Klein]

I have found immigration information about my ancestor - Ander(s) Gissenaas (born 1837 in Rennebo (?) County at Ulsberg Station (Throndhjem), his wife Anna born 1937 in Vardo and 4 of their children - John (Johannes), Bernt (Barney) - my great grandfather), Christian and Elizabeth (all born in Norway) - They left Trondheim on 1869-04-26 for Quebec - eventually settling in Northeast Wisconsin.

 

What I would like to find is Anders parents and any information there might be about other ancestors.  

 

There is (or was) a Gissenaas (Gisnas or Gisnasen?) farm in the Trondheim area and a gentleman named Per Gissenaas (sp) was still there some time ago.  I was able to access the Norwegian Farm Archive at the University of South Dakota but it was not helpful. 

 

I am having trouble understanding how to use your website.  Is there anyone who might assist me?

 

Patricia (Gissenas) Klein

Manitowoc, Wisconsin

[Anne Hildrum]

This looks like your family, but it says Anders was born in 1817.

 

Forrige bosted ⇨ Neste bosted 

• Tellingsår: 1865
• Kommune: Rennebu
• Kommunenummer: 1635
• Navn på bosted: Gissenaas*

Antall personer registrert på bostedet: 5. Trykk på for å se på tidslinjen for personen.

---

	Navn	Familie-stilling	Sivil-stand	Yrke	Fødselsår	Fødested	Etnisitet
	Anders Johansen	Logerende	g	Arbeidsmand	1817	Rennebo Prgj.
	Anna Berteusdatter	hans Kone	g		1836	Tromsø Prgj.
	Johan Andersen	deres Søn	ug		1855	Vadsø Prgj.
	Bernt Andersen	deres Søn	ug		1859	Rennebo Prgj.
	Christian E. Andersen	deres Søn	ug		1865	Rennebo Prgj.

[Anne Hildrum]

This is their marriage transcribed version:

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/view/327/pv00000006132630

 

This is the churcbook nr 12

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20050303020465

 

They were married in Vadsø in Finnmark.

 

I find an Anders born in 1817 in Renenbu with parents Johan Johansen and Lisbeth Knudsdatter.

From the churchbook nr 16

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20070907620529

 

Transcribed version

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/view/255/pd00000041461239

 

 

[Morten Tjørhom]

Baptism of Elisabeth in 1868:
https://www.digitalarkivet.no/view/255/pd00000026337928

 

And baptism of Anne Dorthea Berteusdatter in Tromsø, 1836:

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/view/255/pd00000039634418

[Torbjørn Wolden]

The family is mentioned in the third volume of Rennebuboka, pages 369 and 370:

Sitat

Knut Johansen Monsløkk b. 1808 d. 1899. Married 1836 to Randi Mikkelsdatter Havdal b. 1809 d. 1846.
Married secondly 1849 to Ingeborg Ellevsdatter Gisnås b. 1824 d. 1890.
Children:
1. Johan b. 1846 d. 1852.
2. Randi b. 1852 d. s. y.
3. Peder b. 1852 d. s. y.
In the 1865 census this family lived at Monsløkkja.
Anders Johansen b. 1817. “Lodging workman.” Anders was the brother of Knut.
Wife: Anne Berteusdatter b. in Tromsø in 1825.
Children:
1. Johan b. 18[5]5 in Vadsø.
2. Bernt b. 1859.
3. Kristian b. 1865.
4. Elisabeth b. 1868.
Anders Johansen had been in Northern Norway for some years. His eldest son was born there. The three youngest children were born in Rennebu. In 1869 the family emigrated to the U.S.A.

 

[Anton Hagelee]

On 6/28/2025 at 4:34 PM, Anne Hildrum said:

This looks like your family, but it says Anders was born in 1817.

 

As does the FAG source. 

 

Anders Johansen Gissenaas

in the U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current

NameAnders Johansen Gissenaas

GenderMale

Birth DateOct 1817

Birth PlaceTrondheim, Trondheim kommune, Sør-Trøndelag fylke, Norway

Death Date24 Feb 1903

Death PlaceBeaver, Marinette County, Wisconsin, United States of America

CemeteryGissenaas Cemetery

Burial or Cremation PlaceBeaver, Marinette County, Wisconsin, United States of America

Has Bio?Y

SpouseAnna Gissenaas

ChildrenJohn GisenasChrist GissenaasJennie Mathilda EliassenElizabeth GissenaasOlena Gissenaas

 

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/144626419/anders-johansen-gissenaas?_gl=1*1nhdpuj*_gcl_au*OTc2OTk0NDgxLjE3NDg4MTIxMDk.*_ga*MTQxOTAxMTExOC4xNzQ4ODEyMTEw*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*c2UyZDAwMzA0LWM3MDctNDA5Ny05NjY2LTQzODEzZTk1NDMxMyRvMjMkZzEkdDE3NTEyOTc5MjEkajQ5JGwwJGgw*_ga_LMK6K2LSJH*c2UyZDAwMzA0LWM3MDctNDA5Ny05NjY2LTQzODEzZTk1NDMxMyRvMjMkZzEkdDE3NTEyOTc5MjEkajQxJGwwJGgw

 

 

[Anton Hagelee]

Arrival in 1869

 

Anders Johansen Gissenaas

in the Canada, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1865-1935

Name[Anders Johansen Gissenaas][Anders Johansen Gissenaas]

GenderMale

Arrival Age52

Birth Dateabt 1817

Birth PlaceRennebic

Arrival DateJun 1869

Arrival PortCanada

ShipFranklin

 

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1263/records/7175588

 

[Anton Hagelee]

On 6/28/2025 at 10:04 AM, Patricia Gissenas Klein said:

 

What I would like to find is Anders parents and any information there might be about other ancestors. 

 

Anne Hildrum has given you a lot of information on your family from the Norwegian records. You can also use a combination of those types of records and a good Family Tree if you can find one to find information on ancestors back in time most probably back to the 1600's. 

 

Anne Hildrum has provided a link to the birth of Anna Berteusdatter wife of Anders. It provides the father of Anna as Bertheus Pedersen. 

 

This Family Tree on Geni.com gives the family tree back to the 1600's for Anna Berteusdatter.  The Geni Tree does not mention who Anna Dorthea married but does give ancestors of Anna Dorthea back to the 1600's. The tree also matches the mother given by the baptism. 

 

Anna Dorthea Renøsund (Berteusdatter) 

 

https://www.geni.com/people/Anna-Dorthea-Renøsund/6000000010592086392?through=6000000014863087809

 

 

Endret Juni 30 av Anton Hagelee

[Anton Hagelee]

The information on her father is quite good. As with all Family Trees posted on the internet the validity of the ancestor should be accompanied and based on   original sources. 

 

Bertheus Pedersen 

Gender:	Male
Birth:	April 16, 1798 Balsnes, Tromsøysund, Tromsø, Troms, Norge (Norway)
Death:	circa 1875 (72-81)
Immediate Family:	Son of Peder Christophersen and Ingeborg Andersdatter, Balsnes Husband of Olianna / Oliana / Oleana Jakobsdatter Father of Martine Berteusdatter Renøsund; Jacob Renøsund; Oline Petronelle Renøsund; Anna Dorthea Renøsund and Karoline Johanna Nilssen Brother of Anne Sofie Pedersdatter; Anders Pedersen, Balsnes; Anne Sofie Pedersdatter; Hans Morten Pedersen; Ingeborg Pedersdatterand 1 other Half brother of Richard Olsen
Added by:	Karl Erik Birkeland on November 8, 2010
Managed by:	Åshild Kittelsen, Karl Erik Birkeland and Elna Marion Kristiansen Vollan   https://www.geni.com/people/Bertheus-Pedersen/6000000014863087809?through=6000000010592086392   Clicking on the Action Button in the right hand corner brings up the Ancestors Button. Click on that to find her ancestors.

Endret Juni 30 av Anton Hagelee

[Anton Hagelee]

I noticed that the links in the Geni.com Tree do not work, probably too old. but here is the 1801 Census for Berteus Pedersen father to your Anna, born in 1798. His father is Peder Kristofersen and his mother is Ingbourg Andersdatter  

 

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/en/census/person/pf01058491001530

 

 

Endret Juni 30 av Anton Hagelee

[Anton Hagelee]

If you have or want to get a subscription to Ancestry.com you can go back and forth between the original documents found on DA and the transcriber version in both DA and Ancestry.com. 

 

Probably the baptism of Berteus. 

 

Bertaeus Pedersen

in the Norway, Select Baptisms, 1634-1927

NameBertaeus Pedersen

GenderMale

Birth Date16. apr 1798 (16 Apr 1798)

Baptism Date20. mai 1798 (20 May 1798)

Baptism Place, Tromso, Troms, Norway

FatherPeder Chrestophersen

FHL Film Number127178

 

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60092/records/9963094?tid=&pid=&queryId=04762aa1-6a0d-45d5-8ba3-

af19aaa37b28&_phsrc=mjm4&_phstart=successSource

 

Here is the original baptism record for Bertaeous Pedersen, born  16 April 1798, Right hand page 

 

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20070606650229

 

 

 

Endret Juni 30 av Anton Hagelee

[Anton Hagelee]

Here is what the record of Berteus Pedersen and his family looks like for 1801 in the Ancestry.com search.

 

Berteus Pedersen

in the 1801 Norway Census

NameBerteus Pedersen

GenderMannlig (Male)

Age3

Birth Yearabt 1798

Census year1801

CityTromsø

CountyTroms

County Number19

Counting DistrictBalsnæss

Counting District Number0037

Enumeration DistrictTromsøe Sogns Bøygd

Enumeration District Number002

Relation to HeadDeres børne af dette hans 2det ægteskab

House Number08

Household Members (Name)AgeRelationship

Peder Kristofersen42Husbonde

Ingbourg Andersdatter25Hustru (Wife)

Anders Pedersen6Deres børne af dette hans 2det ægteskab

Berteus Pedersen3Deres børne af dette hans 2det ægteskab

Ane Sofia Pedersdatter1Deres børne af dette hans 2det ægteskab

 

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61749/records/850001

 

 

[Anton Hagelee]

Tracking the ancestors of the other side of your family is perhaps a little more difficult but Anne Hildrum and  Torbjørn Wolden have given you enough information to a least start a search for those ancestors. 

 

The information found in the Bygdebøk shows that 

On 6/29/2025 at 3:09 PM, Torbjørn Wolden said:

n the 1865 census this family lived at Monsløkkja.
Anders Johansen b. 1817. “Lodging workman.” Anders was the brother of Knut.
Wife: Anne Berteusdatter b. in Tromsø in 1825.

 

The father of Knud and Anders is probably Johan Gisenaas, as shown in the marriage of Knud. 

 

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/327/pv00000000170957

 

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60606/records/107396865

 

 

 

 

Endret Juni 30 av Anton Hagelee

[Anton Hagelee]

Here in the 1815 Census for Meldal is the family 

 

Knud is age 6 and Anders not yet born. 

 

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/en/census/person/pf01051117001078

 

Lisbet born art 1773 and Johan born about 1763 

 

Perhaps  Torbjørn Wolden  can  post the earlier pages for this family from the Bygdebøk?

 

 

Endret Juli 1 av Anton Hagelee

[Torbjørn Wolden]

Knut and Anders are mentioned on Jehanåsen under Gisnåsen, pages 321 to 325 in the third volume of Rennebuboka.
I have uploaded three of the most relevant pages from the bygdebok here.

On page 324:

Sitat

Johan Johansen Gisnås b. on Flatmo in Innset in 1768 d. 1865. Married 1802 to Elisabeth Knutsdatter Strand b. 1777 d. 1820.
Children:
1. Johan b. 1803. See second generation
2. Gjertrud b. 1806. Married to Rasmus Eggen. Farmers of Eggen.
3. Knut b. 1808. Married to Randi Mikkelsdatter Havdal. Crofters of Monsløkkja.
4. Anders b. 1817. Married to Anne Berteusdatter. In the 1865 census they lived on Monsløkkja farm.

On page 322 and 323:

Sitat

In 1765 Johan Johansen Flatmo bought half the farm. 10 years later he acquired the remaining half. He lived in Innset where he was a smelter at the mine. It was his son Johan who received this farm, now named Jehanåsen. The farm was given the user number 2. Another plot of farmland, Åshaugen, Halvard Hågensen had bought in 1765, was given the user number 1.
[…]

Johan was a hard worker, and we see that there was a lot of livestock on the farm in 1835.

Johan owned several other plots of land on Gisnåsen, and he could acquire enough feed for the livestock he kept. Additionally Åshaugen (user number 1) was added to the numbers of 1835, and that farm was also well run.

In 1865 we see that there was less livestock on the farm than before. This is due to the fact that Åshaugen was finally recognised as an independent farm. Also, Johan had sold 2 larger plots of land in 1851. Jon Sivertsen bought one these pltos (see 94 user number 3). Mikkel Vangsbroen bought the other to use it as a sæter [summer-time pasture for livestock]. We do not know why Johan sold these 2 plots of land. Although he did loan money several times in the 1830s and 1840s, but there was never any foreclosure. Perhaps he seld off some land to avoid a foreclosure. These sales meant that Jehanåsen was not the same farm it had been. Fields and pastures were halved and then some.

 

Here is Johan Johansen Flatmo on Arnt Stavne’s genealogical website.
Stavne’s site draws on the bygdebok for Innset, the censuses, probate records, and the parish registers. Easily one of the most reliable genealogical websites. According to this, Johan belongs to the Franck(e) family associated with the mines at Kvikne in Hedmark and Røros and Løkken in Trøndelag. The earliest ancestor listed is Frantz Franck, born ca. 1585, a German-born miner from Sängerhausen in Thüringen, Germany. Relevant information from the Innset bygdebok is quoted and the pages listed at the bottom.

The Francke family has been covered on this forum:

Here is Johan Johansen, born 1768 in the 1801 census on Flatmo farm in Kvikne, Hedmark (“15ᵈᵉ Familje” / 15th family, bottom right page)
Transcribed entry of the 1801 census.
He is on the farm Flatmoen (north), with his parents, and he has four siblings. His father, Johan Johansen, born ca. 1745, is titled as “Gahrmager og bruger plads”, meaning a smelter working at the mine, as well as farming (Flatmoen North).

Endret Juli 1 av Torbjørn Wolden
Rettelse/Correction

[Anton Hagelee]

 

 

Great work   Torbjørn!

 

I had found several  Family Tree with some of this information but was very reluctant to trust the info since there were no sources posted in the trees. But your work has made the Trees seem fairly accurate 

Endret Juli 1 av Anton Hagelee

[Anton Hagelee]

Super information on the location of Johan Johannesen in the 1801 census.  I had not been able to find him. Had not thought to look in Hedmark. 

 

Here is the link for Patricia 

 

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/en/census/person/pf01058249000784

 

With all of the information you have provided, I was able to go back to the Trees on Ancestry and see that they seem to have the line based on name and dates close to correct but the locations are  a total mess. For example 

 

Johan Johansen IV Franck Flatmo

1768–1865

BIRTH 1768 • Flatmo Nordre, Innset, Sør-Trøndelag

DEATH 1865

 

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/201918066/person/322636397491/facts

 

So the correct 1801 Census Data is found for the farm Flatmoen farm, Kvine parish, Hedmark fylke

 

 

 

 

Endret Juli 1 av Anton Hagelee

[Anton Hagelee]

For Patricia I will post some of the Family Tree from Ancestry.com, she can use that to work through all data you have provided to make a correct tree. 

 

Anders Johansen Gissenaas

1817–1903

BIRTH OCT 1817 • Trondheim, Norway

DEATH 24 FEB 1903 • Beaver, Marinette, Wisconsin, USA

 

Johan Johansen Franck Gisenaas

1768–1865

BIRTH 1768 • Flatmo Nordre, Innset, Norway

DEATH 1865

 

Johan Johansen Franck Flatmo

1744–1822

BIRTH 1744 • Flatmo Nordre, Innset, Norway

DEATH 22 DEC 1822 • Innset, Sor-Trondelag, Norway

 

Johan Johansen Franc

1713–1778

BIRTH 1713 • Norway

DEATH 1778 • Norway

 

Johan Johansen Franck

1682–1766

BIRTH 1682 • pa Flatmo Nordre, Innset, Norway

DEATH 1766

 

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/175221690/person/142277332363/facts

 

 

 

 

Endret Juli 1 av Anton Hagelee