[#7429] Trying to locate my grandparents' family

[Gjest Barbara Forestell]

I am trying to find out about my grandparents' parents. I know so little of my family. I was told to check the parish records at my local library, but unfortunately they don't carry them. My grandfather's name was Lars Olsen. He was born in Romedal on August 3, 1872. He married Julie Thomasen who was born in Furnes on October 30, 1870. I do not know when they married. I do know they lived in Kristiania where their daughter Dagny Elise was born on September 22, 1898. Julie & Dagny left Kristiania on March 25, 1905 on the S.S. Montebello with their destination North Dakota, U.S.A. Julie gave birth on board ship to a son named Guttorm. Lars followed on July 15, 1904 on the same ship with his destination Canada. Before he left Norway, he changed his to Lars Olsen Tingstad (the name of the farm where he came from). Lars was a blacksmith by trade. My father (born in Canada) never talked about his family very much. I would love to know more and if there is still any relatives in Norway. I do hope someone can help me. Thanking you in advance, Barbara Forestell (born Thingstad) Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada This is all I know about them. My father

[Gjest Laila Normann Christiansen]

Hi! I am sure you have found your family in the 1900-census Christiania. Tværbakken 1 was in Sagene parish. Dagny Elise was maybe christened there, and then, maybe her parents were married there. Furnes and Romedal (Stange) is pretty close, so they might also have married there..... Lars Olsen family 1900Also, after what I can see of the emigrant-protocols from Christiania, Julie and Dagny Elise AND Guttorm emigrated in 1904. Guttorm was then 1 month old. Emigration LailaLaila

[Gjest Marius Hellerud]

Hi! Just a little thing Laila: I’d rather say that Guttorm was ELEVEN months old. Maybe not an important correction, but could be something to have in mind when trying to find him baptised. Marius

[Gjest Laila Normann Christiansen]

Agree! Laila

[Gjest Barbara Forestell]

Thank you very much Marius and Laila. I am very new at this and it is very difficult for me as I do not understand Norwegian and have not been able to get a dictionary where I live. Is there databases for the parishes to try and find Lars and Julie's parents? Once again, thank you.

[Gjest Vera Ilseng]

Do I need new glasses, or is Guttorm "11/12 år" (years) in the emigration records? But Barbara's information was that he was born on the ship, and he wasn't listed in the 1900 census with the rest of the family. Maybe someone wrote "11/12" when it should have been 1 1/2 (18 months)? Mvh Vera.

[Gjest Laila Normann Christiansen]

Hi Vera! 11/12 is 11 months. this is often used to tell age of children. So, no wonder Guttorm don't show in the 1900 census. (They emigrated in 1904) Another thing, stories about people born on ships and other "exotic" stories is often told. I helped a lady in US once, her ggmother was supposed to have given birth on the ship. Thing was, the child was born almost a year before they left Norway. (just like this Guttorm). He was also registered in the emigrant-protocols, and on Ellis Island with age given 1 year. so, no doubt the same child.The emigrant protocols online is made before people left Norway.The emigration protocols contain information on all of the persons reporting to the local authorities to register themselves as emigrants. In fact, not everyone registered in these protocols left.Laila

[Gjest Carla Brining]

Hi Barbara One source on line for a Norwegian-American dictionary is [url="http://home.online.no/~otjoerge/files/word.htm>http://home.online.no/~otjoerge/files/word.htm Have you tried the LDS Family History Center? The on line site is

[Gjest Hans Mathisen]

It is interesting to see that according to the 1865 census, the farmer and owner of Thingstad in Romedal at that time was Lars Engebretsen, 45 years old and born in Odalen, and his wife Petronille Pedersdatter, 44 years old and born in Løten. In view of norwegian naming practice, this may well be the grandparents of the Lars Olsen you are interested in? (assuming they had a son called Ole, of course, which has to be verified).

[Gjest Carla Brining]

Hi Hans I saw that too and thought the same thing but then I found Lars & Petronille in the out migrants for Romdal going to America in 1869. It lists their destination as Amerika - fl. for 1 1/2 år siden. Does this mean they were planning on being gone 1 1/2 years. If so I guess that would put them back in time for Ole to be born in 1872. Another possibility I found is Ole Johanson in the 1886 matrikkelen, Gardsnavn Thingstad, Bruksnavn Hagestuen which if I understand correctly is a sub farm of Thingstad. In the out migrants from Romedal there is a Lars Olsen born 1872 Farm Hagestuen destination Danmark, Kjellerup.

[Gjest Barbara Forestell]

Hi Marius, Laila, Vera, Hans & Carla! You people are absolutely amazing! I feel like a real "dummy". I know nothing about searching. I thought this would be so easy to find out about my family. It makes me feel good to know there is people like you that are anxious to help someone else. My whole life, I only had my aunts and uncles. My grandmother, Julie died long before I was born and my grandfather died when I was only 4 years old. That is why I am so curious about their relatives. Is it possible then that Lars & Petronille are my great-grandparents.This Ole Johanson that you spoke of, would he be by great great grandfather? I am going to check out those sites Carla and see if I can come up with anything. I dread the day I try to do my mother's side. Her father was from Finland. Once again, thank you very much and I hope to hear from you all again. Best regards, Barbara

[Gjest Liv-Inger Jørgensen]

Hi! Don't hesitate to start searching your Finish ancestors. You'll find a fantastic start-site here: http://www.genealogia.fi/indexe.htm

[Gjest Barbara Forestell]

Hi Liv-Inger! Thanks for the information. My mother is 82 years old and did not know her father. He died when she was only 8 months old.(great flu epidemic of 1920). My grandmother never talked about him. It would be nice to find something out about him.

[Gjest Barbara Forestell]

I have managed to find Lar's family. Now I would like to find any living relatives. Lars' father was Ole Johansen and his mother was Andrea-Kristine Johannesdatter. They had five children: Mathea Olsdatter (born 1856), Johan Olsen (born 1858), Anne-Christine Olsdatter (born 1861), Ole Olsen (born 1864) and Lars (born 1872). They were all born in Romedal. Lars' wife Julie thomasen was born Mellum, Furnes in 1870. Her parents were Thomas Johannesen and Eli Hansdatter.. Ole Johansen was born in Stange in 1831. Andrea_kristine was born in romedal in 1828. Thomas Johannesen was born in Ringsaker in 1832 and eli Hansdatter was born in Ringsaker in 1832.If anyone knows of any living descendents, I would love to hear from them. I can be reached by e-mail at bthing@tbaytel.net. Thanks, Barbara