In the past several days, more relatives living in Trondheim have appeared.
Through Petter's blog we found Marit, who's great grandfather, Oscar was one of Carl's brothers. I've not yet made contact with Marit directly, but look forward to doing so.
Another contact was made via the DIS Norge Slektsforum. Randi is the grand daughter of Carl's sister Gudrun. We've been in contact by e-mail, and two of her kids Kjetil and Aud and I are corresponding on Facebook.
The first relative contacted was Henrik, who's grandfather was Carl's brother Arnulf. We made contact a few weeks ago, with the help of Petter.
More to follow as more information comes along!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Success...
In my last post I mentioned the opportunity to help making a connection to an American relative for a gentleman from Norway.
Arthur, who lives in Trondheim, Norway contacted me to ask if I could help locate some relatives that may be lving in the Seattle area. I began searching for records, and he furnished me with some facts to guide the search. I located some old immigration records, census records, and a newspaper obituary that pointed to a man named Dean.
After searching telephone listings, I decided to give Dean a call to see if he was the person we were looking for. When a woman picked up the phone on the other end, I was quick to let her know that I was not some sort of telemarketer and that I was an OK guy. I explained the reason for my call, and that I was hoping to connect their family with relatives in Norway. Her husband, Dean, was not at home, but she was sure that he would be excited and return my call soon.
The next morning, I recieved a call from Dean, who was excited to learn the news, and was looking forward to hearing from Arthur.
It is exciting to have the opportunity to help another, as I've learned that helping oneanother is a big part of genealogy.
Arthur, who lives in Trondheim, Norway contacted me to ask if I could help locate some relatives that may be lving in the Seattle area. I began searching for records, and he furnished me with some facts to guide the search. I located some old immigration records, census records, and a newspaper obituary that pointed to a man named Dean.
After searching telephone listings, I decided to give Dean a call to see if he was the person we were looking for. When a woman picked up the phone on the other end, I was quick to let her know that I was not some sort of telemarketer and that I was an OK guy. I explained the reason for my call, and that I was hoping to connect their family with relatives in Norway. Her husband, Dean, was not at home, but she was sure that he would be excited and return my call soon.
The next morning, I recieved a call from Dean, who was excited to learn the news, and was looking forward to hearing from Arthur.
It is exciting to have the opportunity to help another, as I've learned that helping oneanother is a big part of genealogy.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
An opportunity to help...
I've made contact with a relative living in Trondheim, Norway. His grandfather was my great grandfather's brother. We've exchanged e-mail messages and sent photos to one another, and I look forward to learning more history of the family from him.
I never would have located him if it weren't for my other new relative Petter, who made the connection. I am truly grateful to all of the people I have encountered through this project, and have been amazed at how generous people can be with their time.
I had hoped that perhaps someday I would be able to help someone locate American relatives.
Such an opportunity arose when I was contacted by a gentleman in Norway with relatives most likely living in the Seattle area. Supposedly some of his ancestors came to America and settled in the Poulsbo area. I've done a bit of checking, and found some records that will hopefully lead to some living relatives.
I never would have located him if it weren't for my other new relative Petter, who made the connection. I am truly grateful to all of the people I have encountered through this project, and have been amazed at how generous people can be with their time.
I had hoped that perhaps someday I would be able to help someone locate American relatives.
Such an opportunity arose when I was contacted by a gentleman in Norway with relatives most likely living in the Seattle area. Supposedly some of his ancestors came to America and settled in the Poulsbo area. I've done a bit of checking, and found some records that will hopefully lead to some living relatives.
Mistaken Identity?
As the family tree has been taking shape recently, I've been trying to fill in some of the gaps working with little information available. Much of what I had to work with was word of mouth information that my dad, my aunt, and my uncle remember their grandparents telling them as they were growing up. I've found that something as simple as a person's name and the place they came from can be very helpful.
As I began, I knew very little about my great grandmother Inga Monrad, who was married to Carl Monrad. I knew her maiden name was Anderson and that she came from Norway, but that's about as far as it went.
A few months back, I ended up with some great old family artifacts. One was a scrapbook about Carl Monrad that my aunt put together as a school project in the 1960's. The other was my Dad's baby book. Both were full of old photographs, letters, and other memorabelia. In dad's baby book was a hand-written family tree showing three generations of his ancestors. I had already found information the "Monrad" side of the family, but the "Anderson" side was another story. The family tree showed Inga's parents as "Anders Sundvoll" and "Bergette" with no surname.
My dad and aunt mentioned brothers and a sister of Inga that they had known of. An older brother Eilert, a younger sister Jenny, and another brother were mentioned. I began searching, and in the process made some assumptions. Right away I found a census record for an Anderson family in Ballard with a head of household named Andrew Anderson, a son named Eilert, a son named Arthur, and a daughter named "Clara", which I assumed must have been a misprint. The birthdates were reasonably close for me to surmise that this was the family I was looking for. I had heard that census records were only as reliable as the person that recorded the information, and often names were misspelled and birthdates estimated. I began to attempt to trace the family back to Norway, but didn't have much luck.
A few weeks ago at a family birthday, I had the chance to "show off" what I had found so far and to ask some questions. My aunt relayed the story of Inga travelling to America with her sister, Jenny from Bergen, Norway where she was born. This did not fit with the family I had been researching...
I figured I would once again try my luck with the DIS chat. Just as I did the first time, I entered the chat and saw a whole lot of Norwegian words flying across the screen. I asserted myself with a "hello" and was quickly greeted by the kind folks on the other side of the globe and a nine hour time difference. I asked a few questions, and furnished the few facts that I had. In no time at all I had some answers and some information to help me move forward. One of my helpers "Iris", came up with the 1900 Norwegian census showing Inga's family. From there, we were able to track down emigration records for Inga and her sister Jenny departing from Bergen, Norway on March 31, 1913
So, as it turns out, the family I thought was mine isn't. Inga's father's name was Anders Engelsen Kumle, and as often the case with Scandanavian names, used the place he came from as a surname. In his case it appears he went by Sundvoll for the villiage of Sundvollen. Inga's mother was Bergitte Berntsdatter. The rest of the family included: Adine Andersdatter, Eilert Andersen, Olav Andersen, Peder Andersen, Inga Andersdatter, Johanne Andersdatter, and Jenny Andersdatter. A bit of light reading on the subject of Norwegian names can be found here.
Just a case of mistaken identity, cleared up for now...
As I began, I knew very little about my great grandmother Inga Monrad, who was married to Carl Monrad. I knew her maiden name was Anderson and that she came from Norway, but that's about as far as it went.
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| From Monrad Family Photos |
A few months back, I ended up with some great old family artifacts. One was a scrapbook about Carl Monrad that my aunt put together as a school project in the 1960's. The other was my Dad's baby book. Both were full of old photographs, letters, and other memorabelia. In dad's baby book was a hand-written family tree showing three generations of his ancestors. I had already found information the "Monrad" side of the family, but the "Anderson" side was another story. The family tree showed Inga's parents as "Anders Sundvoll" and "Bergette" with no surname.
My dad and aunt mentioned brothers and a sister of Inga that they had known of. An older brother Eilert, a younger sister Jenny, and another brother were mentioned. I began searching, and in the process made some assumptions. Right away I found a census record for an Anderson family in Ballard with a head of household named Andrew Anderson, a son named Eilert, a son named Arthur, and a daughter named "Clara", which I assumed must have been a misprint. The birthdates were reasonably close for me to surmise that this was the family I was looking for. I had heard that census records were only as reliable as the person that recorded the information, and often names were misspelled and birthdates estimated. I began to attempt to trace the family back to Norway, but didn't have much luck.
A few weeks ago at a family birthday, I had the chance to "show off" what I had found so far and to ask some questions. My aunt relayed the story of Inga travelling to America with her sister, Jenny from Bergen, Norway where she was born. This did not fit with the family I had been researching...
I figured I would once again try my luck with the DIS chat. Just as I did the first time, I entered the chat and saw a whole lot of Norwegian words flying across the screen. I asserted myself with a "hello" and was quickly greeted by the kind folks on the other side of the globe and a nine hour time difference. I asked a few questions, and furnished the few facts that I had. In no time at all I had some answers and some information to help me move forward. One of my helpers "Iris", came up with the 1900 Norwegian census showing Inga's family. From there, we were able to track down emigration records for Inga and her sister Jenny departing from Bergen, Norway on March 31, 1913
So, as it turns out, the family I thought was mine isn't. Inga's father's name was Anders Engelsen Kumle, and as often the case with Scandanavian names, used the place he came from as a surname. In his case it appears he went by Sundvoll for the villiage of Sundvollen. Inga's mother was Bergitte Berntsdatter. The rest of the family included: Adine Andersdatter, Eilert Andersen, Olav Andersen, Peder Andersen, Inga Andersdatter, Johanne Andersdatter, and Jenny Andersdatter. A bit of light reading on the subject of Norwegian names can be found here.
Just a case of mistaken identity, cleared up for now...
Monday, November 3, 2008
The Rainy Season
The rainy season is among us...
While the nice weather was still here, I was glad to get the boat away from the dock for an afternoon cruise. A perfect fall day...
While the nice weather was still here, I was glad to get the boat away from the dock for an afternoon cruise. A perfect fall day...
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| From Misc Photos |
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