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Ship Sjofna, P. M. Petersen Main Page >>

BurdenBuiltShipowner or operator Dimensions
222 kl 1831 at Sunderland, England P. M. Petersen, Porsgrunn, Norway  
 YearRemarks
 1856 Captain P. M. Petersen  from Porsgrunn Apr. 25 to Quebec June 18   
 1856 leaving Porsgrund with some 240 emigrants, most from GjerpenAtlantic Journey ID 10320
 1856 June 27 loading in Quebec for PortsmouthAtlantic Journey ID 10321
 1856 August 15 Portsmouth from Quebec, leaving Sept. 7 for HelsingørAtlantic Journey ID 10322
 1856 September 17 Øresund: from Portsmouth to Svartvik (Sundsvall) in BallastAtlantic Journey ID 10323
 1856 November 1 Øresund: from Sundsvall to London with timber, Nov.9 Gravesend/LondonAtlantic Journey ID 10324
 1857 Captain P. M. Petersen  from Porsgrunn Apr. 22 to Quebec June 1   
 1857 leaving Porsgrund together with Edwina with 250 emigrants, most Telemark farmers but some from Gjerpen, Slemdal and some families from Skien. No passengers from Porsgrund. Atlantic Journey ID 10325
 1857 Before leaving Porsgrund the passenger presented for their thankfulness a beautiful mantel clock to the CaptainAtlantic Journey ID 10326
 1857 July 27 Southampton from QuebecAtlantic Journey ID 10327
 1857 September 24 Gravesend/London from SundsvallAtlantic Journey ID 10328
 1857 November 13 leaving London for PorsgrundAtlantic Journey ID 10329
 1858 Captain P. M. Petersen  from Porsgrunn Apr. 28 to Quebec June 15  Passenger list: Passenger list 
 1858 Leaving Porsgrund with some 200 emigrants, most from Telemark. The Rev. Andersen, Flood and Hauge held an admonishing and comforting speech from deck before the ship left harbour.Atlantic Journey ID 10330
 1858 April 28 off Smiths Knowl; from Porsgrund to Quebec with passengers. All well onboard.Atlantic Journey ID 10331
 1858 May 7. Spoken off the Lizard on the South West coast of England by ship Bergithe, Capt. Simonsen of Porsgrund.Atlantic Journey ID 10332
 1858 The passenger bought a beautiful Silver Mug and presented it to the Captain in Quebec Atlantic Journey ID 10333
 1858 July 10 leaving Quebec for Southampton, Capt. IversenAtlantic Journey ID 10334
 1859 June 5 Quebec from Porsgrund, Capt. Iversen, leaving June 29 for LiverpoolAtlantic Journey ID 10335
 1859 August 8 Liverpool, leaving Aug. 30 for SundsvallAtlantic Journey ID 10336
 1860 June 12 Quebec from Porsgrund, Capt. Pettersen, July 16 loading timberAtlantic Journey ID 10337
 1860 September 18 Belfast from QuebecAtlantic Journey ID 10338
 1861 April 27 off Deal, England; for Quebec from PorsgrundAtlantic Journey ID 10339
 1861 Captain P. M. Petersen  from Porsgrunn Apr. 16 to Quebec June 22   
 1861 Quebec June 21: Vessels Sjofna (and Sir Isaach Newton) boarded to Grosse Isle quarantine station, two days in quarantine. 302 steerage passengers, 19 crew 9 deathsAtlantic Journey ID 10340
 1861 July 2. leaving Quebec for Londonderry, arrived there Aug. 27Atlantic Journey ID 10341
 1861 September 14 leaving Londonderry for NorwayAtlantic Journey ID 10342
 1861 November 21 Plymouth from Porsgrund, returned to Langesund (Norway) Dec. 2Atlantic Journey ID 10343
 1862 January 4 for contrary wind at Truro Point (Corwall) for Porsgrund, leaving Jan. 7 Atlantic Journey ID 10344
 1862 Captain P. M. Petersen  from Porsgrunn Apr. 16 to Quebec June 29   
 1862 8 children and one elder person died on this journeyAtlantic Journey ID 10345
 1862 July 25 leaving Quebec for Falmouth and arrived there Sept. 7Atlantic Journey ID 10346
 1862 November 16 Truro from Porsgrund, returning Dec. 9 to PorsgrundAtlantic Journey ID 10347
The information listed above is not the complete record of the ship. The information was collected from a multitude of sources, and new information will be added as it emerges
The ship "Sjofna" was built 1831 in Sunderland, England. Burden was 222 Norwegian Commercial lasts, or 648 tons gross. Owner in 1856 was N.A. Andersen & Co in Christiania. In 1858 she was owned and mastered by P.M. Petersen in Porsgrunn. P. M. Petersen started a shipping company in 1855, the business was mainly based on the transport of emigrants from Norway to America. This ship is sometimes mixed up with another ship by the sam name, which also sailed with emigrants. The other Sjofna was mastered by Capt. Buckholtz. Petersen usually had his ships refitted to take emigrants while in port at Porsgrunn during the winter. The hold would be equipped with a between-deck, where temporary berths were set up. The ships would leave early in spring for America with emigrants. As soon as the passengers left the ship, the extra fitting, and the between-deck would be taken away, and timber taken on board. Agent was J. Ericksen in Skien, in newspaper announcements Ericksen states that this copper hooded ship has an "unusually" high, light, airy and spacious between-deck. The ship was also equipped with cabins for cabin passengers.

Newspaper announcement from
"Correspondenten" Skien Mar. 4th, 1857; Passenger accommodation with the ship Sjofna, Captain Petersen, which will depart on April 20th from Porsgrunn for Quebec with emigrants, there are still some places available. Those who would like to take advantage of this possibility must address the undersigned as soon as possible, in writing or in person. Skien Feb. 28 - 1857, J. Eriksen

The departure was announced to be Apr. 20th, but when Sjofna arrived in Quebec on June 2nd, the crossing was given to have lasted for 5 weeks and 5 days, the departure was delayed for some days. Master in 1857 was P.M. Petersen. Because the National Archives of Canada [NAC] did not start the archiving of passenger lists before 1865, and the Norwegian emigration records did not start before 1867, there is no surviving passenger list for this voyage in any of those archives. Timeline to records.

The 1858 departure was announced to be April 20th, but she departed a few days later. On June 15th she arrived at Quebec. Master was Capt. P. M. Petersen. There is no surviving passenger list for this voyage, see above. From a letter signed by some of the passengers we know the names of some of the passengers.

Letter from the passenger on the Sjofna in 1858, dated Quebec June 15.
After having ended our journey from Porsgrunn to Quebec, we can not leave the ship "Sjofna" without praising Capt. P. M. Petersen for his care and kindness to us during the passage. Next after God we can thank Capt. Petersen's zeal and skillfulness for having arrived here healthy and safe. We recommend captain Petersen to those who are going to emigrate. We praise the cleanliness and order which was conducted on the ship, and wish Capt. Petersen fortune and a happy journey, to him devoted: Hans T. Svendserud, Ole Haugen, Sebjørn T. Granflata, Gunder Gundersen, Torsten Olsen, all from Nummedal; Lars Nilsen Fossum, Erik Carlsen from Skien, Knud Carlsen, Knud Larsen Skauen from Gjerpen; Niri Svenungsen Strand, Ole Pedersen Soli, Harald F. Underlona, Anne B. Moen, Gunvor Johnsdatter Øia, Hans Thorsen, Hans Hansen Haugen, all from Hitterdal; Ole M. Bæver, Carl Jensen, both from Kongsberg; Nils Olsen from Laurdal, Torkild Olsen Lundervollen from Rauland; Ole Kittilsen Liestul, John Osvaldsen Berkhuus, Bjørn Halvorsen Brauten, Gunder Aslaksen Ødegaarden, Svend Aslaksen Ødegaarden, Bjørguf Aslaksen Teigen, all from Vinje; John Svendsen Vaagen from Tind, Ole Olsen Selsland from Siljord.

In 1861 she left from Kragerø/Porsgrunn on April 22nd in ballast, and was carrying 302 steerage passengers. 9 people died during the voyage. The Sjofna arrived at the quarantine station on June 22nd, and was detained 2 days in quarantine at Grosse Île, before proceeding to Quebec. Also this year she was mastered by Captain Petersen and had a crew of 19. There is no surviving passenger list for this voyage, see above.

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