Paulsen - Arendal to Melbourne
Paulson	I am searching for information on Christian Paulsen, my GGGgrandfather. Much of the information I have is sketchy and I have made a number guesses in my quest for information on him. My father always claimed that Christian was German and as he arrived from Hamburg on the "Jenny Lind" it was never questioned. When his marriage certificate was obtained it gave his birthplace as Arendal and his parents as Christian Paulsen & Tobina Grum. No wonder I could never find anything in Germany [:D]. In the IGI I found the Christening of a Christian Paulsen on 4/JAN/1834 in Arendal to a Poul Christensen and Tobine Thorsdatter. This is the only possibility that I have found. I have since found through IGI and Digitalarkivet that a Tobine Thorsdatter was born to Thor Aanonsen and Marte Kittelsdatter in Vestre Moland and the couple lived at a place called Grom. I know this is a little thin but you have to start somewhere. I also have a Poul Christensen born in Arendal to a Christen Paulsen and a Ingeborg Marie Pedersdatter in 1811. If any of these names ring a bell with anyone, even if you can rule out some of my guesses, please let me know and save whats left of my sanity. [;)] Chris Paulson
ninakarls	This may add further to the confusion. At the farm Grøm in Øiestad parish in 1801-census: Thor Aanonsen Farmer age: 38 Marte Kiddelsdtr wife 21 Both in their 1st marriage Birte Torsdtr daughter 4 Siri Torsdtr husbands mother, widow 61 This must be Tobines family. At the farm Grøm in Fjære parish in 1865-census: Christian Paulsen Farmer/Owner/Master shipbuilder age 54, born in Tvedt parish Maren Ellefsdatter wife 58 b. Østre Molands parish Paulus Paulsen son 15 b. Øiestad parish Andreas Paulsen son, sailor 27 b. Øiestad parish Katrine Paulsen daughter 13 b. Øiestad parish Was Tobine Christian's first wife? Østre Moland is just east of Arendal, Øiestad is just west of Arendal, Fjære is west of Øiestad and must have been a subparish under Øyestad in 1801. Local history book: Øyestad bygdebok / Kjell J. Bråstad [Øyestad] : Øyestad kommune, 1981. - 2 vols., ill.