departure from Norway
benny2My Grandfather Johan Christian Berg, and his brother {name not known} his birth certificate gives the name of Johan Christian Visentsen born 30.12 1840. certificate issued in Skjeberg in 1909. [The name Kristiania is mentioned] came to New zealand. This is all that I know, how can I find out more?
HopkinsLook for the marriage records of both brothers. We'd expect their parents names, or at least their father, to be mentioned. What was the certificate of 1909 issued for? Skjeberg is an area in Østfold, Norway (very close to Oslo). Kristiania = Oslo. Is the handwriting clear enough to be absolutely SURE that it is saying 'Visentsen'? Could it start with other than Vi? The name Berg in Norway is about as common as the name Hill in US or other predominately English speaking countries... it will help if you can dig up a few more clues in New Zealand. Any way to figure out approximately when they arrived? I did some searching in the 1865 Norwegian census for any persons with 'surname' beginning with Vi... there was a 21 year old Vilhelm Visens born in Skjeberg (working in Glemming/Fredrikstad as a seaman at time of census); a 27 year old Christen Vincents. in Borge, Ostfold. I found it very encouraging that Vilhelm was born in Skjeberg... but by the time of the 1865 census - there would be little reason that your Johan Christian and his unnamed brother should still be at home... or even still in the country, at least Johan would already be very much an adult and able to make his own way in the world. Keep digging... some small additional detail may make all the difference.
benny2
quote:
Originally posted by Hopkins
Look for the marriage records of both brothers. We'd expect their parents names, or at least their father, to be mentioned. What was the certificate of 1909 issued for? Skjeberg is an area in Østfold, Norway (very close to Oslo). Kristiania = Oslo. Is the handwriting clear enough to be absolutely SURE that it is saying 'Visentsen'? Could it start with other than Vi? The name Berg in Norway is about as common as the name Hill in US or other predominately English speaking countries... it will help if you can dig up a few more clues in New Zealand. Any way to figure out approximately when they arrived? I did some searching in the 1865 Norwegian census for any persons with 'surname' beginning with Vi... there was a 21 year old Vilhelm Visens born in Skjeberg (working in Glemming/Fredrikstad as a seaman at time of census); a 27 year old Christen Vincents. in Borge, Ostfold. I found it very encouraging that Vilhelm was born in Skjeberg... but by the time of the 1865 census - there would be little reason that your Johan Christian and his unnamed brother should still be at home... or even still in the country, at least Johan would already be very much an adult and able to make his own way in the world. Keep digging... some small additional detail may make all the difference.
benny2Thank u so much for response. I have delved further and can translate the opening paragraph of the original birth certificate, but am at a loss to find out where or how the name Berg derived from. Quote. Johan Christian Visentsen, son of Selvein Visent Henricksen and Sofie Eriksdtr,Aaserod, born in wedlock, was born on 30/12/1840, and baptised 17/1/1841 in Ullero annex of Sjeberg. As the certificate was issued in February 1909, he was already in New zealand at that time and can presume it was wanted by authorities in New Zealand for some reason. I understand the original family had canneries, presume sardine, in Norway. I note from emigrant lists a lot of people left in their 20s,so I guess the 1860s was about the time he would have been on his way to NZ. Would sure like to hear back from you. and again thanks for your interest. Ben Berg.
HopkinsI'd like you to look at a word - this link will take you to one of the 1865 enumerations of a farm called 'Aaserød' (recognize that from Sofie's name on the certificate?) in the Ullerø parish area of Skjeberg, Østfold. I do not think this is your family but take a look at the word under the column 'Yrke' (profession/job/occupation) - see the word 'Selveier' ?- means owner or proprietor. http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&filnamn=f60115&variabel=0&postnr=4204&fulle=true&spraak=n I ask you to look because it is most likely that the father of Johan actually had the given name Vicent (or similar) - because of the 'surname' listed on the certificate for Johan. His paternal grandfather's given name would be Henrick (or similar). On the Rootsweb mailing list for Norway - there is a member who calls himself a Kiwi Viking - he might have additional ideas for the easiest methods for you to find information on early Norwegian emigrants to New Zealand. Go to this website - http://members.tdn.com/dagwood/NorwayList.htm click on the link entitled 'Norway List Archives' - then do a simple search for the word Kiwi - you'll be able to find his email address there. I searched in the year 2004 archives and he has posted a number of times. An emigrant from Norway sometimes took a farm name as a new surname. There are also farms by the name of Berg in Skjeberg... I've searched the 1865 census for combinations of women first name beginning So..., men first name starting Vi..., surname starting Hen... in Skjeberg and Østfold, etc. etc. I haven't been able to find any of the three family members that you have names for. Perhaps they all left Norway before the 1865 census or died. If the naming patterns or taking a farm name as a surname is confusing to you - start a bit of study in these articles - they definitely help explain - http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~norway/articles.html There are also several excellent explanatory articles connected with this website where we now converse.
jwiborgOn the same farm Hopkins found the 21 year old Vilhelm Visens. (Visensen?), there is a [url="http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&filnamn=f60132.wc2&variabel=0&postnr=4469&fulle=true&spraak=e"]Sofie Eriksdatter[/url]. Could she be the mother to Johan Christian? The problem is that the census list her [Sofie] as the mother to Lise Gulliksdatter. Could it be so that Sofie was married to one "Gullik" first, and gave birth to Lise, and then later maried Selvein Visent Henricksen...? Maybe the sailor Vilhelm is Johan Christians brother??? [:)] //Jan
BriningIn the 1801 census [url="http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&filnamn=f10115&spraak=e&metanr=157"]click here[/url] on the Aaserød farm there is an Eric Nicolaisen and Ingeborg Petersdatter. On the LDS [url="http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/IGI/individual_record.asp?recid=100214094728&lds=1®ion=12®ionfriendly=Norway&frompage=99"]Click Here[/url] Sophie is listed born in 1802 with Eric and Ingeborg as her parents. Carla