Manifest? Marsdin, left Kristiania 30 Apr 1886
jwerne	per digitalarkivet, the following passenger departure: Ship Marsdin: departing Kristiania on 20 Apr 1886 Passenger: Edvard J. ERIKSON, male, age 23, residence Wermland, destination Escanaba (Delta Co., Michigan). Looking for any details of: US port of entry, date of arrival, who he intended to meet in Escanaba, whether he died in passage. Trying to nail down what happened to this last family member for an 80th birthday celebration. Background: Christened: Johan Edvard ERIKSSON, b. 5 Feb 1863, in Norra Näs, Frykerud, Värmland, Sweden. Married to Inga Nilsson BACKLUND, on 27 Dec 1884. Appears to have left behind wife and newborn daughter, to follow later. He died either in transit, the first couple of years after arrival, or simply abandoned the family. His wife Inga followed him to Escanaba in 1887, but gave the daughter up for adoption after marrying a second husband in 1888. Inga's sister (who had been in Escanaba since 1883) adopted the daughter in 1889. Adoption papers say the father is dead Any help re where to look for answers would be greatly appreciated. john werner jwerne@concentric.net
Hopkins	If you could find some information about which port these persons arrived in you'd save yourself alot of time. The first two ports of arrival which come to mind would be either New York or Quebec, and considering the planned destination Quebec would seem to be closer. But alot of Swedes also landed in Philadelphia. There is a small but excellent book which gives good advice on how to proceed - "They Came In Ships" - it is usually listed through webpage link here for books. The following link is to a website which discusses arrivals in US ports - but the information is still quite valid. http://home.att.net/~wee-monster/passengers.html
Borge	The name of the agent was Fr. J. Elster, who was the general agent of the White Star Line. The Marsdin confirmed connections according to our database, was the S/S Germanic, from Liverpool to New York, arrived May 15. It's all here, you just have to look for it [:)]
jwerne	Borge, Sorry if I seem a bit ignorant. Hoping you can confirm that I understood you properly. I think you told me that the Marsdin sailed a route between Kristiania (Oslo), Norway and Liverpool, England. (Did the Angelo also sail this same route? I think this was part of the same White Star Line.) Passengers that boarded at Kristiania changed ships at Liverpool to make the crossing to the US. In this particular instance, you told me that the connection was the S/S Germanic, which arrived in New York on 15 May 1886. It would seem that I need to look for the passenger list of the S/S Germanic to verify that this family member actually made the crossing to the US. Where on the web site do I look to find what the destination for the Marsdin was, and what the connecting ship was? Spent a little time last night, but it was my first effort - and got lost in the newness of the experience :-) Thanks
Borge	This is how I found the information: Digitalarkivet: [url="http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&filnamn=emikra1&variabel=0&postnr=79639&fulle=true&spraak=e"]Search for Edevard J. Erikson[/url], under the heading "Ship Line" you will se the name "Fr. J. Elster". I then wnt to the [url="http://www.norwayheritage.com/search-la.asp"]Emigration Agent database[/url] here on the site, and entered the name of the agent "Elster", that gives me the information I need, the line he represented in 1886 was the White Star Line. Clicking the year 1886 in that page gives me the information about his authorization; "To convey emigrants Via Hull to Liverpool, and from Liverpool to New York and inland". Then I checked the Wilson Line ship "Marsdin" departure by going to the [url="http://www.norwayheritage.com/queryyear.asp"]Database of Norwegian Departures 1825 - 1925[/url] - selected the year 1886, found the S/S Marsdin, clicked the small icon in the "Details" column, and got the sailing list for Wilson Line route : [url="http://www.norwayheritage.com/p_route.asp?ro=w28"]Christiania via Christiansand to Hull in 1886[/url], then found the sailing date which was given at the Digitalarkivet: 1886-04-30 for the Marsdin, in the Column "Connections & information" another small icon (a wheel), I clicked the icon to get a list of [url="http://www.norwayheritage.com/t_corresp.asp?id=1864"]Corresponding ships for the S/S Marsdin journey 1886-04-30 Christiania - Christiansand - Hull[/url], then looked for any confirmed connections for ship belonging to the "[url="http://www.norwayheritage.com/p_shiplist.asp?co=white"]White Star Line[/url]", and found the [url="http://www.norwayheritage.com/p_ship.asp?sh=germc"]S/S Germanic[/url]. This gives us this route: Wilson Line feeder, S/S Marsdin, from Christiania to Hull in England, from Hull to Liverpool by train, from Liverpool to New York on the White Star Line, S/S Germanic. So, yes, you have to get the passenger list for the S/S Germanic arrival to New York on May 15 to get this confirmed.
jwerne	Thank you Børge, I found Edw. Erikson in the manifest of the SS Germanic. Manifest dated 17 May 1886 A nice piece of information to give to my father on his 80th next weekend. (o: Wasn't quite so successful looking up his wife, who emigrated in 1887 on the Angelo (my other post) which seemed to connect in Liverpool with the Celtic. Will retrace my steps and try again.
Brining	There is a John Eduard Erickson in the Delta Co naturalization index filing 1st papers March 12 1887. [url="http://www.grandmastree.com/society/naturalization/surname_dh-ex.htm"]Click Here[/url] The Delta County Genealogical Society website has quite a few databases on line [url="http://www.grandmastree.com/society/"]Click Here[/url] You might be able to find more information there. Carla
jwerne	I believe the John Eduard Erickson of Delta Co Naturalization index is this person. Photocopy of the record is signed "Johan Eduart Erikson". No documentation of death or burial in their databases, however. At least, combined with the ship records, I know he at least made it beyond the ship journey. That he came alone with wife following helps explain some of the family stories. Thanks