Smilden family
ScorpioveIve been trying to research information on the Smilden family. Ive recently learned about farm names and such and realize that Smilden was a farm name and that is how my name came to be. My grandpa "Harold Smilden" lived in grand forks north dakota. My dad is Timothy Allen Smilden and used to live there but moved to california long before i was born, well actually while he was still a kid with his dad. I heard a story that when they came to america that whoever my ancestor was had the last name hanson or hansen dunno how to spell it and now after doing more research I found it probably meant he was the son of Hans or Han. That is all the information I have and I would love to see if I can find out more. I did a search here... [url="http://draug.rhd.isv.uit.no/matrikkelsoek/matrikkelsoek.asp?fornavn=&etternavn=&gard=smilden&bruk=&sogn=&kombiner_gard_bruksnavn=on&spraak=norsk_bokm%E5l&kommando=S%F8k"]Smilden farm search[/url] and found a "Hans Jensen" living on the smilden farm around 1886. So although its a long shot and I could be wrong, and this guy not even related.... I think it might be his son Hansen or Hanson that came over to america, don't even know what state or even if it was canada he landed at. But all I know is the immediate family comes from North Dakota. Anybody have any insights for me, it would be greatly appreciated. I did some more digging and this person I'm more sure Im related too. Some records from North Dakota... [url="http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/nd/grandforks/land/graf-s.txt"]North Dakota records[/url] Lots of stuff there so I manually got the text out so you don't have to go through it all... SMILDEN HANS HANSEN 05 151 N 056 W 002 80 251101 PA 7589 08/01/1904 This guy is matches my dad story, apparently though instead of getting rid of Hansen he made it his middle name. But what are the chances that his dad was Hans Jensen from the Smilden farm? I dont see any other Hans on the Smilden farm, I would need to see other years for records. I think I've accomplished a lot although non of this is solid yet cept for maybe Hans Hansen Smilden, its obvious though his dads name was Hans too. It is also now fairly obvious to me that this is the first Smilden of my family to come to America, not hard to conclude ;). But where did he land? What boat was he on? When did he leave Norway? Did his dad go with him? So many questiosn!!!
HopkinsThis will be very difficult without any birthdates, etc. for the persons you've mentioned. Checking the 1900 US census shows Hans H. Smilden living in Moraine township, Grand Forks County, North Dakota. He is listed as having been born November 1872 in Norway. He's been married for 3 years and lists his year of immigration as 1893 (he has started but not yet finished the process of naturalization). Occupation: farmer. His wife is named Maren, born Feb. 1879 Norway, immigrated 1895, married 3 yrs, mother of 2 children. A daughter, 'Gustie', born Aug. 1897 NDak. A son, Hans, born Oct 1898 NDak. Source: National Archives Microfilm Series: T623 Roll: 1228 Page: 89 1910 census index only shows one Smilden - Iver. He lives in Fertile township, Worth County, Iowa. This means Hans name is probably mispelled... Yes, Hans H. 'Smelden' in town of Larimore in Grand Forks, NDak. Listed as retired farmer! 35 yrs old born Norway, immigrated 1893, a naturalized citizen. Wife is Maren, 30 yrs old born Norway, immigrated 1895, married 12 yrs, mother of 7 children. Children all born NDak. - Gustie 12; Hans 11; Hannah 9; Thos. 7; Enga 5; Lina? 3; Henry 1+. Source: National Archives Microfilm Series: T624 Roll: 1142 Page: 317 1920 census shows Hans H. Smilden living in Hegton township, Grand Forks County, NDak. Hans is 46 yrs old, born Norway, immigration year unknown, occupation farmer. Wife is Maren, 42 yrs old, born Norway. All the children still living at home were born in NDak - Hans, 21; Hannah 19; Thomas 17; Inga 15; Tina 13; Henry 11; Ingvold 9; Marie 7. Source: National Archives Microfilm Series: T625 Roll: 1334 Page: 61 (If you don't have access to one of the online US census subscription collections of scanned images - you can see microfilm of these censuses at either a repository of the US National Archives or on microfilm of the LDS Family History Library at their Family History Center nearest to you.) You'll be the only person able to verify if the ages are consistent with the records you've already gathered. It was not uncommon for the original patronymic to be used as a middle name when a Norwegian used the farm name for a surname. It is often quite a great help since in Norwegian records he'll probably be recorded with the patronymic. Emigration database for the port of Bergen in Norway lists a Hans Gerad Hansen Smilden, 20 yrs old, leaving on or about 24 May 1893 on an Allen line ship?. He is from Hyllestad area of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. I'll try to capture the URL (but still getting used to the recent changes in that database system....) - http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&filnamn=0214EMIG&post_nr=201&vispostnr=201#a0 Of course, you'll have to research in Norwegian records for the Hyllestad area of Sogn og Fjordane to learn if Hans Jensen was his father, and other earlier family history. Good 'how-to' at -- http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~norway/articles.html
ScorpioveWow Thanks so much, I didnt expect so much information! My dad told me about the Smeldens I think they were related to the Smildens but I was told they wanted there name different. I wonder if Hans Smilden is my ancestor? I thought Smilden's in the usa were pretty rare and that they were all probably related to me. Edit: I just varified with my dad that Ingvold was his grandpa and the Smeldens were his brother Hans which you found as the son of Hans Hansen Smilden. But Hans decided to spell his last name Smelden instead. So the Hans Hansen Smilden that came from norway was Smilden... it was one of his sons that used Smelden. :)Thanks again I greatly appreciate the info! :) Whats odd though is I found a Martha Smilden who married someone in washington state in 1888. I wonder if they were also possibly related some way although that seems very unlikely given the timing. Was their a Han Hansen Smilden or was he Smelden or was their both? I greatly appreciate the info you have given me. Edit: Mispelled Smelden as Smeldon, but fixed now.
jwiborgGreat research!! [:p] Here is a christening record from Hyllestad parish, Sogn & Fjordane you might want to have a look at: Born 16 NOV 1873, [url="http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&filnamn=sogndaap&gardpostnr=93686&personpostnr=93686#a0"]Hans Gerhard Hanssen[/url], parents: Hans Jenssen, and Halfrid Hansdatter. Farm=Smilla ! [:)] [url="http://www.sffarkiv.no/sffbasar/default.asp?p=result&paging=yes&ptype=single&db=dbdoypte&page=1&sql=low%5Fforenamn+like+%27hans%25%27++AND+low%5Fetternamn+like+%27hans%25%27++AND+aar%5Fhending+%3E%3D+1863++AND+aar%5Fhending+%3C%3D+1863+++ORDER+BY+forenamn%2C+etternamn&appinfogard=&appinfostol=&appinfourl=&id=0"]2nd link[/url] Here the parents are in the 1865 census, farmname = [url="http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&filnamn=f61413&gardpostnr=116&personpostnr=728#knappar"]Smilden[/url] Records of emigrants from Hyllestad: [url="http://www.sffarkiv.no/sffbasar/default.asp?p=result&paging=yes&ptype=single&db=dbflytte&page=1&sql=prestegjeld%5Fid+%3D+1413++AND+low%5Fforenamn+like+%27hans%25%27++AND+low%5Fetternamn+like+%27hanss%2E%25%27+++ORDER+BY+forenamn%2C+etternamn&appinfogard=&appinfostol=&appinfourl=&id=1"]Hans Hansen Smilden[/url] Under notes: Born: 16 NOV 1873, Christening: 23 NOV 1873, Confirmation: 29 SEP 1889, emigrated spring 1893 This must be his brother [url="http://www.sffarkiv.no/sffbasar/default.asp?p=result&paging=yes&ptype=single&db=dbflytte&page=2&sql=prestegjeld%5Fid+%3D+1413++AND+low%5Fetternamn+like+%27hans%25%27+++ORDER+BY+forenamn%2C+etternamn&appinfogard=&appinfostol=&appinfourl=&id=11"]Mads Hanssen Smilden[/url]. Under notes: Born 20 FEB 1865, Christened 19 MAR 1865, Confirmation: 12 OCT 1879, emigrated summer 1890. Jan
ScorpioveWow jwiborg you confirmed my thoughts on Hans Jensen being the father of Hans Hansen! You also confirmed most likely that Hans Gerhard Hanssen is the same one in north dakota. The one that I'm related too! :P This informations is so much appreciated! I'm right in assuming they are the same person right? :) Sorry everybody I'm just so happy this is so hard to believe that I finally have this info. I can't believe though I was right about hans jensen. :) You guys did excellent work! :)
jwiborgHi, I would say that the chances for this being the same person, is something halfway between 90 and 110 %... [:D] His destination in 1893 could be his brother Mads, who emigrated 3 years earlier. Jan
Scorpiove
quote:
1910 census index only shows one Smilden - Iver. He lives in Fertile township, Worth County, Iowa.
Can this Smilden be the one here... [url="http://draug.rhd.isv.uit.no/matrikkelsoek/matrikkelsoek.asp?fornavn=&etternavn=&gard=smilden&bruk=&sogn=&kombiner_gard_bruksnavn=on&spraak=norsk_bokm%E5l&kommando=S%F8k"]Smilden farm research[/url] Sogn og Fjordane Hyllestad Øn 28 4 Smilden Smilden Iversen Sjur 0, 1 And if that is true that means the Smildens living in Iowa are probably not related.
jwiborgHi, Your link to the Smilden farm research shows that there was 8 farms named Smilden in the "Øn" area of Hyllestad parish, Sogn & Fjordane. The farms are all in the same neighborhood/township called Øn, but the people living there where not neccessary related to each other. But most likely you'll find a cousin or two... [:)] Jan
ScorpioveWow I didn't know there was more than one. How big was the area? Was it a good chance that they all atleast knew each other if they werent related? This makes me wish I knew Norwegian :(. Thanks again :).
jwiborgHi, your link to the Smilden farm research is a land register database for the year 1886. It's an almost complete land register over all farms in Norway for that year. Maybe it's not correct to say it was 8 farms. The landregister shows that "your" Hans Jensen paid more taxes than the others ones, which indicates that he lived on the main Smilden farm. They have all landnumber 28, and the first titlenumber (1) is usually the main farm. Hans Jensen's farm has the titlenumber 1. The other Smilden farms are smallholdings under the main farm. Your query shows: Fylke - Herred - Sogn - Gårdsnr - Bruksnr - Gårdsnavn - Bruksnavn - Navn på eier - Skyld i ort og mark Sogn & Fjordane - Hyllestad - Øn - 28 - 1 - Smilden - Hans Jensen - 3, 2 Translated into: County = Sogn og Fjordane Parish = Hyllestad Township = Øn land number = 28 title number = 1 Farmname = Smilden Owner = Hans Jensen The last value (3, 2) says something about how much the owner had to pay in taxes (it was depending on how much land he had). The area was not big so of course everyone knew each other...! [:)] I'm not familiar with the Øn area in Hyllestad, but I would be surprised if it was much bigger than a few square miles... Hyllestad today is 100 sq. miles. 222 people lived in Øn as per January 1st, 1866 (1391 in the whole Hyllestad). Ref: census-1865, Hyllestad parish. Btw; The farm still exist, and the name today is spelled "Smilla", as it was in 1873 when Hans was born... Jan
ScorpioveOh so it went from smilla to smilden then back to smilla again? I love all the information you are giving me. :) Greatly appreciated! Edit: I tried searching the ships database but I coudlnt determined which allan line ship was used. Is it possible? Edit 2: Does this place have any relation to the smilden farm? [url="http://www.smilden.no/norsk/kart.shtml"]www.smilden.no[/url] In the pic I think I can see where it says Smilla.
jwiborgHi, Yes, your link is from the Smilden farm in Hyllestad, Sogn & Fjordane! [:)] They're selling fish (salmon & trout) and natural products made from the Smilden farm. The farm lies by the Sognefjorden (the world longest fjord) , and they have a fish farm there. Btw; your link confused me about how they spell the farm name today. I saw on an other map that it was spelled Smilla, but on your link again it says Smilden.... Smilla is probably how the pronounce it using their (very special) [:)] local dialect. Smilden looks to bo more like a Danish spelling, due to the fact that Denmark used to rule Norway for 400 years.... Jan
ScorpioveHehe thanks again:). In norway how would you pronounce Smilden? Like smile-den? That is how we pronounce it and everyone always thinks its pronounced smellden. Just wondering if we got that pronounciation from over there. :)
jwiborgI think I would have pronounced it smeal-den... [:)] But to be sure; you should call the farm owner of today and ask them... [:p] Jan
ScorpioveI think the pronounciation change could have proably came over time. Or maybe the farmer pronounces it Smile-den too, too bad i don't speak norwegian [:p]. I was looking at my dad's baby book and it shows Ingvold Smilden has his Grandpa, and Andrew Smilden as Ingvold's dad. Now I need to see if Hans Hansen Smilden changed his name. Perhaps he developed a nickname [:p]
jwiborgHmmm... so your line (father => father etc) is like this: "You" => Timothy Allan Smilden => Harold Smilden (1933-1982) => Ingvold Smilden => Andrew Smilden And what you're looking for is a "connection" between Andrew Smilden and Hans Hansen Smilden? First, I don't think Hans Gerard Hansen Smilden changed his name to Andrew. It's not impossible, but I find that a bit strange.... [B)] If Andrew was born in Norway, his "real" name might be Andreas or Anders. Those two names was very often "Americanized" into Andrew when they moved to America, due to better pronounciation... And Smilden is "of course" pronounced Smile-den in the US, that's how they did it, throughout the years..., their names became "Americanized"... It's the same with Hansen, a typical norwegian name. In America, they usually spelled it Hanson... Jan
ScorpioveMy grandma is the one who wrote Andrew, she was about 17 at the time and she didn't even know who the wife was, but What Hopkins listed as Hans Hansen Smilden's kids...
quote:
All the children still living at home were born in NDak - Hans, 21; Hannah 19; Thomas 17; Inga 15; Tina 13; Henry 11; Ingvold 9; Marie 7
My dad confirmed were his great aunts and uncles, and that Ingvold was his grandpa [:p]. So I'm pretty sure that the Hans Gerard Hansen Smilden That came from norway is the one Im related too. I think it would be to much of a coincidence for him and someone else to have the same kids in the same state in the same city :P. I just have to play Sherlock holmes and figure out why Andrew Smilden was written in the book :P Thanks again for all your help, you guys have given me info that is worth much more than gold. [:)]
ScorpioveI was wondering if Its possible to see who Hans Jensens parents were. Jens something right. :)
HopkinsYes, it will probably be quite possible for you to research the family earlier. You'll reach the point where online sources probably won't be sufficient. The LDS library catalog indicates that they have Hyllestad, Sogn og Fjordane parish records copied to microfilm for years as early as 1706 and that there does exist a published set of bygdebøker for that area - "Hyllestad Bygdebok: Soga om Folket", 2 volumes by Inger Kellmer and Finn Borgen Førsund. This URL will take you to my favorite 'how-to' articles for using the Norwegian church records and bygdebøker - http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~norway/articles.html If you also click on the word INDEX at the top of that opening page to the 'articles' it will return you to the home page for Mr. Follesdal's website. He also has a County by County listing for each Norwegian 'county' which will probably include any specific URLs to online resources for the area. You of course are interested in Sogn og Fjordane - and Hyllestad and/or Askvoll within that county.
ScorpioveThanks again Hopkins :).
ScorpioveHi everyone, I was able to confirm that Hans Smilden is my Great Great Grandpa :). My Aunt gave me some information for his wife Maren "Marie" Smilden. Her last name is supposedly Totland born feb. 22 (1879) in Norway. I was also told by my Aunt Sherry that they were first cousins. Just wanted to update the post! :) Edit: Also was wondering if anybody wanted to help me find the immigration records for maren? she left Norway in 1895. Edit 2: I noticed Totland is another farm in the same area! is Maren "Marie" from this farm? Was she a cousin of Hans Hansens? So many more questions that are hard to answer! :p
BriningThis is probably her leaving from Bergen [url="http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&filnamn=EMIBERG&gardpostnr=36059&personpostnr=36059#a0"]Click Here[/url] Maren Størnisdtr Totland from Finnaas in Hordland Carla
ScorpioveWow thanks, even her birthday (1879) matches. It must be her. Thanks!
sargeandtinaMy name is Steven Smelden. I know part of the story you are looking for. Your grandfather and mine were brothers. When they arrived at Ellis Island thier names were changed from Hansen to Smelden and Smilden because there were so many Hans Hansens. Our families went there seaparate ways from there. My father's name was Lyle, and he had brothers by the name of Bill. Stan, Vance (all dead) and **** and Lyle (still alive) There was also a girl by the name of Marion (still living)My Uncle **** is the Families unofficial historian and he can tell you more than you could believe,; from the details of all the relationships and the other families that had married into ours.
Jo Anne SadlerHere is an article written by Dick Eastman of Ancestry. com regarding the Myth of Ellis Island name changes: http://www.ancestry.com/learn/library/article.aspx?article=4675 Also, recommend you read the excellent article on this site called "Those Norwegian Names". You can contact people on this forum offlist and also edit your postings, maybe Glen Smilden won't mind that you gave his address and personal family dirt to someone offline but posting it on an open website for all to see[?] Asking first is always a good idea[8)]
ScorpioveThanks for the reply steve :). I'm not sure but according to the census records it was Hans Hansen who came from norway to the US and then change his name to Hans Smilden and then he had some children two of them being Hans Smelden and the other Ingvold Smilden so I think your grandpa and my great grandpa were born here in america :P. Its also very cool to meet someone who knows the same story!
chinookHello to everyone I am the granddaughter of Hans Smelden. I lived with him and my grandmother in Larimore North Dakota until I was 7. The name change from smilden to smelden for my grandfather was because of mail. His father and him had the same name and it became a problem. You have really posted alot of information. I was so excited to read it all. My daughter and son already have copies. I have old family photos and would be glad to share with you. My mother was Marion the oldest daughter of Hans and I am her only daughter and the oldest of Hanss grandchildren. I knew most of the people you are talking about.My Mother died last November of cancer. Vance died a few years back of a heart attack he was 59 and leaves a wife and two sons in North Dakota. I would love to hear from you. My E-mail is Berrys2@GCI.net Hoping to hear from you