Elen Serine Abelsdatter Vorre to US in 1881
jwknudsen	I am seeking any information about my maternal g-g-grandmother, Elen Serine Abelsdatter Vorre. She was born to Abel Kristoffersen and Anna Marta Anensdatter at Vorre (Vårå, Vaare), Avaldsnæs in 1848. The 1865 Avaldsnæs census lists her at Vorre as tjænestepige in the home of her brother-in-law, Nils Torsen, along with her parents and sister (Anna Marte Abelsdatter). http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&filnamn=f61147.wc2&gardpostnr=502&personpostnr=3211&merk=3211#ovre Two sources show that she left Norway in 1881. The bygdebok for Avaldsnæs marks her departure with a simple statement: "Til USA 1881". Emigrants from Stavanger contains two 1881 records for Eli Serine Abeldatter Vorre, but provides no specific departure information: http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&filnamn=STAV&gardpostnr=42790&merk=42790#ovre http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&filnamn=STAV&gardpostnr=88104&merk=88104#ovre I'm given to understand that no complete passenger records for Stavanger survive, and that no ships sailed directly from there to the U.S. It appears that about 30 connecting ships sailed from England to the States in 1881. Attempting to locate her in those manifests seems like searching for the proverbial needle in a haystack. I'd be grateful for assistance in uncovering her route to the States, or better yet, for any information anyone might have about her in the States from 1881 onward. Thanks, JK
jwknudsen	I'm broadening the previous inquiry about Elen Serine Abelsdatter Vorre to include any instances of individuals using the name Vorre, and the regions of the USA to which their census or emigration records might have referred. Very few individuals have used the name Vorre, and nearly all seem to have been born or lived on Vårå farm, in Avaldsnæs, or in nearby Kopervik. An old family anecdote about my grandmother, Nilla Amalia Knudsen, relates how she came into a bequest of farmland "out west", but refused it, utterly uninterested in leaving her new home in Brooklyn. This became really interesting only after I had discovered that my grandmother was Elen Serine Abelsdatter's grand-daughter. Some Vorre emigration records point to the American west, among the earliest being Mattias Vorre, who appears in the 1900 Avaldsnæs census with a wife from Avaldsnæs and a residence in S. Dakota. http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&filnamn=f01105&gardpostnr=39&personpostnr=149#nedre More interesting yet is an October 1920 Bergen emigration manifest for Urbanus Knutsen Vorre, Elen Serine's son-in-law, which lists his birthplace as Montana. http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&filnamn=EMIBERG&gardpostnr=88786&merk=88786#ovre I'm interested in hearing about anyone's Vorre sightings hoping, of course, that someone has encountered the name in some census or church records which might point the way to Elen Serine Abelsdatter. Thanks, JK
Brining	Hi This site lists the families on Vårå [url="http://www.slektsforumkarmoy.no/b-bok/gnr99.html"]Click Here[/url] It appears that Marta Elisabet and Ånen are the only other family members to go to America. On Ellis Island Urbanus Knutsen Vorre's birthplace is listed as Elkhorn Montana (Jefferson county). In 1904 there is a Knud Worre going to his brother Tallak Worre in Jefferson Montana. In the Index to names Jefferson Co., MT [url="ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/mt/jefferson/vitals/npinduvw.txt"]Click Here[/url] there is listed WORRE, KNUD E. ~CZ ~1896/11/04 WORRE, OLE E. ~CZ ~1896/11/04 CZ means citizenship When searching remember that everyone did not spell their names the same and some would use their patronym ie Ableson. The V & W in Norway was pronounced the same so Worre and Vorre would be the same. Are you sure that Urbanus is Elen Serine's son-in-law? Looking at the families on Vårå it appears that he was married to her sister Ana Marta's daughter Eline Torine's daughter Elen Torine (confusing[:p] ). Do You have Elen Serine's married name in the US? Carla
jwknudsen	Hi Carla: Thanks for the Jefferson County info. I'll have to look for more about Knud, Ole, and Tallak. You're absolutely correct: Urbanus Knutsen Vorre is not Eli Serine's son-in-law. I skipped a generation in this somewhat complicated family. Nils Toresen Kolstø married Anna Marta Abelsdatter (Eli Serine's sister). He became brukar of Vårå in 1863. Nils Toresen Kolstø and Eli Serine Abelsdatter had Elen Torine Nilsdatter in 1868. Elen Torine lived with her father and aunt, Anna Marta, at Vårå. Tore Toresen Kolstø (Nils Toresen's brother) and Elen Torine Nilsdatter had Nilla Amalia Toresen (b. 1887 - d. 1974). Ommund Johan Olsen Søiland married Elen Torine Nilsdatter and adopted her daughter Nilla Amalia. Ommund and Elen Torine Nilsdatter had Elen Torine Søiland in 1892. Ommund became brukar of Vårå in 1905. Elen Torine Søiland married Urbanus Knutsen Vorre, who became brukar of Vårå in 1924. Which is to say, if your head isn't already spinning, that Urbanus Knutsen Vorre might be described as Eli Serine Abelsdatter's grandson-in-law. Thanks again, JK
Brining	Yes my head is spinning[:D] What fun would genealogy be if our ancestors didn't leave us a complicated trail to follow? You should try posting a query on Slektsforum Karmøy [url="http://www.slektsforumkarmoy.no/english/index.html"]Click Here[/url] Have you looked at the micro films for Avaldsnes (you can rent them from the LDS) "Innflyttede og Utflyttede b.14 1880-1906 (Avaldsnes) FHL INTL Film 1282656 Item 4" is the leaving records and you could find the date that Elin Serine left. Then you would have to rent the films for passenger arrivals for around that date. This site has a list of ships arrivals so that might help narrow down the search. Hopefully that would give you more information on where she was going. Carla
jwknudsen	Hi Carla: I just realized I hadn't answered your last question. I do not know Eli Serine's married name, or if she was, in fact, married. Her track ends with a Stavanger emigrant list without departure date (http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&filnamn=STAV&gardpostnr=42790&merk=42790#ovre) leaving about 27 possible ships. I haven't yet located her U.S. arrival records. Unfortunately, she travelled to the US prior to Ellis Island came into use. There is, however, one intriguing hint in the 1 June, 1914 manifest of SS Kristianafjord, which records Amalia Knudsen (Nilla Amalia Toresen Søiland) returning to New York from Bergen with her children, Evelyn and John. The section about the relative and place visited records "Vorre Kopervik pr grandmother". The note appears on Amalia's line of the manifest and dittos appear in each of John and Evelyn's lines. It seems possible to interpret this as a visit to Amalia's grandmother, Eli Serine Abelsdatter, although I have no evidence that she ever returned to Norway. More likely, the note refers to the children's grandmother, Elen Torine Nilsdatter, who did remain in Avaldsnæs and died there in 1938. Eli Serine Abelsdatter remains an enigma. Best, JK
Brining	I found another line for you to follow. In the emigrants from Stavanger Aanen Ablesen Vorre emigrated in 1872 and right here on Norway Heritage is the passenger list with him and his wife Christ??ne Andersdatter ??døen [url="http://www.norwayheritage.com/p_list.asp?jo=318"]Click Here[/url] They are on line 14. Destination is Quebec but probably went on to someplace in the US. Also listed in the Emigrants from Stavanger appears to be Aanen's son [url="http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&filnamn=STAV&gardpostnr=66739&merk=66739#ovre"]Click Here[/url] Should be able to find them in the 1880 census but I haven't had any luck. Carla
Brining	Also found Christopher Abelsen Vaare he is number 259 [url="http://www.norwayheritage.com/p_list.asp?jo=1455"]Click Here[/url] and maybe in the 1870 census ABLSON CHRIST 26 M W NORW IL LASALLE MISSION TWP 1870 Carla
Brining	One more[8D] Anna Serine born 1832 married David Davidsen (died 1860) They had one son David Davidsen Anna Serine emigrates in 1872 with Omund Olson ?? [url="http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&filnamn=STAV&gardpostnr=75147&merk=75147#ovre"]Click Here[/url] In the US 1880 census, this appears to be them. Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace Oman OLSON Self M Male W 59 NORWAY Farmer NORWAY NORWAY Anna OLSON Wife M Female W 49 NORWAY Keeping House NORWAY NORWAY David DAVIDSON SSon S Male W 19 NORWAY Farmer NORWAY NORWAY Ben OLSON Son S Male W 15 NORWAY At Home NORWAY NORWAY Abel OLSON Son S Male W 12 NORWAY At Home NORWAY NORWAY Martha OLSON Dau S Female W 7 IL NORWAY NORWAY Ed VORRA Son S Male W 26 NORWAY Farm Laborer NORWAY NORWAY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Source Information: Census Place Button, Ford, Illinois Carla
Brining	[:D] Illinois Statewide Marriage Index Groom DIEZ, JOSEPH Bride ABELSON, ELLEN S 08/11/1892 Could that be Elen Serine The marriage took place in Ford County [url="http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/GenealogyMWeb/MarriageSearchServlet"]Click Here[/url] You can order the marriage records. Carla
Brining	In the Illinois death index Ford County city of Elliott[url="http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/GenealogyMWeb/IDPHDeathSearchServlet"]Click Here[/url] DIES ELLEN SERENA F/W UNK 0270029 1928-03-31 FORD ELLIOTT She is listed in the census for 1910 & 1920 as Ellen Dies/Deis and is living in IROQUOIS county villiage of LODA which is probably close to Ford county. Carla
jwknudsen	Hi Carla: Thanks for all the posts! Sorry, I've been offline during the holiday week here. In order of posts: Anen Abelsen Vorre is Elen Serine's youngest brother, Christopher Abelsen Vorre is her eldest brother, and Anna Serine Abelsdatter is her eldest sister. I really will have to follow their travels in the mid-west. I stopped at NARA today and copied the 1920 Loda Village census entry for widow Ellen Dies. Her age, 70, is slightly off her 1848 birthdate, but close enough given the fluidity of dates. I'll have to go back for a look at her 1885 Naturalization Declaration. I'll let you know when I receive marriage and death certificates from the Ford County Clerk. Thanks again for your help. Best, JK
jwknudsen	Hi Carla: I've received the Marriage and Death Certificates from Ford County and they seem pretty close, what with all sorts of variations on Vorre as both name and place. The birthdate is the only open question now: Ford County says 17 March 1850. The Avaldsnæs Bygdebok says 1848. I understand how fluid these dates can be (Eli's grand-daughter Nilla Amalia was born in 1886, 1887, or 1888, depending on which source you read). I've posted an inquiry on the Debatt Forum requesting a lookup in the Avaldsnæs church book, but have not yet received any reply. This aside, I think Ellen Serene Dies of Loda, Illinois looks to be a pretty good fit. Best, JK PS. I'm still sifting passenger manifests at NARA, taking into consideration that she noted 1878 as her immigration (not 1881 as noted at Stavanger). Also searching her 1885 naturalization declaration. I'll keep you posted.
Jo Anne Sadler	Without reading through all these postings [:p], I want to point out that women did not get to vote in Federal elections in the United States until 1920. Before then women took the citizenship status of their husband and children under 18 were also automatically naturalized with their father. In fact, if a native born American woman married a foreign national, she would lose her U.S. citizenship.[:0] It is very doubtful whether you will find a naturalization record. There are exceptions, ie a single women trying to get a farm on her own under the 1862 Homestead Act. Many Western states gave women the vote before 1920 in local and state elections but this would not be reflected in the Federal NARA records.