Query: The Bjorneby family on the Incognito 1851?
jwbittner	I am searching for pre-1851 information about a Bjorneby family in Norway. Ref: Passenger List for the Incognito, which sailed from Christiana on 27 Jun 1851 http://www.norwayheritage.com/p_list.asp?jo=886 What appears to be a family is transcribed as #8-14 on the list: Engebreckt Christenson 53 m Ragnild Christenson 45 f Christen Engebrecktson* 22 m Karin Engebrecktsdatter* 19 f Gumari Engebrecktsdatter* 17 f Guro Engebrecktsdatter* 14 f Barbra Engebrecktsdatter* 25 f Family records here in the USA say that this family came from Asnes, Solor, Norway, and that when they got to the USA they started using "Bjorneby" as a surname. I believe they joined the Roche-a-Cree Norwegian settlement in Strongs Prairie Twp, Adams Co., Wisconsin, in 1853, after living for a couple of years in Dane Co., Wisconsin. The genealogy I am assembling lists the 1851 emigrant family as follows: Engebregt Bjorneby b. 1799 Ragnhild Bjorneby b. 1802 Christian age 22 Karen age 19 Gunnerius age 17 Gord age 14 (We have no record of a Barbra, 25 years old in 1851) I have a 1851 Bible that belonged to "Embret Christiansen Bjornebyquarn," as he himself wrote his name. Records from the Roche-a-Cree Congregation of the Norwegian Lutheran Church, now in Arkdale, Wisconsin, list these names: Gunnerius Ingebrigtsen Karen Ingebrigtsd. / Karen Ingebretsdr. / Karen Ingebretsen / Karen Kristiansen (all the same person) and listed are several children of Karen and her husband Christoffer Anderson, who emigrated from Hedal, Valdres, Oppland. Now then -- here are my questions 1. Why did my great-great grandfather write his last name as "Bjornebyquarn"? 2. Is there a record in the 1801 Norwegian census for "Engebreckt Christenson," in Asnes -- he would have been 2 or 3 years old in 1801.. 3. Are there any records of a Bjorneby farm in Asnes? 4. Are there records of the marriage of Engebregt Christianson and Ragnhild Guttormsdatter in Asnes in about 1828? Records of the births/christenings of their children? 5. Is Karen's husband in the USA, Christoffer Andersson, the same Christoffer Andersson, listed as #15 on the 1851 Incognito passenger list? 6. Did a Christoffer Andersson, son of Anders Poulson, emigrate from Hedal, Valdres, in 1851, and sail on the Incognito? I apologize for asking so many questions, but I can't get to Norway to do this digging myself. I will be very grateful is something turns up! Thanks for your help.
Hopkins	Question 1 - He's listing the name of the farm where he had personal or family history. Quite common for Norwegian to do. Question 2 - 1801 census lists a one year old listed as "Embret Christiansen" - http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&filnamn=f10424&gardpostnr=75&sokefelt=skjul Question 3 - Yes, there are several Bjørneby farms in Åsnes, Hof, Hedmark at the time of the 1865 census including two listed as "Bjørneby-(Øværn)". Question 4 - Parish records as early as 1701 for Åsnes have been copied to LDS microfilm. Questions 5 and 6 impossible to answer with this little information - check things like US censuses and/or naturalization records to find emigration year for Christoffer. Ames has an LDS Family History Center (and a lovely University that I attended WAY WAY back when). You'll be able to order and use Norwegian church records, etc. through that Center. Save your trip to Norway for enjoying yourself - get as much of the research done BEFORE you go. Recommend you study these articles carefully, they are great help - http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~norway/articles.html
DALB	You will find much data on the Aasnes parish at the Solorlag annual meeting, which will be held in Austin, Minnesota on Sept 14 - 17. They will have the parish records on film, film transcripts and Bygdebok for the Aasnes area. Check out their web site. http://www.solorlag.org/
jwbittner	Thanks, P. Hopkins, for your very informative response to my query. Your answers to my questions #2 and #3 seem to hit paydirt! I only last week heard about the LDS Family History Center at 2524 Hoover Ave in Ames, and it's on my short list of places to visit. We have a few LDS members in the relationship, and they have already helped me a lot. I admire and respect genealogists from the pre-computer days who did such an enormous amount of work, and who have made it easier for those of us who are just now getting started, in these digital days. Regards, Jim
Hopkins	You have two other resources in or near Ames that you need to know about - TravelGenie in Ames sells maps - wonderful, beautiful maps of Norway included. I've always purchased my maps from them by mail order - but you can probably just drive or walk a few minutes to purchase. A little north of Ames was an early settlement location for many early Norwegian emigrants in Story County (and nearby in Hardin, Hamilton and Polk counties). It is possible that there will be quite a few other persons near you now also researching into their own Norwegian heritage. It can always help to discuss things, compare notes and exchange ideas with others. There is a website which would probably not include information about your Norwegian/Wisconsin family BUT is a wonderful help to many others and well worth seeing - http://genloc.com/NorStory/