Oystein (Edward) Wahl
rdwahl	Hello. I’m doing some family research and am trying to track down the following information on my great-grandfather who emigrated to the States or Canada from Namsos: immigration records (where he landed and when), birth certificate and the ship(s) he traveled on. What I know: His name is Oystein (Edward) Wahl. He was born on July 20, 1895 (or 1986) in Namsos. He left Namsos in either 1915, 1916 or 1917. Upon reaching North America he went to the Seattle area first but I don’t know if landed on the East Coast of Canada or the East Coast of the States. After spending some time in Seattle he went to Alaska and then went back to Norway for a brief spell before coming back over to North America in 1920, 1921, or 1922. He came across both times with his older brother Haldor Wahl. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Hopkins	Namsos is located in Nord-Trøndelag, Norway - the closest port of departure would probably be Trondheim. He appears to depart from the port on or about 23 Feb 1915 and will be travelling via Bergen and has stated his planned destination as Everett, Washington, USA. http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&filnamn=EMITROND&gardpostnr=167259&sokefelt=skjul The 1900 Norwegian census captures him as being from Nærøy, Nord-Trøndelag (rather than Namsos). http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&filnamn=f01751&gardpostnr=128&sokefelt=skjul
rdwahl	Thank you! I’ve been told he left from Namsos but I guess that doesn’t mean he was born there. I believe this is where the “Storval / Wahl” farm is. Have you heard of it?? I know Haldor was born in “Indre Naroy”, Namdalen. I’m sure not about the spelling of “Indre” however. I also read in a newspaper that Ed was born in “Inde Nory”. Is this the same place as Nærøy or is it some district/community of Nærøy? Also, would you know about how long the journey would have taken (i.e. the estimated date of arrival to Everett)? Thanks again
Hopkins	Indre means inner - so your comment that he was born "Indre Naroy” should mean that he was born in inner Nærøy, Nord-Trøndelag. Study the geography and/or history of that particular area and that might be clarified. The link I sent to the family in the 1900 Norwegian census showed them living on a 'Wahl" farm, spelled in that census as 'Val' - specifically on Val store (Val big) or what would probably be more common to reverse those words and call it Storval or Stor Val (Big Val) as you see in the names listed. I wouldn't find it surprising that an American newspaper might mispell Nærøy as Nory - perhaps that is their best effort at a 'sounds like'. You'll find information in articles on this website that will help you estimate how long a journey from Norway ports to American ports might have taken about 1915. How long it would take him to reach Washington would of course depend on which port of arrival he used on the North American continent and what method of transportation he might have used to reach Everett. I won't even try to guess about that. My own later arriving Norwegian emigrant ancestor - arrived through New York/Ellis Island (that is proven) and then it is assumed by the family that she took trains to her final destination in the midwest of the US in 1903. But other family members arriving in the US about 60 years earlier - did travel to the California goldfields by SHIP, before the Panama Canal was built and therefore travelling entirely around the southern tip of South America.
Jo Anne Sadler	Fystein Wahl, 19, joiner, from Norway, arrived at the Port of New York from Bergen on March 13, 1915 on the SS Bergensfjord. Father Haldor Wahl. Going to Everett, Washington, contact was brother Haldor Wahl, Clinton, Washington. www.jewishgen.org/databases/eidb/ This is a free website but you need to register. The passenger manifest covers two pages, he is #28. There is information and lots of pictures of the Bergensfjord on this site. The trip at that time would have been 6-9 days and even in second and third class quite comfortable.
rdwahl	I'll definitely have a look at this site in more detail. It's a great resource. Thank you both very much for the information and advice. This has made my day!