Edvin Bernhardt Zahl Nilsen 1889
nanny	My grandfather was born on an Island called Boro.His father was Andrea and mother Dorthea. Fisherman was vocation.Hs brothers were Julius,Albert,Ingvald,John , his sisters Maren,Anna and Helmina. He may have left home at 19, @1908 to sail on a merchant ship. He talked about Clippers when I was a girl, very proud of sailing aound the world. Eventually ended up in Brooklyn. Is there any one I could write to to see if there are any family or records about him ? Nancy Nostrand
askeroi	There are a couple of places in Norway called Boro, but they're not islands. I guess you're refering to an island which were called Børø at the turn of the last century. Unfortunately there are Børøy/Børøya "all" along the norwegian coast: in Øksnes, Lyngdal, Fusa, Hadsel, Roan, Hitra, Tysvær, Vågan, Bømlo... You can't specify closer where this "Boro" is? askeroi
askeroi	Zahl seems to be a local name in Nordland fylke - there are only 86 persons carrying that name in the 1900 cencus. All from Nordland. But they're not family or living at the same place. And unfortunately no Edvin. And, stangely enough: I can't find the rest of the family either - at least not as a family unit. In Nordland that is. Do you know if family had spilt up (due to death, poorness, whatever??). Do you have an idea of age of any brother or sister - was Edvin the oldest/youngest... Don't you have any additional information?? At the moment I feel like looking for a needle in a haystack - not even knowing WHICH haystack to search through... In the 1900 cencus there are litturally no people listed as born at Boro/Børø. That doesn't mean there isn't any, just that if there are a larger place have been listed. Otherwise birth place had been a better way to start searching... askeroi
askeroi	PPS His father is certainly not named Andrea - that is a female name. More likely the name is Andreas - and he could then be listed aa that or Andres, Anders. Yet another thing. At the time Edvin was born 3-4-5-6 given names were common. So I'm afraid the brothers and sisters had several given names - just like he had... askeroi
nanny	[quote] PPS His father is certainly not named Andrea - that is a female name. More likely the name is Andreas - and he could then be listed aa that or Andres, Anders. Yet another thing. At the time Edvin was born 3-4-5-6 given names were common. So I'm afraid the brothers and sisters had several given names - just like he had... askeroi [/quote] Nancy Nostrand
nanny	askeroi- thanks for even answering my questions..I know that it is like looking for a needle in a haystack. I know that Boroe was supposed to be in Nordland within Heroe if that makes any sense. You are also right about his father's name not being Andrea but Andreas. I am getting copies of his immigration papers since I found my grandparents living in Brooklyn, NY in the 1920 census. This gave me the date of the naturalization papers. My mother has pictures of Edwins' parents in front of a very humble home, I think they were fisherman. I am sure he joined the Merchant Marine in Norway to travel. He loved the sea. There are no clues as to the other surnames. I have no living relatives here other than my mother who remembers only what I posted. Thanks any way though. You were very kind. Nanny Nancy Nostrand
askeroi	Hi At long last - found your family in the 1900 cencus: http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&filnamn=arkivverket/ft1900/f01818.wc2&variabel=0&postnr=1265&fulle=true&spraak=n (It was the surname that confused me. The children are not listed as Nilsen but Andreasen/Amdreasdatter. That's filled in by the registrator and was blank on the original list.) askeroi