re: johan christian mandal
kymm	Thankyou for your previous help. I discovered that the christian mandal I was chasing was actually born Johan Christian Mandal and only used the name christian when he emmigrated on the Hovding to NZ in 1872. On the passenger list I found his wife named as Maren but no maiden name. I also think that Johans' father may be Lars Mandahl and his mother Christine, though am unable to find her maiden name either. This family looks like the females all take on their married names for some reason. The 1865 census does not show her maiden name. I have also been unable to find Johans wife (Maren) or daughter (Julie) name on the census. They are not with him on census night. The Mandahl name seems extremely rare so am interested in finding why and how the name came about. I would appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks Kymm
ninakarls	Johan Christian Mandahl married Maren Helene Gundersen 09 Jan. 1862 in Trefoldighet Menighet, Oslo. His father is named as Lars Andersen Mandahl. (Source: Family search) Taylor Lars Mandahl has a daughter's daughter Julie Mathilde (age 5) the 1865 census. Could this be a misprint for son's daughter? If she was born before the parents' wedding there'd be a certain hush, hush about it. Or maybe Emilie Mandahl(age 26) in Hamar is Lars' daughter as well, and Julie's mother. She is married to saddlemaker Christian Olsen (age 33) and has 3 other children. In that case 11 year old Julie emigrating with Johan and Maren would be their niece. Johan Christian in Holmestrand is a taylor's apprentice so you're probably right assuming taylor Lars is his father. But I still can't imagine where Maren is hiding in 1865!