Fritjoff (Fredrick) Lawson
stillinlanHi, My gr. Grandfather was Fritjoff Lawson (USA spelling), son of Lars Lawson and Meren Johanna. He was born in Christiana, Norway in 1867. He left Norway around the age of 11 on the Columbia as a cabin boy. I have no information about the family he left in Norway or have found his name on any ship lists. The family claims he had a tale of his ship being shipwrecked in the ocean and he was saved by the natives because they had never seen a white boy. This could be just a tale. I would appreciate any information you could give me. Thank you, lan
jwiborgHi, could it be [url="http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/vr/individual_record.asp?recid=29689321&lds=4®ion=12®ionfriendly=Norway&juris1=5&juris2=&juris3=&juris4=®ionfriendly=&juris1friendly=Norway&juris2friendly=&juris3friendly=&juris4friendly="]this[/url] one? Frithjof Laurits LARSEN Birth: 24 Mar 1868 Christening: 05 Apr 1868 Place: Oslo, Akershus, Norway Father: Lars OLSEN Mother: Maren CHRISTIANSDR I'm pretty sure Lawson is "american spelling" for Larsen, also since his father's name was Lars. Larsen means "son of Lars"... The problem is his fathers last name, it says Olsen... But still: I guess "Fritjoff Lawson" would be spelled "Frithjof LARSEN" in Norwegian...[:)] Jan
stillinlanJan, Thank you so much for your response. The information I have is of course from citizenship papers and marriage license in Buffalo, NY. He stated his birthdate as 8/16/1867 but... He left Norway so young it is possible his papers are in error. Your nformation is will be more than helpful. Thank you. Lan
BorgeI think you would find the Maritime inscription - registers of seamen interesting as it might contain more information about your Fritjoff's life as a sailor.
stillinlanThank you Borge. How do I come across the Maritime inscription-registers of seamen? I am new at this. Lan
stillinlanBorge, I found the Maritime inscription on your website. Thank you. I will search through it today. I really appreciate all the help. Lan
BorgeOK, and you'll might find some of the previous discussions in the Mariners forum of interest too
stillinlanBorge, Do I write to the Christiania District to receive copies of their records on the Mariners? Is there some other way to achieve information maybe off the ships records? Also, I am not 100% sure he was on the Columbia. I have assumed that because every miniature model ship he built he named the Columbia. All I do know is that he left Norway hidden on a ship (because he was too young) and became the cabin boy. I love this website!! Thank you.
BorgeYou could try writing the Statsarkivet in Oslo, they are usually not very happy about doing lookups, but they might do it if your information is very accurate, so that they can find the right person in the records without spending too much time. If they will not do it, they'll probably suggest a professional genealogist which will to it for a fee. Another question is if Frithjoff was a sailor or not. If he was a blind passenger and had to work as a cabin boy he will obviously not be registered in the maritime inscription, but he became a sailor by career, and was a citizen of Christiania, he would be in those records.
stillinlanI decided to go back alittle further and have found a Fredrik Larsen on the 1875 census (0301 Kristiania he is #34458). I have not yet translated the information yet. Where do I go to do so? Will the census give me more information on the other members of our family through his census number? And, this does not pertain to his records but what does Pleiebarn mean? stillborn? Thank you, Lan
BorgePleiebarn can have the meaning of "foster-child" or "nurseling"
stillinlanThank you Borge. I had found another Fredrik Larsen born in 1874 (not my Gr Grandfathers birth year) that was Pleiebarn and I became very curious. Will the Digitalarkivet (#34458) give me additional information if I email them? or is the information on that line the only reference I will obtain through that record? I feel if I start here I may be able to get enough information to submit to obtain more accurate maritime records. Thank you, Lan
BorgeNo, you will not get anything more from the census I'm afraid.
stillinlanTHANK YOU BORGE. THIS IS DIFFICULT BUT ITS FASCINATING. I'LL KEEP TRYING. LAN
stillinlanHi, I'm trying to find out what an "Arb" is as an occupation. Can you help? I know I read an article with the translations on it but I cannot locate it. Thank you, Lan
Borge
quote:
Originally posted by stillinlan
Hi, I'm trying to find out what an "Arb" is as an occupation. Can you help? I know I read an article with the translations on it but I cannot locate it. Thank you, Lan
"Arb" is short for "Arbeider" which the same as "laborer", so it does not really tell us much.