Otilie Maria Pedersdatter 1863-?
Started by jkmarler · 2009-02-04
jkmarler · 2009-02-04#1
Hi,
There are many half siblings in this family but today I would like to request help finding information about Otilie Maria Pedersdatter, the only full sibling of my great grandfather Ole Petter "Pete" Pederson (1869-1933).
Otilie Maria was born, baptized and confirmed in Buskerud, Norderhov, Ringerike, Norway. She was born on Burudeie on 8 June 1863, baptized
26 July 1863, (page 150, entry 73, Norderhov parish register nr 12)
and confirmed 30 Sept 1877 (Confirmation page 156, #23, Norderhov/Norderhov parish reg I 7. )
<http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20051111040640.jpg>
Her parents were not married at the time she was born, though they did marry later, some years after my great grandfather was born. Her father's name was Peder Olsen (1823-1898)(and he was a widower at the time) and pige Karen Knudsdatter (1830-1891). Each of her parents had other children with other partners (father at least 4, mother at least 1), prior to Otilie's birth.
Family traditions concerning Otilie are slight. My grandmother remembered that her father had a sister whom she said was called "Karen". It is not known if Otilie / Karen married or if she stayed in Norway or came to America. All letters or other paper ephemera concerning Pete's family were burned in 1933 by Pete's widow.
However, there remained an old photo album, with many unlabeled, unidentified pictures including about a dozen or so taken by Norwegian photographers. In 1984, using two of the pictures, my mother contacted the Ringerikes Blad and the paper published them and we were contacted by descendants of Peder Olsen from his liaison with a woman named Berte Syversdatter. But they did not know about Pete, or Otilie or any of the other half-siblings, until we became acquainted.
There are three pictures of one who appears to be the same woman. Each of the photos are about 2''x 3'', the first is by Chr. Vaaler from Kongsberg, the second is by August Haraldson of Christiania, the third is of this woman and a man, possibly a wedding picture taken by Alb. Lokke of Torvgaden 5b of Christiania. The second picture also has a small fragment of a label applied on the back, with the words "Chicago, ure No, lot no, no. Copies, ..uctions:" on the back, so apparently had been reproduced at some point in the U.S. I'm certain the woman in the second and third pictures is the same person as not only does she look similar she is wearing identical jewelry. Any person interested in the photos may write to me and I will send jpeg of them. There are a couple of other August Haraldsson photos which appear similar stylistically taken at the same time?--which Grandma did identify as her father and her uncle Ole Pederson (another half-brother, who came to America). Pete Pederson came to America in the 1890s, married 1901, homesteaded in Mchenry County, North Dakota until his death in 1933.
The devil is always in the details. I have looked for Otilie in the 1900 Norwegian census schedules without success. Suggestions are welcome...
Hilsen,
Jackie M.