In 1854 the Norden departed from Christiania July 4th, and arrived at Quebec on September 27th. Master was Capt. O. L. Roosen. Because the National Archives of Canada [NAC] did not start the archiving of passenger lists before 1865, and the Norwegian emigration records did not start before 1867, there is no surviving passenger list for this voyage in any of those archives. Timeline to records. In 1863 she departed from Bergen, and arrived at Quebec on May 30th. Master was Capt. M. Todsen. No surviving passenger list, see above



In 1864 she departed Drammen on June 30th, and arrived at Quebec on September 9th. Master was Capt. Søeberg. Regarding passenger list, see above. As the Norden was loading passengers and their belongings on June 30th, an accident happened as a small child fell down through an open hatch. It was immediately attended to by a physician, but the injuries were serious and a few hours later the child died. The death of the little child is also mentioned in the an account submitted by Tyler Kanten: Coming Over on the ship "Norden" in 1864


Newspaper announcement from "Ringeriges Ugebled" July 7th, 1864 describing the accident on the Norden

In 1866 the Norden departed from Bergen May 5th, and arrived at Quebec on June 7th. She was sailing in ballast, and was carrying 379 steerage passengers and a crew of 21. When the Norden arrived at the quarantine station on Grosse Île June 6th, 3 were ill from debility and diarrhoea. One infant had died on the voyage. Her tonnage was given to be 649 tons. Master was Captain Martin Todsen. The passenger list was archived by the National Archives of Canada [NAC]. It looks as the captain surprisingly found 22 extra people on board when the ship arrived Quebec. The Captain added this to the passenger list:

" I hereby certify that my ship this voyage is freighted for lump [?] of Mr. Joachim Hanson in Bergen. And as I this morning, called all passengers on deck to ascertain their true number before reaching the Quarantine Place [Grosse Île] I found there was 22 passengers more onboard than on the charters lists, whose Names are above specified. And I likewise state that these passengers have been put onboard the ship without my will or knowledge [sic], and that all the above as well as these particulars are now true and correct. [signed] June the 4th 1866 M. Todsen"

The following story was told by Captain Ole Marius Volkmar Thoresen. Thoresen started his career as a crew member on the Bark "Norden" in 1866.

The crowded ship left Bergen with 403 crew and passengers. The hold had been divided by a between deck, set up of planks. On the between deck there was set up bins fitted with bunks. There was one row along each side, and one along the middle of the ship. There was a narrow passage between the bunks. A primitive toilet on each side of the deck. Over the hatch there was built a hood with an entrance down to the passengers quarters. There was no other ventilation than this, and the only fresh air came trough this entrance. When the weather was rough the entrance had to be closed, and it would be dark as in the night down in the hold. Usually the passengers would be given a few oil-lamps in the evening, but these were taken out at 10 o'clock in the evening. Only those passengers who had their bunks near to the entrance in the hatch, would get a small touch of fresh air. There was a terrible smell and poor air. Only the toilet on the leeward side could be used, and there would always be a queue of people waiting to use the toilet. The seasickness led to a lot of filth, and the air down in the hold was so sickening that the crew would almost faint when they had to go down to clean up. To clean the air the mate an two of the crew went down with a bucket of tar and a plate with glowing iron. With a tong the iron was dipped in to the tar, and then lifted up in the air, releasing a lot of smoke from boiling tar. The smoke would help against the terrible smell. One of the crew members carried a piece of canvas for putting out flames, incase the tar should catch fire. Many of the passengers would not have the possibility to wash them selves during the journey, only a few had strength enough to get up on deck to gather rainwater for washing. There was only one place to cook, and it was always occupied. It is likely that some of the passengers were not able to cook a warm meal during the entire crossing. They would eat only dry food an flat-bread, with water. The ship carpenter rationed out the water, and was therefore referred to as the "waterman". When the ship arrived in Quebec the captain, mate and boatsman were given presents and thanked by the passengers for the nice treatment. The Captain went with the passengers up to Montreal to help them on their way.