Wedding Photo

This is the wedding picture of Grandma Jensen's brother Peder Pedersen and his wife Amanda Nepas, married in Minneapolis on 12 July 1913. They immigrated in 1910 (see previous posts).
Peder and Amanda had two daughters, Synnova and Clarice. Sadly, Peder died in 1924 from TB. Synnova's children are Janet and Jim.

Dad's Cousins Anna and Skjalg Arne

This photo was sent to Janet by Anna Andersen. Anna and Skalg Arne's mother was Borghild (Pedersen) Lilleborja, Grandma Jensen's younger sister!

Grandma's Voyage to America

I've been trying for about a year now to find Anna, Peder and Amanda (Peder's [at the time] fiance) on a ship's list somewhere. Finally found it!

First we got the following info from Arne :

"Amanda emigrated from Trondheim 13. April 1910 by the ship "Salmo", bound for Minneapolis, MN.

But she did not travel alone. Together with her was Peder Pedersen Bordvik, unmarried farm worker, born 1887 in Velfjord, also bound for Minneapolis, and with the home address America. So he must have emigrated earlier and was home for a visit.

Peder also brought with him his brother Hartvik Pedersen Bordvik, born 1893 in Velfjord and his sister Anna Pedersdatter Bordvik, born 1888.

And in addition to them, was a fifth person, Andreas Andreassen, unmarr., born 1889 in Velfjord, all five with the same destination."

So apparently Peder came first, then went back and was to return with his fiance Amanda, his sister Anna and brother Hartvig - in the spring of 1910. Using this information I did find all five on the ship's list for the ship named the S. S. Montrose, sailing from Liverpool 23 April 1910. It indicates that none of them had been in America before this, so perhaps Peder didn't come over first. I'm not sure....

It does say that Anna (21) and Amanda (22) were servants, Peder (22) was a carpenter and Hartvig (16) a laborer. Anna was 5'8", Peder 5'7" and Hartvig 5'2". Amanda was 5'6 1/2".

All five (including their friend Andreas Andreassen) had their names crossed out, and a notation says "erased by purser - not on board."

Peder and Anna were from a farm named Bordvik, and Peder's name was therefore sometimes given as Peder Pedersen Bordvik. With this additional information I was able to find the ship they DID come on - the Empress of Britain. They sailed from Liverpool on 22 April, 1910. Peder, Anna, Amanda and Andres, but I don't find Hartvig on the list. (There are 128 pages - I haven't checked them all!!!) The ship sailed to Quebec, and they entered the U.S., then, from Canada.

Grandma Jensen's Birth Family

The pictures here are from Grandma's photo album; the picture of the woman is her younger sister Anethe (or Anette), and I think the other one may be of her mother and some siblings, but I have not verified this.

Grandma was one of 15 siblings, and the family is shown in the tree below. Janet has heard from Borghild's son Kolbjorn, and her daughter Anna, and will be going to Norway this summer! Kolbjorn and Anna also have a brother Oscar, and Mom and Dad would hear from Oscar and Kolbjorn from time to time. Steve - do you remember who they met on their trip?

Wow! Treasure Trove...

I recently heard from Janet, whose grandfather Peder was Anna Jensen's brother. A lot of information has been collected in the last few weeks... and I'm not even sure where to begin!

To start with, I have posted above the newly acquired family tree I have for Anna's (Grandma Jensen's) ancestors. The new information came from a man in Norway named Arne, who is an 83 year old pensioner who likes to help Americans discover their Norwegian roots!

He traced the family back (on both sides) several more generations, and it's fascinating.