norsk tekst

Genealogy online

It happened 2001. I had got a new hobby, tracking names in the Norwegian censuses online. I regulary checked Norwegian and American message boards to see if I could solve some puzzles.

Links I used

The challenge is:
  -  changing traditions for use of surnames, patronym and farm names,
  -  variations in spelling of names, 
  -  tranfer of Norwegian names to English language. 
I got in contact with many nice genealogists abroad, mostly Americans. I gave help to track Norwegian ancestors, and some got in contact with living relatives.

Then one day in April I read a request. I think it was ini Message Board, Ancestry.com:

April 9, 2001. 

DAHL FAMILY
I am looking for Dahl family from the Valle District in Norway and Kroganas farm in Tromo, Norway.
My g.grandfather Karl Edvard Dahl was born in Arundal in Denmark after his family moved there from Norway, then he emmigrated to New Zealand and took the post as Vice Consulate.

cheers
Justine  

EI made a guss that it must be the island Tromøy close to the town of Arendal, og made a check in the 1865 census, and on maps. I found a farm called Krøgenes. That might in old days have been spelled like Krøgenæs, - and that might heve been transformed to Kroganas. 
My reply:

10. April, 2001 
My guess is that the family is from Krøgenes farm, Tromøy parish, Arendal, Aust-Agder county.
Valle is perhaps Valle parish north in Aust-Agder county, - there are also other places called Valle.

Regards
Harald Storaker  

The response had interesting additional information:
Thommes Dahl 1763 married to Gertrude Marie Fashland
1. Gunder Dahl, born 1765, Qualjordnos farm, Valle District, d. 3 May, 1845, Birkenlund farm, Aust-Agder county, m.t. Christiane Marie Rasmussen
2. Christian Fashland Dahl, b. 16 Nov. 1767, Qualjordnos farm Valle District, d. 24 June 1864, Krogenes farm Tromoy District Aust-Agder county, m.t. Margarethe Campbell.

I first only thought of Valle parish in Setesdal in Aust-Agder county. Now I also checked Sør-Audnedal (Valle) parish in Vest-Agder county.

11. april, 2001
 My guess is Kaafjordnes farm in Valle parish, west of Mandal, Vest-Agder county. A neighbouring farm to Kaafjord is called Fasseland. I have the bygdebok of Sør-Audnedal (farm history book), but I do not find Christian Dahl at Kaafjordnes.

Kaafjordnes is 150 km west of Krøgenes, Tromøy. Both are coastal farms, with plenty of sailors.

The 1801 census of Kaafjordnes farm:

973 Thore Gundersen Hosbonde 64 Begge i 1ste ægteskab Bonde og fisker M
974 Giertru Maria Christensdatr Hans kone 59 Begge i 1ste ægteskab K
975 Tønnes Thoresen Deres søn 13 Ugivt M

The bygdebook tells that the wife Giertru is from Fasseland farm. If these people used conventional naming of their children, the eldest son should be called Gunder and the second Christen after his grandfather (Christen Ingebretsen Fasseland). They may be dead or out in the world. I do not find them in the parish in 1801.

The great breakthrough::

12. april 

It defintitly is the same farm! And we are relatives! Thommes Dahl was born in 1736 as Thore Gundersen Ramsdal. He was brother of Berte Gundersdatter Ramsdal (1738-1810). She is my gggg-grandmother.

Berte Gundersdatter in 1801, she was on Rødberg farm:

I found Gunder Thoresen Dahl in the 1801 census in Arendal:

His wife is Kristina Maria Mogensdatter. Compared with your family tree I then guess that her father's name is Mogens Rasmussen. I found him in the 1801 census Barbu:

973 Thore Gundersen Hosbonde 64 Begge i 1ste ægteskab Bonde og fisker M
974 Giertru Maria Christensdatr Hans kone 59 Begge i 1ste ægteskab K
975 Tønnes Thoresen Deres søn 13 Ugivt M

The bygdebook tells that the wife Giertru is from Fasseland farm. If these people used conventional naming of their children, the eldest son should be called Gunder and the second Christen after his grandfather (Christen Ingebretsen Fasseland). They may be dead or out in the world. I do not find them in the parish in 1801.

12. April

WELL! WELL! to put it in Kiwi language - I am stoked. that is to say, awesome, wonderful, fantastic.

I am stunned.

Justine