Caroline’s Mysterious Past
Caroline never knew who her birth mother was. For reasons unknown to us, her father chose not to reveal that information. His name was Thomas Olson. On 1 Nov 1883 he married Johanna Holm (Holmes) in the parish of Byåsen Strinda, Norway. LINK
Two years later in 1885 they emigrated to America. Why wasn’t Caroline with her mother? What happened to her?
Photo: Var Frue Kirke 1875 LINK
Bakke Kirke 1860 (Far right you can see steeple) LINK
Bakke Kirke 1850 LINK
Bakke Kirke Wikipedia page LINK
The Arkivverket has an explanation of parishes in Sør-Trøndelag here: LINK
Caroline’s grandmother Anna Christine was baptized in 1818. It turns out she was “illegitimate” as well. In 1834 new information was uncovered and the records were challenged. It seems the parents originally listed were not the child's real parents. The revision shows her name was changed with "minor differences" to Hanna Kristine Hansdatter Øien. Links to these documents are in the left column.
When Caroline moved to Sioux City, Iowa she worked as a domestic in other households. Her stepmother’s sister Laura was Caroline’s good friend throughout her life. Photos of them are in the Langdon Photos Link
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Anna Nikoline Marries 1880
Just found this. (Oct. 2013) Two and a half years after Karoline’s birth, Anna married a Johan Edvard Emil Holthe on 1 February 1880. Four months later she gives birth to Signe Dorthea Holthe on the 2nd of May. Two years later on 5 October 1882 she gives birth to son Johan Edward Holthe.
I suspect this would be the reason Thomas didn’t want to discuss Caroline’s mother.
Anna and Johan were married at Bakke Kirke. The same place Karoline was baptized.
Ministerialbok for Bakklandet (Bakke) prestegjeld 1878-1892 (1601M1)
Liste: Viede b 1878-1892
Here’s scans of the Church Book:
Source information: Sør-Trøndelag fylke, Bakklandet (Bakke), Ministerialbok nr. 604A10 (1878-1892), Ekteviede 1880, side 16.
Permanent page link: LINK
Permanent image link: LINK
Here’s a link to a discussion about them in the DisNorge forums:
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It appears that Signe (Signa) traveled to America with her brother Johan (jr). They both arrived in New York on 15 Nov 1893 on the ship Teutonic. Their destination was Merced, California. Between them they had one piece of baggage. It looks like they were traveling alone. No other passengers are listed as going to Merced, CA. Signe is 13 and Johan is 11. She is listed in occupation as a spinster. Johan is listed as a child. Their last residence was Skjornern? Norway.
When they left Liverpool 8 Nov 1893, families/groups are listed under their ticket number. Signa and Johan are under one ticket. She is listed as a laborer.
In the 1900 census, Signa shows up in Plainsburg, Merced, California. She is a student. No sign of Johan.
She eventually made her way to Seattle, and in 1903 she married Thomas Louis Bertelsen. Signa filed for divorce in Montana just 3 years later. Thomas remarries FIVE more times. He died 22 May 1949. His obit doesn’t mention any of his SIX wives or his son.
Thomas Louis Bertelsen OBIT.
Marriage certificate. (legal version)
Marriage return. (lists her father and mother’s maiden name)
Marriage certificate. (the version you frame and hang on a wall). Interesting thing is that both of them signed the back, so we have her signature.
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1906 Divorce
Signa filed for divorce in Anaconda, Montana. This article is from 4 Jan. 1906.
16 days later on 20 Feb 1906 the case was ready to be heard in court, but was stricken from the calendar at the request of Signa’s attorney. The article states, “No reason for the action was given, but it is supposed that the Bertlesons have patched up their differences.”
The interesting thing about Signa’s 20 Feb 1906 article is that they seem to have traveled a lot. She was in Fairhaven, WA in Dec 1903. Vancouver, B.C.; Astoria, WA; Spokane, WA; Helena, MT and Great Falls, MT in 1904. Anaconda, MT in 1906. Why was she at all of these places? She says she lived for more than a year on the charity of her friends. No mention of family. Does this mean Johan is dead? Thomas marries a year later, so I’m wondering if a death or divorce for her might be found in Montana.
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Bertelsen Wives
I was hoping to find mention of Signa in other documents by tracing Thomas, but haven’t had any luck yet. From what I’ve seen so far, he seems to have SIX wives, and a son with the 5th. His obit doesn’t mention any of them.
Thomas Louis Bertelsen OBIT.
1903 Signe Holthe. Married in Seattle, WA
In Feb 1906 she files for divorce in Anaconda, Mont. 20 Feb 1906 she withdraws the request for divorce and is never seen again. One year later on 18 Mar 1907, Thomas remarries in Alaska.
1907 Mamie Baioceh. Married in Juneau, AK
No idea what happened to her. Here’s a screenshot of the above marriage that’s easier to read.
1918 Geneva Baccala. Married in San Francisco, CA
She died in 2 April 1921.
Only two months later (24 June 1921) he marries his next wife Helena in California.
1921 Helena Langtyne. Married in Alameda, CA
No idea what happened to her.
1926 Jewel (Juia Corrigan) Brown. Married in Vancouver, B.C.
Julia died 17 Dec 1936 in Butte, MT. Her obit say that she was survived by her husband (no name) and son Donald. She has lived there for the past 15 years. (That would mean she was there since 1921, but she shows up in Seattle in the 1930 census). Her obit and funeral notices all list many relatives by name, but not her husband.
Julia Bertelsen Death Notice 17 Dec 1936
Julia Bertelsen Funeral 22 Dec 1936
Julia Bertelsen Death Certificate. It wrongly lists son Donald as her husband.
1937-1940? Johanna. Don’t know where or when they married.
1940 census shows Johanna Bertlesen listed as the wife of Thomas L. Bert”le”sen in Seattle, WA. No idea what happened to her.
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Caroline’s Mother
Anna Nikoline Olsen was the child of Rasmus Samuel Olsen and Hanna Kristine Hansdatter Øien. She was born out of wedlock on Sept. 7, 1857. Her parents eventually got married - almost 11 years after her birth. Rasmus and Hanna married March 8, 1868. Seven years later in the 1875 census you can see Rasmus and Hanna living in Trondheim with a Foster Daughter, Oline Ronning.
In Caroline’s Baptism record Rasmus is listed as a carpenter in the service of a merchant ship in Kristiansund. Kristiansund was an important trading port for fishing and lumber transportation along the coast in the 1800’s.
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Jan Sneisen’s Website • Anna Christine
Anna Nikoline’s mother has a VERY interesting story.
Outstanding research by Jan Sneisen. Here’s a link to the website.
Original page in Norwegian. LINK
Google Translated page. LINK
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Caroline’s Baptism
Her baptism record has “UE” which means “Illegitimate” underlined twice. Other “Illegitimate” children in the same book are not underlined. I think they were trying to show that this was a third generation “Illegitimate” birth.
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Caroline’s Baptism
Karoline Antonie Olsen was born September 15, 1877 in Trondheim, Norway. Her father was bachelor, worksman Thomas Olsen (born 1857), originally from Evjen in Orkedalen, now in Aafjorden.
LINK TO CAROLINE’S BAPTISM
Translation thanks to Olav Sjømæling:
The birth record of KAROLINE ANTONIE:
Parents: Bachelor, worksman Thomas Olsen (1857), originally from Evjen in Orkedalen, now in Aafjorden and girl Anna Nikoline Olsen (7/7-57), daughter of carpenter Rasmus Olsen, now in the service of ship merchant Røvik in Kristiansund, but temporarily with her parents in Upper Kunigs street.
Sponsors:
Widow Karen Karlsen; Daughter Anna Bang; Clerk Sivert Vatten; Emil Johansen
UE means illegitamate
Boths' first child
Reported by the mother
MORE INFO FROM OLAV
Some info on ANNA NEKOLINE OLSEN:
At first I searched for her confirmation records:
Klokkerbok no 604C03 Baklandet parish, year 1872, no. 72: Anna Nikoline, b. 7. Sept. 1857 at Vor Frue parish. Parents: Bachelor matros Rasmus Samuel Olsen and girl Hanna Kristine Øyen.
Birth records: Klokkerbok no 602C06 Vor Frue parish, year 1857, no 209: Anna Nikoline, b. 7. Sept. 1857. Parents: Ungkarl and matros Rasmus Samuel Olsen Mardal and girl Hana Kristine Øien, log. family John Brenne at Sandgaden.
Sponsors: Anna Nikoline Holtermann, Madame Maren Dahl, Madame Marie Berg, Kapitain, Vagtmester Synnetvedt, Kapitain Carl Falsen, Clerk Knut Strand.
Census 1865: Trondhjem: no 15809: Anna Nekoline Olsen, Forstaden Baklandet, not married, 9 years old. Daughter.
Living together with her mother, no 15808: Hana Christiene Øien, not married, 45 years old. Servant. LINK
Census 1875: Trondhjem: no 20851: Anna Olsen, servant. Born 1857.
I do not think Anna and Thomas were married.
Another Translation
Here is how I read the information about Karoline's parents:
Ungk. arbeidsm. Thomas Olsen (1855?) oprind(?) fra Evjem. i Ørkedalen, nu i Aafjorden og pige Anna Nikoline Olsen (7/9-57). Datter af tömmerm. Rasmus Olsen, nu i tjeneste hos ?handler Rövits(?) i Kristiansund, men ? ? ophold. sig hos forældrene i Øvre Kuniggade (med Vinjesgade(?))
Bachelor worker Thomas Olsen (1855?) [this ? is in the churchbook] originally from Evjem. in Ørkedalen, now in Aafjorden and unmarried girl Anna Nikoline Olsen (7/9-57 = Sept 7, 1857). Daughter of master carpenter Rasmus olsen, now working for ?shopkeeper Rövits(?) in Kristiansund, but ? ? temporary living with her parents in Øvre Kuniggade (gade = street) (with Vinjes gade).
I think the "tömmerm." in front of Rasmus Olsen's name is short for tömmermann, not tömmermester as I earlier wrote.
Because when Anna is born he is Matros = Sailor, so I would think he is carpenter on a ship.
This must be the baptizm of Anna Nikoline Nov 15, 1857 in Vor Frue church in Trondheim. No 209:
Parents: Rasmus Samuel Olsen and Hanna Kristine Hansdatter Øien. Anna Nikoline is born out of wedlock, but her parents marries Mar 8, 1868 - almost 11 years after her birth - in Bakklandet (Bakke). No 3:
Here they are in the 1875 census with a fosterchild:
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Caroline’s Immigration
She immigrated to US in 1885. They came in 1885 to Philadelphia via Liverpool. They left Trondheim, Norway on the American Line Ship Hero and changed to the British Princess for Philadelphia. On the Philadelphia list they somehow picked up a Paul H. P. Olson (7) and changed Johanna to Johns.
It seems the family immigration data in Philadelphia has some mistakes in the transcription, but if it’s correct what happened to Paul? Caroline told her daughter Gladys that she didn't know her mother's name. She was young at the time so that's understandable. She went to work as a domestic when she was very young. She is never listed as living with them on the census although she did have contact with them. Her father Thomas Olson died in 1927. Johanna Olson died in 1944.
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95 Kongens Gade Slaveriet •
National Museum of Justice Norway
In 1865, Rasmus is listed here. It is now the National Museum of Justice Norway.
There are many photographs and records of the people that served here. LINK
“Most of them belong to a segment of society that otherwise was never photographed, and we had many requests from people who know about an ancestor who should have been in prison but they have never seen pictures of.”
The museum is trying to put these records online in a way that will not invade privacy. Here’s the website.
Behind bars in Kongens gate 95
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