Anna Berthe (Rasmusdatter) Nelson (1865 - 1931)

Born 4 Feb 1865 in Stryn, Loen, Norway

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 24 Feb 1931 at age 66 in Rochester, Olmsted, Minnesota, USA

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Biography

Anna (Rasmusdatter) Nelson was born in Norway

Anna Rasmusdatter was born on Sæten farm in Stryn, Loen, Norway. A birth record from the parish of Stryn shows Anne Berthe, daughter of Rasmus Lassesen Sæten and Siri Bendixdatter. She was born February 4th 1865 and baptized February 12.^[1]

Anna's descendants originally believed that her last name was "Sethen" a name which is derived (it is believed) from the name of the farm (Sæten) that Anna came from in Stryn, Loen, Norway, according to the above census.

Anna can be found at the age of 1, along with her family on the 1865 census, which can be viewed online at Norway's Digital Archives. ^[1] https://www.digitalarkivet.no/census/rural-residence/bf01038275002498

Her name as written on the census was as Ane Rasmusdatter (Rasmus's daughter), after the fashion of the Norwegian naming habits of the time^[2] Below is the entire household listed on the 1865 Norwegian census. "g" is the abbreviation for "gift", which means "married". "u" is the abbreviation for unmarried. Possibly "e" means widowed, but this needs to be checked.

Household # 01:

Rasmus Lassesen Family position: Husfader, Marital status: g (gift, or married), Age: 49, Profession: Farmer and owner, Birthplace: Stryens Prg.

Sigri Bendixdatter Family position: his wife, Marital status: g, Age: 37, Birthplace: Stryens Prg.

Lasse Rasmusen Family position: his son Marital status: ug, Age: 4, Birthplace: Stryens Prg.

Anne Rasmusdatter Family position: his daughter, Marital status: ug, Age: 1, Birthplace: Stryens Prg.

Lasse Rasmusen Family position: his father, Marital status: e Age: 82, Profession: Føderaadsmand, Birthplace: Stryens Prg.

Lasse Lassesen Marital status: ug, Age: 35, Profession: service Karl, Birthplace: Stryens Prg.

Kari Lassesdatter Marital status: ug, Age: 22, Profession: service Girl, Birthplace: Stryens Prg.

Eli Olsdatter Family position: his mother in law, Marital status: e, Age: 80, Profession: Føderaadskone, Birthplace: Indvigs Prg.

Ole Bendixsen Family position: loger, Marital status: ug, Age: 46, Birthplace: Stryens Prg.

Anna emigrated from Bergen, Norway on "1887-05-09", on the "Allan Linien" (line) to the U.S. She is recorded as being age 22, and unmarried ("ug.") The date is shown as 5/9/1887 (which is probably the date as we write it in the US, but it may mean Sept. 5, 1887 -- this requires more research to be accurate.) http://digitalarkivet.arkivverket.no/gen/vis/8/pe00000000678388

Anna was married to Nels Nelson, also from Norway. She must have married him after she arrived in the US, since she was unmarried when she left Norway. The marriage records have not been located, nor the location where she disembarked from the ship to enter the US.

The Nels Nelson family, including Selmer, age 5, Serine, age 3 and Richard, age 7 months, Anna, age 30 and Nels, age 35, appears in the June, 1895 in Salem Township, Olmsted County, Rock Dell, Minnesota.
On the census, Nels Nelson is shown as born in Norway, with the occupation listed as a "Dry Goods Merchant". Richard Nelson must have died young, as he disappeared from any later mention, although the 1900 census states that Anna had 4 children at that time. The youngest child, Bertha had been born by then, and if Richard was still alive, it would account for four children.
A relative found a grave in Grand Forks (North Dakota or MInnesota) that she believes is this Richard. This needs follow-up.
There would later be a final child, Bertha, who was adopted by Anna's younger sister, Ellen and her family. Most of our documentation comes from Bertha's children.

Anna is listed on the 12th Census of the United States for the State of Minnesota, Olmsted County, Enumeration District #17, sheet 4 for June, 1900 in Rochester, Minnesota. This census was taken at the Rochester State Hospital, where Anna appears to be an inmate. It is unknown exactly when or why she was committed, although there may be records available through this site: http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/gr00099.xml for in-person research, if it isn't restricted. There are only five years between the 1895 census where she is living with her family, and the 1900 census that shows her as an inmate at age 36. The census appears to show she has four living children (Richard still living, and Bertha apparently born recently). It states she was married for 1 year, but this seems doubtful, since she was apparently married on the 1895 census mentioned earlier.

Anna died Feb. 24, 1931, and is buried Rochester, Olmsted County Minnesota, USA ^[3]

It is unknown what became of Anna's husband Nels Nelson. According to Anna's granddaughter, Edith, Nels may have returned to Norway, although she didn't know why she believed that.

Notes

The marriage record of Rasmus and Sigrid.^[4] Date 28th december 1859. Rasmus Lassesen 42 from Sæten, Sigrid Bendixdatter 29 from Indre Næsdal, Rasmus's father Lasse Rasmussen Sæten and Sigri's father Bendix Larsen Indre Næsdal.

In the census of 1865^[2] you find her parents Rasmus Lassesen and Sigri Bendixdatter, Her father's father Lasse Rasmusen, and her mother's mother Eli Olsdatter. This would fit the tradition that they named a child after the mother's mothers name Eli. It's normal that names changed like Eli to Elin.

The 1875 census for her farm location in Norway also shows Anna's younger sister, Ellen. (The census source information will follow sometime in the future.) Ellen's family possesses more written information, including a (Norse) family Bible Ellen and Anna's last name written as "Saten".

Norwegians often took the place name or farm name they were associated with as their last name, especially if they were away from that place.

Sources

• Family tradition (word of mouth), a few sources (such as censuses, etc) -- but little proof in many cases whether this is actually the person named on the census -- just strong circumstantial evidence.
• "Minnesota State Census, 1895," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-69P9-NTC?cc=1503031&wc=M6GC-XW1%3A65687301%2C65938301 : 1 April 2016), Olmsted County > image 2 of 22; State Library and Records Service, St. Paul.
• 1895 census or "Schedule of Inhabitants", schedule 1, p. 2 for the Town ship of Salem, County of Olmstead, P.O. Rock Dell, State of Minnesota, enumerated on the Fourth of June 1898
• Emigrants of Bergen 1874-1930 ID: 100017 http://digitalarkivet.arkivverket.no/gen/vis/8/pe00000000678388

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Ministerialbok for Stryn prestegjeld 1862-1877 (1448P) Anne Berthe
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Folketelling 1865 for 1448P Stryn prestegjeld, Sætten
3. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #41407404
4. ↑ Ministerialbok for Stryn prestegjeld 1844-1861 (1448P) Vielse