From Norway They Came...
Before the Immigration
The majority of my Larson ancestors lived in Røldal parish in Hordaland county in Norway. I have found at least one Larson line dating back to the 1500s.
Because not much is known yet about these early ancestors and their culture, I am starting this history with Helge Tovson. He is our immigrant ancestor according to the Røldal bygdebok. Information on the earlier ancestors is found in the back of this record.
Helge Tovson was the son of Tov Helgeson of Grøve and Britta Larsdatter of the Ekkjehaugen farm. Helge Tovson was born in 1805. It doesn’t appear as if his parents married. When Helge Tovson was seven years old, his mother married Anfinn Josefson of the Seim farm. Britta was Anfinn’s third wife. In 1819 Britta and Anfinn had a son, Josef Anfinnson. Helge’s stepfather also had children from previous marriages.
In 1828, Anfinn Josefson sold some land (Bøen) to his stepson, Helge Tovson. In 1829, Helge married Ranveig Oddsdatter of the Håranes farm. His second wife was the widow Eli Mikkelsdatter of the Hellerslia farm. Helge Tovson grew up on the Seim farm but eventually moved to the Botnen farm. His youngest half brother, Josef Anifinnson, also moved to the Botnen farm.
In 1869, Helge, his wife (not sure which one) and five of his children traveled to America. Helge had six children total. They are listed below:
- Odd Helgeson
- Born 1830
- Died 1880
- moved to Uttun farm, Røldal parish, Hordaland co., Norway
- Lars Helgeson
- Born 1831
- Died 1908
- Immigrated to USA
- Ingerid Helgesdatter
- Born 1833
- Died ?
- Immigrated to USA
- Tore Helgeson
- Britta Helgesdatter
- Torbjørg Helgesdatter
- Born 1843
- Died ?
- Immigrated to USA
I am unsure which of the above children remained in Norway. I believe it was probably Odd Helgeson. He is listed elsewhere in the Røldal parish book (bygdebok), and there is no mention that he traveled to America. The three children I have been able to find in Iowa records are Lars, Ingerid and Torbjorg.
I received an email letter from a woman named Sue on October 17, 1999. I had posted a question on the Norway Genealogy list on the internet, and she was replying to that. She had found Lars Helgeson listed as a passenger for a steamship. Here is part of her letter:
“In 1869 Bark HEROS arrived in Quebec, from Stavanger, in ballast. She was carrying 288 steerage passengers and 12 cabin passengers. One death by accident. HEROS was mastered by Captain T. Olsen, with a crew of 16. The ship departed Stavanger, Norway on May 3rd and arrived in Quebec, Canada on June 1st.”
Sue was not able to find mention of Helge Tovson, his wife, or the other children. She wrote that this information can be found on LDS microfilm #0889444. I plan on ordering this microfilm roll from the LDS church and examining it. The information on the ship is similar to what is written in Stavanger Friends Yesterday and Today… (a book about the Stavanger church outside of Dunbar, Marshall County, Iowa). The following is an excerpt:
“the greatest growth in the meeting came as a result of the mass immigration of 53 Quakers from the area of Roldal, Norway to LeGrand. These hardy pioneers set sail from Stavanger, Norway on the ship, Heros. Tickets cost $50 each. After a rough and dangerous voyage of about four weeks, they landed at Quebec and finally reached LeGrand by train on June 10, 1869.”
I have not had the ability to do much research on Helge Tovson. If he did travel to America with his wife and five children, I will probably find him either in LeGrand or Greencastle township in Marshall County, Iowa (at least a trace of him).
Other Sites to See
Return to Home
Introduction
Lars Helgeson Botnen Family
Email: juniorcop@yahoo.com
