Brian Schwerkolt wrote 2014-06-28 16:15: > > I am a bit confused, mostly because I have not dealt with patronymics > before. > I can see how Maja Greta ( I am assuming that"s her first and middle name) > could be heard as Margreta. What I am having a hard time with is Olson ( > and they used Ohlson alot also) coming from Johanson. Understanding at the > person on the boat wrote down what they heard. --- Yes it is difficult to understand, but the children are definitely the same. Maja Greta are short forms of Maria Margareta. Perhaps the husband had already emigrated under a different name to get away from his criminal reputation? Notice that the names recorded in the Göteborg port police emigration lists were reported to them by the emigration agents, and were the names on the tickets. But there is also the possibility of an error, perhaps by the ticket agent, perhaps by the police recorder. > > Her death certificate here said her father was John Anderson which makes > sense with Andersdotter. --- No it doesn't, her father should be named Anders something. But it was not unusual for Americans, who didn't understand the patronymic naming system, to get parents' names wrong when reporting the death of an old relative. Her birth is recorded as Maja Greta born 20 Apr 1845, parents Andreas Nilsson and wife Britta Johansdotter of Sågebacken, in Herrestad C:4 (1830-1848) Image 790 / page 149 (AID: v2847a.b790.s149, NAD: SE/GLA/13205). They are found at Sågebacken in Herrestad AI:11 (1845-1850) Image 239 / page 460 (AID: v2833.b239.s460, NAD: SE/GLA/13205): - Andreas Nilsson, born 1805-02-04 Dalsland(?) [province?]. - wife Britta Johansdotter, born 1809 Stadsfjället [in Uddevalla?]. - 5 children born 1839-1848. > > I also don't know where the husband is. He is not listed with then on that > page of the boat list. I will check the whole list to see if he pops up. --- Does he show up with them in America? If he does, perhaps he had emigrated earlier without giving proper notice to the home parish. // Bo Johansson