Wow! I just found this mailing list on www.cyndislist.com last week and I'm thrilled to have stumbled onto it. I am just starting to look into my Norwegian ancestry. Some of my relatives have sent me details including a 11 generation chart of the Valdres relatives. I looked at the preparer's name and it was Betty Rockswold. Thank you Betty, for putting together this goldmine of information!!!! I have begun to add it to my database and was wondering if you (or anyone) can tell me if I'm interpreting it correctly. I think I might have entered some place names as Surnames but am not familiar enough to know the naming patterns. If anyone can check out what I have so far (it's long so instead of pasting it below I have it on my Family Tree Maker site) at: http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/r/o/b/Tom-Robertson/ It's under "Related Files" "Ancestors of Ole Espelien of Valdres, Norway". I have "Pikhaug" as a surname but is that a place name? Espelien is the Surname that "immigrated" to America. I am also wondering if anyone knows how to enter the different letters using an American keyboard. Particularly the letter "O" with the "/ " through it. Also my great great grandmother Guri Thone was born September 13, 1862 in Valdres daughter of Nils Thone born July 18, 1835 in Valdres and Ingeborg Toresdatter Hagaseth born December 04, 1838 in Norway (I assume Valdres) and I am looking for more information on that family. Thank you so much, Jana Hawes Robertson Kent, Washington USA janar@fiservdox.com > ==== VALDRES Mailing List ==== > ============================= VALDRES SAMBAND ========================= > VALDRES SAMBAND web page at http://www.valdressamband.org -- Betty Rockswold 1522 N. Greenwood Ct. Eagan, MN 55122 email: bettylou@spacestar.net web: www.valdressamband.org listserv: Valdres-L-request@rootsweb.com ==== VALDRES Mailing List ==== ========================VALDRES SAMBAND 1899-1999====================== Interested in joining the Valdres Samband, call June Adele Dolva (218)233-7134 if you have questions

Thanks to all of you. I found my Oie family in Lac qui parle county in Mn. in the 1880's census of Norwegians in America. I hope to do some searching in Norway this week and hope to find them there. Sven was married to Surena Gunderson who were the parents of Clara Oie who married Soren Holdahl, Erling's grandfather. We have a wonderful photo of Clara's family if we could find any Oie or Gunderson cousins with whom to share. Shirley and Erling

. This post bounced out so am sending it on. Please reply to the email address shown not mine. Thanks Jim List Coordinator Kristina Kolstad mailto:Kristina.Kolstad@EBay.Sun.COM wrote: > > Good afternoon, > > I'm looking for two things... > > 1/ Anyone with information on the Kolstad family. We emigrated around 1860 to > Montevideo, MN. > > 2/ My grandfather and I are planning a trip to Slidre in Valdres this August. > I'm looking for ANY information on travel to the region and suggested stops for > us as well as research suggestions while we're there. > > Thanks! > > Kristi > ______ > /_____/\ > /____ \\ \ Kristina Kolstad > /_____\ \\ / Database Coordinator > /_____/ \/ / / Engineering Services > /_____/ / \//\ Ext: 37307 > \_____\//\ / / Phone: (510) 574-7307 > \_____/ / /\ / Email: kristina.kolstad@ebay.Sun.Com > \_____/ \\ \ > \_____\ \\ > \_____\/

Hi Shirley - Not sure where you have been on-line, but you will find some info at these places. http://www.hist.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?earkivverket/us/minn1880&116819 This is a census of Norwegians living in Minnesota in 1880. It should bring you right to the page with information about Sven Evensen and Even Oie. More state census at: http://www.hist.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe These databases are WONDERFUL! Using the pull down arrows, select either fornavn [first name], etternavn [surname] or gardsnavn [farm name]. In next pulldown arrow, choose the words "show all" and then press the search button. It will list all first names, or surnames or farm names in alphabetical order. Highlite the one(s) you want and press "finn postane" and the records will appear. Clicking on the 3-4 digit number on the left most side of the screen will bring further information about that line of information. You will see that there was a farm named Øie in Vang. It will list the people there - including a lodger named Jørgan Evens(on). If you haven't worked with the Digital Archives Of Norway - try it!! The address is: http://www.hist.uib.no/arkivverket/index-en.htm Hope this helps. Happy Hunting. Trudy

Shirley, Since the Holdal name is apperently from Valdres, I think I would look at Øye, Vang, Valdres for your Clara Oie. Gunnar -----Opprinnelig melding----- Fra: ERLINGSHIRL@aol.com [SMTP:ERLINGSHIRL@aol.com] Sendt: 27. februar 2000 04:33 Til: VALDRES-L@rootsweb.com Emne: [VALDRES-L] Oie Family from Roseau, Mn. We are researching Clara Oie born in Mn. in 1880 and married to Soren Holdahl in Roseau in 1904. Clara's father and grandfather were Sven and Even respectively. She had a large family of about 9. Her sister, Josie, lived

Will be gone for 2 weeks.

Hello all of you, but most of all to you Trudy Jean. >From the emmigration protocol that is available at DIGITALARKIVET (here in Norway) ,that both Trudy Jean and Betty know of, the following can be found. Gullik Halvorsen from farm BAKKENE emmigrated from Kristiania (=Oslo) Date: May 27. in 1870 Registered age: 17 Destination; Mc Gregor He is registered as unmarried Travelling companion was obviously: Johannes Evensen from farm KVÆLE Date: May 27. in 1870 Registered age: 21 Destination: Mc Gregor He is registered as unmarried They both payed 97 SPESIDALER for the voyage. >From the same source the interesting party LANDSRUD can be found with two entries. Ingeborg K. LANDSRUD Date: May 11. in 1900 Registered age: 20 Destination: New York She is registered as unmarried Østen Østensen from farm LANDSRUD Date: May 1. in 1903 Registered age: 21 Destination: Mc Gregor He is registered as unmarried >From a Bygdebok (Community book) about Valdres I can read that the farm LANDSRUD (61/1) did have owners from 1794 that changed like: - Øystein Endresen (from 1794) - Endre Øysteinsen (from 1831) - Øystein Endresen (from 1851) - Endre Øysteinsen (from 1895) About Gullik ----------------- >From the 1865 Census at Digitalarkivet it can be found: Farm SKALSBAKKEN -Son: GULLIK HALVORS. Born at GOL Age 14 Hence Gullik most probably came to US under the name HALVORSEN or HALVORSON. So is also told in Norway. I also have had signals that he sometime later (probably when his cousins and brothers/sisters came across ) that he took the name BAKKEN or BAKKENE. >From the above I think it is quite obvious that Gullik met and married Margaret in US. As Trudy Jeans cousin, living in Norway, I am also very interested to find out what happened to Gullik later on. I send this to Valdres List since there might be lots of others that might know of the persons mentioned in this sequence of mails. Regards Arne L. Clarholm ingarnec@online.no ----- Original Message ----- From: Betty Rockswold <bettylou@spacestar.net> To: <VALDRES-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2000 6:47 PM Subject: Re: [VALDRES-L] Gullik?? > Hei TrudyJean, > > I'm the genealogist for the Valdres Samband Lag. We need more > information on Gullik Halvorson and wife Margaret Lansrud. Lansrud is > in Vestre Slidre. Do you have any kind of dates for Margaret - born, > married, etc.? > > What were their children's names, - those born in Norway? > > Can't find this family emigrating 1867 and before - so must be after > this time. - Just looked at film 1282584, page 283 of the church records > for Vestre Slidre, dealing with the time after 1867. I find Gullik > Halvorson Skalbakken from Gol, Hollingdal, checking out of the church > for America 6-3-1872. He doesn't have a wife mentioned, but his birth > date was 10-27-1852. So he would have been only 20 years old when > leaving - maybe didn't marry until he got to America, then either sent > for Margaret or met her in America. > > I found a Margarete Østensdatter Landsrud born 12-17-1859: parents, > Østen Endreson Lansrud and Ingeborg Knudsdtr. If this is the right > Margarete, she would have been too young to be married to Gullik before > he left in 1872. > > Let me know what you think of all this - if it makes a connection with > your data. > > Med beste hilsen, > > Betty > > > TrudyJean@aol.com wrote: > > > > Hi everyone - > > I'm looking for a Gullik Halvorsen, born 1852 in Gol. When Gullik was 5, his > > folks bought a farm in Vestre Slidre named Skarsbakken. [His siblings that > > emigrated used the name BAKKEN.] Gullik married Margaret Lan(d)srud. I > > don't know when or where they married. I don't know where they lived. I > > don't know if they used Halvorsen/son or Bakken. Gullik emigrated to USA > > about 1870. Family 'lore' has them in South Dakota around 1884 for birth of > > a daughter Hannah. Family 'lore' has Hannah widowed and living in Wisconsin > > in 1965. Anyone have these names??? I have information about Gullik's > > siblings - but we have lost Gullik! Any suggestions for a first name if he > > Americanized Gullik? > > > > ==== VALDRES Mailing List ==== > > ========================VALDRES SAMBAND 1899-1999====================== > > Interested in joining the Valdres Samband, call > > June Adele Dolva (218)233-7134 if you have questions > > -- > Betty Rockswold > 1522 N. Greenwood Ct. > Eagan, MN 55122 > email: bettylou@spacestar.net > web: www.valdressamband.org > listserv: Valdres-L-request@rootsweb.com > > > ==== VALDRES Mailing List ==== > ============================= VALDRES SAMBAND ========================= > VALDRES SAMBAND web page at http://www.valdressamband.org >

Hello All, I am looking for websites that would have information about the SWENSON family line originating from Norway. It starts (with the info I have) from Joyor Swenson traveling from Norway, via Quebec, Minnesota, and finally, western Iowa in the 1850s. I can only find websites with info of SWENSON from Sweden. Thank You. Mike Swenson

Sat, 26 Feb 2000 22:33:02 EST skreiv ERLINGSHIRL@aol.com : >We are researching Clara Oie born in Mn. in 1880 and married to Soren Holdahl >in Roseau in 1904. Clara's father and grandfather were Sven and Even >respectively. She had a large family of about 9. Her sister, Josie, lived >and died in Mankato. We do not have a clue as to where to look in Norway for >this last name. We guess it may have been shortened when they immigrated in >the mid 1880's. Could it be from Oyer? >Thanks! >Shirley Holdahl Maybe it can be Øye in Vang, Valdres. I have not any information about Øye here, but on monday I can look for it. Or perhaps Betty have some information. Med hilsen Norodd Bergene, 2910 Aurdal T 61364611 fax 61362202 noroddb@online.no http://home.sol.no/~noroddb http://members.xoom.com/norodd

We are researching Clara Oie born in Mn. in 1880 and married to Soren Holdahl in Roseau in 1904. Clara's father and grandfather were Sven and Even respectively. She had a large family of about 9. Her sister, Josie, lived and died in Mankato. We do not have a clue as to where to look in Norway for this last name. We guess it may have been shortened when they immigrated in the mid 1880's. Could it be from Oyer? Thanks! Shirley Holdahl

Hi, Trudy Jean and Betty, This Lansrud connection has me intrigued, too. I wonder if Margaret/Margrete Lansrud is a sister of the Ragnhild Øysteinsdatter Lansrud who married into my Hande slekt (see below). Was this Ragnhild also a daughter of Østen Endreson & Ingeborg Knudsdtr., do you suppose, Betty! D'Arcy HUSBAND: Knud Tordson BERGE B: 18 Feb 1852 @ Vestre Slidre, Valdres, Oppland, Norway D: @ FATHER: Tord Knudson BERGE MOTHER: Barbro Olsd. LOMEN M: 01 Dec 1879 @ Vestre Slidre, Valdres, Oppland, Norway WIFE: Ragnhild Øysteinsdatter LANSRUD BERGE B: ??/??/1857 @ Vestre Slidre, Valdres, Oppland, Norway D: @ FATHER: MOTHER: CHILDREN 1 M Tor Knutsen BERGE B: 07 Sep 1881 @ Vestre Slidre, Valdres, Oppland, Norway D: 21 Dec 1965 @ BUR: Erskine, Minnesota, USA OCC: General merchant M: on ? to Pauline (1890-1966) @ 2 M Øystein Knutsen BERGE B: ??/??/1883 @ Vestre Slidre, Valdres, Oppland, Norway Living @ USA 3 F Barbro Knutsdatter BERGE GRØV B: ??/??/1884 @ Vestre Slidre, Valdres, Oppland, Norway 4 M Knut Knutsen BERGE B: ??/??/1886 @ ? D: ??/??/1965 @ M: on ? to Berit Toresdatter KJØRSTAD (b. 1911) @ 5 M Endre Knutsen BERGE B: ??/??/1888 @ Vestre Slidre, Valdres, Oppland, Norway Living @ Canada 6 M Olav Knutsen BERGE B: ??/??/1890 @ Vestre Slidre, Valdres, Oppland, Norway Living @ USA 7 M Gudbrand Knutsen BERGE B: 08 Feb 1892 @ Vestre Slidre, Valdres, Oppland, Norway D: 28 Apr 1946 @ BUR: Vestre Slidre churchyard, Valdres, Norway 8 M Halvard Knutsen BERGE B: ??/??/1898 @ Vestre Slidre, Valdres, Oppland, Norway Living @ USA 9 M Eivind Knutsen BERGE B: 19 Apr 1900 @ Vestre Slidre, Valdres, Oppland, Norway Living @ USA Betty Rockswold wrote: > Hei TrudyJean, > > I'm the genealogist for the Valdres Samband Lag. We need more > information on Gullik Halvorson and wife Margaret Lansrud. Lansrud is > in Vestre Slidre. Do you have any kind of dates for Margaret - born, > married, etc.? > > What were their children's names, - those born in Norway? > > Can't find this family emigrating 1867 and before - so must be after > this time. - Just looked at film 1282584, page 283 of the church records > for Vestre Slidre, dealing with the time after 1867. I find Gullik > Halvorson Skalbakken from Gol, Hollingdal, checking out of the church > for America 6-3-1872. He doesn't have a wife mentioned, but his birth > date was 10-27-1852. So he would have been only 20 years old when > leaving - maybe didn't marry until he got to America, then either sent > for Margaret or met her in America. > > I found a Margarete Østensdatter Landsrud born 12-17-1859: parents, > Østen Endreson Lansrud and Ingeborg Knudsdtr. If this is the right > Margarete, she would have been too young to be married to Gullik before > he left in 1872. > > Let me know what you think of all this - if it makes a connection with > your data. > > Med beste hilsen, > > Betty > > > TrudyJean@aol.com wrote: > > > > Hi everyone - > > I'm looking for a Gullik Halvorsen, born 1852 in Gol. When Gullik was 5, his > > folks bought a farm in Vestre Slidre named Skarsbakken. [His siblings that > > emigrated used the name BAKKEN.] Gullik married Margaret Lan(d)srud. I > > don't know when or where they married. I don't know where they lived. I > > don't know if they used Halvorsen/son or Bakken. Gullik emigrated to USA > > about 1870. Family 'lore' has them in South Dakota around 1884 for birth of > > a daughter Hannah. Family 'lore' has Hannah widowed and living in Wisconsin > > in 1965. Anyone have these names??? I have information about Gullik's > > siblings - but we have lost Gullik! Any suggestions for a first name if he > > Americanized Gullik? > > > > ==== VALDRES Mailing List ==== > > ========================VALDRES SAMBAND 1899-1999====================== > > Interested in joining the Valdres Samband, call > > June Adele Dolva (218)233-7134 if you have questions > > -- > Betty Rockswold > 1522 N. Greenwood Ct. > Eagan, MN 55122 > email: bettylou@spacestar.net > web: www.valdressamband.org > listserv: Valdres-L-request@rootsweb.com > > ==== VALDRES Mailing List ==== > ============================= VALDRES SAMBAND ========================= > VALDRES SAMBAND web page at http://www.valdressamband.org

Hei TrudyJean, I'm the genealogist for the Valdres Samband Lag. We need more information on Gullik Halvorson and wife Margaret Lansrud. Lansrud is in Vestre Slidre. Do you have any kind of dates for Margaret - born, married, etc.? What were their children's names, - those born in Norway? Can't find this family emigrating 1867 and before - so must be after this time. - Just looked at film 1282584, page 283 of the church records for Vestre Slidre, dealing with the time after 1867. I find Gullik Halvorson Skalbakken from Gol, Hollingdal, checking out of the church for America 6-3-1872. He doesn't have a wife mentioned, but his birth date was 10-27-1852. So he would have been only 20 years old when leaving - maybe didn't marry until he got to America, then either sent for Margaret or met her in America. I found a Margarete Østensdatter Landsrud born 12-17-1859: parents, Østen Endreson Lansrud and Ingeborg Knudsdtr. If this is the right Margarete, she would have been too young to be married to Gullik before he left in 1872. Let me know what you think of all this - if it makes a connection with your data. Med beste hilsen, Betty TrudyJean@aol.com wrote: > > Hi everyone - > I'm looking for a Gullik Halvorsen, born 1852 in Gol. When Gullik was 5, his > folks bought a farm in Vestre Slidre named Skarsbakken. [His siblings that > emigrated used the name BAKKEN.] Gullik married Margaret Lan(d)srud. I > don't know when or where they married. I don't know where they lived. I > don't know if they used Halvorsen/son or Bakken. Gullik emigrated to USA > about 1870. Family 'lore' has them in South Dakota around 1884 for birth of > a daughter Hannah. Family 'lore' has Hannah widowed and living in Wisconsin > in 1965. Anyone have these names??? I have information about Gullik's > siblings - but we have lost Gullik! Any suggestions for a first name if he > Americanized Gullik? > > ==== VALDRES Mailing List ==== > ========================VALDRES SAMBAND 1899-1999====================== > Interested in joining the Valdres Samband, call > June Adele Dolva (218)233-7134 if you have questions -- Betty Rockswold 1522 N. Greenwood Ct. Eagan, MN 55122 email: bettylou@spacestar.net web: www.valdressamband.org listserv: Valdres-L-request@rootsweb.com

Hei Norodd, SHE has a new email address: catchingfish@home.com I remember well our meeting at the Valdres Samband Lag stevne last June. It was a wonderful experience, and you were so helpful in the genealogy room. Med beste hilsen, Betty Norodd Bergene wrote: > > Anyone have the right address to this person, I have a reply to him, > but I cannot find him at S. Fischer" <Sandie48@earthlink.net> > > Med hilsen > > Norodd Bergene, 2910 Aurdal > T 61364611 fax 61362202 > noroddb@online.no > http://home.sol.no/~noroddb > http://members.xoom.com/norodd > > ==== VALDRES Mailing List ==== > ============================= VALDRES SAMBAND ========================= > VALDRES SAMBAND web page at http://www.valdressamband.org -- Betty Rockswold 1522 N. Greenwood Ct. Eagan, MN 55122 email: bettylou@spacestar.net web: www.valdressamband.org listserv: Valdres-L-request@rootsweb.com

Anyone have the right address to this person, I have a reply to him, but I cannot find him at S. Fischer" <Sandie48@earthlink.net> Med hilsen Norodd Bergene, 2910 Aurdal T 61364611 fax 61362202 noroddb@online.no http://home.sol.no/~noroddb http://members.xoom.com/norodd

Hi everyone - I'm looking for a Gullik Halvorsen, born 1852 in Gol. When Gullik was 5, his folks bought a farm in Vestre Slidre named Skarsbakken. [His siblings that emigrated used the name BAKKEN.] Gullik married Margaret Lan(d)srud. I don't know when or where they married. I don't know where they lived. I don't know if they used Halvorsen/son or Bakken. Gullik emigrated to USA about 1870. Family 'lore' has them in South Dakota around 1884 for birth of a daughter Hannah. Family 'lore' has Hannah widowed and living in Wisconsin in 1965. Anyone have these names??? I have information about Gullik's siblings - but we have lost Gullik! Any suggestions for a first name if he Americanized Gullik?

Jenny, Think I have to take part a little in this discussion, as it may be of personal interest too. -----Opprinnelig melding----- Fra: ehoman [SMTP:rehoman@prodigy.net] Sendt: 25. februar 2000 18:18 Til: VALDRES-L@rootsweb.com Emne: Re: [VALDRES-L] Place???? Dear Jenny, You have the best genealogist in Betty Rockswold to help you! I hope I looked at this site and found 5 different farms by the name of Thon in 1865. There were also listed a few other farms like Thon (nordre); Thon nordre; Thon s*; etc. I found Ole Olsons living on only two different farms, the Thon farm in Skrutvold has 2 Ole Olsons; one is 54 and head of household, with a son, Ole Olson age 13. The other farm Thon (nordre) is also in the Skrutvold area and has an Ole Olson age 41 head of household. None of these three Ole's did emigrate, but lived all their life at the Thon farms. These two Thon farms in Skrautval, Nord-Aurdal was one single farm until 1847. Then it was divided into Nordre and Sore Thon. Ole, age 54 above, became the owner of Sore Thon. Ole, age 13, became the next farmer. He too had a son Ole Olsen Thon who emigrated and settled in North Dakota. Here he died in 1956 unmarried. Ole Olsen, age 41 above (my great grandfather) was the farmer at Nordre Thon. One of these could be your Ole, but if you knew his age (even approximate age in 1865) this could be a good tool to help search for him. I have not found any other Ole Olsen Thon in 1865, But your man could have been living at another farm at that time. He could also have been born/living at a cottars place owned by one of the Thon farms in Valdres. If so he could have taken the Thon name even if the name of the cottars place was another. Any additional info would be helpful. We may have common relatives. I have had relatives living at the Thon farm in Etnedal part of Valdres too. Good luck! Hilsen Gunnar Thon

Thanks for info and if I find more out I will let you know thanks again Jeniece ---------- > From: ehoman <rehoman@prodigy.net> > To: VALDRES-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [VALDRES-L] Place???? > Date: Friday, February 25, 2000 9:17 AM > > Dear Jenny, > You have the best genealogist in Betty Rockswold to help you! I hope > you join the Valdres Samband. I have enjoyed my membership for 9 years now. > It has been a great help in my genealogy. > I have 3 grandparents with ties to the Valdres area so I am always busy > with this area. The sites that Janni gave you are great, as it is nice to > get an idea of the area. Another site that you can look at is the info > online from the Norwegian archives. I looked at the Norwegian 1865 Census > at www.hist.uib.no/arkivverket/1865/ > (that's 2 V's not a W). It's in Norwegian but don't let that scare you. > It's easy to get used to. 1. Click on the Oppland name on the left window > (that's the fylke name where Valdres is). 2. Then click on Nordre Aurdal > (click on the US flag will give you some of the text in English) 3. Change > the DISTRIKNR to GARDSNAVN and then, type in Thon in the next window. 4. > Click SEARCH or SOK. You should get a list of 5 farms. 5. Click the > number to the left to see the occupants of each farm. Try out different > things on this site. There is also some churchbook transcriptions > (kirkeboker) and other info at the archives. You will get used to the > important genealogy terms like navn, forenavn, gardnavn, dobt, ar (with a > circle above the a) etc. > I looked at this site and found 5 different farms by the name of Thon > in 1865. There were also listed a few other farms like Thon (nordre); Thon > nordre; Thon s*; etc. > I found Ole Olsons living on only two different farms, the Thon farm in > Skrutvold has 2 Ole Olsons; one is 54 and head of household, with a son, Ole > Olson age 13. The other farm Thon (nordre) is also in the Skrutvold area > and has an Ole Olson age 41 head of household. > One of these could be your Ole, but if you knew his age (even > approximate age in 1865) this could be a good tool to help search for him. > Was your g-grandfather already a family man? Was he a young adventurer? My > grandfather came to the US alone at age 16 in 1912 so it is not impossible > that the young Ole mentioned above could have travelled by 1868. Also, your > Ole Olson from Thon could be living at another farm as a worker or lodger > during the 1865 census! Try this site out and play around with it! > By the way, my grandfather mentioned above is Ole Gladheim. His great > grandparents were Bendix Olson Gladheim and Barbro Thon from Etnedal; we > may be related! > Good luck! Elaine Homan > > > ==== VALDRES Mailing List ==== > ============================= VALDRES SAMBAND ========================= > VALDRES SAMBAND web page at http://www.valdressamband.org >

Thanks for info and when I digest all this will get back to you Thanks again Jeniece ---------- > From: Janni <jbelgum@home.com> > To: VALDRES-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [VALDRES-L] Where is Valdres? > Date: Friday, February 25, 2000 6:36 AM > > Valdres is the name of an old region of Norway West of Lillehammar. The parishes of N. and S. Aurdal, Etnedal, E. and W. Slidre and Vang now mark that region. One side of my father's family comes from this area mainly from the parishes of N. Aurdal and E. Slidre. The farm name Ton/Thon is also in the family back a ways. > > The Valdres Samband is an organization for those descendants and other interested parties for Valdres. Last year it had its 100 th Anniversary. There is a genealogist, Betty Rockswold who is just great, too. > If you are interested, here is the URL- it has a map of the general area of Valdres in relation to Oslo and Bergen: http://www.geocities.com/~valdressamband/ > Here is the URL for Oppland County. As you scroll down, you'll find the parishes I mentioned on the left hand side- West of the the southern part of the county. The word Valdres is also used! > http://www.cport.com/~catmandu/oppland.html > > This should keep you busy for a while. > > Hilsen, Janni Belgum in Calgary, AB > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: jenny <jraymond@yknet.yk.ca> > To: VALDRES-L@rootsweb.com <VALDRES-L@rootsweb.com> > Date: Friday, February 25, 2000 1:15 AM > Subject: [VALDRES-L] Place???? > > > I am very knew at this and I am hoping some one can tell me where to look. > My great grandfather came over to the states in 1868, I Knew his name as > Ole Thon on the passenger list for the Bark Caroline I found a Ole(first > name) Olsen (patronymic name) > Thon (farm name) It allso had Nordre Aurdal Valders Where is this in > Norway????? > Thanks to anyone that can help with that name or the farm name place to > look in Norway. > > > ==== VALDRES Mailing List ==== > ============================= VALDRES SAMBAND ========================= > VALDRES SAMBAND web page at http://www.valdressamband.org > > > > ==== VALDRES Mailing List ==== > ============================= VALDRES SAMBAND ========================= > VALDRES SAMBAND web page at http://www.valdressamband.org >

Dear Jenny, You have the best genealogist in Betty Rockswold to help you! I hope you join the Valdres Samband. I have enjoyed my membership for 9 years now. It has been a great help in my genealogy. I have 3 grandparents with ties to the Valdres area so I am always busy with this area. The sites that Janni gave you are great, as it is nice to get an idea of the area. Another site that you can look at is the info online from the Norwegian archives. I looked at the Norwegian 1865 Census at www.hist.uib.no/arkivverket/1865/ (that's 2 V's not a W). It's in Norwegian but don't let that scare you. It's easy to get used to. 1. Click on the Oppland name on the left window (that's the fylke name where Valdres is). 2. Then click on Nordre Aurdal (click on the US flag will give you some of the text in English) 3. Change the DISTRIKNR to GARDSNAVN and then, type in Thon in the next window. 4. Click SEARCH or SOK. You should get a list of 5 farms. 5. Click the number to the left to see the occupants of each farm. Try out different things on this site. There is also some churchbook transcriptions (kirkeboker) and other info at the archives. You will get used to the important genealogy terms like navn, forenavn, gardnavn, dobt, ar (with a circle above the a) etc. I looked at this site and found 5 different farms by the name of Thon in 1865. There were also listed a few other farms like Thon (nordre); Thon nordre; Thon s*; etc. I found Ole Olsons living on only two different farms, the Thon farm in Skrutvold has 2 Ole Olsons; one is 54 and head of household, with a son, Ole Olson age 13. The other farm Thon (nordre) is also in the Skrutvold area and has an Ole Olson age 41 head of household. One of these could be your Ole, but if you knew his age (even approximate age in 1865) this could be a good tool to help search for him. Was your g-grandfather already a family man? Was he a young adventurer? My grandfather came to the US alone at age 16 in 1912 so it is not impossible that the young Ole mentioned above could have travelled by 1868. Also, your Ole Olson from Thon could be living at another farm as a worker or lodger during the 1865 census! Try this site out and play around with it! By the way, my grandfather mentioned above is Ole Gladheim. His great grandparents were Bendix Olson Gladheim and Barbro Thon from Etnedal; we may be related! Good luck! Elaine Homan

Valdres is the name of an old region of Norway West of Lillehammar. The parishes of N. and S. Aurdal, Etnedal, E. and W. Slidre and Vang now mark that region. One side of my father's family comes from this area mainly from the parishes of N. Aurdal and E. Slidre. The farm name Ton/Thon is also in the family back a ways. The Valdres Samband is an organization for those descendants and other interested parties for Valdres. Last year it had its 100 th Anniversary. There is a genealogist, Betty Rockswold who is just great, too. If you are interested, here is the URL- it has a map of the general area of Valdres in relation to Oslo and Bergen: http://www.geocities.com/~valdressamband/ Here is the URL for Oppland County. As you scroll down, you'll find the parishes I mentioned on the left hand side- West of the the southern part of the county. The word Valdres is also used! http://www.cport.com/~catmandu/oppland.html This should keep you busy for a while. Hilsen, Janni Belgum in Calgary, AB -----Original Message----- From: jenny <jraymond@yknet.yk.ca> To: VALDRES-L@rootsweb.com <VALDRES-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Friday, February 25, 2000 1:15 AM Subject: [VALDRES-L] Place???? I am very knew at this and I am hoping some one can tell me where to look. My great grandfather came over to the states in 1868, I Knew his name as Ole Thon on the passenger list for the Bark Caroline I found a Ole(first name) Olsen (patronymic name) Thon (farm name) It allso had Nordre Aurdal Valders Where is this in Norway????? Thanks to anyone that can help with that name or the farm name place to look in Norway. ==== VALDRES Mailing List ==== ============================= VALDRES SAMBAND ========================= VALDRES SAMBAND web page at http://www.valdressamband.org