Sven Nilsson 1818-1862 of Helsingborg to Melbourne, Australia

[Julie McGrath]

I'm trying to find out the origins of a man by the name of Sven Nilsson born in 1818 and died in 1862. According to his immigration papers, Sven immigrated to Australia onboard the 'Helene' (dep. 1852, arr. 1853). He was listed as a Seaman on his papers and that he was from the town of Helsingborg in Sweden. I found this in the book Emigrants from Hamburg to Australia [Eric and Rosemary Kopittke]. He turned his hand to mining in Australia, specifically in the region of Dunolly, Victoria, and did very well for himself, finding enough gold to fund a total of 3 round trips to Sweden and back to Australia (another trip from Germany to Australia onboard the 'Helene' from 1855, arriving in 1856, and the other was possibly in 1860 onboard the Voorwaarts but this is unconfirmed). He had three children with his wife Emilie Sophia Friederike Brandt (who he met onboard ship during the 1855-1856 trip): Maria Margaret (1857-abt 1950), Peter Sven L.(1860-1949), and Henry (Henry died in infancy: 1862-1863). Emilie was a German migrant from Neubukow, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany who lived between 1829-1894. I know from his death record and marriage record that Sven was born in 1818 and died 29 Jul 1862 in Dunolly, Victoria, Australia. I unfortunately at this stage have been unable to find his exact birth date in any of his papers. Sven's family name tended to evolve(eg. Neilson, Nelsson, etc.) with his Australian family eventually going by the name of Nelson.
 
How do I go about trying to find his family? I am completely out of my league as I've never done Swedish genealogy before. Can anyone help me and point me in the right direction to find out who Sven's parents were and the dates he travelled to and from Australia?
 
Many, many thanks
- Julie

[Ted Rosvall]

On the EMIGRANTEN CD, I find one Sven Nilsson, born 1825, from Västra Karup, Kristianstad län (not too far from Helsingborg) who left Sweden on October 15 1852 on board Amalia, and jumped ship in Rio de Janeiro. Could he have continued to Australia?
 
Ted Rosvall

[Carin Olofsson]

According to  DDSS  (Demographical Database for Southern Sweden), a boy named Sven was born in Ramlösa, Helsingborg on April 15, 1818. His parents were Nils Andersson and Karna Sassersdotter. However, I haven't checked if he emigrated, so I'm not sure it is the right Sven.

[Julie McGrath]

I think the Sven born in 1825 may have been too old to be the Sven I am looking for but I'm not sure. How interesting if he did jump ship in Rio de Janeiro!
 
I know that my Sven was listed as a Seaman serveral times so he may have gone on a few voyages before coming to Australia. Someone on a different forum suggested I check to see if he was registered in a Sjöman's (sailor's) house but I don't know how to look for that.  
 
At this stage I'm thinking the Sven born 15 April 1818 seems to be the most likely candidate although it would be lovely to able to prove it with evidence that this Sven migrated out of the country on several occassions.
 
Thank you both for your assistance!
- Julie

[Don Tuthill]

Information written in the Swedish church records on Genline show Sven Nilsson born April 15, 1818 died on Feb 23, 1821, so he is not the Sven you are looking for.
 
His death record can be found on Genline at GID: 1249.32.25400, page 22.
 
Have a nice day!
 
Don

[Bodil Josefsson]

This is from a CD called Emibas. Raus parish is quite near Helsingborg. This Sven went to Denmark, but perhaps he didn?t stay there..?
 
Post 506547
 
Nilsson, Sven
Dräng (unmarried man)
 
b. 2/4/1820 in Allerum, Malmöhus län (Skåne)
 
Emigrated 1851
from Pålstorp 1, Raus, Malmöhus län (Skåne)
to Danmark
 
Source: Emibas migration file ID: Raus M 1851 003
 
Bodil J

[Per Linder]

Julie, I think you have to consult the records of the Sjömanshus (Seamen's house) in order to find your Sven Nilsson. I checked ddss.nu for the vessel Helene, but the only one was from a few year's later based in Strömstad and Kalmar. Your Helene was probably based in Germany. Happy hunting !

[Elisabet Arvidsson]

I found one Sven Nilsson born 1818 leave to German.
 
In EMIBAS. postnr 150822
Nilsson, Sven Petter
Garden-apprentice born 27/9 1818 in Ljung, Östergötlands län (Östergötland)
Emmigrated 14 october 1845 from Adelsnäs Österby, Åtvid, Östergötlands län, Östergötland to German.
Source; husförhörslängd, page 186
Emibas emigrations act;  Åtvid E 1845 001.
 
No one else leave with him.
 
Just a guess.
God hunting / God luck
elisabet

[Elisabet Arvidsson]

The first son have same name as the father--just change the spelling and system / order.
Some family did that in older time very regular.
Sven Petter --> Peter Sven (or give them the grandfathers name like Sven Nilsson---> Nils Svensson ---> Sven Nilsson and so on in generations)

[Elisabet Arvidsson]

I forgot to tell you that this Sven Nilsson was unmarried man  

[Julie McGrath]

Thank you all for your help! I guess it comes down to whether it is Sven Nilsson of 1820 who emigrated to Denmark, but who lived in the Helsingborg region or Sven Nilsson of 1818 who lived outside this region but who seems to meet all the other criteria of immigrating to Germany around the right time and having the middle name of Petter - his son's first name.  
 
How do I check the records of a Sjömanshus (Seaman's house)? Do I request the records from the region he was from?
 
If my Sven was the one from Östergötland, how do I go about tracing his family? Is there an birth, death and marriage index for the region?
 
If my Sven is from Raus, how do I find out if he emigrated from Denmark? Is there a forum I should go to or a CD I should find?
 
Thank you all so much!
- Julie

[Chris Bingefors]

The Seaman?s houses are usually not in a register, some are and I have checked for Sven. The largest ones are not even microfilmed, but Helsingborg is. He may also have been registered in Germany. Maybe the best option is to try to find the crew or passenger lists from one of the journeys if they still exist. Find out which company ran the ships and then see if there is any paperwork from them still in existence in Germany. If he was crew, then there may be more leads there.

[Per Linder]

Julie, do you have Sven's birth date ? It will be helpful in determing if you find the right one. Looking Sven Nilsson is kind of like looking for John Smith.

[Julie McGrath]

Unfortunately I do not have Sven's exact birth date. In fact his birth date is the most frustrating. I recently received a copy of his death certificate and it *actually* states that he died in 1862 aged 47, making his birth year 1815 (NOT 1818 as I had thought). This is the index of his birth record from the Australian state of Victoria:
Sven's Death Record
 
Surname: NEILSSON
Given Names: Swen
Event: D
Spouse Surname/Father: Swen
Spouse Gvn Names/Mother:  
Age: 47
Sex:  
Birth Place: SWED
Death Place:  
Year: 1862
Reg Number: 6478
Denomination:  
Parish:  
Fiche:  
 
However his travelling papers state he was 31 when he sailed to Victoria in 1855-1856, making his birth year 1824-1825.  
 
Emigrants from Hamburg to Australia : 1850-2 & 1853
By Eric and Rosemary Kopittke (Queensland Family History Society)
p. 90
'Helene' Capt. Anders (also spelt Andresen, J.P. and Andreas) to Sydney dep. 16 October 1852
Passenger #43 NIELSEN, Seven
Town where individual was from: Helsingborg
Country                                  : Schweden
Occupation: Seemann
 
Emigrants from Hamburg to Australia : 1855
By Eric and Rosemary Kopittke (Queensland Family History Society)
p. 112-116
'Helene' to Port Adelaide & Melbourne dep. 18 October 1855
Passenger #3: NIELSON, Simon
Town where individual was from: Helsingborg
Country where individual was from: Schweden
Occupation: Seemann
Age: 31, Male
Passenger # 92: BRANDT, Sophia  
[** SVEN'S FUTURE WIFE**]
Town where individual was from: Neubukow
Country where individual was from: Mecklenberg
Age: 26, Female
 
Information about the ship he travelled on in both occurrences:
HELENE Port Adelaide (destination)Hamburg (departure point) 28  June 1854  R    
German bark, 292t
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  
 
From what I gather he was a passenger rather than a crew member on both of these voyages to Australia.
 
Would Germany have registered their sailors in a similar manner?
 
Thank you all for your interest and suggestions!!
- Julie

[Julie McGrath]

I forgot to include the full transcript of Sven's death certificate:
 
1862 DEATHS IN THE DISTRICT OF DUNOLLY IN THE COLONY OF VICTORIA
REGISTERED BY WALTER CHARLES PIERCE
#524
When and where died: Twenty ninth July 1862 Dunolly
Name and surname, rank or profession: Swen Neilsson, Digger
Sex and age: Male 47 years
Cause of death, duration of host illness, medical attendant by whom certified and whom last saw deceased: Bronchitis, 3 months, Doctor MacGregor, 22 July 1862
Name and surname of father and mother, if known, with rank or profession: Swen Neilsson, Fisherman; Mother's name unknown
Signature, description, and residence of informant: Carsten L?hrs, deceased Mate, Digger, Dunolly
Signature of Deputy Registrar, Date, and Where Registered: Walter Charles Pierce, 29th July 1862, Dunolly
IF BURIAL REGISTERED:
When and where buried, undertaker by whom certified: 31 July 1862, Dunolly, Charles Collins
Name and religion of minister or names of witnesses of Burial: Witnesses Charles Nielson, Carsten L?hrs
Where born and how long  in the Australian colonies, stating which: Sweden, 9 years in Victoria
IF DECEASED WAS MARRIED:
Where and at what age and to whom: Adelaide, 41 years, Sophia Brant
Issue in order of birth, their names and ages: Maria 5 years, Peter 21 months

[Chris Bingefors]

Now, the problem is: Did they just put in a name for the father without knowing his real name, it was done sometimes in America. Or was the father´s namne really Sven Nilsson? It seems strange, since the names in those days were patronymics, ie your Sven Nilsson should have a father named Nils XX-son. Or, your mysterious ancestor was Sven Svensson, but like some, changed to Sven Nilsson taking his father´s name as a proper family name according to foreign custom.