Widegren, Frans - Nilson, Augusta, emigration and family info request

[David Rasmussen]

Hej,
 
I am looking for emigration and family information on my great grandfather Frans Widegren. He emigrated to Worcester, MA from Sweden either in 1880 or 1882. He was born abt. Nov 1855. It is likely he sailed into Boston, Massachusetts. He was a blacksmith and wire worker in the U.S. He married Augusta Nilson, b. abt May 1863, who emigrated in 1885. I believe I found her on the S/S Samaria that arrived into Boston 2 Nov 1885. She may have had a brother named Nils Nilson. Unfortunately, I don't have any more information than this.
 
Tack!
David

[Mats Ahlgren]

Hi David
 
Perhaps something to start the search is this info from CD Emigranten, that might show your ggf
 

 
Regarding Augusta, it might be a little bit more problems as a lot of Augusta leaves Sweden in 1885. If the arrival into Boston is correct, then I would start my search with the following girl, to see if she fits. Perhaps some one can take a look at her in the church books to see her birthday and family
 

[Maud Svensson]

Smelting worker Frans Videgren got his move out attest to North America from Skutskär, Älvkarleby parish, Uppsala county 26 April 1882. There is a reference to the household records: Skutskär page 194, if someone can check that for his birth date and birth parish. I have not found him in the birth records of Älvkarleby 1854-1856.

[Maud Svensson]

Smelting worker Frans Widegren came to Skutskär, Älvkarleby 4 Dec 1879 from Valbo, Gävleborg county. Reference to household examination records: Skutskär page 55. No Frans found in Valbo birth records 1854-1856.

[Don Tuthill]

Hi everyone!
 
Info shown on the household record for Skutskär shows the he was born in Skållerud, Älvsborgs län. His birth record can be found in VOL: C:5, Födde, 1850-1860 in Hoserud, Skållerud, Älvsborgs län, GID: 794.19.8700. His family can be found in VOL: AI:11, HFL 1851-1855, Hoserud, Skållerud, Älvsborgs län. GID: 794.12.82400, Page 68.
 
Don

[Karin Ekeroth]

Hi,
There is no Hoserud in Skållerud. It is Hofverud, now spelled Håverud. But, yes, there we can find Frans in C:5 and the family in AI:11.
In the Household Examination Records AI:11 Älvsborgs län, Skållerud 1851 - 1855 the family is:
 
Spike/Nail smith Olof Widegren b March 5 1823 in Ryr, Skållerud.
Wife Maja Gutke b Feb 1, 1818 in Bäcke, Älvsborg
Son Carl Johan b June 15, 1847 in Skållerud
Son Anton b Dec 30 1848 in Skållerud
Daughter Maja Kajsa b August 10, 1851 in Skållerud
Daughter Amanda, b Aug 7, 1853 in Skållerud
Son Frans b Nov 1 1855.
Gid 794.12.82400
 
The next record shows another child:
Daughter Hedvig b July 6, 1859.
AI:12 GID 794.13.7500
 
The family remains intact until AI:14 when the oldest children start leaving the family and the father is no longer a smith, but listed as inhyses (dependent lodger).
 
In the next Household records AI:15 the death of Amanda is noted. She died, married in Norway in 1874. Frans moves to Billingsfors, Älvsborg Oct 24, 1873. GID 794.25.58100.  
 
You will have to look in Billingsfors to find his further adventures.
 
Regards,
Karin

[Karin Ekeroth]

Hi again,
Since I could not find the records for the appropriate time period for Billingsfors on Genline, I looked at Frans? parents.  
 
In Älvsborg, Skållerud AI:10 pag 69, GID 794.10.38300:
 
Spiksmed Olof Andersson / Widegren b March 5 1823 in Ryr.
 
Brita Maja Gutke born 1818 in Bäcke.
I forgot to mention that she sometimes is called Brita Maja and sometimes just Maja.
 
Karin

[Karin Ekeroth]

Hello again,
I was probably wrong about Olof Andersson/Widegren being born in Ryr, Skållerud. I cannot find him there and in the household records AI:10 he is listed as born in Ryr Westergötland. Which Ryr that is I do not know. I hope someone with more knowledge about that part can find him.
 
In Skållerud AI:17 there is a notation about the death of Britta Maja Gutke. She dies on March 24, 1885.
 
In AI:18 there is a notice about the death of Olof Widegren on the 23rd of April 1892.
So, David now you have some dates and places to put together.
 
 
Karin

[David Rasmussen]

Mats, Maud, Don och Karin,
 
Tack så mycket för upplysningen! Jag är jätteglad.
 
Karin, you mention that Amanda married & died in Norway. In 1912, Frans' nephew from Norway, Johan Gustavsen, with his wife and daughter, came to Worcester, MA. I wonder if he could be Amanda's son?
 
Anyway, yes, I have a great start here thanks to all of you! I will check back often for any new posts.
 
MVH,
David

[Karin Ekeroth]

David,
He could certainly be Amandas son. She married a Gustaf and died in 1914.
`image{amanda1}
`image{amanda2}
 
MVH
karin

[Karin Ekeroth]

David,
Here are the pictures I hope
 

 
 
Karin

[David Rasmussen]

Thanks again Karin!
 
This next question should be under a different group, but since we're on the same topic I want to ask about the birthdate of Britta Maja Gutke. GID 689.14.81300 lists her as born 21-6-1818, yet the H.E. in this post GID 794.12.82400 looks like 1-2-1818.
 
Any ideas? Clerical error?
 
Best Regards,
David

[Karin Ekeroth]

Hi David,
 
I looked at the birth record for Bäcke, where she was born. Ten children were born in 1818 and she must be Brita Maria, daughter of Anders Gutke and Maria Svensdotter. She was born on the 21st of June, 1818. She was christened on the 24th of June.
 
This must be the offical record. The other date is some sort of error. In some record I remember seeing only 1818 with no date.
 
It is Älvsborg, Bäcke, C:2. GID 689.14.81300
 

[David Rasmussen]

Hi Karin,
 
Thank you. I wanted another opinion. I just subscribed to Genline so now I can do my own research. I also wanted to verify the date because I am in touch with a distant relative from the Gutke line and now I am sure we are related.  
 
You have been so helpful. Thank you!

[David Rasmussen]

Hej!
 
I need a little more help please!
 
Anton Widegren f. 1848-12-30 (C:3, Hofverud, Skållerud) eventually ended up in Risinge, Östergötland (B:3, Immg./Emg., 1861-1870, GID: 238.71.11000) and left for what looks like Malmö (jag kan bara lite svenska, so it makes it that much more difficult to read some of the writing).
 
I found an Anton Widegren who came to America and arrived to New York 1886-04-03 with his wife Alma and children Ellen, Gustaf and Frans. It looks like they lived in Kalmar. The ship left Christiania 1886-03-18.
 
I'm trying to connect the two so I'm asking for an emigration CD lookup and if anyone can find them in Malmö or Kalmar without too much trouble, otherwise I will search page by page.
 
Thanks!
 
David i California

[Judy Olson Baouab]

Hi David,
 
I think someone who left through Christiana wouldn't be on CD Emigranten, which is for emigrations through a Swedish port.
 
Look at this family on Emibas. The father's last name isn't the same as you said, but what about the family?
 
Post 307555
 
Vudergren, Anton
Smed (married man)
 
b. 12/30/1848 in Skållerud, Älvsborgs län (Dalsland)
 
Emigrated 3/5/1886
from Ankarsrums Bruk, Hallingeberg, Kalmar län (Småland)
to Nordamerika
 
Source: Household Examination Roll, p. 36
 
Emibas migration file ID: Hallingeberg H 1886 005
 
Smed = blacksmith.
 
Post 307484
 
Nilsson, Alma Kristina
Hustru (married woman)
 
b. 9/21/1855 in Östra Husby, Östergötlands län (Östergötland)
 
Emigrated 3/5/1886
from Ankarsrums Bruk, Hallingeberg, Kalmar län (Småland)
to Nordamerika
 
Source: Household Examination Roll, p. 36
 
Emibas migration file ID: Hallingeberg H 1886 006
 
Hustru = wife.
 
Post 307560
 
Widegren, Elin
Smedsdotter (unmarried woman)
 
b. 5/21/1873 in Boo, Stockholms län (Uppland)
 
Emigrated 3/5/1886
from Ankarsrums Bruk, Hallingeberg, Kalmar län (Småland)
to Nordamerika
 
Source: Household Examination Roll, p. 36
 
Emibas migration file ID: Hallingeberg H 1886 007
 
Smedsdotter = daughter of a blacksmith.
 
Post 307513
 
Nilsson, Gustaf Georg
Son uä (unmarried man)
 
b. 1/22/1881 in Nyköpings östra, Södermanlands län (Södermanland)
 
Emigrated 3/5/1886
from Ankarsrums Bruk, Hallingeberg, Kalmar län (Småland)
to Nordamerika
 
Source: Household Examination Roll, p. 36
 
Emibas migration file ID: Hallingeberg H 1886 008
 
Un-normalized versions:
 
Parish of birth: Nyköping Östra
 
Post 307568
 
Widegren, Frans Algot
Smedson (unmarried man)
 
b. 11/5/1884 in Nyköpings östra, Södermanlands län (Södermanland)
 
Emigrated 3/5/1886
from Ankarsrums Bruk, Hallingeberg, Kalmar län (Småland)
to Nordamerika
 
Smedson = son of a blacksmith.
 
Judy
 
Source: Household Examination Roll, p. 36
 
Emibas migration file ID: Hallingeberg H 1886 009
 
Un-normalized versions:
 
Parish of birth: Nyköping Östra

[Judy Olson Baouab]

Here is the record for Frans one more time. Somehow my name ended up in the middle.
 
Post 307568
 
Widegren, Frans Algot
Smedson (unmarried man)
 
b. 11/5/1884 in Nyköpings östra, Södermanlands län (Södermanland)
 
Emigrated 3/5/1886
from Ankarsrums Bruk, Hallingeberg, Kalmar län (Småland)
to Nordamerika
 
Source: Household Examination Roll, p. 36
 
Emibas migration file ID: Hallingeberg H 1886 009
 
Un-normalized versions:
 
Parish of birth: Nyköping Östra
 
Judy

[Karin Ekeroth]

Hi David,
The family you and Judy found is the one you are looking for.If you look at:
Kalmar, Hallingeberg AI:20A pag 36 GID48.35.53700 you will find the family as thus:
 
Anton Widegren
Alma Kristina Nilsson
Her son before marriage: Gustaf Georg
Anton?s  daughter in his first marriage Elin
Anton and Alma?s son Frans Algot
 
They are preparing to leave for America.
 
If you want to retrace them they can be found in Kalmar, Hallingeberg AI:19 pag 25. GID 48.34.2800
 
 
You should even be able to find his first wife somewhere. I suppose you have traced them in the US.
 
Karin

[David Rasmussen]

Thank you Judy and Karin. This is the same family I found on the passenger list. Their middle initials are also on the list and I failed to include them. The name Widegren seems to always get butchered especially on the U.S. Censuses. I will work on tracing Anton for his 1st marriage.
 
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find anything for certain on them in the U.S. except for when they arrived. There is an Anton Widegren working in 1890 in Worcester, MA where his brother Frans settled who must be him. Also an Anton W. in Illinois in 1910, but if it's him he remarried abt. 1905.
 
The hunt continues...
 
David

[Judy Olson Baouab]

Hi David,
 
The Frans Widegren you found working 1890 in Worcester seems to be a different Frans. I looked at a listing of Swedes living in Worcester in 1883 (Worcester Kalendar 1883; found in the member section of the SARA: Swedish Ancestry Research Association site) and there was a Frans Widegren living there at that time. That Frans was born in 1855 and came from Dalsland (a province, which is the southern part of Älvsborg län).  
 
Judy

[Judy Olson Baouab]

Hi again, David,
 
Although Frans Widegren found in the listing of Worcester Swedes in 1883 doesn't match the Frans Widegren found on Emibas, he does seem to match the Frans you mentioned in your first message in this thread.
 
His address was listed as Quinsigamond.
 
Judy

[Judy Olson Baouab]

I forgot to mention that the Worcester Kalendar lists that Frans came from Sweden in 1882.
 
Judy

[Karin Ekeroth]

David,
I would say the Frans mentioned in your first message, ie your great grandfather, is the one mentioned in the Worcester Kalendar, but I was under the impression that you were sure of him. If not, the family is according to the US Census 1900:
Massachusetts, Worcester, Worcester
Widegren, Frans head, white, male, born Nov 1855, 44 years old, married for 15 years, born in Sweden, Swedish parents, came to the US 1882, has been here for 17 years, Naturalized, blacksmith.
 
Augusta, wife, born May 1863,37 years old, married for 15 years, has given birth to 7 children of whom 4 are alive,born in Sweden, Swedish parents, came 1885, has been here for 14 yrs.
 
John P. son born Sept 1887, 12 yrs old, born in Mass, Swedish parents, at school.
 
Fanny G. daughter, born June 1894, 5yrs old, born in Mass, Swedish parents, at school.
 
Frank A. son, born Nov 1896, 3 yrs old, born in Mass, Swedish parents.
 
Axel W. son born Aug 1900, 9/12 yrs (something here must be wrong.The census is usually from the first part of the year, and anyway Aug 1900 and 9/12 yrs does not tally) born in Mass, Swedish parents.
 
I do hope this is your family!
 
The Frans on the Emibas is the son of your Frans? brother Anton. They were both born in Håverud, in Skållerud, Dalsland which is in the northernmost part of Älvsborg.
 
Karin

[David Rasmussen]

Hi again,
 
I'm sorry! I must not have been clear in my last message! It's Anton Widegren that I'm looking for in the U.S. now, not Frans (my great grandfather). I am sure of Frans and have all of his information after coming to the U.S. from the FCs and family documents. He and Augusta had two more daughters, Edith and Ruth. Edith is my grandmother. Thanks for looking them up anyway.
 
Back to Anton. The 1889 & 1890 Worcester City Directories list an Anton Widegren living at 9 Grosvenor St. The 1888 Directory lists an Anton Widgren at 57 Harrison. Since the 1890 FC was mostly destroyed it leaves a big blank space. I cannot find Anton in 1900 whatsoever.
 
The only other possibility for him is an Anton Widegren, b. abt 1848 in Sweden on the 1910 FC living in Winnebago, New Milford Twp, Illinois. He married Ida abt. 1905 and they had a son, Fritz b. 14-6-1896. I'm assuming Fritz is from a previous marriage.
 
David

[Don Tuthill]

Hi David,
 
Here is some additional information I found on the Emibas CD, it seems to be Anton Widegren's first wife and family emigrations records from Sept 29, 1877.
Here are those records:
Post 997392
 
Widegren, Anton
Smed (married man)
 
b. 12/30/1848 in Skållerud, Älvsborgs län (Dalsland)
 
Emigrated 9/29/1877
from Forsbacka, Valbo, Gävleborgs län (Gästrikland)
to Norge
 
Source: Household Examination Roll, p. 247
 
Emibas migration file ID: Valbo X 1877 007
 
Post 997393
 
Löfstrand, Johanna Sofia
Hustru (married woman)
 
b. 9/24/1845 in Bro
 
Emigrated 9/29/1877
from Forsbacka, Valbo, Gävleborgs län (Gästrikland)
to Norge
 
Source: Household Examination Roll, p. 247
 
Emibas migration file ID: Valbo X 1877 008
 
Children:
Post 997394
 
Antonsdotter Widegren, Sofia Amanda
Dotter (unmarried woman)
 
b. 11/1/1871 in Malma
 
Emigrated 9/29/1877
from Forsbacka, Valbo, Gävleborgs län (Gästrikland)
to Norge
 
Source: Household Examination Roll, p. 247
 
Emibas migration file ID: Valbo X 1877 009
 
Post 997395
 
Antonsdotter Widegren, Frida Fansta
Dotter (unmarried woman)
 
b. 11/12/1874 in Avesta, Kopparbergs län (Dalarna)
 
Emigrated 9/29/1877
from Forsbacka, Valbo, Gävleborgs län (Gästrikland)
to Norge
 
Source: Household Examination Roll, p. 247
 
Emibas migration file ID: Valbo X 1877 010
 
Post 997396
 
Antonsdotter Widegren, Elin
Dotter (unmarried woman)
 
b. 5/21/1873 in Bro
 
Emigrated 9/29/1877
from Forsbacka, Valbo, Gävleborgs län (Gästrikland)
to Norge
 
Source: Household Examination Roll, p. 247
 
Emibas migration file ID: Valbo X 1877 011
 
Post 997397
 
Antonsson Widegren, Carl Anton
Son (unmarried man)
 
b. 6/14/1878 in Nyköping, Södermanlands län (Södermanland)
 
Emigrated 9/29/1877
from Forsbacka, Valbo, Gävleborgs län (Gästrikland)
to Norge
 
Source: Household Examination Roll, p. 247
 
Emibas migration file ID: Valbo X 1877 012
 
 
You may already have all this info, but if you don't, then it may be of some help to you.
 
Have a nice day!
 
Don

[Karin Ekeroth]

Don,
Good job! You have probably solved the problem about the first wife. But, there is an oddity concerning the last post, Carl Antonson Widegren. He seems to have left the country before he was born. What year was he born?
 
Regards,  
Karin

[David Rasmussen]

Yes, Don, thanks for the good work!
 
The record Judy supplied shows Boo, Stockholms län (Uppland) as Elin's birthplace and the records you found show Bro.
 
Any idea which one is correct? Where is Bro? Uppsala?
 
David

[David Rasmussen]

Here's the record for Anton Widegren in Valbo - GID:2215.21.68500 (A1:20B 1871-1880, see pg. 248). Can you make sense of this Karin? I can't. The emigration date of 1877 still doesn't pair up with Carl Antonson Widegren's birth. There is another daughter who I guess died in 1878. I can't make out her name. Perhaps they went to Norway and came back the next year?
 
You can see my great grandfather Frans was there with them. That was a nice surprise. Looks like he moved from Steneby where there is a Billingsfors that you noted he moved to in 1873 from Skållerud. I can't find him in Billingsfors, Steneby though.
 
Hej då,
David

[Bo Johansson]

In the HFL Valbo - GID:2215.21.68500 (A1:20B 1871-1880, see pg. 248) you can see that father, mother and the 4 older children are crossed out, as if they were emigrating, but noy the youngest son Carl Anton born 1878-06-14 Nyköping.
 
So perhaps they went to Norway, then to Nyköping, and then back to Valbo?
 
The dead daughter is Theolinda born 1876-10-07, dead 1878-05-21. And that is another clue that they probably were not in Norway at the time.
 
// Bo Johansson

[David Rasmussen]

Bo,
 
Tack för hjälpen! Looking at the timeframe and their travels, it now makes sense. They sure moved around a lot.
 
David

[Don Tuthill]

Hi David,
 
Do you or anyone else know what happen to Anton's first wife Johanna Sofia Löfstrand, his children: Sofia Amanda, Frida Fansta, Carl Anton? Did they die or what happen to them? Why was his daugther Elin the only child listed from his first marriage in his second marriage?
 
Just wondering!
 
Have a good one!
 
Don

[David Rasmussen]

Hi Don,
 
Good question. I haven't been able to find any further information on Johanna Sofia and the other children. My best guess is that they remained in Norway or something less favorable happened as you suggested. Anton and his 2nd wife, Alma Kristina, married 09 Jul 1881 so he wasn't in Norway for very long.
 
Hej då!
David

[Don Tuthill]

Hi again David,
 
I think you may like the info I'm posting today. I think it gives you a pretty clear picture of events surrounding Anton Wideberg's first family.
 
Here is the info I have found:
 
Hi again David,
 
First of all, to better understand the information found on this confusing clerical survey HFL Valbo A1:20B 1871-1880, GID:2215.21.68500; you will need to go to the front of the book to page GID:2215.21.24600 “Anvisningar”, in this case I would call them explanations.
What it basically says is:  
This book was damaged by dampness and mildew/mold, probably during the 1890s, when the church books were kept in a damp storage area of the church.
 A new band/volume was printed in the fall of 1912 by the Swedish School Material Co. in Gävle.
The book was partly rewritten on newly inserted pages with information found in other church books Nov. 1912-Feb. 1913 by Oskar Hedberg, Kyrkoherde/Parson.
 
This family did indeed move to Edfors in Norway and then return to Sweden, and as you can see in the info below, they moved from Norway to Nyköpings Stadförsamling in Södermanlands län. Their son Carl Anton was born after they returned to Sweden. It is clear that the information shown on the EMIBAS CD record that I posted earlier was incorrect, Carl Anton should not have been listed in those records. When the kyrkoherde/parson filled in the information on the old page 247 and the new inserted page 247, he evidently did not pay close enough attention to Carl Anton's birth date June 14, 1878 in Nyköpings Stadförsamling. Keep in mind that all these extra, inserted pages were written from Nov 1912-Feb 1913, forty years after Carl Anton was born in 1878.
 
After finding the information on page GID:2215.21.24600 I spent a lot of time digging to find birthdates and birth places, and death dates and places for everyone in this family.  
 
This is what I have found: (First marriage)
Anton Widegren b 12/30/1848 in Skållerud, Älvsborgs län.
Johanna Sofia Löfstrand b 9/24/1845 in Bro, Västmanland (GID:2333.11.57700), died 4/23/1880 in 2st Qv No. 41, Nyköpings Väst, Södermanlands län (Lungsot/ TBC-Tuberkulos) (GID:100004.43.28500)
Children:
1. Sofia Amanda Antonsdotter Widegren b 11/1/1871 in Malma, Västmanland (GID:100019.41.60400), died 5/29/1878 in Nyköpings Väst, Södermanlands län (Scarlatina/Scarlet fever) (GID:100004.39.40100). There is a notation in her death record saying that the family was “inskrivan in Gävleborgs län”
2.  Elin Antonsdotter Widegren b 5/21/1873 in Bo, Boo Annex, Örebro (GID:100018.46.58000)
3. Frida Fansta Antonsdotter Widegren b 12/12/1874 in Avesta, Kopparbergs län (GID:100020.23.33200), died 4/14/1881 in 1st Qv No. 106, Nyköpings Väst, Södermanlands län (Diphteria/ Diphtheria) (GID:100004.45.21200).
4. Theolinda Antonsdotter Widegren b 10/7/1876 in Malma, Västmanland (GID:100019.57.50800), died 5/22/1878 in Nyköpings Väst, Södermanlands län (Scarlatina/Scarlet fever)(GID:100004.39.40100). There is a notation in her death record saying that the family was “inskrivan in Gävleborgs län”
5. Carl Anton Antonsson Widegren b 6/14/1878 in Nikoli, Nyköpings Väst, Södermanlands län (GID:100004.38.50900), died 8/5/1879 in 1st Qv No.17, Nyköpings Väst, Södermanlands län (Gastritis et Enteritis acuta/ Acute gastric / intestinal inflammation) (GID: 100004.41.36000).
 
As you can see, Elin is the only surviving child from that family and that is the reason why she is the only child from the first marriage that shows up in the second marriage.
 
Okay, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask me and I'll try to help if I can.
 
Have a nice day!
 
Don

[David Rasmussen]

Hi Don,
 
Thank you so much for devoting so much time and effort to this family and for saving me many hours of research! I very much appreciate your help. I especially appreciate your sleuthing and analysis of the instructions vs. the H.E. listing in the HFL Valbo A1:20B 1871-80. Now, at last, it makes sense.
 
Anton and Alma's marriage record is here: GID: 100004.45.4200
 
I do have one question at the moment. Gustaf Georg's birth record (GID: 100004.44.56600) lists Alma as unmarried. There are some notes after her name. Can you tell me what it says and what the numbers stand for? I think I need to attend a seminar!
 
Thanks again!!!
 
Best regards,
David

[Don Tuthill]

Hi again David,
 
This is what it says after her name: f.d. (före detta) Piga (former maid, servant, etc), 5th Qv (Quarter: Block) No.54 (house number 54), f (följande: page) 165.
 
Have a nive day!
 
Don