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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Northumberland => Topic started by: MaryThorn on Wednesday 15 May 19 08:35 BST (UK)
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Does anyone know if there are any historical records relating to Scandinavian families living in Blyth in the 1800s? I have a Scandinavian connection through my great grandmother and I've never been able to find out anything more about this line of the family. Ive recently been in touch with an Australian DNA match who also has family connections to Blyth and has ancestors originating in Denmark.
It makes me think that there must have been a prominent Scandinavian presence in Blyth in the 1800s especially with the size of the port. Would there be any local records relating to any of these families?
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There was a Shetland presence in most NE England ports which might explain the names & the DNA.
Skoosh.
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I'm from Blyth. I think there's a thread on here about the Missions to Seamen hostel in Blyth - I believe it was started by a Scandinavian.
There was a lot of sea trading between Scandinavia and Blyth, timber for pit props etc.
My GGGrandfather was master on 2 ships doing the journey regularly.
Another connection, I've looked up our family name, Knott, and one idea is that it came from the Scandinavian name Knut.
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Thanks for your responses.
The DNA match is a recent match on a Northumberland line, her great great grandmother married a Danish butcher.
My great grandmother married a Scandinavian sailor who I assumed was Norwegian but not being able to find any census returns for him I'm not so sure now.
Both her great great grandmother and my great grandmother were born and lived in Blyth.
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MaryThorn, The advice I can give is "keep digging" on the web. I was searching for a distant relative who originated from Denmark in the 1850s, and came to the North East (Blyth) Through searching on Roots - Europe Section, I found the Danish site www.ddd.dda.dk and from there I found the information I required. I was interested in the surname 'Ravneberg' , and found that 20% of them were in Denmark, but the other 80% were in Norway.
An acquaintance from South Shields doing his research, traced some ancestors back to Norway.
Best of luck.
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Thanks for that pityackafromblyth.
Doesn't appear my person is from Denmark having gone through the Danish records site, I can't find any record of him so I'll have to hunt out Norweigan records and see if there is any trace there.
Never found him on any passenger lists either but as a fisherman it makes me think he came into the port as crew.
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Hi Mary Thorn
If you prefer I can take a look for you in Denmark and Norway or even Sweden. I know how to get through the church books in these countries.
I live in Sweden which can help in any language barriers etc...
If so please reply with names and dates.
Regards
Ian
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Wow, Ian that would be fantastic . I only have very sketchy information at the moment.
I'm trying to find details of my Great Grandmothers first husband. In online marriage records,in 1903 he is listed as Charles Basberg. In newspaper reports into his death and the inquest that followed in 1905 he is listed as Charles Soren Olas Basberg and is listed as being 25 at his death.
My Great grandmother gave birth after he died and the child had the middle name of Sorenia so I'm pretty sure the Soren as listed at death is correct.
I ordered their marriage certificate yesterday which I hope will give me more information such as his father's name. Have Never located him on an English census return so unable to confirm country of birth.
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This one could be worth a look: Søren Olaus Basberg born in Norway in 1881. He could have added the Charles just to have a more English name when he moved here.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N7TQ-D13 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N7TQ-D13)
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Yes Craclyn it could well be him. We'll have to wait for the marriage certificate to see what the father's name is.
Ian
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Lynda as always you come up trumps. I hadn't thought of Family search after worldwide searches on Ancestry and Findmypast only showed up the British marriage and death records.
It's going to be a long wait for the marriage certificate to come, estimated despatch date was 11th June. I think I'll tentatively put these names in my tree for the time being so I have something to work from.
Even though I have no direct link to this Norweigan link this has excited me as my 2nd cousin has never known about this side of his family for complicated reasons. Last year I was able to give him his great grandfather name and various newspaper reports into his death and other information about our shared great grandmother and his own grandmother. If this proves to be correct then I'll be able to give him information about his Norweigan ancestors and I know he will love this.
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Fingers crossed that the marriage certificate ties in with this possibility Mary.
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If you are going to be venturing further into Norwegian research then you should also take a look at the Norwegian Digital Archives: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/en/ (https://www.digitalarkivet.no/en/)
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Here is this Søren's birth record from the Norwegian Archives - nr 25:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01ntn/
Ian
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Many thanks Ian
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Finally the marriage certificate arrived. It hasn't helped me though. Charles Basberg's father is listed as Charles Basberg (Deceased) Master Mariner on the marriage certificate. I haven't been able to find any Charles Basbergs in Norwegian records, but also I imagine Charles would be Claus in Norwegian so still perplexed.
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Hi
Charles would be Karl or Carl in Scandinavia.
Ian
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The occupation of Søren Olaus Basberg on the birth record although quite hard to read is either a skipper or a ship owner.
Ian
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I am pretty sure his occupation was "skibsfører" meaning master mariner.
Ian
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Thanks for your research Ian. I'm still at a loss really, with 'Charles' being listed as both his name and his father's name I can't really link if the Charles are actually the Soren Olaus and his father listed in the Norwegian records. It would have been great if somewhere it was listed that he was known as Charles.
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Hi
I know what you mean. I'll try to look again to see if I can find him.
Ian
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Thanks Ian. I have been going through the Norwegian records link that Lynda posted, which also has a handy option for English version. There doesn't seem to be many Basbergs but I'm not sure how complete these records are.
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Hi Mary. I have just seen your post. I am originally from Blyth and my great grandfather was a seaman from Norway. He was born Hans Christian Hansen (from Norwegian records) but obviously changed his name to a more English name of Charles. He came over on a ship from norway and married my g grandmother in Newcastle before moving to Blyth.
Barbara.