Jan Erik Norberg, Seaman Swedish Navy 1880's

[cleverus]

Hi
I am trying to locate the Navy record for my great grandfather Jan Erik Norberg, born 2 August 1860
Norrsund, Vaddo, Stockholm, Sweden.
Father: Mathias Harg Norberg - born 23 Feb 1834 in Soderby-Karl, Uppland, Sweden
Mother: Johanna Andersdotter Ostman - born 16 Aug 1837 in Vaddo, Stockholm, Sweden

We have very little information about his life in Sweden and have varying stories about how he came to New Zealand
1. He jumped ship in Nelson, NZ at the age of 11 with his brother
2. He was a seaman and did not get back onto the ship in Nelson, NZ so the ship left without him.

I would appreciate any help in gaining more information about him.

Many thanks Jenny

[jamcat95]

Hi Jenny and welcome to RootsChat,

Jan Erik Norberg was recorded not present at the Examination in 1887. So he was at least 17 years old when he jumped ship. There is no evidence of him being a seaman at 11. Also there is no evidence that his brother was a seaman.
I'll look around for any seaman records.

https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/00032733_00085#?c=&m=&s=&cv=84&xywh=-61%2C703%2C5473%2C2700


I took a look at his father's probate from 1922 and it was recorded that Jan Erik was living in New Zealand for over 20 years and was most probably deceased.


Ian

[cleverus]

Hi Ian
Thank you so much for that. Are you able to give me any information about his apparently very short Navy career.
When did he join the Navy and what ship was he on when he jumped etc.

Many thanks Jenny

[jamcat95]

You're welcome Jenny.
This record shows when he enrolled as a seaman in 1871. This is this evidence of him being a seaman at 11 years old. I cannot unfortunately explain what the notes mean. It will be difficult if not impossible to find out about him jumping ship. I'll look around and see what pops up.
The minister had written in the Examination Book that he was missing from 1887.

[jamcat95]

This is the Norberg family from the Väddö Parish Examination Books.....


1860 - Väddö Parish Examination Book
https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/C0049374_00197#?c=&m=&s=&cv=196&xywh=548%2C-33%2C5026%2C2479

1880 - Väddö Parish Examination Book
https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/00032729_00078#?c=&m=&s=&cv=77&xywh=-78%2C1023%2C6340%2C3128

1885 - Väddö Parish Examination Book
https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/00032731_00078#?c=&m=&s=&cv=77&xywh=21%2C471%2C4892%2C2413

1890 - Väddö Parish Examination Book
https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/00032733_00085#?c=&m=&s=&cv=84&xywh=-166%2C83%2C5473%2C2700

1895 - Väddö Parish Examination Book
https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/00032735_00080#?c=&m=&s=&cv=79&xywh=-100%2C18%2C5159%2C2545

1895 - Väddö Parish Examination Book - Missing persons book
https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/00032735_00229#?c=&m=&s=&cv=228&xywh=-184%2C1405%2C5849%2C2886

1895 - Väddö Parish Examination Book - Missing persons book
https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/00032592_00259#?c=&m=&s=&cv=258&xywh=-258%2C961%2C7021%2C3463


Ian

[jamcat95]

It looks like he changed his surname to Mattsen (Mattsson) following the patronymic system. I have seen this before when seamen jump ship.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/171666785/jan-eric-mattsen


Ian

[cleverus]

Hi
Thank you so much for helping me with any information about Jan Eric Norberg.
Can you please check the following information:
He was a cook on schooner 'Henno', salary 16 Swedish crowns a month.
Church records say he moved from the family in 1882, unknown where he was in 1887, 1888 and 1889. He lost his job in the North of Sweden, in Pitea 1894.

Is the Examination Book the Church records?

When he jumped ship he changed his surname to Mattsen (son of Mathias).
He lived an extremely tough life, he could speak English but not read or write in English, lost his leg below the knee while driving a horse and was thrown from the cart, had a very turbulent marriage to Caroline Morgan and all their 7 children were sent to an orphanage as they were taken off them by the Police.
He died in Dannevirke on 28 April 1934.
With this further information from you he was a seaman at 11 but may not have come to New Zealand for quite a while after that.

Look forward to hearing if you find anything else.

Many thanks
Jenny

[jamcat95]

Is the Examination Book the Church records?

Yes the Examination Books are the Church records. The minister basically examined the knowledge and ability to read the bible etc.


Ian

[jamcat95]

He lost his job in the North of Sweden, in Pitea 1894.

1895 - Väddö Parish Examination Book - Missing persons book
https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/00032735_00229#?c=&m=&s=&cv=228&xywh=-184%2C1405%2C5849%2C2886

Do you know if he lost his job?

He was a seaman and he worked on all types of ships in different ports. He wasn't in the Navy. He worked on merchant ships.

The 1895 page from Väddö states that, as I see it, he was recorded as being at the Seaman's Institute (Sjömanshus) in Piteå in 1894.


Ian