Laura Larsdatter (my maternal great grandmother) was born in Eidsvoll (prior to 1918, the name was spelled “Eidsvold”) Parish, Akershus, Norway on 14 October, 1844. I was unable to identify her family using conventional genealogical records because all of the Eidsvoll church records were destroyed by a fire in the Eidsvold church rectory in 1877 (see “Eidsvoll Parish, Akershus, Norway Genealogy” at FamilySearch for more information about Eidsvoll records).

However, thanks to DNA I have been able to trace her family back several generations. This page documents my 17-year path to enlightenment.

Date & Place of Birth and her Father’s Name

The following facts were recorded when she married Anton Martin Syverson in Eidsvoll on 24 March 1877. The same date and location were also recorded in her 1891 death record.

• Her date of birth (14 October 1844).
• Her place of birth (Eidv. Verk)
• Her father’s name (Lars Halvorsen) [As will be shown, this may not be correct].

Eidsvoll, Akershus County, Norway Parish Register (Official): 1877 – 1881, Marriage, Page 203, Entry Number 9

1865 Census: Where was Laura?

The first Norwegian censuses taken after her birth (1845 and 1855) were numeric and did not record any information about individuals, so the census recorded in 1865 is the first one where she should have been enumerated (see “Public censusus” from the National Archives of Norway for more information on Norwegian Censuses).

There are several Laura Larsdatters born in “Ejdsvold Prgj.” living in Eidsvoll when the 1865 census was recorded on 12 December:

• Laura Larsdatter born in 1844 was working as a servant for Christian Johnsen, a widower with a 4-year old daughter (view the transcription).
• Another Laura Larsdatter who was born in 1843 was living as a lodger (logerende) with the family of Engebret Olsen and his wife Karen Olsdatter (view the translation)
• There is another Laura Larsdatter born in 1843 but she is shown to be married to Lars Mikaelsen and is therefore unlikely to be of interest (view the translation).

According to a message posted 17 March 2019 on Geni from Dag Terje Byman Andersen, the first one is the Laura in question:

“She serves in 1865 at Christian Johnsen, Braaten Søndre. He is her cousin, son of John Abrahamsen, Lars’ brother.

“If you compare the tree with the story in Eidsvoll bygdebok, Bråten Søndre (Abrahams) you will see all the indicies will match. For me this is logic mathematics now, but it would be great to have a DNA analysis as well.”

I have since found conventional genealogical records that show that Dag was correct.

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/census/person/pf01038024003906

https://www.geni.com/people/Kristian-Jonsen/6000000009987113456?fro…

1865 Census: Where was Anton Syversen?

Laura married Anton Syversen and had six children with him. There is only one Anton Syversen born in 1841 in “Rakkestad Prgj.” identified in the 1865 census. He was living in Tune working as a welder (Sveiser) living with Ole Andersen and his wife Berthe Nilsdatter (view the translation).

• Tune is located about 95 miles south of Eisdvoll (view on Google Maps). Eidsvoll was the home of the Eidsvoll Iron Works, but it reportedly ceased operations in 1822 (see Wikipedia: Eidsvoll Verk), which still leaves one wondering how and why this Rakkestad lad ended up in Eidsvoll for the momentous years of 1876 – 1878.

1875 Census: Where was Laura?

In searching the 1875 census database, there is only one Laura Larsdatter born between 1843 and 1845 who is single: She was born in EIdsvold and was living in Aker, located about 45 miles southwest of Eidvoll (view on Google Maps). She was working as a servant (view the transcription).

1875 Census: Where was Anton Syversen?

But where was Anton Martin Syversen? He has not been found, despite determined searches of the census database. The closest I have come so far is one “Anton Svendsen”, an unmarried patient in an Oslo hospital who was born in Rakkestad in 1840 and worked as a hireling [dagarbeider] (view the record). It is possible that his information was garbled when the transcription was performed and this is actually him, but (so far) I have not obtained an image of the actual census record to review.

1876: Conception of daughter Anne Helene

Their daughter was born 2 April 1877. Assuming that Anton Syversen was the biological father, we can assume that  Anton and Laura were on intimate terms around July 1876.

24 March 1877: Marriage in Eidsvoll

The marriage occurred after the church fire so a record exists. The pending marriage was announced in the church on March 4, 11 and 18. The witnesses to the marriage itself were:

• Laren [maybe…] K Olsen
• Hans A. from Eidsv. Vaerk

I have not been able to determine how or why they were associated with Anton & Laura.

Eidsvoll, Akershus County, Norway Parish Register (Official): 1877 – 1881, Marriage, Page 203, Entry Number 9

View full images of the original church records:

• Parish register (official) no. I 1, 1877-1881, p. 203
  • View a transcription of the marriage record
• Parish register (copy) no. I 4, 1877-1884, p. 141

2 April 1877: Birth of daughter Anne Helene in Eidsvoll

Here is Anne Helene’s birth record (view the entire page):

Eidsvoll, Akershus County, Norway Parish Register (Official): 1877 – 1881, Births, Page 75, Entry Number 32)

The sponsors (godparents) are often family members or close friends… Here is my best guess at the godparents entry: “Olaus L Braaton Hans A Bratton Maren Nd Katrine Ld ibd Halvor L ibd“

Assumptions/beliefs:

• “L” is short for “Larssen” and “Ld” is short for “LarsDatter”
• Hans A was married to Maren Nd
• They all (along with Hans A and Maren Nd) were living on a farm called “Braaton”

Expanded, interpreted and taking some hints from census records from the time it suggests the following:

• Olaus Larssen living at Braaton
• Hans A[ndreasen] living at Braaton
• Maren Nilsdatter (possibly the wife of Hans)
• Katrine Larsdatter living at Braaton
• Halvor Larssen living at Braaton

There is a farm in Ostfold with the name of Braaton, located in the Tune Parish (Municipality Number 130, Farm Number 104, Subfarm Number 1, Land Register/land roll number 157, 1838 parcel number 252).

Worthy of note: “Hans A” was also the name of one of the witnesses to the wedding…

It will be shown that:

• Olaus Larssen was one of Laura’s brothers (born in 1932).
• Katrine Larsdatter was one of Laura’s sisters (Kathrine Maria, born 1837). She was married to Bernt Olsen, so the “Laren [maybe…] K Olsen” who was a witness at the marriage may be related to her husband).
• Halvor Larssen was one of Laura’s brothers (born 1831, died 1907)

View the original church records:

• Parish register (official) no. I 1, 1877-1881, p. 75, entry number 32
• Parish register (copy) no. I 4, 1877-1884, p. 58, entry number 23

1878: Move to Rakkestad

Anton and Laura moved from Eidsvoll to Rakkestad (Anton’s home) in 1878:

• View the original church record: Parish register (official) no. I 12, 1878-1893, p. 278, entries number 15 and 16.

1878: Birth of son Syver

Syver was born 26 August in Rakkestad. View the church record of his birth:  Parish register (official) no. I 12, 1878-1893, p. 7, Male entry number 37

1880: Birth of daughter Maren Louise

Maren Louise was born 13 June 1880 in Rakkestad. View the church record of her birth: Parish register (official) no. I 12, 1878-1893, p. 22, Female entry number 30

1882: Birth of son Ludvig

Ludvig was born 7 August 1892 in Tune. View the church record of his birth: Parish register (official) no. 17, 1878-1887, p. 80, Male entry number 78.

1884: Birth of son Karl Magnus

Karl Magnus was born 8 May 1884 in Tune. View the church record of his birth: Parish register (official) no. 17, 1878-1887, p. 118, Male entry number 40.

1886: Birth of daughter Inger Marie

Inger Marie was born 31 January 1886 in Skiptvet. View the church record of her birth: Parish register (official) no. 9, 1878-1900, p. 41, Female entry number 6.

1891: Census

Laura was enumerated on the January 1, 1891 Norwegian Census living in Census district: 002 Broen, Rural residence: 0095 Haugaardsplads, Rakkestad, Ostfold, Norway. Note that the year of birth is 1847.

1891: Death Record

When she died in Rakkestad, Østfold, Norway on 1 April 1891 her death record confirmed her date of birth and expanded the place of birth to Eidsvolds Verk. The cause of death was “Lungebetennesle” (pneumonia).

View the original church image

• Parish register (official) no. I 12, 1878-1893, p. 272, Female Entry number 8

 

Who were her parents?

Theory #1: Her father was Lars Halvorsen and he remained in Eidsvoll, Akershus

As noted above, her 1877 marriage record indicated that her father was "Lars Halvorsen". The Norwegian census records identify several people named Lars Halvorsen living in Eidsvoll, Akershus:

• Lars Halvorsen (b. 1783) and his wife Maria Christophersdatter (b. 1788) were living with their son Christian Larsen (b. 1825) and his wife Marthe Andersdatter (b. 1825) and their daughter Marte Christiansdatter (b. 1862) at the time of the 1865 census (view the transcription). He would have been 61 when Laura was born and 94 when she was married.
• Lars Halvorsen (b. 1788) was living with his son Johannes Larsen (b. 1831) and his wife Andrine Larsdatter (b. 1831) and several children at the time of the 1865 census (view the transcription). He would have been 56 when Laura was born and 89 when she was married.
• Lars Halvorsen (b. 1819) living in Eidsvoll, Akershus at the time of the 1875 census. This one was married to Henrike Hansdatter (b. 1838), and they had several children living with them: Marten Larsen (b. 1858), Marie Larsdatter (b. 1864) and Martine Larsdatter (b. 1866). Henrike's sister (Gusta Hansdatter, b. 1852) was also living with the family (view the transcription).  They are also recorded in the 1865 census (view the transcription). Given her age, Henrike could not have been the mother of Laura.
  • He married Henrikke Hanssatter on December 30, 1863.  According to the marriage record, he was a was a widower, his birth place was "v. Vaaler" (Våler in Hedmark?), and his father was Halvor Olsen. Witnesses were Ole Halvorsen from Maa (could this be "Vaa.?) and Peder Halvorsen from Fremmind (view the transcription).
• Lars Halvorsen (b. 1823) living in Eidsvoll, Akershus at the time of the 1875 census. He was married to Dortea Larsdatter (b. 1818), and they had a daughter named Laura Larsdatter (b. 1851) who was married to Ole Olsen (b. 1849) living with them at the time (view the transcription). They are also recorded in the 1865 census (view the transcription).
• Lars Halvorsen (b. 1825) living on the Lesjabraaten Tudlidalen in EIdsvold Prgj. at the time of the 1865 census (view the transcription). He was married to Maren H Armundsdatter and had three daughters (Albertine, b. 1858, Alava b. 1862 and Berte b. 1865) and a son (Hakon, b. 1860). Laura's birth date (1844) is not a good fit for this family, although it is possible.
• Lars Halvorsen (b. 1830) living on the Johnsbraatebakken in EIdsvold Prgj. at the time of the 1865 census (view the transcription). He was an unmarried border and would have been 14 years old at the time of Laura's birth, so he probably is not her father.

Based on the census records, the most likely candidate is the last Lars Halvorsen (b. 1819), although Laura would have been the result of an earlier marriage (prior to his marriage to Henrike Hansdatter in 1863).  He would have been about 25 at the time of Laura's birth, and 58 at the time of her marriage, so the ages appear to be appropriate.

• He was born about 1819 in "v. Vaaler"
• His fathers name was Halvor Olsen
• He was a widower (Enkemand) when his marriage to Henrikke Hansdatter occurred on 30 December 1863 in Eidsvold.
  • He was 44 years old at the time of this marriage
  • His wife (Henrikke Hansdatter) was an unmarried female (Pige) born in 1838: she was about 25 years old at the time. Her father was Hans Olsen.
  • He had two best men/witnesses (Trulovar):
    • Ole Halvorsen who lived in Maa
    • Peder Halvorsen who lived in Fremmind

Ole Halvorsen and Peder Halvorsen *may* be the brothers of Lars Halvorsen (based on nothing more than their names).

• Vaaler (Våler) is located 70 km/43 miles miles Northeast of Eidsvoll (View on Google Maps)
• Google Maps was not able to locate Maa and Fremmind: they must be farm names.

We can infer that the first/prior marriage of Lars Halvorsen occurred after 1840 (when he was 20 years old), and that his wife died before 1863. Since Laura was born in EIdsvold in 1844 it is probable that the first marriage also took place in Eidsvold, probably between 1840 and 1844.

• Lars Halvorsen is indexed in the 1865 census: View the transcription
• Lars Halvorsen is indexed in the 1875 census: View the transcription

I have created a tree for the Lars Halvorsen family in the FamilySearch Family Tree. You are required to have an account to view the information, but the accounts are free. Feel free to View the tree and add anything you know about the family.

May 2019 Update: This Lars Halvorsen is NOT her father.... I had access to the  Eidsvoll Bygdebok while visiting the Norwegian American Genealogical Center Naeseth Library in Madison, Wisconsin. His first wife was Henrikke Olsdatter (b. 1825, d. 1859). Their children were Ole, Kristiana, Hans and Martin: no mention of Laura.

Theory #2: Her father was Lars Abrahamsen from Eidsvoll Verk

In  an email dated 22 September, 2009, Dag Terje Byman Andersen states that research performed by his mother in 2004 suggests that the mother of Laura Larsdatter was "Anne Margrethe Larsdatter". He provided a link to the following post made by  Eva Anderson (translated using Google Translate from Norwegian - the original Norwegian is provided below):

25768: Laura Larsdtr. October 14th, Eidsvoll Værk, Akershus
County: User Forum

Eva Andersen, Holmestrand, 15.11.2004 13:52 (1)

She married 1877 in Eidvoll with Anton Martin Syversen born in 1841 in Rakkestad, Østfold. Daughter Anne Helene was baptized in Eidvoll on 2 April 1877. Lars Halvorsen is listed as Lauras father, but where did he come from and who was her mother?
Mvh eve

Eva Andersen, Holmestrand, 15.11.2004 13:54 (2)
Laura was born in 1844.

Trond Lunde, Oslo, 16.11.2004 20:23 (3)

Lauras father was Lars Abrahamsson from Abrahams at Eidsvoll Verk, b. 1798: Link and d. 10.11.1863: Link. He was married to Anne Margrete Larsdotter, born 1801, on 14.08.1858: Link.

They had the kids:

1. Abraham, b. 22.11.1824
2. Marte Margrete, born 1827
3. Halvor, b. 1831, d. 1907. User at Rødshaugen.
4. Olaus, b. 1832. To Bråten west gnr. 103 bnr. 6
5. Kristiane, b. 1835, d. 12.08.1897. unmarried
6. Katrine Marie, b. 1838
7. Henrikke, born 1842, d. 1921. Residing at Finnsbråtan, the Goldworks
8. Laura, f. 14.10.1844.

In service at Abrahams, Bråten 1865, 1877 Anton Martin Syversen from Rakkestad. Olaus, Katrine and Halvor were among the fathers [sponsors?] of Anne Helene's [first daughter of Anton Martin Syverson and Laura Larsdatter] baptism 21.05.1877.

Eva Andersen, Holmestrand, 17.11.2004 21:15 (4)
Thank you very much to Trond Lunde, Oslo! Greetings Eva

There are several facts that support this as a viable option:

• He lived in Eidsvoll
• His given name was Lars
• He had children who could/would have been sponsors for the birth of a niece
• Laura's birth date is reasonable given the ages of her alleged parents and siblings

The main sticking point for accepting this theory is Lars' surname (Abrahamsson): It does not match the information provided in the marriage record of Laura and Anton Martin Syverson...

June 2019 Update: There appears to be further support for this theory... I contacted Trond Øivindsson Lunde who is one of the administrators for the "Norway OSL-AKR Oslo & Akershus" DNA projects on FamilyTree DNA. asking for his help. Here is his 9 June 2019 reply:

There is no doubt that Lars Halvorsen is wrong for Lars Abrahamsen in the wedding record of 1877. And several of the godparents to Anne Helene were siblings to Laura.

The death records for Eidsvoll showing Lars Abrahamsen died 10 November 1863, age 66

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/sk20090525310005

His children are listed as Marthe Margrethe 37, Halvor 33, Olaus 31, Christiana 29. Cathrine Marie 27, Lovise 23, Henrikke 21 and Laura 19

Death Record for Lars Abrahamsen from the Eidsvoll Magistrates's Death Notices - Death Case Protocol document.

Source: Digital Archives of Norway, L0002 - Death Announcement Record - The Sorcerer's Letter, SAO / A-10371 / H / Ha / Haa / L0002

DNA Results

Several promising DNA matches have emerged that seem to confirm Theory #2 (Lars Abrahamson from Eidsvoll).

MyHeritage DNA

MyHeritage introduced their "Theory of Family Relativity" tool in February 2019. It combines family tree information associated with DNA matches with information available from other sources to suggest how two DNA matches may be related. I examined each match and finally found one that appears to confirm the Lars Abrahamsen theory.

Proof:

• I begin by assuming that the Lars Abrahamsen death record discussed above shows that Halvor Larsen is the son of Lar Abrahamsen and Anna Margrete Larsdatter

• The birth of Anna Marie Halvorsdatter was documented in the Church book from Eidsvoll parish 1815-1865. County: Akershus, Municipality: Eidscoll, Geographic area: EIdsvoll parish, Start Year: 1851, End Year: 1865, Births and baptisms.

• The birth of Anna's daughter Mathilde Ludvigsdatter was recorded in the Eidsvoll vickarage Church Books 1882 - 1895, Page 22, Female Entry number 91 ( https://media.digitalarkivet.no/view/3467/22647/23 ) and in the Eidsvoll vickarage Church Books 1877 - 1884, Page 105, Entry number 88 ( https://media.digitalarkivet.no/view/498/119082/54 ) - shown below:

• The birth of Mathilde Ludvigsdatter's son Bjarne Østli was recorded in the Church book from Eidsvoll local parish 1919-1929, Entry Number 37, Line Number 1050, Page Number 2022 ( https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6833-4KLC ):

• I can only assume that the DNA match is actually the daughter of Bjarne Østli.

Several other Theory of Family Relativity matches also support this relationship.

Ancestry DNA

The ThruLines tools recently made available by Ancestry.com have provided some additional information. As of February, 2022 there are 11 DNA matches associated with conventional family tree information for two of Abraham Jonsen's sons: Jon Abrahansen and Lars Abrahamsen.

If I assume that each of the DNA matches below have correctly identified their parents I can validate relationships back to Abraham Jonsen.

FamilyTreeDNA

I have identified a relative who would be a direct female descendant of Anne Margaret Larsdatter (wife of Lars Abrahamsen) if the relationship is valid. She agreed to submit a DNA sample for a Mitochrondrial DNA test. The results indicate that she belongs to Haplogroup H2a3: so far, she has only 10 matches which have revealed no additional insight.

FamilySearch Family Tree

I have utilized the Family Search Family Tree to begin to associate the information suggested in the ThruLines and the Theory of Family Relativity matches.

Here is a link to Jon Larsson and Mari Marte Kristensdatter (the couple at the top of the tree below) on Family Search:

Here is a link to Abraham Jonsson and Margrethe Sofie Larsdatter (the couple at the top of the tree below) on Family Search:

Current DNA Descendants of Abraham Johnsen Bråten

Help Still Needed!

If you have any information about this family I would really appreciate hearing from you.

• Send me email: aehanson at (@) swbell.net
• Add information on the FamilySearch Family Tree:
  • Here is a link to Jon Larsson and Mari Marte Kristensdatter
  • Here is a link to Abraham Jonsson and Margrethe Sofie Larsdatter