Christian Invart Olesen--A character from the Dark Side of my Tree

    

Christian Invart Olesen
Carte de visite

Back of Carte de visite

     My paternal great great grandfather, Christian Invart Olesen, has been mentioned in numerous blogs on Flipside; however I have not spent the time putting together his story....until now.  Frankly, he has been somewhat elusive.  He died rather young and his widowed wife and several of his children, who crossed the pond, did not speak of him.  At least not to anyone who could have passed a story or two along to me.  Another stumbling block has been that he lived and died in West Hartlepool, England and obtaining records across the pond can be difficult.

     Fortunately, I do have a good genealogy friend, Heather, who lives about 10 or 15 miles away from Hartlepool.  She has sent me "bits and bobs" about my Durham County family over the years. There is also a fellow who lives in Hartlepool, who occasionally sends me family information that he finds in newspaper and church records.  The Olesen file begins to fill.

     A month or so ago, Heather emailed me to say that there is now a website with a search engine of numerous UK newspapers.  She decided to sign up for one month to access the records.  Without paying the search engine will find the names, although you only get a snippet of the article.

     She has located numerous articles about my West Hartlepool relations and the ones she sent to me on the Olesen Family has filled in some gaps in my research....enough so, that I think I can finally do a blog on Christian Invart Olesen.

     Christian was born about 1844 in Denmark, the son of Ole Tonne Olesen, a master mariner.  To date I have not found the actual date of his birth or what city or town in Denmark he was from. Christian also followed his father's lead in a seafaring life.  His primary occupation was that of owning a ship chandler shop in West Hartlepool.  He was also listed as a seaman, a clerk for a ship broker and a ship's steward over his lifetime.

1871 United Kingdom Census
Ferdinande Weiss Family and Boarders

     The first record of my great great grandfather in West Hartlepool, England is the 1871 United Kingdom census.  He is a boarder in the home of Ferdinande Weiss on Victoria Terrace, Stranton, West Hartlepool.  Christian is employed as a clerk for a ship broker.  My interest in this census report is not only Christian.  Ferdinande Weiss is the widow of Frederick Heindrich Adolph Weiss and the mother of Adolph and Ferdinande.

      Three years after the census, on August 30, 1874, Christian Olesen, age 30, married Ferdinande Weiss, age 19, at Christ Church, West Hartlepool, England.  Ferdinande's brother, Adolph Weiss and Mary Middlemass were the witnesses.  Two years later Adolph and Mary married in Hartlepool.

     The Olesen's first child, Frederick Adolph Olesen, was born on March 4, 1875 in West Hartlepool, England.  My paternal great grandmother, Elizabeth Ferdinande Olesen, was born on October 16, 1876, also in West Hartlepool, England.  Next was William Christian Olesen, born on March 18, 1880.  Emily Maud Olesen, April 1883 in Sunderland, England was their fourth child.  April 27, 1885 was the birth date of Adolph Heindrich Weiss Olesen.  Adoph died at age fifteen in January 24, 1901 in West Hartlepool.  George Invart Olesen was born on December 4, 1887 and died in December 1888. The Olesen's last child, Ernest Alfred Olesen was born on April 19, 1891 in West Hartlepool, England.

     The few years following their marriage and the birth of their first two children appear to have been difficult for the Olesen's.  When my great grandmother was born in 1876, the address listed on her baptism record is Scarbrough Street, which begs the question....were the Olesen's living in the same house as Ferdinande's mother?

The Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough
North Yorkshire, England
February 8, 1877
page 2

     In February 1877, Christian lost his ship chandler shop through bankruptcy.

     On December 4, 1977, Christian appeared in court to answer a charge of threatening a man in West Hartlepool, England.

The Northern Evening Mail
Friday, June 14, 1978
page 3

   
     On June 13, 1878, Christian was charged by his mother-in-law with threatening language and threatening to kill her son, Alfred Weiss.  He also became physical smashing the lock to the front door and entering the house.  The newspaper article lists his residence at that time as the Royal Hotel. Was he staying there alone or with his family.  Or was the family staying with Ferdinande Weiss at her home on Scarbrough Street?

     Christian was listed as unemployed in the 1881 United Kingdom census report.  There is no way of knowing how bills and rent were paid or what employment was available to Christian in West Hartlepool at that time, especially with residents knowledge of his violent behavior. 

The Northern Daily Mail
Hartlepool, England
Monday, February 2, 1885
page 4

        

     A new wrinkle to add to Christian's unsavory character, theft and time spent in prison.  I have to admit at this point, I can readily see why no mention of this fellow was given to succeeding generations in the United States.   

      He is not enumerated on the 1891 United Kingdom census.  Ferdinande is listed as married.  Perhaps he is at sea giving her some much needed relief.

     Christian left this world the way he seemed to live it....dramatically.  On his way to work, he stopped in at a local hotel to have a drink before boarding a train to Middlesbrough to join his ship. The article indicates that he was employed as a ship's stewart.  Due to the unusual nature of the death, there was an inquest and it was determined that my paternal great great grandfather died from syncope.

"Syncope is temporary loss of consciousness and posture, described as "fainting" or "passing out." It's usually related to temporary insufficient blood flow to the brain. It most often occurs when the blood pressure is too low (hypotension) and the heart doesn't pump a normal supply of oxygen to the brain." (from the American Heart Association website http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Arrhythmia/SymptomsDiagnosisMonitoringofArrhythmia/Syncope-Fainting_UCM_430006_Article.jsp#.VvVgu3z2bIU)

     Truthfully, the story of Christian Invart Olesen may have been better left a "brick wall,"  although every family history does need a few colorful characters to enhance the tale.  I thank my friend Heather, for putting up with me during the research process...continually emailing her with new finds to copy for me and for her diligence in responding and finding Olesen articles on her own.  I think we fully mined the "free" month of the newspaper website.     

   
Christian Invart Olesen  time line on timetoast

Christian Invart Olesen Life in Denmark

Olesen's on Find A Grave:

Ferdinande Weiss Olesen

Elizabeth Ferdinande Olesen Hughes

William Christian Olesen

Emily Olesen Richards/Brown

Olesen's on Flipside:

1.  William Christian Olesen naturalization.  Christian's son
2.  William Christian Olesen blog.
3.  Ferdinande Weiss Olesen Bible.  Christian's wife.  Also Ferdinanda.  My paternal great great grandmother.
4,  Elizabeth Olesen Hughes.  Christian's daughter and my paternal great grandmother.  Search for blogs about her on Flipside search engine.
5.  Frederick Adolph Olesen
6.  Frederick Adolph Olesen--Addendum
7.  Emily Maud Olesen Richards Brown.  Christian's daughter
8.  Ole Christensen and Lisbeth Laustdatter.  Christian's parents in Denmark

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published.    PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.

© 2016, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser



Ferdinande Weiss Olesen

Ferdinande Weiss Olesen
circa 1870
West Hartlepool, England
carte de visite

     I seem to be finally getting around to blogging about my Olesen roots.  To be fair, I have only had bits and pieces of research until recently, especially on the two who remained in West Hartlepool, England.

     This lady, Ferdinande Weiss Olesen, did immigrate to the United States and lived with several of her adult children in Aliquippa and Monaca, Beaver County, Pennsylvania area.  She is my paternal great great grandmother.

     So many names.  It is somewhat difficult to actually know what her first name was.  I have seen Ferdinande, Ferdinando, Ferdinanda.  Nickname--Ann, Anne, Annie.  Comparing the documents I have found to date, it appears that my great great grandmother was called Ferdinande in England and it changed to Ferdinanda when she lived in the United States.  When she signed her marriage license, it was Ferdinande.

    Ferdinande was born on November 14, 1855 in Hamburg, Germany.  Her parents were Frederick Heindrich Adolph Weiss and Ferdinande Lehman. She joined brother, Adolph Herman W. Weiss. I do not know when the Weiss family immigrated to England, and in particular to the town of Hartlepool, They are enumerated as residents there on the 1861 census.  Oddly, Ferdinande is listed as 18 months old on that census, which would make her birth date about 1859 and not 1855.  Later census reports and her marriage license show her birth year to be 1855.

      Ferdinande's father was employed in various shipping positions in Hartlepool, which was an important business industry during the Victorian era to this active port town.  It also appears that the Weiss family had boarders in their home for additional income.  The boarders were also involved in the shipping industry.

     On November 27, 1870, when she was fifteen, Ferdinande's father died.  To provide income for the family following his death, son Adolph was employed as an apprentice to an outfitter and Ferdinande worked as a dressmaker.  Additionally, three male boarders were living in their home on Victoria Station, Stranton, West Hartlepool, England.  One of the three, Christian Invart Olesen, married Ferdinande four years later.

Marriage License for
Christian Invart Olesen and Ferdinande Weiss
1874

     

     On August 30, 1874 Christian and Ferdinande married at Christ's Church, West Hartlepool, England.  The marriage license gives a glimpse into my family genealogy.  Both of the father's names are listed for the newly weds.  The two people who signed as witnesses are Ferdinande's brother, Adolph Weiss, and Mary Middlemass  This couple married two years later.  Both Christian and Ferdinande were literate and could spell their name.  Of note:  My paternal great great grandmother's name is spelled Ferdinande with the final e written over.

     Seven children were born to Christian and Ferdinande:

1. Frederick Adolph Olesen, March 4, 1875-after 1946.
2. Elizabeth Ferdinande Olesen, October 16, 1876-October 11, 1961.  Married John George Hughes.  My paternal great grandparents.
3. Christian William Olesen, March 18, 1880-December 1, 1946.
4. Emily Maud Olesen, April, 1883-July 25, 1958.  Married Rowland Richards and Peter Leo Brown.
5. Adolph Heindrich Weiss Olesen, April 27, 1885-Jan 24, 1901.
6. George Invart Olesen, December 4, 1887-December 1888.
7. Ernest Alfred Olesen, April 19, 1891-After 1947.  Married Ann Wanless.

     From various newspaper articles found in both Hartlepool and Middlesbrough, England, it appears that Ferdinande did not lead a calm domestic life.  Her husband, Christian's ship chandler business, was bankrupt by 1877.  Several articles indicate that he had a volatile temper that lead him to serve time doing hard labor.  Her eldest son was also in trouble with the law, brought before the local court and served time doing hard labor. One 1894 article exposed him as threatening her and the police were summoned. She also had to deal with the sorrow of losing to young sons.

     Ferdinande's husband died on October 17, 1892 from somewhat mysterious circumstances.  From newspapers articles, he left for work in good health, stopped at the Victoria Hotel for a whiskey while waiting to catch a train for Middlesbrough.  Before he could enjoy his drink he dropped over dead. The cause of death was ruled syncope.

     On March 19, 1898, George Henry Hughes, Ferdinande's first grandchild was born, in West Hartlepool, England, to her daughter Elizabeth Ferdinande Olesen Hughes and her husband John George Hughes.  This is my link to the family.  George Henry Hughes is my paternal grandfather and John George Hughes and Elizabeth Olesen Hughes are my paternal great grandparents.

     The Olesen family lived at two different residences on Bolton Street during the 1890's and early 1900's.  To provide for the family, Ferdinande worked outside the home.  Son, Bill was employed as a sawyer (a person who saws lumber) and daughter Emily, a dressmaker.

Ferdinande Weiss Olesen
West Hartlepool, England
Photo post card
Circa 1899

 
     My guess is that this photo was taken in the front yard at 7 Bolton Street in West Hartlepool.  Unfortunately, Bolton Street no longer exists, so I was not able to see the house when I visited in 2003.

Immigration of the Olesen's to the United States

     On May 8, 1906, Ferdinande's daughter, grandchild and son in law (the Hughes family) left Liverpool, England for the United States.  Bill, Emily, Ernest were still living at home.  A year later, Elizabeth and nine year old son, George Henry returned to West Hartlepool for a visit.  In July 1910, Elizabeth Hughes returned to West Hartlepool and her brother, Bill Olesen accompanied her back to the United States. At that time Ferdinande was living at 73 South Parade in West Hartlepool.  

    On February 26, 1920, son Ernest (Ernie) along with his wife Ann and young son, Oscar sailed from Liverpool, England for the United States and made their home in the New York City area.

     Bill Olesen crossed the pond and prepared for the final crossing of the Olesen's.  This included Ferdinande, her daughter Emily Olesen Richards accompanied by Bill Olesen aboard the Aquitania on July 1920 leaving Liverpool and arriving in New York City on July 24, 1920.  Emily was detained due to illness.  The family stayed with Ernest Olesen and family in Brooklyn until Emily was well and able to travel to Woodlawn (now Aliquippa, Pennsylvania).  Son, Frederick Olesen remained in England.

     It must have been a full house at 131 Spring Avenue, Woodlawn, Pennsylvania.  The house was owned by Jones Laughlin Steel Company (a company home) and rented to John George Hughes.  In the house lived, John, Elizabeth and George Hughes; Bill Olesen; Ferdinande Olesen; Emily Olesen Richards and her husband Rowland Richards.

     Following the death of John George Hughes on May 20, 1921, the Olesen family remaining at 131 Spring Avenue were Elizabeth Olesen Hughes, Bill Olesen and Ferdinande Olesen.  From the 1940 United States census, it appears that the group remained at the home in Aliquippa at least until 1935. Bill Olesen was also employed by J&L Steel.

My Dad with his great grandmother Olesen

     By the 1940 United States census the family had moved to 1298 Washington Avenue, Monaca, Beaver County, Pennsylvania.  Stories and memories of this house have been supplied to me by my Aunt Faith, who lived here from about 1946-1950.  She does remember both her great grandmother Ferdinande Weiss Olesen, her Grand Uncle Bill Olesen and Grand Aunt Emily Richards/Brown.

     

Map showing where the Olesen's moved after
leaving Aliquippa, Pennsylvania

     On February 15, 1942, Ann Olesen died at home in Monaca, Pennsylvania at the age of 87.  She is buried in the Hughes family plot, Woodlawn Cemetery, Aliquippa, Beaver County, Pennsylvania.

Other Blogs on Flipside for Ferdinande Weiss Olesen:

-Tombstone Tuesday--Ferdinande Weiss Olesen

-Ferdinande Weiss Olesen with family dog in West Hartlepool, England

-Marriage Record of Christian Olesen and Ferdinande Weiss

-Ferdinande Weiss Olesen Psalms Bible

Other Olesen Blogs on Flipside:

Christian Invart Olesen--Anne husband

Frederick Adolph Olesen, son of Christian and Ann Olesen

Elizabeth Ferdinande Olesen Hughes, daughter of Christian and Ann Olesen.  Search for her too.

William Christian Olesen, son of Christian and Ann Olesen

Emily Maude Olesen Richards Brown, daughter of Christian and Ann Olesen

Ernest Alfred Olesen, son of Christian and Ann Olesen

 

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published.    PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.

© 2016, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser



Frederick Adolph Olesen--A chip off the old block

    

     Sheesh, this Olesen family just doesn't yield.  The apple doesn't fall far from the tree....like father like son......

Prayer Book of
Ferdinande Weiss Olesen

     Fredrick Adolph Olesen (also Frederick) was born on March 4, 1875, Hartlepool, England to Christian Invart Olesen and Ferdinande Weiss.  Records seem to indicate that Christian was employed at Frederick's birth as a ship's chandler and the family was living on Scarbrough Street in West Hartlepool.  Perhaps they were housed with Ferdinande's widowed mother.  Fredrick's birth record is listed on the FreeBMD. England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915, Registration Year: 1875, Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar, Registration district: Hartlepool, Inferred County: Durham, Volume: 10a, Page: 227.   It is also important to note that Fredrick was named for his maternal grandfather, Fredrick Heindrich Adolph  Weiss. And, that the spelling of Fredrick's name changed over the years to Frederick.

     Over the years, six siblings joined Frederick in the Olesen household--two sisters and four brothers.  Also over the years, the Olesen's moved from home to home in West Hartlepool, suffered financial setbacks and dealt daily with a father/husband who was, to say the least, very abusive and probably alcoholic.  (See Christian Invart Olesen on Flipside)

     I can remember back in 2003, when my brothers and I had the pleasure of actually spending time in West Hartlepool, England and meeting Hughes family members, that I asked one of the oldest if he knew what happened to Frederick Olesen.  His spin on the story was that Fred Olesen went to America.  At that time and up until a month ago, I had no idea where Frederick landed in life.  Two of his younger brothers died at young ages.  His mother, two sisters, Elizabeth and Emily and two brothers, Bill and Ernie, immigrated to the United States in the early 1900's. But, what about Fred??

     When his mother died in 1942, the obituary lists Fred, using his nickname, Best Olesen, as living in New Castle....that would be Newcastle in the UK, not New Castle, Pennsylvania ;-)  In 1946, in the obituary of his brother, Bill Olesen, Frederick is listed as living in West Hartlepool, England.  

     The 1891 United Kingdom census report lists Frederick, age sixteen, employed as a pottery laborer and living at 4 Bolton Street, Stranton, West Hartlepool, England. (1891 United Kingdom Census, Ref:RG12/4064  Folio:59)

     Once again, my UK friend Heather and her "free" subscription to an online newspaper archive began to shine some light on Frederick "Best" Olesen....who by the way....was certainly NOT the best of the Olesen bunch.  Yes, Best, seemed to have been a very attentive son, learning the behaviors of his father.  Nothing to be proud of.

Northern Daily Mail
West Hartlepool, England
Friday, August 17, 1894
page 3

     

    At the age of nineteen, Frederick was sentenced to two months of hard labor for assaulting his mother over her choice of the dinner menu one evening.  This article gives some insight into the two family members and their responses to the court. Ferdinande, that she was working and the wage earner following her husbands death. Frederick, who was not employed and apparently using his father's death, two years earlier, as a excuse.   Also, Frederick trying to push the blame of his abusive response to his mother on her, that she only called the police because she wanted him to be sent away. My response--smart Mom 

     

Northern Daily Mail
West Hartlepool, England
Saturday, April 23, 1898
page 8

    

     Theft at the age of twenty three and back to prison for stealing a bike.  Again, blaming his behavior on an employee at the cafe and a smart aleck reply to the judge.

     Recently I noticed that Frederick has a 1901 UK census enumeration, listed as a lodger along with a number of men of various ages in Throston an area within the Hartlepool, England area.  Once again, Heather to the rescue.  The census lists Frederick as a shipyard laborer, a lodger living at 221 Model Lodging House. (United Kingdom 1901 Census, Durham County, Hartlepool, Throston Parish, page 89)  Heather also sent me a link to an on line article regarding Model Lodging Houses.  Lodging Houses prior to the 1840's provided unsanitary, miserable lodging for many of the migrants who relocated to the UK during the industrial revolution.  By 1850, the Common Lodging House Act was enacted and encouraged a more healthy living environment for the lodgers.  Whether this goal was achieved is debatable; however the article goes on to state that many model lodging houses were opened throughout England. (http://www.historyhouse.co.uk/articles/lodging_houses.html)

    

Northern Daily Mail
West Hartlepool, England
Friday, September 14, 1923

    

     This final newspaper article continues to show that Frederick lived a life a crime....some petty, some not.  At the age of forty eight he had already served time for twenty seven convictions.

     Nothing further on this bad seed in my family tree.  The two aforementioned obituaries show that he was still alive in 1946.  To date no death certificate has been found.

     I have often wondered what the reasoning behind my UK family immigrating to the US...perhaps for the Olesen's...it was to distance themselves from Frederick and the disreputable legacy of Christian Invart Olesen, husband and father. 

Also on Flipside:

Frederick Adolph Olesen--Addendum

1.  William Christian Olesen naturalization.  Frederick's brother

2.  William Christian Olesen blog.

3.  Ferdinande Weiss Olesen Bible.  Frederick's mother.  Also Ferdinanda.  My paternal great great grandmother.

4,  Elizabeth Olesen Hughes.  Frederick's sister and my paternal great grandmother.  Search for blogs about her on Flipside search engine.

5.  Christian Invart Olesen, Frederick's father

6.  Emily Maud Olesen Richards Brown.  Frederick's sister

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published.    PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.

© 2016, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser



Christian Invart Olesen--Finale--Maybe

     

     A final wrap on my paternal great great grandfather, Christian Invart Olesen, at least until some new document comes to light.  Thanks to Susanne S. Skaaning I now have documentation to fill in some  of the empty blanks in Christian's life in Denmark.

Birth Record provided by Susanne Skaaning

Haurvig, Holmsland Kilt, Hind, Ringkobing, Denmark
Nysogn Kontraministerialbog 1839-1847 FKVDJTA, AO 14_

     In Denmark, he was born Kristian which is Christian.  On the census he appears as Christian.  My great great grandfather was born on April 23, 1842 in Haurvig, Holmsland Kilt, Hind, Ringkobing, Denmark.  He was the second child of Ole Christensen, a farmer and fisherman, and Lisbeth Laustdatter.  Listing him with his middle name, Ingvard, has helped to identify him both in Denmark and in England.  The middle name was his maternal grandfather's first name, Ingvard Sorensen.

1845 Denmark Census
Hovvig, Nysogn, Hind,, Ringkobing, Denmark

     I have found it unusual that he was only enumerated with his father and mother on Denmark census reports once during his life in Denmark--and that was when he was one year old.  What happened?  Where was he? 

Confirmation Record for Kristian Ingvardt Olesen
Sonder Bork Church
Sonder Bork Kontraministerialbog 1846-1864 FKVDJTA, A0 46

     A recently located  record Susanne found of my paternal great great grandfather in Denmark is a Confirmation at Sonder Bork Church in 1859.  Of interest on this document is Henrik Olesen, Kristian's older brother, who was also confirmed at Sonder Bork Church in 1897.  His name is number four on the document and Kritian's name is at the bottom.  At the time of his confirmation, Kristian/Christian, age seventeen, was living with his uncle (his mother's brother), Niels Soren Laustsen, a farmer.

     To date the only other piece of the Denmark paper trail is a census report from 1860.  Listed as Christian Ingvart Olesen, he is enumerated with a family in Nymindega, Ribe, Denmark.  The family does not appear to be related to Christian.  My paternal great great grandfather is listed as a servant in the house and the house father's occupation is a tradesman.  Perhaps Christian was also an apprentice to the head of the household.

     Certainly census reports are a brief snapshot into someones life.  Perhaps he was living with his parents between census reports.  And yet, the immigration report that has recently come to light shows that he immigrated to England from Ribe, Denmark.  Was he living there from 1860 to his emigration in 1869 or 1870?  Both Susanne and I have searched through Danish emigration records and have not been able to locate Christian leaving Denmark.  Perhaps this description of Danish emigration found on My Danish Roots.com provides some insight.

Emigration from 1868-1914

On May 1., 1868—after a series of unfortunate incidents of ticket fraud etc.—the Danish authorities passed a strict law to protect the emigrants. The ticket agents now had to deposit a larger sum of money at the police to cover any demands for compensation. Also sub-agents had to be registered at the police and every ticket sold had to be validated at the local police office. Furthermore there now was a limit on how many emigrants a ship could carry and how much food should be aboard the ships.

The law meant that the Commissioner of the Copenhagen Police after 1868 systematically registered any person who emigrated from a Danish port using a Danish ticket agent; both those who left directly from Copenhagen or other Danish ports and those who left indirectly, i.e. via an English port. These registers—recording emigrants year-by-year and arranged alphabetically by their surname—end at 1940 and 1935 respectively. Although these registers comprises the vast majority of Danish emigrants they do NOT cover those emigrants who bought their tickets outside Denmark or those who—for some reason—didn''t buy a ticket at all (e.g. sailors jumbing ship). The registers are available for research on microfishe at most Danish archives and mayor libraries, but for the years 1868-1908 they are also made available for online search at the Danish Emigration Archive.

      I have not been able to locate the term"jumbing ship" or maybe it is "jumping ship"; however, the fact that sailors on the ship did not seem to require a ticket could provide a reason there is not an emigration record for my great great grandfather.  Christian's English records list his occupation as a shop owner dealing with shipping goods and as a ship's steward.  Perhaps one reason there are few Danish records for him is that he was already involved with the occupation of sailor or fisherman as a young man and was not present for census enumeration. 

     I do love maps ;-)  This one shows the three areas that I now have documentation of Christian Ingvart Olesen as having lived while in Denmark.  

Additional blogs on Christian Invart Olesen are on Flipside.  There is a search engine to locate more information about him.

Christian Invart Olesen on Timetoast Timelines.

     

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published.    PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.

© 2018, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser



Tombstone Tuesday--William Christian Olesen

     Known as Bill Olesen, he was the son of Christian Invart Olesen and Ferdinande Weiss. He was born in West Hartlepool, Durham County, England on March 18, 1880. Bill’s name seems to have gone through a series of variations over the years. His birth certificate reads Christian W. Olesen, early census reports list his as Wilhelm C. Olesen and on ship manifests and in the states it becomes William Christian Olesen.

     Bill first arrived at Ellis Island on August 7, 1910 from Liverpool, England on the ship, Celtic. He was traveling with his sister and my great grandmother, Elizabeth Olesen Hughes. My great grandmother Hughes had already been in the US for four years and had traveled back to West Hartlepool to visit family and to accompany her younger brother across the pond. Bill probably lived with the Hughes family once he arrived in the US.

     I do not know how long Bill stayed in the United States.  During the summer of 1920, Bill traveled from England to the Port of New York.  He was accompanied by his mother, Ferdinande Weiss Olesen, his married sisters, Emily Olesen Richards and Elizabeth Olesen Hughes and Elizabeth's husband, John George Hughes.  They arrived at Ellis Island on July 24, 1920 on the S.S. Aquitania. 

     Emily was detained for several days upon arrival as she was sick. The family stayed in on Long Island with the Ernest Olesen family and once Emily was released from the infirmary, Emily, her husband Rowland Richards, Bill and Ferdinande Olesen traveled to Woodlawn, Pennsylvania. Bill and Ferdinande lived with my great grandparents, John and Elizabeth Olesen Hughes. Emily and Rowland found a home in Monaca, Pennsylvania.

     Bill was employed by Jones & Laughlin Steel Company. On the 1901 United Kingdom census and the 1920 ship manifest he is listed as a sawyer and on the 1910 ship manifest he is listed as a machinist,. An obituary in the Evening Times, Monaca, Pennsylvania dated December 3, 1946, mentions that Bill was retired from the Aliquippa & Southern railroad which was owned and operated by Jones & Laughlin Steel Company. It was an internal railroad that moved steel components between the various steel plants.

    I have no photos of my great grand uncle Bill. I do have some accounts of him from my aunt and father. He was a quiet and gentle man who enjoyed having a hug from his grandniece. He smoked a pipe and enjoyed sitting on the porch. There is a story that Bill left England because he had "stirred up trouble" at his work with the workers against the employer. Perhaps an early striker! My aunt said, "Bill was a fire brand...an organizer for union.”

     Bill died at the family home, 1298 Washington Avenue, Monaca, Beaver County, Pennsylvania on December 2, 1946.

       He was buried in space number one, the Hughes Family plot, Woodlawn Cemetery, Woodlawn (now Aliquippa), Beaver County, Pennsylvania.

Olesen Family also found on Flipside:

1. William Christian Olesen Naturalization Papers
2. Christian Invart Olesen, William's father
3. Frederick Adolph Olesen, William's brother
4. Frederick Adolph Olesen, Addendum
5. Emily Maud Olesen Richards Brown, William's sister
6. Ferdinande Weiss Olesen, William's mother (search engine for other stories)
7. Elizabeth Olesen Hughes, Williams sister (numerous, put her name in the search engine.


Additional information added January 6, 2021

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published.    PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.

© 2009, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

And the Whole Hughes/Olesen Gang was together Crossing the Pond in 1920

          Have I mentioned how much I am loving having access to the English records on Ancestry....just about every other blog recently...LOL  Here is yet another find.

     Years back I located an application for a passport for my paternal Hughes great grandparents.  It was filed on November 6, 1919 and I figured that since John George Hughes, in particular, had not traveled back to West Hartlepool, England since he and his family crossed the pond in 1906, that he was due.  As it turned out, he made it over to visit about a year before his death.  

     A bonus from the passport application, was a photo of my paternal great grandparents.

     My paternal Hughes great grandmother, Elizabeth Olesen Hughes, crossed the pond twice before the 1920 voyage.  Traveling in 1907 to West Hartlepool accompanied by her young son and my paternal grandfather, George Henry Hughes.  This crossing was about fifteen months after the family arrived in the United States.  When I visited Hartlepool in 2003, John Marsh, a Hughes cousin, recalled that whenever Elizabeth would visit, she would leave with a trunk a full of Hughes and Olesen "stuff".

     A second time Elizabeth traveled alone to England.  Her brother, Bill Olesen, accompanied her back to the US in 1910.  I will admit that I need to follow Bill Olesen's travel records.  I do not think he remained in the United States.  He was there for a visit.    

UK map showing itinerary and Olesen home in Seacombe

         

     From other travel records, it appears it took about a week to cross the pond.  John George and Elizabeth Hughes sailed from the Port of New York around December 30 or 31.  They arrived in Liverpool, England on January 6, 1920.  First stop was Elizabeth's mother's home, 39 Clarence, Seacombe, located in a town directly across from Liverpool.  Her mother, my paternal great great grandmother, Ferdinande (Ann/Annie) Weiss Olesen moved from West Hartlepool to Seacombe sometime between 1911-1920.  I have tried to track down who else lived with Ann Olesen.  My guess is, her married daughter, Emily Olesen Richards and her son, William Christian (Bill) Olesen.  Emily's husband Rowland Richards had immigrated in 1914 and was living with John George and Elizabeth Hughes in Woodlawn, Pennsylvania.

     No wonder I was not able to locate my paternal great grandparents on the 1920 census--they were in England....lol.  Years back I wondered where they were as someone else living in their company house, 131 Spring Street, Woodlawn (now Aliquippa), Pennsylvania.

Hughes Green Grocer
70 Florence Street
Longhill, West Hartlepool, England

     John George and Elizabeth stayed in England for over six months.  Certainly a portion of the time was spent in West Hartlepool, probably staying with John George's parents.  There were countless Hughes relations to visit as well as many friends.  Both John George and Elizabeth Hughes were born in West Hartlepool.  

     Years back I had located the immigration records for my Great Great Grandmother Olesen.  She, her son Bill and daughter Emily all traveled from Liverpool on July 17, 1920 to the Port of New York on the S.S. Aquitania arriving on July 24, 1920.  Emily was on medical call on arrival for a possible illness, but discharged at 10:15am.  Her husband, Rowland Richards, had traveled from Woodlawn, Pennsylvania to welcome her to the United States.

      The immediate Olesen and Hughes Family destination was Ann's youngest son's, Ernest Alfred Olesen, home in Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York.

     The information that was found when I added foreign exploration to ancestry was that my paternal great grandparents were also coming back to the United States on the same ship.  Departing on the SS Aquitania on July 17, 1920 from Liverpool and arriving at the Port of New York on July 24, 1920.  The Hughes and Olesen's all traveled back together.  Once everyone returned to Pennsylvania, they all lived together, for a time, at 131 Spring Street, Woodlawn, Pennsylvania.

     Amusing to me.  While John George and Elizabeth Hughes were overseas, their son, and only child, George Henry Hughes, my paternal grandfather, married Sarah Margaret VanGilder.  In a ceremony on June 5, 1920, in Fairmont, West Virginia my paternal grandparents began over fifty years of married life together.  It is said Elizabeth Hughes never wanted her son to marry and I have been told by those who were witnesses, that she was very nasty to my grandmother.  Perhaps one reason is that they married when Elizabeth was too far away to stop the wedding.

Olesen Family Blogs on Flipside

Ferdinande (Annie) Weiss Olesen--wife of Christian Invart Olesen and mother of Elizabeth, Frederick, Bill, Emily and Ernie Olesen.

William (Bill) Christian Olesen

Emily Maude Richards Brown

Frederick Adolph Olesen

Christian Invart Olesen--husband of Annie Olesen and father of Elizabeth, Frederick, Bill, Emily and Ernie Olesen

Ernest Alfred Olesen

   

   

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published.    PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.

© 2020, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser