San fransisco - searching for anchestors

[Mette Glindemann]

Dear fellow users,

I'm searching for a kind soul who could perhaps help me trace down descendants from my ancestors, who immigrated to San fransisco from Denmark back in around 1881

Wife Mariane Nielsen (born Pedersen) born 12/06-1854 in vorupoer, thisted, Denmark
Husband Soren Nielsen (have no additional information about him)
Daughter Mary Nielsen (born in the USA in around 1893)

They allegedly had 3 children in total. Mariane returned to visit her family in 1904, she brought her daughter Mary on this trip. They returned with the ship RMS Carpathia and arrived via Ellis island in NY on September 30. 1904 (ID kode I04N1416) based om this information i was able to find tre ship manifest, where an addresse in San fransisco is noted, it looks like: 1617 torquin street, harbor view in san francisco.

- Is this a true address?
- would it be possible to use this to track down information from back then?

I hope someone can help me break out of my dead end:)

Br Mette

[Paul Løndahl-Smidt]

Hej Mette,

I have just started the search for your ancestors, but yes, there is a Tonquin Street in the Harbor View district of San Francisco.

mvh
Paul

[Paul Løndahl-Smidt]

Hej Mette,

Mariane Pedersen was born in Nørhaa, Thisted.  http://www.danishfamilysearch.dk/churchbook/sogn1721/churchlisting134901/opslag14594264.  Her parents were Peder Christian Christensen and Kirsten Jensdatter.  This is her in the 1880 census.  Note that her husband is Anders Jensen and not Søren Nielsen.
All persons in the household

thisted, Hundborg, Nørhaa, Nørhaa By og Sogn, Et Huus, 57 (7), FT-1880, C6998
Name:     Age:     Marital status:       Position in household:       Occupation:       Birth place:
Anders Jensen    35    Gift    husfader driver en jordlod       Eierslev
Mariane Pedersen    26    Gift    hans kone       Nørhaa
Kjerstine Jensen    under 1 aar    Ugift    deres barn       Nørhaa
Peder Christian Christensen    71    Enkemand    forsørges af husfaderen       Hundborg
Else Pedersen    31    Ugift    husmoderens søster sypige       Nørhaa
Kjesten Maria Pedersen    23    Ugift    husmoderens søster sypige       Nørhaa
Petrea Amalie Jensen    3    Ugift    paa fattigvæsenet i Hundborg       Amerika

Interesting that Petrea Amalie Jensen was born in Amerika.

mvh
Paul
North Carolina, USA

[Inger Toudal]

Paul, here's some additional information that might help you trace the family:

The right Mariane Pedersen, b. 12 Jun. 1854 in Vorupør, is in Hundborg churchbook:

https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=17124048#164645,27656177 - No 9

Thisted, Hundborg, Sjørring, Gaarden Rosvang i Sjørring Sogn, En Gaard, 49, FT-1880, C6999
Navn:     Alder:     Civilstand:       Stilling i husstanden:       Erhverv:       Fødested:
Niels Peter Jensen Buus    44    Gift    husfader gaardens bestyrer       Ellitshøi Sogn Aalborg Amt
Laura Louise Charlotte Buus født Friis    43    Gift    hans hustru       Kjøbenhavn
- - - - - - - - - -
Mariane Pedersen    25    Ugift    mejeripiger       Hundborg Sogn Thisted Amt
- - - - - - - - - -

From Københavns Politis Udvandrerprotokoller:

Navn:    Nielsen, Mariane   Stilling:    Hustru
Alder:    50   Bestemmelsessted:    Chicago
Kontrakt nr.:    464200   Forevisningsdato:    12-09-1904
Fødested:    Vorupør   Fødesogn:    Hundborg
Sidste oph.sogn:    ?   Sidste oph. amt:    - Amerika
Sidste oph.sted:    Amerika   Bestemmelses land:    USA
Bestemmelses by:    Chicago   Bestemmelses stat:    Illinois
Skibsnavn:    Indirekte
IDkode:    I0405N1416

Navn:    Nielsen, Marry   Stilling:    Barn
Alder:    11   Bestemmelsessted:    Chicago
Kontrakt nr.:    464200   Forevisningsdato:    12-09-1904
Fødested:    Vorupør   Fødesogn:    Hundborg
Sidste oph.sogn:    ?   Sidste oph. amt:    - Amerika
Sidste oph.sted:    Amerika   Bestemmelses land:    USA
Bestemmelses by:    Chicago   Bestemmelses stat:    Illinois
Skibsnavn:    Indirekte
IDkode:    I0405N1417

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JN96-XX3 :

Given Name    Mariane
Surname    Nielsen
Last Place of Residence    Vosupor
Event Date    30 Sep 1904
Age    50y
Nationality    American
Departure Port    Liverpool, England
Arrival Port    New York
Gender    Female
Marital Status    M
Citizenship Status    X
Ship Name    Carpathia

Given Name    Mary
Surname    Nielsen
Event Date    30 Sep 1904
Age    11y
Nationality    American
Departure Port    Liverpool, England
Arrival Port    New York
Gender    Female
Marital Status    S
Citizenship Status    X
Ship Name    Carpathia

Best regards,
Inger Toudal

[Paul Løndahl-Smidt]

Hej Mette og Inger,

One problem is the Carpathia manifest shows them going to San Francisco in 1904 and San Francisco was destroyed by an earthquake in 1906.  I have looked on ancestry and cannot find the family but I will keep trying.

mvh
Paul

[Verner Bentsen]

Deleted

[Inger Toudal]

Hi again Paul,

I'm sure you are better at reading American handwriting than I am. Could the name of Mariane's husband be
Lorens Nielsen?

I think the first letter in his given name is different from capital S elsewhere on the page.

If so, I have a candidate working in the dairy at the same farm/estate in Sjørring parish, where Mariane was
working as a dairy maid in 1880:

Thisted, Hundborg, Sjørring, Gaarden Rosvang i Sjørring Sogn, En Gaard, 49, FT-1880, C6999
Navn:     Alder:     Civilstand:       Stilling i husstanden:       Erhverv:       Fødested:
Niels Peter Jensen Buus    44    Gift    husfader gaardens bestyrer       Ellitshøi Sogn Aalborg Amt
Laura Louise Charlotte Buus født Friis    43    Gift    hans hustru       Kjøbenhavn
Henning Christian August Buus    9    Ugift    deres børn       Her i Sognet
Valdemar Marius Emil Buus    6    Ugift    deres børn       Her i Sognet
Anna Henriette Michelle Friis    30    Ugift    hustruens søster       Tversted Hjørring Amt
Jens Peter Hansen    29    Ugift    avlsforvalter       Ølsted Sogn Frederiksborg Amt
Carl Ferdinand Philip    19    Ugift    forvalter       Kjøbenhavn
Mads Christensen    22    Ugift    meieribødkerlærling       Hørdum By Sogn Thisted Amt
Niels Amdi Hansen Dam    18    Ugift    landvæsenslærling       Aalsø Sogn Randers Amt
Niels Hansen Madsen    19    Ugift    landvæsenslærling       Tulbøl Sogn Svendborg Amt
Jens Peter Jensen Mosegaard    18    Ugift    landvæsenslærling       Aalsø Sogn Randers Amt
Peder Christiansen    24    Ugift    landvæsenslærling       Ulsø Sogn Præstø Amt
Jens Peter Andersen    20    Ugift    meieribødkerlærling       Avnede Sogn Maribo Amt
Lorentz Nielsen    17    Ugift    meieribødkerlærling       Ensted Sogn Aabenraa Kreds
Hans Rasmussen    26    Ugift    tjenestekarl       Tommerup Sogn Holbæk Amt
Niels Christian Pedersen    21    Ugift    tjenestekarl       Ræhr Sogn Thisted Amt
Niels Christian Christensen    22    Ugift    tjenestekarl       Her i Sognet
Frederik Pedersen    22    Ugift    tjenestekarl       Vesløs Sogn Thisted Amt
Lars Christian Svendsen    17    Ugift    tjenestekarl       Stagstrup Sogn Thisted Amt
Niels Peter Nicolai Hyldal    20    Ugift    tjenestekarl       Snedsted Sogn Thisted Amt
Peter Mortinus Christensen    16    Ugift    tjenestekarl       Thisted
Jens Sørensen    33    Ugift    tjenestekarl       Her i Sognet
Christian Christensen    Gift    staldkarl       Hillerslev Sogn Thisted Amt
Christen Pedersen Kobberø    53    Gift    røgter       Snedsted Sogn Thisted Amt
Niels Christian Pedersen    43    Fraskilt    røgter       Hundborg Sogn Thisted Amt
Gjertrud Marie Andersen    24    Enke    tjenestepiger       Hundborg Sogn Thisted Amt
Mette Jensen    26    Ugift    tjenestepiger       Nørhaa Sogn Thisted Amt
Christiane Pedersen    45    Ugift    tjenestepiger       Hundborg Sogn Thisted Amt
Kirsten Pedersen    19    Ugift    tjenestepiger       Hundborg Sogn Thisted Amt
Anna Kirstine Magdalene Henriksen    27    Ugift    mejerske       Vesterborg Sogn Maribo Amt
Inger Marie Jepsen    27    Ugift    mejerskelærling       Jannerup Sogn Thisted Amt
Anna Margrethe Jensen    20    Ugift    mejeripiger       Hundborg Sogn Thisted Amt
Mariane Pedersen    25    Ugift    mejeripiger       Hundborg Sogn Thisted Amt
Kirstine Andersen    22    Ugift    mejeripiger       Hundborg Sogn Thisted Amt
Karen Poulsen    31    Ugift    mejeripiger       Helligsø Sogn Thisted Amt
Ane Jensen    20    Ugift    mejeripiger       Hundborg Sogn Thisted Amt
Christiane Jensen    25    Ugift    mejeripiger       Hundborg Sogn Thisted Amt
Mette Marie Nielsen    20    Ugift    mejeripiger       Sønderhaa Sogn Thisted Amt
Mads Christian Peter Christensen    31    Ugift    mejeribestyrer       Brølle Sogn Odense Amt
Jens Carl Christian Buus    11    Ugift    søn af husfaderen skoledisipel       Her i Sognet
Joseph Bjørnson    19    Ugift    landbrugsvæsenslærling       Island
Henrik Henriksen    44    Fraskilt    tjenestekarl       Snedsted Sogn Thisted Amt
Poul Christen Jensen    20    Ugift    tjenestekarl       Thisted

He could be here, emigrating in 1881:

Navn:    Nielsen, Lorens   Stilling:    Arbejder
Alder:    19   Bestemmelsessted:    New York
Kontrakt nr.:    85100   Forevisningsdato:    27-05-1881
Sidste oph.sogn:    Thisted   Sidste oph. amt:    Thisted
Sidste oph.sted:    Thisted   Bestemmelses land:    USA
Bestemmelses by:    New York City   Bestemmelses stat:    New York State
Skibsnavn:    Harald
IDkode:    D7181Ø1811

Best regards,
Inger

[Inger Toudal]

1892: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VYDD-58R

California Great Registers
Name    Lorens Nelson
Event Type    Voter Registration
Event Date    20 Oct 1892
Event Place    Ss Tonquin Broak & Baker, San Francisco, California, United States
Age    30
Birth Year (Estimated)    1862
Birthplace    Denmark

1896: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VYDZ-L3F

California Great Registers
Name    Lorenz Nelson
Event Type    Voter Registration
Event Date    07 Aug 1896
Event Place    Tonquin Broderick And Baker, San Francisco, California, United States
Age    34
Birth Year (Estimated)    1862
Birthplace    Denmark

1900: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9GC-ZMQ

United States Census, 1900
Name    Laurence Nelson
Event Type    Census
Event Year    1900
Event Place    Precinct 18 San Francisco city Ward 41, San Francisco, California, United States
Gender    Male
Age    38
Marital Status    Married
Race    White
Race (Original)    W
Relationship to Head of Household    Head
Relationship to Head of Household (Original)    Head
Years Married    17
Birth Date    Sep 1862   (Mary's birth date Jun 1854)
Birthplace    Denmark
Marriage Year (Estimated)    1883
Immigration Year    1881
Father's Birthplace    Denmark
Mother's Birthplace    Denmark

Household     Role     Gender    Age     Birthplace
Laurence Nelson    Head    M    38    Denmark
Mary Nelson    Wife    F    46    Denmark
John Nelson    Son    M    12    California
Mary Nelson    Daughter    F    8    California

1910: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVGD-BBR

United States Census, 1910
Name    Lorenz Nelson
Event Type    Census
Event Date    1910
Event Place    San Francisco Assembly District 41, San Francisco, California, United States
Gender    Male
Age    48
Marital Status    Married
Race    White
Race (Original)    White
Relationship to Head of Household    Head
Relationship to Head of Household (Original)    Head
Birth Year (Estimated)    1862
Birthplace    Denmark
Immigration Year    1881
Father's Birthplace    Denmark
Mother's Birthplace    Denmark
Sheet Letter    A
Sheet Number    2

Household     Role     Gender     Age     Birthplace
Lorenz Nelson    Head    M    48    Denmark
Mary Nelson    Wife    F    55    Denmark
Carolyn Nelson    Daughter    F    25    Washington
John L Nelson    Son    M    21    California
Mary C Nelson    Daughter    F    17    California

1914: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JNLS-5B9

California, San Francisco Area Funeral Home Records
Name    Lorenz Nelson
Event Type    Death
Event Date    10 Mar 1914
Event Place    San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Gender    Male
Age    51
Marital Status    Married
Birth Date    09 Sep 1862
Birthplace    Denmark
Birth Year (Estimated)    1863
Funeral Home    H. F. Suhr & Co. Funeral Records
Funeral Place    San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Obituary Included    YES
Father's Name    Lorenz Nelson
Mother's Name    Caroline Nelson
Record Type    Record Book
Source Reference    Vol. 07, p. 4701-5000, 1913-1914
Number of Images    1

I think I found the family!! Now it's your turn, Paul.

Best regards,
Inger

[Inger Toudal]

Could be Lorenz Nielsens parents:

Aabenraa, Lundtoft, Ensted, Sdr. Hostrup, 12 Hus, 14, FT-1860, C8166
Navn:     Alder:     Civilstand:       Stilling i husstanden:       Erhverv:       Fødested:
Lorenz Nielsen    33    Gift    Husfader, Daglejer       Sdr. Hostrup
Caroline f. Nielsen    36    Gift    hans kone       Stubbæk
Hans Christian Nielsen    6    Ugift    deres barn       Sdr. Hostrup
Jørgen Nielsen    4    Ugift    deres barn       Sdr. Hostrup
Johann Nielsen    2    Ugift    deres barn       Sdr. Hostrup
Ingeborg Nielsen f. Johansen    57    Enke    Husfaders Moder       Sdr. Hostrup

Best regards,
Inger

[Karsten Damén]

From Find a Grave:

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=nelson&GSbyrel=all&GSdy=1914&GSdyrel=in&GSst=6&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=142930288&df=all&

US Census 1920:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHW5-W6V

[Mette Glindemann]

Hi Paul and inger

First of all THANK you for taking the time to help me.
Inger: you have already helped me, by finding out where Mariane went in 1880. I had absolutely no luck searching for her at Ddd.dda.dk. Thank you so much.

Paul. It is very interesting to learn about the earthquake, I do find it odd that I haven't been able to find anything.

I do have a "tale" but I do not know if it is a true tale. My grandmother told me once that she had heard Mariane was killed in a traffic accident in San fransisco, the problem is that it had to be a mouth to mouth story told in the small village of vorupoer.  

Regarding the name, I agree it could definitely be Lorenz. The L looks a bit different from the S used in san fransisco. What do you think paul?

A great evening to you both.

Mette, Esbjerg - Denmark

[Mette Glindemann]

Wauv you guys are AMAZING at this. I never expected to have this big a breakthrough. Wauv inger. It look completely right.

She changed her name to Mary, which is definitely short for Mariane.
She had 3 children

Fantastic.

[Inger Toudal]

Hi Mette,

please take a look at the original 1900 census:

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-D1J3-V1Z?i=1&wc=9B7P-F93%3A1030559601%2C1030559602%2C1030942101%3Fcc%3D1325221&cc=1325221

Mary Nelson was born in June 1854! It must be her.

According to the 1910 and 1920 censuses, the oldest daughter Carolyn was born in Washington around 1885. 

Best regards,
Inger

[Karsten Damén]

Deleted

[Mette Glindemann]

Interesting Karsten. There might be some of johns children to find. Thank you - now I have something very concrete to search after

[Mette Glindemann]

HI Inger.

Yes I think it is definitely her! 

I was wondering about the Washington aspect as well. I think next search area must be Washington. I still haven't found Marianes initial immigration information. I only know that she immigrated in 1881, I suspect she may have travelled with moritzen brothers in vejle, I know some of their information wasn't registered in Copenhagen. Maybe she travelled with the same ship as Lorenz. I think I have to investigate this further

Thanks a lot 

[Paul Løndahl-Smidt]

Hej Mette,

Here is the death of Carolyn.  Since she still has the last name Nelson she probably never married.

Anna Carolyn Nelson

in the California, Death Index, 1940-1997

    Report issue

Name:    Anna Carolyn Nelson
Social Security #:    547034334
Gender:    Female
Birth Date:    20 May 1884
Birth Place:    Washington
Death Date:    30 Aug 1984
Death Place:    Marin
Mother's Maiden Name:    Pedersen

mvh
Paul

[Inger Toudal]

This could be Mariane emigrating:

Navn:    Pedersen, Mariane   Stillling:    
Bopæl (afskrevet):    Vestervig   Bopæl (Sted):    ?
Bopæl (Sogn):    Vestervig   Bopæl (Amt):    Thisted
Kontraktens litra:    MouritzenC
Forevisningsdato:    02-06-1882   IDkode:    V7984A1950

- source http://www.ddd.dda.dk/vejlelister/soeg_udvandrede.asp

Lorents Nielsen was born 9 Sep. 1862 in Hostrup, Ensted parish, Aabenraa county, and baptized 21 Sep. 1862:
https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=17216312#201346,38136076 - No 26

His confirmation 25 Mar. 1877 in Ensted:
https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/da/billedviser?epid=17216308#201344,38135446 - No 9

Looked at the US censuses 1900 and 1910 again - the Nelson family was living at 1617 Tonquin Street 

Best regards,
Inger

[Inger Toudal]

These sisters could be Mariane's two daughters, although the age is a bit off:

United States Census, 1930: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCNS-14T

Household     Role     Gender     Age     Birthplace
Clyde D Lightbody    Head    M    35    California
Mary E Lightbody    Wife    F    35    California
Anna C Nelson    Sister-in-law    F    44    Washington

United States Census, 1940:   https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K98K-N8C

Household     Role     Gender     Age     Birthplace
Clyde Lightbody    Head    M    48    California
May C Lightbody    Wife    F    48    California
Carolyn Nelson    Sister-in-law    F    52    California

Mary's death record: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPH1-ZXD

California Death Index
Name    Mary E Lightbody
Event Type    Death
Event Date    16 Jul 1977
Event Place    Marin, California, United States
Birth Date    09 Dec 1892
Birthplace    California
Gender    Female

According to the 1900 census, she was born in Dec. 1892.

Best regards,
Inger

[Paul Løndahl-Smidt]

Hej Mette,

Death of John Lorenz Nelson.
Name:    John L Nelson
Social Security #:    548051098
Gender:    Male
Birth Date:    16 Aug 1889
Birth Place:    California
Death Date:    8 May 1969
Death Place:    Solano
Mother's Maiden Name:    Pederson

and his baptism is attached.

mvh
Paul

[vedhæfting slettet af admin]

[Paul Løndahl-Smidt]

Hej Mette,

Here is the 1889 birth and baptism of John Lorenz.

mvh
Paul

[Inger Toudal]

Mariane's son John L. Nelson: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZKM-1NH

United States World War I Draft Registration Cards
Name    John L Nelson
Event Type    Draft Registration
Event Date    1917-1918
Event Place    San Francisco City no 11, California, United States
Gender    Male
Nationality    United States
Birth Date    16 Aug 1888
Birthplace    San Francisco, California, United States

- same address as mother Mariane in the 1920 census. According to the 1900 census, he was born in Aug. 1888.

United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V48V-B6L - 2 pages

Censuses?

His death record: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPH4-2NB

California Death Index
Name    John L Nelson
Event Type    Death
Event Date    08 May 1969
Event Place    Solano, California, United States
Birth Date    16 Aug 1889
Birthplace    California
Gender    Male
Mother's Name    Pederson

Best regards,
Inger

[Paul Løndahl-Smidt]

Hej Mette,

And finally John Lorenz's WWII draft registration that shows that his sister Mary was married to C. Lightbody.

mvh
Paul

[vedhæfting slettet af admin]

[Paul Løndahl-Smidt]

Hej Mette,

The 1889 birth and baptism of John Lorenz did not attach because it was to large.  So here is a smaller version.  The baptism was in a Danish Evangelical Lutheran church.

mvh
Paul

[vedhæfting slettet af admin]

[Paul Løndahl-Smidt]

Hej Mette,

Here is a photo of John Lorenz Nelson taken in 1920.

mvh
Paul

[vedhæfting slettet af admin]

[Paul Løndahl-Smidt]

Hej Mette,

Here is the name of the church where John Lorenz was baptized.

Name:    John Larenz Nelson
Event Type:    Baptism
Birth Date:    16 Aug 1888
Baptism Date:    1 Aug 1889
Baptism Place:    San Francisco, California
Father:    Lorenz Nelson
Mother:    Marie
Church Name:    Ascension Lutheran
Church Location:    San Francisco, California


mvh
Paul

[Mette Glindemann]

Vauw vauw vauw 

Im speachless.

[Paul Løndahl-Smidt]

Hej Mette,

I don't think you have any relatives in the USA from this line of your family.  Apparently the only one who married was Mary and in the 1930 and 1940 census she is childless.  I can find no records that show John or Carolyn ever marrying.

mvh
Paul

[Mette Glindemann]

Hi Paul.

In afraid you could be right. Do you know if it is possible to learn who arranged funeral and perhaps maintains the Nelson grave in San fransisco ?

If so who should I contact?

Thank you for all your help. I could never have found this without your help.

Mvh mette 

[Paul Løndahl-Smidt]

Hej Mette,

Here in the USA many people pre-purchase their grave sites.  When we buy a grave site it is forever and the cemetery maintains it.  I live in North Carolina which is about 4500 km from California so I don't know about their records.  But at least you now have a friend in the US even if you don't have any relatives.

mvh
Paul