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From:
Subject: Lost Ancestor in New York
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 14:03:00 EDT


Hello List,

Thanks to all who gave me suggestions for the translation of "Bernt."

Unfortunately I have "lost" Bernt Andreas (Berntsen) BENTSON after he left
Norway and supposedly settled in NY. My problem is where do I start looking?
I have tried the SSDI for all of the names mentioned, but do not pull up
anyone. I think Ancestry.com (I am not a member) lists 1 Bentson in the
Brooklyn Directory for 1890 and 1 in the New York City Directory for 1890,
but don't know if they are mine. Are any listers a member who might be able
to check that for me?

Bernt was born 18 Sep 1856 in Haugesund, but lived most of his life at
Mjåsund in Bakke, Vest-Agder, Norway. In 1875 he was a farviarbeider in
Flekkefjord. I found his Udflyttede record for 25 Apr 1880 when he emigrated
to America (although I couldn't find his emigration record). My 85-year-old
aunt said he settled in NY, although his brothers John and Gabriel settled in
Chicago. The family never heard much from Bernt, who changed his name to
BENTSON in the U.S. as did his brothers. Supposedly he married and had 2
daughters: Augusta and Selma. Augusta married James Cantwell and moved to
Chicago, IL. They had a son and a daughter, Gertrude. Selma married and
divorced, moving to Florida. She had a daughter, possibly named Signa (may
have used the name Pat) or Josie.

They apparently didn't keep in touch much with their brothers and my
information comes from my aunt who is the only direct member of the family
left. Augusta visited Mandal, Norway in July 1951, but don't know who she
visited there. The only member of the family who didn't emigrate to the U.S.
was Lars Tobias Berntsen, born 28 Sep 1858 at Mjåsund in Bakke, Vest-Agder.
Bernt's brother John made a trip to Norway in 1927 to visit him.

That's all I know about this leg of the family. I had no trouble finding
information on the other 2 brothers in the U.S. -- just Bernt. If anyone has
any suggestions on how to search for him in NY, I am open to ideas. I have
searched Illinois and California for the other brothers and didn't have a
problem, but don't know how to search in New York.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Joy C.
Anaheim, CA

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