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Archiver > NORWAY > 2004-05 > 1083896847


From: "Deborah Moseng" <>
Subject: Re: is there??????
Date: Thu, 6 May 2004 21:27:27 -0500
References: <36.5777f719.2dcc26e3@aol.com> <003801c433c5$a5822440$8377a543@CP0>


I understand how you feel! When I started the search for my family-- I knew
NOTHING--I had seen my grandmother once when she was very old. My
grandfather died in 1935. My mother had her parent's names and birthdates
and death dates in her Bible--but that was it. She had told us kids about
three sisters Grandmother had and a sister Grandfather had--those names did
not help at all as they had all been Americanized and one of Grandmother's
sisters had married after she came here and I had never heard the name
(still haven't found her), another one came over with her family but I am
sure they changed their last, and first names when they got here (haven't
found them yet either even though I know when they cam, have their manifest
and know where they went here). I got Grandmother's and Grandfather's
obituaries hoping to find something and none of the family knew anything
about their background or family at all--all it told was their family here
in America as far as JUST their kids! It has been a LONG trip just finding
Grandpa and Grandma and where they came from--because of all the great
people willing to help I finally have gotten where I know where both of them
came from and know all their family although I haven't found them all here
in America yet. I have about drove some people nuts with questions but I am
getting somewhere.

Believe it or not, (I still can't) some people found my Grandmother's family
in a most unique way. On a great Aunt's death certificate (it wasn't on any
of other death certificates like Grandmothers) it had her parents names--but
the people from Norway said those weren't the right names. The father's name
was Nels Lesswig--I spent several days trying to look up that name on the
census and Ancestry with no success. They finally came up with the name
Sesseng using soundex and the S looking like an L in the script in those
days!! I didn't believe in the beginning it was my family but through
everything now and with all the Church records and the family stuff it has
been proven over and over again. So what I am telling you is NOT to give
up--some little clue will show up or something will make sense along the
way--what looks impossible may come to light. AND it is SSSO exciting when
that clue shows up and you get just a little ways. I was so irritated at my
family for not knowing anything about Grandma and Grandpa as Grandma had
lived with some of her kids her later years and I know they knew something
about her and have some pictures but no one is willing to talk if they do,
they just say they know nothing. I was about ready to give up in the
beginning too but now I am so glad I didn't. It is so much fun and so
exciting.
Deb
> So that is what I know next to nothing.
>
> Margo thanks


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