Osterdahl, John b1859. To New York City 1885

[Martin Osterdahl]

My greatgrandfather was John Osterdahl, His wife was named Florence Olivia she died in Staten Island 1904.  His birth year is 1859.  They came to New York City in 1885.  They had a Staten Island address and Four children born in the US. Lillian, Harry, Walter, Arthur.  He was a light house keeper in Perth Amboy, New Jersey in the Great Beds Light House.  I do not know what parish, what ship they took.  I would appreciate any help in this matter.

[Chris Bingefors]

Lillian Anne Isabella Osterdahl was born in Castleton, Richmond, NY Aug 24, 1894 to Johan Osterdahl and Olivia Jacobson. There was  son, Arthur Tounley Osterdahl born July 31, 1892. Unnamed boy (Harry?) born in Middlesex, NJ Dec 24, 1897. Father´s age 37, mother 32, both born in Sweden. So Olivia should have been born about 1865, which is a clue.
 
There is a John Osterdahl in the Naturalization index in NY, arrived 1875, born Sept 11, 1862. But that does not have to be the right person. I can´t find an Österdahl called Johan (would be the Swedish name) born around 1858-1860 in the available emigration indexes The name is most common on the island of Gotland and many went out as sailors. There is one suitable candidate in the 1880 census here, Johan Oscar Österdahl, born 1858 in Vallstena, Gotland. He is a sailor and missing at the time of the census (Dec 31, 180). Unfortunately, the books are missing for this parish due to fire, so I cannot check if he came back. But there is a man who may be him with another surname still in Sweden later on.
 
Hopefully someone else on the forum can search further
 
 
(Meddelandet ändrat av izla 2011-05-25 08:25)

[Helene Jorsell]

On the CD-record Sjöfolk (Seafarers), there is a note regarding Johan Oskar Österdahl from Vallstena, saying that he changed his last name to Larsson and with that name you will find him in the 1900 Swedish census why we can rule him out.

[Chris Bingefors]

Possibly this person could have changed his name to John:
 
Post 40915
 
Österdahl Thomasson, Jacob Petter W
Son (unmarried man)
 
b. 9/11/1859 in Hall, Gotlands län (Gotland)
 
Emigrated 5/17/1886
from Hägvards, Hall, Gotlands län (Gotland)
to Nordamerika
 
Source: Household Examination Roll, p. 25
 
Emibas migration file ID: Hall I 1886 002
 
According to the parish book he left about 1881. He came back and the left for good 17 May 1886. Several  siblings went to America.
 
Unfortunately, the estate inventories are not online, his parent´s inventories could give more clues as to his residence.
 
(Meddelandet ändrat av izla 2011-05-25 08:58)

[Chris Bingefors]

He leaves Gothenburg May 28, 1886 on the Orlando to Hull, England with two friends from the same village. Jacob arrives in New York June 17, 1886 on the State of Georgia.
BUT:
His future brother in law is one of the friends, his name is Johannes Norrby, he comes back in 1889  married to Anna Helena Fredrika Österdahl who left in 1887. Their son John Lester is christened in New York in 1889. Johannes and Anna are married at the Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Church in Brooklyn. Witnesses are: John Österdahl and John Peterson i e the former Jacob Österdahl and his friend from the crossing with Orlando. So we do have proof that Jacob changed his name to John in America. I think this is the right man!
 
Source: 2665.16.12700,  [Gotland]  Hall,  AI.6, Husförhör, 1881 - 1890, 25-0,  Bild 27 av 82
 
(Meddelandet ändrat av izla 2011-05-25 09:14)

[Helene Jorsell]

 Excellent!!

[Chris Bingefors]

Incidentally, Johan Österdahl´s brother-in-law Johannes Norrby left without permission, he ran away because he made a girl pregnant. She had twins Nov 1, 1886. He was ordered by the court to pay child support when he returned from the US.

[Chris Bingefors]

Johannes and Anna go back to the US in 1892, they have another son there before returning to Sweden. This son, Harry, was born in Island, New York in 1892, I interpret this as Staten Island, NY. Further proof of the relationship with Johan Österdahl
 
You will find all JAcob (John) Österdahl´s ancestors at
http://www.anarkiv.com/anarkiv/forskn/sok/antabell.asp?pnr=206040&db=gotland
 
(Meddelandet ändrat av izla 2011-05-25 09:45)

[Chris Bingefors]

hey apparently all lived at the same place, the first Norrby child is born in Castleton, Richmond, NY, Dec 5, 1889. Mother´s name spelled Annie Esterdale.

[Helene Jorsell]

In Martin's initial post, he writes that Olivia Osterdahl, nee Jacobson, died in 1904. However, I found this note regarding her death. Taken from Emiweb, it is said that she died in 1909 and that she was born in the parish of Hamra (Gotland).  
 
Olivia    Osterdahl Jacobson    
Born: 1865-02-24 in Hamra    
Died 1909-02-21 in Perth Amboy,   NJ    
 
Source; Emiweb and obits in Swedish-American newspapers

[Chris Bingefors]

In reality she was born in 1863, no Olivia born 1865:
Post 5248
 
Nilsdotter Jacobsson, Olivia Magdalena Carolina
Dotter (unmarried woman)
 
b. 1/24/1863 in Hamra, Gotlands län (Gotland)
 
Emigrated 4/22/1887
from Skogs, Hamra, Gotlands län (Gotland)
to Nordamerika
 
Source: Household Examination Roll, vol. Hamra AI:9, p. 14
 
Emibas migration file ID: Hamra I 1887 001
 
Un-normalized versions:
 
Country of destination: N. Amerika

[Helene Jorsell]

Yes, after doing a quick search on the census cd's, on the cd record Emigranten and in Emiweb, I made the same conclusion.

[Helene Jorsell]

This is Olivia in the Swedish census 1880 with parents and siblings;
 
(Father) Jacobsson, Nils, born 1838 in Havdem, Gotland (Farmer)
(Mother) Marcidotter, Anna Margretha, born 1841 in Hamra, Gotland   
(Daughter), Olivia Magdalena Carolina, born 1863   
(Daughter), Anna Maria Amanda, born 1865   
(Daughter), Jacobina Margretha Albertina, born 1869   
(Son), Niklas Ferdinand, born 1874   
(Son), Jacob Arvid, born 1876   
----------
 
In addition to Olivia, two of her siblings emigrated to North America. From Emiweb;
 
Jacobina Margareta Albertina Nilsdotter Jacobsson, born   1869-04-21 in Hamra, emigrated 1890-08-11 from Hamra, Gotland to N. America  
 
Jakob Arvid Jacobsson, born 1876-10-13 in Hamra, emigrated 1898-11-25 from Hamra Gotland to N. America.

[Helene Jorsell]

From the 1890 swedish census, another child has been born to Nils Jacobsson and his wife Anna M Marcidotter;
 
Karl Petter August
f. 1884 i Hamra (Gotlands län, Gotland)
 
(Meddelandet ändrat av hjor 2011-05-25 21:33)

[Moderator USA]

Transferred from topic Discussions in English/Emigrants