Nilsson/Djupman immigrants to Boston USA in 1890s

[Bridget Canniff]

Hello, I am looking for more information on my Swedish ancestors through my great-grandmother, born Alfrida Berta (or maybe Elisa Berta Alfrida) Nilsson (changed to Alfreda Bertha Nelson in the USA), born 11 Apr 1892 (or 1891?) in Stockholm, died in Lake Placid, New York, USA on 27 Aug 1928. Her parents were Mårten Nilsson (Martin Nelson), born 12 Oct 1846 (or Oct 1849?) in Vanstad, Skåne län, and died 9 Aug 1920 in Dorchester (Boston), Massachusetts, USA; and Elisa B Djupman (married name Elise B Nelson), born 18 Feb 1855 in Kila (there are several places in Sweden with this name, I believe - not sure which one), and died 18 Feb 1855 in Dorchester, Massachusetts, USA.
 
Mårten and Elisa were married around 1879, and had 3 children: Karl M Nilsson (Carl M Nelson), born September 1882 and died in Dorchester, Massachusetts, USA sometime after 1930;  Alvina Nilsson (Alvina Nelson, later Evelyn A Nelson, married name Evelyn A Driscoll), born 30 Apr 1889 (or 1890?) and died 21 Nov 1972 in Centerville, Massachusetts, USA; and then my great-grandmother, Alfrida (Alfreda). I don't know where in Sweden the other two children were born, or where the marriage took place. Mårten's parents were Nils Nilsson, born 3 Apr 1814 in Röddinge, Malmöhus län; and Hanna Larsdotter, born 15 Jun 1815 also in Röddinge. I don't know anything more about the Djupmans.
 
Elisa (Djupman) Nilsson left Sweden, along with her 3 children, from the port of Göteborg, arriving in Boston on 11 Oct 1895. I can't find any record of Mårten's departure or arrival, but in later documents he lists his immigration year as 1898. Family lore says that at least some of the family may have returned to Sweden at some point before returning to the US. Great-grandmother Alfreda Nelson married “Harry” Harold John Canniff and they became my grandfather's parents; his name was Nelson Joseph Canniff.
 
If anyone can help me uncover more information about either side of the family, including Elisa's parents, and Mårten and Elisa's siblings and possible descendants, please contact me. Thank you very much!!

[Bridget Canniff]

A bit of an update - after reviewing maps more in detail, I noticed that Vanstad, Skåne, where Mårten Nilsson was born, is right next to Röddinge, where his parents were born, which makes sense. And I learned that Malmöhus merged with another county in 1997, becoming Skåne, which helps explain inconsistent references to what county Röddinge was in. Also, the two most likely places named Kila that could be Elisa Djupman's birthplace seem to be Kila, Nyköping or Kila, Sala, as these are further south and closer to Stockholm. The other Kilas are pretty far north and seem unlikelier as her birthplace for someone who would meet and marry someone from southern Sweden.
 
I am hoping someone with access to Census files or birth/marriage/death records could help me search for these ancestors. Thanks again!

[Chris Bingefors]

The family lived in Kungsholm, Stockholm and they are registered in the Rotemansarkiv (Population regiser for Stockholm), free at http://ssa.stockholm.se/sv/Anvand-arkiven/Sokvagar/Rotemansarkivet/
(for an English version, click British flag at top right)
 
This is from the census 1890:
Nilsson, Mårten   1846   Father, born Vanstad (12 Oct)
Djupman, Lisa Beata   1855   Mother, born in Kila, Värmland (18 Feb)
(Barn), Karl Martin   1882   Child, born Stockholm.
(Barn), Alvina Augusta Elisabet    1889   Barn
 
They arrived in Kungsholm in  1884 from another part of Stockholm, they then had 4 children:
Twins:
 Augusta Elisabeth born 9 Sept 1880, died 23 Feb 1885 from Diphtheria  
Alvina Johanna Augusta 9 Sept 1880 died 15 Nov 1884
Karl Martin b 19 Sept 1882
Andine Maria b 29 Sept 1884, died 16 June 1886
 
Then more children arrived:
Enoch Gottfrid 3 Jan 1887, died 8 July 1889 from child cholera (=gastroenteritis)
Alvina Augusta Elisabeth b 30 April 1889
Elsa Berta Alfrida b 11 April 1891 (later registerad as Berta Elise Alfrida)
 
3 Oct 1893 they move to another part of Stockholm, not registered yet, Lisa Beata is the registerad as divorced with a note: Wife allows husband´s travel to America. Mårten Nilsson leaves 25 Feb 1892 for America.

[Chris Bingefors]

Lisa Beata is registered in the Birth book for Kila in Värmland 18 Feb 1855, daughter of drummer (military) Olof Djupman and wife Lisa Andersdotter, 43 years of age. They live at Djupviken in Kila. The household census (Kila AI:18 p 27) in 1856 lists the following family:
Olof Djupman b 17 Aug 1817 in Bro
Lisa Andersdotter b 1812 in Grava
Karl Fredrik b 2 Sept 1840 in By  
Augusta 3 July 1842 in Djupviken, Kila
Britta Lisa b  28 July 1844 in Kila
Lisa Beata 1855.
 
 
In 1890 Britta Lisa lives in Kungsholm, Stockholm with husband Anders Gustaf Hultström, worker. In the rotemansregister she is listed as havinf one son who died young from measles. She dies 7 Feb 1902 from tuberculosis.
Olof Djupman also moves to Stockholm and then disappears in 1883. He is also called Johannesson after his father.
 
(Meddelandet ändrat av izla 2009-07-17 07:53)

[Chris Bingefors]

In the household census for Kila 1850-55 (AI:17 p 25) Olof Djupman has another daughter Christina born 1848 died 1852. Olof´s parents are given as Johannes Carlsson and Martha Olofsdotter in Bro, Lisa Andersdotter´s parents are Anders Karlsson and Maja Karlsson in Grava.

[Bridget Canniff]

Thank you, Chris! I am only checking back now after a busy few months, and appreciate the information! It's very interesting that Mårten and Lisa (first time I have seen this version of her name, elsewhere she is Elise/Elisa) were registered as divorced. They appear to have reconciled and reunited in the USA, as the whole family is listed together on the 1900 US Census.
 
How wonderful to have more detail on their lives, including other children who did not survive childhood. The info about the Djupman family is also great to have.
 
Many thanks!!
Bridget
 
(Meddelandet ändrat av bcanniff 2009-10-05 22:36)