.> go to Helene and Erik Pettersen

.

 Thorsen

 

Anna Thorsen's parents and grandparents (click to see larger image)

.

Hans Jørgens's paternal ancestors

Hans Jørgen's father, Thor Jørgen Hansen, was from Thorstrand and was log driver in the Lågen river. His father, Hans Hansen Jahren, was 'repslager' (ropemaker) and sailor.

Thor Jørgens grandfather, Hans Anfindsen Jahren, was employed at Fritzø Jernverk and lived on Langestrand; he worked in the blast furnace. Almost all adult men and young boys who lived on Langestrand worked at the ironworks. ”Jernverksfolkene” was the name of the workers of the blast furnace or water-run forging hammers. In addition, there were jobs as carpenters, joiners and builders. [1]

 

Fritzøehus castle

Fritzøe company was in the course of the 1700s the largest industry in Norway. Frederik Ahlefeldt-Laurvig owned the county from 1791 until 1805, when he sold it to the king of Denmark-Norway. In 1835 the Fritzøe ironworks and large parts of the old count property was purchased by Frederick Wilhelm Treschow, a prominent Danish lawyer and politician. He made investments in all parts of businesses. Damanlegget was repaired and improved, the sawmill renewed, møllebruket modernized and ironworks opprustet with new hammerbygninger, rolling mills and blast furnace. The ironworks was still the most important business and in 1850 the number of employees exceeded 200, while the sawmill had a little over 40. [1]

 

Only 15 years later the downsizing of the iron works started, which was partially due to changes in the international market. Most of all due to the new inventions and the use of hard coal, which did not fit the specialists in Larvik. The blast furnace was closed down in 1868, the hammers stopped and iron works buildings were either demolished or converted to other purposes. The reorganization of the industrial enterprises mainly into wood processing and power generation was carried out with great success by the kammerherre Fritz Wilhelm Treschow. From the 1. august 1875 the name Fritzøe Jernverk was replaced by Treschow-Fritzøe. [1]

.

Fritzøe-bedriften fra 1880-tallet. Bedriften kan føres helt tilbake til 1540, lengre enn noen annen eksisterende virksomhet i Norge. Navnet Treschow skriver seg fra dynastiets eldste kjente forfedre, som var treskomakere på Sjælland. Treschow er i utgangspunktet en yrkesbetegnelse (fra Larvik A-Å, av Per Nyhus).

 

The father of Hans Anfindsen Jahren was Anfinn Hansen on Jaren in Brunlanes. He was for many years married to Sara Hansdatter, who died in 1764. He married again in 20. June 1765 in Brunlanes with Helvig Hansdatter, who was born 1729 in Belgau in Sandar. The wedding ceremony is documented in the church records for Sandar. Anfinn and Helvig had two children – Anne (f 1767) and Hans (f. 1770).

From The Census 1825

 

.

Eidgata 2

Workers and officers with their families lived partly in barracks owned by the company, partly in their own house. It was the count who owned the land on Langestrand, and iron workers with their own house had to pay rent. The suburbs Langestrand and Torstrand, where workers at the count's enterprises lived, were not allowed to trade, in return they didn't pay tax. [1]

The owner of the Eidgata 2 in the early 1800s was Hans Jahren he worked in the blast furnace. He lived together with his wife (Anne Cathrine Hansdtr) and his son Hans. They had a maid, Marthe Hansdatter. The house originally had 2 rooms and a kitchen. In the 1860s workshop manager Joseph Hambury lived on the property. [1]

Hans Hansen Jahren bought Fiskerstredet 3 on Thorstrand (see photo further down) in 1822, where Thor Jørgen (and his son Hans Jørgen) grew up.

The mother of Thor Jørgen was Sidsel Marie Andreastr, the daughter of Garvermester (tanner master) Andreas Mathisen and Olene Andersdtr from Steenene in Laurvig. Andreas Mathisen died before 1805. Steinene in the main city, it goes from Prinsegata by Thaulowsvingen to the Upper Jegersborggate. In this area also the famous Thor Heyerdahl grew up.

At the end of the 1700s the buildings of the "Steinane" was smaller and poorer than along the city main street. The smallest of the houses consisted of a living room, kitchen and wood shed, and day workers, craftsmen as well as some sailors lived in the houses.

Hans Jørgen's pedigree chart

From The Census of 1875. Thor Jørgen was timber worker in the river Lågen (in church records also "asailor"). Thor Jørgen and Christiane and family lived in Fiskerstredet 3, Thorstrand. Hans Jørgen had two sisters, Anne Marie and Inga Othilie (who was Rudolf's 2nd wife). Anne Marie died in 1882. 

  
Lågen steam saw Dampsag belonged to Treschow-Fritzøe and was in a period Hedrum's largest workplace. It was located on Unnersbo out towards the river Lågen. To the left some of the buildings with firehouse and pipe. In the background two of the barracks for workers. The picture is from the beginning of the century. (From Bygdebok for Hedrum, 1982).
Thor Jørgen worked with floating of timber in Lågen and the employer was Treschow-Fritzøe. 

The deed on the Fiskervejen 3, Thorstrand. The first deed was from Hans Hansen Jahrens widow to Thor Jørgen Hansen in 1858, then from Thor Jørgen Hansen's widow Christiane Hansen to Thorvald Mathisen in 1900. Thorvald Mathisen was the granddaughter of Christiane, in 1900 Thorvald was 20 years.

.

Hans Jørgen's maternal ancestors

Hans Jørgen's mother was Christiane Jørgensdtr who was born 1/11-1826. She was the daughter of Pige (girl) Anne Severine Nilsdatter and Ungk. Matros (bachelor and sailor) Jørgen Eliassen. They married 26/11-1826.

.

Christiane Hansen

.

 

"Solbakken" (above; now Sauegt 26). Jørgen Eliasen built the house "Solbakken" in 1834 (see the historical map of Østre Halsen here). He and all his heirs owned the house until 1895, when the son of Nils took it over. Christiane and her siblings grew up here. Great-grandfather Hans Jørgen was born in Larvik, in 1856, then Christiane probably lived in Fiskervejen 3 on Thorstrand (see image below and here). Christiane owned this house until 1900 when the grandson Thorvald Mathiesen took it over. Thorvald Mathiesen was a sailor, and it seems that he emigrated to America in 1906. In 1910 Christiane lived in Strandgt 9 with Otto Rudolf and his family.

Thorvald Mathiesen

Outside Fiskerveien 3 on Thorstrand. From left Inga Othilie (b. 1868, d. 1913), Anna Marie (b. 1887), Thoralf (b. 1889), Gusta Marie (b. 1862), Christiane (b. 1826, d. 1912). In the front: Borghild (b. 1891) and Randi (b. 1892; Ingas daughter). The photo is most likely taken around 1902. Inga married Rudolf Andersen 1891; in the picture she was possibly pregnant with her 6. child. Anna later (1909) married Eilif, the son of Rudolf Andersen.

.

Christiane was a widow for many years, after Thor Jørgen died in 1878 (52 years old). Like her husband, her children didn´t grow old, either – Anne Marie died in 1882 (age 28), Hans Jørgen in 1896 (40 years; died in South Africa) and Inga (Rudolf's 2. wife) died in 1913 (45 years old). Anne Marie had a son (Thorvald) who was only three years old when her mother died. The husband, Iver Martinius Mathiesen, was a sailor. In 1885, Christiane lived together with him and Thorvald in Fiskervejen. In the census in 1891, says that Iver Martinius is "p.t. in Palma". In the census of 1900, he is called "skibsfører" (sailor). He was also alive in early 1900s, but was a lot on the go, and Christiane were the one who had the primary responsibility for Thorvald. The house in Fiskerveien 3 was in family ownership a long time, and Christiane left the house to Thorvald in 1900 and later moved in with Inga and Rudolf in Strandgt 9. Christiane was the daughter of Anne Severine Nilsdatter (born 1. July 1800); Anne Severine was the daughter of Nils Iversen and Gunnil Andersdtr; see below.

.
.

           

Brev datert 1888 fra Christiane Hansen til sin sønn Hans Jørgen, som er til sjøs. 

Christiane hilser til Hans Jørgen med tre salmer i salmeboken; 59, 169 og 170. Det er uklart hvilken salmebok Christiane henviser til. Brevet er skrevet i 1888, og vi vet at  M.B. Landstads Kirkesalmebog etter hvert ble den dominerende salmebok i Norge (autorisert ved kongelig resolusjon 16/10 1869). Here finner du salmene Christiane henviser til. I den ene salmen ønsker Christiane å uttrykke takknemlighet for hjelpen hun har fått fra Gud i en vanskelig tid. 

 

Et annet brev fra Christiane til sønnen Hans Jørgen (tolket og nedskrevet av Hans Andersen)

Comments by Hans Andersen:

Hans Jörgen, to whom the letter was written, had two sisters: Anna Marie and Inga Othilie. Anna Marie died in 1882, as "your sister" should be Inga Othilie, born in 1868.
"Toten" is a nickname for Thorvald Mathisen. Anna Marie was married to sailor Ivar Mathisen. When Anna Marie died in 1882 and was buried along with his son Anton (b. 16/9-1882), Anna Marie's mother, Christiane (the letter writer) took care of Thorvald who was the only child of Anna Marie; the only one that grew up. Thorvald was born in 1880 and was thus the 4 years when the letter was written.
"Aunt, Olea" I have no not information about her. "Ole came home when Olea was sick"; who is Ole?
"they are right in front of us". Fiskerveien 3 was located so they could keep an eye on the boats out of the beach. "Anton that were..." – who is Anton? "Poor uncle Nils..." – who is Nils?
"petesen...Petesen" – must be Erik Pettersen and his wife Helene, parents of Gusta Marie who was engaged with Hans Jørgen, Christiane's son. Christiane's husband Thor Jørgen died in 1878, Gusta Marie and Hans Jørgen married 6/12-1885.
"drak kafi.." It seems that Christiane appreciate it. "Inga" has a job, a maid (?) and are not treated well; the hosts have apparently a shop.
"was allowed to take care of" means, perhaps, that she was allowed to take a photograph, since there is mentioned about the "paatrete" (portrait). "konsioner" is probably "conditions".

Addition to Hans Andersen's comments: Aunt Olea must have been Olea Johannesdtr (b. 1842), who was married to Christiane's brother, Ole (b. 1829). But Ole, who was mentioned in the letter, could not have been Oleas husband Ole, because he died in 1867. It must have been the son of Ole and Olea, namely, Ole Jørgen (b. 1867). Anton, who was also mentioned, may have been the son of Olea, who was confirmed in 1883 (maybe he had epilepsy?). "Uncle Nils" must have been Oleas man from the second marriage, Nils Jørgensen, who was the brother of Ole and sister to Christiane. His wife Olea was sick, and he had several minor children to take care of.  

From The Census 1801 

Sailor Jørgen Eliassen and Anne Severine Nilsdtr get married on day of baptism for the daughter Christiane 26/11-1826.

Christiane Jørgensdtr (b. 1/11-1826), mother of Hans Jørgen, was the daughter of Pige (Girl) Anne Severine Nilsdatter and Ungk. Matros (bachelor ans sailor) Jørgen Eliassen

...and was married to Thor Jørgen Hansen in 1854.

 

.

Gusta Marie's ancestors can be followed here:

> go to Helene and Erik Pettersen

 

.

.

References
[1] Fritzøe Verk & Langestrand, by Larvik Museum (2011)
[2] Larvik og omegns industri og næringsliv i tekst og bilder, by Aage Aagaard (1900)