This is my Great-Great-Grandfather Markus Olsen Moldenæs . He was born november 20. 1833 in the small town of Molde on the north-west coast of Norway. He had at least one older brother: Mathias and a younger sister: Anna.
Molde had at that time a small merchants fleet and Markus' father was a shipmate. Markus did also go to sea at young age. Unfortunately I know nothing of his naval career.
In 1864 he appears in Ålesund, a town somewhat to the south of Molde. Here he marries Nicoline Marie Knutsdatter Buholmstrand. At this time Markus is titled captain to sea. He seems however to leave sea for good and start his second career as a ship carpenter. He also start another career...as a father.
Nicoline and Markus' first child Olufine was born in 1865. Of her I know nothing. Around the turn of the century I believe she spend some time in Oslo, the capital of Norway. I have been wondering whatever became of her. It is kind of strange that she is not mentioned in any letters/postcards. I have been thinking that she might have passed away at young age.
Louise was born in 1868. She did never marry and from 1901 she lived with her father in Ålesund. I believe that Nicoline had passed away at that time.
Johanne was born Nov. 22. 1869 in Ålesund, Norway. She married Jacob Gabrielsen, born May 23 1864 in Tromsø, Norway. They stayed for a while in Blyth, England before they moved to Seattle, WA. USA. Johanne and Jacob had two daughters: Clara, born Oct. 30. 1903 in Blyth England, and Minnie, born Sept. 15. 1909 in South Shields, England. Clara passed away in 1983. Minnie died in the fall of 1998 in Portland, Oregon. Thanks to friends I have made on the Internet, I have been able to find Johanne and Jacobs descendants. I look forward to share information about family with them.
Karoline Elise, my great-grandmother, was born Jan. 11th 1872. she married Bård Gerhard Eidhammer and settled in Vestnes, Romsdal. At the time of Karolines birth Markus must have been at the peak of his career as a ship carpenter. It is reported that he and a partner built a sailwessel "Tjuren" to be used in the fisheries on the Norwegian banks. The man who ordered the boat was one K. Bjørseth, who was a prospering merchant in Ålesund at that time. It is interesting to note that Bjørseth, along with several other prominent citizens of the town, are listed in the church records, as witnesses to Karolines baptism. Karoline and Bård had three children Martin, born 1901 (my grandfather), Hilda born 1903.(She lived in Oslo), and Alf, born 1905. Alf emigrated to USA when he was 18 years old. He spend the rest of his life there. He, his wife Lilly and son Roy lived first in Brooklyn, later on Staten Island.
Herman was born Dec 17th 1873. I believe he went to sea. I have no concrete information on Herman except from the fact that he visited family in Seattle, Wa in 1907. Oluf wrote in a letter "Herman came up to see us last week-end" Herman changed his last name to Gordon and made a living being a proffesional boxer.
Anna Pauline was born Dec. 26th 1875. She was married to goldsmith Jens Thoresen. Anna died in 1904. They had no children. Thoresen remarried.
Oluf Mathildus was born Nov 6th 1877. I believe he went to sea. He moved around and worked as a carpenter before he settled in Seatlle, Wa. The date of Oluf's birth are based on information from the Washington State Death Index. He died Jul 4th 1965. I believe he was married to Karen who died in 1964. They had no children.
Mindor I believe was born in 1878. I have not been able to find any records on him. I know he traveled with his brothers in the USA. Aug 28 1907 he was in Seattle,WA. He was a fisher and was lost at sea in 1909.
Ludvika Margrete was born Sep 27th. 1879. As I thought I had found all Markus' children Ludvika suddenly appeared in the church records of Ålesund (Don't get me wrong: I realize that she must have been there all the time). Of Ludvika I know absolutely nothing. Of all the other children I have references in various letters and postcards, but Ludvika is never mentioned. I wonder if she passed away as a child.
Martin Mathildus born 1885. He was usually called Mathildus or Thildus. He went to sea before he went ashore in the USA and traveled along with his brothers Oluf and Mindor. They took various jobs. All of them seems to have been trained in carpentry as they often worked at shipyards. Mathildus settled in Seattle where he married Betzy. They had one son: Clarence who married Helen. Mathildus died Sep. 30th 1963. Betzy (also born 1885) died in 1962.
Throughout these years Markus experienced several ups and downs. The vessel he built in 1872 seems to be the only one he built from keel to top mast, but he had several repairyards. In the 1880s he went bankrupt as his bank broke. ) He became a widower around 1900. His daughter Louise lived with him in Ålesund and took care of him.
In 1904 he had to fly from his home as it burned in the big city fire. Markus lived in the street "Torvgaten" All the houses was destroyed by the fire. I believe he then went back to Molde and lived for some time in the home of his nephwe. Already the next year Markus is back in Ålesund, working at "Steinvågen Skibsverft" (Ship yard). I have not yet found the exact time of Markus' death. I have been told that he lived to be 96 years old, which means he passed away around 1929. The information above is gathered from many different sources. The official records are pretty indisputable, but I have also drawn conclusions based on information from letters, post cards and several pictures that came from USA over the years.
These pages are prepared by Martin Eidhammer. martin.eidhammer@c2i.net
Updated April 27. 1998.