38. Tormod Jensen MADLAND
(237)
(102)(238)
(239)(240)
(241)(242)
(243) (photo) was born in 1780 in Madland,
Gjesdal, Stavanger Amt (Rogaland), Norway. He died in Jun 1826 in Kendall (Murray),
Orleans Co., NY. IMMIGRANT SLOOPER* - AKA: Thomas Madland. He was listed
in the 1801 Norwegian census in Stavanger Co., Lye Parish, Giestdahl subparish,
Madland farm, as age 21, Head of the household and a farmer. Tormod lived on
the Madland farm (about 18 miles SE of Stavanger), Rogaland fylke, Norway, until
1807, then Foss-Eigeland (Foss Eikeland) (about 10 miles S of Stavanger), from
approximately 1810 to 1819 he lived in Höle (north of Madland on Högsfjord
and at this time he was known as Tormad Höle), and then took citizenship
in Stavanger, a major port city in south west Norway, as a blacksmith Dec 4,
1820. (Rosdail, pp 10 & 408) According to the research of Gunleif Seldal
of Norway, "His shop was located in Høleberggata 1. In Stavanger he
became acquainted with the Quaker movement. The family decided to emigrate to
USA together with some other Quaker members, and 4th July 1825 they left Stavanger
on the sloop Restaurationen. Tormod had abandoned his citizenship 20th June the
same year. However, when the sloop passed Tungenes outside the Byfjord the sea
was rough, and some of the passengers got seasick. The master of the sloop decided
then to return to Dusavik where they anchored up, awaiting the gale to subside.
Tormod's three oldest children; Martha, Kristi and Jens were amongst those suffering
from seasickness. They insisted to go ashore, and left the sloop the following
morning. (According to family tradition) This was the last time they ever saw
their parents." (Seldal communication 4 Dec 2000; this information also
found in Blegen, 1969, p. 393, and supported in the historical novel, Cleng Peerson,
by Hauge, pp. 342-347.) He thusly immigrated to America bringing only his wife
and 3 young daughters. They sailed on the famous Norwegian Sloop "Restoration"
(often called the "Norwegian Mayflower") with close to 50 other Norwegians.
This group* from Rogaland fylke (or county) in south western Norway was fleeing
religious persecution (over 1/2 were Quaker or "Quaker sympathizers";
the remainder Haugeans), economic hardship, scarcity of land and government inequities.
"Tormod ... had left the farm and gone to Stavanger where he operated a
blacksmith shop. He had five daughters and only one son, so had no particular
problem of inheritance. His son was old enough to take over the business and
most of his daughters were of marriageable age so there was apparently less family
compulsion for him to immigrate. Was it religious liberty or simply the chance
of a better economic life that drove him to America? Religious liberty was undoubtedly
high among his reasons for emigrating." (p. 10) Tormod was one of the
6 heads of families contributing funds to buy the Sloop, Johannes Steen (Steine)
being the principal owner. The voyage took 98 days arriving New York Oct. 9,
1825. The ship was seized by US Customs for being over crowded (2 1/2 times
as crowded as the Mayflower). Eventually the Sloop was released and sold (at
a loss) to help travel upstate, to pay for their land, and to build homes. The
majority of the Sloopers then settled in north western New York in "the
'town' (or township) of Murray (near Lake Ontario), which comprised the northeastern
one-sixth of Orleans County." (p. 39) (This area had been separated from
Murray township and named Kendall township shortly before the Sloopers arrived.)
It was there, in what became known as the Kendall settlement, that Tormod died,
only 8 months after the Sloopers arrival in America.
In the history of early Norwegian emigration Tormod Madland is often mentioned
as the author of a letter written in Stavanger in Jun 1825 (before the Restoration
sailed) to Mauritz Halvarsen. This letter incorporates a letter written by Cleng
Peerson from New York on 20 Dec 1824 reporting on his advanced preparations for
the arrival of the sloop folks. Tormod was also one of the 7 "sloopers"
who signed a letter along with Cleng Peerson that was addressed to the "Rappites"
(Harmony Society of Economy) of Pennsylvania. This letter requested financial
assistance (a loan of $1600). Some historians point to this letter and request
as a possible indication of communistic leanings among some of these early pioneers,
while others discount this idea and suggest that this just indicates the financial
hardships that these folks endured during their early years in America.
*"SLOOPER" is the term applied to the 52 (53 after the birth of a baby
girl during the 14-week voyage) pioneers of Norwegian immigration who came to
America aboard the sloop Restoration (also spelled Restauration). This small,
fifty-four foot long vessel reached the port of New York on October 9, 1825.
The group's journey and success in America marked the beginning of the major,
and historically significant, influx of Norwegian immigrants during the nineteenth
century. The descendants of these pioneers are also called "Sloopers."
The Slooper Society of America exists today. Made up of descendants of these
early Norwegian settlers, the Society holds its annual meeting in Norway, Illinois.
For those interested in more detailed information on the Sloopers and their descendants,
the following books are recommended: THE SLOOPERS, THEIR ANCESTRY AND POSTERITY,
1961, by J. Hart Rosdail (difficult to find, but reprints are available through
the Slooper Society), THE PROMISE OF AMERICA, A HISTORY OF THE NORWEGIAN-AMERICAN
PEOPLE, 1984, by Odd S. Lovoll (now available in expanded 1999 Revised Edition);
THE PROMISE FULFILLED, A PORTRAIT OF NORWEGIAN AMERICANS TODAY, 1998, by Odd
S. Lovoll; BETWEEN ROCKS AND HARD PLACES, 1993, by Ann Urness Gesme; THE NORWEGIANS
IN AMERICA, Rev. Ed., 1991, by Percie V. Hillbrand. The following two historical
novels are also highly recommended: THE BECKONING, A STORY OF LOVE, 1989, by
Nora Stangeland McNab, and CLENG PEERSON, Vols. I & II, 1975, by Alfred Hauge,
translated by Erik J. Friis.
He was married to Siri Ivarsdatter SELDAL on 15 Jun 1800 in Norway.
39. Siri Ivarsdatter SELDAL
(244)(102)
(245)(246)
(247)(248)
(249) (photo) was born in 1770 in Mork, Höle
(Sandnes), Rogaland, Norway. She was confirmed on 5 Nov 1786.
(250) Her "godparents/sponsors" ("Faddere") were
Gitle Hommeland, Kristofer Norland, Marta Gjesteland, Gunvor Tengesdal, and Berta
Lerang She died in 1829 in Kendall (Murray), Orleans Co., NY.
(251) IMMIGRANT SLOOPER* - She was listed with her husband and
daughter Martha in the 1801 Norwegian census in Stavanger Co., Lye Parish, Giestdahl
subparish, Madland farm, as age 31 and wife of the head of the household. She
sailed on the Sloop Restoration, 1825, to America with her husband and 3 daughters;
she and her family had just settled in Murray, NY, area when she was widowed
in the summer of 1826. "Siri Madland and her daughters were not left to
live alone. On June 15, 1826 Gurine (her daughter) had been married to Gudmund
Danielsen Haukaas, 26. There are indications the Madland-Haukaas family settled
in the south part of the colony." (p. 44) Siri died in Murray 3 years after
her husband's death.
*For more information on the Sloopers see notes for Tormod Jensen MADLAND.
Children were:
i. Martha
Tormodsdatter MADLAND(252)
(120)(253)
(254) (photo)was born about 1800 in Madland, Gjesdal, Stavanger Amt (Rogaland),
Norway. She was baptised on 18 Jan 1801 in Gjesdal Parish, Stavanger amt (Rogaland),
Norway. She died betw 1865 & 1875 in Rogaland, Norway. She was listed with
her parents in the 1801 Norwegian census in Stavanger Co., Lye Parish, Giestdahl
subparish, Madland farm, as age 1. Martha was the oldest of the Madland children,
Martha was the only one to stay in Norway permanently. (Slooper book, p. 410)
Contrary to the Slooper book and apparently an error, the "Emigrants from
Stavanger" Internet web site (http://www.hist.uib.no/arkivverket/dnuEng.htm)
indicates that she emigrated with her parents in 1825.
Research by Gunleif Seldal of Norway indicates that all of the Madland children
left for America with their parents aboard the sloop Restoration on 4 Jul 1825.
"However, when the sloop passed Tungenes outside the Byfjord the sea was
rough, and some of the passengers got seasick. The master of the sloop decided
then to return to Dusavik where they anchored up, awaiting the gale to subside.
Tormod's three oldest children; Martha, Kristi and Jens were amongst those suffering
from seasickness. They insisted to go ashore, and left the sloop the following
morning. (According to family tradition) This was the last time they ever saw
their parents." (Seldal communication 4 Dec 2000)
Gunleif continues on about Martha as follows: "Martha then lived in Stavanger,
probably together with her siblings Kristi and Jens. The 16th December 1830 she
married Iver Bjørnsen (1802 - 1/12 1863). He was from Stavanger, 27 years
of age, and earned his living as a fisherman. His parents were Bjørn Halvorsen
and Helga Iversdatter. Iver seems to have spent his life occupied with sea-related
activities. When he married he was a fisherman, and at the birth of the first
child he was a mate. In 1833 he was working in Østervåg (Eastern Bay
in Stavanger). The year after he was master, and he stayed master for the rest
of his life. In 1845 the family lived on Kalhammar (north in Stavanger), but
they moved later to a more central area in Stavanger, probably to Rode 7c. When
he died in 1861, Martha continued to stay in the house. Her daughter Serine with
husband and child is mentioned there in 1865. Martha and Iver got the following
children:
1. Børre (b. 7/11 1831 - ?) He probably died in childhood
2. Hanne Serine (b. 17/1 1833 - ?) She probably died in childhood
3. Serine (b. 6/3 1834 - 28/6 1930) She was married 18th October 1860 to Bendix
Bjørnsen. He was 25 years old, a mate from Rennesøy prestegjeld. (More
is known about Serine, her family and descendants.)
4. Boiine (b. 4/2 1836 - ?) She probably died in childhood
5. Thomasine (b. 22/11 1839 - ?)
6. Børre (b. 16/7 1845 - ?)"
ii.
Kriste (Kristine\Christian) Tormodsdatter MADLAND
(255)(120)
(256)(257) was born in 1802
in Madland, Gjesdal, Stavanger Amt (Rogaland), Norway. She died in (poss.) CA,
USA. IMMIGRANT Remained in Norway when parents and 3 youngest sisters sailed
on the Restoration. "... had a 'loom factory or spinnery' in Norway and
was quite well-to-do. She was unmarried when she came to America, sometime after
1859. She went to California and ran a resort of some kind around Long Beach.
She failed to keep in touch with the rest of the Madlands and her ultimate fate
is unknown." (Slooper book) Contrary to the Slooper book and apparently
an error, the "Emigrants from Stavanger" Internet web site (http://www.hist.uib.no/arkivverket/dnuEng.htm)
indicates that she emigrated with her parents in 1825.
Research by Gunleif Seldal of Norway indicates that all of the Madland children
left for America with their parents aboard the sloop Restoration on 4 Jul 1825.
"However, when the sloop passed Tungenes outside the Byfjord the sea was
rough, and some of the passengers got seasick. The master of the sloop decided
then to return to Dusavik where they anchored up, awaiting the gale to subside.
Tormod's three oldest children; Martha, Kristi and Jens were amongst those suffering
from seasickness. They insisted to go ashore, and left the sloop the following
morning. (According to family tradition) This was the last time they ever saw
their parents." (Seldal communication 4 Dec 2000)
iii.
Jens Tormodsen MADLAND(258)
(259)(120)
(260)
(261) (photo) was born in 1804 in Madland,
Gjesdal, Stavanger Amt (Rogaland), Norway. He died in 1885 in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.
(259) He was buried in Lot 71, Oakland Cemetery,
MN.(262) IMMIGRANT Remained in Norway
when parents and 3 youngest sisters sailed on the Restoration. "...when
he was 21, inherited his father's house and blacksmith shop in Stavanger (Norway)
at the time Tormod left for America on the Sloop. When Jens as 28 he married
Gonner, daughter of Thomads Marcussen of Naes in Flekkefjord*, and they acquired
a family of 12 children. Meanwhile Jens prospered and became the proprietor
of a brass foundry. However he was an obliging, good-natured man and often signed
notes for friends or went bond for someone and when they failed, his own property
was seized by the creditors. ... Jens' oldest son ... went to America prior to
December 1856; and in some manner Jens collected funds to follow him in 1858
or 1859 with 7 children ... the family somehow got to the Slooper stronghold
at Fox River, Illinois. From here they went to Wisconsin ... thence to southeastern
Minnesota ... and finally in 1876 to Sauk Centre in the west-central part of
the state.... In America Jens was a farmer as well as a blacksmith." (Slooper
book) Contrary to the Slooper book, and apparently an error, the "Emigrants
from Stavanger" Internet web site (http://www.hist.uib.no/arkivverket/dnuEng.htm)
indicates that he emigrated with his parents in 1825.
Research by Gunleif Seldal of Norway indicates that all of the Madland children
left for America with their parents aboard the sloop Restoration on 4 Jul 1825.
"However, when the sloop passed Tungenes outside the Byfjord the sea was
rough, and some of the passengers got seasick. The master of the sloop decided
then to return to Dusavik where they anchored up, awaiting the gale to subside.
Tormod's three oldest children; Martha, Kristi and Jens were amongst those suffering
from seasickness. They insisted to go ashore, and left the sloop the following
morning. (According to family tradition) This was the last time they ever saw
their parents." (Seldal communication 4 Dec 2000)
*Further research by Gunleif indicates that Jens' wife was not from Naes or Nes
parish, Flekkefjord in Vest Agder county. She was "born in Nes (Næss)
parish in Hedmark county. According to Nes church records she came to Stavanger
in 1830."
iv.
Rakel (Rachel) Serine MADLAND(263)
(102)(264)
(265)
(266) (photo) was born in 1807 in Madland,
Gjesdal, Stavanger Amt (Rogaland), Norway. She died between 1840 and 1870 in
NY. IMMIGRANT SLOOPER* - 18 years old in 1825 when sailed on the Restoration
with parents and 2 sisters. Married Lars Olson Helland, the Sloop Restoration's
Captain, probably in New York City shortly after arriving in America ("culminating
a romance that began on the voyage"); no record of children. Rachel and
her husband probably remained in the New York City area until their deaths (prob.
1840-1870).
*For more information on the Sloopers see notes for Tormod Jensen MADLAND.
v. Guri
(Gurine\Julia) Thormodsdatter Foss-Eigeland MADLAND
(267)(111)
(268)(238)
(102)(269)
(270)(271)
(photo) was born on 10 Oct 1809 in Foss Eigeland, Høyland, Stavanger
Amt (Rogaland), Norway. She died on 24 Dec 1846 in Fox River, LaSalle Co., IL.
IMMIGRANT SLOOPER* - 15 years old in 1825 when sailed on the Restoration
with parents and 2 sisters. After a shipboard romance, married SLOOPER and
crew member ("sailor"), Gudmund Danielson Haukaas (Hougas or Haugaas),
Jun 15, 1826, at Murray (or Kendall), NY (Gudmund then age 26). The family first
settled in Murray ("Kendall Settlement or colony"), NY, where she,
her husband, their first child Elizabeth, and her younger sister Serena were
found in the 1830 census. They then moved to Fox River, IL, in 1834. According
to Rasmus Anderson, Gudmund purchased 160 acres in Rutland on 15 June 1835.
They had 7 children before Julia's death. Gudmund, who had been a servant and
wheelwright in Stavanger, was one of the communities self-taught medical practitioners;
he was "a well-known Haugean preacher who after his conversion to the Mormons
(in 1842) rose quickly in rank" and "became a high priest and 'possesses
the gift of grace to speak in tongues;'" he died of cholera in the Fox River
epidemic, summer 1849.
*For more information on the Sloopers see notes for Tormod Jensen MADLAND.
19 vi.
Serine (Serena) Tormodsdatter MADLAND.