Sofie Marie Olesdatter (1853-1924) Nilsen (b. June 6, 1853; Vanse, Farsund, Vest-Agder, Norway - d. July 8, 1924; Ålesund, Møre og Romsdal, Norway)

Name variations:
Sopie Marie Olesdatter, Sophia Maria Olesdatter, Sofia Marie Olesdatter.

Parents:
She was the daughter of Ole Mattias Pedersen (1822-1914) of Log, and Thea Johanne Torstensdatter (1825-1865) of Vetteland. Ole was the son of Peder Andreas Hansen (1790-1849) of Log, and Maren Sophia Olsdatter (1791-1868) of Gullestad. Thea was the daughter of Torsten Christophersen and Johanne Jacobsdatter. Ole was a baker in Farsund, Norway.

Birth:
She was born on June 6, 1853 in Farsund, Vest-Agder, Norway.

Baptism:
She was baptized on July 3, 1853 as "Marie Sofie" at Farsund parish in Farsund, Vest-Agder, Norway. Her parents were listed as "Ole Mattias Pedersen" and "Tea Johanne Vetteland".

Siblings:
Sophia's siblings included: Peder Mattias Olsen (1848-?) aka Peter Olsen; Teodor Johan Olsen (1849-?) aka Theodore Johan Olsen; Josette Terefia Olsdatter (1855-?) aka Joletta Teresa Olsdatter, who was born on November 09, 1855; Otto Olson (1858-1921) aka Ottan Olson, who was born on February 09, 1858, and emigrated to Chicago and married Hannah E. Hansen (1864-1936); Hannah Eline Olsdatter (1860-1938) aka Lena Olson, who was born February 13, 1860 and emigrated to Chicago; Salmine Sophia Severine Pedersen (1862-1914) aka Salmine Olsdatter who was born March 27, 1862 and married John Edward Winblad (1856-1914) and emigrated to New York.

Farsund, Norway:
The family appeared in the 1865 Norway census living in Farsund at 39 and 40 Kirkegaden Street. Her father, Ole, was working as a baker and was already a widower.

Marriage:
She married Sigvard Nilsen I (1852-1906) on December 15, 1874 in Ålesund, Møre og Romsdal, Norway. He was a ship's captain so he traveled from port to port.

Children:
Peder Theodor Johan Nilsen (1874-?) was born on December 29, 1874 in Ålesund. This was just 14 days after his parents married. In 1880 Sigvard Nilsen I was born.

Norway:
From 1885 to at least 1891 she was staying with her husband in Bergen, Norway and her father Ole was listed in the household in 1891. By 1900 she and her husband were living in Trondheim, Norway. Her son, Sigvard Nilsen II (1880-?) was studying music in Berlin and was listed as "Sigvard Høhg-Nilsen". Peder Theodor Johan Nilsen (1874-?) doesn't appear in the census, he is either living on his own, or dead.

Widow:
Her husband died in 1906. In 1910 was living with her father in Farsund and was receiving a widow's pension.

Postcard:
On January 15, 1910, Sopie wrote to her neice in the US, Maria Elisabeth Winblad (1895-1987), the following, which has been translated from Norwegian into English: "Miss Maria Winblad, New York. Dear Niece Marie, Aunt Sofie would now like to send you her and Grandfather's New Year's greetings and everything good in this year is wished to you; greetings to Tony." Sopie wrote Salmine Sophia Severine Pedersen (1862-1914), her sister around 1910-1913 the following: "A little post to you from your sister, stay well. Our most beloved dear Salmine and family, now when Sofie shall travel on Saturday, she will be kind and go to you and bring regards from your dear father and sister, I have no address, as I get the letters in return, got a letter from Lina 8 days ago, she is good and sound and has visited you, sister, and she said you were in good mood and happy, yes God helps you and your people, so that you still may come to see your old father he is pretty well and was glad he heard that Lina think about a trip home, together with you if everything goes well, with the help of God, we live well, have no suffer. Marie Klungeland is a candidate for confirmation October 6th. You John get regards from Malla Bekkevig Liva mm (with more). Dear be careful so that you once again can see old Norway, Lina wrote that she had a good time by Inga it was so nice, we have had a cold summer so we have had fire in the stove all the time, you shall get letters when I get ..., love from father [and] sister."

Travel:
On June 7, 1922 she traveled from Ålesund to Farsund to visit who remained of her family.

Death:
She died on July 8, 1924 in Ålesund, More og Romsdal, Norway and is presumed to be buried there.

Research:
Researched and written by Richard Arthur Norton (1958- ) for Findagrave starting on September 15, 2003. Updated on November 4, 2009 with the married name of Sophia as Nilsen based on the funeral notice of Salmine Sophia Severine Pedersen. Updated on January 12, 2011 with additional information from Harald Søren Storaker (1951) of Norway with her death date and information from the 1900 and 1910 census. Updated on February 14, 2011 with information from Arna Kristin Johansen from the 1885 and 1890 census. Updated with an image on March 10, 2013. The image was unlabeled but had "Alesund" on the back from the photographer, she was the only family member to live there since it was where her husband was from. Updated on September 16, 2019 with her 7 June 1922 trip to Farsund to visit her family. Updated on January 22, 2024 with her date of death as July 8, 1924 .

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