Christine Hansen the only daughter of Christian Hansen and Ane Karine Jensen. My husband's Great Grandmother was born in Oslo, Norway and died in Provo, Utah.
I wanted to share her story of faith and sacrifice so my children can appreciate what this Great Great Grandmother of theirs did.
Christine married Pauli Lorang Larsen in Oslo, Norway and they were the parents of three children Alfred, Signe and Pauli Lorang Larsen my husbands Grand Father. Along the way Pauli became Parley and his sister Signe became Zina.
Pauli died in Oslo after joining the LDS Church. Christine had become a member of the Church a year later. The news of their conversion to their parents was not well received and they were planning on coming to America. Pauli got sick and died in 1894. Christine's parents told her if she would stay in Norway and leave the Church they would take care of her and her children. She refused and they told her that their relationship would be cut off for ever.
In1895 Christine left Norway alone with her three children. She had a small amount of money and few possessions and did not speak English. When she got to Ellis Island she was afraid they would not let her through. As she was standing in line waiting her turn the baby (Pauli) started to cry and fuss and the officials hurried her little family through without asking her the usual questions.
The ship Furnessia was the one the family traveled on from Glasgow to New York.
No records have been found about her trip from Norway to Glasgow, Scotland. I was told she may have lived in New York for a few months before taking the train to Utah. She did have sponsors living in Provo they had been missionaries in Norway.
I can only imagine how difficult that trip from Oslo, Norway to Utah would have been for a young widow with three children.
More on this brave lady and her family later...
2 comments:
Welcome back!!!
Seriously - I can barely think of making such a trip with little ones. Add on no money, being widowed and cut off from family. What a great story. What a great heritage you have.
This is some story. What courage and conviction she had, to travel to a distant country with 3 young children and no knowlege of the language. I can't begin to think how that would feel.
Post a Comment