Peder's First Wife, Anne Serine

For some time now the only information I could find about Peder's first wife (and mother of Marthe, Minnie, Amelia and Lena) was what I found on the marriage record: that her name was Anne Serine K. Gurebakken, father Knud Olsen, mother Magnilde Jacobsdatter. Peder and Anne were married in Sterling in October 1869 and Marthe was born in February 1870.

Until now I had thought that Peder emigrated in 1863, but apparently he did not do so until May of 1869.

Peder and his family all lived on the south side of Nordfjord. Anne Serine came from the north side, a township by the name Vanylven.

She was born (out of wedlock) on 7 March and baptised 29 April 1849 by the name Anne Serine. The father was Knud Olsen, farmer of Kviebakken and the mother was the widow Magnilde Jacobsdatter.

In fact Magnilde was the sister of Knud Olsen's wife, Marta Jacobsdatter!

Anne Serine emigrated to America in 1869, and here we can only guess again - but she probably met Peder Ingebrigtsen onboard. At that time a crossing of the Atlantic took usually 5-8 weeks, according to the weather conditions. So they had plenty of time to get acquainted... and apparently they did much more than just get acquainted, as they married the following October and Marthe was born in February 1870, just 9 months after they left Norway!

Anne died some time after 1874 (when the twins Amelia and Lena were born), but before 1884 (when Peder married Mary Dorthea Overberg). She is probably buried in the Belgium Ridge Cemetery. There is an obelisk marker there with Peder's name but not hers. But it appears to be much older than a date of 1904 (his death year) would suggest. I think it may have been put there originally in honor of her death. But I cannot think why her name is not on it.