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The Life Story of Bertil Martin Williamson (utvandret fra Brevik) (txt)

Av: Margaret Williamson (1991)



THE LIFE STORY OF
BERTIL MARTIN WILLIAMSON, son of Niels Williamson (1820-1905) and Pernille Pedersdatter Johnson (1814-1895), was born 26 August 1846 in Saetre, Brevik, Telemark, Norway. He was the second child of five all born in Saetre. In the "Life Sketch of Pauline Mary Williamson" she says they were all born in the same house. The children are:
Johan Wilhelm born 2 Nov 1843, died 28 Apr 1849.
Bertil Martin born 26 Aug 1846, died 9 Oct 1928, Lake View. Pauline Mary born 15 Sep 1848, died 19 Apr 1931, Lake View. Johan Wilhelm born 5 May 1851, died 11 Aug 1897, burial in
Provo City Cemetery.
Unnamed female born 27 Oct 1854, burial 6 Nov 1854, Saetre.
(Special permission was obtained to have the last child sealed to parents in the Provo Temple on 29 Aug 1980. Areta Sumsion Blake was the proxy for this little girl.
Max Blake was the proxy for Niels Williamson and Martin's daughter, Margaret, was the proxy for her dear grandmother, Pernille...a special blessing! Thank you, Areta)
Martin followed the trade of seaman which was common to the area where they lived. He was baptized in Brevik on 5 Mar 1866.
The following portion is taken from the "History of Pauline Mary Williamson" (Martin's sister):
"My mother (Pernille Pedersdatter Johnson) was born several months after her father, Peder Johnson, was drowned while enroute to Denmark for breadstuff. At the age of six she went to live with her aunt. Her uncle was a shipbuilder and accidentally met his death while working on a big ship. They were well-to-do people without children, so.my mother fell heir to their vast estate. She married Niels shortly before her aunt's death.
"My father's people were well-to-do and came from a royal family. His father, Wilhelm Jensen Blom, was a head officer in the army that fought between Denmark and Norway. He was knocked off a ship and drowned, leaving a widow and three children. The widow went to her uncle to make her home. In early manhood, one of the sons was drowned while fishing, and he left a wife and one son. The oldest son of Wilhelm Jensen Blom was a keeper of a lighthouse that was out on an island in the ocean. They were very aristocratic people and would not listen to the Gospel.
"My father was a sailor. He was also a cook on board a large vessel for many years. Mother didn't like his work on the sea, so he changed his occupation.
"My parents always welcomed the Mormon missionaries who came in their vicinity and often assisted them with funds. My mother, being a great Bible student and very sincere, soon recognized the truthfulness of the Gospel and accepted it with gratitude. She was one of the first ones in that part of Norway to be baptized. Her baptism entry as recorded in the Church Historian's Office is as follows: (Entry #28) 'Pernille Pederson datter, born 12 of May 1814 at Skien. She was baptized at Brevig on the 17th of May 1853 by President Knud Larsen, and con- firmed the same day by J. Jensen. She was excommunicated on the 20 of Sept. 1854.' (To find the reason for this, the minutes of the meeting of 20 Sept. 1854 were checked and the following entry noted:)
'25 of January 1857--a council meeting was held at the home of Brother Niels Wilhelmsen. Elders Lund, Larsen and the Priesthood and some members of the branch were present. Prayer was offered, after which Pernille Wilhelmsen was accused, and a complaint issued against her for insubordina- tion to the Priesthood and the branch presidency, Knud Larsen and priest
Bertil- brother of Johan Witshm/Father of John W. / Father of Germ
Father of Egy
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Christian Olsen.
'Sister Pernille was requested to humble herself before God and the brethren, but she was in possession of a rebellious spirit and would not acknowledge her fault owing to which fault the President moved that she be excommunicated, which was done by unaminous vote. The President offered the benediction."
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"(Grandmother Clinger told us (her family) that the Elders wanted to hold a meeting at her mother's home. As her mother was expecting a baby soon, she refused and for this reason was excommunicated.)
"It was recorded in another book that Pernille Peders datter, born 12 May 1815, was again baptized on 25 Jan 1857. (Entry 57, book 1438)
"Record was also found in the Church Historian's Office of 'Niels Wilhelmsen,
born Aug 24, 1820, husband of Pernille Peders datter, was baptized on the 5th of Oct. 1853 at Brevig by Pres. Knud Larsen. He was confirmed the same day by Johan August Ahmanson. He was excommunicated 25 Jan. 1857, but no reason given. Farther on, the record states that Niels Wilhelmsen, born 24 Aug 1820, was baptized 25 Jan. 1857. This signifies that he was rebaptized on the same day that he was excommunicated. (Entry 58, book 1438)
"I (Pauline Mary Williamson) was baptized when I was eleven years old on 20 Nov. 1859. To do so it was necessary to cut through over a foot of ice. The Elder performing the baptism was sentenced to spend eight days in prison on bread and water.
"When the time came to emigrate to Utah, my parents and grandfather assisted several other families financially. They helped Knud Larsen and Hansen and families. Two of Knud Larsen's children died while crossing the water. Two others of the same family died while crossing the plains and were buring by the wayside.
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"Oh, the sacrifice to leave a good, well-furnished homeof peace and plenty, and friends and neighbors, and start out into an unknown world, but the Gospel was worth everything to us. We went to Copenhagen first with some Elders, and waited a long time for the ship to be in readiness, then went to Germany and waited long in Keal. I was then seventeen years old. In May 1855 we set sail, and were eight weeks on the ocean. This was a long trip, but the trip from New York to St. Louis was harder and longer. We boarded box cars and cattle cars and forded streams. Many of our best clothes were stolen out of our trunks in New York. When we finally reached St. Louis, we tarried there a long time, waiting for the ox teams to be in readiness for their long migration across the plains. "Mother and I walked all the way except when crossing the Mississippi River. Though mother (Pernille) had very bad feet, she trudged the distance remarkably well. Being a midwife, her services were needed all along the way, and she was always ready to render assistance in any way she could. It was only through providential strength and courage that we endured until we arrived in Salt Lake City the last day of Conference, 8 Oct. 1866, with only $5.00 left.
"The next day the company scattered in all directions. Our family went to Provo to Bishop Peter Madsen's home.........Mother's (Pernille) skill as a midwife soon became known, and she was called out far and near and her services graciously received, but she never charged for her work. She was so sincere and devoted to her calling that she often fasted and prayed over her problems..
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(Margaret Williamson Camp, who is writing this history of her father, Martin Williamson, is grateful and appreciative to have the History of Mary Williamson which relates the early life of her father.)
The family came to Salt Lake with the Andrew H. Scott Oxteam Company arriving 8 Oct 1866.
Father married Inger Anderson from Pleasant Grove on 23 Jul 1868. They were sealed 3 Jul 1871 in the Endowment House. Inger was born 10 Apr 1849 in Faringtofta, Kristianstad, Skäne Province, Sweden, the daughter of Paul Frederickson Anderson and Kirstine Hakenson. (My mother, Anna, always spoke very lovingly of "Aunt Inger"). Father filed Declaration of Intention to become a citizen of the United States on 2 Jul 1881 in Provo City, Utah Territory. He received his Certificate of Citizenship on 18 Feb 1884," First Judicial District Court of the United States in and for Utah Territory, "and in the year of our Independence the One Hundred and Seventh." Father was ordained a Seventy on 26 Mar 1897 and a High Priest on 5 Mar 1905 in the Utah Stake of Zion, Provo, Utah County. His Missionary Certificate (mission call) to Scandinavia is dated March 26th 1897 and is signed by President Wilford Woodruff. His Mission Release as Missionary in Christiania Conference is dated March 8, 1899. "With permission to return home with the company which will leave Copenhagen March 17."
Aunt Inger died 20 Oct 1918 at their home in Lake View. She is buried in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery. Aunt Inger was unable to have children.
The following is an excerpt from the "History of Hanna Josephine. Christiansen. Bezzant: daughter of Carl Fredrick William Christiansen and Cecalea Anderson (Inger's sister) born February 6, 1873 in Pleasant Grove:
"When I was one year old I fell over a rocker and bruised my hip, causing an absess. Dr. Rogers the only doctor in town operated and caused me to be a cripple all my life. My leg stopped growing, but after two years it was healing. I was very
fortunate to save my leg. By the time I was three I was well and strong. "My mother was very ill when my sister Amanda was born, so Aunt Ingry took me to live with her in Lake View. I stayed with Aunt Ingry and Uncle Mart Williamson until I was fourteen years old.
"Old Mr. Byron ("Bowering" from Mary Williamson's History), living at Henry Clinger's
taught me my a b c's and at the age of eight I went to school at Lake View. Each morning I milked two cows and then walked two miles to school.
"When I was fourteen years old I went home to live in Pleasant Grove..
"Uncle Mart Williamson was a farmer, he raised sugar cane on Provo Bench, we would go in the fields and take long home-made wooden knives and strip cane all day. The men would come behind and cut and pile it and then we would top it.
"I remember when there was no bridge over Provo River, the water was so high the horses had to swim down stream in order to cross and many of them were drowned. In those days we had many scares with Indians, once when I was down in the barn gathering eggs, (the barn was across the road from the house) I heard a noise and turned to see a band of Indians coming with their horses tied together with long willows, I got so frightened I hid in the manger, where two large horses were feeding. When they found me, they told me never to do that again. I could have been killed by the horses.
"In those days the only drinking water was small springs down in the fields, Uncle Marts father braided willows to make fences around the springs. I carried water in a little bucket for drinking, and when I would see a buggy coming I would walk with one foot in the wagon rut so that people wouldn't see that I was a cripple. I was very self-conscious about being lame even when I was only eight.
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"Aunt Ingry had one of the largest and nicest homes in Lake View at that time, so they held Relief Society Conference at her home. Eliza R. Snow was General President of the Relief Society at that time and conducted the conference. being a very good girl I was allowed to attend. I will always remember her. "Along with the hardships I remember many good times. The Nelson Grove (upon the Sandhill) was a nice resort, where people came from far and near. There was an excursion train out from Salt Lake City. It was noted for its flowers and picnic grounds.....
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I am grateful to have Aunt Josephine's History.
beautiful
She often told me how good Father was to her. She said after she was married and struggling to raise her family he gave them a cow so that they would have milk and butter.
Father married Mother, Anna Karolina Henriksen, 30 Jun 1921, in the Salt Lake
Her Temple. Mother was born 10 Mar 1884 in Trefoldighet, Oslo, Oslo, Norway. father is Ole Henriksen born 9 Jan 1841 in Vinger, Hedmark, Norway, and her mother is Maria Greta Andersdotter born 16 Mar 1844 in Moen, Blomskog, Värmland, Sweden. They met in Salt Lake through mutual Scandinavian friends.
There was a saying that Uncle Mart was going to cut the tops of his pine trees so that he could get a little sun (son). He and mother have two children, Margaret, born 21 Oct 1922 at the family home in Lake View; Martin LeRoy born 17 Mar 1924 at the family home in Lake View.
Father passed away at home on 9 Oct 1928 burial 13 Oct in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery. Father said that he wanted to live to see me, Margaret, start school. I remember that I started first grade in September 1928. He dressed up in his suit as he always did when he would go out and as he appears in the family picture. He drove me to school in our great big Studebaker, a 1922 model but
That like new because it was driven to Provo and occasionally to Salt Lake. was the last time he drove the car. (I type this with tears in my eyes!)
I remember that he had a big wicker rocking chair in our living room and he would sit in that and read the Norwegian newspaper that started with a "B" and books. Mother said he liked to read.
Roy said that he can remember that he and Father walked up to the farm to get milk in a small bucket. On the way home, they stopped at the canal and sat on the bank and had a drink of milk.
Mother passed away 21 Dec 1946. At that time she and Roy were living on the farm in Vineyard and she passed away at home. Her funeral was 24 Dec in the Lake View Chapel and burial in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery. Father arranged to have Inger and Mother on each side of him but the sexton said there was not enough space so Mother is buried behind Father and to the right of him. Margaret married Leslie Wilford Camp in the Salt Lake Temple on 9 Sep 1946. They have seven children: Karen Ann born 19 Sep 1947; Steven Leslie born 17 Apr 1949; Roderick Martin born 6 Jan 1952; Jonathan Franz born 19 Feb 1953; Bruce Eric born 15 Aug 1954; Curtis Reed born 15 Dec 1956 and Lisa born 5 Feb 1963.
Roy married LouJean Robbins 17 Nov 1953 in Orem. They were sealed in the Logan Temple 22 Mar 1956 (LouJean had been divorced but could not be married in the Temple until her Temple divorce was finalized). They have five children: Garth born 26 Oct 1954; Jeanne born 27 Mar 1957; Layne Luzell born 25 Jun 1959; Jill born 24 Jan 1962 amd Vickie born 6 Dec 1965.
I remember that we had violets growing next to our home. Mother said that they had been planted there by Aunt Inger..
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I turned six years old twelve days after father passed away.
I have warm loving feelings about him. Mother always spoke of him with high regard and esteem.
I always knew that he loved and cared about us. Before he passed away he told mother that she "would live like a queen." Mother said he would have been very concerned had he known of the "great depression" that would follow. I always felt the security of a strong father influence in our home.
The following is from the "History of LakeView Ward 1855-1951" compiled by Christian Jeppesen, Jr.: (page 124)
BERTHAL MARTIN WILLIAMSON
"Martin Williamson was born August 26, 1844, in Brevig, Norway, a son of Niels Williamson and Pernelia Peterson. He came to Utah with his parents October 8, 1866, and they settled in Lake View in 1868. July 23, 1868, he married Inger Anderson in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. She was born April 10, 1848, in Sweden, a daughter of Paul and Chartay Hoganson Williamson (misprint).
"The home of "Uncle Mart" as he was affectionately called in Lake View, was on what was called the Lake Bottom Road, now known as Geneva Road. He made his living by working on the railroad, mining or any other work he could get to do until the spring of 1874, when water was first made to run in the Lake Bottom Canal, at which time he began farming his land. Previous to this canal, two others had been constructed somewhat along the same route, but without enough fall to make the water run, so this one was a welcome achievement.
"Uncle Mart always drove a fine team of fat horses which was the envy of some people, and of which he was proud. He built his home of adobes and it was quite modern for those days. A nice lawn extended from the house down the slope to the road, and pine trees served both as a decoration and shade on the lawn.
"Martin Williamson owned the first automobile in Lake View, and it was said that the first time he drove into the garage which he had made on one side of his barn, he called out 'Whoa, Whoa,' pulling back on the steering wheel at the same time, but his automobile would not stop and went straight out the end of the garage, not stopping of course, until he had collected his thoughts enough to shut off the motor and use the brake. Some modernists may laugh at such horse methods of stopping a car, but this writer did exactly what Uncle Mart did, in an effort to stop his Model-T Ford automobile a time or two before getting used to the new method of stopping.
"Inger Williamson died October 20, 1918, leaving no posterity. On June 30, 1921, Martin married Anna Carolina Henrikson; she was born March 10, 1884, in Oslo, Norway, and had come to Utah in 1919. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple, and of that union two children were born, Margaret and Martin LeRoy Williamson.
"Martin Williamson died October 9 (1928) Anna Carolina Henrikson Williamson died December 21, 1946. She had the misfortune to be involved in an automobile and train crash about five years before her death and the injuries she received caused her to be an invalid for the rest of her remaining years."
Grateful to Brother Jeppesen for this nice writeup.
Roy served a mission to Norway 1950-52. He was grateful to go to the homeland of his parents. He and LouJean are presently on a mission in Clearfield, PA (Feb 1990-Apr 1991). I know Roy loved and missed his Father.
(Margaret Williamson Camp 5 Feb 1991)
!
Following names are written on back of this picture.
Standing: Lydia Riddle Holdaway, Hannah Jorgensen Madsen, Bishop John Johnson,
Mrs. Will Lewis, Inger Sward Johnson.
Left sitting:
Center sitting:
Next to window:
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Nels Larson, Josephine Johnson, Will Goodridge (gentleman w/o beard).
Hannah Williamson or Mrs. Jensen ??, John Williamson, Martin. Williamson, Inger Anderson Williamson, James Clinger, Mary Williamson Clinger, Marian Clinger. Behind Marian is John Williamson, sitting next to him w/just portion of face is Parley Clinger.
Ida Smoot Dusenberry, Alice Smoot Newell, George Taylor, Smoot girl that married a Taylor, George Smoot, Mrs. Smoot, children Margaret and Irene Smoot.
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Margaret Williamson Camp has an original copy. No date when this was taken. It appears to be a patriotic dinner since flags are in the background. Particularly precious because John, Martin and Mary with spouses are together. There is a question who the people are sitting behind Martin.
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Margaret Williamson Camp 5 Feb 1991
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