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Hi folks, Could anyone help me find details of John William (or William John) Hanson? He migrated from Norway to The USA in 1854. He was a gold miner. He must have stopped off in Engand in the early months of 1854 because we have DNA evidence connecting a lady in America to my family via a Roger Gilbanks. He was the son of Eluzabeth Gilbanks, no Father named on his birth certificate. Mr Hansons ship must have docked in England en route to The USA. Does anyone have experience of dealing with Nowegian ancestry. Am now stuck! :-(

Have now found out he was Danish. Can anyone help? X

Have found out that the ship must have docked in Dalton in Furness. Hope this helps

Hello Diane, I won't enter into discussion about the DNA as I have my own opinions on that which may not tally with yours.

Having said that, what part of the USA did this man arrive in and how was the date established? How is it known he was from Norway?

I did see this record but the man is Danish, not Norwegian.

New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957

Name: John Hanson
Arrival Date: 29 Jun 1854
Birth Date: abt 1826
Age: 28
Gender: Male
Ethnicity/ Nationality: Danish
Place of Origin: Denmark
Port of Departure: Liverpool, England
Destination: United States of America
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Ship Name: Queen of The West

He was a farmer. I'm sure there weren't many gold miners needed in Scandinavia and other parts of Europe so would guess it was an occupation men took up when they arrived in USA.

Where was Roger Gilbanks born?

He was born in Kirkby Ireleth which I think is Cumbria?

Not sure where he lived in USA but his great granddaughter lives in San Fransisco. I suppose he could have been Danish. They could have got mixed up. They do have Family letters to connect to him.

Many men went to the USA during the 1850s and 1860s, and became gold miners.

The major gold mining activity at that time were in California, then Alaska, and parts of British Columbia in Canada.


That does NOT mean that they were gold miners in their home countries ..................

in fact they were far more likely to be farmers, office clerks, criminals escaping justice, or even the black sheep of the family.


What is your connection to this man?

I know that he wouldn't have been a gold miner. That's obviously why he went to America, hoping to make his fortune. Roger Gilbanks, who may have been his son, is the great grandfather of my cousin on his dads mothers side.

Hello again Diane. If John William (or vice versa) Hanson is the known ancestor of someone in USA then I think the way to approach it would be to for us to try to work back from that person to him and then see if we can find his arrival in USA and try to confirm a connection that way.

Obviously you don't want to post details of someone that is living but if there are some known facts about e.g. her grandparents then that would give us something to go on.

There are dozens of Hansons born Norway of the right age on the 1860 US census so working back will be far easier than attempting to work from each one of them.

Thank you! Will see what I can do. X

It now seems definate that he was John William. Will post any new info ASAP. Thank you your help. X

OK Diane, just add the info to this thread when you have it and will pick it up.

Thank you. X

Have found out that John William Hanson had two daughters in The States, Bertha and Frances. Awaiting more info from my cousin. X

???


1861 census transcription details for: Skill Hill, Sandside, Kirkby Ireleth
Print Close

National Archive Reference:
RG number: RG09
Piece: 3172
Folio: 86
Page: 22
Reg. District: Ulverston
Sub District: 5 West Broughton
Parish: Kirkby Ireleth
Enum. District: 7
Ecclesiastical District:
City/Municipal Borough:
Address: Skill Hill, Sandside, Kirkby Ireleth
County: Lancashire
Name Relation Condition Sex Age Birth Year Occupation , Disability Where Born
GILLBANKS, John Head Married M 66 1795 Slate Quarrier
Kirkby Ireleth, Lancashire
GILLBANKS, Betty Wife Married F 59 1802
Lindale, Lancashire
GILLBANKS, Isaac Son Unmarried M 28 1833 Slate Quarrier
Kirkby Ireleth, Lancashire
GILLBANKS, William Son Unmarried M 17 1844 Slate Quarrier
Kirkby Ireleth, Lancashire
GILLBANKS, Christine Daughter Unmarried F 14 1847 Scholar
Kirkby Ireleth, Lancashire
GILLBANKS, Jane Jones Granddaughter F 9 1852 Scholar
London
GILLBANKS, James Grandson M 9 1852 Scholar
Kirkby Ireleth, Lancashire
>>GILLBANKS, Roger Grandson M 7 1854 Scholar
Kirkby Ireleth, Lancashire
GILLBANKS, Miles H Grandson M 2 1859 Scholar
Dalton, Lancashire



Baptism: 26 Jun 1827 St Cuthbert, Kirkby Ireleth, Lancashire, England
Elizabeth Gilbanks - dau of John Gilbanks & Elizabeth
Abode: Beckside
Occupation: Labourer
Baptised by: Thos. Pearson, Vicar of Kirkby Ireleth
Register: Baptisms 1813 - 1838 from the Bishop's Transcripts, Page 86, Entry 683
Source: LDS Film 1040307

James, Roger and Myles were all born to Elizabeth but no father named

Have now found out that he did call himself William at times. He was in Tge hospital in Placerville California and died there in May 1900. He had two daughters Bertha lucinda born 1882 and Frances Ethel born 1884. he is on Tge find a grave site as William Henson.
The lady in America is his great granddaughter, granddaughter of Bertha. She has three letters he wrote to Frances in 1898 and 1899. She knows nothing of his life from 1855 until then. I have tried to look at Lloyds Register to see if I can find him but so many Hansons/Hansens. Not sure what to do now. Help! X

Hi Diane, I have to admit that I'm struggling with the information you have. Do you have a link to the FindaGrave record as I'm unable to find a match.

I did find a William Hanson died 1900 but he was only 1 year old.

This was the nearest I could find based on the location:

California, Mortuary and Cemetery Records, 1801-1932

Name: William T Henson
Birth Place: Kentucky
Age: 74
Birth Date: abt 1824
Death Date: 1 Nov 1898
Death Place: Placerville, California
Burial Place: Placerville, California

The information on the record says he's buried Morning Star Lodge no 20, I.O.O.F. Lot, Union Cemetery, Placerville, California. There's a note says the information was secured by Mrs King Becker in 1933.

Obviously the birthplace and year don't fit.

I haven't yet found the two girls on the US census, do you have any idea who they may have married which may give us something to work back from. What was their mother's name?

EDIT: From other records I've seen I think the above relates to a William Tanner Henson.

The girls mother was Emelia Jsephine Means Hanson. She left the goldfields 1895 with a gokdminer named Julius Fairbanks. They married in 1900 after the death of William/John Hanson. I will need to look back for Tge grave listing. Thanks for your help! X

Find a grave.com Leads to Ancestry, memorial 11458795 . It was a common grave at The County Hospial, Pacerville