The Isak Pehrsen Tiberg Family

The Family of Isak Pehrsen Tiberg and Maria Elisabeth Olufsdatter (the Editor's Maternal Grandmother's Birth Family), Vadsø, Finnmark County, Norway. Isak Pehrsen Tiberg was the father of the editor's maternal grandmother. 25-year- old Isak Pehrsen Tiberg married 27-year-old Maria Elisabeth Olufsdatter on June 24, 1853, in Vadsø,



Norway. The record of their marriage says they both had been born in Karunki parish, Finland. But further research indicates that Maria Elisabeth Olufsdatter (the daughter of Olof Ollila) actually was born in Tervola parish, immediately east of Karunki.

The record of Isak and Maria's marriage reports Isak's father's name as Pehr Jacobsen Tiberg and Maria's father's name as Oluf Hadl(???)sen.

The editor's grandmother (Emma Kristine) said her father (Isak Pehrsen Tiberg) went to Finland to fetch her mother (Maria Elisabeth Olufsdatter).

Isak Tiberg Opens a Small Store. Soon after their marriage, Emma said Isak Tiberg opened a small store in Vadsø.

Maria Elisabeth Bears Two Children. The following year, 1854, Maria Elisabeth gave birth to their first child, a daughter, Eugenie Fredrikke. Two years later, in 1856, she bore a son, and the couple named him Pehr Oluf, after their fathers.

The Editor's Maternal Grandmother. A Vadsø church confirmation record reports that the editor's maternal grandmother (Emma Kristine Tiberg) was born October 22, 1859, baptised December 26, 1859, and confirmed April 11, 1875.

Emma informed the editor that in the year she was born, during a period of economic distress, her father merged his retail business with other Vadsø store owners to form one, large store.

Isak Tiberg Becomes a Tollbetjent. Isak Tiberg then obtained an official post, oarsman (tollbetjent; tullkarlen), in the Vadsø customs house, where he remained employed until his death.

The House at #14. A history of Vadsø reports: tollbetjent Isak Tiberg began residing in the house at #14 in 1853.

The editor's brother (Paul Renne) wrote in his travel diary on June 26, 1978: "... Andy took us to the house of Isaac [sic] Tiberg. There have been recent improvements, but apparently it is still recognizable from the original. A paper, stationery and book store is presently occupying the ground floor..."

Mary Mickelsen wrote in her book, "[Emma] ...must have enjoyed her childhood in the house, fronting the narrow street below which sloped the embankment to the waterfront, where masted fishing smacks and small harbor craft were anchored."

The editor's sister (Dona Renne Meland) took the photograph above and wrote a note on its back which follows:

The editor believes that Dona was mistaken when she wrote "the green building, used to be the custom house."

Maria Elisabeth Dies in 1862. Maria Elisabeth Tiberg died in 1862, probably as a result of childbirth. Before her death she gave birth to a second son, Jacob, who died in infancy.Emma informed the editor that she had not yet turned three when her mother died.

The Widow of Erickksen of Hammerfest. Emma said Isak Tiberg married Else Christine about a year after Marie Elisabehth's death. When Emma told the story to the editor in 1950, she referred to Else as "the widow of Erickksen of Hammerfest." Emma said, Else "... wasn't so nice. She don't care for children."

Else was four years older than Isak, and she brought a one-year-old son, Johan Anbon, to the new marriage. A note in the editor's file says that Johan Anbon died at a young age.

The Census of December 31, 1975. The census of December 31, 1975, found 16-year- old Emma Isaksdatter Tiberg residing in the Isak Johansen Bergstrøm residence, as one of four servants (tyende) to the Bergstrøm family; the same census found only Isak, Else and a servant residing in the Tiberg residence. The Tiberg children no longer resided in the home of their father.

Emma told the editor that she attended school in Vadsø from just before age six until age 15.

Kåfjord, Hammerfest, Trondheim and Oslo. Emma said she went to Kåfjord and Hammerfest to visit relatives when she was 19, and spent the winter in Trondheim attending a dressmaking school. In mid- 1879, she went to Oslo (Christiana) to work in a dress factory after she had completed her training in Trondheim. In Oslo, she lived with two cousins: one was a school teacher; the other was studying to become a doctor.

Emma remained away from home about three years. Her father Isak frequently sent money to help her with living expenses, because her work was unsteady, she said, and her salary was inadequate to her needs. When Emma went home in 1881, she was criticized for her spenthrift behavior, and Isak asked, "Do you know how much money I have sent you?"

"No," she responded.

"900 Kroner," Isak solemnly proclaimed.

Emma Visits in the Vicinity of Kittilä, Finland. Emma said she visited in the vicinity of Kittilä, Finland, twice in the period 1881-85. The editor estimates she made her first trip to Finland in the winter of 1882-83, at age 23. While in Kittilä she met her future husband, Matti Jokela, who turned 23 in February 1883.

Emma turned 25 on October 22, 1884; the editor guesses she made her second trip to Finland in the winter of 1884-85.