My great grandfather, Carl Andersen, started his career as a junior seaman just after his confirmation at age 15. Born in 1856, Carl needed a livelihood because he was the youngest son and would not inherit land. His first voyage out of his hometown of Grimstad was in 1871. In the past, some men in the Andersen family owned or sailed on ships. His father, Anders Kittelsen, had been a ship’s...
The Legend of The Knight’s Leap (Ridderspranget)
The love story of Erling fra Kvie and Ragnild Skarvangssola is the origin of the legend of The Knight’s Leap, called “Ridderspranget” in Norwegian. The “leap” was across a dramatic gorge in the Sjoa River. The site is now a famous visitors’ spot in Jotunheimen National Park in Norway. The knight (ridder) Erling (Viljalmsson) belonged to the noble family of Kviden in the Vang (Vaga) region of the...
Betrayal Avenged and Kindnesses Remembered– The Cochecho Massacre
The Raid on Dover, also known as the Cochecho Massacre, took place in Dover, New Hampshire on June 27-28, 1689. It was led by Chief Kancamagus of the Pennacook. The raid was in revenge for a treacherous ruse by Major Richard Waldron thirteen years before, designed to snare Pennacook tribal members for punishment by the Massachusetts Bay Colony authorities. In a “mock battle” arranged as...
The Life and Death of Catharina Kurowska Pawlowski (1841-1898)
Prussia, Germany Catharina Paulina Kurowska was born around 1841 in the village of Kampangen, near the town of Marienwerder in West Prussia. She spoke German, and identified as German, although she probably had Polish and other Eastern European ancestry as well. At that time, the Kingdom of Prussia was part of the German Confederation. I currently don’t have any information on her parents...
Erik the Red’s Brattahild Kin VK184
It’s a thrill when a DNA discovery matches a family story. A few years ago, I was swapping memories with my cousin, Donna, when she mentioned that her dad told her that we were descended from Eric the Red. It was one of the stories his grandfather, Carl Andersen, told him when he was a boy. Several years ago I had my DNA analyzed by 23andMe. In 2024 they introduced “Historical Matches,” a premium...
Asa Haraldsdottir of Agder
Asa Haraldsdottir of Agder was a legendary Norwegian queen of the petty kingdom of Agder. Asa was the daughter of King Harald Granraude of Agder. She was born in the 8th century and died around 834 CE. She is reputed to be the woman buried in the famous Oseberg ship. The ship was discovered in a burial mound near Tonsberg, Norway, in August 1903. It was excavated in 1904-1905. According to the...
Izjaslav Ingvareych VK541
Some of my ancient ancestors were Norse traders and raiders that explored and settled in an area near the Baltic Sea in what is now Russia and the Ukraine. After a few generations of intermarriage with the native Slavic tribes, they became known as the “Rus.” Prince Izjaslav Ingvarevych of Dorogobuzh The individual with whom I share a genetic link was a man named Izjaslav Ingvarevych (Izjaslav...
The Last Years and Death of Richard Nason (1606-1696)
Richard Nason lived to be almost 90 years old. A rare achievement now, and even more so in the 17th century. He must have been wiry and resilient, carried along by a stubborn determination to live and prevail. He came by himself to Maine when he was a young man; no family member, cousin or nephew preceded or came after him. He built up his estate through his hard work and the work and support of...
Richard Nason – Offices and Controversies
Richard Nason arrived in Maine sometime before 1636. My father told me that the date was 1629. I have also read that he arrived in 1623, 1629, 1630, and 1636. We know that it was before 1640 because his name appears in land records in Dover, N.H. before that date. Since Richard Nason received one of the choicest tracts of land in the Ferdinando Georges grant, I assume that he was at Pipe Stave...
Lussi Long-Night (“Langnatt”)
The folklore surrounding December 13th has held a special place in Norway since the Viking Age. It was thought to be the longest night of the year and the beginning of the Yule season. It was a dangerous night, since it was ruled by a female spirit, a vette or vaettir, called Lussi (“Light”). She was the mother or leader of the vettir (spirits) and other Huldrefolk (supernatural beings), and kin...