Anton Martin Syversen was born in Rakkestad, Østfold, Norway on 29 May 1841.
The farm where he was born was called Panteholtet, which was part of a larger farm known as Tøften: today this farm is called Granvold.
He was confirmed (with his brother Hans Kristian, entry number 80 below) in Rakkestad, Østfold, Norway on 05 October 1856
- Rakkestad prestekontor Kirkebøker, F/Fa/L0009: Parish register (official) no. I 9, 1850-1856, p. 174, Entry number 81.
- Transcription of the above
There is one Anton Syversen born between 1840 and 1842 in Rakkestad listed in the 1865 census: He was living on the Saxegaard faarm in Tune with Ole Andersen and his wife Berthe Nilsdatter and was employed as a welder.
Anton Syversen could not be located in the 1875 census.
He appears to have left Rakkestad for Kristiania (present day Oslo) in 1876
- Rakkestad Priesthood Office Church Books, F / Fa / L0011: Ministerial Book No. I 11, 1862-1877, p. 402 (bottom right hand page, 1876, Entry Number 8)
- Transcription of record of his departure
He was identified as the father of Anne Helene who was born 2 April 1877. Assuming that he was the biological father, we can assume that he and Anne Helene‘s mother (Laura Larsdatter) were on intimate terms around July 1876.
He married Laura Larsdatter on 24 Mar 1877 in Eidsvoll, Akershus County.
- Parish register (official) no. I 1, 1877-1881, p. 203
- Parish register (copy) no. I 4, 1877-1884, p. 141
Daughter Anne Helene was born 2 April 1877 (9 days later) in Eidsvoll:
- Parish register (official) no. I 1, 1877-1881, p. 75, entry number 32
- Parish register (copy) no. I 4, 1877-1884, p. 58, entry number 23
Anton, Laura and daughter Anne Helene moved from Eidsvoll to Rakkestad (Anton’s home) in 1878:
Son Syver was born in Rakkestad on 26 August 1878:
Daughter Maren Lovise was also born in Rakkestad on 13 June 1880
- Rakkestad prestekontor Kirkebøker, F/Fa/L0012: Ministerialbok nr. I 12, 1878-1893, s. 22, Female Entry number 30
- Transcription of the above
The family (Anton, Laura, daughters Anna and Maren and son Syver) left Rakkestad in 1881 and moved from Rakkestad to Tune
- Rakkestad Priesthood Office Church Books, F / Fa / L0012: Ministerial Book No. I 12, 1878-1893, p. 304, entries 52 – 56
- Transcription of the above
Son Ludvig was born 7 August 1882 in Tune.
Son Karl Magnus was born 8 May 1884 in Tune.
Daughter Inger Marie was born 31 January 1886 in Skiptvet.
The family was enumerated on the January 1, 1891 Norwegian Census living in Census district: 002 Broen, Rural residence: 0095 Haugaardsplads, Rakkestad, Ostfold, Norway.
Laura died April 1st 1891 in Rakkestad from pneumonia.
Anton Martin entered into a 2nd marriage with Maren Johanne Christensdatter ( born 15 December 1861 in Rakkestad ) on 17 September 1897 in Rakkestad.
They had two children:
Son Christen was born 18 March 1898 in Rakkestad:
Christen died 30 March 30th 1898, just 12 days after his birth:
Daughter Alma Laura was born August 4th 1899 in Rakkestad.
Anton, Maren and Alma were enumerated on the 1900 census in Rakkestad. It is notable that none of the children from his 1st marriage were living with him at the time.
Finding the children from the 1st marriage in the 1900 census has proven to be challenging:
- Anne Helene – There is only one woman with the last name of Antonsdatter born in Eidsvoll between 1876 and 1888 living in Rakkestad at the time of the 1900 Census. Anne Antonsdatter is a servant in the homeof Ole Steen and his wife Helen on the Vestby vestre farm in Rakkestad
- Syver was identified as a servant living with Ole Johansen and his wife Sofie Olsen at the Mjørud farm in Rakkestad
- Maren Louise – There is one female with the last name of Antonsdatter born between 1879 and 1881 living in Rakkestad at the time of the 1990 census: Elise Antonsdatter born in 1881 in Rakkestad is working on the Vestby farm and living with Edvard Johannesen and his wife Anne Regine Andersdatter.
- Ludvig died 29 March 1893 in Rakkestad
- Karl Magnus – There is only one Karl Antonsen born in 1884 living in Rakkestad at the time of the 1900 census. He is identified as a “Service Boy” on the Tøften farm living with Kristian Smith and his wife
- Inger Marie – Although she was confirmed in Rakkestad in 1901 a determined search of the 1900 census has produced no conclusive results: There are no obvious candidates.
Alma was confirmed 11 October 1914 in Rakkestad
Anton Martin died in Rakkestad on 14 Oct 1921. Here is a translation of his Obituary:
My dear husband and our dear father in law and grandfather. Died today at 80 1/2 years old, lived at Stemmedolen, on 14-10-1921. Maren Syverson born Krestensdatter. Survided by Children, Son, Daughter in law and grandchildren. Interned at Rakkestad Church on the 22nd of October at 2pm.