Martha Andersdatter was born 24 Sep. 1818 on Steien farm, Fjaler (Ytre Holmedal), Sogn og Fjordane County, Norway. She died 1888 in Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin, USA. She was daughter of Anders Olsen and Helene Davidsdatter. Martha married Ole Andreas Amundsen on 25 Oct. 1849(# 11) in Lødingen, Nordland County, Norway. They had 6 children:

1. Alvilde Marie Olsdatter, b. 16 Sep. 1850(# 53), d. 24 Apr. 1918, m. Abt. 1872, Andrew Jacobson.
2. Anna Helene Olsdatter, b. 24 Sep. 1853(# 98), d. 1908, m. Carl E Widgren.
3. Ole Andreas Olsen, b. 3 Feb. 1855(# 35), d. 1947, m. 23 May 1881, Anna Pederson.
4. Hans Jørgen Olai Olsen, b. 16 May 1858(# 51), d. 1 Feb. 1935, m. Anna Marie Iverson.
5. Ingvald Kristian Olsen, b. 23 June 1861(# 104), d. 4 Aug. 1958.
6. Adolf Ingeman Olsen, b. 30 Mar. 1864(# 19), d. 1894.

Martha was christened on 27 Sep. 1818 in Fjaler.

Martha moved from Fjaler (Ytre Holmedal) to Salten, Nordland County in 1843 before she moved to Lødingen, Nordland County in 1849.

In the 1865 census Martha was living on Melsbø farm in Lødingen together with her husband Ole Andreas Amundsen and their children Alvild Mari, Anna Helene, Ole Andreas, Hans Jørgen, Ingevald and Adolf. Ole was then a farmer and fisherman. (At that time the farm name was written as Mælsbø).

She emigrated to USA with her family in 1866. They departured from Trondheim on 5 May 1866 on the bark Neptunus. They arrived in Quebec Canada on 9 June 1866. Passenger list (see # 346 - 353). Her name was then listed as Martha Andersdatter.

She used the name Marthe Melsby and Martha Melsby in USA.

In the 1880 census she was living in Gilman, Pierce, Wisconsin, USA together with er husband Ole A Melsby and their son Adolf Melsby. Her name was then listed as Martha Melsby.

Her sons Hans Melsby and his brother Ingvald Melsby are mentioned several times in the pioneers stories a cousin of my great grandfather wrote. The Melby's are mentioned in part # 1, 2 and 3 in this link: http://slektsforskning.com/login/person/anetre/tekst/Pioneers.asp

Link to her page on FIND A GRAVE: Marthe Andersdatter Melsby.

In the links to Fjaler and Lødingen above, click on the pictures for a bigger picture. 1)

1) SAB, Fjaler Sokneprestembete, Ministerialbok nr. A 4, 1814-1821, s. 34
SAT, Ministerialprotokoller, klokkerbøker og fødselsregistre - Nordland, Ministerialbok nr. 872A08, 1840-1863, s. 388.
Folketelling 1865 for 1851P Lødingen prestegjeld.
Passenger list 1866 - bark Neptunus.
FIND A GRAVE.
Tolleif George Thomsen: Memories from Bear Lake.