Nils Elias Thomsen (1820 - 1855)

Nils Elias Thomsen was born 18 Sep. 1820(# 55) on Røen farm, Tysnes, Hordaland County, Norway. He drowned at sea 28 Dec. 1855(# 32). He was buried in Fitjar churchyard 24 May 1856. He was son of Tolleif Thomsen and Cathrine Nielsdatter. Nils Elias married Sofie Christiansdatter from Store-Gjerdsvik farm in Tysnes, in Fitjar church on 24 May 1845(# 10). They had 6 children:

1. Thomas Thomsen, b. 7 July 1845, Glopholmen in Fitjar.
2. Nils Elias Thomsen, b. 11 June 1847, Kvarven in Fitjar. He was a Merchant in Valevåg, Sveio.
3. Carl Olai Thomsen, b. 19 Aug. 1849, Engesund in Fitjar. He was living in Fjellberg.
4. Christian Henrik Thomsen, b. 15 July 1852, Bukholmen in Fitjar.
5. Oline Thomsen, b. 4 May 1854, Ivarsøy farm, Fitjar.
6. Kathrine Thomsen, b. 3 Mar. 1856, Ivarsøy farm, Fitjar, m. Salomon Sætre, they were living on Alvøen in Askøy.

Nils bought half of Avløpet farm, which is a little Island west of Ivarsøy in Fitjar in 1853. He had 1 cow and 10 sheeps. He sowed 1 1/2 barrel oats and 1 barrel potatoes.

In the 1900 Census for Askøen in Hordaland, we can see that Sofie Thomsen is living on Bakken farm in Askøy, just outside Bergen, together with her daughter Kathrine Thomsen. Sofie is a widow and born 1818 in Tysnes in Sundhordaland. Kathrine is also a widow, nurse and born 1857 in Fitjar in Sundhordaland. 1)

1) Drange, Ernst Berge: Tysnes. Gards og ættesoge. 1991, Bind III, page 792, 801 - 802.
Simon Steinsbø: Fitjar bygdebok bind I, page 96 og 434 - 435.
Digitalarkivet: 1900 Census.
Microfilm: Church record Tysnes.