Thomas Nilsen was born 8 Sep. 1812 on the tenant place Haugen on Stensrud farm, Modum, Buskerud County, Norway. He died 17 Apr. 1891 in Mellen, Ashland County, Wisconsin, USA. He was son of Nils Madsen and Anne Pedersdatter. Thomas married Aaste Karine Engebretsdatter 5 Nov. 1841(# 46) in Eiker, Buskerud County, Norway. They had at least 9 children:

1. Nils Thomassen, b. 30 May 1844(# 123), d. 1 June 1844(# 74)
2. Johan Thomassen, b. 8 Sep. 1845(# 189), d. 13 Mar. 1922, m. 5 Apr. 1868, Aaste Marie Jacobson.
3. Anne Cathrine Thomasdatter, b. 8 Aug. 1848(# 85),
4. Maren Thomasdatter, b. 17 Jan. 1851(# 12),
5. Nicoline Thomasdatter, b. 27 Feb. 1853(# 43),
6. Nils Thomassen, b. 18 Oct. 1855(# 130),
7. Erick Thomassen, b. 24 Apr. 1858(# 56), m. 18 July 1883, Martine Anderson.
8. Laura Haugen, b. 1861, d. 1939.
9. Theodor Haugen, b. 1864,

Thomas was christened 1812 in Modum church, Modum, Buskerud County, Norway.

Thomas moved from Eiker with his wife and their son Johan back to Modum on 5 Oct. 1846(# 7 - 9 on the right side).

He received an emigration attest from the church dated 28 Apr. 1860(# 44 on the right side). He was then listed as Thomas Nilsen Stensrud. Thomas emigrated to America together with his wife and their children Anne Cathrine 11, Maren 9, Nicoline 7, Nils 4 and Erik 2 years old. (Their son Johan was not mentioned in the church book).

In the 1880 census Thomas was living in Martel, Pierce, Wisconsin together with his son's Erik and Theodor. Thomas was then a widower and his name was listed as Thomas Haugen.

Most of Thomas' children used Haugen as their last name in USA.

Link to his page on FIND A GRAVE: Thomas N. Haugen.

In the link to Modum and Eiker above, click on the pictures for a bigger picture. 1)

1) SAKO, Modum kirkebøker, Ministerialbok nr. 3, 1783-1819, s. 392-393.
SAKO, Eiker kirkebøker, Ministerialbok nr. 13A, 1832-1845, s. 365.
FIND A GRAVE.