Wilhelmine Cathrine (Hansdatter Sem) Peterson (1807 - 1896)

Wilhelmine Cathrine Sem (or Wilhelmine Cathrine Hansdatter Messel Sem as her name was in Norway) was born 1807(# 63) in Bergen, Hordaland County, Norway. She died Feb. 15, 1896 in Norway Lake Township, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, USA. She was daughter of skipper Hans Messel Sem and Christine Sophie Weltzin. Wilhelmine Cathrine married June 23, 1835(# 11), Petter Nielsen Grindheim in the Old Moster Church. They had 6 children:

1. Nels Peterson, b. Jan. 5, 1836(# 6), d. Apr. 8, 1912, m. 1863, Marthe Johnson.
2. Hans Sem Peterson, b. Oct. 11, 1838(# 126), d. Aug. 25, 1933, m. Apr. 15, 1866(# 5), Anne Johannesdatter Totland.
3. Peter Peterson, b. Sep. 7, 1841(# 137), d. Oct. 2, 1923, m(1) Sep. 28, 1865, Anna Johnson, m(2) May 30, 1872, Mari Johnson.
4. Sophius Christian Peterson, b. Jan. 10, 1844(# 9), Find A Grave
5. Anna Kirstine Petersdatter, b. May 24, 1846(# 85), d. Jan. 2, 1847(# 4).
6. Andreas Petersen, b. July 9, 1848(# 128), d. Sep. 23, 1855(# 96).

Wilhelmine Cathrine's christening was held on June 14, 1807(# 63) in Nykirken, Bergen, Hordaland County, Norway. Her name was then written as "Wilhelmine Catharine Metzel" Sem.

Wilhelmine's family moved to Børøy in Moster, Bømlo, Hordaland County, Norway, were she was raised and lived when she was married.

In the 1815 census "Vilhelmine S. M. Sem" was living on Børøy farm, Moster, Bømlo, Hordaland County, Norway, together with her parents and siblings.

In the 1865 census "Vilhelmina K. Nielsen" was living on Upper Grindheim farm, Moster, Bømlo, Hordaland County, Norway, together with her husband "Petter Nielsen" and their son Hans Sem Pettersen. Hans later married the housemaid Anna Johannesdatter on the same page. Wilhelmine's mother was also living with them.

"Peter Nilsen Grindem" reiceived an emigration attest from the church dated May 25, 1869(# 26-27) for himself and his wife "Vilhelmine Cathrine Sem".

In the 1870 census "Minnie Neilson" was living in Norway Lake, Monogalia, Minnesota, together with her husband "Peter Neilson".

In the 1875 census "Wilhelmine Hanson" was living in Norway Lake, Kandiyohi, Minnesota, together with her son Hans and his family.

In the 1880 census "Mine Peterson" was living in Norway Lake, Kandiyohi, Minnesota, together with her son Hans and his family.

In the 1885 census "Mina Petterson" was living in Colfax, Kandiyohi, Minnesota, together with her son Nels and his family.

In the 1895 census "Mina Petterson" was living in Norway Lake township, Kandiyohi, Minnesota, together with her son Nils and his family.

Here she is in Find A Grave. 1)

1) Bømlo bygdbok 4: Gards- og ættesoge for Moster sokn, page 29 and 292.
SAB, Nykirken Sokneprestembete, H/Haa: Parish register (official) no. A 5, 1775-1808, p. 177.
SAB, Finnås sokneprestembete, H/Ha/Haa/Haaa/L0005: Parish register (official) no. A 5, 1823-1835, p. 290.