Osterholm

[Jaxosterholm]

I have been trying to trace my Great Grandfathers birth for 30 years.
His name was Viktor Wilhelm Osterholm and was born in 1860. I have tried various sites, including Hiski, but can’t find him anywhere! I don’t think being English has helped.
Can someone please point me in the right direction?
Many thanks, Jacqui

[tuulacu]

In searching Osterholm you should keep in mind that he was very probably Österholm and found only by that name.

There are Österholms all over Finland though, he could be from the coast as the name is translated "Eastern Island"

The birth year is maybe not so exact, as he is mentioned in the census of 1881 (in familysearch.org) having been born in 1859.

And is he maybe the same person doing his military service in Ireland in 1881? "Ireland, Merchant Navy Crew Lists, 1857-1922", database, FamilySearch - this could mean that he was originally a seaman. This made me to search seamen in the seamen's registers (available to members in the Finnish Genealogical Society) - and I found him, he was born in 1859 in Kaskö (Kaskinen in Finnish) and he was registered as a seaman in Kristinestad/Kristiinankaupunki.

Here is his birth, the lowest on the left: born (unclear), baptized on the 14th of September, parents borgaren Karl Henrik Österholm and his wife Anna Margreta, she is supposedly 35 years old. https://en.digihakemisto.net/item/12745 ... 4560642/13

Here is the whole family in the communion book: https://en.digihakemisto.net/item/12745 ... 335020/123 You will find later books here

Kaskinen-Kaskö is a very pretty coast town.


Tuula K

[tuulacu]

You can find Victor Wilhelm Österholm born in Kaskinen-Kaskö - and also his siblings in HisKi.

And you will be curious to know what borgaren means. In the CB the father is earlier arbetskarlen, now borgare. Here are most occupations in three languages: https://historismi.net/tools2.html and borgaren, burgher means that the person has the right to work as a craftman and/or sell products in the town. This needed a permission from the town decision makers.

As there are so many siblings in the next CB, https://en.digihakemisto.net/item/12745 ... 377409/120 you probablty can find relatives in Kaskinen.

Tuula K

[u18188]

Three times in July 1909 in the "Finnish Official Announcements" there was a notification of a Resolution of April 5th 1909 by the -Court of the City of Kaskinen, that the sailors Karl Johan and Victor Wilhelm Österholm were adviced to come forth, or someone who knows about their whereabouts, otherwise they will be declared dead on October 11 if they had not come forth before that date, or if no other legal matter prevents their being declared dead. (I apologize for my bad English translation.)

One can only imagine, that the siblings in Finland had not heard from the two brothers in a long time, and as both their father and their mother were dead (in 1868 and in 1896), the siblings in Finland could not make any legal decision without the two brothers and therefore they assumingly were declared dead.

https://digi.kansalliskirjasto.fi/searc ... derBy=DATE .

Birgit S.

[Jaxosterholm]

Thank you for your swift reply!
I’m not sure if this is him as a relative sent me a photo of the Family Swedish Bible which gives his birth as 17th September 1860 and his father is given as Erick on his marriage certificate. Is it likely this is a different person?
He was a seaman and stayed in London after the 1881 census before dying in 1905.
Unfortunately my Grandad was only 4 when he passed away so too young to remember, and he didn’t talk about his past as he ended up in a workhouse school.
I was told he was related to an actor called Jens Osterholm who appeared in a WW2 film called “The Counterfeit Traitor” who allegedly was danish.
Any thoughts you have would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you again.

[Jaxosterholm]

I’ve had a thought that Erick might have been confused for Henrick by the church when his marriage was registered.
I am so excited to be nearly there! Thank you so much.

[Jaxosterholm]

Thank you Bridget, this ties in with ‘the winds’ reply so it more than likely him.
I am so grateful!
Jacqui

[Jaxosterholm]

Thank you Tuula!

Thank you all for your wonderful help. Finally after 30 years I feel I am getting somewhere, I am so grateful