I am trying to locate the arrival of my second great grandfather George Nanning Johnson from Norway to Australia. He would have arrived in Melbourne. He was married in Melbourne in 1857. He was born 28 Nov 1821 Moss, Ostfold, Norway. His name on birth records is Jorgen Nanning Jensen. His name was “Australianised” to George Johnson.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Maria
Hi Maria. My great grandfather arrived in Australia from Norway in 1883. I had a hard time finding when he arrived as he was a merchant seaman and was not supposed to leave the boat.. He was however part of a crew, that brought boat after boat of immigrants to Port Adelaide, and he married in South Australia before turning up in Qld, so you just have to try all ports when nothing turns up. I found an article for an issue of a warrant for his arrest for leaving the ship on Trove. So the family stories where partly correct bI couldn’t find him on a passenger list for assisted or unassisted migrants, because he was crew. Some ships seem to have all the crew, but it seems to be missing from other. The biggest difficulty is what, did they call themselves, on the ship, and what did they call themselves when they got here, given they englishised their names, I would search for all names, and all the different combinations of the names, also check on Trove. You believe that he arrived in Melbourne (Port Phillip of course), but just to make sure I would expand the search to Port Adelaide as well, as this is the point where a lot of people migrating entered the country. It was quite common for people to arrive at Port Adelaide and for people in those days, it wasn’t too much trouble to walk the distant to Melbourne. Many walked to the goalfields after arriving in Port Adelaide. Sydney was a penal colony, but in desperation I would check there too, but start with the free colonies. My great grandfather and his wife and child walked to Clermont from Port Adelaide. It was what they did. My great grandfather changed his name also, so it was the family stories that enabled us to find their story, without it, it would have been hard. I only know when he came in because of the warrant issued for his arrest. Good luck with your search, It is hard work going backwards with Norway, but once you understand how they names themselves after the fathers first name it gets easier.
