Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Recent “Finds” on Pedersen Genealogy

Christian Godik Pedersen, born 17 September 1896, Tollstrup, Hjorring, Denmark, died 20 April 1929.  The first child of Peter Pedersen and Johanne Marie Godiksen.
We have always known the death date of Godik.
Pedersen_Godik c 1909              Pedersen_Godik
The mystery has been: “where did he die?”  I have had the picture of his grave for quite some time.  It did not look like the Pedersen family gravesite in Aalborg, Denmark and there was the American flag on a grave next to it.  Why would there be an American flag if it was in Denmark?  The note on the back of the picture said that the flag was on an a joining grave.
31080003
Mystery solved!  In the last couple of weeks I found a reference to a “Christian G Pedersen”.  In looking that way in various sources I found an entry that led me to a microfilm at the Family History Library (FHL) # 2057620 and indicated that the certificate number was 10062.  Once at the FHL it took less than five minutes to locate the following death certificate!  It establishes the place he died, Norwegian Hospital in Brooklyn.  Even though the certificate says that the date of death was April 20, 1928, there is enough other dates to show that the year really was 1929.  We also learn that he died due to “cardiac failure” and that he was a “plasterer’s helper”.
Pedersen, Christian Godik - Death- 20 Apr 1929
The back of the death certificate also has some information.  It shows that the undertaker was employed by Kai Pedersen, the deceased brother.  That establishes the fact that Kai was in Brooklyn in the spring of 1929.  He would soon thereafter return to Denmark.  He would be in a hospital bed himself for eight months before passing away almost a year to the day later, 22 April 1930.  I will post a more detailed account on Kai at a later date.
Pedersen, Christian Godik - Death- 20 Apr 1929 back
Godik worked as a sailor, as did some of his brothers.  They traveled all over the world.  When he was on land, he was usually living in Brooklyn.  For instance, when his brother Kai arrived in America in 1919, he was there.  In 1923 when his brother Soren arrived he was there, as well when brother Otto arrived in 1928.  Yet there are indications that he would be out travelling the world in between.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Welcome to my Blog

I learned from a very intelligent and fine looking gentleman how to create this blog.