52 Ancestors – Matti Mattinpoika Haukijärvi – Finnish great grandfather

Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small issued the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge.  Each week focus on one ancestor and post something about him or her.

Me – My Mom – Fridjof Makie – Carolina Waara - Sakris Honkawaara – Matti Mattinpoika Haukijärvi

Here is another one of my Finnish ancestors. I’m having difficultly figuring out if I should just use the patronymic names, include the farm names or the name that was recorded in the records in my genealogy database. For now I have decided to have the surname as the last name they went by with other names recorded as suffixes. I’ve tried to record the names in Finnish although the records are in Swedish. Since my ancestors probably were known by their Finnish names. My Finnish side of my family has required me to think differently about names and records and learn a little Swedish and Finnish. What I’m really enjoying are the church records. They are quite addicting. It’s like solving a great puzzle. Between the Finland's Family History Association and Genealogical Society of Finland website, you can discover ancestors going way back.

Oulu Coat of Arms

Matti was born July 28, 1808 on the Heickilä farm in the village of Puhos in the parish of Pudasjärv , Oulu, Finland to Matti Mattinpoika Riecki and Elsa Pekkantytär Timonen. Following the Rippikirjat books, Matti's family lived on the Heickilä  farm from 1799 to 1822. Then the Heickilä farm seems to remain empty till 1854. He is then found at the Haukijärvi farm from 1823 to 1838, with his wife, Elsa Maria Erikintytär Ruokangas who he married on March 17, 1830. Also on the Haukijärvi farm are Matti's parents, Matti and Elsa and his sister Christina and her husband, Henric Johonpoika Wäisänen with their children. Four of Matti's children are born here including my 2^nd great grandfather, Sakari in 1837. The other children born at Haukijärvi farm are: Matti, Elsa, and Erkki. 

Matti and his family is found in the Rippikirjat books from 1839 to 1845 under Torpare och backstugusittare (crofters and cottager)  with  three more children, Juho, Anna Lisa and Maria Magdeline. Then from 1846 to 1853 he is found under Backstuguhjon m. fl i Jurmu läslag (not sure of the translation) with another child Erkki (the first Erkki having died). 

Matti and his family are back at the Heickilä farm from 1854 to 1880. Maybe longer as 1880 is the last year of the  Rippikirjat books for Pudasjärvi online at Finland's Family History Association.

More on Matti family:

52 Ancestors - Sakris Honkawaara (his son)

Sources :

Pudasjärvi, Rippikirja, 1799-1804, entry for Matts Mattsson Heickilä; digital image, Finland's Family Hisotry Association (http://www.sukuhistoria.fi/sshy/index_eng.htm: 9 September 2014); IK381 Kuva 176.

Pudasjärvi, Rippikirja, 1805-1812, entry for Matts Heickilä; digital image, Finland's Family Hisotry Association (http://www.sukuhistoria.fi/sshy/index_eng.htm: 9 September 2014); IK381_II Kuva 101.

Pudasjärvi, Rippikirja, 1813-1822, entry for Matts Heickilä; digital image, Finland's Family Hisotry Association (http://www.sukuhistoria.fi/sshy/index_eng.htm: 9 September 2014); IK381-382 Kuva 260.

Pudasjärvi, Rippikirja, 1823-1838, entry for Matts Haukijärvi; digital image, Finland's Family Hisotry Association (http://www.sukuhistoria.fi/sshy/index_eng.htm: 9 September 2014); IK382 Kuva 155.

Pudasjärvi, Rippikirja, 1839-1845, entry for Matts Mattsson Riecki Haukijärvi; digital image, Finland's Family Hisotry Association (http://www.sukuhistoria.fi/sshy/index_eng.htm: 9 September 2014); IK382 Kuva 193.

Pudasjärvi, Rippikirja, 1846-1853, entry for Matts Mattsson Riecki Haukijärvi; digital image, Finland's Family Hisotry Association (http://www.sukuhistoria.fi/sshy/index_eng.htm: 9 September 2013); IK382-383 Kuva 222.

Pudasjärvi, Rippikirja, 1854-1861, enrty for Matts Mattsson Honkavaara Heickilä; digital image, Finland's Family Hisotry Association (http://www.sukuhistoria.fi/sshy/index_eng.htm: 9 September 2014); IK383-384 Kuva 242.

Pudasjärvi, Rippikirja, 1861-1873, enrty for Matts Mattsson Honkavaara Heickilä; digital image, Finland's Family Hisotry Association (http://www.sukuhistoria.fi/sshy/index_eng.htm: 9 September 2014); MKO1-21 Kuva 373.

Pudasjärvi, Rippikirja, 1874-1880, entry for Matts Mattsson Haukijärvi Honkavaara Heickilä; digital image, Finland's Family Hisotry Association (http://www.sukuhistoria.fi/sshy/index_eng.htm: 9 September 2014); MKO22-32 Kuva 114.

52 Ancestors - Britta Maria Polo (Honkawaara) - Finnish 2nd Great Grandmother

Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small issued the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge.  Each week focus on one ancestor and post something about him or her.

Me - My Mom - Fridof Jaakko Waldemar Maki - Carolina Honkawaara - Britta Maria Juhontytär Polo

My 2nd great grandmother, Britta Maria, is not the woman I thought she was. She still is a brave woman for immigrating from Finland to a new land with her young children to follow her husband to America in 1884. But based on previous family trees and a write up in a family history book, I assumed her maiden name was Riekki. But assuming anything in family research can lead you astray. With the help from one of my Finnish DNA match cousins from Family Tree DNA, I've discovered the real Britta Maria. Sometimes it takes just a little help to get started. After just a bit of information provided to my cousin, he was able to find the marriage record for Britta and her spouse Sakaris.  He sent me a link to the actual record on Finland's Family History Association website. (To see the digital images click on the sources at the end of the post.) Their marriage is right at the top under 1869 beside the date of April 17. The record is in Swedish, so names are recorded in Swedish.

Apr. 17th 1869   Drengen och ungk. Zacharis Mattsson Honkavaara och Pigan Brita Maria Johansdr Polo vigde i Jokijärvi kyrka af N. A. Bergh…

Basic translation from my cousin:
It says that Zacharis (son of Matts) Honkavaara and Brita Maria (daughter of Johan) Polo got married 17th of April 1869 in church of Jokijärvi.
Jokijärvi in is Pudasjärvi and their titles express that neither has been married before. Their real names may have been Sakari and Riitta in Finnish. My great grandmother went by the name Britta Maria in America.

So Britta wasn't a Riekki but a Polo or Polo could be a farm name. Finnish names are confusing but there are lots of great resources on-line that can explain much better than I could. I listed a few later in the post. The second name is usually a patronymic. Which is basically stating who you are the son or daughter of. Brita is the daughter of Johan. Johandotter in Swedish and Juhontytär in Finnish. 

Now that I knew where to search for information I tackled the birth records (Syntyneet in Finnish) in Pudasjärvi parish on the Finland's Family History Association website. I looked for the children births that I knew were born in Finland. Although I don't know a lot of Swedish or Finnish, I was able to pick out the names. I found the birth for three of the children I knew about and a couple who didn't survive long. I wasn't able to find the birth for Charles (Karl in Finnish) who was born about 1882. Since he was born after his father left for America maybe he was born in another parish. Britta would follow later in 1884 with the four surviving children. Two daughters would be would born in Michigan, United States. One being my great grandmother, Carolina or Liina.  Her children:

• Maria Sofia born December 4, 1869 in Pudasjärvi 
• Zackris born February 10, 1872 in Pudasjärvi, died March 18 1872 in Pudasjärvi
• Anna Kaisa born April 30, 1873 in Pudasjärvi
• Greta born November 8, 1875 in Pudasjärvi , died September 12, 1877 in Pudasjärvi
• Sakari born May 27, 1879 in Pudasjärvi
• Karl born about 1882 in Finland
• Carolina born 1887 in Michigan, United States
• Johanna born February 9, 1889 in Michigan, United States

From the marriage record I now know Britta's father's name, Johan. To find Britta's birth and other family members, I look at the Communion Books (Rippikijart). These are amazing records that list family members, birth dates, where a person has moved to or from, and other tidbits. It took me a while to understand these records and find families. The Honkavaara family seem to be at No. 54 Heikkila in Pudasjärvi  for a number of years and this where I find Britta Maria in the book from 1861 to 1873. It has her name as Brita Maria Johandr Polo born October 21, 1847 and she moved from Kuusamo in 1869 (the year she married). So off I go to look at the birth records in Kuusamo. Sure enough I find Britta in the 1837-1855 Syntyneet for October 21, 1873. I can't read all of the entry but it looks like her father is Johan Polo of Orolas and her mother is Sofia. Looking at the Rippikijart in the Kuusamo parish in the book from 1843 to 1849 I find the family at Orola.

From just a little help from a cousin and a whole lot of goggling to understand Finnish records I was able to find the real Britta and her family. After going through some more records I was able to go back quite a ways on the Polo family and discover her mother's name, Sofia Larsdotter Määttä. Along the way I learned a little Swedish and Finnish. I've found the Swedish records a little easier to decipher as it's closer to English. Most of the records seem to be in Swedish up to about 1879 then they switch to Finnish. As for the name Reikki, I think I've discovered where that came from. I believe that name is from her husband's family. Going back in the Communion Books I was able to find that the Honkavaaras seemed to be originally from Riecki farm.

Help with Finnish records:

Finding Records of Your Ancestors 
Family Search Wiki
How to Trace Your Roots in Finland
Swedish and Finnish names 

Finnish names on Wikipedia 

Finnish Records:
Finland's Family History Association 
Genealogical Society of Finland. Lists of christenings, marriages, burial, and moves  

Sources:

Pudasjärvi, Vihityt, 1852-1879, marriage of Zachris Mattsson Honkavaara and Brita Maria Johansdr Polo; digital image, Finland's Family Hisotry Association (http://www.sukuhistoria.fi/sshy/index_eng.htm: 25 March 2014); IK386 Kuva 30.

Pudasjärvi, Syntyneet, 1858-1869, birth for Maria Sofia; digital image, Finland's Family Hisotry Association (http://www.sukuhistoria.fi/sshy/index_eng.htm: 29 March 2014); IK385 Kuva 191.

Pudasjärvi, Syntyneet, 1870-1879, birth of Zackris; digital image, Finland's Family Hisotry Association (http://www.sukuhistoria.fi/sshy/index_eng.htm: 25 March 2014); MKO1-8Kuva 32

Pudasjärvi, Syntyneet, 1870-1879, birth of Anna Kaifa; digital image, Finland's Family Hisotry Association (http://www.sukuhistoria.fi/sshy/index_eng.htm: 29 March 2014); MKO1-8Kuva 62.

Pudasjärvi, Syntyneet, 1870-1879, birth of Greta; digital image, Finland's Family Hisotry Association (http://www.sukuhistoria.fi/sshy/index_eng.htm: 29 March 2014); MKO1-8 Kuva 118.

Pudasjärvi, Syntyneet, 1870-1879, birth of Sakari; digital image, Finland's Family Hisotry Association (http://www.sukuhistoria.fi/sshy/index_eng.htm: 29 March 2014); MKO1-8 Kuva 198.

Pudasjärvi, Rippikirja, 1861-1873, entry for Brita Maria Johansdr Polo; digital image, Finland's Family Hisotry Association (http://www.sukuhistoria.fi/sshy/index_eng.htm: 6 August 2014); MKO1-21 Kuva 373.

Kuusamo, Syntyneet-vihityt-kuolleet, 1837-1855, birth of Brita Maria; digital image, Finland's Family Hisotry Association (http://www.sukuhistoria.fi/sshy/index_eng.htm: 6 August 2014); IK233 Kuva 99.

Kuusamo, Rippikirja, 1843-1849, entry for Brita Maria; digital image, Finland's Family Hisotry Association (http://www.sukuhistoria.fi/sshy/index_eng.htm: 6 August 2014); IK230-231 Kuva 146.

52 Ancestors - Charlie Honkawaara

Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small issued the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge.  Each week focus on one ancestor and post something about him or her.

Charlie Waara at his Watch & Jewelery Shop

Charlie Honkawaara (Warra) was my great granduncle. . According to records, he was  the last child of Sakris Honkawaara and  Britta Maria born in Pudasjärvi, Oulun Laani, Finland before they immigrated to United States. I've not been able to pinpoint his exact birth date, but he was probably born about 1882. 

According to Velma Deydey, Charlie’s niece, in the book “Echoes of Coteau” , Charlie and his wife Olga ran a restaurant in Dunblane.  In 1921 they sold the restaurant and Charlie was a pump man for CNR. Then in 1932 Charlie and Olga moved to Moose Jaw, where Charlie operated a jewellery and watch repair shop. Charlie seemed to be a man of many talents. He was a machinist, woodworker, drummer, shop owner and watch maker. Charlie was even a casket maker.

Although Charlie and his wife Olga Kellokoski never had any children, their home seemed to always be full. As their parents got older they moved in with Charlie and Olga. First Olga's mother, then  Charlie's parents. 

In the 1921 census, Charlie and Olga still have Charlie's mother, Britta, living with them. Olga is listed as a restaurant keeper and they have two young ladies of 18, who are waitresses, staying with them.  One of them is their niece Aino Mustonen. 

Charlie is listed in the Canadian Voters list, as Charles Waara. He appears many times living on High Street West in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada from 1940 to 1958. He is listed as a jeweller or watch maker. 

 

See post about my Finnish Side

Surname Saturday - My Finnish Roots

52 Ancestors - Sakris Honkawaara

52 Ancestors - Sakris Honkawaara

Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small issued the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge.  Each week focus on one ancestor and post something about him or her.

This week I'm looking at my Finnish side. Sakris Honkawaara (Waara) was my 2nd great grandfather. Sakris was born in Pudasjärvi, Oulu, Finland. According to the Gothenburg, Sweden, passenger lists, he was 44 years old when he immigrated aboard the Orlando to Hancock, Michigan, United States in 1882. He left his wife, Britta and four children to follow in 1884.

The family stays in Michigan at least till 1889, as two more daughters are born there. One daughter being my great grandmother, Carolina (Liina).  Sakris and his family are in Towner, North Dakota, United States for the 1900 and 1910 census. Sakris is listed as being a farmer. 

The Finnish seemed to move in groups and once again in 1911, they are on the move. His family has now increased with daughters-in-laws, sons-in-laws, and grandchildren. One daughter, Mary, stays in United States. His daughter Anna Kaisa married Gideon Mustonen. My great grandmother, Liina married Jack Makie. Johanna (Hannah) married John Antilla.  Sakris's son, Charlie married Olga Kellokoski and son, Sakris married Anna (last name unknown). So, at the age of 75, Sakris and his wife follow the rest of the family to southern Saskatchewan, Canada. This is the last move for Sakris, as he dies at the age of 82. He is buried at the Dunblane Finnish Cemetery, Saskatchwan, far from his homeland.

See post about my Finnish Side:

Surname Saturday - My Finnish Roots

Friday's Faces from the Past - California 1949

This photo is from a box of photos that my Mom received in the mail from her brother.  Most of the photos are of unidentified relatives. These photos would be my Mom's parents photos.  Since a lot of them have Finnish on the back, I would assume her father's side.  Her father was Fridjof Jaakko Waldemar Makie.  His parents Jaakko Makie and Carolina Waara (Honkawaara).  For more information on my Finnish Roots, please see my post on June 18, 2011.

I put the words into Google translator and came up with this.  

This is the same place for swimming mom tossed my cast, that if I got cold
This was january 30, 1949. California

Some of it makes sense, but my cast?

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Heritage Pie

I know it’s not Saturday night, but I was working.  So mine will be Sunday Morning Genealogy Fun.  Thanks to Randy Seaver at Genea-Musings for the mission.

My 16 great great grandparents are:

16. Johnston PATERSON, son of James PATERSON and Ann HUNTER was born on 29 Dec 1814 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He died on 20 Apr 1891 in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He married Catherine MUIRHEAD on 02 Jul 1837 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

17. Catherine MUIRHEAD, daughter of George MUIRHEAD and Catherine KENNEDY was born about 1819 in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland. She died on 23 Aug 1897 in Airdrie, Lanarkshire.

18. William DANSKINE, son of James DANSKINE and Helen HARDIE was born in 1816 in Cumbernauld, Dunbartonshire, Scotland. He died on 10 Oct 1885 in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He married Agnes FINDLAY on 20 Jan 1837 in Cumbernauld, Dunbartonshire, Scotland.

19. Agnes FINDLAY, daughter of James FINDLAY and Agnes GILCHRIST was born in 1816 in Cumbernauld, Dunbartonshire, Scotland. She died on 08 Aug 1892 in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

20. George Augustus WARRY, son of William K WARRY and Mary Ann TAYLOR was born about 1848 in Islington, Middlesex, England. He died in Mar 1916 in Essex, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, United Kingdom. He married Emily WORTHINGTON on 20 Jun 1875 in Old St. Pancras, Middlesex, England, UK.

21. Emily WORTHINGTON, daughter of William WORTHINGTON and Sarah (Worthington) was born about 1852 in London, England (St. Pancras).

22. John William SMITH, son of William SMITH and Sarah HORE was born on 17 Jun 1841 in Dorset, England (Parkstone). He died in 1913. He married Sarah Everton WAKEMAN on 01 Oct 1865 in Parkstone, Dorest, Poole, England.

23. Sarah Everton WAKEMAN, daughter of James WAKEMAN was born about 1841 in Worcestershire, England (Stourport).

24. Melvin MAKELA was born in Finland. He died in 1906. He married Unknown (Maki).

25. Unknown (Maki). (pobably born and died in Finland)

26. Sakaris HONKAWAARA was born in Feb 1836 in Pudasjärvi, Oulun Laani, Finland. He died in  1918 in Dunblane, Saskatchewan, Canada. He married Briita Maria RIEKKI in 1870 in Pudasjärvi, Oulun Laani, Finland.

27. Briita Maria RIEKKI was born in Dec 1846 in Pudasjärvi, Oulun Laani, Finland. She died in 1923 in Dunblane, Saskatchewan, Canada (Dunblane Finnish Cemetary).

28. Thomas Jefferson BELKNAP, son of Martin Seymour BELKNAP and Betsey Ann BRISTOL was born on 03 Nov 1850 in Lewis, New York, USA. He died on 17 Jun 1942 (Hazelton, British Columbia, Canada). He married Mary Elizabeth FEIDLER on 01 Oct 1876.

29. Mary Elizabeth FEIDLER, daughter of Henry FIDDLER and Frances GEORGE was born on 02 Dec 1852 in Williams, Calhoun, Iowa, USA. She died on 26 Jul 1898 in Minneapolis, Anoka,
Minnesota, USA.

30. James Robert LANDERS, son of John William LANDERS and Mary Angeline HUMBERT was born on 21 Feb 1854 in Danville, Hendricks, Indiana, USA. He died on 21 Feb 1929 in Riverton, Fremont, Wyoming, USA (Mountain View Cemetary). He married Angeline Henrietta LITTRELL on 29 Aug 1883 in Mercer, Illinois, USA.

31. Angeline Henrietta LITTRELL, daughter of John H LITTRELL and Letis Ellen KNOX was born on 28 Feb 1855 in Dubuque, Iowa, USA. She died on 10 Aug 1888 in Keithsburg, Mercer, Illinois, USA.

Birth places of my great great grandparents:

Scotland - 4
England - 4
Finland - 4
USA - 4

                                                     

Wow, just as I thought - pretty even.  If I were to do this for my husband, Robert - would be 100% Canadian.

Canada Day

Happy Canada Day

Today is a statutory holiday in Canada.  A day to celebrate Canada’s birthday. On July 1, 1867 Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the province of Canada joined together to form Canada.  Before 1982, this day was known as Dominion Day.

So when did Robert’s and my ancestors come to Canada?

1760 - Benjamin Foster and Sarah Woodward arrived in Granville, Nova Scotia, Canada from Hampstead, New Hampshire, USA. (Robert’s 7th great grandparents).

1761 - Stephen Loomer and Hannah Chapman arrived in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, Canda from New London County, Connecticut, USA. (Robert’s 6th great grandparents).

1766 - Michael Lutz with 7 other families sails from Pennsylvania, USA up the Bay of Fundy to Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.  He was originally from Germany. (Robert’s 7th great grandfather).

1817 - Robert St. Clair Stoddart, a solider from Ireland accepted a land grant in Nova Scotia when his regiment was disbanded.  (Robert’s 4th great grandfather).

1899 Thomas Belknap crossed the border in Alberta, Canada from USA with his son Donald. Donald’s daughter, Ruby will be the only grandparent of Jacqueline born in Canada. (Jacqueline’s  2nd great grandfather).

1907 - Francis Paterson, his wife, Elizabeth Danskine, and their children arrived from Scotland.  (Jacqueline’s great grandparents).

1907 - Alfred Warry arrives from England followed by his wife Edith Smith and their children Dorothy, John, and Sydney in 1906. (Jacqueline’s great grandparents).

1911 - Jaakko Makie, his family with his wife’s parents crossed the border from the USA.  Jaakko is originally from Finland.  (Jacqueline’s great grandparents).

These are just a few of our ancestors who chose to come to Canada.

Surname Saturday - My Finnish Roots

My Finnish roots are from my Mom’s paternal side.  Her father was born in Hansboro, Rolette,Towner, North Dakota December 9, 1906. Fridjof Jaakko Waldemar Makie (Fritz) was the son of parents of Finnish heritage.  His father was Jaakko Makie Makela (Jack Makie) born 1883 in Finland.  His mother was Carolina Honkawaara (Liina Waara) born 1887 in Oscar, Michigan, USA. My confusion comes from all these different names.  To find any records you have to do some creative searching.  

I’ve have found very little about the Makie side except Makela, Maki, and Makie means of the hill.  I have found a little more on the Honkawaara (Waara) side.  My best information was a book on the area they lived in Saskatchewan.   “The Echos of Coteau”  published by the Coteau History Commitee in 1981.  I was able to borrow the book through inter-library loan for a three week period, no renews. I discovered stories and connection to grandparents, great grandparents, ggreat  grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.  Most of the stories were written by my great aunt, Velma Deydey (my grandfather’s sister).

Liina Waara parents were Sakris Honkawaara and Britta Riekki from Finland. They immigrated in 1885 (although I have not found any records to date) with their children Mary, Anna Kaisa, Charlie, and Sakris.  Two more children were born in Michigan, Liina and Johanna.  The family lived in Michigan, North Dakota, and Saskatchewan.  The Finnish seemed to be a tight knit group with neighbors showing up in census records in the different areas.  So if you’re having difficultly finding your relative, look at neighbors who may have an easier surname or an area of Finns.

I have a lot of research to do on my Finnish side. Although history books don’t have citations to sources, they give you great clues to family connections and stories to help round out your ancestors.  Records won’t be able to  tell me that:
- my great great grandparents grew their own tobacco and lived in a sod shanty.
- my great great grandmother smoked a corn pipe and made “Fiillia” (yogurt).
- my great uncle Charlie was a drummer, casket maker, and woodworker.
- that my great uncle Charlie’s wife, Olga was born without one arm, but never let it hold her back
- how my cousin Acel came to live with my great grandparents after his mother died of the Spanish Flu.
- my relative celebrated “Vappu” in May and “Juhannus” in June.

To learn more about the Finnish in Saskatchewan look on the Saskatchewan Gen Web.
“Vappu” and “Juhannus” celebration explanations are found on Wikipedia - Walpurgis Night, look under Finland.
To find where you may borrow “The Echoes of Coteau”  Library and Archives Canada
To learn more about North Dakota look on the State Historical Society of North Dakota.

The novel “Rope of Time” by Larry Warwaruk is a great book to get an idea of the Finnish   immigrants who came to United States and then on to Saskatchewan, Canada.  If you wish to get a copy you can probably find one on Abe Books.

Fearless Females - Immigration

I have a few female ancestors who have immigrated. 

On my mother’s paternal side, my 2^nd great grandmother ( Britta Honkawarra, nee Riekki) emigrated from Finland to United States with her husband Sakris Honkawaara and four children.  From a family history book they are said to have immigrated in 1885.  On the 1900 census, Sakris states that he immigrated in 1882.  Britta and three of the children state their immigration year as 1884.  I have yet to find any passengers lists or documents to prove any dates. In the United Stated they lived in Michigan and North Dakota. They left the United States in 1911 to come to Saskatchewan, Canada.  I have found it very challenging to find records for my Finnish side, as the names seem to be spelt different on each record.  I have, also, learned that the name could be shortened to Waara. 

On my father’s paternal side, my great grandmother (Elizabeth Paterson, nee Danskine) emigrated from Scotland to Canada with her husband Francis Paterson and seven children.  They came aboard the steamship Mongolian, leaving Glasgow, Scotland arriving in Halifax, Canada in March 1907.  According to the Canadian passenger list their ultimate goal was Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  Which is where settled except for Francis Paterson, which will be in another post. 

On my father’s maternal side, my great grandmother (Edith Warry, nee Smith) emigrated from England to Canada with her three children.  Her husband Alfred Warry, had emigrated the year before.  They came aboard the Kensington, leaving Liverpool, England arriving in Portland, Maine, United States in December 1907. Their final destination Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  See post dated December 13, 2010.

Fearless Females – Six-Word Memoir

Write a six-word tribute to one of your ancestors.  This was so much fun, that I pick a female ancestor from each of my lines.

Father’s Maternal-Dorothy Eleanor May Warry (Paterson), my grandmother:  English. Wish I Had Known You.

Father’s Paternal-Elizabeth Danskine (Paterson), my great grandmother:  Scottish. Mother. Shopkeeper. Strong. Spanish Flu.

Mother’s Paternal-Britta Riekki (Honkawaara), my 2^nd great grandmother:  Lived Three Countries. Finnish, Skier. Religious.

Mother’s Maternal-Letis Ellen Knox (Littrell) (Pate), my 3^rd great grandmother:  Civil war widow. American. Mayflower Descendant. (still trying to prove)