The Richeys

Exploring Family History

Jens Nikolai Davidsen

Son of David Anders Davidsen & Emma Christine Larsdatter

Born 20.04.1879 – Ytterli, Korgen, Hemnes, Norway

Jens Nikolai Davidsen was born 20th of April, 1879 at Farm Ytterli in Korgen, Hemnes.  On May 4th of the same year he was Christened at Korgen Church.  At age 15, on June 24th, 1894, he was confirmed at Farm Ytterli.

He immigrated to the United States in 1900, arriving in New York on December 21st, though no passenger record has been found. He later lists his occupation as a foreman & carpenter, similar to his brother David Esais, who we’ve also uncovered no passenger record for.

Jens & David Davidsen

Brothers – David Esaias Davidsen & Jens Nikolai Davidsen

David immigrated in 1904 and worked as a carpenter & shipbuilder,  the absence of any findings of his passenger records to the United States may indicate he crossed the ocean as a crew member.  The same reasoning may be applicable to Jens if he worked as a shipbuilder around that time, which is possible as many people who did listed construction as their occupation.

These records would be listed in the sailor enrollments (skipsruller), which still need to be searched. These records for Norway are currently being scanned but are not yet complete.

Jens became a Naturalized US Citizen on December 22nd 1905. His  residence was 62 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY.

On May 29th, 1908, Jens married Johanna Margarete Olsdatter.  They had their first child just eleven months later – a daughter they named Edna. They were living at 28 First Place in Brooklyn by 1910 and by 1920 had moved to  836 Fifty Second Street.

As early as October, 1914, Jens was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF). He held the ranking of District Deputy Grand Patriarch (DDGP) for the Venus Encampment, Kings District. While I need to do further research into this organization and his role in it, I do know that one of his duties was to install officers.

Jens was also a member of the Free & Accepted Masons ( a.k.a. The Masons or The Freemasons), belonging to Greenwood Lodge #569.  According to family story, he was a high-ranking member of this organization as well, but this research has not yet been done.

Jens & Johanna Margarete had ten children:

  1. Edna Theresa Katherine Davidsen, b: 03.04.1909  / d: 15.03.1975
  2. Olga Lillian Davidson, b: 02.05.1911 / d: 22.12.1997, San Francisco, CA
  3. James Marvin Davidson, b: 27.08.1915 / d: 23.05.1966
  4. Ella Davidson, b: 02.02.1917 / d: 23.01.1972
  5. Irene Davidson, b: 25.11.1918 / d: 17.07.1981, Hawthorne, CA
  6. Hiram Davidson, b: 28.05.1920  / d: 30.11.1988, Bremerton, WA
  7. Esther Davidson, b: 15.07.1922 / d: 06.07.2011, Glen Burnie, MD
  8. Jeannette Davidson, b: 04.09.1924 / d: 05.01.1996
  9. Raymond Davidson, b: 07.08.1926 / d: 07.07.2008, Soquel-Aptos, CA
  10. Kenneth Davidson, b: 20.11.1928 / d: 30.03.2008, Massapequa, NY

Jens passed away on January 8th, 1937 at Norwegian Hospital, on Fourth Avenue & 46th Street.  He was 57 years old. The following article was posted by the Free & Accepted Masons in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle on January 10, 1937:

Greenwood Lodge, No 569, F. & A. M. -Brethren: You are requested to attend the Masonic funeral services of our brother, JENS DAVIDSON, at his residence, 536 52d St., Sunday, January 10, at 8 p.m. ALBERT P. LOEWENSTERN, Master

Jens was buried at Cyprus Hills Cemetery in Queens, NY ( Locust Grove Section – Plot 379 ).  In 1975 his daughter Edna was buried beside him.

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