Anders Andersen (NO) / Andrew Sandver (US)
Nordland County is the homeland of Warren Fagerland’s maternal grandfather, Anders Andersen. Anders’ daughter Augusta Andersen-Fagerland was our last ancestor born in Nordland (1881). The last ancestors to die here were Anders’ parents. His mother, Ane Margrethe Hansdatter, is buried at Lurøy Kirke (1883). Anders’ father, Anders Hermansen, was lost at sea near Lofoten, further north in the county (1856).
Two of Norway’s stone medieval churches still stand in Nordland, at Alstahaug (12th century) and Dønnes (13th century). Some family trees trace our ancestry to both churches. Other ancestors lived in Nesna and Lurøy parishes. Those in Nesna were the only ones to live on the mainland! The current church building at Nesna post-dates all of our ancestors who lived there. Lurøy Kirke is fairly “new” (19th century), but the last few generations of our family worshipped there.
Nordland County is a remote and sparsely populated area. Its economy has traditionally been based on its seafood, especially cod and salmon. Its livestock includes domesticated reindeer. Our ancestors were fishermen, probably with self-sufficient farms. The oil industry has a sizeable presence now too. The Arctic Circle cuts through the county, less than ten miles north of Lurøy.