Erling Nieuwejaar
Claus Nieuwejaar (1752-1829), the patriarch of the Norwegian Nieuwejaar family, immigrated from Mecklenburg in North-East Germany. A Dutchman - Martin Nieuwjaar, who has in vain tried to establish a connection between his family and the Norwegian one, has provided us with most of the information we possess. From an archive in Wustrow, Mecklenburg he received the following info: Hinrich Niejahr, married 9.10.1716, had a son Carl Jochim Hinrich Niejahr, bapt. 23.4.1718, mar. 1743, C.J.H. had 4 daughters and 2 sons: Hinrich and Claus (bapt. 1755). And this Claus Niejahr turned up in Bergen, via Denmark, as Claus Nieuwejaar. He obtained a citizenship of Bergen in 1783 as a shipmaster. His wife, Elizabeth Lind, was born in Copenhagen in 1766 and died in Bergen 1829.
Claus had 4 daughters and 2 sons - Carl (1790-?) and Hans Henrich (1801-?). Carl became a citizen of Bergen in 1814, Hans Henrich in 1833, both as shipmasters.
In Norway the Nieuwejaar surname is now used by Wilhelm (1926-) & wife (the writer of this memo) - our daughter Kirsten and two sons Per Wilhelm and Leif and their families. Wilhelm descends from Carl N., via 1) Otto N., born in 1822, 2) Wilhelm N. (1866-1940) and 3) Leif N. (1896-1981). Wilhelm has 3 sisters, all married with children living in Norway.
Otto Nieuwejaar, married to Gidske Svendsen, had 5 daughters and 6 sons, none by the name of Carl Henrich. In the next generation we only know the names of Wilhelm N.W.'s sons: Erling and Wilhelm who immigrated to Canada, Leif- my father-in-law - stayed in Norway.
Many Norwegians immigrated to USA and Canada at the end of last century and the beginning of this, so there might be more Nieuwejaars "over there" than here in the "old country".
We do not know whether Carl had other children than Otto, as our Dutch friend was only interested in the family remaining in Norway. So Carl might have other sons and thereby be Carl Henrich's grandfather, he is a bit too old to be his father, the same goes for Hans Henrich although he is 11 years younger than his brother, so there might be a "misssing link" between one of these gentlemen and your Carl Henrich.
The family name has been written in different ways during these two centuries. Why Claus - coming from Germany with a German name changed it into a Dutch version in Bergen - that's the question.
Through official channels - cencus list, parish registers etc. in Bergen-, it should be possible to have some more information of Carl and Hans Heinrich' children. None of the present Nieuwejaars has been interested or patient enough to start any investigation on their ancestors' past. I shall, however, contact a sister-in-law who is the expert in such matters and let you know the result. Of Carl Henrich (1852-1907) we do have some information, which I want to have verified before forwarding it.
A Happy New Year to you!
Astri Nieuwejaar
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