Peder Torgersen Wesley

Peder used the name Lillelien until 1848 when he went to America. He called himself Wesley after he came to America.

Naeseth, Vol 3, p 228-9. used the name "Wesley" in America.

Name appears as Vestli, Vesli , Wesley , Torgerson in various references.

From the Indian Land, By Roshot, p 245. Per Torgerson Vesli (Lillelien) 1804-1884 from Gausdal and wife. He married a second time to Anne Knappen from Ringbu. Son Amund Vesli (1847-1902 and wfie Anne (d 1910) from Laervikanes got the farm which later was taken over by son Kristian P Vesli and wife Bendika Hanson.

1. Peter Torgerson Lillelien (6-10-1804 to 3-28-1883) m. Anne Johannesdatter Solberg (4-2-1805 to 2-12-1856) a daughter of Johannes Johanneson Solberg & Maret Hfansdatter Bratland. Anne died in Waupaca Co. had 9 children.

1848- Peter immigrated with wife and first seven children from Ostre Gausdal, Op. Norway to Lebanon Township, Dodge Co, WI in 1848. on the "Erek Boreson" with his brother and families.

Census-1850- lived with Tosten Rasmussen 1850-Lebanon Twp-Jefferson Co, WI-[ Note -Irregular spelling of last name] Thurstin Arsemen-30 [Tosten] Margaret Arsemen-19 [Margit] [no children yet] Peter Tugeson-46-[Peter Torgerson Wesley- Marit's father] Ann Tugerson-46-[his wife} Peterson-16 [ Torger Peterson b.1834] served in Co. D. of the 15th Wis Infantry. He survived the war. Emily 13 [Ingeborg? b. 1837] married John Rasmussen Catherine 9- {Kari? b.1841] never married, died of dementia in Waupaca County Asylum, 1911]. Ole -7 [b. 1843-served in Co. I, 15th Wis Infantry, died in 1864, Andersonville Prison, GA.] Henry- 3 [Amund? b 1847-joined WI 47th Inf Co D. in 1865; family says to avenge death of brother Ole.]

From Marion Sorenson, 2005- Peder Torgerson Wesley family--- Peder, his wife Anna, their daughter Margit, other brothers and sisters came to US in 1848. In 1850, census shows family lived in Dodge county with Tosten Rasmussen, who married dau. Margit T. Wesley in 1850. [Tosten came to America in 1845, bought the farm on Evergreen Rd., Dodge Co. ] Peder, Anna and family moved to Iola, WI in 1856.

From Torger Wesley....[son of Peder Torgerson Wesley] Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad, 1907. Jefferson County. Pioneer and Civil War veteran, Torger Wesley tells, "I emigrated with my parents from Gran parish, Hadeland in the summer of 1848. We were supposed to depart from Hamburg, but when we came to Drammen, war had broken out between Denmark and Germany and all passenger traffic from the Scandinavian countries was stopped. After waiting 7 weeks in Drammen we got passage in a sailship to New York. From New York to Albany we went by steamship and from Albany to Buffalo, we went by canal boat, that was drawn by horses. That took all of 6 days. From Buffalo to Milwaukee we continued by steamship, and from the latter, by horse wagon to the Rock River settlement in Jefferson County. It was not good here. Within a few weeks, 7 of the family's 9 members became sick and father was out of money. We got through the winter in a way, but later things got better." A large number of Norwegians (some of whom had come there as early as 1842) moved away from the Rock River settlement. (The aforementioned T. Wesley now lives in Garfield, Portage Co., Wis.)

• ******* 1856 -Moved to St. Lawrence Township, Waupaca Co. in 1856 with others who couldn't make a go of it in Dodge Co. His first wife died in Feb 1856 . His daughter, Marit, stayed in Dodge Co, spouse of Tosten Rasmussen. His daughter, Ingeborg, married John Rasmusson (two sisters married two brothers) in 1858, Pine Lake, and later moved to Rosholt.

1858- Peter married a SECOND time to Ane Johnsdatter Knappen (1-16-1826 to 6-23-1915) in 1858. had five children. Ane was born in Ringebu, Op., Norway. Peter died in Waupaca Co. (children of Peter & Anne Johannesdatter Solberg)

1860 census, St. Lawrence, Peter Torgerson, 54, Anna, 34, Ole, 16, Amund, 13, Peter, 8, John, 6 mo, {died 1861?]

1870 census, St. Lawrence, Peter Torgerson, 66, Anna, 43, Annie P., 6, Ole P., 3, Anton, 9 mo., Amun, 23, Peter P., 18

1880 census, St. Lawrence, Peter Torgerson, 76, Anna, 53, Annie, 16, Ole, 13, Antoine, 10, Carrie Jacobsen, 50, sister

• ****** children from SECOND marriage to Anne Knappen Matthias Wesley died young John Andreas Wesley (1959-1861) Anne Wesley (May 20. 1864 Aug. 10, 1902) married Martin Jensen Children: Roy Belva Howard Josephine Ole J. Wesley (Dec. 26, 1866 Mar 24, 1955) married Ida Hanson Children: Fritjold Dagney Ami Raymond

Anton Wesley (Aug 15, 1869 Oct 28, 1902) married Geoline Jenson Children: Palmer Julian married Louella Hanson Children: Julian H. Donald R. Joyce E.

Fern Lillian

Scandinavia Cemetery, Waupaca Co, WI "Petter Torgerson Wesley Oct 1, 1804-Mr 28, 1884 Husband of _______and Anne Pederson"

• ******* Family history: "Peder's farm in Waupaca County is still in the Wesley family. He changed his name to Wesley about the time he moved here. "
  • ***** See: A History of the Wesley Family, taken from a family history book published in Norway in 1927. (Torger Olsen Holes Efterkommere 1795-1927).

"The land (our home farm) was homesteaded from the US Government between 1848 and 1856. Peder got the patent in 1858 but lived at the farm before that. " Peder had 8 children with his first wife and five with his second. Peder's farm in Waupaca Co. is still in the Wesley family. Burnett Wesley, b 1907 lives on farm-he died 2004.

• ********* From 100 years of Emigrant Ships from Norway. 1848 - New York Aug. 2 The brig Erik Børresen mastered by Capt. Hasselberg was announced by Jacob Borch to take a few passengers from Drammen to New York. The Counsul's report revealed that the Erik Børresen arrived at New York with emigrants and a freight of 2600 $. Announcement from "Drammens Tidende", May 26, 1848
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