Number 292

A small piece of the puzzle of Knud Endresen's imprisonment has fallen into place.  Knud's prisoner number at Akerrshus festning slaveri was 292.  My original thought when I saw 292 following his name on the death and burial record was that it represented his prisoner number.  However, as I considered the information following his name might refer to his burial in consecrated ground, I also considered the number could refer to his burial plot.  The confirmation that 292 was his prisoner number is found in communicant records for the prison.  The 1842 and 1844 communicant records for Akershus festning slaveri list Knud Endresen of Stake, prisoner number 292, as one of those receiving communion on 27 February 1842, 16 October 1842, and on 21 April 1844. 

These records also indicate that prisoner numbers were reused.  Lars Engebredsen was listed as prisoner 292 in the communicant record for 21 May 1841.  The next entry for prisoner 292 is for Knud Endresen of Stake on 27 February 1842.  Following Knud's death in September 1844, there is no record for a prisoner 292 in the communicant records.

So it appears that Knud was imprisoned at Akershus between June 1841 and February 1842.  Unless Knud was transferred to Akershus from another prison, he likely commited his crime sometime in 1841.

Akershus Festning

I discovered a Norwegian family tree that references Sevat Knutson of Stake, Gol, Norway. It doesn’t provide source information and I believe it may include some inaccuracies, but it does introduce some new place names and additional generations to our lineage. Especially interesting to me is a reference to Akershus Festning (Oslo Fortress) as the place of death of Sevat’s father. If, indeed, Knud Endreson died in Akershus Fortress in 1844, he may have been a prisoner.  In addition to common criminals, many socialists were imprisoned in Akershus Festning around the time of Knud's death.  So, determining how he came to be at Akershus may prove very interesting.

Knud's death may also provide a clue to the emigration of his sons.  If he was a common criminal, they may have left to escape the stigma of his circumstances.  If he was a political prisoner, they may have left for the promise of a better political climate in America.  Certainly, if he spent time in Akershus, his family would have suffered consequences and his sons' departures so soon after his death were likely among them.  Any information I can find on prisoners of Akershus festning slaveri, on the political climate of the Hallingdal region before the Knudson's left for America, and on Knud Endreson, in particular, will help in understanding the motivation behind his sons' immigration to America.

More puzzle pieces to examine ...