Family members had believed that Julia was Johan MANDAHL's neice (sister's daughter), who had been adopted by Johan MANDAHL and his wife, Maren. However, her birth record clearly states her parents to be Johan Christian MANDAHL and Maren Helene HALVORSDATTER. Julia was, however, born prior to her parents' marriage.
One of first settlers at Norsewood, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.
Julia lived in Norsewood with her parents. Julie met and married her husband Jacob MARTINSEN in Christchurch. She already had a son, Henry Christian. On Henry’s birth certificate it states he was born in Christchurch and father Unknown. It is believed Julie fell pregnant in the North Island and so the family moved to the South Island to hide the shame, and then she ended up keeping the baby. Julie’s parents Johan and Maren adopted the baby.
Julia was always one to speak her mind.
Her headstrong ways landed her in trouble many years later when, during the war, she voiced her opinions, which were not favoured by the townfolk. It is believed that she showed sympathy towards the enemy and she was put under house arrest.
Martin and Julia eventually returned to Norsewood.
Julia appears on the early women's suffrage petitions (Makotuku, Norsewood).
Also known as Martin JACOBSEN (for short period of time).
The story that I have had passed down to me is that Jacob MARTINSEN was a sailor who had jumped ship when it arrived in NZ as many a sailor did back then.
One story that has been passed on is that Jacob actually swapped his name around, once he had jumped ship, to avoid being caught. His name is Jacob MARTINSEN, when he was on the run, for want of better words, he swapped his name around to Martin JACOBSEN (his father's name back in Norway), and then when he felt he was safe and not going to be caught he reverted back to his birth name of Jacob MARTINSEN.
How he met Julia is unknown, but he was attracted to her very headstrong nature.
Martin and Julia eventually returned to Norsewood.
Jacob was naturalized in NZ on the 18th of May 1886 after being in New Zealand for 4 years. At the time he was Naturalised, he was a millhand in Norsewood.
There is mention of Jacob in the Bush Advocate (Saturday 14th July 1888) re his involvement in the purchase and building of a mill. (Jacob began the first sawmill and flourmill industries at Norsewood in 1888. He gave K F Mortensen the contract to build the mills.
INFORMATION FOUND IN NORSEWOOD BUSH ADVOCATE 1888.)
