4. Maren Sofie (Mary Sophia) HANSDATTER (ANDERSEN)
The 1865 Norwegian census shows Maren was fostered by her maternal aunt, Maren Hendrikka NIELSDATTER and her husband, Jens Christian ARNESEN. Her mother had died in 1859.
Maren's descendants allege that Maren's stepmother, Juliana ERIKSDATTER, treated her with much harshness and that, on disembarking in New Zealand, Maren's father and stepmother promptly left Maren to fend for herself. However, this appears to have been normal practice. "Adult" children (age 13+ years) were required to work to repay their promissory notes to the New Zealand Government (Maren owed £5), and paid work was not available for women in the bush.
Maren obtained work at Philip DOLBEL's farm at Taradale, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, where she met her husband, George William LINES.