Johan Axel Asserlind (sometimes recorded as Assarlind) was born in 1839 in Goteborg, Sweden. His parents were Anders Gustaf and Carolina Wilhelmina (nee Gustafsson). He married Charlotte Andersdotter in 1870 and they emigrated to New Zealand in 1871 on the ‘England’ to settle on sections in Palmerston North allotted to Scandinavians.
Papers presented to Parliament in 1871 counted the cost of the Scandinavian immigrants on ‘The England’ and the ‘Celoeno’ and it was described as a ‘rather expensive experiment’.
The Asserlinds left the area in 1872. By 1877 John was working as a labourer at Queen’s Wharf. By this stage, all of his four siblings had died, his widowed mother now alone in Sweden until her death in 1895.
John and Charlotte’s daughter, Elsie Louisa was born in 1885.
John applied for and received Naturalisation in 1896. At the time, he was working as a labourer and the family were living in Cuba Street. Charlotte involved herself with committees and running stalls to support the Methodist Church.
On 22nd January 1907, Elsie married Alfred Lorens Seastrand, eldest son of Nils Seastrand of Limhamn, Sweden. Alfred was naturalised the year prior. The marriage ceremony was performed by the Rev. J. K. Elliott (Presbyterian).
John died on 4th October the same year, at his home 100 Taranaki Street. He was in his 67th year. Charlotte thanked Dr Reid, Rev. North, and all her kind friends who assisted her in her husband’s illness in the newspaper afterwards.
The following February, Charlotte died. Her funeral departed from Wellington hospital for Karori Cemetery. And in June of the same year, their daughter Elsie Seastrand died at her home, 21 Victoria Place (off Ghuznee Street). She was 23 years old. There were no children of the marriage.
Alfred Seastrand remarried to Emily Gill and had three children.
John, Charlotte and Elsie are buried together in this plot. We are not aware of any other Asserlind descendants, and yet the headstone is looking cared for. Possibly thanks to our volunteers. The lead lettering is remarkably intact.
Thanks to the Facebook page of the Scandinavian Club of Manawatu Inc where some of the information was obtained for this story. We would love to hear if there are any descendants.
Plot: *Public 2/J/97
By Julia Kennedy
