Attestation

Attestation. Not a word you run into very often these days.

at•tes•ta•tion

 (ˌæt ɛˈsteɪ ʃən) 

n.

1. an act of attesting.

2. an attesting declaration; testimony; evidence.

[1540–50; (< Middle French) < Latin attestātiōn- (s. of attestātiō). 

at·test

v. at·test·ed, at·test·ing, at·tests

v.tr.

1. To affirm to be correct, true, or genuine: The date of the painting was attested by the appraiser.

2.

a. To certify by signature or oath: attest a will.

b. To certify in an official capacity.

3.

a. To supply or be evidence of: Her fine work attests her ability. 

b. Linguistics To confirm the existence, usage, or currency of (a word, for example), as by being   recorded in writing.

4. To put under oath.

In 1907, my wife's grandmother had decided to leave Norway for Minnesota. She was one of 3 sisters who left Leksvig, Norway for Minnesota in the first decade of the 1900's. In those days, the parish vicar provided a written "attestation" (actually "presteattest" i.e. attestation from the Priest) to the character of the emigrant. It can be considered as a "certificate of good conduct". It was required if you wanted to emigrate or even move to a different church parish in Norway. We recently discovered the original document, complete with the red wax seal that Johanna Killingberg carried with her to Spring Grove, Minnesota.

Translation:

Johanna J. Killingberg, daughter of J.M. Johannesen and wife Marta L. Pedersdatter, was born on February 23rd 1882 and baptized on April 9th, same year. She was confirmed in Leksvik Church on Oct 3rd 1897 with a very positive result.

I do declare that she is not bound by marriage here in Leksvik. I may add that she has had a quiet/humble and Christian way of life here as far as I know. She now wants to emigrate into Minnesota, USA. 

May God's blessing be with her!

Leksvik vicarage, March 30th, 1907.

L.J. Wormdal, Vicar of Leksvik  

Lars Johansen Wormdahl served the Leksvig parish from 1888-1914

The cost of this certification was: kr. 01,00.

Leksvig Church

A few observations.

1. Note the beautiful handwriting.

2. ... a quiet, humble, Christian way of life

3. How do you imagine your "attestation" would read?

Copyright © 2017 Dave Hoplin