Biography of Bill Byron’s father. Friðbjörn Pétursson, born at outer Brekkukot in Blönduhlíð. - Born May 16, 1831 at Vatnleysa in Viðvíkursveit, died June 18, 1896 at Brekkukot. Parents: Pétur Bjarnason, born at Vatnsleysa, and his wife Kristín Jónsdóttir. Farmer at Stóragerði in Óslandshlíð 1855-62. Later laborer at various places. In the Census of 1870 he resides at Nautabú in Hjaltadal and in 1880 at Bjarnastaðir in Blönduhlíð. Between 1866-87 he lived at Gvendarstaðir at Staðarfjöllum, after that he became a laborer at Framnes and from 1888-96 he was a Farmer at outer Brekkukot until he died. Friðbjörn was a rather tall and robust man, very muscular and with a broad chest. He was blond with a red beard, skilled and hard-working. He was intelligent and had a rhyming gift like his father, but kept it to himself. He was never wealthy, but always self-sufficient. He was a good horseman and a solid traveler. His wife, Sigurborg Jónsdóttir, was born December 10, 1833, she probably died at Skarð in Gönguskörðum between 1870 and 80 (church records burned). She was a daughter of Jón Jónsson, a farmer at Sveinsstaðir in Tungusveit, and his wife Guðrún Guðmundsdóttir. After farming in Stóragerði the couple broke up, and Sigurborg moved to Hólar in Hjaltadal, the children got scattered to various places. In 1867 she moved to Skarð in Gönguskörðum and is not found in any records after that. She was a full sister of Monika Jónsdóttir [October 9, 1832 - December 19, 1917], the wife of doctor Sveinn Sölvason [September 3, 1833 - January 23, 1916] at Skarð. The children of Sigurborg and Friðbjörn were: Monika Helga, born March 12, 1856. Went to America. Pétur, born about 1857. He had poor health and died young. Sigurbjörn, born July 31, 1861. Went to America. (note: this is Bill Byron). Thora, was born December 5, 1865 [Þóra Friðbjörnsdóttir December 5, 1865 - November 4, 1958], she married Gudmundur Gudmundsson, whose nickname was associated with Hólar. They are the parents of Arni G. Eylands [Árni Guðmundsson Eylands May 8, 1895 - July 26, 1980 ]. Anna S. Jónsdóttir was a housekeeper of Friðbjörn [Pétursson May 16, 1831 – June 18, 1896] in Brekkukot, she was born September 3, 1852 at Gröf at Höfðaströnd, and died December 22, 1945 at Litla-Brekka at Höfðaströnd. Her parents were Jón Kaprasíusson and his wife Guðrún Jóhannesdóttir, then working as laborers at Gröf (see chapter on Jón Kaprasíusson in Volume I of Skagfirskar Æviskrár, but Anna is not listed there among his children). Children of Friðbjörn and Anna: Pétur and Rannveig born June 3, 1890, twins. Died after a few days. [June 3, 1890 - June 8, 1890] Helga, was born December 6, 1892 she married Þórhallur Ástvaldsson [Björn Þórhallur Ástvaldsson November 6, 1893 - September 30, 1962]. Helga is living with her son Þorvaldur [Þorvaldur Þórhallsson September 1, 1926 - May 3, 2011] at Þrastarstaðir. Source church records., censuses, account of Helga Friðbjörnsdóttir and others (J.Ó. and E. K.) Bill Byron’s obituary On May 31, 1950, Vilhjálmur Sigurbjörn Friðbjörnsson Byron died at his home in Swan River, Man. at age 88 and ten months old. He was born at Stóragerði in Skagafjörður 1861. His parents were Friðbjörn Pétursson and Sigurborg Jónsdóttir. At the age of two Sigurbjörn was placed in foster care with Ólafur Sigurðsson and his wife Margrét at Langhús in Skagafjörður. He grew up with them until the age of Confirmation. He was young when he arrived in this country. He moved to North Dakota and worked on the railroad for a few years. Sigurbjörn married Guðbjörg Octavía Danielson on January 10, 1896 in Grafton, North Dakota. In 1899 they moved with other pioneers to Swan River valley, where they claimed land and have lived there since. They had ten children, listed here by age: 1. Constantine Blancheflur married Frank Zinger; she died June 6 in Alberni B.C., only six days after her father´s death, from a chronic illness at age 53. 2. Anna J. P., married George Schell 3. H. F. Garribald, he is married 4. Daniel E., he is married 5. Th. Rosefield, he is married 6. Friðrika Th. S. married H. Stanbrook, they live in Winnipeg 7. Victor E. he is married 8. Clara T. married K. McKenzie, they live in Winnipeg 9. S. A. Bertel, he is married 10. Vilhjálmur J. unmarried lives at home, They are all residing in Swan River, with the exception of two daughters. One of Sigurbjörn´s sisters, Monica also moved to Canada, she married Gísli Thompson [Gísli Magnús Tómasson, 1863 - 1908]. The couple lived at Gimli, Man., both are dead. They had four daughters and one son, three of them living in Winnipeg and (Rósa) Mrs. Óli Jósephson, both died many years ago. Their son Pétur Thompson lives at Gimli, Man. The funeral took place on June 3 from their home with many people present. He was buried in Fairdale cemetery. Heimskringla Nov 15 1950 page 3 Back |