Peter Anton Rustad : 1870 – 1916

After completing his final school exams and subsequently studying in England, Peter Anton travelled to France in 1891 in order to learn French.  At that time young Scandinavian men were much sought after on the European labour market.  They were often good at languages and possessed some trading experience. 

Peter Anton Rustad was just 23 years old when he started working as a correspondent and travelling sales representative for A. Edmond Dupuy & Co.  Two years later he married Jeanne Tressac, the daughter of a cellar master.  Peter Anton’s father-in-law no doubt gave plenty of support to this young Norwegian who was keen to make a go of it in the cognac trade.  The couple had three daughters.  Peter Anton Rustad was involved in the Scandinavian milieu in Cognac and became one of the founders of the Scandinavian Support Association in 1897.  He was also the chairman of the Association on several occasions.  Peter Anton Rustad enjoyed considerable respect in Cognac.  He became the Norwegian and Swedish Vice Consul for the whole Charente region in 1903.  From 1906 and until his death in 1916 he served as the Vice Consul for just Norway.  After his death the Consulate was moved back to Bordeaux.

In 1919 the three Rustad daughters also lost their mother.  They then decided to return to Norway, to their father’s family.  The oldest daughter had two children, who in turn had children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Peter Anton Rustad has many descendants in Norway, but none of them bear the Rustad name.