Beyond Parish Registers:A Case Study

Following is a case study which used a combination of information found in Swedish births, marriages and deaths, communion records, catechism records and tax lists to extend a pedigree line 3 generations beyond the parish registers.


 * Asmund Jönsson was born 11 Sep 1718 in Barsebäck parish, Malmohus County, Sweden to Jöns Jönsson and his wife Elena Asmundsdotter. Asmund fathered 11 children and died in Barsebäck on 4 Feb 1768, age 50.
 * A 10 year search thorugh the birth records either side of 1718 produced no siblings for Asmund.
 * His parents, Jöns Jönsson and Elena Asmundsdotter were not married in Barsebäck, though the records existed for the probable time period that would have taken place. That could mean Elena was from another parish since it was the custom to marry in the bride's home parish.  It could also mean that they both originated from another place.

==== ⇒First research step (after at least spot checking to make sure the base is correct, if you didn't research it to that point yourself) - Find the deaths of the parents to obtain ages and possible other information  ====

Since no clues existed as to whether Asmund was the last of 12 children, or the only child of his parents, searches through the death records looking for his parents had to begin with his birth date.

Elena Asmundsdotter's death was found 30 years after her son Asmund was born, i.e. 23 Apr 1745. The age at death was given as 64. That means Elena was born @1681. The death entry also stated.... "barnfödd i Henckelstorp." That place did not show up in the parish listings of Sweden, meaning it was not a record keeping jurisdiction, but a smaller place.

A search of Svensk Ortforteckning, a major Swedish gazetteer, listed Hänckelstorp as a farm area belonging to Västra Karaby parish, also in Malmohus county.

A quick search of the Family History LIbrary Catalog showed the parish registers for Västra Karaby did not begin until '''1688. '''Maybe we weren't going to be able to go back further after all.

Searches in the death records continued, looking for Jöns Jönsson, Asmund's father. He died 20 Mar 1768, at age 83 = born @ 1685. Unfortunately, a new minister had moved into Barsebäck parish by that time, and birth places were no longer being listed in the death records. The presumption had to be made that he had at least lived for a short while in Västra Karaby parish to meet his wife Elena, even if he wasn't born there.

⇒Second research step - look for the marriage of Jöns Jönsson &amp; Elena Asmundsdotter in her birth parish, Västra Karaby
Searches began in those records in 1705, when Jöns Jönsson would have been about age 20. Males normally wouldn't have married much before that, though some exceptions have been found.

In 1712 the entry finally showed up i.e. "the 4th Christmas Day (29 Dec 1712) married the farm hand (and bachelor) Jöns Jönsson of Henckelstorp, and "the female person" Elena Asmundsdotter."

Normally, when a "never before married" Swedish female marries, she is referred to as a "Piga" in the records. The phrase the minister used to describe Elena, "female person", indicated something had happened in her life previous to her marriage to Jöns. Experience said that "something" was probably an illegitimate child. Subsequent research proved that to be the case.

Searching backwards from the date of Jöns and Elena's marriage, the following was found. "On 11 Jun 1712, the illegitimate daughter of "Asmon Tors" dotter Elena from Henchelstorp and the soldier Mattis Hall, reportedly in Captain Vrangel's Company, Vestmanlan Regiments, was christened." A further note in this entry indicates Elena was publicly absolved of her sin on 23 Nov 1712, at which time she had the district court's resolution or judgement in her posession.

Jöns must have loved Elena a great deal as he was willing to marry her with 6 months of her having borne a child he had not fathered, and to raise the child as his own.

⇒Third research step - search the parish registers of this new parish for additional siblings
Asmund Jönsson was born in Barsebäck parish in 1718 - his now oldest 1/2 sibling was born in Västra Karaby in 1712. Unless something was physically wrong, other children should have been born to his parents in that 6 year period. Searches in the birth/christening records of Västra Karaby parish produced two siblings - a sister Tyre born in 1715, and an older brother Jöns who was born and died in 1717. An additional 5 years search in the parish showed this named couple had no more children there - adding weight to the conclusion they were the couple found in Barsebäck.

⇒Fourth research step - search records which could "prove" Asmun Torsson lived at Henckelstorp when his daughter Elena was born @1681
Swedish tax lists were one of the records which could help with this. The "Mantalslängder" (tax lists) exist from @1658 for the whole country, and from about 1580 for some areas of Sweden. You can read more about the content and use of these records in the wiki under the topic of "Sweden - Taxation." That article also gives the format and explains the columns or _ _ _ _ so you can understand what they mean in the following.

Research premise - If the "Asmun Tors." listed as Elena's father in the christening records of Elena's illegitimate chld in 1712 was also there at Henckelstorp in the 1680, 1681, 1682, and/or 1683 tax lists when Elena was supposed to be born, that would lend great credence to the research conclusion that she was our ancestor.

The initial search through the tax rolls covered 1680-1720. It should be noted here as a point of research procedure - once you begin searching tax lists, search a VERY wide time frame, and do not skip years! A remark made one year, or a name found in one year's list may NEVER show up again. Unfortunately, there were gaps for 1682, 1683, and 1685-1691. As you'll see, however, that deficiency was definitely overocme by the information found searching a large time fram.e

The results of the searches for Asmun Torsson living at Henckelstorp are as follows:

1680 Henckelstorp,    Jöns Torß. 1_ _ _ _ _ _, Asmund Tors. 1 _ _ _ _ _ _

1681 Henckelstorp     Jöns Torson 1 1 _ 1, Asmund Torson 1 1

1684 Henckelstorp     Asmund Torson 1 1 ---, Jöns Torson _ 1 _ _ 1 _ _

1691 Henckelstorp     Asmun Torson 1 1 _ _ 1 = 3 taxables, Jöns Torson 1 1 _ _ 1 =  3 taxables

1694 Henckelstorp     Jöns Torson 1 1 _ _ 1 = 3 taxables, Asmun Torson 1 1 _ _ _ _ 1= 3 taxables

With high anticipation we looked forward to the next tax years' searches. If our ancestor Elena was living at home, and was tax eligible, she should be marked as a slashmark in the "daughter" column,(the 4th space over in the lists), from 1697 on, as she would have turned 15, or taxable age, about 1696. ..

1697 Hänckelstorp     #2 Nils Torson 1 1 _ _ 1 _ _ 1 = 4 taxables, #6 Asmun Torson 1 1 _ _ _ _ _= 2 taxables

1698 Hänckelstorp     #2 Jöns Torson 1 1 1 2 _ _ _ _1 Anders Olsson (the parish tailor) = 6 taxables

#6 Asmun Torson 1 1 _ _ _ _ _ = 2 taxables   (the figures for Jöns Torson show that in 1698 he had 1 son and 2 daughters who were eligible to be taxed.)

1699 Hänckelstorp     #2 Jöns Torson 1 1 1 1 (one daughter is not there, or is ineligible to be taxed this year), _ _ _ _ _ Anders Olsson (the parish tailor) = 6 taxables

#6 Asmun Torson 1 1 _ _ _ _ _= 2 taxables

WHERE IS ELENA? She was perhaps following the custom of the time i.e. going out and working each season for different farmers in Västra Karaby, or, perhaps even another parish. It's also possible she had a physical ailment which made her tax ineligible. Sometimes the record keeper made a note of that fact - sometimes not.

We knew from the parish record entry for Elena's illegitimate child that her father was definitely "Asmund Torson." The more information which could be found to substantiate that, the better, so searches continued.

1700 Hänkelstorp       #2 Jöns Torson 1, (wife) Gertru _ 1, (son) Anders _ _ 1, (dau) Anna _ _ _ 1, Anders Olsson (the parish tailor) _ _ _ _ 1 = 5 taxables

#6 Asmun Torson 1, (wife) Pernilla _ 1, (dau) Boel _ _ _ 1 = 3 taxables

DO YOU SEE HOW THE TAX LISTS COULD BE HELPFUL IN YOUR RESEARCH - A POTENTIAL SIBLING IS FOUND! !

1702 Hänkelstorp   #2  Jöns Torson 1, (wife) Gertru _ 1, (son) Anders _ _ 1, (dau) Anna _ _ _ 1, Per Skrädder  (the parish tailor) _ _ _ _ 1 = 5 taxables

#6 Asmun Torson 1, (wife) Pernilla _ 1, Lars (farmhand)  _ _ _ _ _ _1  = 3 taxables

1705 p. 587 Hänkelstorp (Note:  Book burned - parts missing around the edges)      Adding such pieces of information to your extracts and/or research logs is adviseable, as it lets you know why pieces of information that logically should be in that record couldn't be found or read.

#2 Jöns Torson 1, (wife) Gertru _ 1, _ _ Niels (farmhand)1 = 3 taxables,

#6 Asmun Torson, Pernille, ELNA !!!!!!     1 1_ 1 _ _ = 3 taxables

1709, p. 683 Hänkelstorp #2  Anders Jönsson 1 _ _ _, (farmhand) Anders, (farmgirl) Ellsa

#6 Asmun Tors. 1, datter Ellna 1

The above information translates as follows: Jöns Torson  and his wife Gertru were now either deceased, ill, or too old to be taxed. Their son Anders (listed in the 1702 lists) has taken over the farm, and is probably unmarried, or, his wife is untaxable for some reason that year.

Pernilla, Asmund Torsson's wife and Elena's probable mother, is either deceased, or ill, or too old to be taxed. The tax list for 1710 is missing - the next available list, 1711, shows yet another change in these family structures.

1711 p.6881 Henckelstorp #2   Anders Jönsson 1, h. (hustru=wife) Toren 1 _ _ _ _  = 2 taxables

#6 Asmund Tors. anckia (widow) Pernilla, dtr Ellna _ 1 _ 1 _ = 2 taxables

As you'll note, the tax list information shows that sometime between 1709 and 1711 Asmund Torsson dies. Since the parish registers of Västra Karaby begin in 1688, that means I can search the death records, and hopefully pick up an age on him, which will give me his approximate birth year!

The parish register deaths show Asmon Torsson died betweeen 4th &amp; 5th of Jan, 1711, having been sick for 8 days. He was buried on 11 Jan, and was listed as age 67 = born @ 1644.

The next available tax list was 1720. The only person listed at Henckelstorp was Anders Jönsson, Asmund Torsson's nephew, and his family. That indicates Pernilla, Asmund's wife, was either too old, or ill to be taxed, or, had also passed away.

A search of the parish register deaths showed the latter was the case. Pernilla, widow of Asmun Torson died 18 Apr and was buried 24 Apr 1719, age 68 = born @ 1651.

Now we had a partial family structured - more records could be searched to try and add generations.

⇒Fifth research step - Go back to the beginning of the tax lists and work forward
The first available list was dated 1658. Living at Henkelstorp was "Jenns Tordsen, wife, female farmhand, and Tord Andersen and wife. The name "Tord" is not the most common of names, so, we took a bit of license and made the assumption, until otherwise proved false, this was probably Jöns Tordson's father.  Information from the tax lists has extended the pedigree line yet another generation!

The 1660 list shows the taxables are Jens Thorsen, his wife, and a female farmhand, and in another household, Tor Andersen and wife.

In 1662 Jöns Toereson and wife, and Torre Andersön and wife show up again at Henkelstorp.

Bless the tax man of 1663! Here he lists Jôns Torson, and wife Elena, and Tor Andersön and wife Hanna. Besides obtaining the probable name for Jöns and Asmund's mother, the information also tells us Jöns Torson was married at least twice, since his wife in the 1700 tax list was named Gertru.

In 1664 and 1665 Tor Andersson appears in the lists, but, not Jöns. Perhaps the family was sick, or they had such a poor year they were excused. There were no notes to explain the situation.

The 1666 and 1668 lists were so faint, no names could be read - there was just a line here, a blob of ink there. Perhaps in the originals more could be read. That does happen sometimes, considering these records are over 300 years old.

Jôns Torson and wife (1 1 _ _ _) appear in the extant 1670, 1671, 1672, and 1675 lists - still residing at Henckelstorp. In 1672, a possible brother of Jôns and Asmund appears i.e. a Måns Thorson and wife, also listed at Henckelstorp. They did not appear before that, and they never appear after. That shows again why it is so very important once you have begun a tax list search, to search every extant year, and a wide time frame.

The next available list was 1680 where we started, Jôns Torson and Asmund Torson are both listed as single taxables i.e. no wives being taxed. Perhaps that is the year Jôns wife died, and Asmund had not yet married. We can't say for sure, as the parish registers don't exist, but, the supposition has some merit.

We began the study by trying to find the birth place of Elena Asmundsdotter, born in a parish other than where she had the direct ancestor, and died. The clue found in her death record in Barsebäck parish, plus information found in the church registers of Västra Karaby parish, plus the tax list information has given a good outline of her ancestry. However, we wanted to find more to now fill in the outline.

The catechism records were those next searched. A study of the record shows it listed heads of household where a confirmation age child (children) resided, whether that was their own child (children), or the farmhands and farmgirls working for them, It is possible the head of the house was responsible for seeing that these young people knew their Lutheran catechism.

For Västra Karaby parish the lists useful for our searches were those of 1696, 13 Jun 1699 and 4 Jul 1701. Each list was completley searched. As was hoped, the information found did allow us to fill in more of the family members:

1696   Jôns Christensson     son Thor Jönsson         (knows) 4 parts       Läser i Bok (can read in the Bible)

wife Nilla Thorsdtr   dau Karna Jönsdtr                     5 parts              "

dau Lisebeet Jönsdtr                5 parts              "

Jôns Thorson                     son Anders Jônsson                    5 parts             "

wife Järtrud Andersdtr         dau Anna Jönsdtr                        5 parts             "

Asmun Torson                    dau Boeld Asmunsdtr                  2 parts             "  (possibly a younger child who hadn't

wife Nilla Jönsdtr                 dau Kierstiene Asmunsdtr            1 part                   had the opportunity of learning

(this is the only record which lists Asmund's wife's                                       the whole catechism yet - ditto for

maiden name)                                                                                             Kierstiene)

1699    Asmun Torson    (note that this year, the record keeper decided not to list the names of the wives, only the head

dau Boeld           of household and those who were being tested on their knowledge of the catechism)

dau Kierstena

Jôns Torson

son Anners

dau Anne

4 Jul 1701

Jôns Torson              son Anners                           dau Anna

Asmund Torson         dau Kierstena