Forefather and Supplemental Applications
New Sweden Settlers Qualifying as Forefathers for Members of the Swedish Colonial Society
Further information on forefather settlers is contained in Dr. Craig’s two books, “The 1693 Census of the Delaware” and “1671 Census of the Swedes on the Delaware.” Both of these books are out-of-print, however, they are available online in a used condition.
Tracing descent from the original Swedish immigrants is difficult since most of the immigrants had no surname. They used the patronymic naming system, by which the sons and daughters took the first name of their father, adding “son” or “dotter” as appropriate. In some cases a family surname was not selected for two generations.
Thus, the immigrant Eskil Larsson arrived in New Sweden with his son Bärtil Eskilsson in 1643. Bärtil Eskilsson’s sons were known by the patronymic Bärtilsson, which ultimately became the family surname with an English spelling, i.e., Bartleson.
Similarly, the immigrant Matthias Eskilsson, who settled in Swanwick, New Castle County, had a son named Peter Matthiasson, who had a son named Jöran Petersson, who became known as George Peterson, which became his family’s surname.
Another such oddity is Pål Persson’s descendants. He had four sons, Olof, Bengt, Gustaf and Peter Pålsson, founders of the Paulson families of New Castle County. However, one of Gustaf’s sons named Paul chose to be called Paul Gustafsson, thereby launching the Justison or Justice family of Brandywine Hundred.
In a few cases the patronymic naming system led to third-generation males using surnames which were the same as the patronymic of their grandfather. Thus, Knut Mårtensson’s son Mårten Knutsson of Marcus Hook had sons known by the name of Morton. Johan Hendricksson had sons named Hendrick Johansson, progenitor of the Hendrickson family of Ridley Township, and Johan Johansson, whose sons were named Johnson.
The [List of Qualifying Forefathers] is not a complete list of potential Forefathers for SCS members. It does not include Swedes arriving in the Delaware after 1664, such as Charles Christophersson Springer, Anders Rudman, Jonas Aurén, Gustavus Hesselius. Neither does it include Swedes who came to America in colonial times who settled in other places, such as New York. The tables are limited to those who settled in New Sweden, 1638-1664.
For further assistance or to receive an application for recognition as a Forefather Member, please write to the Swedish Colonial Society, 97 Wanamaker Avenue, Essington, PA 19029, or email our Forefather Director: Forefather Director email link
The Swedish Colonial Society is now accepting multiple forefather applications. Click here for more information.
Buy the COLONIAL RECORDS OF SWEDISH CHURCHES IN PENNSYLVANIA series today!
NEW PRICING for this 9-Volume, hardbound, library binding series, covering the years 1646-1786
- Each single book is on sale for $10
- The complete set of 9 books is $50
- Includes free shipping
Purchase online: https://colonialswedes.net/purchase-books/
Contact The Swedish Colonial Society at:
The Swedish Colonial Society
97 Wanamaker Avenue
Essington, PA 19029