Finland, Old Collection of Accounts - FamilySearch Historical Records

Finland

Why Should I Look at This Collection?
If you have ancestors living in Finland during this time period these records will give you information about their economic status and possibly interactions with their neighbors.

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of general and judicial documents, lists of fines, bailiff's accounts, lists of soldiers and officers, taxes, property rentals, and other lists arranged by Castle Provinces (slottslän), usually with further subdivision by district (härad) and parish (sokn). The collection covers the years 1531 to 1634.

Reading These Records
These records are written in Swedish. For help with reading the records, please see Sweden: Language and Languages and Swedish Genealogical Word List.

Collection Content
Content of the records varies. You may find any of the following:
 * Name or names of primary individuals
 * Date and nature of the court case
 * Names of family members or witnesses
 * Residences
 * Description of property
 * Payments of taxes and fines
 * Birth, death or marriage details

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection it is helpful to know:
 * Name of your ancestor
 * Identifying information such as residence

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Compare the information you have found with what you already know.
 * Examine all records in this collection for the parish where your ancestor lived
 * Evaluate the information you have found to see if there are other records you should consider examining

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names.
 * Look for an index. There are often indexes at the beginning of each volume.
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby parishes and communities.

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Finland.
 * Finland Guided Research
 * Finland Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.