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 hoped for 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, a Swedish female who had never been married before is referred to as a "Piga" in the records. The phrase the minister used to describe Elena, i.e. "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, Boel, 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 known 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 of the tax lists and explains the columns ( / _  /  / _ _ = 3 taxables)  so you can understand what each mark means in the following extracts of information taken from the actual tax lists.

Research premise: If the "Asmun Tors(son)" listed as Elena's father in the christening records of Elena's illegitimate child 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, and that she was indeed born in Västra Karaby parish, as her death record information stated.

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, the tax lists for 1682, 1683, and 1685-1691 were missing. As you'll see, however, that deficiency was definitely overcome by the information found in the tax lists after searching a large time frame

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            (These figures for Jöns Torson show that in 1698, besides he and his wife, he had 1 son and 2 daughters who were eligible to be taxed.)

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

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 working in 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, AND THE NAMES OF THE WIVES AND PROBABLE MOTHERS OF THE CHILDREN ARE LISTED! !

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(on's) änckia (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, of those for whom we were searching, 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 structure - 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 and Asmund Tordson (Torsson's) father.  Information from the tax lists has extended the pedigree line yet another generation!

The 1660 list shows the taxables living at Henckelstorp are Jöns 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 crop that year they were excused from paying taxes. 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. That does happen sometimes, considering these records are over 300 years old. Perhaps in the originals more could be read.

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 the search in the tax lists. (See Step 4) It is interesting to note that both Jöns Torson and Asmund Torson are listed as single taxables i.e. no wives being taxed. Perhaps that is the year Jôns first 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.

Sixth Research Step: Look for and search other types of extant records which could contain information on the ancestral family
Remember, we began the study by trying to find the birth place of Elena Asmundsdotter. She was the mother of the direct ancestor, Asmund Jönsson, who was born in Barsebäck parish. Elena died in Barsebäck parish - but she wasn't born there. To this point, the huge 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. These are found in the Family History Library Catalog under the name of the parish - Church Records {pull in link}

These types of records do not exist for all areas of Sweden, but, as will be seen, they can be of great value. They appear to be the foreunner of the Husförhörslängder (Clerical surveys). Since their purpose was to list the names of, or at least indicate there were young people of confirmation age in training, not every person in the household will be named or marked.

A study of the catechism record for Västra Karaby parish show, that at least here, the format was to list the heads of household and the names 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 (no date), 13 Jun 1699 and 4 Jul 1701. Each list was completley searched. Unfortunately, the names of the farms and villages were not recorded, so we searched the whole parish' list looking for the first and patronymic names we knew. 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

=== ⇒Seventh research step - Go back to the parish registers and search death and marriage records to fill in as much information as possible on the pedigree and family group sheets, using the clues gained in the previous searches. ===

Since Pernilla Jönsdtr, widow of Asmund Torson did not show up on the 1720 tax list, she was either too old to be taxed, or ill, or had died between 1711 and 1720. We chose the middle point of that time period to begin searching the death records. We worked our way from 1715 to 1719. On 24 Apr 1719 the entry was found which reads, "Cast earth upon Pernilla, Asmun Torsson's (who) died 18th of the same month, age 68 years" = born @1651.

Depending upon when Asmund and Pernilla married, (between @1671 and 1681 when Elena was born), there could be several more children belonging to the familiy. In fact, we know from the catechism records and the tax lists Elena had at least two siblings, Boeld and Kierstene.

The child bearing years of Elena Asmundsdotter's mother, Pernilla, could range from @1664 to @1702. Accordingly, the first searches in the christening records of Vastra Karaby ran from 1688, when the records began, to 1703. Three additional siblings were found - Lars, Gertru and Jöns! There could have been 2 to 3 more children born between 1681 when Elena was born, and 1688, when the parish registers began. If they survived to teen-age or beyond, their names could be picked up if they survived and married in Västra Karaby parish, or, if they can be identified working on someone else's farm in the tax lists.

{Note: Add FGS for Asmund and Pernilla showing all children to date}

Jöns Torsson, Asmund's brother, and Jöns' wife Gertru disappeared off the tax rolls between 1705 and 1709. Searches of the death records began in 1705 since, if the tax list was taken early in the year, they could have died the latter part of the year. As the records show, both of them died in 1708. "10 Apr 1708 buried Jöns Torsson's wife Giertrud who died the 1st of April (after) becoming sick on 25 March.  Age 66 years &amp; 20 weeks" = born @ Nov 1641.

Take note that here again, the surname of the deceased wife is not listed - only the fact that she was Jöns Torsson's wife. We only know her surname because it was given in the one year's catechism lists. If you want to get the whole story, and all the facts, you need to search every available record!

"The 4th Dec (1708) cast earth upon Jöns Torsson of Henckelstorp who in the night between the 25th and 26th of November died; many years sick, bedridden 1 month. Age 85 years" = born @1623.

When Jöns Torsson and his brother Asmund Torsson's information is plotted out, ie. Jöns Torsson born @1623 and Asmund born @ 1644 as per their ages at death, it appears these two brothers may be the first and at least among the last children of Tor and Hanna. It's also possible that Jöns had a different mother, since there is 20 + years between them.

If any of Jöns and Asmund's siblings i.e. people surnamed "Torsson/Tordson" had had a 2nd or perhaps even third marriage in Västra Karaby, a search of those records could add more information to the family tree. The catechism lists had provided the name of at least one probable sister, "Nilla Torsdtr" wife of Jöns Christensson. There could still be other siblings, especially if a spouse had died and they had re-married, so a search of the marriage records ensued, covering the time period 1691 (when they began) to 1722.

No groom nor bride surnamed Torsson or Thorson nor Tordson was found in that time period. However, marriages of the children and possible children of both Asmund and Jöns Torsson were found and duly noted.

4 Jan 1691 Michael Matzon and Johanne Asmundsdtr (no residences listed)

6 Nov 1698 Swän Matzon and Anna Asmundsdtr (no residences listed)

23 Nov 1702 Åhret Madtzon and Bengta Asmunsdtr of Biertorp

29 Dec 1702 Jöns Larss. of Annelöf and (the) pyge of Henckelstorp, Anna Jönsdtr...father Jöns Torson

2 Adv 1703 Anders Jönsson i Henckelstorp and pyge Bengta Eßbjornsdtr  (In the 1720 tax lists his wife's name is Tören, so this is a first marriage)

27 Nov 1704 Jöns Svensson och Kirsten Asmundsdtr of Henckelstorp

4 Dec 1712 dr. Jöns Jönsson of Henckelstorp and the "Qvindfolket" Elna Asmunsdtr

Dom Mis 1713 Täle Pärsson of Henckelstorp and (the) pigen Ingrid Pärsdtr..."(whose) "faster" (father's sister is (the) selig (deceased) Gertrud, Jöns Tors' in Henckelstorp"

6 Jan 1716 Täle Persson of Henckelstorp and Boell Larsdr. (This was extracted and entered here to show how quickly 2nd and 3rd,etc., marriages could take place).

Searches of the marriage records to 1722 produced no other applicable names.

The last set of records to be searched were the deaths. We began with the first entry in 1691, and continued to 1741.

Died 27 Apr, buried Dom. Jubilate 1710 Jöns, son of Anners Jönsson of Henckelstorp - "sick since birth" 5 or 15 days old (hard to read)

Died 20 Apr buried Dom Cantate 1714, Tyre, wife of Anners Nilsson, mother of Påhl in Åhlstorp, 8 weeks bedridden, age 93 years,  (This entry was taken to show the detail that could exist, and that people might have lived a whole lot longer than you think they did! The age at death of this person puts her born about 1621, long before the parish registers begin.

Died 28/29 Jul, buried 10 P. Trin 1714, Jöns Christensson, age 62. (this is the husband of Nille Torsdatter, as found in the catechism lists)

Buried 3rd Sun in Adv 1725 Änckan (the widow) Karin Pehrsdr, age 98 yrs and 3 mos = born about Sep-Oct 1646.

Died 15 Sep 1727, Jöns Christens. widow, Nilla Tohrsdtr of Carleby, age 84 years &amp; 5 mos. = born about March 1643

12/19 Mar 1736 Michel Mattz. Änk.(widow) Hanna Asmundsdtr i Carleby - 63 years = born @1673

8/16 Aug 1738 Swen Mattsons Hustru Anna Asmundsdtr in Karleby - 63 years = bon @1675

These latter two are siblngs of Elena Asmundsdotter. As per their approximated birth years, they appear to be among the older children born to Asmund Torsson and Pernille Jönsdtr.

With all the information found in the parish registers, tax lists, and catechism records, the pedigree line for Asmund Jönsson, born in Barsebäck parish, now looks like this:

(PULL IN PEDIGREE CHART)&lt;/u

The family group sheets belonging to that line now appear like this:

(PULL IN FAMILY GROUP RECORDS) 

It is hoped this case study will give you ideas and direction as to how you might extend your pedigree lines beyond parish registers. If the records exist, search them!

Obviously, such a study will not necessarily work if your ancestor is named Ola Olsson, and there are 4 or more of them in the parish at the same time. However, you don't know until you try - so, GO FOR IT!!!

'Ruth Maness, Senior Research Consultant, Family History Library - International Section, Scandinavian Unit. '

P.S. If you feel a need to change this personally worked out case study, please be courteous enough to send me an e-mail first. [mailto:Manessre@familysearch.org Manessre@familysearch.org]