Pori Parish, Turku-Pori, Finland Genealogy

Guide to Pori parish, Finland ancestry, family history, and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, parish registers, and military records.

History
Pori is the capital of the Satakunta region and the Pori sub-region. The municipality is unilingually Finnish. It is the 11th largest city in Finland, and the 7th largest urban area.

Pori was born when the town of Ulvila was moved in 1558 to the current site of Björneborg, i.e. the former royal estate. The town received its privileges in 1564. Pori belonged to the Ulvila diocese until 1877, but was able to separate from Ulvila only in 1919 and got its first priest in 1922. However, Pori had been an independent diocese before in 1584-1602. Pori includes the Reposaari harbor area separated from Ulvila in 1604, which was formed as a prayer house in 1876 and separated as a parent parish in 1929, which, however, had a relationship with the city, e.g. joint council.

The city and country parishes of Pori also functioned together, although they were separate from the municipal point of view until 1967. Mäntyluoto and Yyteri were joined in 1911 and Uniluoto in 1912 from the rural parish to the city. In 1942, Mäntyluoto and the Toejoe area were annexed from Ulvila. Ruosniemi, Hyvelä, Uus-Aittaluoto, Vähärauma villages and parts of Tuorniemi and Pietniemi villages were annexed from Maaseurkunna in 1954.

In 1959, it was decided to divide the city and country parishes of Pori into four different parishes: Keski-Pori, Pori Teljä, Pori Läntise and Pihlajava parishes. In 1961, the parishes of Länsi-Pori and Pihlajava were realized and what remained became the bilingual Keski-Pori. The parish of Teljä separated from Keski-Pori in 1966. In 1972, the municipality of Ahlaisten was incorporated into the city of Pori and the parish was changed into one of the parishes of Pori. Reposaari is the sixth parish of the Pori parish association. A fire destroyed the church and the belfry and also the parsonage on 28/5 1698, again in a fire in the city the belfry on 10/6 1801. In a new fire in the city on 22/5 1852, the church and the belfry were destroyed. The Swedish name is Björneborg.

Regarding the poor management of the church registers, the magistrate points out from the investigation he held in the minutes of 8/1 1773 as a statement that during the previous 9 years no regular lists of births and deaths had been kept in the parish, and that these lists were then wanted to be straightened and filled" and that "not only the number of the dead has always been uncertain, but also - - - the names and numbers of many births have gone unrecorded, as well as the names of the fathers, and often the month and year incorrectly recorded, even that - - -". [O. Durchman: The destruction of church archives. Genos 3(1932). Supplement VI. Genos 5(1934). Supplement VIII. Genos 15(1944). J. W. Ruuth: Björneborgs stads historia (Helsingfors 1897) p. 398]

Villages
As of 1939 the following villages were found in this parish: Björneborg, Enäjärvi, Hyvelä, Järvikylä, Kalaholma, Kellahti, Koivisto, Koivistonluoto, Kylänsaari, Lyttylä, Mäntyluoto, Pihlava, Pori, Preiviiki, Reposaari, Ruosniemi, Toejoki, Ulasoori, Uusikoivisto, Vanha-Koivisto.

Place Names
To see what kind of place it is you will need a Finnish gazetteer. Ahl, Aitaus suo, Aitta Luoto, Alinentalo, Antila, Antora, Anttila, Arfwela, Arfwila, Arwela,

Badstuguskär, Bengtilä, Bengtsgård, Berg, Bocköö, Borg Mäst. Hemman, Boställe, Boställe, Bredwijk, Bredwik, Bränn,

Caalicko, Capellans bohl, Caprali, Carlöö, Clemola, Cnutila, Cornets Boställe, Cumnaes, Cumnäs, Cuuri,

Eklund, Elias, Emtöö, Erämaa,

Fembacka, Fiksda, Fisköö, Flyyni, Fouriers Boställe, Friisi, Frijsi, Frisi,

Gabel, Gesti, Glasbruk, Göök, Greula, Greurula, Gästgifware,

Hakala, Hakkiluoto, Halssöö, Hannula, Havento, Heickilä, Hekkilä, Heikcgård, Heikkilä, Herr Capitein Taubes, Herr Cornet, Hiulböhle, Hjulböle, Hockonen, Holme, Huhtala, Hwittisbofierd, Hångakåski, Härckonen, Härpö, Härpöö, Härppö,

Ilomäki, Inderö, Inderöö, Ingemar, Iso Simo, Iso Kulmala, Isomäki, Iso Sawo,

Jaakola, Jacola, Jekola, Johans gård, Jokela, Juhola, Jussila, Jussila, Järvi,

Kaanaa, Kahaluoto, Kahari, Kallinen, Kallio, Kallionpää, Kangas, Kankaanpää, Kannisto, Kaprali, Kartano, Kaskisto, Keri, Keskimäki, Kest, Kesti, Kiällfierd, Kiällfierds, Kihlacallio, Kijlholm, Kivilepo, Kivimaa, Kivimäki, Kivin, Kivistö, Kiwiniemi, Klemola, Klosmarck, Klossmarck, Koivula, Koiwumäki, Komppa, Korpela, Krono, Kuittinen, Kukkula, Kura, Kuuri, Kuusisto, Kylä Hokkonen, Kylänpää, Kylä Tulonen, Kynäs, Kyndäjä, Källfierd,

Lagermarck, Laitila, Lambaluoto, Lambo, Landtmetari, Langi, Langin, Langoora, Lassila, Lassitgård, Lauri, Laurila, Lehtinen, Leppäkorpi, Leppäruka, Levola, Liinaharja, Lill Raumo, Lillgeting, Lill Raumo, Linaharja, Loucku, Louckula, Luoto, Lusikkakorpi, Luuhamina, Lyttskär, Lyttskiär, Längelmäki, Länsmans gård,

Maaniittu, Marcku, Marcusgård, Marttila, Mattila, Mettälä, Mickola, Mikola, Myllymaa, Myllymäki, Mäerinda, Mäkelä, Mäki, Mäki Hokkonen, Mändymäki, Männistö, Mäntyluoto,

Nederby, Nissi, Nissilä, Norrmarck, Norrmarck, Noucka, Noucka, Noukka, Nuickinen, Nuikkinen, Nygård, Näsi,

Ojala, Ollagård, Ollais, Ollila,

Pafwola, Palomäki, Pappila, Pappinen, Peka, Pelitgård, Peltoniemi, Penttilä, Perttula, Pertula, Philpola, Pietilä, Pihl, Pihlas, Pihlman, Pijli 1, Pijli 2, Pili, Pirttiluoto, Praka, Prakala, Putila, Puustelli, Påmarck, Påwelds gård, Päkärä, Pänes, Pännäs, Pänäs, Päänäs,

Rajakari, Rajala, Rancku, Randen, Rantala, Rauma, Riihikoski, Riitasarka, Rintala, Risöö, Riutta, Rosendahl, Rosnäs, Ruosniemi, Rusthåll, Råssi,

Sandöö, Sandala, Santala, Santalähde, Savo, Sawo, Sawo, Seppä, Seppä, Serg. Boställe, Setälä. Sillanpää, Simola, Simula, Sippola, Sippola Bost., Skärsdal, Skärsudd, Småskär, Södermarck, Södermarcks, Soini, Soodö, Stabs Cap. Boställe, Storgeting, Suominen, Suonperä, Susisuo, Swartöö, Swensbacka, Syltö, Sådö, Sådöö, Säteri, Säterie, Säterijsas gård, Säteris, Sätteris,

Tahkoluoto, Tembakka, Tervaselkä, Terwaselkä, Thorsnäs, Tienhaara, Tiilimäki, Toivola, Tommila, Tommilainen, Torbonäs, Torbornäs, Tormilainen, Tormillainen, Torsnääs, Torsnäs, Toukari, Trolloora, Träsk, Tulonen, Tunajärwi, Tuomola, Tuori, Tuorsniemi, Tyyckilä 1, Tyyckilä 2, Tyyke gård, Tärnoora,

Ulasoori, Uotila, Urfiäld, Urfiäld, Uusi Hannula, Uusi Mattila, Uusiniittu,

Walli, Wanha Mattila, Wareskivi, Westergård, Wiasvesi, Widekärr, Wiikeri, Wiikilä, Wiikinäinen, Willman, Woltis, Wrangi, Wuoltee, Wuoltis, Wuorenpää, Wähä, Wähä Sipi, Wähäsuo, Wainiopää,

Ylinen, Ytterö, Ytterö, Ytteröö, Yyteri,

Öfwerby, Öfwerby, Östergård

Surrounding Parishes
Ahlainen, Kullaa, Luvia, Noormarkku - Norrmark, Ulvila - Ulvsby

Online Church Records: A Major Source for Birth, Marriage, and Death Information
Different collections cover different parishes, so it is important to check every collection.
 * The HisKi Project. Choose a specific parish or click on "All" to search the entire country. This collection is a partial database of indexed births, marriages, and deaths. It does not have data from the communion books and pre-confirmation books.
 * Finland's Family History Association--SSHY (Suomen Sukuhistoriallinen Yhdistys). Click on "Church Records" in the left sidebar.  Select your parish from the list that comes up. Some of the features of this website are available at no cost. It appears that the paid subscription version (which is very reasonable) gives access to additional records not found with the free version.
 * Digihakemisto (Digital Directory). In the left sidebar, select your parish. This is a partial directory to parish records found in the Finnish National Archives. The index changes between the Finnish version and the English version. If you cannot find a parish, switch to the original Finnish.
 * The parish records are available online at the National Archives of Finland. This is the most complete collection, but it is more complicated to use. Use it when the records you need are not in the simpler indexed records above. Choose the parish you need from the "Tree View", which is a list of parish archives.

Online Communion Books (Rippikirjat/Kommunionböcker) and Preconfirmation Records (Lastenkirjat/Barnböcker)
Perhaps the most important genealogical record, Communion Books list the inhabitants of a parish by village, farm, and household. They are called communion books, because a person's records are added to them beginning with their confirmation and first communion. These records greatly simplify the research process by grouping individuals into family units. These records make it possible to follow the lives of ancestors from birth to the grave by providing, in one place, references to birth, marriage, and death dates, as well as moving information and other personal items. Pre-confirmation Records list each residence, the parents, and the children who had not yet been confirmed (usually all children younger than about age 14). After their confirmation, the children were transferred into the communion book. These records list each residence, the parents, and the children at the residence who had not yet been confirmed with their birth dates and, ultimately, their confirmation dates. Vaccinations are also noted. If a child died before confirmation, the death date is given. The records often include notation of blindness, disabilities, or other personal data.


 * MyHeritage.com: Finland Church Census and Pre-Confirmation Books, 1657-1915. "Census books" here refers to communion books.
 * Digihakemisto (Digital Directory). In the left sidebar, select your parish. A menu for the parish will show these records, in addition to births, marriages, and deaths.
 * Finland's Family History Association--SSHY (Suomen Sukuhistoriallinen Yhdistys). Click on "Church Records" in the left sidebar.  Select your parish from the list that comes up. Some of the features of this website are available at no cost. It appears that the paid subscription version (which is very reasonable) gives access to additional records not found with the free version.
 * In the Finnish National Archives these records are in the church books for each parish.Choose the parish you need from the archives listed in the "Tree View".

Microfilm and Microfiche of Records for Finland
The original records used for developing the online databases are also available on microfilm and microfiche. 'You will also find additional records that have yet to be digitized. Eventually, all of the microfilmed records will be digitized, reportedly by 2020. In the meantime, some records might be found at a FamilySearch Center' near you. To find a record:


 * a. Click on this link to see a list of records for Finland, Turku-Pori.
 * b. Click on "Places within Finland, Turku-Pori" and a list of towns and cities will open.
 * c. Click on the parish you need.
 * d. Click on "Church Records" topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
 * e. Choose the correct type of record and time period for your ancestor. Births=syntyneet. Baptisms=kastetut. Marriages=vihityt. Deaths=kuolleet. Communion books=rippikirjat or pääkirja. Pre-confirmation books=lastenkirjat.
 * f. Some combination of the icons shown below will appear at the far right of the microfilm listed for the record.
 * FHL icons.png Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the microfilm.

Writing to the Local Parish
If you have not found your parish records in the above collections, the next step is to write to the parish. Also, the FamilySearch Library does not have recent church records, due to privacy. But private information can be given to family members who write to the local parishes in Finland. If you do not speak Finnish, you may write your letter in English. In your letter, include a statement that you are willing to pay for the services you request. You will be billed when the research has been completed. Response time will vary, so be patient.


 * For addresses of parishes throughout Finland: Parish Contact Information
 * For details on writing to Finnish-speaking or Swedish-speaking parishes, discontinued parishes, payment methods, etc., consult this Finland Letter Writing Guide
 * A [[Media:Finland Form Letter.pdf|convenient printable form letter is provided here]] for writing to Finnish speaking parishes.
 * A [[Media:Sweden Form Letter .pdf|convenient printable form letter is provided here]] for writing to Swedish speaking parishes.
 * You should copy the letter and fill in the appropriate blanks. A separate request form should be used when requesting detailed information on a spouse or child. Make sure you type or neatly print your letter and, when necessary, add any diacritical marks and special characters (such as å, ä, ö) with a pen.
 * If the form letters do not cover the records you want, you can write your request in English.

Related Sources
Finland Online Genealogy Records Ask the Community

Reading the Records

 * Since Finnish was not an official language in Finland until 1863, most records were written in Swedish. To do research in these records, you will need to know some Swedish and Finnish key words and phrases (such as born, died, mother, father, etc.), but you do not have to be fluent in the language.


 * Key words and a glossary of somewhat less common words are found in the Finnish Genealogical Word List and the Swedish Genealogical Word List. This interactive dictionary allows you to enter a word in the search box and receive the translation: Swedish Historical Dictionary Database, SHDD.
 * Online lessons are available to teach you how to read old Scandinavian handwriting:
 * Scandinavian Handwriting
 * Scandinavian Handwriting, part 3 - No part 2 available


 * Reading Gothic Handwriting for Swedish Genealogy, Lesson 1
 * Spelling and Phonetics for Swedish Genealogy, Lesson 2 — Names, dates, and key genealogical words
 * Reading Gothic Handwriting for Swedish Genealogy: Put It All Together, Lesson 3
 * Birth and Christening Records for Swedish Genealogy


 * Instructions, document examples, and translations are given for Reading Swedish Birth and Christening Records 1717, 1752, 1771, 1792, 1803, 1834, 1854.

Search Strategies
When you begin using church records, it is usually best to first verify the information you already have before you try to find new information.

The following steps may be helpful as you use Finnish church records:


 * 1) Find a person’s birth record. Write down the name of the parents and the place where the family was living. You will then be able to find the person in more records.
 * 2) Search the communion records and pre-confirmation rolls of that parish for the date when the family was there for the birth you just located. Note all information about the family, including names, birth dates, birthplaces, marriage and death dates, and moving information. You will now have much more information about the family.
 * 3) Search the birth, marriage, and death records to verify the information you found in the communion and pre-confirmation books.
 * 4) Search the communion records and pre-confirmation rolls for all the years the family lived there. Start with the year of the parents marriage and go until the family dies out.

Repeat steps 1 to 3 for the person’s parents, siblings, or other persons of interest.

If you do not find earlier generations, search neighboring parishes. These step-by-step case studies with illustrations show how to apply these strategies:
 * Finland: A Case Study Using HisKi and Digitized Online Church Records


 * Finding Records of your Ancestors, Part A Finland Before 1900
 * Beginner’s Guide to Finnish Family History Research

Taxation

 * 1809-1915 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images