Carl Christophersson Springer (abt. 1658 - 1738)

Born about 1658 in Klara Parish, Stockholm, Sweden

Ancestors

Husband of Maria (Hendricksdotter) Springer — married 27 Dec 1685 in Holy Trinity Old Swedes Church in Wilmington, New Castle Co., Delaware

Descendants

Died 26 May 1738 at about age 80 in Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware

Problems/Questions Profile managers: H Husted [send private message], Terry Phillips [send private message], X Gorby [send private message], Lamar Ross [send private message], and Ginny Sharp [send private message]

Charles Springer was a Delawarean.

Charles Springer has Swedish ancestors

Biography

Charles " Karell" was born in Sweden in 1658 and educated in London. On his way home from his duties in the Swedish Legation one evening in 1678, he was kidnapped and shipped to Virginia to serve five years as an indentured servant. Springer learned of the Swedish colony on the Christina. After gaining his freedom, he walked 400 miles to live among them.^[1]

In absence of clergy and as the most literate among the congregation, he read the Psalms, published sermons and prayers. He petitioned the King of Sweden for priests and books, which were finally provided in 1697. He served as the Warden, Vestryman, and Councilor from the church's founding until his death in 1738.^[1]

A Letter to his mother and signature theories

A letter to his mother, dated June 1, 1693, from "Pennsellvania on the Delaware River".

"When I was in London, and was of a mind to journey home to Sweden. . . having learned the English speech and writing and reading. . . . . I was kidnapped and against my will taken on board an English ship, carried to Virginia, and sold off like a farm animal . . . . and held in very slavery for five years together."

He signed this letter, "Karell Christophersson Springer", and this may have given rise to the mistaken use of Christoper as a middle name for him, which seem to be wholly unjustified. In all the many papers he signed for the church, and all personal legal papers, he signed himself Charles or Carl Springer, never using "Christopher".

"My work was unspeakable. In the summer it was extra ordinary hot during the day, and my work was mostly in the winter, clearing land and cutting down the forest and making it ready for planting Tobacco and Indian grain (corn) in the summer. I had a very hard master. But now - to God be praise, honor, and glory! - I have overcome it all."

"When I had faithfully served out my time I heard, accidentally, that there were Swedes at Delaware River, in Pennsellvania . . . . and . . . . I made that difficult journey of about four hundred miles. And when I got there I beheld the Old Swedes, and they received me very kindly."

Vitals

Birth:

Date: 1658

Place: Sweden

Marriage:

Spouse: Maria Hendricksdotter

Date:

Place:

Marriage:

Spouse: Annika "Anna" Justus

Date:

Place:

Death:

Date: May 26, 1738

Place: New Castle County, Delaware

Carl is buried in the Old Swedes Churchyard, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware.^[2]

Family

Father: Christopher Charles Springer

Mother: Beata Salina

Siblings:

1. Lorentz Springer
2. Christina Springer
3. Elizabeth Springer
4. Baltzer Springer
5. Jacob Springer

First Spouse: Maria Hendricksdotter

Children:

1. Anna Elizabeth (Springer') Hall
2. Charles Carl Christopher Springer II
3. John Springer
4. Rebecca (Springer) Stille
5. Andreas Springer
6. Christopher Springer
7. James Jacob Springer
8. Magdalena Springer
9. John B Springer
10. Israel Springer
11. Joseph Springer
12. Maria (Springer) Cleneay
13. Gabriel Springer

Second Spouse: Annika "Anna" Justus- no children recorded with Anna

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Deleware
2. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27590733/charles-carl_christopher-springer: accessed 23 June 2023), memorial page for Charles Carl Christopher Springer (1658–26 May 1738), Find A Grave: Memorial #27590733, citing Old Swedes Churchyard, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, USA; Maintained by Richard Morrison (contributor 46928373).

See Also:

• Craig, Peter Stebbins. Spring 1999. "Charles Springer and his Family." Swedish Colonial News, volume 1, number 19.

• American Springers
• House of Williams
• The Records of Holy Trinity (Old Sweedes) Church, Wilmington, Del., from 1697 to 1773. Volume 1. Issue 9. Holy Trinity Church. Burr, Horace. 1890.
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "International Genealogical Index (IGI)," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:1:9SGL-JVW : accessed 2017-04-09), entry for Carl Christopher Jr. Springer.

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Springer-287 created through the import of sherrilorrainerossdesc.ged on Jun 28, 2011 by Lamar Ross.
• WikiTree profile Springer-491 created through the import of wikiweeks1_2012-01-01.ged on Jan 1, 2012 by Robert Weeks.
• WikiTree profile Springer-305 created through the import of heinakuu2011-6.ged on Jul 5, 2011 by Johanna Amnelin.
• This person was created on 31 March 2011 through the import of Dickinson Family Tree.ged.
• Charles Springer-1 was created by Lorene Hanley through the import of Lorene_s Ancestry.ged on Nov 16, 2014.
• This profile was created by Ginny Sharp through the import of Sharp Family_2013-07-26.ged on Jul 27, 2013.
• WikiTree profile Springer-290 created through the import of heinakuu2011-6.ged on Jul 5, 2011 by Johanna Amnelin.
• http://souvenirchronicles.blogspot.com/2016/09/wilmington-delaware-old-swedes-church.html