Help locating information on Swedish ancestors

Question

Hi, I’m having a lot of trouble finding my Swedish family in Swedish records. My great great grandfather was August Swenson( Svensson) born around 1869 in Halland Sweden and immigrated to the US around 1883. My great great grandmother was Mathilda Nilsson born in Sweden in 1859 immigrated in 1883, and her husband was James Bengtsson born in 1858 in Sweden. I can’t find any information on any them outside of Pennsylvania. Any idea where I should be looking? The surnames don’t make it easy.

Comments

Do you have a link to one of their profiles?

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I found it. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Svensson-4424

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Thankyou,

I’m in the process of moving over info from my family search tree. I can send a link by the end of the day. I appreciate your help!

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Lyndsay,

Ok great! I lost electricity for most of the day and my iPad and laptop both died (so did my phone! Lol). I am (obviously) back now. I found what looks like a hint to where he was from. I looked in Hishult in Halland. I only found one August Svensson in the birth book for 1875-1879, but I could not find your August Svensson there. So I am still researching. I will post whatever I do find.

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You say August was born 1869 in Hallands län, but the profile says 1876.

There is a August Svensson born 13 Jan 1869 in Knäred, Halland to Sven Svensson & Pernilla Johansdotter.

And another born 31 Dec 1869 in Knäred to Sven Persson & Inger Lena Andersdotter.

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Hi Gerry, I saw that one too. This one is not easy. I see her issues with finding information on them. I appreciate help on this one. I traced an August Svensson back to Hishult born in 1875. If you can offer help, i know I’d appreciate it. 

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Unfortunately, I’ve seen a few different date of births for August Svensson.

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Thank you. August has been a bit of a mystery. I know Florence remarried at some point but, I never found anything like a death notice or grace site, nothing about his birth, or family. I wish there was someone left alive in our family who has any answers

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I started a new answer to this question for Matilda Nilsson.

It would be very nice to have more eyes on the candidate I dug up - Missy, Gerry, anyone else watching this thread, please!! It's not altogether straightforward.

Answer 1

Hi Lyndsay,

I am a member of the Sweden project. I will do my best to help you out. I do not know if this will help you, but to get started, I look on FamilySearch (they have actual images from ArkivDigital, paid Swedish site) and Ancestry (if you have a subscription) and hope it gives some information about where they came from. Then I go to RiksArkivet (free Swedish site) to search through actual parish records.

I will go look now.

Missy 

Comments

Whose parents are Mathilda Nilsson and James Bengtsson?

Since you mentioned Pennsylvania, is that where they came to and lived? I need as much information as you have for them.

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I understand your issues finding them. Is this her? The manifest says she was married, but no husband is with her. Do you know if she married James Bengtsson in Sweden or America?

Name: Matilda Nelsson

Arrival Age: 27

Birth Date: abt 1856

Birth Place: Sweden

Last Residence: Sweden

Departure Place: Liverpool, England

Arrival Date: 5 Jun 1883

Arrival Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Ship: British Prince

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8769/images/PAT840_2-0562

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My great grandmother alvera Swenson shire was the grand daughter of Mathilda and James. I know very very little about them. Alvera and her mother Florence did not get along and I never met anyone from her family. I think a James was married once before in Sweden and I’m not sure about Mathilda. They were married in Pennsylvania in 1890.

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I noticed you have no sources on the profiles, so anything I find on them, I will keep posting below.

"United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M396-YM6 : accessed 4 August 2020), James Benson, Mauch Chunk Township (part), Carbon, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 17, sheet 24B, family 432, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,391.

"Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KMZ9-MZP : 30 July 2020), James E Bengtson in entry for Ernest R Bengtson and Elizabeth I Fethers, 7 Feb 1923; citing Marriage, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, United States, multiple County Clerks, Pennsylvania.

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I am finding their children now. It helps to build the family up (in America) first, then work back. The more information we have about them in America, the better it will be finding them in Sweden.
 

EDIT: deleted the incorrect children.

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I do believe that those are the children of a different James Benson. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find records of their births. I believe their children are Herman, Florence, Ernest, and Fredrick

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James’ and Mathilda’s marriage:

"Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VFSL-FDR : 7 January 2020), James Benson and Matilda Nelson, 30 Sep 1889; citing Marriage, Carbon, Pennsylvania, United States, multiple County Clerks, Pennsylvania.

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The census looks correct and the marriages are correct then?

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I am seeing why you are having a problem.  The only information we have is a marriage record and a 1900 census! we can not go straight to Swedish research yet.

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Here they are in 1910 census:  "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MG4W-SW8 : accessed 4 August 2020), Benson, Mauch Chunk, Carbon, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 23, sheet 34A, family 42, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1327; FHL microfilm 1,375,340.

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"Pennsylvania Obituaries, 1977-2010," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVNM-ZQGS : 17 March 2018), August Swenson in entry for Alvera Shire, 2001; citing Pennsylvania, United States, Old Buncombe County Genealogical Society, Asheville.

Is this them?

"New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:249D-D5H : 10 February 2018), August Swenson and Florence Bengson, 14 Dec 1906; citing Marriage, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York City Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,558,678.

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Herman’s birth certificate (23 Jun 1910):

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/60484/images/47550_2421401755_0179-00818

Herman’s marriage:

"Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KMZH-77C : 30 July 2020), August Swenson in entry for Herman E Swenson and Marian L Dannell, 13 Jan 1942; citing Marriage, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, United States, multiple County Clerks, Pennsylvania.

Alvera’s marriage:

"Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KMZ3-PLJ : 30 July 2020), Florence Benson in entry for Robert P Shire and Alevera G Swenson, 26 Sep 1929; citing Marriage, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, United States, multiple County Clerks, Pennsylvania.

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I believe I found Alvera’s birth record in Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church along with a sibling. It looks like Alvera’s actual name is Gunbord Alvera Swenson born on April 30, 1912. It seems she had a sibling, Walborg Emil Swenson, born on January 30, 1915. Their parents were August and Florence Minni Victoria (Bengston) Swenson. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2451/images/40162_261749-00251

Her Find A Grave memorial:

"Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ZRB3-HM2M : 20 June 2020), Vera, ; Burial, Tamaqua, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, United States of America, Odd Fellows Cemetery; citing record ID 208883867, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

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Name:	August Swenson
Age:	50
Birth Year:	abt 1870
Birthplace:	Sweden
Home in 1920:	Tamaqua East Ward, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania
Street:	Elne Street
House Number:	539
Residence Date:	1920
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Immigration Year:	1895
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Marital status:	Married
Spouse's name:	Florence Swenson
Father's Birthplace:	Sweden
Mother's Birthplace:	Sweden
Native Tongue:	Swedish
Able to Speak English:	Yes
Occupation:	Carpenter
Industry:	Anthracite Coal Mine
Employment Field:	Wage or Salary
Home Owned or Rented:	Rented
Naturalization Status:	Papers Submitted
Able to Read:	Yes
Able to Write:	Yes
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age August Swenson 50 Florence Swenson 28 Earnest Swenson 21 Esther Swenson 17 Herman Swenson 11 Yonbarge Swenson 8 Waltarge Swenson 6 August Swenson 0

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In the 1920 census above, I believe Waltarge is actually Gunbord Alvera and Yonbarge is Walborg Emil. They were born the same years and they seem to be inaccurate spellings of their actual first names. What do you think?

Also, August has a middle name of Edward.

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I believe I found August’s birth record in Långhult, Hishult, Kristianstad, Sweden. He did not have a middle name of Edward, but he was born on January 24, 1875 (not 1874, but the same month and day on the same page of the end of 1874). His parents are Sven Jönsson and Elna Andersdotter. Those were the names on August and Florence Swenson’s marriage record and the place he was said to be born (on the marriage record).

Hishult,C I/7 (1873-1882), bildid: A0030258_00006, page 3 https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/A0030258_00006

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August Swenson’s death certificate says he died on October 18, 1921 (in an accident in a mine) and he was buried:

Name: August Swenson

Death Age: 47

Event Type: Burial

Birth Date: 23 Jan 1874

Death Date: 1921

Burial Date: 21 Oct 1921

Burial Place: Tamaqua, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, USA

Denomination: Lutheran

Organization Name: Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church

Link to death certificate: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/5164/images/41381_620305176_0851-02216

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Ok, I followed him in Sweden and this is the family there (the Household Examination records):

Hishult, A I/7 (1865-1882), bildid: C0010774_00032, page 29 https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/C0010774_00032

Hishult, A I/9 (1882-1899), bildid: C0010776_00028, page 22 https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/C0010776_00028

It says he went to America on 3 Mar 1897.

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I am stopping here for now just in case I am following the wrong man!  I would like your thoughts.

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I don't think you are following the wrong man, Missy. The parents Sven Jönsson and Elna Andersdotter and the parish Hishult all fit, and their Agust went to America with plenty of time to get married in 1906.

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I am going back in Sweden following Sven Jönsson (b. 16 Jun 1839) and Elna Andersdotter (b. 10 Feb 1845). They were in Lånshult. They were living with Elna’s parents, Anders Johansson (b . 28 Mar 1801 In Hishult) and Sara Eliasdotter (b. 18 Mar 1805 in Örkelljunga).

Household Examination records:  

Hishult, A I/5 (1861-1865), bildid: C0010772_00013, page 4 https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/C0010772_00013

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Elna Andersdotter’s (10 Feb 1845) birth/baptism record:  Hishult, C I/3 (1798-1860), bildid: C0010785_00253, page 459 https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/C0010785_00253

I wanted to find it, because I needed to make sure her parents were really in their 40s when they had her. 

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She even has a younger sister born in 1852

It's not that uncommon - but I should think that these two were the youngest in a long row of kids, the older ones having already moved out by 1861.

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Yes, but they have her (Johanna Andersdotter) birth month off. In the HHE (HouseHold Examinations) they had 1852 5/6 (5 Jun 1852), but when I looked it up, it was 5 Jul 1852.

Johanna’s birth record: Hishult, C I/3 (1798-1860), bildid: C0010785_00281, page 513 https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/C0010785_00281

Eva, I know you know everything in ( ), but I am including it here for Lyndsay’s benefit.

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It's SO frustrating when they get the day or month off in the household records - because when the full birth date is correct it makes searches so much easier.

The full birth date is also a very good indicator that a person is the same from record to record.

When I'm lucky with emigrants to the extent that I don't just find them as immigrants but also find their US death record, I have noticed that quite often they have the correct, full birth date. So, finding a death record may be the key to making the search this side of the Atlantic more feasible.

I'm sure you know all this already, Missy ;-)

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I am trying to find James Benson and Matilda Nelson now. I have only seen James as a first name in Sweden a few times in my research, especially from mid 1800s. I have found though that this James also used Emanuel (which was used on children’s marriage records). I am thinking that may be his birth first name (in Sweden). I have not found a clue of where he was born in Sweden yet.

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I found Florence Benson’s death certificate. It seems she remarried after August died. Her death record says her husband was Fred Burrell. Her parents are listed as Emanuel Benson and Matilda Nelson. Florence Benson was born on 7 Jun 1890 and she died on 5 Nov 1937.

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/5164/images/42342_1220705235_0652-01690

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Name: Florence Burrell

Birth Year: abt 1889

Gender: Female

Race: White

Birthplace: Pennsylvania

Marital status: Married

Relation to Head of House: Wife

Homemaker?: Yes

Home in 1930: Tamaqua, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, USA

Street address: East Elm St

Ward of City: Pt of East Ward

House Number: 539

Age at first Marriage: 16

Father's Birthplace: Switzerland

Mother's Birthplace: Switzerland

Household Members:	Name Age Fred Burrell 48 Florence Burrell 41 Vera Burrell 18 Wilbur Burrell 15 Robert Burrell 6 Ruth Burrell 1 Robert P Shire 19
Neighbors:	View others on page

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Matilda was still alive in 1930 living with her son Fred.

Name:	Matilda Benson
Birth Year:	abt 1860
Gender:	Female
Race:	White
Birthplace:	Sweden
Marital status:	Widowed
Relation to Head of House:	Mother
Home in 1930:	Tamaqua, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, USA
Map of Home:	View Map
Street address:	Rail Road Street
Ward of City:	Middle
House Number:	415
Attended School:	No
Able to Read and Write:	Yes
Father's Birthplace:	Sweden
Mother's Birthplace:	Sweden
Language Spoken:	Swedish
Immigration Year:	1877
Naturalization:	Naturalized
Able to Speak English:	Yes
Household Members:	Name Age Fred L Benson 30 Sue R Benson 30 Robert P Benson 8 Matilda Benson 70

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Name:	Matilda Benson
Age:	82
Estimated birth year:	abt 1858
Gender:	Female
Race:	White
Birthplace:	Sweden
Marital status:	Widowed
Relation to Head of House:	Mother
Home in 1940:	Tamaqua, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania
Street:	Rail Road
House Number:	415
Inferred Residence in 1935:	Tamaqua, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania
Residence in 1935:	Same House, Sweden
Resident on farm in 1935:	No
Citizenship:	Naturalized
Sheet Number:	6A
Attended School or College:	No
Highest Grade Completed:	Elementary school, 6th grade
Income Other Sources:	No
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age Fred Benson 40 Susan Benson 40 Robert Benson 18 William Benson 8 Matilda Benson 82

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Name:	Matilda Benson
Gender:	Female
Death Age:	87
Birth Date:	abt 1859
Birth Place:	Sweden
Residence Place:	413 Railroad street .
Death Date:	Abt 1946
Burial Place:	Summit Hill
Obituary Date:	8 Jul 1946
Obituary Place:	Pottsville, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Parents:	N
Child:	Ernest  Fred  Herman

Pottsville Republican; Publication Date: 8/ Jul/ 1946; Publication Place: Pottsville, Pennsylvania, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/450038119/?article=25a1f94b-e931-4bf3-851b-72bb11074cf4&focus=0.7632267,0.6230671,0.88983727,0.71010584&xid=2378

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I apologize for not posting these in order. I am posting the sources as I find them. 1910 census

Name:	Matilda Benson
Age in 1910:	58
Birth Year:	abt 1852
Birthplace:	Sweden
Home in 1910:	Mauch Chunk, Carbon, Pennsylvania
Street:	Hauto & Nesquehoning Turnpike
Race:	White
Gender:	Female
Immigration Year:	1884
Relation to Head of House:	Wife
Marital status:	Married
Spouse's name:	Yannis Benson
Father's Birthplace:	Sweden
Mother's Birthplace:	Sweden
Native Tongue:	English
Able to Read:	Yes
Able to Write:	Yes
Years Married:	20
Number of Children Born:	5
Number of Children Living:	4
Household Members:	Name Age Yannis Benson 52 Matilda Benson 58 Hermon Benson 17 Earnest Benson 15 Fritz L Benson 10

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Name:	Matilda Benson
Age:	40
Birth Date:	Oct 1859
Birthplace:	Sweden
Home in 1900:	Hauto, Carbon, Pennsylvania
Street:	Coal Street
Family Number:	432
Race:	White
Gender:	Female
Immigration Year:	1882
Relation to Head of House:	Wife
Marital status:	Married
Spouse's name:	James Benson
Marriage Year:	1890
Father's Birthplace:	Sweden
Mother's Birthplace:	Sweden
Mother: Number of Living Children:	4
Mother: How Many Children:	5
Years in US:	18
Can Read:	Yes
Can Write:	Yes
Can Speak English:	Yes
Household Members:	Name Age James Benson 42 Matilda Benson 40 Florence Benson 9 Herman Benson 8 Ernest Benson 5 Fritz Benson 8/12 Christave Anderson 62 Carl Anderson 19

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I’m so sorry I haven’t had a chance to respond yet. Thank you! I can’t believe you found all this:) I knew my nana may have had a different first name but, no one knew what it was! This is so great! I really appreciate you taking the time to help me.

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These are so confusing. I know for a fact my nana had a brother named Herman. He was the only family of hers she ever talked about. I think he was named for her uncle. Maybe, Switzerland for her parents was a mistake? All of the different names are confusing. I thought the Philadelphia bensons may be another family with some of the same names. My mom also, just told me August Swenson was married before Florence. I can’t find anything about it though.

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I am very happy to help and that I can help.  I sent you an email about how you would like me to organize all the sources and notes. I have found so much and I am still going, so I need to organize the research. Do you mind if I put each appropriate source on each profile? I will just copy to the source sections in life order. Please let me know. Thank you!

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I think that must be them. I was thrown off before by her fathers first name and the fact it happened in NYC

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I don’t mind at all! In fact I appreciate it very much:) My computer just died on me so I’m doing this with my iPhone currently. I’m sorry if my comments seem all over the place. This is much easier on m computer. My mother is going to be so excited:)

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The census takers, unfortunately, got countries of origin wrong sometimes. It might be hard to understand people from other countries, so they write what they understand. Or the transcribers got the information wrong (that has happened A LOT). I found my Swedish families, once they came to America, had different names, different spellings, etc.

Yes, August is listed as a widower when he married Florence.

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I am now thinking that they married in NYC because maybe that is where they came to America? It is more likely that they did come to NYC first. However, I had a great aunt and great uncle marry in NYC, but they are from southern NJ just outside Philly. I had a great grandfather from western NY marry my great grandmother in Brooklyn, NY where she was from. I still have no idea how or why my great grandfather went to Brooklyn from Danby, Tompkins, New York to even meet her! It is a puzzle to me.  

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I just saw you found a death record for August. I never knew he was minor. It makes sense though considering they lived in coal country. How sad.

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I think her brother was Waltarge. I saw one record where she is referred to as Alvera G.

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Yes, I was sad to read that too about August.

I think I finished transferring all the sources over to each profile. So I’ll go looking for more now. 

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Yes, it's very likely that they arrived in New York. I  have been able to follow some emigrants on their way, by first finding them in Poliskammaren records, leaving Göteborg with destination Hull and then finding them in New York arrivals at FamilySearch, arriving from Liverpool (having crossed England by train). This seems to have been the standard route.

The Swedish records are indexed by name at Arkiv Digital, but can also be looked up (once you have found them) at Riksarkivet for free image access. Searches are tricky, because in the Swedish records people often appear by surname and initials only. And the indexing of the records at FamilySearch are even more all-over-the-place than usual. I have several times found my New York arrivals by searching for others with "better" names leaving Sweden on the same ship.

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Hej Eva,

I let my ArkivDigital subscription lapse earlier this year, because I could not afford it. I started using FamilySearch, because of the ArkivDigital images they have. So I will search there first, then I go to RiksArkivet. Even though I still find myself paging through years of parish records on RiksArkivet. I feel I find everyone in a family better that way. I started reading through every single baptism, marriage and death record looking for children of a couple (for instance), because I found I missed a lot of them when I relied on searches. Have you had similar issues? 

When ArkivDigital sends me the emails with the free weekends, I take advantage though! 

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Eva, yes! I had family come to New York and then go settle elsewhere. Unfortunately I did not find anything conclusive for Matilda Nilsson (Nilsdotter) or James (Emanuel) Bengtsson (Benson) coming into America.

Also, they did not marry in a Swedish church in America, and that complicates things. As you know, the American Swedish churches use their full Swedish names and include immigration years, etc. I was SO lucky that just about all of my ancestors (including aunts and uncles) who came to America all went straight to the Swedish churches, so I had a much easier time finding them in Sweden. I did not have one brick wall in my Sweden to America research.

James Benson and Matilda Nilson, however, are looking like brick walls. Have you tried looking for either of them, by any chance? I searched every record that came up in each search (on Ancestry and FamilySearch) and nothing conclusive. I am going to take a break from them and go back to the Swedish research of August Svensson. I’ll add his parents, etc.

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Lyndsay,

I was able to connect your family with profiles already on WikiTree! Woo hoo. You should go check out August Svensson in your tree and then start clicking around. I was excited to find them already in the tree! 

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Svensson-4424

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Yes, I've tried looking for James and Matilda, without much luck. There are too many Matilda Nilsdotter - and with James it's hard to know what he was called in Sweden.

Now that the info is sorted on to the profiles I'll have another look.

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I think I found James Benson as Emanuel Bengtsson, born 27 Feb 1858 in Gunnarsjö parish to Bengt Andreasson and Inger Lena Caspersdotter.

"Sweden Baptisms, 1611-1920", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FKC5-SRX : 23 June 2020), Emanuel, 1858.

This guy worked as a farm hand in different places down in Skåne when he left home. Or maybe he worked in coal mines, they've got some down there (not my home territory).

The thing is that when he was in Jonstorp, his birth date was incorrectly entered as 29/2 1858, which seems pretty convincing that it's the same guy. (They didn't have computerized date checks in those days :-)

Jonstorps kyrkoarkiv, Husförhörslängder, SE/LLA/13193/A I/18 (1881-1897), bildid: C0066384_00055, sida 273, rad 9
https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/C0066384_00055

He moved on to Rolfstorp parish (almost back home) in October 1881, but I'm not finding him there.

According to the census 1900 James Benson immigrated in 1883 - And I found Emanuel Bengtsson (25) on board the Rollo, departing Göteborg 25 May 1883, coming from Varberg (which is the nearest city to Gunnarsjö and Rolfstorp) and intended final destination Landsford Pa.

Göteborgs poliskammare (-1900) (O) EIX:22 (1883) Bild 3400 / sid 675 (AID: v479746.b3400.s675, NAD: SE/GLA/12703)

Göteborgs poliskammare före 1900, Inkomna uppgifter om utvandrade personer, SE/GLA/12703/E IX/22 (1883), bildid: A0056911_00352, sida 674-691

https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/A0056911_00352

So, what do you think?

(I'm taking a break from this now)

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Thankyou, Eva!

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How did you figure out that he was also named Emanuel?

Edited to correct typo.

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Emanuel was used on a few documents for his children.

Nice researching, Eva!

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(supposed to be a thumbs up, I hope)
Good to know where the name came from (I should have known). I take it you don't disagree with the Emanuel I found.

That birth date was pretty unique.

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It looks like it fits to me too! I agree with you that the 29/2 1858 being used in Sweden and in America is a big flag to me. Plus his final destination is a good indicator. Landsford is in Carbon county where he did live.

This is some wonderful collaboration for Lyndsay!

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Lyndsay, you will need to change James last name at birth (LNAB) to Bengtsson, because only the profile manager cane change LNABs. I changed his first name to Emanuel and put James in the current name field.

Last Name at Birth:

Benson   <- this needs to be Bengtsson

But you leave current last name at Benson.

Answer 2

Here are some helpful links to Swedish research:

Almost everything about Swedish research is here: https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Sweden

This list of Swedish words is EXTREMELY helpful in reading the records: https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Swedish_Genealogical_Word_List

Swedish parish records (microfilm) for free are found on FamilySearch.org and RiksArkivet: https://sok.riksarkivet.se/digitala-arkiv

Paid (in color and easier to read) Swedish parish records are at: https://www.arkivdigital.net/

There are a lot of pages on WikiTree. Here are a few:

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Glossary_Sweden

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:Sweden_Genealogy_Resources

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Swedish_Genealogy

Answer 3

As said, Matilda Nilsson / Nilsdotter was a very common name among Swedish women born in 1858.

According to her death record Matilda was born 11 November 1858 (11/11 1858), and according to the census she immigrated in 1882.
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Nilsson-7853

I've been groping around with searches in ArkivDigital, MyHeritage and Riksarkivets Folkräkningar - finding either too much or too little, depending on how the search engines work.

I did find one possible candidate by searching for Emigrants in ArkivDigital - but she does not have the same exact birth date. Here she is:

Matilda Nilsson, 23 years old, left Sweden on board the Orlando 21 october 1881 with the stated intention to go to Omaha Nebraska. She was from "Flod" in Skaraborgs län.

Göteborgs poliskammare (-1900) (O) EIX:18 (1881) Bild 2980 / sid 591 (AID: v479742.b2980.s591, NAD: SE/GLA/12703)

I'm not worried about someone leaving Sweden late in 1881 being in the census as immigrated in 1882 (immigration years are often more off than that). It's a bit more problematic that she was going to Nebraska (she may of course not have stayed there or changed her mind).

Once I figured out that "Flod" meant Flo parish in Skaraborg, I was able to find her with her parents:

Flo kyrkoarkiv, Husförhörslängder, SE/GLA/13116/A I/13 (1875-1886), bildid: 00078194_00153, sida 144  https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/00078194_00153

Sara Matilda, daughter of crofter Nils Andersson Wiberg,  left for N. Amerika 21 October 1881.

This will certainly be the same young woman as in the emigrant register. However, her birth date is 4 October 1858  (58 4/10) so for this to be your Matilda Nilsson both digits for day and month will have to have been mistranscribed. In my experience a 4 written like the one in the household record quite often turns into 11. 10 turning into 11 is not unthinkable.

Is there any other information from the American side that can help establishing the identity?

Comments

Good morning (and afternoon) Eva,

I was working on sourcing the other Swedish profiles In Lyndsay’s line, but I will look into Matilda now. It would be great to find her. So far, I am not convinced of the Matilda Nilson above.

The same as you, I’d really feel better if the birth date was closer and if final destination was closer to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

I will post what I find.

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I have been researching Matilda Nelson/Nilson/Nilsdotter (?) most of the day and I am not coming up with anything concrete. I even paid for a month of AD so I can use it for the research. I will keep trying. I have been looking for all four of the children. I thought their birth, marriage or death records may give us a clue the way finding the name Emanuel helped find him.

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I have been considering all names with Mathilda and Nilsson/Nilsdotter in them, but nothing conclusive. Every record I found for her children ONLY ever said Mathilda Nelson/Nilson. Not a hint of a second name for her.

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I was hoping for something like a clue to a second name.

Have you looked for emigrants in ArkivDigital?

There were lots of Matildas with a father named Nils - but it does not seem as if all that many of them emigrated.

Folkräkningar gives me 94 Mat*ilda Nils* born 1858 in 1880 - and that is not counting those wo still live with their parents and aren't listed with a surname. That's just too much.

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There is a Mathilda Nilson (with one s), 24 years old, leaving on board the Romeo 7 April 1882, going to New York.

She is from Mönsterås, Småland (Kalmar län) - but I'm not finding her.

Göteborgs poliskammare (-1900) (O) EIX:19 (1882) Bild 2110 / sid 419 (AID: v479743.b2110.s419, NAD: SE/GLA/12703)

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Well, it helped to stop relying on indexes for a bit and simply going to the moving-out book for Mönsterås. This young woman was Karolina Matilda, daughter of Nils Peter Karlsson Ax. her birth date was 24 October 1858 - and she returned to Sweden 1897-1899 (to care for her mother in her final year), using the name Karolina Matilda Ax.

Mönsterås (H) AI:19 (1881-1895) Bild 229 / sid 441 (AID: v23557.b229.s441, NAD: SE/VALA/00258)

There was also a Mathilda Nilsson, 22 years old, leaving on board the Orlando 6 August 1880, going to Boone Ia. She was from Vetlanda, Jönköpings län. But looking closer, she travelled with a baby son.

Göteborgs poliskammare (-1900) (O) EIX:16 (1880) Bild 300 / sid 57 (AID: v479740.b300.s57, NAD: SE/GLA/12703)

I'm not finding a Matilda Nilsdotter born 1858 among the emigrants.

I think the woman from Flo is the best bet, in spite of the mismatched birth date.

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I have worked on Matilda all night (it is 6:14am here on the east coast) and I thought I found something. I was so excited, but no proof of who she was coming into America. There were very few Matilda Nilsons coming into Philadelphia. Honestly, Philadelphia was not a common port for Swedish immigrants that I have found in my research. The fact that we can not find this Matilda Nilson coming into Philadelphia and that there are so few coming into Philadelphia directly in the 1800s, leads me to think that Matilda May have came through NY. However, there are way too many.

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I suspect that I saw Matilda-from-Flo arriving in New York; there was a record from the right time. Not the nice type  of record giving two contact persons, one in Sweden and one in America. Just saying that she tracelled in steerage.

I didn't even copy the reference - if we need it, it can be looked up again.

One thing: are there any signs of other relatives coming to America? I don't suppose there would be, what with the missing 1890 census and all.

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But you deserve a break now, Missy.

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Eva, yes we both deserve a break.  I am going to work on something else now. Thank you for your help!!  

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I spent yesterday exploring the family of Sara Matilda Nilsson - siblings, parents and one couple of grandparents. A real rabbit hole. References are on the profiles.

Sara Matilda, born in Flo 4/10 1858 left the parish as Sara Matilda Wiberg, but she left Sweden as Matilda Nilsson.
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Wiberg-203

Why she went to Omaha Nebraska was because her elder, married, sister Johanna was there.
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Wiberg-199

Their youngest sister, Augusta Sofia also went to Omaha Nebraska, in 1883.
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Wiberg-202

It so happened that eldest sister Johanna Wiberg and her husband Johan Gustaf Svensson were recorded in the firts book for one of the two Swedish churches in Omaha Nebraska where Arkiv Digital has records that far back.

A few pages later sisters Sara Matilda Nilsson and Augusta Sofia Nilsson arrived.

Augusta Sofia married Alex Backlund - her family was quite easy to find at FamilySearch (good name).

Johanna and Johan Gustav Svensson with family left town in 1906/1907 and I haven't been able to find them at FamilySearch.

Matilda Nilsson left Omaha Nebraska already in 1886, to go to Wisconsin.

Answer 4

re: Emanuel Bengtsson -

1880 census, living in Varberg - https://sok.riksarkivet.se/folkrakningar?Fornamn=Emanuel&Efternamn=Bengtsson&DatumFran=1850&DatumTill=1858&Folk1860=true&Folk1870=true&Folk1880=true&Folk1890=false&Folk1900=false&Folk1910=false&Folk1930=false&AvanceradSok=False&page=3&postid=Folk_117938952&tab=post#tab

birth record 7 Jan 1857 in Harsås, Nösslinge, Halland - https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/C0011156_00090

parents Bengt Ericsson & Beata Andersdotter

HFL - https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/C0011152_00055

Comments

Hello Gerry,

Thank you for your willingness to help. We believe Eva got it right (attached here below). The birth dates in Sweden match the dates in America and so does the place where he came to America. Do you believe the American information and the Swedish information do not match? Thank you for your help!

From Eva:

“I think I found James Benson as Emanuel Bengtsson, born 27 Feb 1858 in Gunnarsjö parish to Bengt Andreasson and Inger Lena Caspersdotter.

"Sweden Baptisms, 1611-1920", database, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FKC5-SRX : 23 June 2020), Emanuel, 1858.

This guy worked as a farm hand in different places down in Skåne when he left home. Or maybe he worked in coal mines, they've got some down there (not my home territory).

The thing is that when he was in Jonstorp, his birth date was incorrectly entered as 29/2 1858, which seems pretty convincing that it's the same guy. (They didn't have computerized date checks in those days :-)

Jonstorps kyrkoarkiv, Husförhörslängder, SE/LLA/13193/A I/18 (1881-1897), bildid: C0066384_00055, sida 273, rad 9 
https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/C0066384_00055

He moved on to Rolfstorp parish (almost back home) in October 1881, but I'm not finding him there.

According to the census 1900 James Benson immigrated in 1883 - And I found Emanuel Bengtsson (25) on board the Rollo, departing Göteborg 25 May 1883, coming from Varberg (which is the nearest city to Gunnarsjö and Rolfstorp) and intended final destination Landsford Pa.

Göteborgs poliskammare (-1900) (O) EIX:22 (1883) Bild 3400 / sid 675 (AID: v479746.b3400.s675, NAD: SE/GLA/12703)

Göteborgs poliskammare före 1900, Inkomna uppgifter om utvandrade personer, SE/GLA/12703/E IX/22 (1883), bildid: A0056911_00352, sida 674-691

https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/A0056911_00352

So, what do you think?“

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false alarm! That Emanuel Bengtsson is still in Varberg in the 1890 census.

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Seems the name combination was popular in Halland :-) (Gunnarsjö is Västergötland on the border to Halland).