Anders Ericsson (1747 - bef. 1810)

Biography

Anders Ericson was born on 20 April 1747 in Malmbäck parish, Jönköpings län, Sweden, and baptized there on 26 April 1747. He was the son of Erik Ekeros, a soldier (soldat), and his wife Britta Andersdotter.^[1]

Anders arrived in Rumskulla parish, Kalmar län, in 1776 from Barkeryd parish, Jönköpings län, where he established himself as a crofter (torpare) at Nybygget on Torsmåla's land.^[2] He married Catharina Persdotter in 1777. Catharina was born in Rumskulla parish.

Anders and Catharina are documented together at Nybygget through multiple household examination records spanning from 1789 through at least 1803.^[3] Catharina Persdotter was buried on 6 January 1803 in Rumskulla parish at the age of 51. Anders continued at Nybygget as a widower for seven more years, raising four surviving children on his own.

Anders Ericson was buried on 23 September 1810 in Rumskulla parish at the age of 62.^[4] His estate inventory was conducted on 1 October 1810, just eight days after his burial. The inventory recorded a modest collection of farming tools, cooking implements, household goods, and basic clothing — the possessions of a working crofter. His eldest daughter Sara Andersdotter, then twenty years old, served as the family representative at the proceedings. The estate carried debts to Jonas Samuelson of Torsmåla, likely the landowner on whose land Nybygget stood.^[5]

Children^[6]

• Jonas Andersson, born 11 June 1784, Rumskulla — predeceased his father; absent from the 1810 estate inventory
• Sara Andersdotter, born 30 July 1787, Rumskulla
• Lena Andersdotter, born 22 April 1790, Rumskulla
• Samuel Andersson, born 19 February 1793, Rumskulla
• Anders Andersson, born 3 July 1796, Rumskulla

Research Notes

Birth record: Anders was baptized on 26 April 1747 in Malmbäck parish, Jönköpings län. His father is recorded as Erik Ekeros, a soldier (soldat), and his mother as Britta Andersdotter. The household examination records consistently record his birth date as 26 April 1747, which corresponds to his baptism date — a common recording practice of the period. His actual birth date was 20 April 1747.^[7]

Arrival in Rumskulla: The household examination records consistently note that Anders arrived in Rumskulla in 1776 from Barkeryd parish, Jönköpings län. His death record confirms his birth in Malmbäck parish, while the HFL records identify Barkeryd as his location immediately prior to Rumskulla. His activities between his birth in Malmbäck (1747) and his arrival in Rumskulla (1776) have not been fully documented, though Barkeryd parish records may yield further details.

Name: Anders is recorded as Anders Ericson throughout all Rumskulla records — his patronym derives from his father's first name Erik. His children took the patronym Andersson or Andersdotter as expected.

Marriage: Anders and Catharina married in 1777, as confirmed by Catharina's death record. A search of Rumskulla Lysning och vigsel records from 1771 through 1777 did not locate the marriage record.^[8]

Death: Anders Ericson was buried on 23 September 1810 in Rumskulla parish, recorded as a widower (änkling) aged 62. His death record confirms his birth in Mallbäck parish and his arrival in Rumskulla in 1776.^[9]

Estate inventory: Anders's bouppteckning was conducted on 1 October 1810 at Nybygget on Torsmåla's land. The inventory lists four surviving children: sons Samuel (16) and Anders (14), and daughters Sara (20) and Lena (18). Jonas, the eldest son born in 1784, is absent from the inventory, confirming he predeceased his father. The estate consisted of basic farming tools, cooking implements, household goods, and clothing, consistent with a crofter's household. Debts were owed to Jonas Samuelson of Torsmåla. The inventory was witnessed by Samuel Samuelson of Korrtult, Jonas Samuelson of Torsmålen, and Petter Samuelson of Snararp.^[10]

Catharina's estate: No estate inventory for Catharina Persdotter was located in the Ydre häradsrätt records. This was not unusual for a crofter's wife, as the household assets would have remained with the surviving husband.

Parents: Anders was the son of Erik Ekeros, a soldier, and Britta Andersdotter, of Malmbäck parish, Jönköpings län. Further research into his parents is flagged as a future priority in a dedicated research chat.

Sources

1. ↑ Riksarkivet, Malmbäcks kyrkoarkiv, Födelse och dop, SE/VALA/00243/B I/3 (1733–1764), Image ID: C0022518_00059, sida 102; entry 12 for Anders, son of soldaten Erik Ekeros and hustru Britta Andersdotter, born 20 April 1747, baptized 26 April 1747.
2. ↑ Riksarkivet, Rumskulla kyrkoarkiv, Husförhörslängder, SE/VALA/00309/A I/1 (1789–1797), Image ID: C0028475_00159, sida 135; SE/VALA/00309/A I/2 (1798–1800), Image ID: C0028476_00095, sida 74; entries for Torp. Anders Ericson, born 26 April 1747, Malbäck, hitkom ifrån Barkeryd 76.
3. ↑ Riksarkivet, Rumskulla kyrkoarkiv, Husförhörslängder, SE/VALA/00309/A I/1 (1789–1797), Image ID: C0028475_00159, sida 135; SE/VALA/00309/A I/2 (1798–1800), Image ID: C0028476_00095, sida 74; SE/VALA/00309/A I/3 (1801–1803), Image ID: C0028477_00236, sida 226; SE/VALA/00309/A I/4 (1805–1814), Image ID: C0028478_00204, sida 204.
4. ↑ Riksarkivet, Rumskulla kyrkoarkiv, Död och begravna, SE/VALA/00309/C/5 (1801–1835), Image ID: C0028498_00191, sida 362; entry for Anders Ericson, begravd 23 september 1810, ålder 62, änkling, född i Mallbäcks Socken 26 april 1747.
5. ↑ ArkivDigital, Ydre häradsrätt (E) FIIIa:27 (1811–1812), Image 243–244, Pages 447–449; bouppteckning efter enkemannen Anders Erikson i Nybygget på Torsmåla ägor, förrättad 1 oktober 1810.
6. ↑ Riksarkivet, Rumskulla kyrkoarkiv, Husförhörslängder, SE/VALA/00309/A I/1 (1789–1797), Image ID: C0028475_00159, sida 135; SE/VALA/00309/A I/2 (1798–1800), Image ID: C0028476_00095, sida 74; SE/VALA/00309/A I/3 (1801–1803), Image ID: C0028477_00236, sida 226; SE/VALA/00309/A I/4 (1805–1814), Image ID: C0028478_00204, sida 204.
7. ↑ Riksarkivet, Malmbäcks kyrkoarkiv, Födelse och dop, SE/VALA/00243/B I/3 (1733–1764), Image ID: C0022518_00059, sida 102.
8. ↑ Riksarkivet, Rumskulla kyrkoarkiv, Död och begravna, SE/VALA/00309/C/5 (1801–1835), Image ID: C0028498_00175, sida 330; death record of Catharina Persdotter noting marriage year 1777.
9. ↑ Riksarkivet, Rumskulla kyrkoarkiv, Död och begravna, SE/VALA/00309/C/5 (1801–1835), Image ID: C0028498_00191, sida 362.
10. ↑ ArkivDigital, Ydre häradsrätt (E) FIIIa:27 (1811–1812), Image 243–244, Pages 447–449; bouppteckning efter enkemannen Anders Erikson i Nybygget på Torsmåla ägor, förrättad 1 oktober 1810.