sign in sign up
<<
Home , Fogel Grip, Kalmar Nyckel, New Sweden

Swedish American Genealogist

Volume 27 | Number 2 Article 7

6-1-2007 New featured at AHSM talk Dennis L. Johnson

Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/swensonsag Part of the Genealogy Commons, and the Scandinavian Studies Commons

Recommended Citation Johnson, Dennis L. (2007) " featured at AHSM talk," Swedish American Genealogist: Vol. 27 : No. 2 , Article 7. Available at: https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/swensonsag/vol27/iss2/7

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center at Augustana Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Swedish American Genealogist by an authorized editor of Augustana Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. New Sweden Featured at ASHM Talk in

BY DENNIS L. JOHNSON

Nearly 370 years ago, two small sites exist in the area which can trace sailing ships, the and their origins to the colony in some the , were chartered by a way. Dutch and Swedish trading company to carry a small group of to The Early Years North America to settle on the banks At the time of the New Sweden set- of the River, on lands that tlement, the Dutch and the English are now part of Delaware, Pennsyl- were competing for ascendancy on vania, and . This colony, the northeast coast of North America. established in 1638, followed closely By 1638, Sweden had embarked after English and Dutch settlements upon her “age of greatness” be- in , , New ginning with King Gustav II Adolf in York, and a few other locations in the 1611. When he fell at the battle of th early decades of the 17 century. The Lützen in 1632, he was succeeded by small settlement slowly grew and his daughter Christina, first as re- became absorbed into the later gent (1632-44) and then as queen founding by of Phila- from 1644 until her abdication in delphia and the surrounding region. 1654. Through the Palatine dynasty New Sweden was largely lost to Kim-Eric Williams. that followed with Karl X Gustav, history for over 200 years as the ori- Karl XI, Karl XII, and Ulrika Eleo- delphia. (Dr. Williams did not learn ginal colonists intermarried with nora, ending in 1751, Sweden con- of his own Swedish roots until later other groups and their descendants tinued as a major power in Europe. in life, when he discovered that he is participated in the growth of the area While the little colony in North Amer- a descendant of at least three colo- and took part in events leading to the ica was struggling to survive, some nial families.) While the present founding of the of of the greatest classical castles and outlook for these institutions, in- America. However, many records, manor houses in Sweden were being cluding the , buildings, and objects dating to the designed and built. These included the American Swedish Historical Swedish colony remained to be re- Drottningholm Palace begun in 1662, Museum, the Kalmar Nyckel Foun- discovered and celebrated in more Skokloster Castle, begun 1654, The dation, and Old Swedes’ Churches in recent times. House of Nobles (Riddarhuset) in Philadelphia and Wilmington, is The past, present, and future of (1641-74), and many bright, Dr. Williams raised some dan- the local organizations existing today others. During this period, Sweden ger signals for the future. The Colo- as a result of this rediscovery were was also heavily engaged in foreign nial Society is thriving, the Ameri- highlighted in a talk given recently wars and territorial expansion in the can Swedish Historical Museum is to the Genealogy Club of the Ameri- Baltic, and it had little interest in or alive and well, the replica sailing can Swedish Historical Museum by support for the small colony in North ship Kalmar Nyckel serves as a sea- Dr. Kim-Eric Williams, currently America. going ambassador for Delaware, and Governor of the Council of the Swed- After a shaky start with many a number of churches and historic ish Colonial Society, based in Phila- deaths from disease or famine, the

Swedish American Genealogist 2007:2 13 little colony was reinforced over the church was built by the oldest Chris- next seventeen years by twelve more tian congregation in the Delaware expeditions that left Sweden for the Valley. The following year, 1700, Glo- new world and by 1655, a total of ria Dei (Old Swedes’) was completed eleven sailing ships and about 600 at Wicaco in what is now South Phil- Swedes and Finns had arrived in the adelphia. This new brick church . Soon the colony had replaced an earlier church on Tini- spread into many farms and small cum Island that dated from 1646. settlements scattered along both Gloria Dei is now the oldest church banks of the from in , and is listed on the below present-day Newcastle, Dela- National Register. ware, to as far as present-day Tren- These churches were followed in ton, New Jersey. The Finns among later years by St. Mary Anne’s in the colonists were usually identified North East, MD, Trinity church in separately but, since Finland at the Swedesboro, NJ, in 1783-6, St. time was part of Sweden, they were George’s in Pennsville, NJ, in 1801 also Swedish citizens. The Swedes (log church 1735), St. Gabriel’s in and Finns, being primarily rural Douglassville, PA, Christ Church in people interested in agriculture, Upper Merion, PA, and St. James in maintained good relations with the Kingsessing, Philadelphia, in 1763. Native Americans, unlike several of All were initially formed by Swed- the other colonies at the time. ish congregations and illustrate by Gloria Dei in Philadelphia. The year 1655 ended their inde- their locations how the descendants to be found in the newspapers of the pendence as a Swedish colony, when of the New Sweden settlers spread time. Nils Collin (1746–1831), the the Dutch colony in in various directions over the first last Swedish Lutheran pastor of Glo- (now ) asserted its power century of their presence in the Dela- ria Dei in Philadelphia, had earlier and took over the colony without ware Valley. Pastors ordained in begun trying to create a sense of his- bloodshed. Swedes continued to Sweden served these churches, with tory about New Sweden, and this was govern themselves with little inter- some interruptions, up until the time picked up on by some of his asso- ference until 1681, when William of the American Revolution. After ciates, but little came of these efforts. Penn received his charter for Penn- this date, Sweden did not send In 1835, Jehu Curtis Clay wrote sylvania and Delaware. Control then pastors and all of these churches his Annals of the Swedes on the passed to the English, again without looked to the Episcopal Church for Delaware, the first English language conflict. Although a small number of clergy, and joined that denomination, history of the colony to be published. Swedes continued to come to the in which they remain today. Today’s Holy Trinity Church actually closed area, they were soon vastly out- congregations now reflect the present for a few years from 1836 to 1842. (It numbered by English and other makeup of each of their neigh- was restored in 1899 to recreate the colonists. The small group of Swedes borhoods; only the buildings and original pews and pulpit.) Later, in and Finns, by then into their second congregational histories reflect their the 1890’s, Charles Janeway Stille, and third generations, began to blend Swedish colonial tradition. provost at the University of Pennsyl- into the expanding population as the The Swedes that formed these vania, became interested in the his- cities grew and many more people congregations over the five to six gen- tory of New Sweden after having settled the rural areas on both sides erations between the original colo- discovered his own Swedish roots in of the Delaware River. nists and the Revolutionary War had Roslagen, Sweden. In 1890, Horace scattered around the Delaware Burr, a vestryman at Holy Trinity, Blending in Valley. Many others began to join the wrote translations of the records of The Swedes had clearly left their westward movement of their fellow Holy Trinity Church, but these are mark, however, particularly in the Americans to seek their fortunes thought to be poor translations. 1888 form of the various churches, forti- elsewhere. Intermarriage became saw the first celebration of the th fications, and some houses that have much more common, and the Swe- anniversary (250 ) of the New survived from these early days. The dish language had all but disap- Sweden Colony, but in Chicago, not first temporary log churches have peared. Original surnames some- in Philadelphia! been lost, but by 1699 a permanent times disappeared or spellings were stone church, Holy Trinity (Old altered. Records and histories took The Reawakening little notice of the fate of the presence Swedes’) was completed on the burial It was not until after the arrival of of these early Swedes. By 1838, the ground of in present- Amandus Johnson to Philadelphia in 200th anniversary of New Sweden, day Wilmington, Delaware. This 1905, that any serious research or there was no mention of this event

14 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:2 work began in the recognition of the sion in the 1930’s, however. In June, history of New Sweden. Amandus 1938, as part of the 300th anni- Johnson (1877–1974) was born in versary celebration of New Sweden, Småland, Sweden, in 1877. He grew the building was finally dedicated, up in Rice Lake, , and with Prince Bertil and Crown Prin- graduated from cess Louise present. This museum, College in St. Peter, Minnesota, in designed by Swedish-American 1904 with a degree in English litera- architect John Nyden of Chicago in ture and a preaching certificate. He the style of a 17th century Swedish became interested in the New Swe- manor house, continues today with den Colony, and he came east to Phil- permanent and changing exhibits adelphia in 1905 to earn a Ph.D. in that highlight the contributions of history at the University of Pennsyl- Swedes and Swedish-Americans to vania (Penn). His doctoral disserta- the United States. Today, the muse- tion was about the New Sweden um’s members and activities bring Colony. He then joined the faculty at together not only local Swedish- Penn, and established a doctoral pro- Americans, but visitors, recent mi- gram in Scandinavian Languages. grants from Sweden, descendants in By 1908, Dr. Johnson and others had the U.S. of the great migration of the founded the Swedish Colonial So- 19th century now living in the Phi- ciety. ladelphia area, and others. There is Amandus Johnson continued his also a growing interest in Sweden Holy Trinity, Wilmington. teaching at Penn and his research, about the New Sweden colony. million people in the U.S. who can writing, and publishing about New Recently, Daniel Lindmark of the trace their ancestry to one of the ori- Sweden. In 1911, he completed his University of Umeå in Sweden, who ginal colonial Swedish families. The 2-volume, 900-page work, The Swed- studied at the University of Pennsyl- Colonial Society continues its work ish Settlements in the Delaware vania in the 1990’s, wrote a book in research and publication of mate- Valley. A few years later, he was about the New Sweden people. rial about New Sweden, most recent- appointed to a committee to plan Through the activities of the Swed- ly two volumes of translations into ways to preserve the memory of the ish Colonial Society, a granite mono- English of original Swedish and New Sweden colony. This led to the lith was erected at Tinicum in 1923. Dutch documents of the Swedish formation of the Swedish-American Finally, the site for Governor Printz churches in Pennsylvania. This Sesquicentennial Association, head- Park was acquired in 1927, de- translation work, known as the Glo- quartered in Chicago, with Dr. John- veloped, and given to the State of ria Dei Records Project, will continue son as president. He soon had a na- Pennsylvania in 1938. In 1942, Glo- and up to eight volumes are planned. tional campaign organized to erect a ria Dei Church in Philadelphia be- The Swedish Colonial Society Swedish museum on land in the city came a National Landmark. After welcomes all members who have an where the sesquicentennial of the some years of austerity in the mid- interest in their work and the his- Declaration of Independence was to 20th century, the American Swedish tory of New Sweden. Members who be celebrated in 1926. As a scholar Historical Museum has become a can trace their ancestry to one of the of New Sweden, he knew that these leading historical museum and cul- original settlers of New Sweden are lands were part of a land grant from tural center for Swedish-American known as “Forefather Members.” Queen Christina of Sweden to Sven activities on the east coast of the This has prompted quite a bit of Skute, one of the New Sweden United States, the first of only four genealogical research among possi- colonists, in 1653. Without the such museums in the nation. (Chi- ble descendants, and this research leadership of Dr. Amandus Johnson, cago, Minneapolis, Seattle, and Phil- must be verified by the Society’s his- it is unlikely that The American Swe- adelphia.) torian, Dr. Peter Craig, to be ac- dish Historical Museum would have knowledged as a Forefather Member. been built. New Sweden Today Among its other activities, the So- ciety publishes a biannual news- On June 2, 1926, Sweden’s Crown The Swedish Colonial Society con- letter, maintains an internet website, Prince, (later King Gustav VI Adolf) tinues to grow by 50 or more new and hosts several activites through- placed the museum’s cornerstone on members every year. Thanks to the out the year including an annual the present site in South Philadel- internet, two thirds of these new Forefathers’ Luncheon where mem- phia, now part of Franklin Roosevelt members do not live in the Delaware bers honor their own Swedish and Park. By 1927, the exterior con- Valley, but are scattered throughout American heritage. The Society is struction work was nearly finished. the U.S. Kim-Eric Williams esti- primarily a research organization Work slowed dramatically on the mates that there are as many as 20 interior finishing due to the Depres- and while it owns no property it has

Swedish American Genealogist 2007:2 15 a large collection in its archives of The Future maintains the replica of the sailing materials about New Sweden. These Kim-Eric Williams, in his talk, felt ship Kalmar Nyckel, is heavily materials are currently housed in the that there had been much progress dependent on support from the State Lutheran Seminary at Germantown, in the recognition of New Sweden of Delaware in order to continue, and in Philadelphia. There is also a since the 1800’s, but also that many the Colonial Society relies principally separate but cooperating sister or- challenges were ahead. on memberships and a few grants to ganization, the Delaware Swedish The continues support its activities. All of these Colonial Society, formed to honor to be taught at some fifty colleges in organizations require a major in- descendants whose ancestors or pre- the U.S., but this is declining. The crease in their endowments. Dr. Wil- sent members live in Delaware. program in Scandinavian Studies at liams estimated that the Museum Six years ago, the Swedish Colo- Penn since the time of Amandus alone should have an endowment on nial Society in cooperation with other Johnson has declined to the point of the order of $10- to $15,000,000 for Swedish-American organizations in only one course and one part-time reasonable financial security in the the area began a series of annual his- instructor (Dr. Williams). People of future. tory conferences on New Sweden. Swedish ancestry from the 19th While there has been a great deal The next conference will be this year century, like their 17th century colo- of progress and growth in most of on October 16, in Swedesboro, New nial predecessors from Sweden, will these Swedish-American organi- Jersey: Carl Linnaeus, , continue to intermarry with other zations in the Delaware Valley in the & The Early American Scientific ethnic groups and their ethnic iden- past century, many new challenges Community. Part of its focus will be tities will be diluted, changed, or are ahead. The Museum, the Colo- on Pehr Kalm, a student of Swedish even disappear. This will present a nial Society, The Kalmar Nyckel scientist Carolus Linnaeus. Kalm challenge for all Swedish-American Foundation, the churches, and sever- lived in the Delaware Valley for organizations to sustain the interest al smaller organizations in the area several years (1748-51) among the and loyalty of future generations in are all committed to upholding their colonial Swedes and collected many the midst of these inevitable changes. respective missions. Together, all of samples of plants and animals to add Dr. Williams identified the great- these institutions and their members to the classification efforts of Lin- est challenge for the Swedish-Amer- contribute greatly to the awareness naeus. Kalm published three vol- ican organizations in the Philadel- of the role in the recognition of the umes on his travels in North Amer- phia region, which he sees as fi- New Sweden colony, their descen- ica between 1754 and 1761. Another nancial. Each of the major organi- dants, people in Sweden, and all recent project was to locate and zations needs to strengthen and other Swedish-Americans in the buil- identify the portraits of Eric Björk build their endowments in order to ding of our nation beginning over and Christina Stalkop in cooperation be financially self-sustaining in the three hundred and sixty years ago. with Hans Ling of Uppsala, Sweden. future years, and be less dependent It will require a great effort on the These had been painted in America on the receipt of annual grants, part of all to insure that these in about 1714 by Gustavus Hesselius, uncertain from year to year. For the organizations continue to inform younger brother to Andreas Hes- American Swedish Historical Mu- following generations of the history selius, second pastor to be assigned seum, memberships provide only a of Swedes in North America begin- to Holy Trinity Church by the Church small part of the annual budget and ning with New Sweden and through- of Sweden. (See The Faces of New other income is essential to maintain out the continuing development of Sweden by Hans Ling, English trans- programs at their present levels. The the United States of America. lation by Kim-Eric Williams, Phila- Kalmar Nyckel Foundation, which delphia, 2004.)

See also: The Swedish Colonial Society http://www.colonialswedes.org/

American Swedish Museum http://www.americanswedish.org/

Delaware Swedish Colonial Society http://members.aol.com/sakerthing/sr-dscs.htm

16 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:2