Alogical Society of Colorado Denver Swedish Directory 1910
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no 7 2009-08 ROOTED IN SWEDEN Swedish Genealogical Society of Colorado Denver Swedish Directory 1910 Destination Swedeland An American in Dalsland | SwedGen Tour 2009 contents Destination Swedeland 3 The Digital Race 7 10 SwedGen Tour 2009 8 Denver Swedish Direc- 10 17 8 tory 1910 Swedish Genealogy 14 Society of Colorado 11 3 An American in Dals- land 14 Postscript 17 firstly... There´s a definite buzz surrounding genealogy these days. The number of members in the DIS society has more than doubled the past ten years, from 10,000 to 26,000 members. And it’s growing at a steady rate. 11 Media has also picked up on the Naturally, the more available the I think this is what’s appealing about subject. Swedish television has research becomes in web based da- family research. People in general combined the buzz with the ongo- tabases, the more public it becomes, want explanations; they want to see ing celebrity hype, picking up the and with younger participants. People the complete picture. Like actor Jere- BBC original: Who do you think you I meet are in general curious of what my Irons, in the BBC original, who’s are. Six famous Swedes are guided I tell them about genealogy, and my English, but owns a fisherman’s cot- through their dramatic family histo- own family research, and, believe tage in Cork, Ireland. He was always ries by expert researchers in six hour me; I can go on for hours on end. curious why he felt so much at home long programmes. The shows are at this place on the south coast of very well produced and interesting, There’s something profoundly human Ireland. The show revealed that his and they provide a host of tips for the about wanting to know more about great-great-great- grandmother had novice genealogist. Knowing how your origins. I think everyone at one lived just a few kilometres from his time consuming research can be, and point in their life will stop and think: cottage. Being separated by so many how often you lose track and wind up who am I, and what has made me generations, Jeremy, in theory, pro- in dead ends, it feels a bit too easy the one I am? That was the common bably has more in common with his for them, cruising in their rental cars, starting-point for all the celebs in the neighbour. But it doesn’t matter, to visiting old farm houses and local shows. Where did I get my funny him it made sense, it made the pic- history societies, letting someone bones from? Are there any artistic ge- ture complete. And that’s what’s im- else do “the dirty work”. But, still, nes in my family? portant. very entertaining. Joachim Schönström 2 • rooted in Sweden no 7 • august 2009 Destination Swedeland text: Paul Wahlquist images: Norwayheritage.com and Wikipedia.org From 1875 to 1900 many families The poor rural Swedes wanted In 1880 there were about 65,000 decided to move from the west land to farm which was their own. Swedes living in Minnesota. of Sweden to America. The fa- They received letters from relati- People in Minnesota often refer- mines of the previous years had ves and other people telling them red to the area just northeast of St. seen children die from starvation. about the available land in Minne- Paul and Minneapolis as “Swe- Fathers were imprisoned because sota. deland USA.” This included the they stole food for their families. counties of Chisago, Isanti, Pine august 2009 • rooted in Sweden no 7 • 3 and northern Washington County. Women and families were almost berths in two tiers which are al- This area was named this because always accompanied by a man to most identical with the arrange- the population included the largest move the luggage. When the ships ments of those boats in the Atlantic number of Swedish speaking rural returned to Great Britain the Third trade, the berthing space of each people outside of Sweden. Class compart- individual being ments were used ”I noticed that these separated by a For someone to emigrate from to carry cargo as moveable board Dalsland to Minnesota in 1880 there were very Swedish emigrants eight inches high. they started in Dalsland with a few passengers had much more bed- horse and wagon to carry the emi- needing to travel Each of these grants and their luggage to Göte- Third Class in ding with them than Compar t ments borg. From Göteborg they boarded that direction. the Norwegians I saw has wooden a steamship which sailed down Many of the decks, and is well the North Sea to the English port steamships car- last year...” lighted and ven- of Hull. In good weather the trip rying emigrants tilated. They are from Göteborg to Hull took 40 from Göteborg or Oslo to Hull entered by ladders coming down hours. From Hull they travelled were owned by the Wilson Line. the hatchways abreast of each by train to their ship at either the Typical of these steamships was other at an easy angle. One ports of Glasgow or Liverpool. the Orlando. The Orlando, built in Compartment is set aside for the 1869, was 274 feet long and 32 feet accommodation of single women When the Transatlantic ships left wide. It had two decks and was and was fully occupied by them. Great Britain they would stop in registered as 1500 tons. It had ca- Ireland for fuel, water, food and bins for forty two First Class pas- I noticed that these Swedish emi- to pick up additional passengers. sengers and thirty Second Class grants had much more bedding Then they began the journey to passengers. The Third Class pas- with them than the Norwegians I New York City or another Ame- sengers travelled in large compart- saw last year, and there was not rican East Coast port. The tickets ments with bunks. The ship usu- the huddling together in the sleep- the emigrants purchased included ally carried about two hundred ing places such as I commented all transportation from Sweden to Third Class passengers. on in my previous report; I was Minnesota. informed that the supply of ship- An inspector for the Marine De- bedding and tins for the use of Most emigrants travelled Third partment, British Board of Trade emigrants is becoming quite an Class also called steerage. Third on a Wilson Line gave the follo- important industry at Gothenburg. Class passengers had a bunk wing information about travelling or a cot and access to a kitche- from Göteborg to Hull: The food supplied to the emigrants nette where they could make tea was in my opinion good in qua- and coffee. Emigrants in Third ”There are three Third Class lity and quantity and excellently Class brought their own bedding compartments fitted with open cooked. The cooking arrange- and utensils which consisted of a straw mattress, a pillow, blanket, tin mug, tin plate, knife, fork and tea-spoon. For hygienic purposes they would bring a wash basin, towel and marine soap. Fresh wa- ter was only available for drinking and cooking. The emigrants most likely had steamer trunks with them so the handling of luggage S/S Orlando, Wilson Line must have been a difficult problem. 4 • rooted in Sweden no 7 • august 2009 ments of this vessel were excep- Another inspector’s report descri- They would then board the train tionally good and admitted of the bes the landing at Hull: for their departure port. food being issued in a cleanly and palatable state. I repeatedly tasted ”When the steamers arrive on There would be so many emigrants it and feel sure it must be superior Sunday arrangements are made to transfer that the train would be to anything the emigrants could for keeping the emigrants on up to 17 cars pulled by one steam afford to have in their own homes. board until the Monday morning. engine. The last four cars carried I was particularly impressed with Notwithstanding this I am told baggage with the cars in front the excellence of the soup and the that a good many do land on the filled with passengers. The emi- free use of butter on the bread. Sunday and wander about, and grant trains took precedence over some do not find their way back all other train services because of (This raises the question was the to the ship for the night. The fact their length. They usually left Hull food always this good or was it that they have the right to remain on Monday morning and arrived at good because the inspector was on on board, and to be fed on board their destination on Tuesday. board for this voyage.) for the Sunday, ought to be made known to the emigrants. When, Many ships had been built speci- There is an agitation I understand however, the time comes for the fically for transporting emigrants going on at present in Sweden to passengers to leave the steamer, of to America. Typical of these ships provide life-saving arrangements course they have to turn out and was the S.S. Circassia owned by for every person on board ship. go ashore; and it has been found the Anchor Line. It was a new ship The ship was in consequence hung on occasions, that the numbers are built in 1878 in Belfast, Ireland. round with life-buoys of the usual so great that the Liverpool agents The ship measured 400 feet long circular shape, and I was informed will not allow them to be sent to and 42 feet wide.