I Found the Needle! Part 2 Jan Sokody Asp

Swedish American Genealogist

Volume 26 | Number 1 Article 12

3-1-2006 I Found the Needle! Part 2 Jan Sokody Asp

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Recommended Citation Asp, Jan Sokody (2006) "I Found the Needle! Part 2," Swedish American Genealogist: Vol. 26 : No. 1 , Article 12. Available at: https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/swensonsag/vol26/iss1/12

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]. I Found the Needle!

My search for the immigrant Asp Family in America and Sweden. Part II

BY JAN SOKODY ASP

In order to begin my research in within the parish boundaries. All the year 1816 so that could be the father Sweden, I studied about the re- ancestors I have traced have not but not the name. I had been looking sources available by reading come from the town with the parish for four family members, not five. I “Tracing Your Swedish Ancestry” by name. I find it very satifying to be had been looking for Christine, not Nils William Olsson and purchasing able to pinpoint the exact location of Caroline. ”Cradled in Sweden”, by Carl-Erik the birthplace, as an example, I was doubtful about this list but I Johansson. I learned about vital Grimshult in the parish of Ödeshög, was grasping at straws. After locat- records, clerical surveys (household on a map and to follow a family as ing Luleå on a map in Norrbotten examination rolls), moving records, they move from one farm to another. County, I decided to search northern probate records, county and province My estimated time for immigra- Sweden. From October of 1982 to differences, and emigration films. tion was 1851 to 1854. On 10 March May of 1984 I ordered clerical sur- My mother-in-law, Eleanor Carl- 1979, I ordered a Stockholm passen- veys covering seventeen parishes in son Asp, is entirely Swedish so my ger list film at a LDS branch library, Norrbotten, three in Västerbotten, first Swedish genealogy experience next, six passenger journal films and four in Västernorrland. A letter was tracing and documenting her from four Swedish counties. I orde- written October 10, 1983, arrived parents’ lines. Her father was Char- red fifteen Stockholm City parish from the Landsarkivet in Härnö- les August Carlson (Karl August films covering births for the years sand. They were unable to find the Karlsson) b. 1874 in Grimshult, 1844-1850 and four films covering Asp family in their Norrbotten Ödeshög (Östg). Her mother’s par- other county parishes. The Asp name records. On page 73 in ”Cradled in ents were the immigrants. Lila was not found in any of these films. Sweden” a chart shows the number Swanson Carlson’s father was Ge- In the summer of 1982, Ingrid of emigrants from each county for orge Swanson (Göran Peter Svens- Klering of Stockholm, the daughter ten-year periods between 1851 and son) b. 1848, Södra Ralingsås Norr- of Eleanor’s cousin, Agne, visited in 1925. Only two left from Norrbotten gård, Lommaryd, Jön. Her mother Elgin for six weeks. When she retur- and none from Vasterbotten between was Maria Charlotta Johansdotter, ned to Sweden, she took the Asp 1851-1860. That was a wild goose b. 1845 in Spånshult, Bredestad, family data. Her mother sent it to the chase and I was back to square one! (Smål.). They all had lived in Moline, Emigrant Institute in Växjö. A letter I only had Sweden: no parish, no Illinois. I did not have the name of arrived from Växjö with information county, and no province. Should I the last parish but an obituary gave from the SCB (Swedish Central Bu- give up the search? the name as ” Bresto.” I showed it to reau of Statistics) archive about an an experienced Swedish genealogist ASP family emigrating from Sweden New information at the Wilmette FHC along with a in 1851, stating that they came from In the fall of 1983, a positive change list of all parishes beginning with ”B” Luleå in the northern part of Swe- began to take place when I reread a and she chose ”Bredestad.” If you den. The names were not 100% typed note from Aunt Katy. Informa- have a problem locating a place in correct. They were: tion she had found at the Louisa Sweden, ask a person who can read Anne C. 7, Caroline 30, Christine County Courthouse stated that John Swedish to look at the English M. 10, I Fred 35, John A. 4 Henry Asp had two boys and TWO spelling. Only the first and last seemed to girls: Charlotte Ann and Christine. In my possession, I have topo- be a possibility with three years Maybe that list from Växjö was the graphical maps. They are wonderful difference in age and correct names. Asp family? for locating the outlying places Thirty-five from fifty-one would be

Swedish American Genealogist 2006:1 23 Next, my in-laws moved from 2. Extraction of Nils Wm. Olsson’s The first clerical survey film I Elgin, Illinois, to Geneseo, east of books regarding passenger arri- chose to order on October 24, 1984, Moline, Illinois. The day after vals: where they came from and was Locknevi, Kalmar County. My Thanksgiving, I drove to the Mercer where they went reference came from Olsson’s work County Courthouse in Aledo to look 3. References to the name Asp on the SPAUS. There was no Asp in his in- at land records for the purchase of International Genealogical Index dex. However, a word-by-word search the blacksmith shop in New Boston. 4. Swedish places beginning with of his book revealed on page 355: The indenture made on August 15, ASP: extracted from ”Svensk Ort- “Anna Marie Asp Bäckstrom was still 1854, shows that John Asp and forteckning” (Agne had given me listed as a member of the St. Ans- Caroline Asp purchased a lot in New the book) garius Church in Chicago in 1853 Boston. Both names are on the record 5. Swedish places similar to “Ne- together with her s. Anders Peter and when the lot was sold on April 24, vada” dau. Christina Maria.” Further infor- 1856. Across the hall was the Regis- 6. Extraction of County Histories for mation in the same note, #3139, trar’s Office. Even though I have the Mercer, Knox, Henry, and Rock shows Peter Larsson m. to Anna original marriage certificate for John Island recording places of origin of Maria Bäckström b. in Åninge, August and was in a hurry to leave Swedes Locknevi Parish May 27, 1806, dau. to drive to New Boston and Tooles- 7. References for the name given to Peter Bäckström and Stina Jons- boro, I spontaneously decided to me by genealogy contacts dotter. They had children and the check the marriage application, as entire family emigrated from Lock- well as a marriage index, looking for Next, I made a copy of each county nevi in 1849. the daughter, Christine. I did not find map and marked the above refer- When I looked at the clerical Christine (she is still a mystery), but ences by parish. Three areas of con- survey, I found a family leaving for I found that the parents of John Au- centrated marks were obvious: Kal- “Norra Amerika 1851”, and the gust were John Asp and Caroline. mar, Östergötland, and Jönköping; names were Petter Beckstrom b. The 1851 ship list now seemed more Uppsala and Gävleborg; and Söder- 1815, wife Anna Marie Asp b. 1821, an actuality. manland. After analysis of all the son Johan August b. 1848, and A trip to the Federal Archive above data, I was ready to begin orde- daughter Christina Maria b. 1850 li- Branch in Chicago enabled me to see ring clerical surveys films for 1851 ving in Fogelåsa. Three lines below: the passenger manifest for the ship when the Schaumburg FHC opened “Enk. Smed. Peter Asp b.1785, arriving at the port of New York on October, 1984. Feb.26, Hjorted.” Was he the father September 17, 1851. The Swedish of Anna Maria? Brig was named Luleå. The family Choosing more straws I next looked at the Luleå passen- was at the top of the list and the I volunteered at the branch library ger list and found written on lines father’s name looked like it began on Wednesdays from 9:00 to 4:00 and 66-69: P. Beckstrom 36, Anna 30, with a “J” not an “I”. I thought, yes ordered four films each week. Joh. 3, Christine 9 mos. The ages and indeed, this is the family I have been A clerical survey also called a birth dates matched. Why is this seeking. I copied all 86 names on the household examination roll, known family on same boat with the Asp passenger list. It turned out to be in Sweden as the husförhörslängd, family? Is Anna related to John very important in my later research. is a fantastic and unique record. It Henry? Should I concentrate my Plans were being made to open a should be used by the researcher search in the Kalmar area? LDS branch library in Schaumburg, along with the birth, marriage, and Then I ordered the clerical survey Illinois, which meant a drive of death records. Each year a member for Södra Vi, (Smål.). A couple leaving twenty minutes instead of an hour. I of the state church would question for America in 1853 caught my eye was asked to consider being a volun- all members of the household in or- because the wife’s father’s name was teer, if they were able to get permis- der to record what they knew about Achilles. I recognized that name. It sion for a non- member to serve. My the catechism. One record might was on the boat list. (I had looked at in-laws were also talking about a cover five or ten years. The survey the couple because I was extracting second trip to Sweden and I des- lists the place within the parish all names of people leaving in the perately wanted to find the place of boundaries where the family lives, years 1851 to 1859). Ulrica Charlotta origin of my father-in-law’s family. the names of the family members, Jacobsdotter was born 7 August 1830 their relationship, occupation, birth in Nykil, (Östg.). Her parents were Intensifying my dates, birth parish, marriage year, Jacob Achilles and Anna Greta An- research death dates, moving in year and dersdotter Gottsell. On the pas- place where they came from and the senger list, following the Asp family I made lists: was: J. Achilles, 59; Anna, 60; Ma- 1. Film numbers for 1851 Clerical column I was most interested in, moving out, showing where they ria, 24; and Caroline, 11. Next I orde- Surveys for each parish in each red the Nykil film and eventually county. moved and the year.

24 Swedish American Genealogist 2006:1 found Jacob Achilles and his family ten. Success in genealogy leaving in September of 1851. requires determination, perseverance, creative The needle at last! thinking, spontaneous ge- On May 1, I arrived at the Family nealogical activity resul- History Center wondering which ting in unexpected finds films had come in and how many or serendipity moments, patrons would arrive. The only pa- and an extensive amount tron was Margaret Nelson, a retired of just plain luck. I had school librarian and bridge player them all! friend. For six years, we had been My in-laws did return traveling together to and from the to Sweden. Agne drove Wilmette FHC. I had convinced Mar- them to Vimmerby, Hjort- garet to research her Swedish genea- ed, and the house in Sim- logy. She could read and speak the merum where Carolina language. When the Schaumburg Göransdotter was born FHC opened, our indefinite loan and lived until she mar- ried. Her father was Gö- films were transferred from Wilmette Vimmerby Stadsförsamling AI:10, p. 205 so Margaret’s Swedish films were in ran Hansson Hall Wipa, a kronobåtsman (naval soldier/ailor). the cabinet. Fogelså: The last name was given to the man Two films, ordered on March 3, Peter Henriksson Asp Hjorted Feb 26, that lived in the Simmerum house had arrived. Both were from Vim- 1785. provided for the båtsman. (Margaret merby, (Smål.). I decided to look at H Stina Bengtsdotter Frödinge Apr Nelson had a collateral relative who the Stadsförsamlingen (city) first. I 29, 1778. lived there in the later 1800’s and looked at the far right Bortflyttat Son Johan Henric Locknevi Jan 8, had the name of Wipa.) They did not (moving out) column on p. 205 and 1816. go to Falsterbo In Hjorted, where read: till (to) Amerika, år (year) 51. I ordered the next Locknevi cleri- Peter Asp was born. His father, I quickly looked to the right side and cal survey and verified that Johan Henric Nilsson Asp, b. 1749 Risinge, read: Henric and Anna Marie were indeed (Östg.), was a master blacksmith and siblings. the first ancestor I have found to Grönlid: Hjorted, (Smål.), was also Mar- have the Asp name. Smeden Johan Henrik Asp, Lockne- garet’s parish. All the films were in Later in my research, I ordered the vi 8 Jan. 1816. the cabinet. I was able to add two probate records for Peter Asp and H [=hustru] Carolina Göransdotter, more generations that very day and Göran Wipa. The translation of their Hjorted 3 Aug. 1819. also found the marriage record, De- household belongings was interes- D [=daughter] Christina Maria cember 18,1840, for Johan and Carol- ting and a challenge. How difficult Törnsfalla 22 Oct. 1841 Oct. ina. Margaret’s reply was, “I came and sad it must have been for these D Anna Charlotta Vimmerby 20 Nov. across the name Asp but I never two fathers to have their only child- 1844. thought anything about it!” I had ren leave Sweden, never to see them S Johan August Vimmerby 1 Dec. been that close to the films for six again. Both records named their 1847. years. children living in “Amerika.” Later that evening, I wondered if I kept looking at the familiar names, there could be another family with the birth years: 1816, 1844, and the same names? Did they come from Thank you to: 1847, the three-year birth difference a parish where the records had bur- Nils William Olsson for writing his for Anna and Johan and finally said, ned? No! I am claiming the Asp book, providing the most impor- “Margaret, Margaret, I think I found family I found today. It was time to tant straw, Locknevi. them! What does Smeden mean?” celebrate. I could not tell my in-laws Al Mink, a member of Elgin Gene- Her reply was “blacksmith”. She for they were on a bus returning alogy Society, for giving me the studied the screen and said, “I have home from Indiana. book. the 1816 Locknevi clerical survey From October 24, 1984, to April 24, Agne Klering for bringing me maps film here.” I quickly pulled that film 1985, I had ordered fifty-one films. I and the place book. out of the cabinet and placed it on found the family on the thirty- The blond-haired, blued-eyed fellow the reader. I rolled the film to page second. It was difficult to believe that for providing money to order the 151 and read: I had found them in six months and films. one week. I had been hoping it would My children who did not verbally only take one year and not more than protest my time spent on this won- derful hobby called Genealogy. Swedish American Genealogist 2006:1 25