Swedish Colonial News
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Swedish Colonial News Volume 1, Number 11 Spring, 1995 GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE As your outgoing Governor, I want to take this opportunity to thank our dedicated and devoted councillors who volunteer their time to our Society. With their support, our Society bas continued to grow in prominence. This fine Swedish Colollial News, which is distributed to many major libraries and genealogical and historical societies isan example of their efforts. I also want to acknowledge the support that our Society has received from the Honorable Dag Sebastian Ahlander, Consulate Generalof Swedenand His Excellency HenrikLiljegren, Ambassador of Sweden to the United Srates. We now have a total of 388 members from 37 states. During the past two years, 14 new forefathermembers have been recognized. Please contact Dr. Peter Craig for infonnation on becoming a forefather member. I look forwardto meetingmembers at the upcoming Spring events including the Forefathers Luncheon at the Overbrook Country Club and the Thanksgiving Service at Gloria Dei Church. John C. Cameron '6't> DR. AMANDUS JOHNSON SCS Founder - A BriefBiography Amandus Johnson, co-founder of the Johnson attended the University of Colo and enter the University of Pennsylva Swedish Colonial Society in 1908, was rado, where he received the degree of nia. Johnson had determined, while at born in Smfiland, Sweden, Oct. 27, 1877. Master of Arts in 1905. His thesis on college, to make the writing of the his His mother emigrated to New York when John Lily won him a scholarship in En tory of the Swedes in America his hobby, he was eighteen months old and later glish from Yale University. and Prof. Learned pointed out that Phila settled in St. Paul, Minnesota. While visiting Philadelphia on the delphia was "the place to practice such a After graduating from Gustavus way to Yale, he was persuaded by Prof. bobby, not New Haven, as we have the Adolphus College with honors in 1904, Learned to foreg o his Yale scholarship Continued on page 2 2 Swedish Colonial News FOREFATHERS Stockholm (30 guilders). He sailed to Aug. 1668 and his discharge from the America on the Swan, arriving in the New army in 1669. He died in Chester, 12 JURGEN SCHNEEWEISS, Sweden colony with Governor Printz on April 1692, survived by his wife, two PROGENITOR OF THE 15 Feb. 1643. He served as a soldier married daughters (Eleanor, wife of KEEN FAMILY under Printz until 1653 when Printz re George Foreman, and Catharine, wife of Jasper Yeates) and five minor chil Governor Printz' Monatgelderbuch, turned to Sweden. 1643-1653, recorded that the New Sweden Choosing to remain in America, dren, Christian, Mary, James, Jonas and Jiirgen adopted the surname of Kuhn Lydia. Anna then married Peter Baynton soldier known as Jiirgen Schneeweiss came (English) in 1692 and had an additional from "Sachsen" (Saxony, Germany). (Keen) and settled on Upland Creek. An child, Rebecca, born c. 1693/4. Her lbisfact was not knownwhen Dr. Gregory English patent, issued 4 August 1668, de second husband deserted her and re B. Keen, a descendant of Jiirgen Schneeweiss scribed his lands as comprising 400 acres and Secretary of the Historical Society of in three separate lots. turned to England. Anna was buried 5 Oct. 1704 at St. Paul's Church in Chester, Pennsylvania, wrote a series of articles for the On 7 April 1663, before the Upland beside her first husband. Pennsylvania Magazine of History & Court, Jurriaen Kyn (as he was calledby the Biography, 1878-1883, 'TheDescendants of Dutch court clerk) sued Evert Hendricksson JOranKynofNew Sweden,"in which he wrote the Finn forassault and battery. The defen Dr. Peter S. Craig -&-> that theprogenitor oftheKeenfamily wasbom dant was convicted and expelled from the in Sweden. In 1913, Dr. Keen, then Vice colony, only to be granted refuge at Crane President of the Swedish Colonial Society, Hook by Gov. d'Hinoyo ssa of New Amstel. republished this genealogy (with additions) as The last known reference to the old a book by the same name. By this time Dr. soldier occurred on 1 March 1687 /8 when Keen should have known better. In the "Urine Keen" conveyed his lot in Chester preceding years, Dr. Amandus Johnson had town (former Upland) for a Quaker meet traveled to Sweden, examined the records of ing house. His other lands had previously the New Swedensoldiers and undoubtedlyin been transferred to his three known chil formedDr. Keen, hismentor, of his discovery. dren: Hans Keen, Dr. Keen, however, apparently was 1. apparently the eldest unwilling to admit his own error. As a son, sold his Upland propertyto his brother Amandus Johnson ••• Jonas in 1678 and moved to Pennypack - compromise, therefore, Dr. Amandus Continued from page I Johnson's 1911 book, Swedish Settlements Creek in what later became Oxford Town ship or Tacony. He died before 10 August on the Delaware, 1638-1664, omitted any old landmarks here. There is nothing in 1684, when his widow Williamke Kuhn reference to Jurgen Keen's national origin. New Haven." Thus, the myth created by Dr. Keen re was listed as a contributor to the Wicaco At the University of Pennsylvania, church. She later became the second wife mained unchallenged until recent years Johnson was awarded fellowships in of Caspar Fisk (Fish). Hans and Williarnke when a fresh look at the original records Germanics and received the degree of revealed much new information not pub had five surviving children Matthias (born Doctor of Philosophy in 1908. It was at lished by either Dr. Keen or Dr. Johnson, 1667), Eric, Jonas, Gertrude and George, this time, in 1908, that he originated the all of whom married and had children. both known as New Sweden scholars in idea of a Swedish Colonial Society in 2. Jonas Keen was of age by 17 May their time. collaboration with Consul Marcel A. Viti 1675 when he was named Ensign of the The history of Jiirgen Schneeweiss and historians Dr. Gregory B. Keen and prior to 1642 is unknown other than the fact Upland Court militia. By 1680 he had John W. Jordan. Johnson became the moved to Burlington County NJ, where he that he came from Saxony. Undoubtedly, first Secretary of the Society and served be wasamong the many Germans recruited acquired a share of Hans Mons son's 500- in this capacity for half a century. acre plantation at Senamensing. He appar into the Swedish army during the Thirty Amandus Johnson was awarded a Years War. His name translates into En ently moved from this location in 1693, travelling fellowship by the University glish as "George Snow-white," the second because on 2 March 1694/5 adminis tration of Pennsylvania, 1908-1910, during of the estate of "Jonas Skeen" of Cesarie name being indicative of his personal ap which he lectured at the University of River (Cohansey Creek) was granted to his pearance, possibly the color of his hair or Uppsala in Sweden and conducted re widow Catharine by the Salem County NJ the lightness of his complexion, or both. search at Oxford, London, Paris, the court. His widow Catharine was buried at After becoming a freeman, he substituted Hague, Amsterdam, Stockholm, the Swedish church on Raccoon Creek the word Kuhn, meaning "bold" in Ger Uppsala, Lund and Gothenburg for his man, which became the family surname. (Swedesboro), 5 Oct. 1715. Only three of first book, The Swedish Settlements on their six children have been identified: Mans Variously spelled as Kijn, Kyn, Kien, Kuhn the Delaware, 1638-1664, which was or Keen, the surname eventually became (born c. 1678), George and Catharine. published by the Swedish Colonial So Anna Keen standardized as Keen. 3. was married about ciety in 1911. Jurgen Schneeweiss went on the New 1668 to James Sandelands, an English This two-volume work soon estab Sweden payroll on 1 Sept. 1642 when he soldier of Scotch birth who obtained a lished Dr. Johnson's reputation as the was advanced three months' wages in 200-acre patent on Upland Creek on 4 Swedish Colonial News 3 historian of the colonial Swedes in the 1938 celebration of the 300th anni League of Philadelphia. In October 1967, America. It was followed by at least a versary of New Sweden, this property the Museum's Women's Auxiliary gave dozen other books and numerous ar was donated to the Pennsylvania His a luncheon in honor of his 90th birthday. ticles in this country and Sweden. His torical & Museum Commission by Col. During his lifetime, Dr. Amandus published works prompted Prof. Albert Frank Worthington Melvin, who was Johnson was awarded many honors. In Bushnell Hart of Harvard to state, "Few Governor of the Swedish Colonial Soci 1924 he was made an honorary member men in your age have erected such a ety, 1936-1946, and formerChairman of of the Royal Society of Stockholm. He monument over themselves. Your books the Commission. Under Commission also was made a Knight of the Order of will be quoted as long as scholars write auspices, archaeological investigations Vasa and of the Order of the North Star, about American history." of the site were undertaken in which Dr. both in Sweden. He was granted honor Appointed an instructor of Scandi Amandus Johnson was closely involved. ary degrees by his alma mater, Gustavus navian languages at the University of This 1937 study definitely fixed, be Adolphus College, by Augustana Col Pennsylvania in 1910, Dr. Johnson was yond reasonable doubt, the location and lege and, in Sweden, by the University promoted to assistant professor, 1915- foundations of Printzhof. Literally thou of Gothenburg. 1922. From 1922 to 1924, he served as sands of authentic relics of the New In the fall of 1970, Dr.