• Comments by Keith G. Calkins
• About this Translation
• Foreward
• 1. Spinnel-Anna.
• 2. Anna's Father, Soldier Spinnel.
• 3. Anna's Mother, Margareta E. Hjulman.
• 4. The Hereditary Farm.
• 5. Per Spinnel Becomes the Farmer at Tafwelsiön.
• 6. Vännfors, A Family Village from the 1500's.
• 7. Erik Andersson's Father, Anders E. Poth of Hjuken.
• 8. Erik Andersson's Mother, Brita From Tegsnäset.
• 9. The Crown's new Settlement, Stora Sandsjön
• Family Table

Comments by Keith G. Calkins

Sincerely,

Translation

Hello everyone:

Here is a translation of the first 17 pages (pg. 3,5-18) of the SPINNEL-ANNA book. To do the work, I sought the services of V. DeYoung, a faculty member, at the Scandinavian Language Institute in Seattle. It turned out to be much more of a research project than a translation. Much of the material in the book was quoted directly from old legal documents, without translation in[to] the Swedish used in modern times. This was 16th and 17th century legalese -- at that time there was no standard for grammar, spelling or punctuation and the legal format was taken from the old German. There are a few words the translator could not positively identify and those are underlined. Some notes have been added to clarify or give background information. It is a fascinating family history. I hope you enjoy reading this translation.

The translator attached a little note to the finished work and I quote,

I think you will find the information and stories interesting and fun. I enjoyed the story of the bear (at the end) and of the woman [Margareta] who was fined for making her bonnet "too fine". The women, in particular, in your family seem to be very enterprising and strong-willed.

s/Delores [Table 2335]

Oral tradition describes her as the resolute and courageous settler's wife who in hard competition against the men of the village community of the area succeeded in obtaining a charter for a new settlement on Stora Sandsjön [Big Sand Lake].

Included in the present work are a number of pieces of information about Spinnel-Anna's ancestors and her husband. This research has been conducted by my wife.

In order to stimulate better contact between relatives here and abroad certain parts of the book have been provided with text in English.

I would like to direct a warm thank you to all of those who have contributed advice and directions to me. I would especially like to thank Perpetual Curate Edward Sundin, Vindeln, and his daughter Birgitta Sundin, M.D. who have always helped me with the assembling of the work.

Umeå, April 1960

Alfred Zingmark

TO OUR RELATIVES OVER THERE [in English in original].

It will soon be a hundred years ago since our forefathers emigrated to North America. Good contacts were maintained in the past by correspondence between them and those who remained in the Fatherland. But of recent years many of our relatives have, for some reason or other, lost contact with each other.

The object of this book is to provide a medium whereby many of our relatives will be able to revive old ties and friendships in places least expected.

Those of us here in Sweden still maintain a keen interest in the well-being, the activities and the vicissitudes of all those members of our respective families in the New Country, and consequently nothing would give us more pleasure than to receive them as our guests whenever time and opportunity permit. We should then be able to take them round to all those places where their forefathers lived and worked.

Travel facilities in Sweden are excellent, and now that English is a compulsory subject in our schools there should be little or no difficulty in regard to the problem of language on arrival in this country.

To one and all of our relatives in America we extend a very hearty welcome to Old Sweden.

The Early History of the Family

But several of the men in Hjuken also had their eye on the same area. One, especially, would have been a dangerous competitor for Spinnel-Anna and her husband. This was the innkeeper. (Some said that it was Vulture-Hjuk.) He decided to travel down to the Provincial Governor to obtain a remittance.

When Spinnel-Anna found out that he had set off, she also set out for Umeå, such a woman was she and even though she was quite advanced in her pregnancy. When she arrived at Hissjö she found that the innkeeper had already arrived. She went to a farm where she told of her errand to see the Provincial Governor. The owner of the farm found a way to help her. He arranged that the innkeeper, who was known for his love of strong drink, was invited to a wedding which was to be held that day in the village. The innkeeper could not resist such a temptation and he stayed overnight and for a while the next morning. Meanwhile the farmer had hitched up the horse and sleigh and placed Spinnel-Anna in it. And so she went to Umeå. As soon as the Provincial Office opened she was granted a hearing. When she came out with written permission for a new farmstead she met the innkeeper. She waved it proudly and said: I have just dipped the candles, now you can bake the bread. (This happened in the fall of 1765. Her son, Olaus was born December 19, 1765 at Stor Sandsjön. The charter "remittance" is dated January 16, 1766.)

The story can be found in somewhat different versions in the Vännäs Tidning (Vännäs Newspaper) of August 2, 1929 and in the Regional Historical Society's Yearbook of 1934 and 1949. Spinnel-Anna is also mentioned in the reference book Swedish Regional History. Spinnel is a soldier or military name. Several soldiers carried this name during the 1600 and 1700's, but here interest is to be centered on Per Olofsson, born in 1693, soldier between 1720-27 for the Spinnel area squad in Västerhiske village, Umeå parish. [Note: In those days the homes/farms of a village or area had to go together to provide and equip a soldier or seaman for the crown. He and his family were provided with a place to live and farm.] In the soldier's cottage was born namely on the 10th of August 1724 his daughter, who came to be known by the name of Spinnel-Anna. (Her godparents: Armourer Wästberg and his wife, Per Pers widow and son Nils of Wästerhiske. [Armourer is likely a title/occupation.])

When Anna was three years old the family moved to Tavelsjö. There she grew up and stayed in her parents' home until about 1755, when she married Farmer Erik Andersson of Hjuken, in what is now Degerfors parish. Hjuken, which in the days of Gustav Vasa had two farmers, had by the middle of the 1700's five farmers. In the court records from March 23, 1753 there is related a disagreement between Spinnel-Anna and her neighbor Daniel Koniksson. Anna accused his sister of having killed a billygoat and of having bound together the legs of Anna's goats. Daniel K. called as a witness Soldier Johan Hiukström, and although Anna pleaded that he was her enemy, he was allowed to testify. He told, among other things, that Anna had accused Daniel Köniksson's wife of "having incited her husband and servants/farmhands to spitefullness against her. . ." They disputed also about a still, which D.K. had lost. . .Anna was fined 4.16 Swedish dollars in silver for three abusive remarks.

It was not more than ten years that Spinnel-Anna lived in Hjuken. They sold their farm. From the court records of November 25, 1765: To let farmhand Nils Matsson from Tjällbomark village in Skell parish from Erik A. of Hjuken and wife, Anna Persdotter, on the 4th of February in the present year be given a purchase letter that shows that he (for 3000 dollars in copper as the agreed upon price) be allowed to purchase their farm in the village of Hjuken, and for 3 barrels and 2 parts tax remaining, with what belongs thereto.

Spinnel-Anna's third move occurred in 1765 when she and her husband settled the new farmstead on Storsandsjön. They received it and lived there their remaining days. Erik Andersson died in April of 1789 and Spinnel-Anna in 1812. An extract from the Death and Burial Book for Degerfors: Death list year 1812, March 19. Name - Anna Paersdotter. Age - 87. Illness - Old Age. Home - Sandsjön. Class and position - Deceased Farmer Er. Anders.'s widow.

Anna's Father, Soldier Spinnel

Olof Erichsson's children: Per, born in 1693; Erich, born in 1702, married at Håkmark; Kerstin, born in 1704, and Cecilia born in 1705, married at Västerhiske.

The Spinnel area squad was located in Öfwerhiskie, that is, Västerhiske village, scarcely a Swedish mile (note: a Swedish mile = 10 kilometers, a little over 6 American miles) from Håkmark. The squad's homesteads were in the year 1728 Västerhiske No. 6 and Grube No. 5 and 7. About 1800 the squad name was changed to Vestin.

As early as 1726 it seems that Per Spinnel wanted to stop being a soldier and become a farmer in Tafvelsjö on his wife's hereditary farm. The move did not occur however before the Spring of 1729 [1927 in the book]. The following information about his military service can be found in the General Muster Roll for Västerbotten's Infantry Regiment of June 1728: 142nd Company. Spinnel. - - - Notes: The man has varicose veins. Can therefor not be approved. (According to the General Roll of 1735 he was replaced in 1734 by Anders Hakansson. It was this soldier Spinnel who died at Villmanstrand in 1741.) [Note: Anders Hakansson would have been referred to as soldier Spinnel because he represented the Spinnel area.]

Anna's Mother, Margareta E. Hjulman

Royal Majesty's Decree of the 3rd of June 1720, used some lace and some braid on their hats pieces namely. ---Soldier Spinnel appearing for wife Marget Erichsdotter, and pleaded himself that the piece she had lace on Easter Day and that the reason for it being, that he had not understood the decree, and that she had not worn it more than 2 times. Now Marget was sentenced to 8 days prison on bread and water. Future miscreants were warned not to furnish themselves thusly.

Margareta's mother was called Elisabet Larsdotter. She came originally from Vänfors. (See the section on the Talman relatives.) Margareta had an older sister, Kierstin, born in 1692. She had served for 17 years for her mother's brother, Anders Larsson of Tafwelsjö, who was also her guardian from 1739 until 1741, when she married the farmer O. J. of Hörne. She died in 1761 "without life's fruit."

Margareta also had a half sister, Sara Matsdotter, born in 1700. She was married to settler Anders Danielsson. This person is known in the literature on the colonization of the interior. From Hülphers collection on Västerbotten page 36: "Settler A. D. of Omsele received a silver medal in 1767 for the establishment of 5 homesteads, some 10 Swedish miles from the Church (Inr. Tidn N 53)" - Amselet was established in 1736, Aborrträsk in 1767. On the latter he received tax-exemption rights in 1767. He died in 1779. . .from "itching, swelling and chest illness and from the frailty of old age."

Anna's mother, Margareta, had so called right of inheritance from her father Erich E. Hjulman to farm No. 5 at Tavelsjö. There now follows a historical survey of this.

4. The Hereditary Farm.

Elisabet Larsdotter became a widow for the second time in 1702. In 1706 she was mentioned in the court records. She owed Sigrid Grubb 103 dollars. . ."to which she couldn't deny, but lamented her poverty and had no means for sowing grain in the Spring: would rather give up the farm to the state and the creditors. Now Sigrid demanded 8 dollars per year, to which Lisbeta agreed, as long as God didn't punish her with crop failure." In June 1723 Lisbeth had sued farmer Dafwid Tomasson for the property he had on an island. "The island had been pledged by two farmgirls to deceased Rector Magister Erich Plantin's mother for half a barrel of salt, but D. T. redeemed it in 1683 from the rector for 80 dollars." The witnesses were called who told that the island belonged to Aswed's farm and ought therefor to go to Lisbeta. In 1726 she transferred her farm to her son-in-law Anders Danielsson. From the court records of 1726, April: Against Farmer A. D. of Tafwelsiön Soldier Per Spinnel has lodged an appeal thereover, that the named A. D. owns his wife's father's farm of 27/64 mantals and it is requested by Spinnel to regain it. In explanation hereto gave A. D. a written statement to the District Court signed by his mother-in-law, Lisbeta Larsdotter, the contents of which said: that several years ago soldier Spinnel contracted marriage with her daughter Margreta Erichsdotter, and as she at the time, as even now was a widow, she offered him, Spinnel, the farm, and in addition 20 dollars to buy a horse, but Spinnel did not want it, to which her neighbors Hans Jonsson of Haddingen and Anders Larsson of Tafwelsiön could testify. As a result and since Lisbeta Larsdotter thus could not rely on Spinnel, therefore possession of the farm was given by her to her other son-in-law A. D., who together with his wife would cooperate with her, and for this reason she suggests that the farm shall be retained by him ---. But in any event, she wants at the farm her oldest daughter, Kierstin Erichdotter, who is equally entitled to inherit as Spinnell's wife, and she doesn't want anything to do with Spinnel. On inquiry it was found that the Respondent's wife is not a full sister of Spinnel's wife, whose father was the rightful owner of the now disputed farm." (Note: the name Spinnel was spelled with two l's in this document.) The case was continued in September 1726 and September 1727. Per Spinnel was allowed to retain the farm.

5. Per Spinnel Becomes the Farmer at Tafwelsiön.

Olof Persson Juken appeared lodging a complaint against Farmer and Soldier Per Spinnel of Tafwelsiön who, at midday on Thursday the Third Prayer day, made abusive remarks against his neighbors from Juken, Degerfors, Kussiön and Röda who were on their way to Church and attacked and hit all their horses with a boat oar, claiming that he had a legal right to do so. The aforementioned villagers had tethered their horses on his property and in his fields, wherefore he, in haste, came to give each of their horses a blow, and that he, Per Spinnel, had hastily sworn that they would hereafter not carry on as they had up to now.

In the court records of 1736 one can read that the farm was almost lost by Per Spinnel. On October 13

was submitted for review the Provincial Governor Gabriel Gyllengrip's resolution with regard to Bruhn's application to take over ownership of Par Olofsson's farm 27/64 mantals of Tafwelsiön, for which he, after a successful bid at a public auction/offering, placed a man for the squad. Per, present in person, pleaded that he would gladly obtain a man for the farm and that it was difficult for him to be gone from there since he had seven small children.

From the Court Record of April 10, 1738: The farmers, Pär Olofsson and Erich Hansson from Tafwelsiön were accused for being overfull with drink, and E. H. admitted he was drunk, but Pär O. maintained, that he had drunk spirits (brännvin) but was not drunk, but if he had been sick, then he would have been drunk. . . Two witneses were called. . . being Erich Johansson of Langviken who is not any closer a relative to Pär Spinnel than that he is Spinnel's wife's sibling's child (nephew). He testified that it could be seen in his face that he had drunk brännvin and even more which the witness found him more drunk, so that he fell down on the floor of the parsonage. The jury (a board of commissioners) determined that the accused was not to be found for drunkenness. They were each sentenced, according to merciful decree against surfeiting and drunkenness of 1733, to a fine of 5 dollars in silver. If they could not pay the fine they had to serve 4 days in jail.

. . .In Tafwelsiön there were two people with the name of Per Olofsson. They then called Per Spinnel Little Per Olofsson. In 1756 he bequeathed his paltry property to his wife and unmarried daughter Margareta. He died March 19, 1757. His obituary appeared April 8: Erich Persson's father Per Olofsson. . . Chestcold and Shortness of Breath. 63 years old at the time.

On the death of Spinnel the farm was divided between his sons Erik and Olof and received the numbers 7 and 8. Farm no. 7 was owned by Erik Persson 1756-87, by his son Per Ersson until 1810 and then by his (P. E.) son-in-law Jon Andersson until 1821. Spinnel's old farm stood in the middle of present day's crossroads at the church on the so-called Spinnel Hammer. Farm no. 8 was about 150 meters north west of the old farm. Hjulman's son, Per Olsson, was the owner until 1821. After 1855 the owner was Hans Gustaf Säfsten. The main building burned down in 1934. In Tavelsjö can yet be hear the name Spinnelhägnan (Spinnel enclosure) on the road to Varmvattnet [the warm water], directly opposite Henning Olofsson's farm and Hjulman's enclosure.

Per Spinnel's Children

1.	Erik Persson	born in 1722	died 1805,	took over half the farm at Tavelsjo (no. 7).
2.	Anna,	born in 1724,	died 1812	Spinnel Anna
3.	Olof Persson Hjulman,	born in 1725,	died 1809,	took over half the farm at Tavelsjo (no. 8).
4.	Anders Persson Forsman,	born in 1728,	died 1797,	soldier for 30 years, Overboda.
5.	Hans Persson,	born in 1730,	farmhand at Granon in 1769.
6.	Per Pehrsson,	born in 1732.	both Per and Lars living in 1756.
7.	Lars Persson	born 1734,
8.	Margareta	born in 1738,	died 1779,	married in 1757 to the farmer Olof Olofsson of Granön.

6. Vännfors, A Family Village from the 1500's. The Talman Family.

Family Tree

Nils Larsson

farmer 1539-1561 at Vännfors

Joen Nilsson

farmer 1562-1601

Nils Joensson

farmer 1602-1628

Mårten Nilsson

farmer born in the year 1600

Lars Mårtensson

farmer in Tavelsjö. died 1698

Elisabeth Larsdotter

born about 1670, died 1744

Margareta Ericsdotter

born 1693, died 1774

SPINNEL-ANNA

born 1724, died 1812

Anders Ersson

born 1757, died 1830

From Alvsborg's stamp fee of 1571 (batch 21:5) fol. 266:=:=: From Umma Parish :=:=: Fol. 359 Wendee fors:-:-. Joen Nilsson settled in money 10 dollars of which money in 1 dollar in copper, ½ mark and 3 ore, 5 cows = in money to 5 dollars, 1 one year old pig = 1 ore, 3 goats = in money to 3 ore, 2 sheep = 2 ore, 1 horse-in money to 4½ ore. Total money 7½ dollars, 1 ore, 12 pennies - Nils Joensson was a farmer from 1602 to 1627. From the Alfsborg stamp fee of 1613: Nils Joensson, marriage 3 dollars. In the rate-payers list for remaining payments of 1619 in was noted that Nils J. owed for 4, 5, and 6 periods. As early as 1623 he was named as "old and Lame." In the assessment of 1627 Mårten Nilsson, born in 1600, is mentioned and who in 1629 paid the yearly rent of 21/32 mantals on the farm which Nils Joensson had owned. From the cattle lists of 1635: Mårten Nilsson, Venderforss - one horse, 1 bull, 9 cows, 3 heifers, 1 billygoat, 6 goats, 14 sheep, 5 pigs. Martin Nilsson left the farm, 5 barrels 2 kegs in the year 1660 to his son Nils Mårtensson. Nils' sister Anna was married in Jämteböle, and his brother Lars Mårtensson bought a farm in Tafvelsiön in 1668.

From the court records of March 1681: Honest and well behaved Lars Mårtensson of Wännfors obtained and placed before the court a written document from Johan Persson of Hissiöön, Erich Dawidsson of Tafwelsiöön and wife Karin, issued and signed by several good men on the 10th of April 1668 that they acknowledge having sold to him, his wife, children and future descendants, their blessed father-in-law's, Nils Erlandsson's farm, which lies in West Tafwelsiön, consisting of three barrels tax, for the amount of 213 dollars in copper money which the purchase letter shows and which hereafter from the Law and Country's old customs at three District Courts --- Legally binding and acknowledged, likewise afterwards over night and year legal. ---

In the court records of October 1698 there occurred a trial concerning the soldier Jons Jonsson Rosendal and his biological sibling's child (niece) Karin Larsdotter. He was 30 years old and married. In 1690 he came home from field duty in Gothenburg where he had been for two years. Karin L. was 26 years old. Witnesses were called in to testify about their illegal relationship.

The farmer Lars Mårtensson and his wife Cherstin Hansdotter of Tavelsjö had five children according to the court records of 1683. Four are included in the table. Table is incomplete

Table for the Talman Family

Elisabeth	Mårten L.	Karin	Anders
Larsdotter	Appelblad	Larsdotter	1679-1744.
about 1670-1744	no. 101.	1672-1752	Farmer at Tafwelsjön.

7. Erik Andersson's Father, Anders E. Poth of Hjuken.

Anders E. paid ½ lispund (1 lispund=20 skalpund=8.50152 kilos) of dried pike for them. And he urged that Olofsson should be forbidden the right to fish in these lakes. Olofsson answered that his reindeer grazing lands stretched around these already named lakes, in which his ancestors had fished, and that besides, there were more lakes in the area, that Anders fished even in these six and if he (the Lapp) was to be driven from Rusk Swamp, he would have to leave the land "deserted." Anders claimed to have fishing rights to even these six lakes, even though neither he nor the farm's previous tenant, Jon Larsson, had fished in them. He had, though, had these fishing rights and paid the yearly tax to the village council in Hjuken.

From the court records of October 17, 1734: Reliable Anders Eriksson (Poth) from Hjuken and his opponent Lars Johansson of the same place in union in joint use of the mill and the mill property. That Anders E. together with the settler Jon Larsson of Ruskseleå in Umeå Lappmark delivered an attestation January 27, 1733 and maintains that he ought to own a third part of the mills at Sandsiö and Lilla millstreams which shall receive the same third of the aforementioned mills and same third part henceforth as well of houses, stones and contents and the millstones at Sandsiö stream are bought by Lars J. so shall A.E. for the third part therefore satisfy L.J. with 3 dollars in copper money, hereon let the Court decide.

From the court record of October 16, 1736: Vice-County Prosecutor Bruhn appeared and farmers of this parish who by him were being charged for having missed a Parish gathering the last day after Easter. (130 people)

No. 67, Anders E. of Hiuken had after up till and yesterday having given power of attorney, gave it to Tomas Zakrisson from Tefsnästet, telling concerning the said power of attorney, that as far as the Parish meeting was concerned, he could not attend over the Easter Holy Days because his wife was sick, and thus could not come to church. - called as a witness that Anders E. was at home over the Easter Holy Days was Per Olofsson of Tafwelssiön. The Vice Prosecutor expressed himself that although he had a case against Per Olofsson, he would even so permit him to testify.

At the Autumn court session of 1736, 44 people were also summoned for missing a search. The call (as a burning beacon?) had gone out at the end of September and the first days of October. The search, which was to start from Innertavle early on Monday morning October 4th was the first in living memory. Among those who neglected the call were Anders E., of Hiuken, and Per Spinnel of Tafvelsiön. From the trial on October 20th: No. 7, Anders E., had given written power-of-attorney to Thomas Zachrisson of Tegsnästet relating to the given power of attorney of the 15th of this month, that he himself appeared at the search, was sick and had neither farmhand nor servant girl, and besides 7 small children, and the village Hiuken is situated 6 Swedish miles from the church town. On the 22nd of October the Court took the preceeding case under decision and since the commissioners unanimously affirmed that in their memory no public search here in the parish had been held and that here had not been found nor was to be found nets and hunting material and that they were not knowledgable either that at this time when it was to be held that any injured animal had been on the loose as the following result.

From the 1750 land inquiry proceedings: Hiuken No. 3, 13/32 Crown assessment, inhabited by Anders Ersson, who has let the houses become defective although they are habitable, the fields are cultivated to the extent of 4½ barrels of seed and sustains 2 horses, 9 cows and 15 smaller animals and also a hopgarden is set up.

Farmer Anders Ersson's Tax of 1750:

Yearly rent
Coin
9 ¾ lispounds Butter
2 3/16 barrels of Tar
Landstoug's Enclosure
21 1/8 C Grain
2 1/32 lispound Butter
12 3/16 lispound Meat
1 1/24 lispound Hops
13/32 marks of Tallow
Fresh Food Items
13/512 Ox
13/64 Sheep
13/128 Pig
13/32 Hen
13/64 of 20 Eggs
13/64 Loads of Hay
2 1/32 Sheaves of Straw
Extraordinary Rent
Winter driving for the Crown 13/32 sawed logs
Cattle Money
Daily Work Money
Driving Trips Money
Total 7.7.22 3/10
Note: 1 dollar = 32 ören = 32x24? (shillings).
The figures on the original documents represent the monetary value of these taxes paid in kind.
Anders E. transferred the farm to his oldest son about 1755. A.E. died June 22, 1764. In the death book there was no memorial. his wife, Brita, lived longer. When the son, Erik Andersson, moved in 1765 to Storsandsjön, she went with him. Later she was even periodically with her daughter, Brita, in Rödå. She was there in 1777.

8. Erik Andersson's Mother, Brita From Tegsnäset.

In Gustaf Göthes Thesis, On the Swedish Colonization of Umeå's Lapp Country, Zachris Ersson on page 228 about how he together with other farmers from Granön, Tegsnäset and Tväaraträsk tried to seize and force the new settlers to become soldiers. When these came down to church service at Lycksele Church there was a commotion to which Rector Graan was an eye witness.

Zachris Ersson was married the first time to a daughter of Tomas Hansson. Into this marriage was born, at least, three children. Their son, Tomas Zachrisson, born in 1700, took over the homestead. He died childless in 1743. Daughter Anna, born in 1703, died in 1777 and daughter Brita was born in 1704. When Tomas Z.'s homestead was sold in 1750 and left the family, the purchaser had a certificate from the widow, Anna Zachrisdotter of Spöland, and wife Brita Zachrisdotter and her husband Anders E.

From Anders E. Poth's ten children only four have left descendants: Erik A., born in 1727 and married to Spinnel-Anna. Zachris A., born in 1729, died about 1799, new settler at Bäfverträsk, Lycksele Parish (his daughter Brita married Bryngel Larsson from Umbyn, new settlers at Krokshön, Lycksele parish). Catarina A., born in 1731, died in 1803 at Hjuken, married to soldier Johan Larsson Grefve, new settler at Ickorselet and Kjupsundet. Brita A., born in 1732, died in 1768, married to the farmer O.A. at Rödå. (Thomas A. born in 1736, unmarried, new settler at Storsandsön.)

Spinnel-Anna's children, eight born in Hjuken, the last three at Storsandsjön.

1. Margareta Eriksdotter,	born July 14, 1756,	married in 1789 to Jon Nilsson, born in 1765,	new settler at Storsandsjön no. 1.
2. Anders Ersson, the younger,	born August 26, 1757,	died in 1830,	new settler at Storsandsjön no. 2, married 1788 to Anna Andersdotter, born in 1762 at Gorkuträsk, Burträsk parish.
3. Per Ersson,	born November 15, 1758,	tenant at Lilla Sandsjön from 1809, living in 1820, discharged from soldiering, married at Anna Israelsdotter, born 1759 at Bygde.
4. Brita,	born February 20, 1760,	died before 1764
5. Erik Ersson,	born March 18, 1761,	farmhand in 1782 at Kussjö.
6. Anna,	born March 26, 1762,	died March 1, 1767.
7. Zakris,	born June 8, 1763,	died March 1, 1767.
8. Brita,	born July 16, 1764,	died March 6, 1767.
9. Olaus,	born December 19, 1765,	died April 27, 1768.
10. Tomas Ersson,	born June 6, 1768,	married in 1797,	new settler at Hjukensjön, later at Yttertrask.
11. Zachris Ersson,	born August 9, 1772,	married, new settler.

9. The Crown's New Settlement, Stora Sandsjön.

From Umeå parish's court records, the 1765 Autumn session: Since former Farmer Eric Andersson at Hiuken made application at the proper provincial office for permission to work several field and pasture parcels besides the new settlement at Repsjön above Hiuk's village. . . Such a parcel had also been marked out but at the court session of 1764 not been able to be granted Eric Andersson, while Hiuken's village men then maintained, that the same parcels of old had been used by the homestead at Hiuken and besides, not either been enough for a new homestead.

The village men at Hiuken succeeded in preventing Eric Andersson and his spouse from settling down at Repsjön. But yet one more time they came back. . .

In a newly submitted writing to the provincial office Eric Andersson had applied that he thereafter marked out several parcels of 1½ Swedish miles distance from the village Hiuken and situated on common ground. Moreover, he had requested permission that from them be allowed to establish a new settlement.

The 16th of January 1766. Charter for Erik Andersson of Hjuken for a new settlement at Stora Sandsjön in Umeå Parish

In the marked out and previous District Court's examination minutes of the 9th of December parcels at Stora SandsJö and the area thereabouts, which are situated on common ground and are not found to belong to any tax-paying homestead, are given to Erik Andersson from Hjuken, to take up as a new homestead and thereupon to have for at least thirty-two years exempt from any homestead revenue, soldier responsibility and internal parish burdens, etc. which is especially decreed, said exemption to be counted from and including the current year, to and including the year 1797, whereupon, him, Erik Andersson, and his successors at the new homestead, it shall be incumbent upon, that with diligence and all possible haste work and clear sufficient fields and pastures, and erect a house, so that the new homestead may the sooner the better come to a good stand, and that it then could, after the exemption years having passed, in the year 1798 and further in the future carry that tax and burden based on its soil, area and abilities ought a price be put on; And that this new settler has not been granted permission to misappropriate or use the in-common woods for other things than for household use, moreover, as and how the new settlement will be worked yearly a proper servant of the Crown is to undertake to have realization and insert therefor the new homestead with its exemption years in the Land Book.

Year and day, as above

Properly transcribed from the here preserved rough draft; affirmed at the Westerbotten Land Office in Umea the 29th of August 1843

(Malmerfeldt provincial governor)
J O Lundmark

They had already begun to build and live out at Stora Sandsjön, when the charter letter came. The birth book says, namely, that Anna gave birth there to one of her children in 1765. When the oldest children became grown, the new homestead was divided between the son-in-law Jon Nilsson and the oldest son, Anders. They also benefitted from the advantages of the exemption years. But in 1806 the surveyors came to the village, for their properties were to be taxed and broken out of the crown general properties. To the map, which was drawn up, was included the following introductory account: "This village has by Eric Andersson been established in the year 1766, who during the 'take possession' time decreed that son-in-law, Jon Nilsson, during his and his successor's time, would be owners of the gl new homestead for which the exemption years ended in 1797, but the new homestead should belong to Eric Andersson's son Anders, who also,no, himself appeared and hand delivered the Inspector's Report of the year 1783 which will be used for adjusting at the mapping out as the same largest part ofthe meadows are taken yet the formerly gl homestead has been marked out, and it is from that report, that half of these hayproducing swamp lands sahll fall to each of these tenants. But arable land is to be measured for each of their homesteads according to the inspection report, added to each his own.

A. Crown homestead No. 1 is possessed by tenant Jon Nilsson.. Provisionally taxed at 3/8 mantals.

B. Crown homestaed No. 2 at Storsandsjon is possessed by Anders Ersson. Up at his homestead was born over the winter 6 cows and a horse, ande several small farm animals for each tenant. Pasturage is weak. The catch of fish is insufficient for the household and this necessity must be purchased. The mill the tenants have out on the Big Millstream which lies ¾ of a Swedish mile from the village N.W. where household needs are ground.

Tar production cannot be carried on to advantage due to the lack of the substance thereto in these nearby situated Forests and more advantages do not exist."

1823 Taxation

During the current event the men of the village demanded the farm area measure for Jon Larsson, as tenant of one half of No. 2, marked out on the rise northwest from Anders Andersson's farm. . .which according to the agreement on the land was displaced and on the map. . .is to be found. . .signed by Litt. 2:a,..

At the legal transfer in 1872 of Storsandsjön No. 1 and 2 - the total area was measured to 33,007 square "ref" (a ref = 100 feet) and 31 square "stang" (a "stang" or bar=10 feet, 1 foot = 2.96 decimeters), which makes about 2908 "har" (some unit of area).

In the 200 years that have passed since the charter letter came into existence, the homesteads in this village have gone exclusively as an inheritance within the family. And on the half which was farmed by Anders Ersson, no less than 12 farmers were making a living in 1960.

Family Table.

In order to be able to give a picture of the development of the family to the present time herewith is published a family table, as detailed an accounting as possible of the descendants of Spinnel-Anna's oldest son, Anders Ersson. A list of all of her descendants would, perhaps, be all too comprehensive and difficult to manage.

Anders Ersson is called, in this connection, the family's founding father and receives the designation I (first generation), his children the designation II (second generation) and so on. See the upper left corner in each table!

How then are we related, someone asks. The family relationship within the same branch should be obvious from the setup of the table. But if one wants to ascertain the family relationship between people belonging to different branches, one can get the answer directly with the help of the Roman numerals. If the two people both have a III, they are mutual cousins, if they both have the number IV, they are second cousins (tremänningar) and so on.

The table includes approximately 2510 families, divided over the tables. And if one totals the number of descendants in these tables, in 1960, the family consisted of about 6530 people, of which 1180 were living in the U.S.A. and Canada.

I Table 1

Anders Ersson, born August 26, 1757 in Hjuken, Degerfors parish, died in 1830 on January 13th, established a new homestead at Storsandsjö No. 2 in the same parish. Married in 1788 to Anna Andersdotter, born in 1762 on October 19th at Gorkoträsk, Burträsk parish, during her last years blind and bedridden, died on April 22, 1849.

Excerpt from the congregation's books:

Umeå lfs birth and baptism book: "1757 the 26th of August, Erich Andersson's and Anna Pehrsdotter's son from Hiuken was born, baptized the 3rd of September and was called Andreas. Godparents: Anders Pehrsson of Hissiön and Pehr Erichsson of Tafwelsiön, Malin Larsdotter Nils Pehrs widow of Wästerhiske and domestic Margareta Pehrsdotter from Tafwelsiön
The Burträsk's marriage book for 1788: November 14 -- ? Anders Ersson from Umea and Storsandsjoen married domestic Anna Andersdotter at Gorkoträsk.
The death book for Degerfors congregation: "1830 January 13th -- gl Ngn Anders Ersson - 78 years old - chest fever (Note: probably pneumonia) - Storsandsjön."
From Umeå parish court records, Fall session 1810:

A postponed case was called up, in that "county sheriff" Nils Burvall had accused the farmers Jon Nilsson and Anders Ersson of Storsandsjön, when they failed to appear to discharge their duty of hauling (note: for the Crown) on the 2nd of December 1809. The plaintiff had in the meantime now found that the neglect was of such causes derived that furhter prosecution therefor against the defendants could not be made, for which reason the case was dismissed.

The Sandsjö Bear. Anton Sandström of Norrliden (table 1157) said, that people in the area called Anders Ersson the Sandsjö bear, because of his considerable strength.

Filip Johansson (table 2008) told the following about Anders Ersson, an oral tradition that had been maintained in his home ever since the days of Stina of Qvarnträsk (table 2000).

1. Anders E. and his farm hand were stripping bark from marsh wood, so called lömmagadd, one summer day in the Sandsjö forest when a bear approached them. Anders took a fir branch in order to chase away the monster. But then the bear became aggresive. Anders ran behind a tall pine where he and the bear circled around a while. He called for the farmhand to come with the axe but he had disappeared from the place. The bear rose up and grabbed ahold of the pine and then Anders, of necessity, firmly grabbed the long hair behind the bear's ears and held on and held on—for an eternity he thought. When he finally had to let go and run away the bear made no indication of continuing the persecution. It was a she-bear he had been dealing with and she had cubs in the vicinity.

During the battle Anders was torn on the arms and received deep scars from the bear's claws.

2. Anders Ersson could lift pitch barrels as easily as if they were herring kegs.

3. While hunting Anders Ersson succeeded in shooting a full grown beaver in the Hjuk River and received for the beaver castor alone, a gland, 50 dollars. It was used for medicinal purposes.

Anders Ersson and his wife had twelve children, of which eight produced descendants. It is these eight, which build each their own branch of the family in this book.

Map(s?) of Umeå area	1806/23 map of Storsandsjön area

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