Help with a birth record

[Bradley Bystrom]

I am seeking help with the birth record for Johanna Eliasdotter born 09 Jun 1833, Bokenäs. She is listed with the rest of the family on Bokenäs AI:9 sida 115 (father Elias Olsson 1802, mother Kjerstin Jacobsdotter 1804). But when I checked the birth record (Bokenäs C:3 bild 52 sida 87) it appears to read that she is illegitimate and that her father is a Herman Hansson from Bön, Skredsviks, am I reading this correct? If so, I have found Herman Hansson 1809 13/9 in Bön, Skredsviks AI:9 sida 150 covering the years 1831-1840. If this is her father, what do the notes read? Many thanks.

[Leif Lundkvist]

Elias and Kjerstin married 1836-07-21, Bokenäs C:3 (1819-1845) Bild 81 / sid 146 (AID: v1355.b81.s146, NAD: SE/GLA/13041) (bottom of right page). Thus it is probable that the birth record is correct, even if it on page 115 looks like Elias is the father and even if Johanna is later named Eliasdotter, such things happen. The Herman(?) born 1809-09-13 should be named Herman Christensson if the father is Christen Hansson, but it can be an error in the birth record, or one case of the very, very rare occasion at that time when persons really took a last name after their father, I have seen one case before. The note, is it the one to the left, which is about the taxation of the homestead? That Herman(?) has no note.

[Bradley Bystrom]

 
 
Thanks Leif,
 
This one is a little strange. Elias Olsson and Kjerstin Jacobsdotter were not married when their first child Oleana Eliasdotter (my great-great-grandmother) was born on 21 Mar 1830 in Morlanda, Göteborg och Bohus.[1] We find them all living together for the first time at Bredvik, Bokenäs, Göteborg och Bohus (record covering the years 1812-1836). Elias Olsson has paid 1:16 Riksdaler for intercourse before marriage, and Kerstin Jacobsdotter has been kyrktagen som fästeqvina July 10, 1830. Kyrktagning was a ceremony by which a woman who had given birth was “cleaned” and admitted to church again.[2] Fästeqvinna is an old word for fiancé. In Sweden at that time a promise to marry was considered binding, so the church had accepted that a child born by an engaged woman was not illegitimate. Elias and Kerstin become engaged on 22 Oct. 1830[3] but are not married until 21 Jul 1836,[4] a span of almost 6 years. Now it appears that within that six year span of time Kjerstin gives birth to Johanna and the father is not Elias but rather Herman (?) There is a note in the parish records saying that Elias was sentenced for theft on 06 Jul 1831 (Bokenas AI:8 sida 399) could Elias have been in prison when Johanna was conceived?
 

 
1 Morlanda C:4 Sida 292
 
2 Bokenäs AI:8 Sida 308
 
3 Bokenäs C:3 Bild 80
 
4 Bokenäs C:3 Bild 82
 

[Leif Lundkvist]

Indeed a strange case, and I think you have got everything right above. Elias Olsson was indeed in jail, Göteborgs länsfängelse (O) DIIIaa:9 (1831) Bild 410 (AID: v304992.b410, NAD: SE/GLA/11578), number 268. There is some text about him there, I have not tried to interpret it.

[Bradley Bystrom]

I am once again amazed by the amount of information that is available in the Swedish archives. I had no idea that the records existed. Riksarkivet does not have the records online so I am unable to read what they say (and I would have a hard time translating them even if they did). Does anyone know how long a prison sentence someone would receive for theft at that time? I'm curious to know if Elias was in prison when Johanna was conceived. Thanks for all the help!

[Erik Mouwitz]

Hello!
The records are quite messily kept. This is my best attempt at a transcription and translation:


"Dömd wid Lane Härads Rätt den 28 mars för inbrott olofligt
tillgrepp, och sabbatsbrott att böta 3 Rd 16 öre för snatteriet 1 Rd 9 öre
och för inbrott med 9 par spö och uppenbar kyrkoplikt i
Bogenäs. D. 15 April inlämnat Beswär. d. 11 Juli kungjortes
Kgl. H. Rätts utslag af den 6 i samma Månad, som rättat Härads Rättens utslag
att Ohlson i stället för den ådömda uppenbara Kyrkoplikten skall
undergå enskild skrift, men i öfrigt fastställdt. Den 30 Augusti afförd till Her-
restad för straffets undergående."


Sentenced at Lane county court for breaking and entering, unlawful taking and desecrating the sabbath to pay, for desecrating the sabbath 3 Rd 16 öre, for the theft 1 Rd 9 öre and for breaking and entering 9 lashes and uppenbar kyrkoplikt (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyrkoplikt) in Bogenäs church.


He appealed his sentence on the 15th of april. The appellate court decided on the 6th of July, and notified the prisoner on the 11th, that the "uppenbar kyrkoplikt" would be changed to "enskild", but that the rest of the sentence would stand. Transported to Herrestad on the 30th of August to face his punishment.


/Erik

[Bradley Bystrom]

 Erik, thanks for translating the record for me. It appears that he didn't receive any jail time for his offenses but rather fines, "lashes", and Kyrkoplikt (literary: 'Church duty'). What I find most fascinating is that he received a larger fine for desecrating the sabbath than he did for the crime itself (he apparently committed the theft on a Sunday). It is very telling of the culture and society he lived in at that time. And I appreciate being able to see the actual record, thanks for including it. Many, many thanks!