Confusing and Mysterious Blixt Family

[Carolyn Cooper]

[color=0000ff]Hello, off and on for almost 25 years I have been looking for this information, and yesterday came closer to an answer.  Hopefully some kind person here can take me further.
 
Great-grandfather, Alex Blixt, (born May 25, 1875) came from somewhere in Sweden as a toddler with his baby brother Neils, his mother Hanna (born about 1840), and his father Anders Blixt,  born about 1820.  They left Copenhagen, Denmark on October 19, 1877, heading for Moline, Illinois. I found that on an index yesterday, but Alex was listed as Erik.  He was always called Alec in America.  I know this is the family--with absolute certainty.  
 
I cannot find a manifest--don't know where they landed in the U.S. but Alec always said it was New York, and he thought his parents were from Stockholm.  He was orphaned very young, however, so may not have been correct. Both of his parents were destitute in America.  Baby Nils died only a few months after arriving in Illinois at a county poor farm.  
 
Alex and his family lived often at the poor farm.  His mother died there in 1881 after having a baby daughter who was adopted by an American farmer's wife. Alex and his father lived in the poor farm every winter until the old man finally left him there.  At age 13, he went to live and work with another farm family in Henderson County, Illinois.  His father died soon after around 1888.    
 
More mystery--sometimes they used the surname Blixt, but in the 1880 census they used the surname Nelson, and my great-grandfather changed his name to Nelson when he became an adult.
 
BIGGEST mystery--Anders Blixt, a shoemaker, and Hanna (using name of Nelson) actually got married at the Court House in Henderson County in 1878.  He said his father's name was Nils Johnson on the application.  Hanna said that her last name was Nelson and that her father's name was Nelson Nelstygan, her mother's last name was written as Burly.  Both Anders and Hanna said they had been married before and were widowed.  Some years back the Emigrant's Institute advised me there is no such surname as Nelstygan.  
 
Today, I am perhaps more confused than I ever have been.  Why get married if they already were married?  But mostly, I want to know where they are from.  It's a sad story also, great-grandmother died a very sad death at the poor farm, suffering quite terribly.  I have some concerns about it.  
 
Thanks for reading this, and please be assured I have poured over the manifests available to me, trying all kinds of variations of names and dates to come as far as I have done.
 
Sincerely thanking all who may be able to give advise, Carolyn[/color]

[Magnus Persson]

Hi Carolyn!
 
I found the people you are looking for on the EMIBAS cd. They were not married at the time of emigration.
 
Anders Nilsson Blixt, Tailor apprentice, born Aug 1st 1820 in Västra Vram, Kristianstads län
Emigrated Oct 8th 1877 from Vram number 9, Västra Vram, Kristianstads län
 
Hanna Nilsdotter, widow, born March 14th 1849 (no birth place listed). Emigrated Nov 8 1877 from Skettilljunga Allmänning, Västra Vram, Kristianstads län. Hanna emigrated with her two sons, Eric and Nils. Both were born out of wedlock.
 
Eric, born May 28th 1875 in Vram. (the birth date could be a missreading when the database was made)
Nils, born May 31 1877 in Vram.
 
It is likely that the surname Blixt was either a surname that Anders took when he became an apprentice or he might have been a soldier in his past.
 
Best of luck,
 
Magnus

[Olle Elm]

1:st of August a boy Anders was born in Tollarp, Västra Vram parish, as son of the soldier Nils Timan and wife Karna Bengtsdotter.
(GID 1726.5.80600)
Regards from,
Olle Elm

[Olle Elm]

Crofter Anders Nilsson Blixt mentioned born 1/8 1820 in Wram is found in GID 1726.51.39300,  [Kristianstad]  Västra Vram,  AI.17, Husförhör, 1873 - 1883, page 30. It says: Emigrated to Amerika 8/10 1877. His wife is mentioned: Sissa Olsdotter born 1805 1/12 in Wram. No emigration note on her!
One can also read:  Blixt has been in prison for illegal hunting and blasphemy(?) or abuse against vitness ?? (not sure).
 
 
(Meddelandet ändrat av smol den 13 april, 2008)

[Stefan Dake]

Hanna Nilsdotter is found in GID 1726.52.9000 and is said to be born in Hörby. Widow 17 March 1874 with two illegitimate boys, Eric and Nils.

[Stefan Dake]

Here is the 'moving out'-record (GID 1726.9.113300):
 

 
Here they both moved 8 Nov 1877. Anders is a married worker and Hanna a widow with two sons
 
regards Stefan
 
Correction: the date is Oct. 8th!
 
(Meddelandet ändrat av Bobbo den 13 april, 2008)
 
(Meddelandet ändrat av Bobbo den 13 april, 2008)

[Carolyn Cooper]

My first reply was lost.  I was telling you that your generous information means so much to me that I felt breathless and faint when I read the information you all have given.  I cannot tell you how much this means to me.
 
I was also telling you that my son is named for my Great-Grandfather Alex (and now I'm wondering if he should have been Eric!)  The date of birth for Eric as you have provided is exactly the date of birth for my Alex, by the way, so I have absolutely no doubts about all of this being my family.
 
The fact that Anders Blixt was in prison does not at all surprise me.  I have had my concerns about him.  I wonder if they travelled together as a family, because U.S. immigration would not allow a widow with children to come in to the country without a sponsor.  Could it be so easy for them to just take the Blixt name in Copenhagen when travelling, I wonder?
 
God bless you all.  Alex Nelson was a wonderful man.  He married the daughter of a German farmer and they had 11 kids--10 daughters.  One was my grandmother.  He was a good farmer, loved his kids and grandkids, helped them in anyway he could when times were hard.
 
Sincerely thanking you, Carolyn

[C-G-A Bartholomew]

on may 3th 1806 Nils Timan and Karna Bengtsdotter got Married in Kristianstad.
 
Kristianstad Stadsförsamling 1792-1806 s55(s56 Genline)GID:1446.33.19100

[Stefan Dake]

Hanna was born March 14th in Köinge No 12 in Hörby parish in Malmöhus county. Her father was Nils Tykesson, born July(?) 10th. I can't read where.
Her mother was Bolla Andersdotter, born Dec. 15th in Knäred in Halland county. There you have 'Nelstygan' and 'Burly'!
 
[Hörby Born/Dead 1831-1861 (no volume name), GID 1271.34.11300 and Hörby Household Exams 1845-1852 page 232 (no volume name), GID 1271.50.10900].
 
regards Stefan

[Carolyn Cooper]

Wow!  
 
My heart is beating so fast today, and I'm really smiling.
 
You guys are awesome.  Thanks so much, again!
 
By the way, three of my eight great-grandparents came from Sweden.  The others were much easier to trace as my grandmother who was full-Swede from both her parents always kept the places in her mind.  She knew a little Swedish.  
 
Alex Nelson Blixt grew up speaking Swedish and kept an accent, I am told.  My mom said he tried to teach the grandkids Swedish sometimes.  
 
Regards!!
 
Carolyn

[Maud Svensson]

Some completions and corrections:
 
Hanna's father Nils Tykesson was born July 10, 1816 in Tågarp, Hörby parish, Malmöhus county. His parents were Tyke Olsson and Anna Svensdotter. (Hörby birth records)
 
Hanna's mother Bolla Andersdotter was born Dec 15, 1821 not in Knäred but in Huaröd parish, Kristianstad county. Born out of wedlock, her mother was Sissa Samuelsdotter, 24 years old. (Huaröd birth records)
 
Nils Tykesson and Bolla Andersdotter came from Huaröd to Köinge nr 12, Hörby, in 1847.
Their children:
d. Elna b. May 5, 1844 in Huaröd
s. Sven b. Aug 25, 1845 in Huaröd
d. Hanna b. Mar 14, 1849 in Hörby
s. Anders b. Jan 13, 1853 in Hörby
d. Kerstina b. Mar 26, 1856 in Hörby
s. Åke b. Jan 21, 1859 in Hörby, dead Apr 21, 1859 in Hörby
s. Åke b. Jan 17, 1862 in Hörby
(Hörby household examination records)
 
There is a note in the records that Bolla Andersdotter was arrested in 1861 and found guilty of theft: she had milked another person's cow.  
 
Nils Tykesson died Feb 3, 1862 in Köinge nr 12, Hörby. Bolla Andersdotter died ?/4 1894 in Köinge nr 9, Hörby - I can't read the date and I am not sure about the month, Hörby household exam 1891-1908 p. 83.
 
Jan 20, 1870 Hanna Nilsdotter moved from Hörby to Skettilljunga nr 4, Västra Vram parish, Kristianstad county. According to Västra Vram household exam p. 118, she was married Mar 21, 1870 with the man noted on the line above hers - his name is impossible to read on the scanned page at Genline. A note about their banns gives his initials J.M.S. Hanna's husband died just nine months after the wedding, Dec 17, 1870. Hanna is noted to move to Svensköp parish, Kristianstad county, in March 1871 but I have not found her in the migration rolls of Västra Vram and Svensköp that year. Nor have I found her in the migration rolls of 1875 when she is supposed to move into Västra Vram from Svensköp (household exam of Västra Vram 1873-1883 p. 206).  
 
Unfortunately there are several records I don't have at hand - births in Västra Vram 1875 and 1877, marriages and deaths in Västra Vram 1870, deaths in Hörby 1862 and 1894.

[Carolyn Cooper]

Maud, I thank you so much.  Your information is so helpful.  These folks were in such dire straits, I wonder how Hanna was able to scrape together the money to emigrate.  And the same for Anders Blixt.
 
I feel bad for my great-great-great-grandmother milking someone else's cow.  It's sad and pathetic, because I'll bet she really was desperate to get the milk for her kids.  Knowing these details is important to me.
 
I believe that this branch of my family tree has faced more desperate situations, poverty, scrapes with the law, etc. by far than any of the other branches.
 
God Bless--Carolyn }}

[Maud Svensson]

Carolyn,
I want you to know that I share your feelings for Bolla Andersdotter. My first thought when I read about her theft was: she had to get milk for her children. Times were very hard for poor people in those days: no mercy to expect, not even for desperate mothers stealing for their kids. Poverty and no hope for improved conditions in Sweden were - as I think you know - the main reasons for about one million Swedes to leave for America.  
 
Now a little info on Anders Nilsson Blixt (Blixt was his soldier name). When he married Hanna Nilsdotter in 1878 he became a bigamist. His wife Sissa Olsdotter (b. Dec 1, 1805 in Västra Vram) died Apr 29, 1884 at Västra Vram nr 9, a note in the household examination records says that her husband is gone to America.
 
Sissa Olsdotter's first husband was Sven Nilsson who lived 1797-1837. They had two daughters: Maria 1829-1836 and Elna b. 1837.  
Anders Nilsson Blixt was a soldier at Borrestad, Sönnarslöv parish, Kristianstad county, when he married the 15 year older widow Sissa Olsdotter. The wedding took place in Västra Vram church Mar 19, 1843. (Västra Vram marriage records)
Their son Nils was born Mar 7, 1845 at Västra Vram nr 4 (Västra Vram birth records). In 1862 he moved from his parents, Västra Vram nr 9, to Kviinge parish, also Kristianstad county (household exam 1860-1864 p. 794)
 
(Meddelandet ändrat av mausve den 14 april, 2008)
 
(Meddelandet ändrat av mausve den 14 april, 2008)
 
(Meddelandet ändrat av mausve den 14 april, 2008)

[Olle Elm]

Maud,
Have you seen any notes on when Anders Nilsson Blixt was in prison? I have put forward a question on: » Gamla bilder » Fotografier » Frigivna fångar.
Regards from,
Olle

[Carolyn Cooper]

[color=0000ff]Again everyone, my thanks.  I'm still absorbing all of your helpful information.  
 
Olle, what is the Gamla bilder that you mention above?  
 
Sincerely, Carolyn[/color]

[Anna-Carin Betzén]

Carolyn,  
It's another thread in this forum;  
Anbytarforum » Gamla bilder » Fotografier » Frigivna fångar
 
Unfortunately, there was a reply in that thread saying that he couldn't be located in the database of freed prisoners (currently covering the years 1876-1925).

[Carolyn Cooper]

Oh, I see!  Thank you, Anna-Carin.  By the way, I have been looking through the very interesting English discussions on this site.  I'll have more questions for you all in time.  
 
I know fair German (and Spanish).  Looking at the Swedish some of the translations seem a bit intuitive--it's piquing my interest.
 
Best to all.   [color=0000ff]Carolyn[/color]