Confirmation practices

[Mary Nelson Keithahn]

My great-grandmother, Carolina Gran Peterson, was born in Rasbo, Uppsala, Uppland on July 5,1840, and left home to live with an uncle, Isac Granborn in Morkala in 1853. Our family history states that she was confirmed on July 22, 1855, but there are no records for her in Morkala parish. She evidently moved on in 1855 to work as a maid at a farm called Valla Nr 1 in Vendel (Wendel). Did a girl have to wait to be confirmed before she could hire out as a maid?  Were they ever confirmed after they left home? Were they ever confirmed as young as 12 or 13?  Also, what kind of instruction was given in confirmation and for how long?  Would a class have included both boys and girls? Thanks for any information you can provide.  Mary

[Bo Nordenfors]

She was confirmed in Morkarla, according to a remark in the clerical survey of Rasbo, ref.  GID 371.39.43300,  [Uppsala]  Rasbo,  AI.19, Husförhör, 1851-1855, 238-0,  Bild 244 av 367    
I have not yet found the original record in Morkarla, will try to find it.

[Bo Nordenfors]

When Carolina lived with her uncle, it was made a remark that she got the holy communion in 1855, exact date faded but can be July 22.. So I think 1855 is her year of confirmation.
The correct name of the place was Svensarvets ägor.
 
Source:  GID 2251.29.27300,  [Uppsala]  Morkarla,  AI.14, Husförhör,Inflyttning,Utflyttning, 1851 - 1855, 17-0,  Bild 24 av 161
 
(Meddelandet ändrat av rannug 2010-03-31 12:31)

[Mary Nelson Keithahn]

Thanks for the additional information, Bo. Do you know if Carolina had any other siblings?  Did her father return to the family after prison? As you said, it is a sad story.  But I am glad to know about it as a way of understanding the great-grandmother I never knew.  Mary

[Bo Nordenfors]

I am working on your questions, will revert later.

[Ingela Martenius]

No one was confirmed before the age of 15. Ever. Because 15 had been decided by the Church as the age a person was grown-up enough to understand the significance of confirmation. 15 is still the first magic age in Sweden: you can watch all movies, you can have sex, you're allowed to drive a moped etc.
 
Mary, read my essays, and most of your questions regarding birth/baptism, confirmation/becoming an adult, betrothal/marriage and death/burial will be answered.  Rites of Passage in Sweden (pdf).
 
Ingela

[Gerry Hagberg]

It is always risky to make sweeping generalizations so emphatically. I agree that 15 seems to be the most common age for confirmation, however, in my father's case it happened at age 14. He was born in January 1903 and confirmed in June 1917. Actually, about half of his confirmation group were born in 1903, according to the register.

[Åsa Jonsson]

Ingela, do You know when the rule about confirmation age was altered? Since You are so sure about the 15 year limit I suppose You know about the change too.  
In 1960 when I was confirmated I was only 12, but became 13 on the day of my first communion. I beleive I was the youngest in my group, although two of the boys were born earlier the same year. The most of the group were 14 and a few 15 years old. We all were in the 1st grade of college (realskolan) or the 7th grade of common school (folkskolan).  
 
Mvh  Åsa

[Thomas Vikander]

Even though the Scandinavian countries had declared a neutrality pact could the reality of three years warring elsewhere in Europe have had any influence in lowering the age of confirmation so young men could more readily be called up for military service ?