Parents of Johan Jonasson

 Last week I wrote about Johan Jonasson, the father of George Henrickson. This week I'll be writing about Johan's mother and father. Johan is my 2x great grandfather. His parents are my 3x great grandparents. Once again, all the research comes from "Find a Swede" 

Johan's father was Jonas Johansson. His father was Johan Jonasson and his mother was Annika Samuelsdotter. He was born December 6, 1789 in Strabacken, Moheda Parish, Kronoberg County, Sweden. He was baptized 2 days later. Carl Moberg is listed as a witness to his birth.  Jonas's father, Johan, dies before 1794. After Johan's death, his mother marries Carl Moberg.

Jonas's living situation isn't well documented. The family lived in Strabacken until 1803. They show up later in Household records for Tolg Parish, still in Kronoberg County. Later, the family moves from Tolg Parish to Moheda Parish in 1821. Jonas is listed as a farmhand. It is safe to assume that Jonas and his family were very poor and probably subsisted on very little. According to Household records, though, he could read from the Bible, understood what he read, and was vaccinated against smallpox.

Johan's mother was Maja Stina Danielsdotter. She was born December 8, 1793 in Skog, Moheda Parish, Kronoberg County, Sweden. Her father was Soldier Daniel Skog and her mother was Kerstin Nilsdotter. Her mother is listed as being 30 years old. She was baptized December 15. As a small girl her name is written as Maja Stina. When she gets older her name is written as Stina Maja. Maja translates to "Marie" and Stina translates to "Kristina" or "Kerstin". As a soldier, her father would have been given a cottage for him and his family to live in. In return he would have been expected to serve in the Swedish military. 

In all the Household records Maja Stina is listed as being able to read and understand the Bible and being vaccinated against smallpox. Most of the records say she is vaccinated, but one record says she has natural immunity. 

At the age of 27 Maja Stina is found living as a maid at a farm in Moheda Parish. In 1821 she gives birth to an illegitimate child, Daniel, while working as a maid. There is no father listed. Did she know the name of the father, or was she trying to keep it secret? We'll probably never know. 

On December 18, 1822, in Moheda Parish Jonas Johansson and Maja Stina Danielsdotter were married. Jonas was 33 and Maja was 30. There are notes that Maja's brother and mother gave their written consent for the marriage to take place. Maja moved in with Jonas as a maid before the wedding. This was apparently common in Sweden then. Jonas and Maja both worked on the same farm. He worked as a farm laborer, and she worked as a maid. 

After getting married children are born to them. I haven't figured it all out, but it looks like twin girls are born, with only one surviving. Johan is born in 1827. There are daughters born too. In 1837 the nickname "Styf" is applied to Jonas. This could refer to his physical or personal characteristics. There are also notes that there are fights in the household from the same time. Later, his son Johan is given the same nickname. My guess is it's a personality trait. Stubbornness seems to run in this family. ;)

On July 29, 1846 Jonas dies of a cold. No other mention is made of cause of death.  He is listed as penniless. He's buried a couple of days later on August 2. He was 57 years old. 

The next entry we find for Maja Stina is in June 1, 1851 when she and son Johan are convicted of theft. They are sentenced to 12/17? days of bread and water, and then made to do public church duty.  She was 57 years old at the time.

For now, that is where the record ends on Maja Stina. Comparing the two sides of George Henrickson's family, his mother's side seemed to be a little bit more well to do than his father's side. The uncles on his mother's side were either soldiers or tailors. His aunt was a schoolteacher. His father's side were farm laborers, working small farms on bigger farms. Coming to America gave George chances he never would have had in Sweden. It is interesting, though, how this line of the family has all lived on farms, whether in Sweden or in Michigan. Farming is in the Henrickson/Johansson blood.