Ulrika Johansdotter

 Ulrika Johansdotter was born on March 24, 1840 in Skaverud, Molltrop Parish, Skaraborg County, Sweden. Her parents were Johannes Pehrsson and Britta Carlsdotter. Her father was 36 years old and her mother was 43. Johannes's occupation was farmer/peasant. She had older brothers and sisters. Their names were Britta Stina, born in 1826; Pehr Johan, born in 1830; Anders, born in 1832; and Greta Lisa, born in 1836.

In 1842 Johannes is listed as a lodging pauper and dies. He is 38 years old. His wife Britta Carlsdotter is blind. The family moves from Skaverud to Skackan. The family continues to be listed as lodging paupers. With no father to bring in income, and Britta being blind it is likely that the family is relying on the church for assistance. All of the children are listed as being able to read and understand from a book, and Luther's Catechism. All the children are also listed as being vaccinated against smallpox, including Ulrika. 

In 1847 Britta Carlsdotter dies. She is listed as a Widow Pauper, aged 51 years. Ulrika is only 7 years old. Earlier that year older sister Greta Lisa moves out. The other older sister, Britta Stina has moved back in. She has had a child out of wedlock. Ulrika is lucky that she is able to live with her siblings. The alternative would have been to go to foster care. Foster care involved hard work and often starvation. Support for orphans lasted until the age of 15 so that is probably when Ulrika moved out. 

The next Household record Ulrika is found in is 1857-1858. Ulrika is now working as a maid at Grytasen in Kyrkoroten. She moved in from Galteback and in 1858 moves to Rabacken. Her brothers Per and Anders moved away in 1851 and 1850. Older sister Britta had another out of wedlock child in 1855. In 1860 Ulrika moves to Orberga Parish in Ostergotland County. She works on a small farm. On the moving out record her reputation is listed as "Good" and she is 'free for marriage."

In 1860 Ulrika moves to Saby in Orberga Parish, Ostergotland County. She is still working as a maid and her reputation is "well justified-honest" and she is still "free for marriage" The size of the farm she is working on now is larger. She's also in a more wealthier county. In 1861 she moves to Nassia Parish. Her reputation is again "well justifiable-poor-honest"  It is also noted that she attended examinations and attended Lord's Holy Communion in 1855, 1856, 1857, 1858, and 1859.

In 1862 Ulrika moves to the medieval town Vadstena in November 1862. Still working as a maid. I've found out that it was not unusual for single people to move so often. Following better job prospects. Also, Ulrika is steadily making her way to bigger and better areas. Leaving her smaller, poorer parish and moving into bigger and wealthier towns. On May 12, 1864 Ulrika moves to Stockholm County, Sweden. 

In Stockholm Ulrika meets, and marries Carl Johan Andersson on December 3, 1866. She is 26 years old. They marry in Sollentuna Parish, Stockholm County. Sollentuna is north of the city of Stockholm. Ulrika also goes by Johansson now, instead of Johanssdotter. It was not unusual for a woman to change from "dotter" to "son". It was the first marriage for Ulrika and Carl. Ulrika's brother Pehr Johan Johansson was listed as Ulrika's guardian and he gave his permission for her to marry. In 1885 unmarried women were emancipated at the age of 21. Prior to that any unmarried woman, no matter the age, had to have permission of a guardian to marry. It could be a father, brother, or widowed mother. For some reason Ulrika's birthday is now listed as March 14, 1840. Carl is listed as a farmhand, and Ulrika is listed as a maid. Ulrika and Carl live at the railway station in Rotebro Jarnvagssatation, Ed Parish, Stockholm County. They are also listed as moving out of the parish on the same day of their wedding, with Stockholm being their destination. 

On December 15, 1866 Carl and Ulrika move to Hjalmseryd Parish, Jonkoping County. They live in Stora Hokhemmet until 1870. Carl is listed as a farmer and owns 2 farms. They live here until they leave to move to America on May 2, 1870. 105 people are listed as moving out of Hjalmseryd Parish in 1870. There was a famine that year so the famine may have been very hard there. Carl is also listed as a lodging pauper in the moving out record. 

Carl and Ulrika leave Gothenburg, Sweden on May 13, 1870 and travel to Hull, England. From there they travel to America where they make their way to Allegan, Michigan. Ulrika is listed with the last name "Anderson" on the passenger list. 

Ulrika was able to make a good life with Carl in Michigan. They were able to buy land, farm, start a church, and raise a family, with many, many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Ulrika started out with a hard life, losing both her parents by the time she was 7. She was fortunate her siblings took care of her, and she was able to get help from the church. She also worked hard by working as a maid and moving upward to wealthier areas until she met Carl and they were able to save and move to America. More importantly though, in all the church notes and records Ulrika is always listed as being a "good" and "honest" person. She is an inspiration. 

All the research for this blog is courtesy of www.Findaswede.com Researched by Annika Hostmad

Ulrika and Carl and children: Frank, Malvina, Selma