Hello again, fellow ancestry detectives! Remember back in February when I shared my quest to uncover my Swedish roots? Well, grab a cup of coffee (or perhaps some Swedish glögg if you’re feeling festive) because I’ve got some exciting updates to share! Welcome to Week 11 of #52Ancestors!
As you might recall, my journey began with a simple question to my grandfather, David Sten, who immigrated to America from Sweden when he was just 18 years old. When I asked him about his grandfather, he gave me that look—you know the one—slightly embarrassed, slightly sad. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “I never knew who he was.”
That moment lit a fire in me. How could my grandfather not know who his own grandfather was? There had to be a story there, and if there’s one thing I can’t resist, it’s a good family mystery!
Where We Left Off
Last time, I’d just discovered through records located at ArkivDigital.com that my great-grandfather Sven Svensson was born on March 19, 1867, in Näsum, Kristianstad, Sweden to a woman named Sissa Andersdotter. The birth record included that telltale word: “oäkta” – illegitimate.
But who was Sven’s father? That was the brick wall I was determined to break through.
Following the Paper Trail
Since February, I’ve been practically living in these Swedish records (thank goodness for digitization!), and the story that’s emerging feels like something straight out of a historical novel.
Sven’s birth record showed he was baptized on March 24, 1867. One detail that caught my eye was the godparents section—the “Dop-Vittnen.” After getting some translation help, I discovered that Inga Sunesdotter of No. 8 Jemshog was listed as godmother.1
Isn’t it touching to think about? A young mother with her first child, and despite the circumstances, her own mother standing beside her at the baptism. Some things about family never change, even across centuries.
Following Sissa’s Footsteps
I located Sissa at No. 6 Östad, Näsum, Kristianstad in the 1861-1871 census. She’s listed as a “foster daughter” who arrived in 1864 from Jemshög. Her birthdate matches what I know: March 24, 1847, in Jemshög. And there’s little Sven on the next line, born March 19, 1867.2
But here’s where it gets interesting. There was a notation beside Sissa’s entry that roughly translates to:
“1867 Sissa Andersdotter Sven illegitimate. Makes marks/notes, called/known as Ingers Sunesdotter in Jemshög ay!”
This confirms that Sissa was also known as “daughter of Inger Sunesdotter” from Jemshög. But the next notation nearly made me spill my coffee:
There was a reference to a “förlikning” (settlement) and “förhöra” (hearing) in 1867, Sven Mattison’s name, and a direction to “See Pg 130.”
A Glimpse into 1860s Sweden
Before I reveal what I found on page 130, let me share a quick history lesson. In 19th-century Sweden, the Lutheran Church kept meticulous records of everything, including out-of-wedlock births. When a child was born “oäkta,” church officials would often conduct inquiries to identify the father, especially if financial support for the child was needed.
These investigations would be documented in church records, with interviews of the mother and potential fathers. If a man was identified or confessed to being the father, he would typically be required to provide for the child.
The Big Reveal
When I turned to page 130 of the household examination book, right at the top of the page: Mattis Ingemansson, with his family, including Sven Mattisson.3
Sven Mattisson was born October 16, 1847—making him the same age as Sissa. And there was a note beside his name that made my heart race:
“förtälje! Se 132, Pigan Sissa Andersdotter barn! oth. Eg.”
Translation: “declared/revealed! See 132, Maid Sissa Andersdotter’s child!”
I literally gasped out loud. I could almost hear Maury Povich in my head: “Sven Mattisson – You ARE the father!”
So Case Closed? Not Quite Yet…
As exciting as this discovery is, my inner genealogist knows that the Genealogical Proof Standard demands “reasonably exhaustive research.” While the paper trail strongly suggests Sven Mattisson is my great-great-grandfather, I need more evidence before I can confidently add him to our family tree.
My research plan has several next steps:
First, I need to build out Sven Mattisson’s family tree. Who were his siblings, his cousins, his nieces and nephews? I’m hunting for marriage records (I’ve already discovered that Sven eventually married someone else), birth records of children, and tracing forward to find living descendants. You know that feeling when you’re putting together a jigsaw puzzle and you finally find that crucial connecting piece? That’s what I’m looking for here.
Then comes the DNA detective work. My father has already taken a DNA test (bless him for indulging my ancestry obsession!), and I’ll be combing through his matches to identify possible connections to Sven Mattisson’s extended family. I’ve also recently ordered a Y-DNA test kit from Family Tree DNA – Dad will soon be swabbing his cheek again to help us find direct paternal line matches. Since Y-DNA passes virtually unchanged from father to son, this could be our golden ticket to confirming the Mattisson connection! I’ve started a massive Lucidchart showing the intersection of Sissa’s line and Sven’s potential line, and I’m filling it in with DNA connections as I find them. It’s like following genetic breadcrumbs that lead back to our mystery ancestor.
I’ll also need to research what other Swedish records might help confirm this relationship:
- Are there accessible church court records that might document that 1867 hearing?
- What types of Swedish parish records might contain additional clues?
- Are there digitized Swedish newspapers from the 1860s I could search?
- Could local historical societies in Näsum and Jemshög have additional insights?
It’s like assembling evidence for a case that’s over 150 years old! I’ve got browser tabs open across two screens with various Swedish records, DNA matches, and translation tools. My husband just shakes his head and smiles when he walks by my digital command center—he knows better than to suggest I “just wrap it up for the night”!
Has anyone else hit a similar brick wall in their family research? Or discovered an unexpected ancestor through records or DNA? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments!
Stay tuned for Part III, where I’ll share what the DNA tells us. Will science confirm what the church records suggest? I get butterflies in my stomach just thinking about it—this isn’t just adding a name to our family tree, it’s reclaiming a piece of our identity that was almost lost to time.
Skål! (That’s “cheers” in Swedish—I’m learning bit by bit!)
- Näsum Parish, Kristianstad County, Sweden, BiS (Population of Sweden) 1800-1947, ArkivDigital: Näsum CI:8 (1862-1867) Image: 880 Page: 85, entry for Sven; digital image, ArkivDigital (https://app.arkivdigital.se/volume/v100653a : accessed 1 Feb 2025) ↩︎
- Näsum Parish, Kristianstad County, Sweden, BiS (Population of Sweden) 1800-1947, ArkivDigital: Näsum (L) AI:9 (1861-1871) Image: 135 Page: 132, entry for Sven; digital image, ArkivDigital (https://app.arkivdigital.se/volume/v100637 : accessed 25 Jan 2025). ↩︎
- Näsum Parish, Kristianstad County, Sweden, BiS (Population of Sweden) 1800-1947, Näsum (L) AI:9 (1861-1871) Image: 133 Page: 130, entry for Sven Mattison; digital image, ArkivDigital (https://app.arkivdigital.se/volume/v100637 : accessed 25 Jan 2025). ↩︎
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