Per Hemmingson (c1746-?) was a crofter at Högsby in Småland, Sweden. He married Stina Danielsdotter (c1753-aft 1803).
Daniel Persson Fyrstén (1791-1837) was a master smith at Gärdserum. Daniel adopted the surname Fyrstén (”fire stone”). He married Christina “Stina” Nilsdotter (1786-1849), daughter of Nils Persson and Maja Persdotter. Their sons and grandsons carried on the family tradition, working as smiths in Sweden’s metal industry.
Nils Peter Fyrstén (1822-aft 1900), a master smith at Storebro Bruk in Vimmerby. He married (1) Christina Charlotta Svanström (1820-1866), daughter of Nils Gustaf Svanström and Sara Stina Eliasdotter. Nils came to America in 1868 after the death of his first wife, settling at LaPorte, Indiana. He left behind his older children.
Johanna Carolina Fyrstén (1846-1917). She married Lars Erik Classon (1845-c1932). According to relatives in Sweden, Johanna Fyrstén was the mother of Josefina Classon by August, Duke of Dalarna before her marriage to Lars Erik Classon. Maybe so, but I think it is at least possible that Josefina’s father was Anders Johan Reinhold Andersson (1831-1887), a farmer at Löckerum.
Breaking news Nov. 23, 2014: DNA test results from a cousin in Sweden appear to confirm that Josefina Classon was a daughter of Andrew Andersson in Löckerum. More to follow.
Robertson of Struan: Gules three wolves’ heads erased Argent armed and langued Azure. Crest: A dexter arm holding a regal crown all Proper. Supporters: Dexter, a serpent; Sinister, a dove, the heads of each encircled with rays. Compartment: A wild man chained. Motto: Virtutis Gloria Merces. Slogan: Garg’n uair dhuisgear. Badges: Dluth Fhraoch (Fine-leaved Heath), An Raineach mhor (Bracken).
My Line
James Roberson (c1785-1835) lived at the Watauga Settlement in Tennessee before 1805, then settled at Cumberland Gap in Lee County before 1820. He owned land on both sides of the Powell River, and operated an inn there. James died in 1835. His widow and children left Virginia. According to tradition, they went first to Georgia, then to Oklahoma. However, I find no record of them until they reached the Platte Purchase in northwestern Missouri in 1839.
During the Civil War, public opinion in Missouri was violently split between the Union and the Confederacy. Northwestern Missouri saw much guerrilla activity on behalf of the Confederacy. James’ son Rufus Morgan Roberson was a slave owner and Confederate sympathizer, yet after the Civil War (1868) his daughter Rachel Jane Roberson married Union veteran William John Horne. Their descendants went west to Nebraska, Oregon, and Washington.
Lineal Genealogy
Robert de Atholl of Struan (c1485-?), 8th Laird of Glenerochie, and 1st feudal Baron of Struan. He married Margaret Stewart (c1487-?), daughter of John, Earl of Atholl, and Eleanor Sinclair. [re-check this]
Alexander Robertson of Struan (c1480-c1506), 9th Laird of Struan (formerly Glenerochie), and 2nd feudal Baron of Struan. He married Isobel Stewart (c1483-?), daughter of John, Earl of Atholl, and Eleanor Sinclair. [re-check this]
John Robertson of Muirton (c1500-c1540), 1st Laird of Muirton. He married Margaret Crichton (c1498-bef 1546), daughter of Sir James Crichton of Crichton, and Katherine Borthwick.
Gilbert Robertson of Muirton (c1520-aft 1570), 2nd Laird of Muirton. He married Jonet Reid (c1515-?), sister of Robert Reid, Bishop of Orkney.
David Robertson of Muirton (c1540-aft 1600), 3rd Laird of Muirton.
William Robertson of Muirton (c1560-1599), 4th Laird of Muirton. He married Isobel Petrie (c1565-?).
Thomas Robertson (c1592-1686), a merchant and Baillie of Edinburgh. He married Jean Jeffrey (c1598-?).
Rev. William Robertson (c1622-?), a minister in Edinburgh. He married Katherine Kirkwood (c1650-aft 1700).
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Thomas Roberson (c1658-1692), a planter in Henrico County, Virginia. He married Elizabeth Alder (c1666-1691). I’m skeptical about his supposed parentage.
John Robertson (c1670-1720), a planter in Henrico County, Virginia. He married Mavell Alsop East (c1676-?).
Jacob Robinson (c1694-1774), a planter in Caswell County, North Carolina. He married Martha Headen (1702-1755).
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William Robinson (c1733-bef 1804), of Claiborne County, Tennessee. He married Charity Kennedy (c1740-c1848). There is some dispute about his parentage.
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James Roberson (c1775-1835), a farmer in Lee County, Virginia. He married Catharina Helvey (1781-1851), daughter of Henry and Susanna (Gale) Helvey. His parentage is uncertain.
Rufus Morgan Roberson (c1811-1897), a farmer in Holt County, Missouri. He married Elizabeth A. Lomax (1814-1895), daughter of Asahel and Betty Jane (?) Lomax.
Rachel Jane Roberson (1847-1944). She married William Steven Horne (c1832-1896).
The Svanströms were soldiers, crofters and tailors in and around Gärdserum and Ukna in the county of Kalmar in Småland, Sweden. The earliest known ancestor of the family is Petter Jönsson Cavat, an infantry soldier who was taken prisoner by the Prussians at the Battle of Demmin and never returned to Sweden. He was probably put to death by the Prussians, who hated the Swedes.
Jonas Pettersson, the first Svanström, was son of Petter Cavat. He was living in 1780 in the seaport town of Västervik, where he was a carpenter. He adopted the surname Svanström, which means “river of the swans.” He later joined the army as a grenadier. Jonas’ descendants retained his surname.
The immigrant to America was Adolf Svanström, a deeply religious man, a scholar who loved music, and an ardent pacifist. Adolf and his wife Josefina came to America in 1891 so that their young sons would not some day be drafted. They settled at Chetek, Wisconsin. Adolf died there in 1904. Josefina moved to Burlingame, Kansas. She later homesteaded at Marbleton, Wyoming, where she opened a hotel. In later life she moved to Rock Springs, Wyoming, where she had the honor making a welcoming speech when the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Sweden stopped there during their American tour. According to newspaper accounts, she told the prince that she was being presented to him as she had been presented to his father many years earlier in Sweden. Josefina later retired to Fresno, California, where she died.
My Swanstrom research is currently focused on finding descendants of Adolf’s cousins, who came to America about the same time he did. At least one of them settled in Burlingame, Kansas.
Lineal Genealogy
Petter Jönsson Cavat (1734-1759), Grenadier at Komdalen, Gärdserum. He married Cajsa Ingrid Johansdotter.
Jonas Pedersson Svanström (1754-1811+), Grenadier at Rytt Torp, Åkerhagen, Gärdserum. He married 1779 Maria Månsdotter Holmström, daughter of Magnus “Måns” Holmström and Catharina “Cajsa” Skog.
Jonas Svanström (1794-1881), Tailor at Gärdserum. He married Inga Honnet, daughter of Peter “Per” Jönsson Honnet and Anna Ingrid Wåhlstrand.
Carl Johan Svanström (1823-1885+), Grenadier at Sundet, Ekevik, Ukna, and later of Strömsborg. He married Anna Sofia Jaensdotter, daughter of Johan “Jaen” Andersson and Anna Helena Hultsberg.
Adolf Ferdinand Svanström (1862-1904), Farmer at Chetek, Wisconsin. He married Carolina Josefina Fyrstén, daughter of Johanna Carolina Fyrstén. They came to America in 1891.
Harry William Swanström (1903-1957), Rancher (H Lazy S) at Farson, Wyoming. He married Vivian Luce, daughter of Wilford Woodruff and Esseneth (Wilson) Luce.
Origin of the Name
The surname Svanström was first adopted by Jonas. As usual at the time, it alludes to his place of birth, Svenserum. It was common to take the stem (in this case Sven-) and add a different ending (-ström). The connection is not immediately apparent in English. However, it is clearer in older spellings. A 1690 map of Tjust shows the farm Svensrum in the parish of Gierdsrum (now Gärdserum). A military roll calls the farm Swansrum. In short, the surname Svanström derives from the farm name Svansrum.
Prominent Svanströms
Sven Johan Ögrim (né Svanström) (1853-1938) was successively head of the Salvation Army in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Germany (1888-1925). He was Adolf’s cousin and Josefina’s foster brother. His granddaughter Ruth is married to Brynjulf Bull, head of Norway’s Labor Party and Mayor of Oslo. Tron Ögrim is a member of this family.
A Conrad Hauri (Chuondradus dictus Hovri) was mentioned on 8 February 1282 as owing 9 shillings annually for his land at Steffisburg, when Werner von Steffisburg leased certain lands to Kloster Interlaken. The dues he owed for his lands are in line with amounts throughout the region for larger peasant holdings and there is nothing to indicate that these lands were anything else.
Conrad Hauri (Conrad dictus Hovri) was mentioned again on 29 March 1308 when Werner von Matten bequeathed lands, including Conrad’s holdings, to Kloster Interlaken. In the same document Werner von Matten bequeathed other lands, which belonged half to the Hauri farmstead, to his daughter Adelheid, wife of Peter von Wichtrach. It should be noted that different lands seem to be involved in these documents, and that Conrad seems to have held lands simultaneously from the von Steffisburg and von Matten families.
A Nicholas Hauri (Nicholaus Hovri) was mentioned in a 19 January 1303 charter as owing 8 shillings annually for his farmstead at Steffisburg, when Walter ab der Matten renounced any claims he might have to lands given by his father to Kloster Interlaken. Conrad and Nicholas Hauri might have been brothers, because both were living at the same time and holding lands in the same area.
An Ulrich Hauri (Uolriens Hoori) was mentioned 24 July 1310 at Jegenstorf as living near two farmsteads sold by Squire Bleiso (Junker Bleiso) to Peter von Krauchtal, a burgher of Berne. In 1323 and 1336 Hauri’s property (Hauris Gut) was mentioned in the same area. This Ulrich might have been the son of Nicholas and nephew of Conrad Hauri. He might have been the Hauri (Hörinus) named in 1313 and 1324 at Beromünster.
The earliest Hauris, then, are Conrad (living 1282-1308), Nicholas (living 1303) and Ulrich (living 1310-1324). There is nothing to prove their relationship to one another, although they were living in the same area and were very likely close relatives.
The surnames Haari, Hari, Harri, Hauri and Houri were recorded in a 1798 census of Berne that included all men between the ages of 20 and 70 [Men of Bern: The 1798 Bürgerverzeichnisse of Canton Bern, Switzerland].
A Conrad Hauri or Conrad Horn (Chuondradus dictus Hornus), a Knight of the Order of Saint Lazarus, lived at the order’s house at Gfenn in Dübendorf, now a suburb of Zürich. He was named in a charter dated 13 April 1272, when the order sold the church at Meiringen in the Bernese Oberland to Kloster Interlaken. Conrad might have taken his surname from Höri in Zürich. This is the earliest mention of a possible Hauri and the only reference to imply that the family might originally have been nobles.
Other readings are possible. There were Horn families at Sigriswil and Schüpfen in Berne, and at Riehen in Basel. There were Horni families at Leutwil in Aargau, and at Bärschwil in Solothurn. [Emil Meier, Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz (Zürich 1968-71)]
A charter dated 7 March 1290 names Nicholas, Conrad and Ulrich “of the Hospital” (dicti des Spitals), as among those living at the Manor of Bernensem near Engi when that manor was granted by the Master of the Lazarite Hospital near Bern to another party. The Nicholas, Conrad and Ulrich of the Hospital were probably close relatives, as other persons named in the same document are each given their different surnames.
L’Hopital Coat of Arms
It has been suggested, but not proven, that these men are identical with the Hauris of the same name. There is no problem with identifying Conrad Hornus (1272) with Conrad of the Hospital (1290), although the identification rests only on similarity of name. It would be more of a stretch to identify either man with Conrad Hauri (1282-1308), of Steffisburg. Further, there is nothing to support the identifications of Nicholas and Ulrich. If the two Conrads were in fact identical, the mutual connection with Kloster Interlaken might have brought the Hauris from Höri in Zürich to Steffisburg in Bern.
Perhaps coincidentally, the early Hauris used the same coat of arms as the French family de L’Hôpital, who claimed descent from the first royal family of Naples.
On the whole, these theories of relationship might merit further investigation but cannot now be taken as more than a curiosity.
