Petter SVENSSON

Torpare, snickare. Blev 74 år.

Äktenskap med Christina HÅKANSDOTTER (1805 - 1880)

Noteringar

Birth: Aug. 22, 1806
Kronobergs län, Sweden
Death: Mar. 6, 1881
Chisago County
Minnesota, USA

Petter Svensson was born August 22, 1806 in Torpet Kupermåla, Herråkra, Kronobergs Lan in Småland, Sweden to Sven Nilsson and Karin Nilsdotter. He was a dräng (unmarried hired hand) at various farms before moving back to live with his parents where he was a torpare. A torp is usually given as "a small farm, usually on encumbered land", meaning land which does not belong to the resident of the torp. The resident of a torp thus becomes a torpare, much as the resident of a croft or cottage becomes a crofter or cotter. Christina Håkansdotter, who was a pigan (maid) moved to live with Petter and his parents on August 22, 1833. Petter and Christina were married on June 19, 1836. Petter was 29 and Christina was 31 when they got married. They had three children: Johan, Johanna and Johannes. In 1861, Petter and Stina and their daughter, Johanna, moved to Ljuder in Småland. Petter was a carpenter in Ljuder and did quite well in Sweden. When they lived in Ljuder, a little boy would come by their home and beg for food every week and Christina would put away for the little “tiggare gusson”. This little “beggar boy” (Frants Svensson, aka Frank Swenson) would later turn out to be the man their daughter, Johanna, married after they came to the U.S.

Petter and Christina emigrated to the U.S. on June 15, 1865 from Kylle, Ljuder with their daughter, Johanna Petersdotter. Christina’s sister, Johanna Håkansdotter, and Johanna's daughter and step-daughter died coming over on the ocean in 1853, so Christina didn’t dare come to America for a long time. Christina’s sister came over to the U.S. when they used sailboats and it was six weeks on the ocean. The story goes that when they came over from Sweden on the sailboat, a man playing a banjo on the deck got hit by a wave and was washed overboard. Christina was the last sibling left in Sweden. Petter and Christina’s sons, Johan and Johannes emigrated in 1864 with Frank Swenson. Petter and Christina lived in Center City, Minnesota before moving to Goose Lake with their son, Johannes Swenson (John Swenson), where they homesteaded. When they came to the United States, Petter changed his name to Peter Swenson and his wife changed her name to Christine Swenson. Peter Swenson died March 6, 1881 in Fish Lake Township at the age of 74. Peter Swenson is buried in the first plot behind the church in the Fish Lake Lutheran Church Cemetery alongside his wife Christine.

Family links:
Spouse: Christina Svenson (1805 - 1880)

Children:
John Peterson (1837 - 1918)*
Johanna Swenson (1840 - 1929)*
John Swenson (1844 - 1909)*

Burial:
Fish Lake Lutheran Cemetery
Stark
Chisago County
Minnesota, USA

Maintained by: Galen Blomster
Originally Created by: Robert John Chudek
Record added: Jan 13, 2011
Find A Grave Memorial# 64178220

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