swedish colonial newscolonialswedes.net/images/publications/scnewsf02.pdfsinnick broer the finn...

Palm Sunday (29 March) 1702 proved tobe an historic day for the Swedes on theDelaware. In that day, Andreas Sandel wasinstalled as the new minister at Gloria Dei (OldSwedes’) Church at Wicaco (Philadelphia) andpresented his first sermon in America.

It also, however, marked the day of LarsTolstadius’ first sermon to the Swedes of WestJersey, the beginning of an ecclesiastical battlethat culminated later in the year with the estab-

lishment of a third Swedish church, Trinity, onRaccoon Creek in Gloucester County, NewJersey.

Tolstadius had applied in Sweden to theArchbishop and Consistory for permission tocome to America to replace Andreas Rudman.Rudman, pastor at Gloria Dei at Wicaco since1697, had been promised a recall and promo-tion in Sweden. However, the authorities decid-ed that Tolstadius was not qualified and sentAndreas Sandel instead.

Undaunted, Tolstadius came to America athis own expense. After arriving in Philadelphiain late 1701, he informed Rudman that he hadbeen appointed to succeed him, Sandel havingallegedly changed his mind. Rudman was suspi-cious, but consented and gave the newcomerhis salary (£25) for the next six months, pend-ing arrival of the papers confirming Tolstadius’appointment.

Those papers never came. Instead, AndreasSandel arrived in mid-March 1702, bearingpapers that confirmed his appointment asRudman’s successor. Rudman immediately firedTolstadius who, with support of friends in theWicaco congregation, moved to live on thenorth side of Raccoon Creek, where he beganpreaching to members of the Wicaco congrega-

The Swedish Church at Swedesboro

2 FOREFATHERSSinnick Broer the Finn

JUBILEE365th celebrationplanned

PHOTOS Sweden 2002trip

3 KINGhonors Ramboand Craig

Swedish Colonial News

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In this Issue...

Volume 2, Number 7 Fall 2002

Preserving the legacy of the New Sweden Colony in America

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Dr. Peter S. Craig

300 YEARS AGO

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Among the 92 Finns aboard the Mercuriuswhen the ship arrived on the Delaware inMarch 1656 was the family of Sinnick Broer, agroup of five which included his wife, a daugh-ter and two sons, Broer and Anders Sinnicks-son.

Sinnick considered himself lucky. Whenthe ship left Göteborg in November 1655, lessthan half of the Finns wanting to come to NewSweden could be accommodated. Over half ofthem who, like Sinnick, had sold all of theirpossessions and counted on being given spaceon the Mercurius, were left behind.

But, on arrival in the Delaware, a newshock arose. Unknown to anyone on board,from Lieutenant Johan Papegoja andCommissary Hendrick Huygen down to thepassengers and crew, New Sweden did not existany more. The colony had been surrendered tothe Dutch the preceding September. Evenworse, Jean Paul Jacquet, the Dutch com-mander at Fort Casimir (New Castle) forbidthe ship to dock and unload its cargoes andpassengers. Under directions from GovernorPeter Stuyvesant, Jacquet was ordered to sendthe Mercurius back to Sweden immediately.

But the impasse was soon broken – by thelocal Swedish leaders and their Indian friends.Secretly during the night, Indians “in greatnumbers” boarded the Mercurius and defiantlyordered Papegoja to take the ship past the fortto Tinicum Island, where both passengers andcargo were unloaded. The Dutch did not dareto fire upon the ship with so many Indiansaboard.

The arrival of 92 Finns and 13 Swedes(several of whom were returning to NewSweden) also tipped the political scales on theDelaware. Huygen traveled to New Amster-dam and negotiated a new agreement withStuyvesant, which granted the Swedes andFinns living north of the Christina River theright of self-government, including the right tohave their own court (the Upland Court), theirown militia and their own religion, providedthat they remain loyal to New Netherlands.

Sinnick’s name appeared briefly in the

records of Fort Casimir (New Castle) when, on10 January 1657, he was named as a party toan agreement fixing the prices that would bepaid to Indians for beaver and other animalfurs. The Dutch scribe entered his name as“Zenok.” Also, under Dutch rule, SinnickBroer and two partners – Anders Anderssonthe Finn and Walraven Jansen DeVos (a formerDutch soldier married to Christina Ollesdotter)were granted 450 morgens (900 acres) of landon the north side of Christina River.

After the Dutch surrender to the Englishin 1664, this tract of land was patented toSinnick Broer and his partners by GovernorFrancis Lovelace on 1 September 1669. Amonth later, Lovelace also issued a patent toAnders the Finn and 19 others living in theneighborhood to construct a mill on this site.

This large tract of land was called “DeerPoint” in May 1671 when Walter Whartonmade the first English census of the Delaware.Later, after the Dutchman Arnoldus de laGrange bought out the share owned by Andersthe Finn, it became known as “Middleburgh.”Still later, it became known as Richardson Park,after the family which succeeded de la Grange.It is now part of Wilmington, Delaware.

During Wharton’s visit to Deer Point in1671, Sinnick Broer informed Wharton that healso had purchased 100 morgens (200 acres) ofland at Appoquinimink Creek (present Odessa,Delaware) from Daniel Andersson. Whartondutifully made out a patent for Sinnick Broerfor this second piece of land. DanielAndersson, a Finn from Lekvattnet, Fryksändeparish, in Värmland, had also been a passengeron the Mercurius and had received a Dutchpatent for this land in 1663.

It would appear that Sinnick Broer wasthen planning a move to his new land atAppoquinimink Creek, for he sold his third ofDeer Point to Justa Andersson, eldest son ofAnders the Finn. However, within a year,Sinnick Broer was dead and the planned movecame to naught. On 12 October 1672,Sinnick’s three adult children signed a state-ment saying, “We the heirs of Seneca Brewerhave, for 930 guilders, sold to Justa Andersonhis plantation at Appoquinimink.”

The Falkenberg Line The first name listed on this sale was writ-

ten as “Henry Jackson,” a poor translation ofSinnick Broer’s daughter’s husband, who wasgenerally known as Hendrick JacobsFalkenberg. He was a Holsteiner who immi-

Sinnick Broer the Finnand his Sinex, Sinnickson &

Falkenberg Descendants

Dr. Peter S. CraigFOREFATHERS

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Swedish Colonial News

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King Carl XIV Gustaf of Sweden has hon-ored both Dr. Peter S. Craig and GovernorHerbert R. Rambo with the distinguishedRoyal Order of the North Star. This award isgiven only for especially meritorious serviceand is rare for anyone in the United States.

Governor Rambo’s award was presented atthe City Hall in Stockholm on 16 June 2002 inconnection with an affinity group tour toSweden this past June. Dr. Craig will receive hisaward at a ceremony in Washington, DC laterthis year.

In both cases the exceptional service ren-dered to the Swedish Colonial Society and tothe relationship between Sweden and theUnited States was evidenced. Governor Rambohas succeeded in extending the membershipand visibility of the Society beyond any previ-ous level. Dr. Craig has become the foremostgenealogist and historian of the New SwedenColony on the Delaware.

Rambo and Craig honored by King

Dr. Peter S. CraigHistorian of the Swedish Colonial Society

Herbert R. RamboGovernor of the Swedish Colonial Society

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tion living in Gloucester County north ofRaccoon Creek. A week later, on EasterSunday, Tolstadius extended his ministry toSwedes living on Raccoon Creek and south-ward as far as Upper Penns Neck.

Soon the West Jersey Swedes betweenMantua Creek on the north and Upper PennsNeck on the south united to establish theirown congregation, inviting Tolstadius to betheir minister. For the proposed church, 100acres was secured for £15 on the south side ofRaccoon Creek (at present Swedesboro). Thesurvey, made 28 May 1702 suggests that thelog church was then already under construc-tion. Half of the church’s 100 acres was pro-vided to Tolstadius for his use.

But the battle for survival of the newchurch had only begun. The legally-appointedpastors, particularly Erik Björk, pastor of HolyTrinity Church at Christina (Wilmington),protested that it was improper and illegal tostart a new church without the approval of theSwedish Lutheran hierarchy in Uppsala.

Björk, claiming support from bothRudman and Sandel, fired frequent letters toSweden protesting Tolstadius’ folly. Previously,the Swedes from Racoon Creek down to UpperPenns Neck had pledged money to help buildHoly Trinity Church and also to help pay hissalary. The loss of this money, he claimed,would cripple his ministry and his church.

The adverse effects on Gloria Dei were lessevident. The congregation lost eight families tothe new church, but one of these (the family ofPeter Mattson, then deceased) had providedthe wife of Andreas Rudman and would pro-

vide the wife of Andreas Sandel. Theiropposition was much more

muted than that ofBjörk.

In an effort to secure the approval of theSwedish Archbishop for their new church, itssix church wardens (Wiliam Slubey, OlofDalbo, Mikel Laikan, Fredrick Hopman, OlofPetersson and Anders Lock- all of them sons ofNew Sweden settlers) wrote a letter on 18 June1702 asking that Tolstadius be confirmed astheir minister. He drafted the letter in Swedishhimself, to make certain that it was understoodin Sweden.

The letter, as translated by Rev. Dr. Kim-Eric Williams, emphasized the difficulty ofcrossing the Delaware River to attend churchservices at Christina or Wicaco, especially inwintertime and in bad weather. “We must all beaware of the danger to life from the strongstorms which arise, and many examples can becited. Not so long ago, when we carried acorpse to the grave, three persons drowned,and a fourth, still among us, wonders how hewas driven to land and was revived.”

Approval from Sweden never came whileTolstadius still lived. The Swedish Consistoryin Uppsala would not condone his behaviorregardless of the sentiments of his congrega-tion. When the new log church was consecrat-ed in 1705, the three officially-designatedSwedish ministers on the Delaware refused toattend.

Tolstadius drowned in the Delaware Riveron 29 May 1706 while crossing the river with anew plow-share he had probably bought inPhiladelphia. His empty canoe, carrying onlythe plow-share and his traveling cloak, wasfound that day. Nine days later his body washedashore at Upland. Some assumed it was a sui-cide. Tolstadius was then under indictment forfathering an illegitimate child by Catharina, adaughter of Raccoon church warden OlofPetersson. Björk, who by then had accepted theloss of his former parishioners in GloucesterCounty and Upper Penns Neck, asked thatGod grant that Tolstadius “with a truly peni-tent sigh be enabled to give up his soul.”

Catharina, Olof Petersson’s daughter,fared much better. She married Jöns Halton,lived to the age of 84, and was buried at TrinityChurch in Swedesboro in January 1766.Among her children was Maria Halton whomarried Mårten Stille. They were great grand-parents of Charles Janeway Stille (1819-1899),Provost and history professor at the Universityof Pennsylvania, whose research in Swedenprovided the inspiration for the creation of theSwedish Colonial Society.

SWEDESBORO from page 1

Trinity Episcopal (OldSwedes’) Church, as itappeared in 1938 in thisrare photo by Dr. AmandusJohnson, preparing for thevisit of Crown Prince GustafAdolf, Princess Louise and adelegation from Finland.

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The 365th anniversary of the founding ofNew Sweden and the coming of the firstSwedes to America will be celebrated April 4thand 5th, 2003, with events in Delaware,Pennsylvania and New Jersey. A very distin-guished visitor from Sweden will travel with theSociety’s Patron, Ambassador Jan Eliasson andKirsten Eliasson. Details will be announced at alater date.

The two-day celebration will culminatewith the Swedish Colonial Society’s ColonialForefather’s Luncheon on April 5, 2003.Seating will be limited and members of theSociety should respond promptly to the invita-tion when mailed in early 2003. All interestedparties are invited to donate to the request forsponsors, etc., whose names will appear in theSpecial Commemorative Booklet that will bepublished.

The Society will establish a contact personto assist in making travel arrangements andhotel accommodations. Several deluxe hotelsare located in Philadelphia and Wilmington.For the present, send email inquiries to

[email protected], or call(856) 768-5325.

Members of the Swedish Colonial Societywho wish to purchase the Society’s mem-bership medal with neck ribbon ($90) oridentification pin ($40) may do so by contact-ing Dina Smith of J.E. Caldwell’s ofPhiladelphia at (215) 864-7800.

New Sweden 365th Jubilee Celebration

At the annual Gloria Dei Anniversary Sunday on May 5, 2002, Governor Rambo presentedawards to three new “Fellows of the Swedish Colonial Society.” Cited for distinguished service bythe Councillors and Officers were: Ronald A. Hendrickson, Esq., Senior Deputy Governor,Webmaster and creator of the Society’s web site, and Publisher of the Swedish Colonial News;the Very Rev. David B. Rivers, Rector of Gloria Dei and Secretary-Treasurer of theSociety; and the Rev. Dr. Kim-Eric Williams, Translator for the Gloria Dei RecordsProject, Editor of the Swedish Colonial News, Archivist and Chaplain.

Three Named Fellows

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Rev. Dr. Kim-Eric Williams(left), Ronald A. Hendrickson,Esq., Governor Johan Printz(a.k.a. David E. Lewis) andthe Very Rev. David B. Rivers.

Herbert R. Rambo


In the original documents organizing theSwedish Colonial Society there is no mentionof “Forefather Members,” although many ofthe founders had ancestors from the NewSweden Colony. Unlike the “Welcome Society”which only accepts members who have ances-tors who came on William Penn’s ship“Welcome,” the Swedish Colonial Societywanted to include anyone with an interest inNew Sweden. In the long run this has been for-tunate since many leaders in the Society havenot had colonial Swedish ancestors.

The real impetus for the Forefather pro-gram seems to be related to the two majoranniversaries in the 20th century, the 300th (in1938) and the 350th (in 1988).

On April 8, 1938 the first Forefathers Daywas celebrated in Philadelphia. In 1939, Mr.Charles Hand of Wynnewood, PA, wasappointed and paid as the first Historiancharged with authenticating “ForefatherMembers.” Lineage papers were sent out to all

members and President Frank Melvilleinstructed that a list be maintained of all thosewho “can be designated as birthright mem-bers.” By 1944, the By-Laws made the projectofficial with the use of the anglicized Swedishword, “Forefather” members. From the begin-ning of the Society in 1909 until 1965, only 62members had provided proof of such status.

Then in 1988 with the 350th anniversaryof the Colony being celebrated, GovernorErik Törnqvist encouraged the program withthe collaborative work of Alice and CarlLindborg as Historians. It was GovernorTornqvist’s feeling that this was a program thatset the Swedish Colonial Society apart fromother Swedish societies. By 1990, there were88 active Forefather Members.

By 1991, there were 131 with the profes-sional guidance of Dr. Peter Craig. The web-site, created by Ronald Hendrickson for theSociety in 1999, led to a massive increase inactivity with many new members coming fromoutside of the Delaware Valley and even somefrom abroad. At the present time, 178 peopleare counted in this category.

The ongoing archeological excavations atElk Landing near Elkton, Maryland have at lastdiscovered the remains of the original loghouse of John Hanson Steelman.

The site is north of, and adjacent to, theancient stone house near the water. JohnHanson Steelman (1655-1749) was the oldestson of Hans Månsson and Ella Stille. He was

born in Aronamack (West Philadelphia) and by1693 had moved to “Sahakito” in CecilCounty, Maryland. “Sahakito” was located atthe “Head of the Elk” on Little Elk River. Hewas the foremost Indian trader of the day, liv-ing at Elk Landing until the 1720’s when hemoved west and died at age 94 in AdamsCounty, Pennsylvania, in 1749.

His personal generosity made possible theconstruction of Holy Trinity Church inWilmington, 1698-1699, when he providedover one-half of the capital necessary for theconstruction of the stone edifice on theChristina River.

In addition to the many Native Americanimplements that archeologists discovered, aframed watercolor signed by “Evans” turnedup from 1905 showing the log house attachedto the stone house. A survey in 1917 also men-tions the log house.

The Historic Elk Landing Foundation wascreated in 1998 by the town of Elkton whichpurchased the site. It includes both the oldstone house and the larger 19th centuryHollingsworth mansion. The site is also wellknown as the place of a heroic defeat of Britishinvaders on April 29, 1813.

Forefathers Project

Steelman House Site Unearthed

Kim-Eric Williams

Kim-Eric Williams

Second Annual New Sweden Conference

On Saturday November 16, the SecondAnnual New Sweden Conference will be held atthe American Swedish Historical Museum inPhiladelphia. This year’s theme is: “Man,Medicine and Material Culture, New Sweden1638-1790.”

Head-lining the conference this year willbe Professors Stellan Dahlgren and HansNorman of Uppsala University, authors of TheRise and Fall of New Sweden: Governor JohanRisingh’s Journal 1654-1655 in its HistoricalContext (1988).

Other scholars include Peter O. Wacker ofRutgers University, speaking on Fennoscanianinfluences; Karen M. Reeds who will discusshealth issues; Susan E. Klepp of TempleUniveristy on demographics, and the Historianof the Swedish Colonial Society, Dr. Peter S.Craig.

The Conference is again spon-sored by the Society in co-operation with the McNeilCenter for Early American

Studies of the University of Pennsylvania andthe American Swedish Historical Museum.

The all-day program will last from 9:30a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Registration, which includesmorning coffee and a box lunch, costs $25 perperson; $20 for students and senior citizens.Registration should be sent directly to: ASHM,1900 Pattison Avenue, Philadelphia, PA19145-5901 by November 12. Checks may bemade payable to ASHM.

Further information is available from theMuseum at (215) 389-1776. Directions to thesite in South Philadelphia, west of the sportscenter, can be found at the website:<www.americanswedish.org>.

Falckner TercentenaryThe Ordination of the first episcopal candi-

date for ministry in the Thirteen Colonies andthe first Lutheran pastor in the western hemi-sphere by Superintendent (Suffragan Bishop)Andreas Rudman will be celebrated in thePhiladelphia Cathedral of the Episcopal Dioceseof Pennsylvania in a joint liturgy with theSoutheastern Pennsylvania Synod of theEvangelical Lutheran Church in America nextyear on Sunday afternoon, November 23, 2003.Both bishops have planned to participate.

Next year will be exactly 300 years sincethis first-of-its-kind Ordination in this countrytook place at Gloria Dei Church. The candidi-ate, Justus Falckner, was a German theologicalstudent who had come to America but wasundecided about his future. Pastor Andreas

Rudman had left Gloria Dei church and was theInterim at the Dutch Lutheran Church in NewYork City and Albany. His health was frail andhe was looking for a successor in New York. Heconvinced Falckner that he should be ordainedand upon being approved as a Superintendentby King Karl XII, Rudman, Erik Björk andJonas Auren ordained Falckner in a ceremonyheld mostly in Latin.

It is hoped that the service, with the helpof the Swedish Colonial Society, could gatherthe old Swedish Ministerium (Kontrakt) for thefirst time since 8 July 1784, including rectors ofall eight Old Swedes churches.


New Jersey JulmiddagFor the first time, the Society’s annual Christmas Luncheon will be held in New Jersey in

recognition of the 300th anniversary of Trinity Episcopal (Old Swedes’) Church, Swedesboro. TheLuncheon is scheduled for Sunday, December 15 on the Delaware River at the Riverview Inn,Pennsville, NJ. Invitations will be mailed shortly.

Kim-Eric Williams

Swedes and Finns settled the DelawareValley in 1638. In 1641, Governor PeterRidder purchased land from the LenapeIndians where, some 30 years later, Swedishand Finnish farmers and fishermen settled.Named Penns Neck, this area is now known asthe Township of Pennsville, New Jersey.

In 1667, a log church was built at CraneHook, south of the Christina River. Settlersfrom Penns Neck, Finn’s Point, Boughtown(Penns Grove) and Lucas Point (Carney’sPoint) were part of this congregation, sincethere was no church on the east side of theriver. They traveled across the Delaware Riverin shallops and skiffs to attend Crane HookChurch and court at New Castle. When a newchurch was built north of the Christina River,the people of Penns Neck traveled across theriver to help build the new Holy TrinityChurch in 1699.

Holy Trinity congregation also purchased asmall craft for the use of those who neededtransportation to church who lived across theDelaware and below the Christina River, in1699. Rev. Eric Björk’s journal refers to thischurch boat as a new “canoe” or “ferry” pur-chased from Hendrick Tussey for 20 shillings.Hendrick was a Swedish member of HolyTrinity who lived on the Delaware River justnorth of the church. It was delivered to thechurch warden, Steffan Jöransson, who lived atFinn’s Point. Research on the subject has notrevealed a description or how many people itcarried. Historians and maritime experts arenot sure if it was a “dug out” or “plank built”canoe, modeled after the church boats used inSweden. But all agree the settlers at PennsNeck traveled across the Delaware for over 60years, before they built their own church inPenns Neck, in 1717 at Church Landing Road.

The foot of Church Landing Road, inPennsville, is the historical site where Penn’sNeck residents launched their boats to go tochurch, hence its name. The journey was oftenhazardous. For example, church records indi-cate four adults and a child drowned, 4November 1718, on their way to church.Church boats played a significant role in the lifeof the community in Sweden. The 1699 church


1699CHURCH FERRY

Aleasa J. Hogate

boat was an important part of the DelawareValley’s maritime history and was the first ferryacross the Delaware River, long before thePennsville-New Castle Ferry. Yet, there is nomonument to mark this important site, and nocommemoration has celebrated this vignette ofearly history.

A scale model of a single log dug out canoewas made by Lewis Everline, of Mohnton, PA,as a visual aid to help tell the story of this for-gotten little piece of local history. It is current-ly on display in the Museum at Fort Mott StatePark, in Pennsville, NJ. As soon as schematicplans for a traditional plank built Swedishchurch boat can be obtained, model builderRay Hoffman, of Gibbstown, NJ, will build amodel of a plank constructed canoe.

Plans for establishing a memorial park anda monument in Pennsville, NJ, as a tribute tothese early Swedish and Finnish settlers arebeing made in conjunction with the 365thanniversary of the New Sweden Colony. ASwedish Heritage Day is also planned. Long-range plans include the building of a full-sizereplica of the 1699 boat.

I am investing my time and energy in thisproject, because I believe future generationsneed to be made aware of the overlooked pieceof maritime history of Pennsville, Salem

County, New Jersey and the United States ofAmerica. The State of New Jersey celebratesthe Crossing of the Delaware by GeorgeWashington every year, in a replica of a boatthat some historians believe was of Swedishdesign. Reproductions have been made of theDurham boats, also believed by some to haveevolved from a Swedish built boat of similardesign. Many replicas of the James RiverBatteau have been reproduced, and relive themoments in history of the James River Canal,as those replicas traverse 120 miles of the canalin Festival every June. Fortunately, excellentmodels of these vessels have been discovered bymarine archeologists to use as patterns forbuilding these replicas. Archeologists,researchers and historians have not been able toproduce factual documentation on the designof this “canoe/ferry.” Until then, we mustbegin to recapture this unique chapter of histo-ry.

The tentative church boat web site is:<www.myprivate.com/aleasa>.

For additional information or to make apledge of support for this project, write: AleasaHogate, 94 Sparks Ave., Pennsville, NJ 08070;phone: (856) 678-5511; or email her at:<[email protected]>.



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1. Nellie, the Ling’s granddaughter andKirsten Seagers.

2. Hans Ling, Kirsten Seagers & Meta Ling.

3. The Swedish tour group in the NordicMuseum with Ulf Hamilton.

4. U.S. Ambassador Charles Heimbold,Swedish National Heritage Board ActingChief of Staff Hans Ling, GovernorHerbert Rambo, Lord Mayor AxelWennerholm and Councillor JamesSeagers at the Stockholm City Hall dinnerparty where Rambo was named knight ofthe Royal North Star Order, First Class.

5. Herbert Rambo, Hans Norman, StellanDahlgren and Gary Jordan.

6. Stockholm Lord Mayor Axel Wennerholmholding the Nobel scepter.

7. The formal gardens at Drottningholm.

8. A Royal Swedish Guard with Kirsten Seagers.

9. Sylvia and Earl Seppala, Jim and DorineySeagers, Lois Eckstrom, Zofia Rambo,Sally Bridwell, U.S. Ambassador CharlesHeimbold, Marie Boisuert, Lord MayorAxel Wennerholm and DeAnn Clancy.

10. Champagne reception at Kalmar Castlecourtyard.

11. Midsommar dancers in Linköping onJune 21.

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grated to Delaware in 1663 or 1664 when theDutch colony was recruiting farmers fromnorthern European nations. It is unknownwhen he married Sinnick’s daughter or whather name was. In 1675, however, he was resid-ing at Deer Point with Broer Sinnicksson. Hethen formed a partnership with Pierre Jegou, aFrench Huguenot, and moved to “LazyPoint,” north of present Burlington, NewJersey, where he operated an inn for travelersand native Indians. Becoming well versed inthe language of the Lenape Indians, HendrickJacobs Falkenberg soon became the foremostIndian interpreter in New Jersey and was aparty to many treaties with the Indians. In1682 he acquired 200 acres on the south sideof Rancocas Creek in Burlington County. Aslate as 1689 he was still listed as a member ofthe Swedish Church at Wicaco.

In 1679, Hendrick Jacobs and his wifewere visited by a Dutch traveler, who gave thisdescription of their house in his diary:

“The house was made according to theSwedish mode, and as they usually build theirhouses here, which are block-houses, beingnothing else than entire trees, split through themiddle, or squared out in the rough, andplaced in the form of a square, upon eachother, as high as they wish to have the house.The ends of these timbers are let into eachother, about a foot from the ends, half of oneinto half of the other. The whole structure isthus made, without a nail or a spike. The ceil-ing and roof do not exhibit much finer work,except among the most careful people, whohave the ceiling planked and a glass window.The doors are wide enough, but very low, sothat you have to stoop in entering. These hous-es are quite tight and warm, but the chimney isplaced in a corner.”

In 1697 Hendrick Jacobs Falkenbergobtained a confirmation of an earlier Indiandeed for land at Little Egg Harbor on theAtlantic Coast. He moved to this locationwhere he married a second time. He diedabout 1712, survived by his second wife Mary(a Quaker) and their son, Jacob HendricksFalkenberg.

By his first marriage to Sinnick’s daughter,Hendrick had at least one son, HenryFalkenberg, who was living in Cecil County,Maryland, by 1710. He later moved with hisseveral sons to Orange (now Frederick)County, Virginia, and then moved to Bladen

County, North Carolina, by 1746. His descen-dants use the surnames of Faulkenberry andFortenberry.

Broer Sinnickssonand his Sinex Descendants

Broer Sinnicksson, born in Sweden c.1650, stayed on Sinnick Broer’s former farm atDeer Point following his father’s death andlater re-acquired all of his father’s land. Thechain of succession was a bit complex. Afteracquiring the plantation from Sinnick Broer,Justa Andersson had sold the entire property toHans Peterson, the miller of Skilpot Creek.Peterson, in turn, sold half of the land (includ-ing the house) to Anders Jöransson, a Finn, on27 Sept. 1672. Peterson sold the other half(undeveloped) to Matthias Matthiasson, aSwedish blacksmith.

Anders Jöransson died in late 1675, sur-vived by his widow Sophia and five small sons.By early 1678 Sophia had married BroerSinnicksson. On 8 May 1678, “Broer Sinnexe,husband of Sophia, relict of Andrew Jurianson,deceased,” was granted the land of her formerhusband on condition that he pay his five sons500 guilders apiece when they reached the ageof 21. Meanwhile, the other half of SinnickBroer’s plantation was reconveyed by MatthiasMatthiasson to Hans Peterson, who conveyedit to Anders Sinnickson, who conveyed it to hisbrother Broer.

Upon resurvey in 1684 by the new gov-ernment of William Penn, Broer’s land wasfound to be 460 acres, for which he was grant-ed a patent on 7 June 1686. He remained onhis plantation until his death in 1708, special-izing in the raising of sheep and horses as wellas grain crops. With the arrival of Ericus Björkas pastor of the Swedish church, Broer wasnamed to the Church Council and served as afaithful lay leader of the church until his death.

In 1703, Broer Sinnicksson made a deed ofgift to his only son James of half of his planta-tion. In his will of 25 November 1708, Broerleft the other half (including his house) to hiswife Sophia for life, and after her death, to theirson James for life, then to James’ eldest sonBroer. The will directed that £10 be given tothe church and that his young mare be given toPastor Björk “for the funeral service which Idesire him to make.” On 2 December 1708,Pastor Björk held the funeral and Broer wasburied in the church under his own pew.

Sophia, Broer’s widow, died in 1717 at the



FOREFATHERSfrom page 2

home of her daughter-in-law Mary Anderson,widow of her son Jöran Andersson.

Broer and Sophia Sinnicksson had onechild: James Sinnexon, who was born c. 1678.Shortly after 1700, he married DorcasHarmensen (Dutch), daughter of JanHarmensen of New Castle, Delaware. In 1703,they sold her father’s house in New Castle andmade their home on the other half of hisfather’s plantation at “Middleburgh.” Shortlyafter the death of his father, James Sinnexonalso became ill. His will, dated 29 January1708/9 and proved 8 March 1708/9, left hishalf of his father’s land to his two youngestsons, John and James, after his wife Dorcas’sdemise.

Through subsequent generations, thedescendants of James Sinnexon graduallyshortened their surname to Sinex. The threesons were:

1. Broer Sinnexon, born c. 1703, wasmarried in 1724 to Brita, daughter of JohnHendrickson and Brita Mattson. They had fivechildren baptized at Holy Trinity Churchbetween 1725 and 1735. On 13 December,1726, he and the guardian for his youngerbrothers sold their 50 acre mill tract at“Middleburgh” to John Richardson. On 29January 1736/7 Broer and his two brothersformally divided the remainder of their grand-father’s “Middleburgh” estate, each obtaining138 acres. Over the next several years, Broersold all of his share and acquired a lot inNewport in 1744.

Deeply in debt to his brother John, Broersold his pews in the church to his brotherJames in September 1744 and announced hewas moving to another province. He nextappeared in Bladen County, North Carolina,where he was granted land in 1746 on thesouth side of the Pee Dee River. In the mean-time, his brother John sued Broer for a debt of£100, causing the sheriff to confiscate and sellBroer’s remaining property in New CastleCounty. On 19 August 1746, on the petitionof his abandoned wife Brita, his eldest son, alsonamed Broer, was bound out to AndrewMorton for four and one-half years.

Meanwhile, on 27 February 1746/7,Brewer Sinnixon married the widow AnnDewit in Winyaw, South Carolina. She owned300 acres on the north side of the WatereeRiver in Craven County, S.C., which had beenoriginally laid out 21 November 1746, and

which she sold on 26 March 1756 under thename of Ann Sinnixon. Broer was clearly deadby this time. His property on the Pee DeeRiver was later claimed by his Falkenbergcousins, who claimed that Broer Sinnexon haddied without heirs, except for a son whodrowned in Virginia.

This was not entirely true. Broer’s firstwife, Brita, died of pleurisy on 27 March 1755in New Castle County at the age of 50 and wasburied at Old Swedes Church in Wilmington.Her meager estate was administered by GeorgePatton, who had married her daughter Maria,born in 1733.

2. John Sinnexon, born c. 1705, was mar-ried on 9 December 1726 to Ingeborg, thedaughter of Matthias Tussey and AnnaStidham. During their 20 years of marriagethey had eight children born between 1727and 1744: Dorcas, John, Sara, Anna,Catharine, Ingeborg, Susanna and Maria. JohnSinnex died in 1746 at his “Middleburgh”farm. His widow, Ingeborg Tussey, marriedEdward Robinson on 17 December 1752. Shedied 7 June 1768 at the age of 64.

3. James Sinnexon, born c. 1707, wasmarried on 20 January 1730 to Margaret,daughter of John and Margaret Vardeman ofAppoquinimink Hundred. James became a tai-lor and seems to have prospered. He andMargaret had 11 children born between 1731and 1752, of whom four are known to havelived to adulthood and married – Henry, John,James and Margaret. Both parents were still liv-ing on their “Middleburgh” farm in 1767.

Anders Sinnickssonand his Sinnickson Descendants

Anders Sinnicksson, born in Sweden c.1651, did not return to his father’s farm afterhis father’s death. In 1677 he was residing atFeren Hook on the south side of ChristinaRiver and by 1678 he had married MargaretPoulson. On 7 January 1678/9 he was suedfor medicines supplied to his wife and child.Later in the same year he moved to ChestnutNeck in Salem County, where he was granted260 acres north of Parting Creek. This wouldremain his home for the rest of his life.

After giving birth to two children (Ingridand John), Anders’ wife Margaret died. Hissecond wife, Sarah, was the mother of his otherfive children. Anders Sinnicksson wrote his willon 17 June 1696, but it was not proved until 4April 1700. He had given two and one-half






pounds for Holy Trinity Church but had prob-ably died before 24 June 1699, when only hiswife was assigned a pew in the new church. Hiswidow, Sarah Sinnicksson, was buried at thePenn’s Neck church on 27 February 1719.

All seven of his children married:1. Ingrid Sinnickson, born c. 1678, mar-

ried by 1696 Peter Bilderback and, after hisdeath, John Hendrickson, Jr. She died inPenn’s Neck on 26 March 1725.

2. John Sinnickson, born c. 1682, mar-ried Ann Philpot Gilljohnson, 28 January1725, and had three children (John, Sarah andSinnick) before his death in Penn’s Neck inNovember 1739.

3. Andrew Sinnickson, born c. 1691,married Maria Weinam c. 1712. Both parentsand their infant son Andrew died in 1713.

4. Sinnick Sinnickson, born c. 1693, mar-ried Maria Philpot 31 October 1717. He diedin Penns Neck in 1750, survived by a sonAndrew Sinnickson, who was later described bypastor Nicholas Colin as the wealthiest Finn inWest New Jersey.

5. Margaret Sinnickson, born c. 1695,married [1] Thomas Vickery, [2] Albert Bilder-back, and [3] William Mecum. She died ofpalsy in Penn’s Neck on 12 March 1770.

6. Catharina Sinnickson, born c. 1697,married Christiern Peterson on 10 May 1716.She was buried 17 April 1721 at Penns Neck.

7. Dorothea Sinnickson, born c. 1699,married Oney Stanley, 27 November 1718. Shedied in Penn’s Neck after 1727.

John Sinnicksson,the youngest son

John Sinnickson, the youngest son ofSinnick Broer, was born in America c. 1660and first appeared in public records in 1677when he was first listed as taxable (age 16 ormore) in New Castle County. He later movedacross the Delaware to Upper Penn’s Neckwhere he purchased 200 acres of land in PilesGrove on 23 July 1698. Shortly before this, hehad married Gertrude, the daughter of IsaacSavoy and Brigitta Hendrickson.

John Sinnickson wrote his will on 18December 1729, but he did not die until 1735.He actively supported construction of HolyTrinity Church in Wilmington in 1698-1699and later attended the Swedish church inSwedesboro, New Jersey. He and his wife hadeight known children, of whom two are knownto have married:

1. Andrew Sinnickson, born c. 1698,married [1] Helena Friend by 1721. She diedthe same year and he married [2] ElizabethGreenway in 1730. Andrew died in Piles Grovein 1764, survived by two daughters, Elizabeth(wife of William Tuft) and Ebajah (wife ofJonathan Beasley).

2. Brigitta Sinnickson, born c. 1710,married Ephraim Friend in 1731.

John was also survived by two other chil-dren, Stephen and Susannah, whose fate hasnot been determined.

The home of Swedish artist AdolphWertmueller in Claymont, Delaware is inurgent need of restoration according to offi-cials of the Claymont Historical Society. Thehouse now sits surrounded by a steel mill,CitisteelUSA, at the confluence of Naaman'sCreek and the Delaware River.

Wertmueller, who was born in Stockholmin 1751, spent many years in France and was

painter to the Royal Court of Sweden. He exe-cuted a famous picture of George Washingtonthat is now in the National Gallery of Art inWashington, DC. When he came to America hemarried a granddaughter of painter GustavusHesselius, became an American citizen andlived in Claymont until his death in 1811.

Wertmueller House in Danger

“The Rocks” at Ft. Christina State Park inWilmington, Delaware has been designated aNational Historical Landmark through theefforts of the City of Wilmington Mayor'sOffice of Economic Development. Its listingby the National Park Service was a result of therole “the Rocks” played as a station on theUnderground Railroad. Research, led byMargaret J. Owens, uncovered the fact that“the Rocks” were used as a station to landslaves from the South to freedom north of theMason-Dixon line. A letter from QuakerThomas Garrett of Wilmington, dated March23, 1856, to William Still states:

“Captain [Alfred] Fountain has arrived allsafe, with the human cargo thee was inquiring

for a few days since. I had men waiting till 12o'clock till the Captain arrived at his berth,ready to receive them; last night they thenlearned that he had landed them at the Rocks,near the Swedes church..."

Interestingly enough, “the Rocks” werealso a sign of freedom for many of the settlersin New Sweden in the 17th century. Many ofthe first immigrants had committed minoroffenses in Sweden and were indentured labor-ers for the New Sweden Company when theyfirst arrived. Often their choice was death,imprisonment or New Sweden. The fact thatmany became “freedmen” was as a result of set-ting foot on the same Rocks that welcomedfugitive slaves in the 19th century.

Freedom Rocks


Parade Float

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Prize winning New Sweden float at Septemberfest, Pennsville, New Jersey, September 7, 2002.

MEMBERS MAKING NEWSfrom page 13

Printz Painting Restored


Dorothy Paley named by MuseumA member of the Society, Mrs. Dorothy Paley has been given the Amandus Johnson Service

Award by the American Swedish Historical Museum. Mrs. Paley is a resident of Cinnaminson, NJand has worked tirelessly with the Auxiliary for 20 years.

David E. Lewis receives SAR AwardAs a retired teacher and Councillor of the Society, David Lewis regularly portrays the 400

pound Royal Governor of New Sweden, Johan Printz. The Philadelphia-Continental Chapter ofthe Sons of the American Revolution cited David as an Outstanding History Teacher. He has mademore than 100 classroom visits in Pennsylvania, Delaware and South Jersey.

Missing MinutesThe vast majority of the records of the Swedish Colonial Society have now been professional-

ly organized and placed in acid-free folders and Hollinger boxes for storage at Gloria Dei Church.However, the Council minutes from 1927-1957 are missing. If you have copies of any of these

minutes (or any other official records), kindly send them to the Swedish Colonial Society Archives,Gloria Dei Church, 916 South Swanson St., Philadelphia, PA 19147-4332

New Members WelcomedThe Swedish Colonial Society welcomes new members. No Swedish relative or ancestry is

required - only an interest in colonial history. Contact our Registrar: Doriney Seagers, 371 DevonWay, West Chester, PA 19380 or visit us online at: <www.Colonial Swedes.org>. The annualmembership fee for an individual is $25. An annual family membership, which includes two adultsand minor children, is $30. Lifetime membership is available for $300.

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Jayne S. Huntington, Junior Deputy Governor,appears with the Johan Printz oil painting at theForefathers Luncheon on April 7, 2002, in Wilmington.This painting was given to the Swedish Colonial Societyby King Gustaf V in 1909 and is a copy of the originalat Botnaryd, Sweden. The Society’s painting hung formany years at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania but,after the conversion of HSP into a library, our paintingwas returned to our Society. A copy of our copy by VanHelden hangs in the Governor's Mansion in Harrisburgand was given in connection with the Tercentenary.

The Society’s Printz painting recently received amore appropriate frame and was expertly restored byRoy Blankenship of Wilmington.


Left: A re-enactment of a colonialSwedish wedding at the MounsJones Fest, September 28, 2002.Pastor Gabriel Falk (Kim-EricWilliams) unites Maria MagdalenaSophia Robeson (Noelle Rohr-bach) and Anders Göran ErikJonasson (Ken Peterson).

Swedish Colonial Wedding

Festival Exhibit

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Top: New Swedish ColonialSociety exhibit pavilion with decorative valance designed byAleasa Hogate at the Mouns JonesFest, Douglassville, PA, Sept. 28 &29, 2002

Swedish Delegation at “the Rocks”


Patrons,Officers &

Councillors

High PatronHis Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf,

King of Sweden

PatronHis Excellency Jan Eliasson,

Ambassador of Sweden

Deputy PatronThe Honorable Olle Wästberg,

Consul General of Sweden

Associate PatronThe Honorable

Agneta Hägglund Bailey, Consul of Sweden

Honorary GovernorsWilliam B. Neal

John C. Cameron, Esq.Wallace F. Richter

Dr. Erik G.M. TörnqvistHerbert GullbergConrad Wilson

Deputy Governor - EmeritusMrs. George C. McFarland

CouncillorsFrances O. AllmondDavid R. Anderson

Britt M. ApellMarie B. Boisuert

Sally BridwellJulie Jensen Bryan

DeAnn ClancyBeth Linnerson Daly

Brian DalyLennart Hagegård

Mary Ann B. HorningChristina W. Lassen

David E. LewisMarianne E. Mackenzie

Alfred J. NicolosiSandra S. PfaffEllen T. Rye

James D. SeagersEarl E. Seppälä

Katarina SheronasGunnil SjöbergLinda R. Smith

Susan B. SpackmanRichard L. SteadhamRichard L. Waldron

GovernorHerbert R. Rambo

Senior Deputy Governor Ronald A. Hendrickson, Esq.

Junior Deputy Governor Jayne S. Huntington

Secretary - Treasurer Very Rev. David B. Rivers

Recording Secretary Aleasa J. Hogate

RegistrarDoriney Seagers

Captain of the Color GuardKenneth S. Peterson

Chaplain - ArchivistRev. Dr. Kim-Eric Williams

Counselor Gordon S. Keen, Esq.

HistorianDr. Peter S. Craig

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Consul Agneta H. Bailey (left), Deputy Mayor Jan-Olof Wernersson, Wilmington Mayor James M. Baker and Mayor Kjell Henriksson(center), join the Kalmar, Sweden delegation placing a wreath at “the Rocks” before the joint Annual Meeting, April 7, 2002.

Membership

Nina J. Strahm, Terre Haute IN, descendedfrom Måns Anderson via his daughter BritaMånsdotter who married Johan Gustafsson andtheir daughter Elizabeth Justis who marriedMatthias Petersson of New Castle County.Dolores E. Shade, Frederick MD, descendedfrom Nils Larsson Frände via his son JohanNilsson Friend and Johan’s son NicholasFriend.Mary E. Casseday, Lewes DE, descendedfrom Dr. Timen Stiddem via his son AdamStidham and Adam’s daughter Maria Stidhamwho married Jacob Van der Veer of New CastleCounty.Michael W. Rambo, Overland Park KS,descended from Peter Gunnarsson Rambo viahis son Peter Rambo and the latter’s son SwanRambo of Lancaster County, PA.Carolyn Rambo Cooper, Edison GA,descended from the same line.John Michael Baxter, Newton Square PA,descended from Peter Gunnarsson Rambo viahis son Gunnar Rambo and Gunnar’s son PeterRambo of Montgomery County, PA.William Allen Baxter, Center Strafford NH,descended from the same line.

Trissa Haefling, Chagrin Falls OH, descendedfrom Nils Larsson Frände via his son AndersNilsson Friend and Israel Friend of FrederickCounty, VA.Bonnie Ray Reeves, Independence VA,descended from Peter Nilsson Lycan via his sonHans Lycan and Peter Lycan of FrederickCounty, VA.Patricia Richardson, Fullerton CA, descend-ed from John Hendricksson via his son Hend-rick Johansson and Hendrick’s son John Hen-drickson of Ridley Township, Chester (nowDelaware) County, PA.Richard S. Baskas, Tampa FL, descendedfrom Johan Andersson Stalcop via his son PeterStalcop and Peter’s daughter Maria Stalcopwho married Hans Geörgen Smith ofWilmington.Harold A. Yocum, Edmond OK, descendedfrom Peter Jochimsson via his son Peter Peters-son Yocum and the latter’s son Jonas Yocum ofBerks County, PA.James S. Yocum, Mapleton PA, David H.Yocum, Boalsburg PA, & John F. Yocum, Jr.,Henderson NV, descended from the same line.

FAMILY MEMBERS _______________________________________________________________John W. & Marjorie H. Brant, Bordentown NJ Robert & Shirley Schmidt, Bordentown NJCarolyn R. & James M. Cooper, Edison GA Msg. Gary H.G. Utter, Frederick MDMsg. Gary H.G. Utter, Frederick MD Arthur & Lois Ekstrom, Arcadia CARichard & Susan Waring, San Antonio TX David & Alicia Helgeson, Asheville NCDavid H. Yocum, Boalsburg PA Gary A. Justis, Bloomington ILJames S. Yocum, Mapleton PA William D. Morton, Encinitas CAMichael & Elizabeth Mulshine, Queensbury NY John F. Yocum, Hendersen NV

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS__________________________________________________________Brian Keith Anderson, Manchester TN Robert G. Sandberg, Wilmington DERichard S. Baskas, Tampa FL Stephen J. Stalcop, Farmers Branch TXOlga Sinexon Brigham, Wilton NH Louise Benedikte Wennberg, Paoli PAJanet Ray Perts, Napa CA Robert S. Mattson, Vallejo CA

HONORARY MEMBERS___________________________________________________________Ambassador Charles A. and Monica Heimbold, Stockholm, SwedenMayor Kjell Henriksson, Kalmar, SwedenDeputy Mayor Jan-Olof Wernersson, Kalmar, Sweden

NEW FOREFATHER MEMBERS____________________________________________________Active members of the Swedish Colonial Society may apply for recognition as “ForefatherMembers” if they can prove descent from Swedish colonists arriving in the United States prior tothe Treaty of Paris, marking the close of the Revolutionary War, in 1783. Application forms maybe obtained from the SCS website, www.ColonialSwedes.org, or from Dr. Peter S. Craig, 3406Macomb St., NW, Washington, DC 20016.

The following new Forefather Members have been approved during the six months ending 15October 2002:


Swedish Colonial NewsThe Swedish Colonial Society916 South Swanson StreetPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania 19147-4332www.ColonialSwedes.org

Return Service Requested

Editor:Rev. Dr. Kim-Eric WilliamsPublisher:Ronald A. Hendrickson, Esq.Cataleno & Co., Inc.Newsletter Committee:David R. Anderson Dr. Peter S. CraigBrian DalyAleasa J. HogateHerbert R. RamboDoriney SeagersJames D. Seagers

Upcoming EventsNovember 16 Saturday, New Sweden Conference at the American Swedish Historical Museum,

Philadelphia, PA, (215) 389-1776December 6 Friday, 6 p.m., Julbord at the American Swedish Historical Museum, Philadelphia, PA, (215) 389-1776

Friday, 6 p.m. & 8 p.m., Lucia at Gloria Dei Church, (215) 389-1513December 7 Saturday, 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m. & 5 p.m., Lucia at Gloria Dei Church, (215) 389-1513

Saturday, 12 Noon - 4 p.m., Lucia and Julmarknad at the American Swedish Historical MuseumDecember 8 Sunday, 10:30 a.m., Lucia at Holy Trinity Lutheran, 927 South Providence Rd.,

Wallingford, PA, (610) 874-8652 Sunday, 1-3 p.m., “Trim-a-Swedish-Christmas-Tree” at the Lower Swedish Log Cabin,

Drexel Hill, PA, (610) 623-1650Sunday, 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m. & 5 p.m., Lucia at Gloria Dei Church, (215) 389-1513Sunday, 3 p.m., Lucia at Holy Trinity, Wilmington, DE, (302) 475-3736,

in co-operation with the Delaware Swedish Colonial SocietyDecember 13 Friday, 7 p.m., Patriots’ Lucia at Christ Church, Upper Merion, PA, (610) 265-1257

Friday, 7 p.m., Lucia at St. Gabriel’s, Douglassville, PA, (610) 385-3431December 15 Sunday, 11:30 a.m., Swedish Colonial Society Julmiddag at the Riverview Inn, Pennsville, NJ

Sunday, 4 pm., Lucia with Friends of the Swedish Log Cabin at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 50 E. Plumstead Ave., Landsdowne, PA

Sunday, 6 p.m., Lucia at Trinity Episcopal, Swedesboro, NJ, (856) 467-1227February 16 Sunday, 12:30 p.m., New Sweden Centre 5th Annual George Washington Party at Arsenal-on-the Green,

New Castle, DE, (302) 764-6662April 6 Sunday, Colonial Forefathers Luncheon, 365th Anniversary of New Sweden, Philadelphia, PA

with the Delaware Swedish Colonial SocietyMay 4 Sunday, 11 a.m., Anniversary Service & Luncheon at Gloria Dei Church

swedish colonial newscolonialswedes.net/images/publications/scnewsf02.pdfsinnick broer the finn...

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