maja lena pettersdotter (part 1 of 3)

childhood

Maria Helena Pettersdotter, Jeff's 3rd great grandmother, was born May 13, 1826 in Blidsberg, Sweden, at Danstorp.  I first came across Maria's name written as Maja Lena in a Household Examination record, so I had been documenting her as Maja Lena rather than Maria Helena.  Most of my writing will therefore call her Maja Lena, as that is how I think of her.  I have since found her name written either way in the many different documents.  Maja was the third child out of five born to Peter Andersson and Lena Michaelsdotter; although one older sister had died at the age of 1, before Maja was born.

birth record of Maria Helena Pettersdotter (Maja Lena) 1826 Blidsberg

According to the Household Examinations, the family moved soon after Maja's birth from Blidsberg to the parish of Börstig, Sweden in 1826.  They stayed in Börstig for about 11 years, living at Hedenstorp; which most likey was a farm name.  I was able to locate Hedenstorp in Börstig on an historical map and have marked it on the current map below.   

current map of Maja Lena's residence from 1826-1837 Hedenstorp, Börstig, Sweden until she was 11 years old

View Maja Lena Petersdotter timeline in a larger map

In 1837, Maja and her family of 6 moved to a neighboring parish of Brismene. They stayed in Brismene for about 5 years, when Maja was between the ages of 11-16.  I was not able to locate on the historical maps either farm of Dalbogården or Storegården in Brismene that are listed in the Household Examinations for this family.  I will have to look into this area a little bit more.  Most of the parishes Maja has lived in seem to be very small parishes, with currently about 500 residents.  Her father, Petter Andersson, is noted as hälftenbrukare in the Brismene Household Examinations.  According to the book "Your Swedish Roots", a  hälftenbrukare, is a farmer who pays half the profit of the land let to him. (note 1)

household examination Brismene, Sweden (farm Dalbogården) gid  661.5.75500 maja lena petersdotter 1837-1840

household examination Brismene, Sweden (farm Storegården) gid  661.5.79300 maja lena petersdotter 1840-1843

When Maja was about 16 years old, around 1842, the family moved back to Blidsberg, the parish where she was born.  The Household Examination record above shows that Maja's older sister, Anna Cassa, is no  longer living with them.  She had married a year earlier in 1841, and stayed in Brismene for the rest of her life.  Maja lived with her parents for another 10 years in Blidsberg.  Nine of those years they lived on the farm Alarp Ödegård.  While living on this farm with her family, Maja's first child was born out of wedlock when she was 23 years old.  The Household Examination record has a notation of oäkta, for illegitimate child, next to Johan August, born in 1850 (the last entry for the household on the examination below).  His birth record confirms he was Maja's child.

    

household examination Blidsberg, Sweden (farm Alarp Ödegårdarden) gid 578.8.90200 maja lena petersdotter 1842-1851

This Household Examination record also shows one of Maja's brothers, Johannes, moves back to Brismene in 1851.  The family household now includes Maja, her father Peter, her mother Sara, her youngest sister, Johanna, and Maja's illegitimate child, Johan August.  This family of five moves in 1851 to another farm in Blidsberg, Västra Alarp.  Maja only stays here for one year, moving out with her son, after she marries in 1852.

current map of Maja Lena's residence from 1842-1852, age 16-26

(blue is Alarp Ödegård farm, yellow is Västra Alarp farm, Blidsberg, Sweden)

View Maja Lena Petersdotter timeline in a larger map
(to be continued...)

notes :
1. This notation of hälftenbrukare is also in the Danstorp farm for the Blidsberg Household Examination for 1826, the farm where Maja was born before they moved to Börstig.