Last fall I decided to put together what I know about my
military ancestors, those who served in the Czech Republic, Sweden, and the
United States. There were over 25 of them, serving their country during times
of war and peace. Periodically, I will include one of our Swedish soldiers in my blog.
In Sweden, after 1692, the soldier allotment system worked this way: A number of farms made up a rote, and each rote was responsible for one soldier. The farms had to recruit the soldier, give him and his family a cottage and piece of land, and pay a salary. During peace time, the soldier would do military exercises with his regiment and be called upon to provide other duties. In times of war, his family and farm were taken care of while he was gone. If the soldier died, the soldier’s family had to move to make room for the next soldier. And when the soldier retired, he and his family immediately left the farm.
In Sweden, after 1692, the soldier allotment system worked this way: A number of farms made up a rote, and each rote was responsible for one soldier. The farms had to recruit the soldier, give him and his family a cottage and piece of land, and pay a salary. During peace time, the soldier would do military exercises with his regiment and be called upon to provide other duties. In times of war, his family and farm were taken care of while he was gone. If the soldier died, the soldier’s family had to move to make room for the next soldier. And when the soldier retired, he and his family immediately left the farm.
One of my Swedish military ancestors was my 4th
great grandfather, Martin Hedberg. He was the great-grandfather to Olivia and
Brita Rask (Olofson). Martin was born to the soldier Olof Boman and his wife,
Anna Martensdotter on February 4, 1745, in Bollnas Parish in Gavleborg County.
Having researched my family history for over 40 years, I
know that not every person lives up to the ideals we might hope for or live the
kind of life we might imagine. Often, their lives have both positive and negative parts to them, the ups and downs of life. Martin was one of those ancestors.
Without a full history, complete explanations and details, it's difficult to know when the few facts available lead to an accurate assessment of a person. I don’t have exact dates when Martin served as a soldier. It’s
my guess that he was discharged or retired by the 1783-1786 clerical survey
when we see Martin moving several times, from farm to farm, within Bollnas
Parish. He did not have papers that allowed him to move, was not able to pass
the yearly clerical examination given by the parish priest, could not read, did
not know the Bible or was able to recite anything he was asked. Because of
these shortcomings, Martin Hedberg was sent to work at a fortress in 1786,
probably Fredriksskans in Gavle to work at hard labor. It would have been
similar to a prison.
 |
| Fredriksskans Fortress |
Fredriksskans fortress was erected on a small island on a
fjord and was originally used as a fort for protection of the area, but later
became a prison. Martin was there from 1786 but would have been out by 1789 as
he fathered a child then.
By 1798, Martin was living with Ella Palsdotter and their illegitimate
children. Anna (born 1789) and Olof (born 1792). Martin is noted as being a
discharged soldier in the clerical survey. To date, I've never found a marriage record for Martin and Ella, and their children were always listed as oäkta or illegitimate.
Martin’s death record states that he was a retired guard, receiving a pension from the military. He died on April 30, 1807, at the
age of 62.
It's important to note that, in Sweden, under the Lutheran Church, the yearly clerical surveys conducted by the parish priest were taken very seriously. These examinations helped the Lutheran State Church in its responsibility to keep track of its people. They also served as an opportunity to teach church doctrine, reinforce disciplinary authority (thus the punishment for Martin Hedberg), and promote a healthy society through the recording of vaccinations. Anyone who could not meet basic church requirements would have been penalized in some way.
While it's clear that Martin Hedberg honorably served his parish or rote as a soldier, he was unable to maintain a lifestyle that satisfied the state church. Perhaps he was simply poor which led him to move around and to not learn to read or study the Bible; perhaps he was defiant of the church doctrine and rules. I have no answers to the "why's" of Martin's life and the decisions he made. But we are descended from his son Olof, grandson Olof Rask, great-granddaughter Olivia Rask, and great-great granddaughter Maude Edith Olofson. For that I'm thankful.
It's important to note that, in Sweden, under the Lutheran Church, the yearly clerical surveys conducted by the parish priest were taken very seriously. These examinations helped the Lutheran State Church in its responsibility to keep track of its people. They also served as an opportunity to teach church doctrine, reinforce disciplinary authority (thus the punishment for Martin Hedberg), and promote a healthy society through the recording of vaccinations. Anyone who could not meet basic church requirements would have been penalized in some way.
While it's clear that Martin Hedberg honorably served his parish or rote as a soldier, he was unable to maintain a lifestyle that satisfied the state church. Perhaps he was simply poor which led him to move around and to not learn to read or study the Bible; perhaps he was defiant of the church doctrine and rules. I have no answers to the "why's" of Martin's life and the decisions he made. But we are descended from his son Olof, grandson Olof Rask, great-granddaughter Olivia Rask, and great-great granddaughter Maude Edith Olofson. For that I'm thankful.
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