Almost Royalty

It's not that I am not proud of the many farmers and laborers who are my ancestors. But sometimes, when I am talking with other genealogists, friends and genealogy enthusiasts, they often tell about how they are related to George Washington, or Mary Queen of Scots, or George Patton. The list goes on and on and on...and I have to admit that finding a rich or famous or titled ancestor would be exciting.

We have none.

But we ALMOST did. So, here's the story....

Amund Persson is one of my 5th great-grandparents, a Linn ancestor. He was born in 1723 in Sodra Ekeby farm in Malexander Parish in Ostergotland County. He came from a long line of successful farmers. It's a line that I've traced back to my 9th great-grandparents.

Amund was well respected in his parish and was a jury man, meaning that he was elected by the parish to serve on court-related issues. An upstanding citizen said to be "well-behaved and intelligent". On February 11, 1749, Amund Persson married Catharina Margareta Strahle.

Catharina was from an extremely prominent and well-connected family. Her father was a captain. Her mother's father was also a captain and a governor of one of the Swedish provinces. And as we continue back in Catharina's ancestry, we see more governors, priests, and then we find an ancestor who served on the King of Sweden's inner circle. Catharina's family was Swedish royalty. You can google some of their names to see their pedigrees:

Maternal grandfather Nils Gripenhjelm (1653-1703)
Maternal great-grandfather Edmund Figrelius Gripenhjelm (1622-1675)
A second maternal great-grandfather Gustaf Carlsson Bonde (1620-1667)

Gustaf Carlsson Bonde

 Each of Catharina's ancestors had a family crest, at least one castle, and the money and servants to support a lavish lifestyle.

So, why aren't we descended from Amund Persson and his wife Catharina Margareta Strahle? Why aren't we Swedish royalty?

After being married for 5 years, Amund and Catharina were finally going to have a baby. In 1756, at the age of 26 years and 8 days, Catharina Margareta Strahle died in childbirth. Her child also did not survive.

And so, the line of Amund Persson and Catharina Margareta Strahle stopped. Amund did marry a second time. On June 24, 1757, Amund married the maiden Ingeborg Jonsdotter. They had 4 children, one of whom is my 4th great-grandfather, Anders Amundsson. Anders is the father of Maria Andersdotter who married Carl Lundblad. Maria and Carl had our Catharina Lundblad. And that's the line from which we Linns descend.

We were almost royalty. Almost rich. Almost famous. Almost written in Swedish royal history. Almost....