Serafia Magnusdotter
History of Serafia Magnusdotter
Serafia Magnusdotter was born on May 18, 1858 in Nickalycke. She was
the youngest daughter of Magnus Johannesson and Martha Lisa Isaksdotter,
and the second youngest child. She had two older brothers, four older
sisters, and one younger brother. Her siblings ranged in age at her birth
from four to fifteen years old.
At age 16, Serafia married Nils Johan Petersson from the neighboring
village of Kråksjömåla. He became the owner of the 1/6 mantal farm that
her parents had owned in Nickalycke. At this point, three of the six farms
in Nickalycke were owned by the children of Magnus Johannesson and
Martha Lisa isaksdotter. Siblings Frans, Beata and Serafia all raised their
families in the village that had been home to their families for generations.
In 1876, Serafia’s first child, Anna, was born. She died at eight months of
age from measles. Her cousin and neighbor, Hilda Charlotta (Beata’s fifth
child) also died of measles at the same time – the two girls died seven days
apart.
In 1878, son Carl Leander was born, and one year later daughter Anna
Christina was born. In 1882, Serafia gave birth to her fourth child,
Amanda Theresia.
In 1883, Peter Magnus was born. He lived only two months. The cause of
death is not identified, but it must have been infectious. Similar to the
situation five years earlier, two cousins died within one day of each other –
Serfia’s son Peter Magnus, and Frans’ two year old daughter, Ida Viktoria.
In 1885, Serafia gave birth to Johan Alexander. Johan lived slightly over
one year, dying of measles. There must have been a measles epidemic in
Ljuder that year. During the two months between April 21 , 1887 and June
21, there were twelve deaths in the small village of Nickalycke (population
under 50). Eleven were children who died of measles. Their ages ranged
from eight months to nine years old.
Serafia then had three children who lived. Each child was apparently
named after a child that had died within her own family or the children of
her Nickalycke siblings. Ida Victoria was born in 1887 (perhaps named
after her cousin who died in 1883). Hilda Charlotta was born in 1890
(perhaps named after her cousin who died in 1878 – although among the
siblings, there were three children named Hilda Charlotta who died in
infancy). Johan Alexander was born in 1891 (perhaps named after his
brother who died in 1886).
Serafia’s last child, Jon Theador was born in 1895 and died at age nine of
unknown causes. Serafia and Nils thus had ten children – six of whom
survived childhood.
Three years after the birth of her last child, Serafia’s two oldest children
left home. Carl Leander went to North America at age 20. Anna Christina
went to Gotland, Sweden. The next year, daughter Amanda Teresia also
moved to Gotland at age 17.
In 1902, Serafia, Nils and the remaining children left Nickalycke and
farming. Serafia was 44, and had lived her entire life as a farmer’s wife
or daughter in Nickalycke. The family moved to the larger town of Åkerby
Mellange. In town, Nils was designated as an “arb.” or arbetare which
meant worker or laborer.
As the remaining children matured, the dispersal of the family continued. A
third daughter, Ida Victoria, moved to Gotland. Hilda Charlotta moved to
North America in 1909. Johan Alexander moved to the parish of Hemmesjö
in 1911.
With all of the children gone, Nils and Serafia live in Åkerby Mellange until
1915. The last record that I have found about the family shows that
Serafia left Åkerby and moved to Stockholm in 1915, at age 57. The same
record shows that Nils, at age 67, remained in Åkerby. He died there in
1933 of old age.
Serafia Magnusdotter was born on May 18, 1858 in Nickalycke. She was
the youngest daughter of Magnus Johannesson and Martha Lisa Isaksdotter,
and the second youngest child. She had two older brothers, four older
sisters, and one younger brother. Her siblings ranged in age at her birth
from four to fifteen years old.
At age 16, Serafia married Nils Johan Petersson from the neighboring
village of Kråksjömåla. He became the owner of the 1/6 mantal farm that
her parents had owned in Nickalycke. At this point, three of the six farms
in Nickalycke were owned by the children of Magnus Johannesson and
Martha Lisa isaksdotter. Siblings Frans, Beata and Serafia all raised their
families in the village that had been home to their families for generations.
In 1876, Serafia’s first child, Anna, was born. She died at eight months of
age from measles. Her cousin and neighbor, Hilda Charlotta (Beata’s fifth
child) also died of measles at the same time – the two girls died seven days
apart.
In 1878, son Carl Leander was born, and one year later daughter Anna
Christina was born. In 1882, Serafia gave birth to her fourth child,
Amanda Theresia.
In 1883, Peter Magnus was born. He lived only two months. The cause of
death is not identified, but it must have been infectious. Similar to the
situation five years earlier, two cousins died within one day of each other –
Serfia’s son Peter Magnus, and Frans’ two year old daughter, Ida Viktoria.
In 1885, Serafia gave birth to Johan Alexander. Johan lived slightly over
one year, dying of measles. There must have been a measles epidemic in
Ljuder that year. During the two months between April 21 , 1887 and June
21, there were twelve deaths in the small village of Nickalycke (population
under 50). Eleven were children who died of measles. Their ages ranged
from eight months to nine years old.
Serafia then had three children who lived. Each child was apparently
named after a child that had died within her own family or the children of
her Nickalycke siblings. Ida Victoria was born in 1887 (perhaps named
after her cousin who died in 1883). Hilda Charlotta was born in 1890
(perhaps named after her cousin who died in 1878 – although among the
siblings, there were three children named Hilda Charlotta who died in
infancy). Johan Alexander was born in 1891 (perhaps named after his
brother who died in 1886).
Serafia’s last child, Jon Theador was born in 1895 and died at age nine of
unknown causes. Serafia and Nils thus had ten children – six of whom
survived childhood.
Three years after the birth of her last child, Serafia’s two oldest children
left home. Carl Leander went to North America at age 20. Anna Christina
went to Gotland, Sweden. The next year, daughter Amanda Teresia also
moved to Gotland at age 17.
In 1902, Serafia, Nils and the remaining children left Nickalycke and
farming. Serafia was 44, and had lived her entire life as a farmer’s wife
or daughter in Nickalycke. The family moved to the larger town of Åkerby
Mellange. In town, Nils was designated as an “arb.” or arbetare which
meant worker or laborer.
As the remaining children matured, the dispersal of the family continued. A
third daughter, Ida Victoria, moved to Gotland. Hilda Charlotta moved to
North America in 1909. Johan Alexander moved to the parish of Hemmesjö
in 1911.
With all of the children gone, Nils and Serafia live in Åkerby Mellange until
1915. The last record that I have found about the family shows that
Serafia left Åkerby and moved to Stockholm in 1915, at age 57. The same
record shows that Nils, at age 67, remained in Åkerby. He died there in
1933 of old age.
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