Patronymic naming / anglicization - Sven's son (Svensson) to Swanson
The family of Anders Svensson emigrated on the 2nd voyage of the ship Kalmar Nyckel which departed Gothenburg on February 7, 1640, and arrived April 17, 1640 at Fort Christina on the Delaware River (then called South River). The family consisted of father Sven Gunnarsson; mother (unknown) and 2 small children, son Sven Svensson - had 5 children and daughter Getrude Svensdotter Nilsson - had 11 children. A third child, Oele Svensson, was born on the passage - had 8 children. Another daughter was born about 1644 yet her name is unknown; she married Peter Månsson (Lom) - had one son Anders Petersson.
They first settled at Fort Christina where Anders' father Sven Gunnarsson was indentured as a tobacco planter, his young son Sven [older brother of Anders herein] was "the boy who herds the cattle". [1]
Anders Svensson was born about 1642 at Fort Christina and a sister, name not identified, was born by 1644. This sister married Peter Månsson Lom (never used the surname Lom; d. 1677} a son of Måns Svensson Lom and settled in Cecil Co, MD. She died by 1678 and was survived by one child Anders Petersson. No other information for her is known by me at this time. [2]
About 1645, Sven Gunnrsson and his family moved to Kingsessing where he operated a newly built gristmill on Cobbs Creek in the Delaware Valley (now West Philadelphia). The Swedes called Cobb's Creek Mill Kill or Karakung (possibly a Native word "karok" for "upstream", or even Amaasland Creek; Cobb's Creek came later from William Cobb, Penn's miller and first known at Mill Creek. The grist mill built on the creek is where the Blue Bell Tavern now stands.
After researching William Cobb who operated the mill in 1693 and namesake for Cobb's Creek, traditionally known as Karakung Kill, or historic Old Swede's Mill now known as Haverford Mills which Governor Johan Printz of New Sweden purportedly built in 1645/46, I found no direct reference or connection (but would be interested in receiving any factual documentation) to the Svensson/Swanson or Gunnarson names as stated in "The Country Church of Wicaco". ~ The mill was constructed in 1645/46 on Cobbs Creek on the border of present-day Darby and Philadelphia at Baltimore Ave. The site was quite far inland for a majority of the settlers. [3]
About 1646, Lenape land in the Delaware Valley was sold by a sachem (Chief) of the Lenape people to the Dutch West India Co: "A piece of land called by their people Wiqquachkoingh [Wicaco], located on the South River (now called Delaware River) . . . The land extends from the south end of a marsh … to a small stream, forming there a round and rather high point nearly opposite the south point of Schutter's Island [later known as Windmill Island and Smith's Island], and inland five or six miles." [3]
In July of 1653, Twenty-two Freemen signed a "Protest Against Gov'r Printz" outlining their grievances and accusations regarding their living conditions. Among those signers were Anders' father Sven Gunnarsson; Per Rambo; Peter Kock; Anders Hansson; two of the name Mats Hansson; two of the name Hindrick Matsson; Peter Joachim; Hans Mänsson, Olof Stille, Axel Stille, etc. [4]
By 1655, the Dutch Republic under Peter Stuyvesant had captured Fort Christina though most of the colonists were allowed to continue their property rights and freedoms. The struggle for Fort Christina (at Wilmington) and Fort Casimir (at New Castle) was not seen as a war between the Dutch Republic and the Kingdom of Sweden, but rather a struggle between the Dutch West India Company and the Swedish West India Company.
Among the last acts of the Dutch administration before the Duke of York's English fleet took over in 1664 was a patent to Sven Gunnarsson and his three sons for a tract of land called Wicaco. This Dutch patent to the four Swedes for Lenape land was later confirmed in 1671 by the English governor of New York and is extant:
5 May 1664 - Letters Patent were issued from the Dutch Governor at Delaware to Swen Gonderson (sic), Swen Swenson, Oele Swenson and Andrias Swenson for "a certain piece of land lying up above in the river there" (river Delaware) "beginning at Moyamensings Kill and so stretching upwards in breadth four hundred rod and in length into the wood six hundred rod, amounting in all to about eight hundred acres or four hundred megan (sic morgen)."
3 May 1671 - Letters Patent were issued by Francis Lovelace, governor-general under James, Duke of York and Albany, reciting the letters-patent from the Dutch Governor at Delaware, ratified same to Swen Gonderson (sic), Swen Swenson, Oele Swenson and Andries (sic) Swenson, at a quitrent to His Majesty's use of eight bushels of winter-wheat when demanded.. This land extended along the Delaware front from Hollander's Creek and was in what would later become the heart of the present city of Philadelphia on land that had once belonged to the Svensson/Swanson family since the 1660s. [5]
Sven Gunnarsson + his sons Sven, Oele and Anders Svensson settled on 800 acres (measured at 1,125 acres and also cited elsewhere at 1,200 acres), the northern part at Coaquinnoc (later became the Philadelphia land laid out by Penn) and the southern part at Wicaco, former Indian settlements. Their land was home to the first log church in the area. The Church and village of Wicaco (present-day Queen Village), was on land donated by the Svenson family who also provided 25 acres for the use of the minister. The 1696 Will of Sven Swanson mentions a legacy to the Swede's Congregation: "Fifthlie And whereas Some years ago I gave to --- Swede's Congregation att Wicaco the small piece of ground on which the Church stands + which Lies about the same as it now stands paled and found in, but under some Deeds of Sale for ye same. It is therefore my will And I hereby give + bequest and devise to the present Church wardens of the Swede's Congreation at Wicaco ... for the use of the Congregation for a Burial place for ever…" [6]
The original blockhouse was built in 1669 for protection from Indian attacks and converted into a church in 1675. The Svensson/Swanson's house was next to it with Wicaco Creek flowing between them, emptying into the Delaware River; today known as Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church. [1]
Anders' father, Sven Gunnarsson, was one of the founding fathers of the New Sweden Colony, died by 1678 and is said to have been the first burial at the burying ground at Gloria Dei / Old Swede's Church at Wicaco. [7]
On 11 Jun 1683, Andrew (true identity Andries Svensson); Swan, (true identity Sven Svensson) and Wolle (true identity Olle Svensson) were all naturalized in Pennsylvania. [8]
William Penn and the Quaker migration reached the Delaware Valley, New Sweden, by 1682. The Svensson/Swanson land had become known as "The Swede's Land". Penn wanted the northern/upper portion of this Coaquinnoc - Wicaco ground for his new city called Philadelphia and agreed to trade with the Swanson's 600 acres of land "elsewhere along the Schuylkill" - east of the Schuylkill (marked off as Northern Liberties) for the upper part of their land at Wicaco. Therefore, on 6mo/Aug 3, 1683, William Penn granted a warrant for survey of 600a (200 acres for each brother) in the Liberties next to William Clayton's 100 and surveyed 3mo/May 10-13, 1684. The draught of the Swedes land at 'Netopcomb' or Falls of Schuylkill (later known as the Perkiomen Path), shows it bordered the lands of Dennis Rockford and Jno Mifflin. [9]
Under Penn's conditions for his 'new city', each land holder was promised city lots to promote his settlement of a city along the Delaware River. Swan Swanson, Andrew Swanson and Wooly Swanson received a warrant for the survey of City Lots in Philadelphia signed by William Penn and directed to Thomas Holme, Surveyor General on 25 Jul 1684. The widows of each of the brothers ultimately sold these lots to Jos. Shippen. [10, 13, 16]
When Anders Svensson, alias Andrew Swanson, married Anna Unknown has not been discovered. That his wife Anna survived him and they had at least 7 children is verified by Will #101 of Andrew Swanson of Wicaco, Philadelphia Co, dated 08 Jan 1688. He named as his Executors: brothers Swan and Wollow (sic) Swanson; Andreas Bengtson (m. Gertrude dau of Peter Rambo who also came on the Kalmar Nyckel), Lasse Cock (wife Martha Ashman + brother Oele's wife Lydia Ashman were sisters) and Peter Yocum. His Will was proved 25 Sep 1694, Pennsylvania Will Book A, pg 259. [11]
The verified children of Andres + Anne Swanson:
*Gunnar Andersson Swanson, eldest son - (b. 1667- d. 1702) dsp
*Catharine Andersdotter Svensson Wheeler – (abt 1669-d. abt 1700) married Anders Wheeler abt 1689
*Elizabeth Swanson – b. abt 1671, d. aft 1732; married Peter Cock, son of Lawrence Petersson "Lasse, Lars" Cock, abt 1691
*Christina Swanson - (b. abt 1673, d. abt 1750) married Måns Justis
*Margaret Swanson – (b. abt 1676, d. by 1719 at Boon's Island) married Valentine Cock in 1696
*Christopher Swanson (b. abt 1678, d. abt 1735) at Wicaco; m. Christina Keen abt 1712; daughter of Matthias Hanson Keen
*Andrew/Anders Swanson – (b. abt 1686, d. abt 1735 at Lower Darby) married Brigitta Boon abt 1724
A warrant for the equal division of the land at the Falls on the east side of the Schuylkill (Northern Liberties) was requested by Anders' widow Anne, William/Oele's widow Lydia and Swan Swanson was dated 1 Feb 1694. [12]
The Svensson family requested that the tract of land at the Falls be divided into three roughly equal-sized pieces of about 200 acres each. They quickly sold off the middle and southernmost pieces to English buyers John Reely and Thomas (son of John) Hood, respectively, but the northernmost became the property of Anders Svensson's son Christopher Swanson and daughter Christina (Swanson) with her husband, Måns /Mouns Justis (written in Land Records as Mons Eusta or Usta), who had moved there by 1701.
A Warrant dated 6 Oct 1701 from the Proprietary to 3 widows – Katherine relict of Swan Swanson, Anne relict of Andr Swanson, Lydia relict of Woola (sic) Swanson, each of them a Lot in Philadelphia. [13]
On 4 May, 1702, a re-survey of the 600a tract of and laid out to the Swanson family in exchange for 300a by them surrendered to the Proprietor was now in the possession of: Mouns Justason (sic Måns /Mouns Justis) - 200a (272a), John Callow 200a (234a) and John Hood 200a (296a). [14]
The 3 widows Katherine relict of Swan Swanson, Anne relict of Andr Swanson, Lydia relict of Woola (sic) Swanson, in consideration that their husbands were antient Inhabitants and improvers of this city "near ye place where the said city now stands", etc. Each on their own by 3 indentures, conveyed all the said lots to Jos. Shippen on 12 mo/Feb 28, 1703. [13] and [15]
An explanation of the Swanson lands at Wiacaco and exchange with Penn for his Settlement at Philadelphia. . . i.e. PMHB, Planting of Philadelphia, pg 24 et seq: "Along the Delaware above the marshes at the mouth of the Schuylkill, the northern third of the Swansons' 1,145 acres had been surveyed for them only the previous June and was still unimproved. They agreed to give up at this north end of their property some 300 acres fronting the river, including the cove, in exchange for double the amount to be laid out nearby with frontage on the east bank of the Schuylkill. Meanwhile, Thomas Fairman was engaged in surveying the Swansons' 300 acres "and the Rest of the Land unto Schuylkill." [16]
Post Script: Part of the "Swede's Land" or Swanson Tract property claims would form the basis of a subsequent dispute that involved Quaker Thomas Shute (d. 1748). Thomas Shute married 1st Elizabeth Hood and his sister Abigail Shute m. Elizabeth's brother John Hood Jr; both children of John Hood Sr (d. 1721) who owned the lower third (296 acres) of the Swanson Swede's tract referenced above. [PA Gazette - 6 May 1756 shows Sheriff's sale of 12a of the tract). [17]
~ ~ ~
[1] Narratives of Early Pennsylvania, West New Jersey and Delaware, 1630-1707 ~ Myers, Albert Cook - 1912, Report of Governor Printz, pgs 110, 111
[2] Måns Svensson Lom, Forgotten Forefather, and his Seven Daughters, by Dr. Peter Stebbins Craig Historian, Swedish Colonial Society, originally published in Swedish Colonial News, Volume 1, Number 12 (Fall 1995)
[3] History of Haverford Township, The Haverford Mills ~ and ~ The Country Church of Wicaco (2018), Michael Schreiber / philahistory.org ~ and ~ Swedish Colonial Society Journal, Vol 5, No1, Spring 2015
[4] Swedish Colonial Society, Vol 5, No 4, Spring 2015
[5] Index to the Miscellaneous Documents of the House of Representatives for the First Session of the Forty-Fourth Congress (1876) - Vol 6, Naval Affairs Appendix to General Testimony, Exhibit A, pg 251 ~ and ~ Chronology of Colonial Swedes on the Delaware 1638-1713, Vol 2, No 5, (Fall 2001) ~ and ~ Pennsylvania State Archives - RG-17 Records of the Land Office - Patent Index, A and AA Series, 1684-1781. {series #17.147} ~ and ~ Early American Families ...Justice, Longacre, Swanson, Cox, etc. - Rev W A Williams (no date), Pg 278
[6] Pennsylvania Wills, Will # 145, Book A, pg 347 ~ and ~ History of Philadelphia 1609-1884, J Thomas Scharff (1884), pgs 12, 13, 72 ~~ and ~~ Scull + Heap's 'Map of Philadelphia and Parts Adjacent' (1750)
[7] Annals of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania in the Olden Times; Being a Collection of Memoirs, Anecdotes and Incidents of the City - Vol 1 (1884) John F Watson ~ Willis P. Hazard; Pgs 134 ~ and ~ Early American Families, The Swanson Family, pg 43 et seq.
[8] Denizations and Naturalizations in the British Colonies in America, 1607-1775 - S, pg 291
[9] Pennsylvania Land Records, - RG 17 Records of the Land Office; Copied Surveys 1681-1912. [Series #17.114], Book B-23, pgs 208 and 209 ~ and ~ The Land Called Sweeds Land" Mark Thompson; (2022) Published in: Pennsylvania History
[10] James Clark Moore Collection; Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Permanent ID: 3931; William Penn.
[11] PA Abstracts, Vol A, pg 65 ~ and ~ PA Will Bk A, pg 259
[12] Pennsylvania Land Records, - RG 17 Records of the Land Office; Copied Surveys 1681-1912. [Series #17.114], Book B-23, pge 198
[13] Early Pennsylvania Land Records, Minute Book G, pg 459
[14] Pennsylvania Land Records, - RG 17 Records of the Land Office; Copied Surveys 1681-1912. [Series #17.114], Book B-23, pgs 200. 202, 207 and others
[15] Pennsylvania Land Records, - RG 17 Records of the Land Office; Copied Surveys 1681-1912. [Series #17.114], Book B-23, pg 193; Book B-23, pg 194
[16] Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography - The Planting of Philadelphia, A Seventeenth-Century Real Estate Development, 1; Hannah Benner Roach; pg 14, 24, 27, 31, 32, 46
[17] The Land Called Sweeds Land" Mark Thompson; (2022) Published in: Pennsylvania History, pg 10 etc – Suit of Shute and Justis
The family of Anders Svensson emigrated on the 2nd voyage of the ship Kalmar Nyckel which departed Gothenburg on February 7, 1640, and arrived April 17, 1640 at Fort Christina on the Delaware River (then called South River). The family consisted of father Sven Gunnarsson; mother (unknown) and 2 small children, son Sven Svensson - had 5 children and daughter Getrude Svensdotter Nilsson - had 11 children. A third child, Oele Svensson, was born on the passage - had 8 children. Another daughter was born about 1644 yet her name is unknown; she married Peter Månsson (Lom) - had one son Anders Petersson.
They first settled at Fort Christina where Anders' father Sven Gunnarsson was indentured as a tobacco planter, his young son Sven [older brother of Anders herein] was "the boy who herds the cattle". [1]
Anders Svensson was born about 1642 at Fort Christina and a sister, name not identified, was born by 1644. This sister married Peter Månsson Lom (never used the surname Lom; d. 1677} a son of Måns Svensson Lom and settled in Cecil Co, MD. She died by 1678 and was survived by one child Anders Petersson. No other information for her is known by me at this time. [2]
About 1645, Sven Gunnrsson and his family moved to Kingsessing where he operated a newly built gristmill on Cobbs Creek in the Delaware Valley (now West Philadelphia). The Swedes called Cobb's Creek Mill Kill or Karakung (possibly a Native word "karok" for "upstream", or even Amaasland Creek; Cobb's Creek came later from William Cobb, Penn's miller and first known at Mill Creek. The grist mill built on the creek is where the Blue Bell Tavern now stands.
After researching William Cobb who operated the mill in 1693 and namesake for Cobb's Creek, traditionally known as Karakung Kill, or historic Old Swede's Mill now known as Haverford Mills which Governor Johan Printz of New Sweden purportedly built in 1645/46, I found no direct reference or connection (but would be interested in receiving any factual documentation) to the Svensson/Swanson or Gunnarson names as stated in "The Country Church of Wicaco". ~ The mill was constructed in 1645/46 on Cobbs Creek on the border of present-day Darby and Philadelphia at Baltimore Ave. The site was quite far inland for a majority of the settlers. [3]
About 1646, Lenape land in the Delaware Valley was sold by a sachem (Chief) of the Lenape people to the Dutch West India Co: "A piece of land called by their people Wiqquachkoingh [Wicaco], located on the South River (now called Delaware River) . . . The land extends from the south end of a marsh … to a small stream, forming there a round and rather high point nearly opposite the south point of Schutter's Island [later known as Windmill Island and Smith's Island], and inland five or six miles." [3]
In July of 1653, Twenty-two Freemen signed a "Protest Against Gov'r Printz" outlining their grievances and accusations regarding their living conditions. Among those signers were Anders' father Sven Gunnarsson; Per Rambo; Peter Kock; Anders Hansson; two of the name Mats Hansson; two of the name Hindrick Matsson; Peter Joachim; Hans Mänsson, Olof Stille, Axel Stille, etc. [4]
By 1655, the Dutch Republic under Peter Stuyvesant had captured Fort Christina though most of the colonists were allowed to continue their property rights and freedoms. The struggle for Fort Christina (at Wilmington) and Fort Casimir (at New Castle) was not seen as a war between the Dutch Republic and the Kingdom of Sweden, but rather a struggle between the Dutch West India Company and the Swedish West India Company.
Among the last acts of the Dutch administration before the Duke of York's English fleet took over in 1664 was a patent to Sven Gunnarsson and his three sons for a tract of land called Wicaco. This Dutch patent to the four Swedes for Lenape land was later confirmed in 1671 by the English governor of New York and is extant:
5 May 1664 - Letters Patent were issued from the Dutch Governor at Delaware to Swen Gonderson (sic), Swen Swenson, Oele Swenson and Andrias Swenson for "a certain piece of land lying up above in the river there" (river Delaware) "beginning at Moyamensings Kill and so stretching upwards in breadth four hundred rod and in length into the wood six hundred rod, amounting in all to about eight hundred acres or four hundred megan (sic morgen)."
3 May 1671 - Letters Patent were issued by Francis Lovelace, governor-general under James, Duke of York and Albany, reciting the letters-patent from the Dutch Governor at Delaware, ratified same to Swen Gonderson (sic), Swen Swenson, Oele Swenson and Andries (sic) Swenson, at a quitrent to His Majesty's use of eight bushels of winter-wheat when demanded.. This land extended along the Delaware front from Hollander's Creek and was in what would later become the heart of the present city of Philadelphia on land that had once belonged to the Svensson/Swanson family since the 1660s. [5]
Sven Gunnarsson + his sons Sven, Oele and Anders Svensson settled on 800 acres (measured at 1,125 acres and also cited elsewhere at 1,200 acres), the northern part at Coaquinnoc (later became the Philadelphia land laid out by Penn) and the southern part at Wicaco, former Indian settlements. Their land was home to the first log church in the area. The Church and village of Wicaco (present-day Queen Village), was on land donated by the Svenson family who also provided 25 acres for the use of the minister. The 1696 Will of Sven Swanson mentions a legacy to the Swede's Congregation: "Fifthlie And whereas Some years ago I gave to --- Swede's Congregation att Wicaco the small piece of ground on which the Church stands + which Lies about the same as it now stands paled and found in, but under some Deeds of Sale for ye same. It is therefore my will And I hereby give + bequest and devise to the present Church wardens of the Swede's Congreation at Wicaco ... for the use of the Congregation for a Burial place for ever…" [6]
The original blockhouse was built in 1669 for protection from Indian attacks and converted into a church in 1675. The Svensson/Swanson's house was next to it with Wicaco Creek flowing between them, emptying into the Delaware River; today known as Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church. [1]
Anders' father, Sven Gunnarsson, was one of the founding fathers of the New Sweden Colony, died by 1678 and is said to have been the first burial at the burying ground at Gloria Dei / Old Swede's Church at Wicaco. [7]
On 11 Jun 1683, Andrew (true identity Andries Svensson); Swan, (true identity Sven Svensson) and Wolle (true identity Olle Svensson) were all naturalized in Pennsylvania. [8]
William Penn and the Quaker migration reached the Delaware Valley, New Sweden, by 1682. The Svensson/Swanson land had become known as "The Swede's Land". Penn wanted the northern/upper portion of this Coaquinnoc - Wicaco ground for his new city called Philadelphia and agreed to trade with the Swanson's 600 acres of land "elsewhere along the Schuylkill" - east of the Schuylkill (marked off as Northern Liberties) for the upper part of their land at Wicaco. Therefore, on 6mo/Aug 3, 1683, William Penn granted a warrant for survey of 600a (200 acres for each brother) in the Liberties next to William Clayton's 100 and surveyed 3mo/May 10-13, 1684. The draught of the Swedes land at 'Netopcomb' or Falls of Schuylkill (later known as the Perkiomen Path), shows it bordered the lands of Dennis Rockford and Jno Mifflin. [9]
Under Penn's conditions for his 'new city', each land holder was promised city lots to promote his settlement of a city along the Delaware River. Swan Swanson, Andrew Swanson and Wooly Swanson received a warrant for the survey of City Lots in Philadelphia signed by William Penn and directed to Thomas Holme, Surveyor General on 25 Jul 1684. The widows of each of the brothers ultimately sold these lots to Jos. Shippen. [10, 13, 16]
When Anders Svensson, alias Andrew Swanson, married Anna Unknown has not been discovered. That his wife Anna survived him and they had at least 7 children is verified by Will #101 of Andrew Swanson of Wicaco, Philadelphia Co, dated 08 Jan 1688. He named as his Executors: brothers Swan and Wollow (sic) Swanson; Andreas Bengtson (m. Gertrude dau of Peter Rambo who also came on the Kalmar Nyckel), Lasse Cock (wife Martha Ashman + brother Oele's wife Lydia Ashman were sisters) and Peter Yocum. His Will was proved 25 Sep 1694, Pennsylvania Will Book A, pg 259. [11]
The verified children of Andres + Anne Swanson:
*Gunnar Andersson Swanson, eldest son - (b. 1667- d. 1702) dsp
*Catharine Andersdotter Svensson Wheeler – (abt 1669-d. abt 1700) married Anders Wheeler abt 1689
*Elizabeth Swanson – b. abt 1671, d. aft 1732; married Peter Cock, son of Lawrence Petersson "Lasse, Lars" Cock, abt 1691
*Christina Swanson - (b. abt 1673, d. abt 1750) married Måns Justis
*Margaret Swanson – (b. abt 1676, d. by 1719 at Boon's Island) married Valentine Cock in 1696
*Christopher Swanson (b. abt 1678, d. abt 1735) at Wicaco; m. Christina Keen abt 1712; daughter of Matthias Hanson Keen
*Andrew/Anders Swanson – (b. abt 1686, d. abt 1735 at Lower Darby) married Brigitta Boon abt 1724
A warrant for the equal division of the land at the Falls on the east side of the Schuylkill (Northern Liberties) was requested by Anders' widow Anne, William/Oele's widow Lydia and Swan Swanson was dated 1 Feb 1694. [12]
The Svensson family requested that the tract of land at the Falls be divided into three roughly equal-sized pieces of about 200 acres each. They quickly sold off the middle and southernmost pieces to English buyers John Reely and Thomas (son of John) Hood, respectively, but the northernmost became the property of Anders Svensson's son Christopher Swanson and daughter Christina (Swanson) with her husband, Måns /Mouns Justis (written in Land Records as Mons Eusta or Usta), who had moved there by 1701.
A Warrant dated 6 Oct 1701 from the Proprietary to 3 widows – Katherine relict of Swan Swanson, Anne relict of Andr Swanson, Lydia relict of Woola (sic) Swanson, each of them a Lot in Philadelphia. [13]
On 4 May, 1702, a re-survey of the 600a tract of and laid out to the Swanson family in exchange for 300a by them surrendered to the Proprietor was now in the possession of: Mouns Justason (sic Måns /Mouns Justis) - 200a (272a), John Callow 200a (234a) and John Hood 200a (296a). [14]
The 3 widows Katherine relict of Swan Swanson, Anne relict of Andr Swanson, Lydia relict of Woola (sic) Swanson, in consideration that their husbands were antient Inhabitants and improvers of this city "near ye place where the said city now stands", etc. Each on their own by 3 indentures, conveyed all the said lots to Jos. Shippen on 12 mo/Feb 28, 1703. [13] and [15]
An explanation of the Swanson lands at Wiacaco and exchange with Penn for his Settlement at Philadelphia. . . i.e. PMHB, Planting of Philadelphia, pg 24 et seq: "Along the Delaware above the marshes at the mouth of the Schuylkill, the northern third of the Swansons' 1,145 acres had been surveyed for them only the previous June and was still unimproved. They agreed to give up at this north end of their property some 300 acres fronting the river, including the cove, in exchange for double the amount to be laid out nearby with frontage on the east bank of the Schuylkill. Meanwhile, Thomas Fairman was engaged in surveying the Swansons' 300 acres "and the Rest of the Land unto Schuylkill." [16]
Post Script: Part of the "Swede's Land" or Swanson Tract property claims would form the basis of a subsequent dispute that involved Quaker Thomas Shute (d. 1748). Thomas Shute married 1st Elizabeth Hood and his sister Abigail Shute m. Elizabeth's brother John Hood Jr; both children of John Hood Sr (d. 1721) who owned the lower third (296 acres) of the Swanson Swede's tract referenced above. [PA Gazette - 6 May 1756 shows Sheriff's sale of 12a of the tract). [17]
~ ~ ~
[1] Narratives of Early Pennsylvania, West New Jersey and Delaware, 1630-1707 ~ Myers, Albert Cook - 1912, Report of Governor Printz, pgs 110, 111
[2] Måns Svensson Lom, Forgotten Forefather, and his Seven Daughters, by Dr. Peter Stebbins Craig Historian, Swedish Colonial Society, originally published in Swedish Colonial News, Volume 1, Number 12 (Fall 1995)
[3] History of Haverford Township, The Haverford Mills ~ and ~ The Country Church of Wicaco (2018), Michael Schreiber / philahistory.org ~ and ~ Swedish Colonial Society Journal, Vol 5, No1, Spring 2015
[4] Swedish Colonial Society, Vol 5, No 4, Spring 2015
[5] Index to the Miscellaneous Documents of the House of Representatives for the First Session of the Forty-Fourth Congress (1876) - Vol 6, Naval Affairs Appendix to General Testimony, Exhibit A, pg 251 ~ and ~ Chronology of Colonial Swedes on the Delaware 1638-1713, Vol 2, No 5, (Fall 2001) ~ and ~ Pennsylvania State Archives - RG-17 Records of the Land Office - Patent Index, A and AA Series, 1684-1781. {series #17.147} ~ and ~ Early American Families ...Justice, Longacre, Swanson, Cox, etc. - Rev W A Williams (no date), Pg 278
[6] Pennsylvania Wills, Will # 145, Book A, pg 347 ~ and ~ History of Philadelphia 1609-1884, J Thomas Scharff (1884), pgs 12, 13, 72 ~~ and ~~ Scull + Heap's 'Map of Philadelphia and Parts Adjacent' (1750)
[7] Annals of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania in the Olden Times; Being a Collection of Memoirs, Anecdotes and Incidents of the City - Vol 1 (1884) John F Watson ~ Willis P. Hazard; Pgs 134 ~ and ~ Early American Families, The Swanson Family, pg 43 et seq.
[8] Denizations and Naturalizations in the British Colonies in America, 1607-1775 - S, pg 291
[9] Pennsylvania Land Records, - RG 17 Records of the Land Office; Copied Surveys 1681-1912. [Series #17.114], Book B-23, pgs 208 and 209 ~ and ~ The Land Called Sweeds Land" Mark Thompson; (2022) Published in: Pennsylvania History
[10] James Clark Moore Collection; Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Permanent ID: 3931; William Penn.
[11] PA Abstracts, Vol A, pg 65 ~ and ~ PA Will Bk A, pg 259
[12] Pennsylvania Land Records, - RG 17 Records of the Land Office; Copied Surveys 1681-1912. [Series #17.114], Book B-23, pge 198
[13] Early Pennsylvania Land Records, Minute Book G, pg 459
[14] Pennsylvania Land Records, - RG 17 Records of the Land Office; Copied Surveys 1681-1912. [Series #17.114], Book B-23, pgs 200. 202, 207 and others
[15] Pennsylvania Land Records, - RG 17 Records of the Land Office; Copied Surveys 1681-1912. [Series #17.114], Book B-23, pg 193; Book B-23, pg 194
[16] Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography - The Planting of Philadelphia, A Seventeenth-Century Real Estate Development, 1; Hannah Benner Roach; pg 14, 24, 27, 31, 32, 46
[17] The Land Called Sweeds Land" Mark Thompson; (2022) Published in: Pennsylvania History, pg 10 etc – Suit of Shute and Justis
Patronymic naming / anglicization - Sven's son (Svensson) to Swanson
The family of Anders Svensson emigrated on the 2nd voyage of the ship Kalmar Nyckel which departed Gothenburg on February 7, 1640, and arrived April 17, 1640 at Fort Christina on the Delaware River (then called South River). The family consisted of father Sven Gunnarsson; mother (unknown) and 2 small children, son Sven Svensson - had 5 children and daughter Getrude Svensdotter Nilsson - had 11 children. A third child, Oele Svensson, was born on the passage - had 8 children. Another daughter was born about 1644 yet her name is unknown; she married Peter Månsson (Lom) - had one son Anders Petersson.
They first settled at Fort Christina where Anders' father Sven Gunnarsson was indentured as a tobacco planter, his young son Sven [older brother of Anders herein] was "the boy who herds the cattle". [1]
Anders Svensson was born about 1642 at Fort Christina and a sister, name not identified, was born by 1644. This sister married Peter Månsson Lom (never used the surname Lom; d. 1677} a son of Måns Svensson Lom and settled in Cecil Co, MD. She died by 1678 and was survived by one child Anders Petersson. No other information for her is known by me at this time. [2]
About 1645, Sven Gunnrsson and his family moved to Kingsessing where he operated a newly built gristmill on Cobbs Creek in the Delaware Valley (now West Philadelphia). The Swedes called Cobb's Creek Mill Kill or Karakung (possibly a Native word "karok" for "upstream", or even Amaasland Creek; Cobb's Creek came later from William Cobb, Penn's miller and first known at Mill Creek. The grist mill built on the creek is where the Blue Bell Tavern now stands.
After researching William Cobb who operated the mill in 1693 and namesake for Cobb's Creek, traditionally known as Karakung Kill, or historic Old Swede's Mill now known as Haverford Mills which Governor Johan Printz of New Sweden purportedly built in 1645/46, I found no direct reference or connection (but would be interested in receiving any factual documentation) to the Svensson/Swanson or Gunnarson names as stated in "The Country Church of Wicaco". ~ The mill was constructed in 1645/46 on Cobbs Creek on the border of present-day Darby and Philadelphia at Baltimore Ave. The site was quite far inland for a majority of the settlers. [3]
About 1646, Lenape land in the Delaware Valley was sold by a sachem (Chief) of the Lenape people to the Dutch West India Co: "A piece of land called by their people Wiqquachkoingh [Wicaco], located on the South River (now called Delaware River) . . . The land extends from the south end of a marsh … to a small stream, forming there a round and rather high point nearly opposite the south point of Schutter's Island [later known as Windmill Island and Smith's Island], and inland five or six miles." [3]
In July of 1653, Twenty-two Freemen signed a "Protest Against Gov'r Printz" outlining their grievances and accusations regarding their living conditions. Among those signers were Anders' father Sven Gunnarsson; Per Rambo; Peter Kock; Anders Hansson; two of the name Mats Hansson; two of the name Hindrick Matsson; Peter Joachim; Hans Mänsson, Olof Stille, Axel Stille, etc. [4]
By 1655, the Dutch Republic under Peter Stuyvesant had captured Fort Christina though most of the colonists were allowed to continue their property rights and freedoms. The struggle for Fort Christina (at Wilmington) and Fort Casimir (at New Castle) was not seen as a war between the Dutch Republic and the Kingdom of Sweden, but rather a struggle between the Dutch West India Company and the Swedish West India Company.
Among the last acts of the Dutch administration before the Duke of York's English fleet took over in 1664 was a patent to Sven Gunnarsson and his three sons for a tract of land called Wicaco. This Dutch patent to the four Swedes for Lenape land was later confirmed in 1671 by the English governor of New York and is extant:
5 May 1664 - Letters Patent were issued from the Dutch Governor at Delaware to Swen Gonderson (sic), Swen Swenson, Oele Swenson and Andrias Swenson for "a certain piece of land lying up above in the river there" (river Delaware) "beginning at Moyamensings Kill and so stretching upwards in breadth four hundred rod and in length into the wood six hundred rod, amounting in all to about eight hundred acres or four hundred megan (sic morgen)."
3 May 1671 - Letters Patent were issued by Francis Lovelace, governor-general under James, Duke of York and Albany, reciting the letters-patent from the Dutch Governor at Delaware, ratified same to Swen Gonderson (sic), Swen Swenson, Oele Swenson and Andries (sic) Swenson, at a quitrent to His Majesty's use of eight bushels of winter-wheat when demanded.. This land extended along the Delaware front from Hollander's Creek and was in what would later become the heart of the present city of Philadelphia on land that had once belonged to the Svensson/Swanson family since the 1660s. [5]
Sven Gunnarsson + his sons Sven, Oele and Anders Svensson settled on 800 acres (measured at 1,125 acres and also cited elsewhere at 1,200 acres), the northern part at Coaquinnoc (later became the Philadelphia land laid out by Penn) and the southern part at Wicaco, former Indian settlements. Their land was home to the first log church in the area. The Church and village of Wicaco (present-day Queen Village), was on land donated by the Svenson family who also provided 25 acres for the use of the minister. The 1696 Will of Sven Swanson mentions a legacy to the Swede's Congregation: "Fifthlie And whereas Some years ago I gave to --- Swede's Congregation att Wicaco the small piece of ground on which the Church stands + which Lies about the same as it now stands paled and found in, but under some Deeds of Sale for ye same. It is therefore my will And I hereby give + bequest and devise to the present Church wardens of the Swede's Congreation at Wicaco ... for the use of the Congregation for a Burial place for ever…" [6]
The original blockhouse was built in 1669 for protection from Indian attacks and converted into a church in 1675. The Svensson/Swanson's house was next to it with Wicaco Creek flowing between them, emptying into the Delaware River; today known as Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church. [1]
Anders' father, Sven Gunnarsson, was one of the founding fathers of the New Sweden Colony, died by 1678 and is said to have been the first burial at the burying ground at Gloria Dei / Old Swede's Church at Wicaco. [7]
On 11 Jun 1683, Andrew (true identity Andries Svensson); Swan, (true identity Sven Svensson) and Wolle (true identity Olle Svensson) were all naturalized in Pennsylvania. [8]
William Penn and the Quaker migration reached the Delaware Valley, New Sweden, by 1682. The Svensson/Swanson land had become known as "The Swede's Land". Penn wanted the northern/upper portion of this Coaquinnoc - Wicaco ground for his new city called Philadelphia and agreed to trade with the Swanson's 600 acres of land "elsewhere along the Schuylkill" - east of the Schuylkill (marked off as Northern Liberties) for the upper part of their land at Wicaco. Therefore, on 6mo/Aug 3, 1683, William Penn granted a warrant for survey of 600a (200 acres for each brother) in the Liberties next to William Clayton's 100 and surveyed 3mo/May 10-13, 1684. The draught of the Swedes land at 'Netopcomb' or Falls of Schuylkill (later known as the Perkiomen Path), shows it bordered the lands of Dennis Rockford and Jno Mifflin. [9]
Under Penn's conditions for his 'new city', each land holder was promised city lots to promote his settlement of a city along the Delaware River. Swan Swanson, Andrew Swanson and Wooly Swanson received a warrant for the survey of City Lots in Philadelphia signed by William Penn and directed to Thomas Holme, Surveyor General on 25 Jul 1684. The widows of each of the brothers ultimately sold these lots to Jos. Shippen. [10, 13, 16]
When Anders Svensson, alias Andrew Swanson, married Anna Unknown has not been discovered. That his wife Anna survived him and they had at least 7 children is verified by Will #101 of Andrew Swanson of Wicaco, Philadelphia Co, dated 08 Jan 1688. He named as his Executors: brothers Swan and Wollow (sic) Swanson; Andreas Bengtson (m. Gertrude dau of Peter Rambo who also came on the Kalmar Nyckel), Lasse Cock (wife Martha Ashman + brother Oele's wife Lydia Ashman were sisters) and Peter Yocum. His Will was proved 25 Sep 1694, Pennsylvania Will Book A, pg 259. [11]
The verified children of Andres + Anne Swanson:
*Gunnar Andersson Swanson, eldest son - (b. 1667- d. 1702) dsp
*Catharine Andersdotter Svensson Wheeler – (abt 1669-d. abt 1700) married Anders Wheeler abt 1689
*Elizabeth Swanson – b. abt 1671, d. aft 1732; married Peter Cock, son of Lawrence Petersson "Lasse, Lars" Cock, abt 1691
*Christina Swanson - (b. abt 1673, d. abt 1750) married Måns Justis
*Margaret Swanson – (b. abt 1676, d. by 1719 at Boon's Island) married Valentine Cock in 1696
*Christopher Swanson (b. abt 1678, d. abt 1735) at Wicaco; m. Christina Keen abt 1712; daughter of Matthias Hanson Keen
*Andrew/Anders Swanson – (b. abt 1686, d. abt 1735 at Lower Darby) married Brigitta Boon abt 1724
A warrant for the equal division of the land at the Falls on the east side of the Schuylkill (Northern Liberties) was requested by Anders' widow Anne, William/Oele's widow Lydia and Swan Swanson was dated 1 Feb 1694. [12]
The Svensson family requested that the tract of land at the Falls be divided into three roughly equal-sized pieces of about 200 acres each. They quickly sold off the middle and southernmost pieces to English buyers John Reely and Thomas (son of John) Hood, respectively, but the northernmost became the property of Anders Svensson's son Christopher Swanson and daughter Christina (Swanson) with her husband, Måns /Mouns Justis (written in Land Records as Mons Eusta or Usta), who had moved there by 1701.
A Warrant dated 6 Oct 1701 from the Proprietary to 3 widows – Katherine relict of Swan Swanson, Anne relict of Andr Swanson, Lydia relict of Woola (sic) Swanson, each of them a Lot in Philadelphia. [13]
On 4 May, 1702, a re-survey of the 600a tract of and laid out to the Swanson family in exchange for 300a by them surrendered to the Proprietor was now in the possession of: Mouns Justason (sic Måns /Mouns Justis) - 200a (272a), John Callow 200a (234a) and John Hood 200a (296a). [14]
The 3 widows Katherine relict of Swan Swanson, Anne relict of Andr Swanson, Lydia relict of Woola (sic) Swanson, in consideration that their husbands were antient Inhabitants and improvers of this city "near ye place where the said city now stands", etc. Each on their own by 3 indentures, conveyed all the said lots to Jos. Shippen on 12 mo/Feb 28, 1703. [13] and [15]
An explanation of the Swanson lands at Wiacaco and exchange with Penn for his Settlement at Philadelphia. . . i.e. PMHB, Planting of Philadelphia, pg 24 et seq: "Along the Delaware above the marshes at the mouth of the Schuylkill, the northern third of the Swansons' 1,145 acres had been surveyed for them only the previous June and was still unimproved. They agreed to give up at this north end of their property some 300 acres fronting the river, including the cove, in exchange for double the amount to be laid out nearby with frontage on the east bank of the Schuylkill. Meanwhile, Thomas Fairman was engaged in surveying the Swansons' 300 acres "and the Rest of the Land unto Schuylkill." [16]
Post Script: Part of the "Swede's Land" or Swanson Tract property claims would form the basis of a subsequent dispute that involved Quaker Thomas Shute (d. 1748). Thomas Shute married 1st Elizabeth Hood and his sister Abigail Shute m. Elizabeth's brother John Hood Jr; both children of John Hood Sr (d. 1721) who owned the lower third (296 acres) of the Swanson Swede's tract referenced above. [PA Gazette - 6 May 1756 shows Sheriff's sale of 12a of the tract). [17]
~ ~ ~
[1] Narratives of Early Pennsylvania, West New Jersey and Delaware, 1630-1707 ~ Myers, Albert Cook - 1912, Report of Governor Printz, pgs 110, 111
[2] Måns Svensson Lom, Forgotten Forefather, and his Seven Daughters, by Dr. Peter Stebbins Craig Historian, Swedish Colonial Society, originally published in Swedish Colonial News, Volume 1, Number 12 (Fall 1995)
[3] History of Haverford Township, The Haverford Mills ~ and ~ The Country Church of Wicaco (2018), Michael Schreiber / philahistory.org ~ and ~ Swedish Colonial Society Journal, Vol 5, No1, Spring 2015
[4] Swedish Colonial Society, Vol 5, No 4, Spring 2015
[5] Index to the Miscellaneous Documents of the House of Representatives for the First Session of the Forty-Fourth Congress (1876) - Vol 6, Naval Affairs Appendix to General Testimony, Exhibit A, pg 251 ~ and ~ Chronology of Colonial Swedes on the Delaware 1638-1713, Vol 2, No 5, (Fall 2001) ~ and ~ Pennsylvania State Archives - RG-17 Records of the Land Office - Patent Index, A and AA Series, 1684-1781. {series #17.147} ~ and ~ Early American Families ...Justice, Longacre, Swanson, Cox, etc. - Rev W A Williams (no date), Pg 278
[6] Pennsylvania Wills, Will # 145, Book A, pg 347 ~ and ~ History of Philadelphia 1609-1884, J Thomas Scharff (1884), pgs 12, 13, 72 ~~ and ~~ Scull + Heap's 'Map of Philadelphia and Parts Adjacent' (1750)
[7] Annals of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania in the Olden Times; Being a Collection of Memoirs, Anecdotes and Incidents of the City - Vol 1 (1884) John F Watson ~ Willis P. Hazard; Pgs 134 ~ and ~ Early American Families, The Swanson Family, pg 43 et seq.
[8] Denizations and Naturalizations in the British Colonies in America, 1607-1775 - S, pg 291
[9] Pennsylvania Land Records, - RG 17 Records of the Land Office; Copied Surveys 1681-1912. [Series #17.114], Book B-23, pgs 208 and 209 ~ and ~ The Land Called Sweeds Land" Mark Thompson; (2022) Published in: Pennsylvania History
[10] James Clark Moore Collection; Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Permanent ID: 3931; William Penn.
[11] PA Abstracts, Vol A, pg 65 ~ and ~ PA Will Bk A, pg 259
[12] Pennsylvania Land Records, - RG 17 Records of the Land Office; Copied Surveys 1681-1912. [Series #17.114], Book B-23, pge 198
[13] Early Pennsylvania Land Records, Minute Book G, pg 459
[14] Pennsylvania Land Records, - RG 17 Records of the Land Office; Copied Surveys 1681-1912. [Series #17.114], Book B-23, pgs 200. 202, 207 and others
[15] Pennsylvania Land Records, - RG 17 Records of the Land Office; Copied Surveys 1681-1912. [Series #17.114], Book B-23, pg 193; Book B-23, pg 194
[16] Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography - The Planting of Philadelphia, A Seventeenth-Century Real Estate Development, 1; Hannah Benner Roach; pg 14, 24, 27, 31, 32, 46
[17] The Land Called Sweeds Land" Mark Thompson; (2022) Published in: Pennsylvania History, pg 10 etc – Suit of Shute and Justis
The family of Anders Svensson emigrated on the 2nd voyage of the ship Kalmar Nyckel which departed Gothenburg on February 7, 1640, and arrived April 17, 1640 at Fort Christina on the Delaware River (then called South River). The family consisted of father Sven Gunnarsson; mother (unknown) and 2 small children, son Sven Svensson - had 5 children and daughter Getrude Svensdotter Nilsson - had 11 children. A third child, Oele Svensson, was born on the passage - had 8 children. Another daughter was born about 1644 yet her name is unknown; she married Peter Månsson (Lom) - had one son Anders Petersson.
They first settled at Fort Christina where Anders' father Sven Gunnarsson was indentured as a tobacco planter, his young son Sven [older brother of Anders herein] was "the boy who herds the cattle". [1]
Anders Svensson was born about 1642 at Fort Christina and a sister, name not identified, was born by 1644. This sister married Peter Månsson Lom (never used the surname Lom; d. 1677} a son of Måns Svensson Lom and settled in Cecil Co, MD. She died by 1678 and was survived by one child Anders Petersson. No other information for her is known by me at this time. [2]
About 1645, Sven Gunnrsson and his family moved to Kingsessing where he operated a newly built gristmill on Cobbs Creek in the Delaware Valley (now West Philadelphia). The Swedes called Cobb's Creek Mill Kill or Karakung (possibly a Native word "karok" for "upstream", or even Amaasland Creek; Cobb's Creek came later from William Cobb, Penn's miller and first known at Mill Creek. The grist mill built on the creek is where the Blue Bell Tavern now stands.
After researching William Cobb who operated the mill in 1693 and namesake for Cobb's Creek, traditionally known as Karakung Kill, or historic Old Swede's Mill now known as Haverford Mills which Governor Johan Printz of New Sweden purportedly built in 1645/46, I found no direct reference or connection (but would be interested in receiving any factual documentation) to the Svensson/Swanson or Gunnarson names as stated in "The Country Church of Wicaco". ~ The mill was constructed in 1645/46 on Cobbs Creek on the border of present-day Darby and Philadelphia at Baltimore Ave. The site was quite far inland for a majority of the settlers. [3]
About 1646, Lenape land in the Delaware Valley was sold by a sachem (Chief) of the Lenape people to the Dutch West India Co: "A piece of land called by their people Wiqquachkoingh [Wicaco], located on the South River (now called Delaware River) . . . The land extends from the south end of a marsh … to a small stream, forming there a round and rather high point nearly opposite the south point of Schutter's Island [later known as Windmill Island and Smith's Island], and inland five or six miles." [3]
In July of 1653, Twenty-two Freemen signed a "Protest Against Gov'r Printz" outlining their grievances and accusations regarding their living conditions. Among those signers were Anders' father Sven Gunnarsson; Per Rambo; Peter Kock; Anders Hansson; two of the name Mats Hansson; two of the name Hindrick Matsson; Peter Joachim; Hans Mänsson, Olof Stille, Axel Stille, etc. [4]
By 1655, the Dutch Republic under Peter Stuyvesant had captured Fort Christina though most of the colonists were allowed to continue their property rights and freedoms. The struggle for Fort Christina (at Wilmington) and Fort Casimir (at New Castle) was not seen as a war between the Dutch Republic and the Kingdom of Sweden, but rather a struggle between the Dutch West India Company and the Swedish West India Company.
Among the last acts of the Dutch administration before the Duke of York's English fleet took over in 1664 was a patent to Sven Gunnarsson and his three sons for a tract of land called Wicaco. This Dutch patent to the four Swedes for Lenape land was later confirmed in 1671 by the English governor of New York and is extant:
5 May 1664 - Letters Patent were issued from the Dutch Governor at Delaware to Swen Gonderson (sic), Swen Swenson, Oele Swenson and Andrias Swenson for "a certain piece of land lying up above in the river there" (river Delaware) "beginning at Moyamensings Kill and so stretching upwards in breadth four hundred rod and in length into the wood six hundred rod, amounting in all to about eight hundred acres or four hundred megan (sic morgen)."
3 May 1671 - Letters Patent were issued by Francis Lovelace, governor-general under James, Duke of York and Albany, reciting the letters-patent from the Dutch Governor at Delaware, ratified same to Swen Gonderson (sic), Swen Swenson, Oele Swenson and Andries (sic) Swenson, at a quitrent to His Majesty's use of eight bushels of winter-wheat when demanded.. This land extended along the Delaware front from Hollander's Creek and was in what would later become the heart of the present city of Philadelphia on land that had once belonged to the Svensson/Swanson family since the 1660s. [5]
Sven Gunnarsson + his sons Sven, Oele and Anders Svensson settled on 800 acres (measured at 1,125 acres and also cited elsewhere at 1,200 acres), the northern part at Coaquinnoc (later became the Philadelphia land laid out by Penn) and the southern part at Wicaco, former Indian settlements. Their land was home to the first log church in the area. The Church and village of Wicaco (present-day Queen Village), was on land donated by the Svenson family who also provided 25 acres for the use of the minister. The 1696 Will of Sven Swanson mentions a legacy to the Swede's Congregation: "Fifthlie And whereas Some years ago I gave to --- Swede's Congregation att Wicaco the small piece of ground on which the Church stands + which Lies about the same as it now stands paled and found in, but under some Deeds of Sale for ye same. It is therefore my will And I hereby give + bequest and devise to the present Church wardens of the Swede's Congreation at Wicaco ... for the use of the Congregation for a Burial place for ever…" [6]
The original blockhouse was built in 1669 for protection from Indian attacks and converted into a church in 1675. The Svensson/Swanson's house was next to it with Wicaco Creek flowing between them, emptying into the Delaware River; today known as Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church. [1]
Anders' father, Sven Gunnarsson, was one of the founding fathers of the New Sweden Colony, died by 1678 and is said to have been the first burial at the burying ground at Gloria Dei / Old Swede's Church at Wicaco. [7]
On 11 Jun 1683, Andrew (true identity Andries Svensson); Swan, (true identity Sven Svensson) and Wolle (true identity Olle Svensson) were all naturalized in Pennsylvania. [8]
William Penn and the Quaker migration reached the Delaware Valley, New Sweden, by 1682. The Svensson/Swanson land had become known as "The Swede's Land". Penn wanted the northern/upper portion of this Coaquinnoc - Wicaco ground for his new city called Philadelphia and agreed to trade with the Swanson's 600 acres of land "elsewhere along the Schuylkill" - east of the Schuylkill (marked off as Northern Liberties) for the upper part of their land at Wicaco. Therefore, on 6mo/Aug 3, 1683, William Penn granted a warrant for survey of 600a (200 acres for each brother) in the Liberties next to William Clayton's 100 and surveyed 3mo/May 10-13, 1684. The draught of the Swedes land at 'Netopcomb' or Falls of Schuylkill (later known as the Perkiomen Path), shows it bordered the lands of Dennis Rockford and Jno Mifflin. [9]
Under Penn's conditions for his 'new city', each land holder was promised city lots to promote his settlement of a city along the Delaware River. Swan Swanson, Andrew Swanson and Wooly Swanson received a warrant for the survey of City Lots in Philadelphia signed by William Penn and directed to Thomas Holme, Surveyor General on 25 Jul 1684. The widows of each of the brothers ultimately sold these lots to Jos. Shippen. [10, 13, 16]
When Anders Svensson, alias Andrew Swanson, married Anna Unknown has not been discovered. That his wife Anna survived him and they had at least 7 children is verified by Will #101 of Andrew Swanson of Wicaco, Philadelphia Co, dated 08 Jan 1688. He named as his Executors: brothers Swan and Wollow (sic) Swanson; Andreas Bengtson (m. Gertrude dau of Peter Rambo who also came on the Kalmar Nyckel), Lasse Cock (wife Martha Ashman + brother Oele's wife Lydia Ashman were sisters) and Peter Yocum. His Will was proved 25 Sep 1694, Pennsylvania Will Book A, pg 259. [11]
The verified children of Andres + Anne Swanson:
*Gunnar Andersson Swanson, eldest son - (b. 1667- d. 1702) dsp
*Catharine Andersdotter Svensson Wheeler – (abt 1669-d. abt 1700) married Anders Wheeler abt 1689
*Elizabeth Swanson – b. abt 1671, d. aft 1732; married Peter Cock, son of Lawrence Petersson "Lasse, Lars" Cock, abt 1691
*Christina Swanson - (b. abt 1673, d. abt 1750) married Måns Justis
*Margaret Swanson – (b. abt 1676, d. by 1719 at Boon's Island) married Valentine Cock in 1696
*Christopher Swanson (b. abt 1678, d. abt 1735) at Wicaco; m. Christina Keen abt 1712; daughter of Matthias Hanson Keen
*Andrew/Anders Swanson – (b. abt 1686, d. abt 1735 at Lower Darby) married Brigitta Boon abt 1724
A warrant for the equal division of the land at the Falls on the east side of the Schuylkill (Northern Liberties) was requested by Anders' widow Anne, William/Oele's widow Lydia and Swan Swanson was dated 1 Feb 1694. [12]
The Svensson family requested that the tract of land at the Falls be divided into three roughly equal-sized pieces of about 200 acres each. They quickly sold off the middle and southernmost pieces to English buyers John Reely and Thomas (son of John) Hood, respectively, but the northernmost became the property of Anders Svensson's son Christopher Swanson and daughter Christina (Swanson) with her husband, Måns /Mouns Justis (written in Land Records as Mons Eusta or Usta), who had moved there by 1701.
A Warrant dated 6 Oct 1701 from the Proprietary to 3 widows – Katherine relict of Swan Swanson, Anne relict of Andr Swanson, Lydia relict of Woola (sic) Swanson, each of them a Lot in Philadelphia. [13]
On 4 May, 1702, a re-survey of the 600a tract of and laid out to the Swanson family in exchange for 300a by them surrendered to the Proprietor was now in the possession of: Mouns Justason (sic Måns /Mouns Justis) - 200a (272a), John Callow 200a (234a) and John Hood 200a (296a). [14]
The 3 widows Katherine relict of Swan Swanson, Anne relict of Andr Swanson, Lydia relict of Woola (sic) Swanson, in consideration that their husbands were antient Inhabitants and improvers of this city "near ye place where the said city now stands", etc. Each on their own by 3 indentures, conveyed all the said lots to Jos. Shippen on 12 mo/Feb 28, 1703. [13] and [15]
An explanation of the Swanson lands at Wiacaco and exchange with Penn for his Settlement at Philadelphia. . . i.e. PMHB, Planting of Philadelphia, pg 24 et seq: "Along the Delaware above the marshes at the mouth of the Schuylkill, the northern third of the Swansons' 1,145 acres had been surveyed for them only the previous June and was still unimproved. They agreed to give up at this north end of their property some 300 acres fronting the river, including the cove, in exchange for double the amount to be laid out nearby with frontage on the east bank of the Schuylkill. Meanwhile, Thomas Fairman was engaged in surveying the Swansons' 300 acres "and the Rest of the Land unto Schuylkill." [16]
Post Script: Part of the "Swede's Land" or Swanson Tract property claims would form the basis of a subsequent dispute that involved Quaker Thomas Shute (d. 1748). Thomas Shute married 1st Elizabeth Hood and his sister Abigail Shute m. Elizabeth's brother John Hood Jr; both children of John Hood Sr (d. 1721) who owned the lower third (296 acres) of the Swanson Swede's tract referenced above. [PA Gazette - 6 May 1756 shows Sheriff's sale of 12a of the tract). [17]
~ ~ ~
[1] Narratives of Early Pennsylvania, West New Jersey and Delaware, 1630-1707 ~ Myers, Albert Cook - 1912, Report of Governor Printz, pgs 110, 111
[2] Måns Svensson Lom, Forgotten Forefather, and his Seven Daughters, by Dr. Peter Stebbins Craig Historian, Swedish Colonial Society, originally published in Swedish Colonial News, Volume 1, Number 12 (Fall 1995)
[3] History of Haverford Township, The Haverford Mills ~ and ~ The Country Church of Wicaco (2018), Michael Schreiber / philahistory.org ~ and ~ Swedish Colonial Society Journal, Vol 5, No1, Spring 2015
[4] Swedish Colonial Society, Vol 5, No 4, Spring 2015
[5] Index to the Miscellaneous Documents of the House of Representatives for the First Session of the Forty-Fourth Congress (1876) - Vol 6, Naval Affairs Appendix to General Testimony, Exhibit A, pg 251 ~ and ~ Chronology of Colonial Swedes on the Delaware 1638-1713, Vol 2, No 5, (Fall 2001) ~ and ~ Pennsylvania State Archives - RG-17 Records of the Land Office - Patent Index, A and AA Series, 1684-1781. {series #17.147} ~ and ~ Early American Families ...Justice, Longacre, Swanson, Cox, etc. - Rev W A Williams (no date), Pg 278
[6] Pennsylvania Wills, Will # 145, Book A, pg 347 ~ and ~ History of Philadelphia 1609-1884, J Thomas Scharff (1884), pgs 12, 13, 72 ~~ and ~~ Scull + Heap's 'Map of Philadelphia and Parts Adjacent' (1750)
[7] Annals of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania in the Olden Times; Being a Collection of Memoirs, Anecdotes and Incidents of the City - Vol 1 (1884) John F Watson ~ Willis P. Hazard; Pgs 134 ~ and ~ Early American Families, The Swanson Family, pg 43 et seq.
[8] Denizations and Naturalizations in the British Colonies in America, 1607-1775 - S, pg 291
[9] Pennsylvania Land Records, - RG 17 Records of the Land Office; Copied Surveys 1681-1912. [Series #17.114], Book B-23, pgs 208 and 209 ~ and ~ The Land Called Sweeds Land" Mark Thompson; (2022) Published in: Pennsylvania History
[10] James Clark Moore Collection; Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Permanent ID: 3931; William Penn.
[11] PA Abstracts, Vol A, pg 65 ~ and ~ PA Will Bk A, pg 259
[12] Pennsylvania Land Records, - RG 17 Records of the Land Office; Copied Surveys 1681-1912. [Series #17.114], Book B-23, pge 198
[13] Early Pennsylvania Land Records, Minute Book G, pg 459
[14] Pennsylvania Land Records, - RG 17 Records of the Land Office; Copied Surveys 1681-1912. [Series #17.114], Book B-23, pgs 200. 202, 207 and others
[15] Pennsylvania Land Records, - RG 17 Records of the Land Office; Copied Surveys 1681-1912. [Series #17.114], Book B-23, pg 193; Book B-23, pg 194
[16] Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography - The Planting of Philadelphia, A Seventeenth-Century Real Estate Development, 1; Hannah Benner Roach; pg 14, 24, 27, 31, 32, 46
[17] The Land Called Sweeds Land" Mark Thompson; (2022) Published in: Pennsylvania History, pg 10 etc – Suit of Shute and Justis
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