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Gustafsson Line -
Swedish -
Please see the
Colonial Swede Organization
First
Generation
Kinnekulle, Sweden
Johan GUSTAFSSON was born in 1618 in
Kinnekulle, Skaraborg lan, Sweden. He
emigrated on 1 Nov 1642 from Sweden. Johan Gustafsson (1618-1682) sailed
from Gottenburg November 1, 1642, on the "Swan" with Governor Printz in the
Fifth Swedish Expedition and arrived on the Delaware below the present site
of Philadelphia, Feb 15, 1643. Johan was one of the twelve soldiers in Fort
Elfborg below the present city of Philadelphia on the east side of the
Delaware from 1644 to 1653.
He came as a soldier under Governor Printz. Printz' successor, Governor
Rising, promoted him to the position of a gunner and, as such, he was
stationed at fort trinity (New Castle) in 1655 when Captain Sven Skute
surrendered the fort to the Dutch. He immigrated on 15 Feb 1643 to Fort
Trinity, New Castle Co., DE. Came on the SWAN to the colony of New Sweden,
on the Delaware River on 1 Nov 1642. Landed at Fort Christina (now
Wilmington), DE), 15 Feb 1643. Later stationed at Fort Elfsborg, and
then to Fort Trinity. He died in 1682 in Philadelphia, PA. Place of death
possibly Upland Court District. Kinnekulle is a large wooded hill or
plateau, nine miles long and four miles across, rising 860 feet above Lake
Vanern in Skaraborg Lan in central Sweden.
 "Jan JUSTEN" on 13 Feb 1655/56 (English Calendar), requested he be allowed
to make a plantation on the Christina Kill. By 1669 he was at
Kingsessing/West Philadelphia, PA; on the banks of Schuulkill and was
granted a patent there as John EUSTA, dated 16 May 1669.
In the first English census of the Delaware, taken in 1671, Johan
Gustafsson was listed as "John Eustace." The Nov 1677 tax list for the
Upland court jurisdiction showed a slight improvement in naming "Jan Justa &
2 sons" as taxable (i.e., over 16 years of age).
After the surrender of New Sweden to the Dutch, John Gustafsson moved
northward to Kingsessing where he died c. 1682, leaving a widow and at least
eleven children. They kept Gustafsson as their surname, but it was heard and
written by the English as Eustason, Justison, etc. Justis, Justus or Justice
finally evolved as the family surname. Parents: (father) GUSTAVUS.
He was married to Brita Mansdotter, daughter of Mans Andersson and
his first wife (probably) about 1654 in Fort
Trinity,
New Castle Co., DE.
Chronology
of Colonial Swedes on the Delaware 1638-1713 graciously provided by my
cousin Jim.
 Brita
Månsdotter was
born in 1625 in Philadelphia, PA. She died on 22 Aug 1724 in Wilmington, New
Castle Co., DE. She was buried on 22 Aug 1724 in Wilmington, New Castle Co.,
DE. Holy Trinity Church. A 1684 pledge list for the Swedish church at Wicaco
showed that Brita JOSTES contributed two bushels of wheat for the support of
the minister. Holm's map of Pennsylvania, 1685, shows "widow Justice" as a
property owner in Kingsessing. The 1693 tax
list for Philadelphia shows "Widow EUSTASON" with property at Kingsessing
and her son Eusta EUSTASON living. The 1693 census of Swedes on the Delaware
River, shows in the Wicaco (Philadelphia), congregation; Britta GUSTAFFSSON,
Gostaff GOSTASSON, Mouns JUSTASSON and a Hans GOSTAFFSSON in the Crane Hook
(Wilmington), congregation.
 In 1699 part of the family plantation was sold and Brita went to live with
her daughter Anna, who provided her a home until Brita was buried at Holy
Trinity Church in Wilmington on 22 august 1724.
Per 1693 Census: daughter of freeman Mans Andersson, who had arrived
in New Sweden on the Kalmar Nyckel in 1640. Brita's maiden name also known
as MANSDOTTER. Parents: Mans ANDERSSON. She was married to Johan GUSTAFSSON about 1654 in Fort Trinity, New Castle
Co., DE.
|
 Brita Mansdotter
and family were
involved with the Swedes Church in Delaware and that is where she is buried:
Holy
Trinity
(Old Swedes') Church
606 Church Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
302-652-5629 or 302-652-8605
From The Eight Old Swedes' Churches
of New Sweden by Rev. Dr. Kim-Eric Williams
New Sweden Center, Wilmington, DE 1999
(Republished with the author's permission)
Holy Trinity is the oldest Christian congregation in the Delaware
Valley, tracing its origins to 1640 when the first services led by a
priest of the Church of Sweden were held at Ft. Christina. A church
built in Swanwyck about 1662 was replaced by a combination church/fort
at Crane Hook in 1667. When the Church of Sweden renewed its mission
on the Delaware in 1697, Eric Björk led the Christina congregation to
build the present stone church at the site of the old burial ground of
Fort Christina. The Church was dedicated on Holy Trinity Sunday, July
4, 1699. Its ample proportions of 60 feet in length, and 30 in
breadth, and 20 in height were exactly duplicated in Philadelphia at
Gloria Dei by many members of the same construction crew. In 1710 the
first rectory was completed.
 Holy
Trinity (Old Swedes') Church
(photo: Ronald A. Hendrickson) An original black walnut pulpit stands
in its original location, although priests that followed Björk found
its height uncomfortable and shortened it. The dove below the sounding
board is a modern gift from Sweden and symbolizes the Holy Spirit's
inspiration to the preacher. The original church chest from 1713 can
be seen in the north lateral aisle. The modern altar is designed to
match the pulpit and is dedicated to the ten priests of the Church of
Sweden who served the congregation. A special treasure is a silver
Communion chalice, paten and host box given by Stora Kopparsbergs AB
at Fahlun, Dalarna, Sweden. It was sent by Eric Björk when he returned
to Sweden in 1718 as rector of this large parish known for its famed
ancient mining company. The silver altar candlesticks from Sweden are
modern and are designed to match the style of the chalice. The
congregation owns an altar antipendia embroidered by King Gustav V in
1950, and copies a hymnal and Bible used during the 17th Century given
in 1938 at the 300th anniversary of the founding of New Sweden colony.
Oil portraits of Eric Björk (1697-1713), Peter Tranberg (17411748) &
Israel Acrelius (1749-1756) are found on the balcony railing. The
South Portico and northern buttresses were added to the building in
1740 and the balcony in 1774. The present bell was purchased in
England in 1772 and was placed in the bell tower when it was erected
in 1802. The pews in the balcony date from 1774, those in the nave are
reproductions from 1899.
When the last Swedish priest, Lars Girelius, left in 1791, the
congregation called Joseph Clarkson, the Anglican assistant to Nils
Collin in Philadelphia. In 1795, the charter was amended to allow the
calling of one "ordained according to the ordination of the Lutheran
or Episcopal Church." By 1818, lay delegates and a quota of convention
expense were sent to the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware.
With the growth of Wilmington to the north, a new Trinity Chapel was
built at the northeast comer of Fifth and King Streets in 1830 and the
old church was only used once a year. In 1842, the old church was
repaired and reopened for regular worship and by 1847, the present
organization was in place with one parish in two locations. In 1882,
Trinity moved to a new one story church on Adams Street near Delaware
Ave. and in 1891, blessed and occupied the present beautiful large
stone Gothic church. In 1893, the Old Swedes Parish House was erected
and was completely renovated in 1944 to house the Christina Community
Center.
 The
Hendrickson House of the grounds of Holy Trinity (Old Swedes') Church,
Wilmington, Delaware
[photo: Ronald A. Hendrickson]
Old Swedes' itself underwent a thorough restoration in 1899 funded by
the Colonial Dames of America. At this time, the stained glass
replaced the plain glass that had been originally installed giving the
nave a medieval appearance. The altar window is probably German and
shows Christ teaching with symbols of the..Holy Trinity. The pipe
organ was built by the Austin Company of Hartford, CT and
was'dedicated in 1965. An'exact model of the Kalmar Nyckel resides in
the church, given by the the city of Kalmar, Sweden in 1963. While
this represents the ship that brought the first colonists in 1638, it
is also a symbol of the church - a baptismal people called to work
together, weather the seas of life, and finally come to common
port-of-call.
The Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church Foundation was established in
1947 to care for the church and grounds. In 1988 at the 350th
anniversary of the New Sweden colony, a new ceiling, central air
conditioning and a new roof were installed; King Carl XVI Gustaf and
Queen Silvia visited.
The stone Hendrickson House, was re-erected in 1959 on the grounds of
Holy Trinity. It was originally built in 1690 on Crum Creek in Ridley
Township, PA.
At the head of the center aisle in the church is the grave of Pastor
Peter Tranberg and the grave of the infant son of Pastor Lars Girelius
is located in the north lateral aisle. It is presumed that Pastor
Anders Borell (1760-1768) is also buried within the church. At the
south portico is the grave of Charles C. Springer (1658-1738), famed
head warden, lay reader and composer of the famous "1693 Census of the
Swedes on the Delaware" that led to the renewal of the mission of the
Church of Sweden on the Delaware.
In the church yard are the graves of Maj. Peter Jacquette, a
Revolutionary War hero; the first bishop of the Episcopal Diacese of
Delaware, the Rt. Rev. Alfred Lee; Major General James A. Wilson; Mary
Vining; Elizabeth Montgomery; and famed Delaware members of the
Vandever, Bayard, Price, Elliot, Foreman, Justis, and Stidham
families.
THE 1693 CENSUS OF THE SWEDES ON THE DELAWARE, by Peter
S. Craig. Hardback available from:
Old Swedes Foundation
606 Church Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
Tel: (302) 652-5629 Fax: (302) 652-8615
www.oldswedes.org
The Story of Old Swedes ©2000
Celebrating 300 years at Holy Trinity Old Swedes Church, in
Wilmington, Delaware, is the oldest church edifice in the United
States now standing as built and still in use as a house of worship.
It was erected over 300 years ago by Swedish pioneers who crossed the
Atlantic on the
ship Kalmar Nyckel. This important story has now been
brought to life in the new educational documentary, The Story of Old
Swedes Church. Period characters, including "Black Anthony" , "Erik Björk" and "Charles Springer", come to life via historical
reenactment. Sweeping digital cinematography of ancient gravestones
and other period artifacts tells a highly visual tale of the first
Swedish settlement in America. A special version of the program is
being edited for young students and will become part of a core
curriculum study of Delaware history. A longer version of the program
features contemporary voices who offer insight into Old Swedes' unique
history and ongoing mission. |
John Gustafsson and Brita Månsdotter
had the following
children:
|
i. |
Anna GUSTAFSSON
Born in New Castle County, Delaware. Anna married
Sven Skute. |
|
ii. |
Gustaf GUSTAFSSON
Born in 1655. Gustaf died in Kingsessing, Philadelphia,
PA in Feb 1721/22, he was 66. |
|
iii. |
Mans GUSTAFSSON
Born in 1658 in New Sweden. Mans died in N. Liberties,
Philadelphia, PA bef 2 Nov 1749, he was 91. Mans married Christiana
Swanson, daughter of Anders Svensson & Anna
UNKNOWN. |
|
iv. |
Karl GUSTAFSSON
Born in 1660. Karl died in Pennsylvania in 1718, he was
58. Karl married Margaret Boon. |
|
v. |
Hans
GUSTAFSSON (1662->1710) (our line) |
|
vi. |
Johan GUSTAFSSON
Born in 1668. Johan died in New Castle County, Delaware
aft 1710, he was 42. |
|
vii. |
Peter GUSTAFSSON
(1670-<1699) married Helen Lock,
Barbara McCormick's line |
|
viii. |
Elizabeth GUSTAFSSON
Born in 1675 in New Castle County, Delaware.
Elizabeth died in New Castle County, Delaware in Sep 1730, she was 55.
Bef 1696 when Elizabeth was 21, she first married Mathias Peterson.
On 18 Oct 1720 when Elizabeth was 45, she second married Edward
Robinson. |
|
ix. |
Sven GUSTAFSSON
Born in 1677. Sven died in Kingsessing, Philadelphia Co.,
PA on 9 Mar 1722/23, she was 45. Sven married Catherine Yocum,
son of Pater Yocum & Judith Nilsson. Born in 1681 in Berks County,
Pennsylvania. |
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xii. |
Anders GUSTAFSSON
Born in 1681 in Philadelphia, PA. Anders died in Salem
Co., New Castle County, Delaware on 19 Aug 1740, he was 59.
Anders married Brita Peterson, daughter of Samuel Peterson & Brita Jonsdotter. Born in 1670 in Christiana Hundred, New Castle Co.,
Delaware. Brita died in New Castle County, Delaware on 27 Jan 1736/37,
she was 66. |
Second
Generation
Hans GUSTAFSSON. Born in 1662 in
Kingsessing, Philadelphia Co., PA. Hans died in
New Castle County,
Delaware aft 1710, he was 48. Hans married Mary RAWSON,
daughter of Olof RAWSON & Britta Andersson. Born in 1666 in MH,
CC, P, (now Delaware). Mary died in Cecil Co., Maryland. Note:
He was age 21 in April 1683 in Kingsessing while residing with brothers
Mounce and Charles Justis. Moved to Brandywine hundred in New Castle Co.
Hans Gustafsson and
Mary Rawson had the following
children:
|
i. |
William Gustafsson - On 27 Jan 1728/29 William married Elizabeth
Base, in Wilmington, New Castle Co., Delaware. |
|
ii. |
John Gustafsson
(~1685-~1775) our line |
|
iii. |
Paul Gustafsson - Born abt 1687 in Marcus Hook, Chester Co., PA. Paul died
in Brandywine Hundred, New Castle Co., Delaware bef 21 Aug 1759,
he was 72. |
|
iv. |
Lydia Gustafsson - Born abt 1690 in New Castle County, Delaware. Lydia died
in Raccoon Hook, Cecil Co., MD on 29 Aug 1713, she was 23. On 16 May
1709 when Lydia was 19, she married Jonas Auren. |
|
v. |
Daniel Gustafsson - Born abt 1700 in Cecil County, MD. Daniel died in
Chester County, Pennsylvania. |
|
vi. |
Mouns Gustafsson -. Born abt 1700 in Chester County, Pennsylvania.
Mouns died in Schuyler County, IL. |
|
vii. |
Peter Gustafsson - Born abt 1702 in Cecil County, MD. Peter died in
Cecil County, MD bef 3 Feb 1769, he was 67. |
Third Generation
John JUSTICE, Sr. Born abt 1685. John
died in Frederick Co., Maryland abt 1775, he was 90. On 6 Jan
1727/28 when John was 42, he married Margaret LOWDER, in Talbot Co.,
Maryland. Born abt 1708. Margaret died in 1790, she was 82.
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John Justice's
(Sr) will was probated on October 22, 1776 and Reads as follows:
In the name of God Amen,
the Eighteenth Day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
hundred & seventy five I John Justice of Frederick County & Province of
Maryland Planter being sick & weak in Mind & body but of perfect mind and
memory, thanks be given unto God therefore & calling to die, do make and
ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say principally and
first of all I give & recommend my soul into the hands of God what gave it
& for my body I recommend it to the earth to be buried in Christian like
and cedent manner at the discretion of my Executors, nothing doubting but
the final Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power
of God, and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God
to bless me in this life. I give devise and dispose of the same i
the following manner and form imprimis it is my will and i do order that
in the first place all my just debts and funeral charges be paid and
satisfied as soon as possible.
Item 1: I give and
bequeath unto Margaret, my dearly beloved wife, all my plantation & tract
of land whereon I now dwell, together with all and singular my household
goods stock & movable effects, to be for her only proper use benefits
behoove for & during the term of her natural life.
Item 2: I do order
that after my said wife's death that all my estate both real and personal
be sold for the money arising there from to be divided between my children
namely I give bequeath unto my son Jacob Justice one sixth part,
unto my
daughter Elizabeth, wife of Robert Burchfield one sixth part, unto my son
John Justice one sixth part, unto my son Hans Justice one sixth part unto
my son Joseph Justice one sixth part, unto my son William Justice one
sixth part, to be equally divided share and share alike.
Item 3: I do
hereby also constitute make and ordain my trusty friend Gabriel Iseberg &
my beloved son John Justice to be my sole executors of this my last will
and testament, whom I do also authorize & give full power to sell make
execute & acknowledge as good a title or deed of conveyance for my
said Plantation tract of land & premises as I myself could were I
personally present. And I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and
disannul all and every other former testaments wills legacies and
executors by me in any wise before named willed & bequeathed, ratifying
and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year
first written above.
Signed by Gabriel Isenbergh,
Nicholas Umstead, James B. Brown and John Justice (they all
signed their "mark"). (Note the plantation's name was Justice's
Delight and was in Frederick County, Maryland.
|
John Justice and Margaret Lowder had the following
children:
|
i. |
Elizabeth Justice,
married Robert
Burchfield - our line |
|
ii. |
John Jr. Justice, some of his descendants moved to Ohio.
Married Susanna Tourneur, per Hoosier Journal of Ancestry, XIV-3/157. |
|
iii. |
Hans Justice |
|
iv. |
Joseph Justice |
|
v. |
Jacob Justice |
|
vi. |
William Justice |
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Will of John Justice, dated April 6,
1790, proved August Session, 1794
Chatham Co., NC Record of Estates, Vol. 2, pg. 19b,20,20b
In the name of God amen I John Justice of the
county of Chatham in
North Carolina being infirm in body but of sound mind and memory thanks
be to almighty God for the same and calling to mind the mortality of
my Body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to Die do make and
ordain this to be my last Will and Testament in manner and form
following first and principally I recommend my immortal soul into the
hands of God that gave it hoping through the merits of my blessed
redeemer to inherit life everlasting and my Body I recommend to the
Earth to be buried at the Discretion of my Executors and as to my
Worldly Estate wherewith it hath been pleased God to bless me I dispose
with it in the following manner
Vizt. First my will is that all my Just Debts be regularly discharged-
Item I give to my beloved wife Elizabeth Justice during her Natural
life four negroes namely Hannah, Peter, Jacob, & Poll,-
Item I give to my beloved
son John Justice after the death of my Wife,
my negroe fellow Jacob to him his Heirs and assigns forever_
Item I give to my beloved
son David Justice my negroe fellow named
Phill to him his heirs and assigns for ever
Item I give to my beloved son
William Justice one negro girl named Lyd
to him his heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give to my beloved
son Henry Justice one negro boy named Jem
to him his Heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give to my beloved
son Stephen Justice one negro
girl named Chloe to him his Heirs and assigns forever.
Item, I give to my beloved
son Allen Justice one negroe Boy named Isaac
to him his heirs and assigns forever
Item give to my beloved
Daughter Elizabeth Pickard after the death
of my wife Elizabeth Justice one negroe woman named Hannah to her and
her assigns forever.
Item I give to my beloved daughter Keziah Justice one negroe boy named
Ned to her and her assigns, forever.
Item, I leave two negro girls namely Nan and Dinah to be sold and
Equally divided between my Eight children namely John, Elizabeth,
David, William, Henry, Stephen, Keziah and Allen to them their heirs
and assigns forever.
Item I lend to my beloved wife Elizabeth Justice one
feather Bed and furniture and likewise all my household furniture and
working tools that is not herein mentioned during her natural life and
at her Death to be Equally divided between my six youngest children.
Item I give to my beloved son David Justice one feather Bed and
furniture and two Cows and Calves to him his Heirs and assigns forever
and two head of Sheep
Item I give to my son William Justice one feather Bed and furniture Two
Cows and Calves and two head of Sheep, to him his heirs and assigns
forever _
Item I give to my son Henry Justice one Horse and Saddle one feather
Bead and furniture two cows and calves and two head of Sheep to him his
heirs & assigns forever -
Item I give to my son Stephen Justice one Horse and Saddle one feather
Bed and furniture two Cows and Calves and two head of Sheep to him his
heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give to my Daughter Keziah Justice
one Horse and Saddle one feather Bed and furniture two Cows and Calves
& two head of Sheep to her her Heirs and assigns forever _
Item I give to my son Allen Justice one Horse and Saddle one feather
Bed and furniture two Cows and Calves & two head of Sheep to him his
heirs and assigns forever _
Item, I give to my grandson Samuel McAdams one Horse and Saddle one
feather Bed and furniture One Cow and Calf & two head of Sheep to him
his heirs and assigns forever
Item I give to my
Granddaughter
Elizabeth Pickard the feather Bed and Chest that I lent to her father
Wm. Pickard to her her heirs and assigns forever _
Item I lend the use of the Plantation whereon I now live with all the
Lands thereunto belonging and likewise one Horse and Saddle to my
beloved wife Elizabeth Justice during her natural life.
I desire that the plantation whereon I now live with all the Lands
thereunto belonging at the decease of my Wife Elizabeth Justice my be
sold and Equally divided between my six youngest Children, namely
David, William, Henry, Stephen, Keziah, and Allen to them their heirs
and assigns forever.
Lastly, I constitute and appoint my beloved Wife Elizabeth Justice
Executrix and my beloved sons David and William Justice Executors of
this my last Will and Testament, In Witness whereof I do hereunto Set
my hand and Seal this Sixth Day of April one thousand seven hundred and
Ninety.
Sign'd Seal'd and published
in the presents of us
Thomas Snipes
EHereller/Effereller ?? (his X mark) Moore
August Sessions 1794 proved in open Court by the Oaths of Thomas Snipes
& Effereler Moore
A Copy Test John Ramsey C.C. |
Fourth
Generation
Elizabeth JUSTICE. Born in Frederick Co.,
Maryland? Elizabeth married Robert BURCHFIELD, son of Thomas ?
BURCHFIELD & Mary WILSON. Born on 27 Feb 1709/10 in Frederick
Co., MD ?
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