Spanning 150 Years of Record Loss: A Methodological Approach to Identifying Parents in Sweden

Jill Morelli, CG, CGL
Oct 7, 2020
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About this webinar

Swedish records are rarely lost to fire. Churches built of brick and a lack of conflict within the country have made most records available and continuous back to the late 1600s. Elna Johansdotter married Troed Pehrsson, but not in the parish where she raised her children and died. Swedish women usually marry in their home parish, but live in the parish of their husband. Where was Elna born and who were her parents? Available record sets consisted of 1 book of parish records which ended in 1716; the gap-ridden mantals tax records, an annual recording of the heads of household and their taxable obligations; and the probate documents, the latter available only if the court ordered an inventory to occur. Squeezing all information out of the limited record sets available resulted in a successful identification of the parents of Elna. The records sets available may differ but the methodologies used to identify the parents of Elna are transferable, whether in Sweden, the United States or elsewhere. Presented as part of the Joy Reisinger Memorial Lecture Series, and sponsored by the Board for Certification of Genealogists.

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About the speaker

Jill Morelli, CG, CGL is a “Roots” genealogist, becoming interested in family history in the 1970’s with the Alex Haley show. At that time, she just collected “stuff.” After a hiatus during which she ...
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Comments (3)

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  1. LT
    Legacy Family Tree
    5 years ago

    She was a very good speaker and understandable.\n\nThank you so much.\n\nThank you. It was excellent. I have a brick wall and am encouraged to revisit it now in Denmark. \n\nThe content was wonderful \n\nThe webinar gave me hope on how to continue my research.\n\nThese webinars help to instill the philosophy to never give up the search. Also, that it's ok to not to find the answer (for now, until more records are digitized). \n\nThis series is always the best. Thanks to Jill for a very informative presentation and that can be used to uncover folks in any culture.\n\nThis was a perfect example for what I 'm working on now. Thanks so much! Excellent presentation!\n\nThis was one of the best webinars that I have ever attended. I don't have Swedish ancestry, but so much of this webinar can be applied to genealogical research any where. Very well explained and presented!! Thanks!!\n\nVery clear and methodical presentation.\n\nVery clear explanation and demonstration of a professional thorough methodology! Much appreciated - and the handout is also helpful. I don't have any Scandinavian ancestors, but I've got ideas now about how to research more effectively in my ancestors' other countries! Excellent series of lectures - Thank you Legacy and BCG for putting this out freely. \n\nvery clear exposition of hypothesis creation and testing, to keep focus on a moving target.\n\nVery good webinar! So clearly explained!\n\nVery good, some excellent options for re routing a research plan when obstacles arise.\n\nVery good. Very organized. Though I do not (currently) have any known Swedish ancestors, this case study is applicable to other situations and there was a lot of good information shared that will help me with my brick walls.\n\nvery helpful and good ways to go around roadblocks in our trees. I have not heard of watched a webinar yet that doesnt help and inform my genealogy search.\n\nVery helpful.\n\nVery informative\n\nVery informative.\n\nVery interesting! Thank you!\n\nvery interesting. Learned some good strategies\n\nvery nicely walked through on finding information on missing records\n\nVery useful to see her methodology and explanation of her thought processes as she researched.\n\nWill be doing my Swedish research in the near future. I've put it off as long as I can thinking it would be overwhelming. Jill made me feel I could (and should) begin my search. Thanks to her.\n\nWonderful\n\nWonderful information and great tips for overcoming record gaps\n\nwonderful research sites shared, That I look forward to checking out.

  2. LT
    Legacy Family Tree
    5 years ago

    Good insights for investigating people with missing records.\n\nGood presenter\n\nGood this help me \n\nGreat ideas to incorporate into research methodologies\n\nGreat info on one of the biggest challenges genealogists face.\n\nGreat presentation! Thank you!\n\nGreat to see her research strategy that can be applied regardless of country.\n\nGreat! I've learned even more about Swedish research\n\nHaving done Swedish research, I know how complex this was.\n\nHer checklist and examples apply to research anywhere.\n\nI found the handout before the webinar began and was able to print them out and follow along, making notes for myself. \n\nI have done a lot of work in Kronobergs län; the BMD are indexed and the witnesses typed out and searchable also. I recommend checking databases for the areas of interests. Jon and Jöns are 2 completely different names; different pronunciations also.\n\nI loved the presentation. I learned so much regarding the importance of regional history and culture, and its involvement in relational research.\n\nI may have missed it but did you find the moving in record for Hishult. My understanding is that there is usually both a moving our and a moving in entry. I have a problem with a brother (father unknown) of my grandfather. My hypothesis that great grandfather was the father. Using Y dna this hypothesis was dis-proven. So far unable to find a hypothesized father. So the webinar was very interesting to me.\n\nI really enjoy Jill's lectures and always take away something to use in my own research. I will revisit my Swedish research, paying attention to the witnesses and the farm names - putting them on a map for geographic context. Thank you!\n\nI ve listened to Jill's webinar before and I always learn so much!\n\nI was late joining but learned a lot while I was there. I look forward to reviewing the syllabus.\n\nI'm more encouraged to delve into my Swedish ancestry.\n\nI'm Swedish and have done considerable genealogy research so this was great to listen to. I enjoy her idea of hypotheses. I was puzzled by her use of witnesses to births as I thought they were baptismal witnesses. I will have to go back and figure that out. Thanks so much!\n\nInteresting\n\ninteresting information. overwhelmed by all the 'new'terms and will try to watch again\n\nas I am looking to find/verify maternal Granmothers birth info\n\nIt was a great reminder to apply the techniques for broader research to other countries, as well. \n\nIt was informative\n\nJill is so methodical and her methods apply to any research in a similar vein!\n\nJill presented great resources to look at if you have hit a brick wall that can be applied to records in many countries or even in the United States.\n\nLots of good information...some of which will help me with my Finnish Family History\n\nLove learning more about Swedish research! Jill is so knowledgable.\n\nLove these types of case studies! This is going to motivate me to look more closely at my Swedish records, especially witnesses on birth records.\n\nNicely done. Wish it had been Germany, but good to know of other cultures.\n\nNow I think I understand Swedish names.\n\nOrganized and material flowed well

  3. LT
    Legacy Family Tree
    5 years ago

    Always eager to learn more about genealogy. Thanks for the info.\n\nAnother great session. When you think it applies only to Sweden you'd be doing yourself a disservice. This lesson had application throughout one's research.\n\nAnother great webinar full of ideas for finding those elusive ancestors. I will definitely apply more focused cluster research.\n\nAppreciated her presentation style.\n\nBCG presenters are always excellent!\n\nBrilliant webinar showing the value of the Fan club in doing Genealogical research.\n\nDon't have Swedish ancestors bur reinforcement of research techniques was helpful.\n\nExcellent - such good information! Jill made this sound so logical.\n\nExcellent presentation...very informative\n\nExcellent. Despite not having any swedish rellies, I learned a lot of great techniques.\n\nExcellent...please come back for another lecture.

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