HÅNGER PARISH CHURCH IN SMÅLAND PROVINCE, JÖNKÖPING COUNTY, SWEDEN
 FOREWORD: This site is a biographical and ancestral study of Peter Norberg (Pehr Persson) and his wife Augusta Louisa Enquist of Joliet, Illinois which traces their respective lineages in Borgeby and Hånger, Sweden. (Special Swedish characters found in place names will be used throughout, but omitted in the longer lists of personal names). Source material and documentation derived from multiple Swedish parish records in Skåne and Småland Provinces. Further Swedish sources included military records, immigration records, and wills. Additional material was gathered from U.S. sources including ship arrival records, censuses, obituaries, directories, and personal family records. On site visits by the authors to many of the Swedish church and parish locations were made in May of 1994 for photographic and research purposes.
Bruce & Barbara Morrison 3488 Elmendorf Way, Lexington, Kentucky 40517
© January, 2009 contact: jtnu5567 (at ) insightbb.com
PETER NORBERG:
Peter Norberg was born as Pehr Persson at Borgeby in Malmöhus County on December 17, 1865. Like many of the Swedish immigrants to the United States in the 19th century, Pehr Persson changed his name to a more Americanized version when arriving by first selecting Peter Nordberg which quickly became Norberg. (Norberg is a place name in Sweden literaly meaning "north mountain"). Borgeby is in the southwest portion of Sweden near the city of Malmö. The small village of Borgeby is best known for containing Borgeby Castle built on the site of an earlier 11th century castle. Peter Norberg was the youngest of 7 children born to Per Mansson and Sissa Andersdotter who resided at #13 in Borgeby parish (socken). Per Mansson was born at #14 Borgeby on December 6, 1818 as the eldest of 8 children born to the farmer Mans Pehrsson (1792-1839) and his wife Boel Larsdotter (1791-1863). Peter Norberg's mother Sissa Andersdotter was born at #32 Borgeby on October 8, 1821 as the eldest of 7 children born to Anders Flink (1795-1839) and his wife Karna Pärsdotter (1799-1880). Anders Flink was a soldier in the Swedish army serving in Squadron #9, Skånska Dragoon Regiment. (Flink was an adopted soldier name, he was born in Löddeköpinge, Sweden in 1792, the son of Pehr Svensson and Boel Bengtsdotter). The Swedish ancestors of Peter Norberg are documented to the early 17th century in Skåne Province and will be listed at the end of the section. The one exception to his completely Swedish ancestry being his maternal great-grandfather Peder Michelsson Hallberg (1760-1835), who was Danish by birth and moved to Sweden at an early age to follow his professions of barrel maker and bookeeper.
Per Mansson and Sissa Andersdotter would marry at Borgeby in 1849 where their first child Mans Persson would be born in 1851. (This son would die at an early age). The family of Per Mansson and Sissa Andersdotter would move to Ekeby, Sweden in 1853, and would remain there for 8 years returning to Borgeby in 1861. Their second child was Anna Persdotter, born in Ekeby in 1854 and died in Borgeby in 1868. The third child, Kjersti Persdotter, was born in Ekeby in 1857. (Kjersti would remain a life long spinster). Per Mansson and Sissa Andersdotter had a set of twins born January 17, 1860 in Ekeby. These 4th and 5th children were Ingrid Persdotter and Mans Persson. This 2nd son to be named Mans Persson would later adopt the surname Lundstrom, and be the brother Peter Norberg would visit on a return trip to Sweden from Joliet, Illinois in 1928. The 6th child, Anders Persson, would be born in Borgeby in 1862. He would die at Borgeby in 1864. The final and 7th child of Per Mansson and Sissa Andersdotter was Pehr Persson (Peter Norberg) who was born on December 17, 1865 at Borgeby. The population of Borgeby in December of 1865 was given as 532. Peter Norberg would apprentice and become a carpenter in his remaining years in Sweden. By the age of 20, he was a working carpenter living in the nearby village of Ortofta. Sissa Andersdotter would die in Borgeby on May 16, 1881 when Peter was 15 years old. Family oral history says he was very close to his mother Sissa Andersdotter and rather estranged from his father Per Mansson. The final record of his widower father Per Mansson is found in 1897 when he is listed as poor and now living at #9 Borgeby with his spinster daughter Kjersti Persdotter.
In the spring of 1886 Peter Norberg joined the wave of Swedish immigrants to the United States. Boarding the S/S Hekla II of the Thingvalla Line at Copenhagen, Denmark, he would arrive in New York on May 23, 1886. The Hekla II was built in 1884 and had a length of 333 feet and a speed of 11 knots. From New York, Peter Norberg traveled by train to Joliet, Illinois. First listed as a laborer, he would be employed by the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad in 1890 where he would be employed for the next 45 years until his retirement in 1935, rising to the rank of Yard Master. Peter Norberg filed for US citizenship June 9, 1994, and became a naturalized US citizen on October 17, 1896.
In Joliet, on August 1, 1895, Peter Norberg would marry Augusta Louisa Enquist, another Swedish immigrant from Hånger in Småland Province in Sweden. Living on Abe street near the EJ&E yards, Peter and Augusta Norberg would move to their permanent home in the Ridgewood section of Joliet in 1911. Peter Norberg's hobbies included extensive travel and particulary wood crafting and carving, including violin making, clock making, painting, and carved art objects. Some of these remain in the possession of the authors today. Peter and Augusta Norberg would have 11 children all born in Joliet: Runo Norberg (1895-1950) married Ruby Stymans; Raymond Norberg (1897-1918); Roy Norberg (1899-c. 1905); Eleanore Norberg (1901-1986) married Carson Hunsucker; Amanda Norberg (1902-c.1904); May Norberg (1904-1960) married Walter Morrison; Lawrence Norberg (1906-1968) married Georgia Lee Seamans; Leroy Norberg (1908-1988) married Rose Graborcik; Earl Norberg (1910-1994 married Olidine Treadman & Daisy; Adeline Norberg (1912-1942) married George Koeller; and George Norberg (1915-1986).
Peter Norberg would die on July 20, 1939 at Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet, Illinois. He was buried in the Norberg plot in Oakwood Cemetery in Joliet on July 22, 1939. He was survived by his wife Augusta and eight living children.
PETER NORBERG (PEHR PERSSON) earlier direct ancestors in the Skåne villages of Borgeby, Barsebäck, Löddeköpinge, Sireköpinge, Hög, Kåvlinge, Flädie, and Västra Karaby to the beginning of the 17th century:
Great-Grand Parents: Pehr Mansson; Marna Bengtsdotter; Lars Ottosson; Ingar Palsdotter; Pehr Svensson; Boel Bengtdotter; Peder Michelsson Hallberg; Anna Persdotter.
2nd Great-Grand Parents: Mans Pehrsson; Kristina Olasdotter; Bengt Knutsson; Kristina Jonsdotter; Otto Pehrsson; Magnell Hansdotter; Pal Andersson; Kristina Palsdotter; Sven Anderson; Kristina Nilsdotter; Bengt Hakansson; Marna Mansdotter; Pehr Wiberg; Brita Olasdotter.
3rd Great-Grand Parents: Olaf Clausson; Anna Hansdotter; Anders Jeppesson; Kristina Bengtsdotter; Pahl Nilsson; Boel Andersdotter; Pehr Larsson; Knut Nilsson; Marna Pehrsdotter; Mans Hansson; Kristina Pehrsdotter; Hakan Andersson; Hanna Larsdotter; Anders Pehrsson; Elna Hakansdotter; Hans Andersson; Elna Pahlsdotter; Ola Nilsson; Bengta Erlandsdotter; Nils Nilsson; Sissa Jonsdotter.
4th Great-Grand Parents: Claus Pehrsson; Boel Olasdotter; Hans Hansson; Boel Sorensdotter; Jeppe Nilsson; Ingar Andersdotter; Bengt Martinsson; Kristina Martinsdotter; Nils Ottosson; Metta Bengtsdotter; Anders Hakansson; Kristina Bengtsdotter; Lars Ottosson; Boel Mansdotter; Nils Ottosson; Metta Bengtsdotter; Pehr Ottosson; Pernilla Bengtsdotter; Hans Hansson; Lars Ottosson; Boel Mansdotter; Pehr Andersson; Hakan Hansson; Karna Svensdotter; Anders Rasmusson; Anna Persdotter; Pahl Larsson; Magnel Knutsdotter; Nils Olasson; Karna Jonsdotter; Erland Ericksson; Nils Hansson; Matta Hansdotter; Jon Nilsson; Elna Tykesdotter.
5th Great-Grand Parents (All living in the 17th Century): Hans Pehrsson; Soren Pehrsson; Nils Jeppesson; Johanna Svensdotter; Anders Martinsson; Martin Larsson; Otto Gudskasson; Agda Rasmusdotter; Bengt Pahlsson; Hakan Clementsson; Bengt Nilsson; Mans Jonsson; Otto Andersson; Hans Mansson; Hans Svensson; Sven Andersson; Rasmus Hufvusson; Per Olufsson; Lars Pahlsson; Ingar Soffrensdotter; Ola Simonsson; Jon Bengtsson; Eric Persson; Hans Olufsson; Agnes Nilsdotter; Hans Lauritzen; Nils Pehrsson; Tyke Akesson; Bengta Nilsdotter.
AUGUSTA LOUISA ENQUIST:
Augusta Louisa Enquist was born May 8, 1872 in the village of Hånger in Jönköping County, Sweden. Hånger is in a lovely lake and wooded region of south central Sweden on the shores of Lake Vidöstern. Augusta Enquist was the 9th child of Jonas Enquist and the third by his 2nd wife Kristina Petersdotter Torst. Jonas Enquist was born at Svenstorp in the parish (socken) of Kärda as Jonas Larsson on May 15, 1828, being the 6th child of the farmer Lars Johansson (1774-1847) and his wife Anna Johansdotter (1792-1857). Jonas Larsson would join the Swedish army as a member of the Jönköping Regiment in October 12, 1850. He then adopted the soldier name Enquist which he used for the remainder of his life. The regimental muster rolls list Jonas Enquist as being 5' 9" in height. Jonas Enquist would marry his first wife Maja Jonsdotter in 1851 and would have 6 children all born in Kårda: Lars Peter Enquist born in 1852 (died young); Anna Louisa Enquist born 1854; Emma Christina Enquist born 1857; Johanna Fredricka Enquist born 1859; Carolina Mathilda Enquist born 1859; and Ida Sofia Enquist born in 1864. After the death of his first wife Maja Jonsdotter, Jonas Enquist would move from Kårda to the nearby village of Hånger and reside at #43 Kyrkelund adjacent to the parish church (kyrka) of Hånger. He would eventually retire from the army and take up the duties of church warden for the parish of Hånger. On April 28, 1866, Jonas Enquist would marry Kristina Torst (Petersdotter) as his 2nd wife at Hånger. Three children would be born to this union in Hånger: Peter August Enquist in 1867; Amanda Elisa Enquist in 1870; and Augusta Louisa Enquist on May 8, 1872. Augusta's mother Kristina Torst would die in August of 1874. Jonas Enquist would marry for a third time to a Kårda widow named Inge Maria Svensdotter. No children were born to this union, and the last record in 1897 shows both still living in Hånger at that date. When visiting Hånger in 1994 we could not find death or burial records for Jonas Enquist or his 3rd wife Inge Maria Svensdotter, and believe they must have made a final move to another parish (probably Kårda) in their older advanced years.
Kristina (Petersdotter) Torst, mother of Augusta Enquist, was born in the town of Rydaholm, Sweden, on Feb. 7, 1844. She was the eldest of 8 children born to Peter Torst and his wife Anna Lisa Andersdotter. Peter Torst, grand-father of Augusta Enquist, was born as Peter Jonasson in Mistelås, Sweden on Feb. 24, 1820. Peter joined the Swedish army as a member of the Ostbo Company of the Jönköping Regiment on November 13, 1841. At that time he took the soldier name Torst as his surname. Regimental muster rolls give his height as 5' 11". Kristina Torst would marry Jonas Enquist, 15 years her elder, on April 28, 1866. Her three children with Jonas Enquist, Peter, Amanda, and Augusta, would all immigrate to the United States. Peter August Enquist immigrated in the mid 1880's and died at a young age in America. Amanda Elisa Enquist immigrated in 1889 and settled permanently in Worcester, Massachusetts. Augusta Louisa Enquist, Kristina Torst's youngest child, would immigrate in 1891 as discussed in the next paragraph.
Kristina (Petersdotter) Torst would die at the age of 30 at Hånger on August 24, 1874. The earlier direct ancestors of Augusta Louisa Enquist will be listed at the end of the section. Her ancestors in Småland Province date to the 16th century. The earliest documented ancestor found was Captain Assar Arfvidsson, a 16th century Swedish soldier born circa 1555 at Gnosjö, and who resided at Torestorp in Kulltorp parish in Jönköping County.
Hånger records show that Augusta Louisa Enquist left Hånger on October 20, 1890 with the intention of immigrating to America. She moved to Göteborg, where she spent a few months working to pay her passage. The 1891 Göteborg police lists show that Augusta Louisa Enquist sailed for America on July 7, 1891. The journey would be by ship to Hull, England, and then by rail to the port of Liverpool. At Liverpool she boarded the Guion line S/S Alaska sailing to Queenstown and then New York. The S/S Alaska was 500 feet in length with two funnels and four masts. The ship had a top speed of 17 knots, and had held the Blue Ribband in 1881/82. Passenger lists show that Augusta Louisa Enquist arrived at New York City on July 19, 1891. City directories show that she was soon in Joliet, Illinois, living in a boarding house and employed at a doctor's office on Chicago Street in Joliet. Augusta would marry Peter Norberg on August 2, 1895. (Residences and her 11 children have already been discussed in the previous section on her husband Peter Norberg). Augusta Norberg would never return to Sweden for a visit, but in the late 1920's she would make a journey by car with several of her children to Worcester, Massachusetts to visit her sister Amanda Elisa Enquist. After the death of her husband Peter Norberg in 1939, she remained at the Norberg family home in the Ridgewood section of Joliet. Augusta Enquist Norberg would die on D Day June 6, 1944. She was buried next to Peter Norberg in Joliet's Oakwood Cemetery and was survived by 7 children and 8 grand-children, one of whom was the author of this present web site.
AUGUSTA ENQUIST'S earlier direct ancestors in the Småland Province villages and towns of Kärda, Mistelås, Hånger, Kulltorp, Värnamo, Rydaholm, Slätthög, and Gnosjö to the 16th century:
Great-Grand Parents: Johan Jonsson; Karin Larsdotter; Johan Wernoff; Maja Svensdotter; Jonas Eriksson; Stina Johansdotter; Anders Petersson; Sara Jonasdotter.
2nd Great-Grand Parents: Jon Nannesson; Brita Mathisdotter; Lars Andersson; Ingrid Nilsdotter; Eric Pehrsson Frimans; Anna Jonasdotter; Johan Hakansson; Cathrina Pettersdotter; Peter Andersson; Ingeborg Jeansdotter.
3rd Great-Grand Parents: Nanne Svensson; Ingrid Nilsdotter; Hakan Andersson; Maja Jonsdotter; Anders Mansson; Karin Olufsdotter; Pehr Lindbom; Karin Ericksdotter; Jonas Jonsson; Marta Gummesdotter; Petter Johansson; Martha Pehrsdotter; Anders Larsson; Anna Nilsdotter; Mathis Assarsson; Ingeborg Nilsdotter.
4th Great-Grand Parents: Sven Nannesson; Ingard Persdotter; Nils Pehrsson; Anders Jonsson; Sara Jonsdotter; Mans Nilsson; Oluf Jonsson; Johan Palsson; Karin Svensdotter; Pehr Pehrsson; Kirsten Andersdotter; Nils Pehrsson; Assar Jonsson; Anna Olufsdotter; Nils Jonsson; Maria Persdotter.
5th Great-Grand Parents: Jons Andersson; Elisabet Sigfridsdotter; Jon Olufsson; Pal Mansson; Elisabet Mansdotter; Anders Jonsson; Jons Larsson; Britta Matthisdotter; Oluf Larsson.
6th Great-Grand Parents: Anders Mansson; Karin Olufsdotter; Lars Assarsson; Matthis Mansson.
7th Great-Grand Parent: Captain Assar Arvidsson.
Bruce & Barbara Morrison, Lexington, Ky. 40517 February 4th, 2009
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