The death date of Brita Sophia Reenhielm

As we are discussing Brita Sophia's and Elisabeth's death dates, there is nothing odd about either sister dying in 1710, 19 years after their father. The note in the Vänge death book of October 26 1710 clearly says Elisabeth Reenhielm as the name of the deceased.

Jacob Reenhielm and Anna Böllja had six daughters, all probably born between 1670 and 1685. Beetween these years there is a gap in Vänge's birth records, explaining why no children's births are on record. The family also owned the Broby manor in Börje parish, however as the birth records of the period still exist from this parish, it is most likely the children were born in Vänge, especially as it is clearly indicated the family resided at Brunna manor of Vänge (this is for instance the place where Jacob Reenhielm normally signed his letters). Brita Sophia was probably the eldest of the sisters, and therefore born around 1670. Elisabeth was probably born around 1675, and would therefore be 35 at her death.

The date or cause of death of Brita Sophia are unknown, and will probably remain so. I doubt we will ever find any document relating to it. What can be said almost certainly, though, is that she died between 1701 and 1715, although any date later than January 1709 would imply that she and Jacob Krook lived separately, but still had children together that were baptised in Hagby. My guess is that she died shortly after 1701, but it is also possible that she died after 1709, or perhaps while giving birth to the daughter Brita Sophia. This is just speculation, though.

It is correct that the daughter Brita Sophia was accepted as a Krook. At her wedding she is called "Äreborna", which was reserved for the bourgeois, and roughly means "of honourable descent". The pieces still don't fall together, though. Why is Jakob Krook living on his own for many years, the only other members of the household being servants? Why is there a long gap, when no children are born, between 1701 and 1708, when the children come in a quick succession before and after that (only two from 1708, though)? The last two children (as well as the preceding) were christened in Hagby, and were probably born there, as children were normally baptised almost immediately after birth. The mother, though, is nowhere to be seen. Hopefully some clues could be found in the court records of Hagunda or Ulleråker.

BTW, I might very well be the source of the approximate death year 1710, as I for some time was making that assumption. The problem with internet is that those assumptions are then copied as facts.

Sophia Brautmüller was from Silesia, and married Kettil Böllja in Glogau, currently Glogow in Poland, in 1647. In Elgenstierna she is spelled Brautmüller, in an old biographical dictionary from mid 19th century she her name is Brantenmüller. The last one is full of factual errors, though. I have never seen her name in any contemporary record, so I don't know the correct spelling. It could be Brantmüller, but Brautmüller exists as well.

My guess is that Israel Krook was a second cousin of Jacob. They definitely had contact with each other.

The witnesses at Brita Sophias christening were: Pastor Nicolaus Broström, Befallningsman Johan Hagman at Sunnanå, Mrs Gyllenbring at Ålbo in Tibble parish and the young maid Ebba Gyllenbring.

Interestingly the Gyllenbrings were related to Hedvig Forsell, who later married Jacob's son Gudmund.

By the way, I have now written a short biography of Jacob Reenhielm, which can be seen on his profile.

Sara Bring was the daughter of Daniel Bring of the rather famous Bringius family from Småland. His brother was Erik, who was raised into nobility, and took the name Gyllenbring. Daniel himself started as very talented student at Uppsala university, with a promising academic career, who however quit his studies and married, probably to the daughter of a rich burgher. He quickly became a burgher himself and was elected into the city council, where he was known for his splendid abilities in writing and speaking. However, he also became known for his very bad temper: he was rude and disrespectful against both colleagues and the mayor himself, and he was said to be constantly drunk. He apparently was an alcoholic. He died fairly young.

Salomon Forsell lived in Uppsala, before moving to Stockholm in the 1680's, where he was an innkeeper until his death in 1696. He had a brother Gustaf in Uppsala. I don't know their family, but in 1661 a Salomon Laurentii Forselius from Uppland was enroled at Uppsala university, which could possibly be him. His father's name would then be Lars. He and Sara Bring had only one surviving child, name Hedvig Forsell.

I have a number of letters by Sara Bring, written around 1710, which indicate that she was the owner of Stallmästaregården, which at that time was an inn, and still remains as a famous restaurant in Stockholm.

As I see it, Theodor Krook could very well be the father of Israel Krook. He seems to fit in well, both in age and profession.

Some time ago I also found another clue that links Lars Wadensteen to the Hagby Krooks: Following the death of Gudmund Krook, he wrote a letter regarding the privileges under which Torsättra was owned, making a case for letting the "fatherless children of the late Gudmund Krook" benefit from the same privileges. This makes me believe that he perhaps was the guardian of the children. The claim that Elisabeth Krook was sister of Nils Lagerkrook I almost certainly incorrect.

By the way, as we now have moved away from the initial subject, I think the discussion should continue where it is appropriate.

The biography of Jacob Reenhielm is found in the following link:

Jakob Isthmen Reenhielm

I have read the biography of Jacob Reenhielm and it is very informative although a rather disturbing picture of strife in his life amongst family members and colleagues.

@Britta Sophia Reenhielm

Lilla sateriet in Ekeby was the plot of land given to Britta Sophia Krook by her mother Britta Sophia Reenhielm. Britta Sophia Krook's husbands were the owners of this land until 1761 (4 husbands) when it was sold to Albin Grundelstierna. The following year Lilla sateriet changed owner to Nils Arpi married to Anna Britta Krook born in Stockholm 1732. She was a daughter to Britta Sophia Krook born in the first marriage to her cousin Gudmund Krook, lawyer. He was known to be the owner of Lilla sateriet in 1768. Around the year 1780 there was a new owner, Anders Ruth, married to Hedvig Helena Erman, daughter of Britta Sophia Krook from her last marriage to Christian Fredrik Erman.

The marriages of Britta Sophia Krook were
1. Her cousin Gudmund Krook, lawyer
2. Pehr Phragman (captain) 26 Jan 1737 Vange, Uppsala
at his death she is called the widow of lawyer Krook
3. Anders Uppgren, 29 Feb. 1744 Vange, Uppsala
4. Christian Fredrik Erman 29 Feb. 1744, Vange, Uppsala

The gap in the death and burial records of Hagby is from April 1712 - July 1715. Britta Sophia Reenhielm is believed to have died between these dates.

On 9/10/1713 Jacob Krook sold the two plots of land in Ekeby, Stora and Lilla sateriet, which belonged to Britta Sophia Reenhielm. In this sale, Lilla sateriet was to be reserved for himself and his daughter Britta Sophia Krook for their lifetime. It was interpreted that Britta Sophia Reenhielm had stipulated Lilla sateriet as a gift to her daughter Britta Sophia Krook.

The children of Britta Sophia Krook were:

Anna Sophia Krook born Stockholm 1732

Jan Fredrik Uppgren born 16/11/1742 at Ekeby, Vange
his godparents were Lr. Holmer, the baker of Uppsala Nyman, Johannes Rosling and SIGRID RAMBORG REENHIELM

Hedvig Helena Erman born 20/06/1744
her godparents were Corporal Erman, Carl Holmer, the Vicar's wife B. Amnell and SIGRID RAMBORG REENHIELM

Israel?/David? Erman born 27/9/1747 died 1751
godparents, Carl Gustav Krook (son of David Krook and Beata Drommel of Vittinge) Johannes Rosling, Mamsell Anna Marta Pihl and Gustafva Drommel

Carl Fredrik Erman born 09/09 1753
godmother - MARIA REGINA REENHIELM (married to Anders Holm)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hedvig Helena Erman daughter of Britta Sophia Krook
married Anders Ruth 12 Nov. 1775 Vange, Uppsala
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In conclusion I submit that Britta Sophia Reenhielm is the mother of Britta Sophia Krook born 1709 with the added conclusion that she could have only been areborna if she was a descendant of the Reenhielms as Jacob Krook was not of the nobility.

Thanks to the collaborative effort of Johan Bolin who supplied this information.

Note: the marriage date to Anders Upgren should read 09 Nov. 1740

the marriage to Christian Fredrik Erman is that of 29 Feb. 1744

both being Vange, Uppsala

Nils Arpi born 1705 - died 1782 was the husband of Anna Britta Krook born Stockholm 1732, daughter of Britta Sophia Krook and Gudmund Krook, lawyer.

Thank you for the information about Brita Sofia Krook! Regarding her mother, I am still not certain that she died during 1712 - 1715: In the records of census from 1709 and onward (the records before 1709 are missing) she is not living with Jakob Krook, and is nowhere to be seen in Hagby. Consequently we don't know that she died in Hagby. We know, however, that Jakob Krook is first mentioned as widower in the record of 1715.

With your information above, however, we see that Brita Sophia Krook seemed to have a strong connection to the Reenhielm family. Another interesting detail I noticed when I looked up Per Phragmén's death in 1739, was the the priest had first written that he was buried in Reenhielm's grave, although that seems to have been crossed out, and replaced with some text I can't figure out. Again, that indicates that Brita Sophia Krook was indeed closely related to the Reenhielms.

Finally, "Äreborna" means that she belonged to the bourgeois, not the nobility. Noblemen were titled "Välborne/a". It doesn't say anything about her mother's descendancy, however, as nobility is only passed from the father.

Maybe the sale of the land in Ekeby in 1713 could be an indication that Brita Sophia Reenhielm was dead by then, as this was the land she herself had been given by Olof Verelius?

By the way, there exists a letter by Jakob Krook to the Queen, written probably around 1715 - 1720, where he complains that he long drawn-out war has meant great expenses for him, as he has been supporting the army with both cavalry and infantry, and he thus asks for economical compensation. The sum he asks for is 181 Daler in silver. Attached to the letter is the addition, carried out by the war commissar Israel Krook.

During the Great Nordic War he apparently ran into financial troubles.

Talking about Jakob Krook, a copy of the letter of appointment by the King still exists, from when he was made "jägerifiskal" in 1684. It says that he had proved himself both through his studies and several actions, and that he was recommended by the governors of both Uppland and Södermanland for his skill.

Suddenly it struck me, why Brita Sophia Reenhielm is not seen in the records of census:

In these records, each household is listed with the name of its head, and in individual columns the wife, the numbers of sons, daughters, sons and daughters in law, male and female servants, and in the end other persons living with the family, all subject to taxation. In Jakob Krook's case the wife column is always empty, making me believe that Brita Sophia was not there. Finally, I came to think of the fact that she was noble, and as such exempt from taxes. Therefore she is not counted into the household, and thus her column empty.

My conclusion, together with the information above, is therefore that she is the mother of Brita Sophia Krook, who was born in November 1709, that she probably lived and died at Torsätra, Hagby, and that when Jakob Krook is first mentioned as widower in the record of 21/2 1715, she had fairly recently died. In the previous record of census of 8/2 1714, she was probably alive.

My guess is therefore that Brita Sophia Reenhielm died in 1714 or in the winter of 1715.

By the way, Brita Sophia Krook's first husband, the lawyer Gudmund Davidsson Krook, was not her first cousin, but second. He was the son of David Andreasson Krook, cousin of Jakob Krook.

Do you have the sources of the information regarding the transactions of the land at Ekeby? I would like to reference them in my own documentation.

The name of the son together with Erman, born 27/9 1747 and dead 13/7 1751, was Paul.

I will be getting copies of said documents by mail. What I received by computer were from Stockholm Stadsvarkiv, Baptisimal Records, Clerical Surveys and Records of Vange Parish.

At the christening of Charlotta Sophia Arpi in 1758 are:
The Ironwork's clerk Anders Krok, Madame Britta Sophia Krook and Maiden Brita Krook.

I had forgotten that Jacob Krook of Vaddo son of Jacob Krook and Britta Sophia Reenhielm, had a son named Andreas born either shortly before his death in 1737 or soon after. I think the Ironwork's clerk is probably him and he may have married in Stockholm in 1764 to Margareta Lund. It would fit with his age and place. His mother was Elsa Alm.

I checked out the birth of Anders Krook at Väddö on October 3 1737, just four days before the death of his father. Among the witnesses was "the late Krook's sister". I guess that the late Krook is Jakob Krook, who it seems died before the christening of his child, and the sister then ought to be Brita Sophia Krook.

The witness at Charlotta Sophia Arpi's christening could be him. I doubt, however, that he is the one who married Margareta Lund in Stockholm in 1764. I haven't found that wedding, but one year later a child is born to "Anders Crock" and Maria Lund in Jakob and Johannes in Stockholm. Bearing in mind that the spelling of names was a little so so in those times, it is likely to be the same couple. This Anders Crock was a tailor at the court, so he is definitely not the same individual.

The name Anders is by the way extremely common, so it can not be used to identify a person.

Yes, that must be Britta Sophia Krook, she is the only sister. At least we know that Anders survived and was at the christening and working at a bruk. If that Anders was a tailor then that is not him. I did not even know about his existance until advised by C.J. Gustafsson that he had been born, then I forgot until I saw his name in connection with the Krook family christening. I think that one or two of Jacob's daughters survived as well. The family certainly kept in touch with each other.

@ I don't know if I mentioned before but the son Johannes born in 1708 has as godfather Israel Krook (I assume he is the one of Hagby married to Sophia Kruus.

Yes, he is certainly the one. As I have mentioned, I believe that Jakob and Israel Krook were relative, perhaps second cousins. The name Israel does exist in the family. For instance one of Gudmund Petri Krook's sons was given that name.

In about 1715 Jakob Krook wrote to the Majesty, complaining about his financial situation, due to the long war. Attached to the letter is an addition of how much the state owes Jakob Krook, which interestingly was carried out by Israel Krook.

Was Israel Krook not the "war commissioner"? We hopefully will be adding the line from Britta Sophia Krook to present day soon. That would give Gudmund - your line, Andreas - our line, Britta Sophia Krook's line and we would only be missing the line of Jacob of Vaddo to present day.

The documentation regarding Brita Sophia Reenhielm will be arriving by person in June.