Patriks släkt och kultursidor - The Nilsson family tree

The Nilsson family tree

by Patrik Andersson

The Nilsson family is a Canadian family that originates from the southwestern part of Skåne in Sweden whose ancestry is known since the second half of the 18th century.

This family tree will follow descendants of the blacksmith August Nilsson (1884-1966) who around 1904 left Sweden and emigrated to North America where he eventually ended up in the city of Saint John on Canada's east coast and became the progenitor of a richly branched family. For the first time on this website, the pedigree will be cognatic, i.e. descendants on both the male and female sides will be followed up to the present day.

Please note that the family tree is not complete. If you have any knowledge that can add anything of value to this tree write an email to starpatrik [at] yahoo . se

For further reading concerning the descendants of August Nilsson's brothers, see the Hallberg family tree

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Sources

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Contact

Questions or perhaps new knowledge about this pedigree, then write an email to: starpatrik [at] yahoo . se

Tab. 1

Nils Hansson, born around 1730. Husman. — Married to Gunnel? Johansdotter, born around 1730.

S o n:

Sven Nilsson, born 3/3 1761 in Östra Strö parish, Malmöhus county, died of old age 27/3 1828 in Knäholmen, Hardeberga parish, Malmöhus county. Undantagsman. He moved to Lund and entered from there on 8/6 1806 to nearby Hardeberga parish under Harderberga manor (Hardeberga No 8, see picture below) and was at the earliest 1809 on the farm Knäholmens manor (Hardeberga No 9). Here he lived until his death.

Hardeberga säteri
Hardeberga manor ca. 1900. Several people from the older generations of the Hallberg family worked on the property of this farm. The photograph is owned by Hans Nilsson.

N. is mentioned as an undantagsman. It meant that he had sold a property with special benefits for him as the seller, for example a dwelling, a certain amount of food and seed that the buyer was obliged to provide, usually during his lifetime. — Married to Boël Nilsdotter, born 4/2 1769 in Hällestads parish, Malmöhus county, died 12/11 1836 in Arendala, Hardeberga parish, Malmöhus county, daughter of the military rider Nils Blixberg (ca. 1743-1790 in the Russian war) and Bengta Bengsdotter (1734 -1771). The wife's father was accepted as a mlitary rider on 23/9 1764 in the lieutenant colonel's company/squadron of the South Skåne Cavalry Regiment. He got his military residence in Hällestad parish. Participated (without a horse) with his regiment when it was ordered to form part of the fleet's crew in 1790 and participated in several naval campaigns in king Gustaf III's Russian war 1788-1790. He possibly died on sick leave in Tölö, today part of Helsinki in Finland.

S o n:

Nils Svensson, born 24/4 1803 in Lund's parish, Malmöhus county, died of marasmus senilis (senile weakness) 13/3 1891 in Arendala, Hardeberga parish, Malmöhus county. Husman, åbo (legal term, the right to live on and use another's land. Those who had the right of occupancy were called Åbo), ryktare (man who takes care of cattle in a barn). He moved with his parents to Lund and arrived from there on 8/6 1806 to nearby Hardeberga parish under the ownership of Hardeberga estate (Harderberga No 8) and was in 1809 at the earliest on the farm Knäholmens (Hardeberga No 9) estate. Now listed as husman, i.e. a man living in the countryside with his own house but who did not own any land but was a craftsman, soldier or farm worker. Like the crofter, however, he paid the landowner "rent", which was sometimes done by doing the day's work. At the time of their move from Lund, 421 people lived in the parish (statistics from 1805). Here S. married and lived until 1846 when he moved to Rögle village (under the Hardeberga manor), now referred to as åbo, and in 1853 to Arendala village, both in the latter parish. In Arendala he is mentioned as a married peasant. He thus seems to have fallen somewhat on the social scale. As early as 1878, he is a state serf. In 1882 the wife dies and in her death entry in the church registers, S. is now no longer a farmhand but a ryktare. As such, he took care of the animals at Arendala farm. He had this occupation until his death. During the spring winter of 1891, S. died.at Lund's hospital aged 88 after a long and arduous life. — Married 14/2 1824 in Hardeberga parish to Kjersti (Kersti) Nilsdotter, born 4/10 1803 in Hardeberga parish, Malmöhus county (not found there), died of senilis (senile weakness) 25/10 1882 in Arendala, Hardeberga parish, Malmöhus county, daughter of husmannen Nils Andersson (1759-1839) and Ingar Jönsdotter (1768-1842).

S o n:

Hans Nilsson, born 30/10 1847 in Rögle, Hardeberga parish, Malmöhus county, died of pneumonia 17/4 1900 in Igridstorp, St. Petri parish, Malmöhus county. Railway foreman. Moved within Malmöhus county to Dalby parish 1862, again to Hardeberga parish, then to Oxie parish 1875, where he is mentioned as a railway worker, married Ingar Olsson the same year and they moved to Fosie parish (no 8 Gatehus), where their first child was born in 1876. In November 1876 the family moved to a house in block no. 58 in St. Petri's parish in Malmö, which from around 1885 was called Igridstorp and which was located in the western outer area of Malmö's southern suburbs. Hans Nilsson remained here until his death and is then mentioned as a railway foreman.

According to unconfirmed information, he must have first been a farmhand in Lilla oppåkra and later a track guard in S:t Petri, where his track guard's cabin was later demolished on behalf of Malmö General Hospital.

In his estate register from 1901 shows that he had it simple regarding the material life, but that the collected assets were relatively good. In the home there was, for example, a silver pocket watch, a sewing machine and an iron in addition to the usual household goods. N. had lent money and at the time of his death had claims on the sons Olof and Karl Fredrik and the track guard Anders Jönsson for a total amount of SEK 115 (approx. SEK 6,500 in 2019). Furthermore, he had a life insurance policy in the Nordstjernan insurance company with a value of SEK 1,500 (approx. SEK 88,000 in 2019) and the house Igridstorp on leased land whose assessed value was only estimated at SEK 500 (approx. SEK 30,000 in 2019). The estate's total assets amounted to SEK 2,294 (approx. SEK 135,000 in 2019), the debts to SEK 1,038 (approx. SEK 60,000 in 2019) — Married 30/10 1875 in Oxie sn, Malmöhus län to Ingar Olsson, born 28/3 1853 in Oxie parish, Malmöhus län, died of cancer 1/5 1926 in Igridstorp, St. Johannes parish (the croft now belonged to this parish), Malmöhus län, daughter of the householder Ola Larsson (1794-1872) and Kjersti Nilsdotter (1813-1881).

Ingar Olsson (1853-1926). "Mother has made a purchase". The photograph was probably taken in the early 1920s, probably on the steps to the Igridstorp croft by one of her sons. Private collection.
Four of Hans Nilsson and Ingar Olsson's sons, from left to right, August Nilsson, Emil Nilsson (later Hallberg), Frans Nilsson (later Hallberg) and Olof Nilsson (later Hallberg). Photo probably taken 1912-1914. Unknown photographer. Private collection. Click on the image for an enlargement, then click on the enlargement to return to the website. For further reading concerning the descendants of August Nilsson's ten trothers brothers, see the Hallberg family tree

Ingar Olsson moved in January 1918 from the aforementioned Igridstorp to her son Olof Hallberg in Katarina parish in Stockholm to look after his two sons, Carl Gustaf and Hans after the divorce from Lydia Dejdricks in 1917. She was again at Igridstorp in May 1920 and then worked as a gatekeeper (she operated the gates at a railway crossing, checked that the final signals were on the last carriage and kept track of timetables) some time before she died of cancer in the latter place in 1926. She had a total of 11 sons, 8 of whom reached adulthood and one of whom moved to Canada (that we will follow here). The Igridstorp house was demolished around 1930.

C h i l d r e n:

August Peter Nilsson, born 20/2 1884, blacksmith, died 3/3 1966. See Tab. 2.

NOTE! For further information about the family tree of his ten brothers in Sweden, see the Hallberg family tree

Tab. 2

August Peter Nilsson (son of Hans Nilsson, Tab. 1), born 20/2 1884 in the block of södra förstaden no 58, S:t Petri parish, Malmöhus county, died 3/3 1966 in Saint John, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. Blacksmith.

August Nilsson. The photograph was probably taken 1912-1914. Unknown photographer. Private collection.

N. was born in simpler circumstances and grew up with ten brothers in Malmö's suburbs in the Igridstorp farm. His father worked as a railway worker. Towards the end of his life he became a railway foreman. Early on, N. worked as a blacksmith, which he later did in Canada as well.

After a deadly accident at a wrestling match that N. participated in during a trip in Germany together with his older brothers Nils Hallberg and Olof Hallberg, N. was forced to flee for fear of being caught by the police. The precise circumstances surrounding this have not been investigated, but apart from the incident there is oral information that the year was 1904. It is said that it was his brother Olof who helped him with money so he could escape. Among his many brothers he was closest to Olof who was also a hub for many other of the brothers whom Olof had helped in various ways ranging from opening his home to them to utilizing his network of contacts to give their careers a solid start.

In the archives there is some information that may possibly be connected to August regarding his emigration to Canada.

The first information of interest can be found as early as 1903 in a passenger list for the ship S.S. Celtic (see picture below) with departure from Liverpool in England to New York in the USA on April 15 of the said year. Here we find an August Nilsson with the right age (19 years) from Dönneberga in southern Sweden with final destination Akron in Ohio. The person who receives him in Akron is his brother-in-law August Bergkvist. But as August Nilsson had no sister, this information is incorrect.

SS Celtic
S.S. Celtic in 1919 owned by White star line. This was likely the ship that took August Nilsson to North America for the first time. Wikipedia EN.

The second piece of information, which, unlike the one above, can really have some truth can be found in a passenger list in 1905 for the same ship as above. Here, an August Nilsson of suitable age (21 year) left Liverpool in England on September 26 with destination Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Strangely enough, he is mentioned as a sailor. That statement corresponding well however with the church records of Sank Johannes parish in Malmö 1913-1921 (Malmö Sankt Johannes (M) AIIa:67 1913-1921 sid 362) where he in his absense since 1905 is mentioned as just a sailor and a former blacksmith. His last known residence is the port city of Sölvesborg in southernmost Sweden with final destination DeKalb, Illinois, USA. In the passanger list he also states that he had already been in the United States in 1904, more precisely in Pesacola, Miami. His descendants do not possess any such information, but it cannot be ruled out that this information correctly indicates the right August. Furthermore, it says that he will meet his cousin Pit. Nilsson in Boston. This Pit. or perhaps Peter has not yet been identified. Although a few things in this passanger list match, more facts are needed to fully confirm this is the right person.

In the census of Canada 1911 August is hard to find. One candidate however can be found in Moose jaw in Saskatchewan, even though it is far from Saint John. The name is correct, he is single and the year of first entering Canada (1906) corresponding to the valid information found in the census 1921. According to the census 1911 he was naturalized as a Canadian citizen in 1909. However his birth year and month is not correct (oct 1883).

August Nilsson (1884-1966)

Top: August Nilsson around 1902 to 1906, in Sweden or USA or more likely Canada. On the back of the photograph is a greeting to brother Olof Hallberg. Colorized. Unknown photographer. Private collection. Bottom: The back of the same photo where August wrote the following to Olof: "Write soon. To you Olof. Many greetings from Aug Nilsson."

According to family traditions it is said that he after entering Canada first worked on the construction of the Welland Canal before coming to the town of Saint John in New Brunswick. Here N. stayed and later worked as a blacksmith at Saint John's dry dock where he made tools and built ships.

In the census of Canada 1921 N., that here is spelled Auguste Neilson, lived with his later second wife Elizabeth Ogden and the children Mary from his first marriage and Martin together with Ogden. Carl Gustaf, his first born child in his first marriage, is absent. He was a student (inmate) in the parish of Simonds. According to the census N. entered Canada for the first time in 1906. His family lived in a single house built in wood with three rooms. August can unlike Ogden both read and write. He was a laborer at a construction site with a salary of 1 100 CAD per year (around 17 135 CAD 2023).

Left: August Nilsson with unknown child, May 1961. Right: His second wife Elizabeth Ogden with Christina, unknown year. Unknown photographers. Photos provided by Thomas Crawford.

N. visited Sweden, his mother and his brothers several times after the escape. Such an occasion can be found in a "List of contracts presented before the police chamber in Malmö on 18/4 1917 regarding transport to foreign continents, concluded between the emigrants mentioned below, who departed with the steamship [not mentioned] from Malmö on 19/4 1917 and the Scandinavia Amerika Liniens agent Teodor Nilsson through J. F. Samuelsson" (Poliskammaren i Malmö (M) D3:71 (1917) Picture 220). August Nilsson is stated in the list to be 33 years old, working as a machinist and living in Saint John in Canada. The passenger fee he paid was SEK 239 and 10 öre (approx. SEK 8,500 in 2023 or 1 100 CAD).

August Nilsson's contract with Skandinavien Amerika Linien 18/4 1917 for return journey to Canada the following day after visiting relatives in Sweden. Photo: Arkiv digital. Click on the image for an enlargement and then click on the enlargement to return to the pedigree.

August has reportedly been very physically strong. An alleged photograph shows him lifting a horse with his bare hands. The lifting must have taken place at a circus at which he worked for a time. He is buried in the Ocean view memorial gardens. — Married 1st 19/2 1912 to Elizabeth O'Connor, born 24/9 1889 in New Ireland, New Brunswick, Canada, died (due to exhaustion and melancholia that she had been suffering from during 14 years) 18/3 1928 in Lancaster, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, daughter of farmer Henry O' Connor (1862-1943) and Sarah Jane O'Regan (1863-1935). — 2nd 24/4 1930 with housekeeper Elizabeth Devena Ogden, born 19/5 1899 (1896 according to family and in 1901 according to the headstone) in Hampton, New Brunswick, Canada, died 15/3 1983 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, daughter of laborer Frank Ogden (1861-1912) and Mary LaCot (LaCoot, LaCoute) (1874-1960). She was only 14 when she married Frank. Elizabeth Devena is of Passamaquoddy tribal origin.

C h i l d r e n:

1. Carl Gustaf Nilsson, born 27/11 1912, fireman on boat, died 18/11 1988. See Tab. 3.

1. Mary Irene Nilsson, born 21/2 1914 in Saint John, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, died 1999?. — Married 31/1 1934 to the baker George Edward Mason, born around 1910 in Saint John, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, died ?, son of Henry Mason (1862-) and Mary Baker (1864-). Her nephew Thomas Crawford remembers her: "Mary was a nice Aunt, very dedicated, determined and fun. When I knew her, she lived in Toronto and came down to Saint John for vacations by train. She worked as a custodian for the Department Store Simpson-Sears for most of her life. She traveled Toronto via bus and subway to festivals and concerts." George later became an alcoholic and lived on the streets of Toronto. The couple adopted Edward Gray who married a Lois who ran a Laundromat and they had the children Ronnie and Gail. Edward became successful, selling real estate and owning racehorses. He played banjo and guitar and has recorded music with famous Canadian country singers. Mary and George had no children by their own.

2. Martin "Mart" Lloyd Nilsson, born ?/11 1921 in Saint John, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, died 1980 in Saint John, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. Riveter. He was first a steel worker, but after an accident during the construction of the Reversing falls bridge (across the Saint John River) he was left deaf in one ear. He then worked as a millwright (installs, repairs, etc. machines) where he worked on many pieces of equipment at a thermal power plant on behalf of the New Brunswick Power commission. — Married 10/12 1942 in Saint John to Isabell Elizabeth Dalling, born 11/3 1919 in Saint John, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, died 20/6 2013 in York manor nursing home, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, daughter of labourer (street railway) of James Isaac "Jim" Dalling (1888-1984) and Isabel "Isa" Carley (1891-1921). The wife worked in various women's clothing stores. S o n: Walter Leo Nilsson, born 1944 in Saint John, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. Trained boilermaker. He has worked in the St. Paul mine north of Fredericton as a millwright and carpenter. — Married 11/2 1967 to receptionist Linda Anne Manzer, born 23/9 1945 in Montréal, Quebec, Canada, dead 10/11 2014 in Fredericton, York, New Brunswick, Canada, daughter of the machinist in a cotton mill (Canadian cotton limited) Frederick (Fred) Fowler Manzer (1910-1992) and Cedrica Zelda DeLong (1912-1974). Linda Manzer has the son Mark from a previous marriage whom Walter adopted. The couple had no children by their own.

2. Dorothy Ingrid Nilsson, born 13/7 1929 in Saint John, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, died 30/10 2018 in Saint John, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. — Married 12/5 1952 to Cedric Arthur (known as Uncle Bob) Ferris, born 2/6 1927 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, died 13/12 2003 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, son of William John Ferris (1900-1958) and Marie Susan Kyffin (1901-1964). Bob was an avid golfer.

Helen Nilsson, Donald Crawford, Dorothy Nilsson
From left to right Helen Nilsson, her husband Donald Crawford and Helen's sister Dorothy. Photo taken in 2013 and sent to the author by Thomas Crawford.

2. Helen Jean Nilsson, born 17/6 1935 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, died 24/5 2014 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada . — Married to electrician and manager of a telephone company Donald (Don) Joseph Crawford, born 12/7 1936, son of mechanic Thomas James Crawford (1899-1941) and Kathleen Beatrice Walsh (1906-1970). One of their nine children, electrical engineer Thomas Crawford (b. 1954), have contributed valuable information to this pedigree.

2. Hans Olaf Nilsson, born 10/1 1941. — Married 1st 18/11 1961 to Patricia June Bradley, born 23/9 1942. Divorced 1/1 2000. — 2nd to Theresa "Terri" Ann Battler, born 10/6 1954. N. had two daughters in the first marriage, Susan Barbara Ann, born 6/6 1962 (married 1:o Euon Brooks; divorced; 2:o to Grant Andrew Baxton, born 25/3 1956, died 3/8 2023) and Sharon Patricia, born 11/12 1963.

Tab. 3

Carl August or Carl Gustaf Nilsson (son of August Peter Nilsson, Tab. 2), born 27/11 1912 in Saint John, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, died 18/11 1988 in Saint John, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. Fireman (Fireman on boat), mason and laborer. On the 1st of June 1921 he is mentioned as a student (inmate, since nine month) in the parish of Simonds in the census of Canada that year. — Married 6/9 1935 to Pearl Lillian Rowe, born 3/8 1916 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, died 7/11 1988 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, daughter of the painter Walter Robert Rowe (b. approx. 1891) and Marie Henriette Comeau (1892-1965). An interesting coincidence is that Carl's father August named him the same name that his brother Olof named his first-born son in 1911. As August and Olof were very close to each other, it is not inconceivable that August had this in mind. In addition, August's youngest child is given the second name Olaf. According to his birth certificate his name was Carl August but according to his marriage and death certificates Carl Gustaf.

Carl Gustaf Nilsson with his wife Pearl Rowe. Unknown photographer. Uploaded on ancestry.se by Cathy Smith, daughter of Colleen Nilsson, tab. 7.

C h i l d r e n:

Carl Walter Nilsson, born 29/5 1936, carpenter, died 17/9 2019. See Tab. 4.

Colleen Eleonor Nilsson, born 11/7 1937. Clerk. See Tab. 7.

Mary Nilsson, born 1/6 1938 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, died 1/6 1938 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.

Shirley Elizabeth Nilsson, born 10/8 1939. Machine operator. She was a machine operator at a sugar factory. — Married 1:o 18/6 1966 with the worker and his sister-in-law's brother Charles Joseph Hachey, born about 1940, son of Alexander Hachey (see Everett Nilsson below) and Mary Genevieve Noel. She has four children with different husbands, of whom the daughter Brenda in said marriage has worked in the army.

Robert (Bob) Gordon Nilsson, born ?/7 1942. Machine operator. He was a machine operator at a dry dock. — Married 2/6 1962 to hairdresser Ann Elizabeth Dunlap, born about 1942, daughter of John H. Dunlap and Awilla Moore. Divorced.

Everett (Evie) Terrance Nilsson, born 1946. Welder. — Married 1:st 30/12 1965 to laborer Linda Mary Hachey, born 1948, daughter of Alexander Hachey and Mary Genevieve Noel; divorced; 2nd 2019 to NN NN.

Gerald (Gary) Nilsson, born 1953? Electrican. Retired in 2016. Working on a family tree. — Married to Janice NN, died before 2019.

Tab. 4

Carl Walter Nilsson (son of Carl August or Gustaf Nilsson, Tab. 3), born 29/5 1936 in Saint John, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, dead 17/9 2019 at Rocmaura nursing home, Saint John, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. Carpenter. Possibly the same Carl Nilsson who is mentioned as working on a dry dock in the electoral roll in 1962 and as a plate cutter in the electoral roll in 1968, both in Saint John. Some of these data may also refer to his father (see Tab. 3) of the same name, in particular the 1962 data. — Married before 1963 to housewife Shirley Bran(n)igan.

C h i l d r e n:

Carl Nilsson, born around 1960. See Tab. 5.

Theresa Nilsson, born around 1962. Se Tab. 6.

Tab. 5

Carl Nilsson (son of Carl Walter Nilsson, Tab. 4), born around 1960. — Married to Amanda NN.

C h i l d r e n

Unknown by name.

Tab. 6

Theresa Nilsson (daughter of Carl Walter Nilsson, Tab. 4), born around 1962. — Married to Brian Hamm.

C h i l d r e n

Unknown by name.

Tab. 7

Colleen Eleonor Nilsson (daughter of Carl August or Gustaf Nilsson, Tab. 3), born 11/7 1937. Clerk. — Married 30/12 1955 to Joseph (Joe) Frederick McKay, born 21/9 1935 (twin) in Saint John, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, died 4/2 1999 in Saint John, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, son of driver Roy Frederick McKay (1898-1961) and Bessie Ewing.

August Nilsson (1884-1966)
Colleen Nilsson and her brother Gary Nilsson. Unknown photographer. Photo provided by Debbie Ferris.

C h i l d r e n:

Joe MacKay, born 10/8 1956. — Married to Carrie NN.

Tony MacKay, born 29/4 1958. — Married to Lieghann NN.

Debbie MacKay, born 11/8 1959. — Married 1979 to army soldier Wallace Breton Fletcher, born 5/8 1959 in Wolfville, Kings, Nova Scotia, Canada, died 19/1 2023 in Nouveau-Brunswick, Canada.

Cathy McKay, born 25/11 1961. — Married to Mark Smith.

Barb McKay, born 25/1 1963. — Married to Jay NN.

Sue MacKay, born 6/9 1966. — Married to Greg NN.

Källor: Kyrkoböckerna, Rotemannen 3, Riksarkivet - SVAR, Sveriges Dödbok 1901-2013, Sveriges befolkning 1970, Stockholms adresskalender - Stockholmskällan, www.ancestry.se, Skåningar i Stockholm, Skånetryckeriets förlag, Malmö 1940, DN.arkivet, SvD - Historiskt sidarkiv, Uppslagsverket Vårt Sekel, Elgo-förlaget, Göteborg 1960, Carl Gustaf Hallberg, Emil Hallberg, Veronica Hallberg, Johan Peetre, Erik Boehm, Thomas Crawford, Cathy Smit, www.ancestry.se, Sveriges orter, atlas över Sverige med ortbeskrivning, Stockholm 1932, www.arkivdigital.se, Edvinsson, Rodney, och Söderberg, Johan, 2011, A Consumer Price Index for Sweden 1290-2008, Review of Income and Wealth, vol. 57 (2), sid. 270-292, www.malmo.se, Bunkeflo - vår hembygd, Bert Persson, 1998