Military Hans Högman
Copyright © Hans Högman 2017-05-02

Navy "Båtsman" Companies

4. Swedish Regiments - Navy

Innehåll denna sida:

Indelta båtsman companies:

Blekinge Companies Södra Möre Companies

Roterade båtsman companies:

Roslag Companies Södermanland Company Östergötland Company     Tjust Company     Småland Company     Öland Companies

Introduction

There were several different types of seamen onboard the Navy ships: "Båtsmän" Kofferdimatroser Enlisted seamen Volunteers Skeppsgossar and of course the army soldiers. The Navy recruited their seamen in a few different ways.

Båtsmän

"Båtsmän" was the Swedish name of the navy seamen provided by the Allotment System. The "båtsmän" was provided in the same manner as the soldiers in the Army, that is through the "rote" farmers. Literally "båtsmän" means "boatsmen". It is "båtsman" in singular and "båtsmän" in plural. Aboard a ship of line there were about 70 corporals and volunteers. Volunteers (volontärer) were trainees. They stared off as non-commissioned officers and were under training to become officers. The volunteers were often in command of the guns.

Kofferdimatroser

There were also about 20 “kofferdimatroser”. They were professional seamen drafted from the merchant navy. They were in charge of all the work that had to do with the actual sailing (with the help of the "båtsmän"). The “kofferdimatroser” were part-time enlisted seamen and had a personal contract with the Navy. They were paid in cash and had to serve in the Navy for 6 month per year. Rest of the year they served on merchant ships.

Enlisted Seamen

A number of enlisted “båtsmän”/seamen was based at the naval station at Karlskrona. They were a kind of “elite” seamen and together with the crew drafted from the merchant navy (kofferdimatroser) they performed the more advanced sailing duties on board the ships.

The Crew

The number of "båtsmän" onboard a ship of line was about 250. There were also circa 30 “skepsgossar” onboard a ship . "Skepsgossar" were young boys and their task was to run with gunpowder to the guns during battle. The gunpowder was stored in save places far below deck and these storage places had very low ceilings so they needed young boys to carry the gunpowder from those areas. When the “skepsgossar” became 18 years of age they became Volunteers and stared their training to become officers. Then there were about 110 soldiers from the army The "båtsmän" were deckhands doing all sorts of duties plus manning the guns during battle. Generally you could say that the "båtsmän" were low in rank and duties on board the ships. There were four classes of the "båtsmän", depending of their experience. 1. No experience (Obefaren):   None or very little sea-going experience (No experience in seamanship) 2. Some experience (Sjövan):   At least 6 month of sea-going experience (Service at sea) 3. Experienced (Befaren ):   At least 12 month of sea-going experience (Served on foreign voyages) 4. Very experienced (Välbefaren): At least 24 month of sea-going experience (Served on voyages to remote waters) A “Befaren” (Experienced) "båtsman" was capable of reading the compass and therefore could work as an helmsman and with sounding. I guess a “Befaren” or “Välbefaren” classed båtsman could be classified as a skilled seaman? The “obefaren” and “Sjövan” båtsman were more like deck hands?

English word for "båtsman"?

It is difficult to find an English translation of the title "Båtsman". They were a type of semen serving on board the Navy ships as explained above. The special thing about the "båtsmän" was the way they were provided - recruited - trained. The title seaman is not incorrect but "seaman" doesn't pinpoint this special type of seaman the "båtsmän" were. A direct translation would be “boatsman”, however there is no such naval title in the English language. Since båtsmän only existed in Sweden and since this title is very difficult to translate I’ve kept the Swedish word "båtsman" in the articles on my website. It then won't be mixed with any English/American naval titles. It is one "båtsman" (sl.) and two "båtsmän" (pl).

Two ways of recruiting the "båtsmän" within the Allotment System 

Allotted ("roterade") båtsmän:

The majority of the "båtsmän" were recruited in a similar way as the soldiers in the Infantry, that is through the "rote" farmers. This way of providing the soldiers/båtsmän was called "rotering" and the "båtsmän" recruited this way was referred to as "roterade" båtsmän or allotted båtsmän.

Indelta båtsmän:

However, there were a minor part of the "båtsmän" recruited in a similar way as the horsemen in the Cavalry, that is through the system of "rusthåll". A "rusthåll" farmer had a personal contract with the Crown and had the responsibility to provide a båtsman, uniform, a båtsman's cottage, etc. In return the "rusthåll" farmer was exempted from paying taxes and did not have to participate as a "rote" farmer. He, like the "rote" farmers, was also exempted from having to serve as a soldier. The "indelta båtsmän" were recruited in the province of Blekinge and in the southeastern part of Småland (Södra Möre).

Båtsman Companies

The "båtsmän" was organized in special Navy companies called "Båtsman Companies" ("Båtsmans kompanier"), not in regiments. The Army officers lived in the same area as the soldiers, that is in the province of the regiment. In the Navy the officers lived at the naval stations. There was, though, a company commander living in the same area as the "båtsmän". However, once the "båtsmän" arrived at the naval station sea officers took charge of the båtsman companies. Each company was organized into 4 corporalships (korpralskap) of 25 men (24 "båtsmän" and 1 corporal). Up until 1810 every Navy "rote" had to provide an extra or reserv "båtsman" in time of war. The Navy was the only defense branch having "rotar" in towns and cities. However these Navy city "rotar" was quite early put in a vacated status. Instead of providing a "båtsman" the city "rotar" had to pay a vacancy fee to the Crown. In October 1634 all coastal parishes were linked to the Navy Allotment System (Båtsmanshållet). The number of "rotar" was extended in 1640. Every parish within 10 km (6 miles) from the coast was now linked to the Navy Allotment System. A new naval station was established in Karlskrona, in the southeastern part of Sweden, in 1680. Prior to 1680 the major naval base was in Stockholm. The number one enemy of Sweden in those days was Denmark. In order to set sail a lot earlier in spring, than was possible in Stockholm, Sweden needed a naval station further south, a location where the ice broke up a lot earlier. The place chosen was Karlskrona in the province of Blekinge where a both a city and a naval base was founded. In order to quickly get a enough navy seamen to the new naval base a great number of båtsmän and their families were subjected to a compulsory transfer to Karlskrona and Blekinge. Those båtsmän was first of all taken from Norrland and northern Finland, that is from the remote provinces. In total 1.350 båtsmän plus their families were transferred. The "rotar" in Blekinge and Södra Möre who had to maintain these båtsmän was "indelta", not allotted. At the end of the 17th century the Navy Allotment System consisted of 6 "indelta" båtsman companies and 21 allotted båtsmäns companies (3 of these were city companies).
Regiments:
Contents on this page:

In 1700 the allotted "båtsmän" were organized into the following Båtsman companies: 

Roslag’s 2 Companies Östergötland Company Tjust Company Bohuslän’s 2 Companies Åland and Southern Finland Company Gotland’s 2 Companies The Cities of Skåne’s Company Norrland’s 2 Companies Södermanlands’ 2 Companies Småland Company Västergötland Company Öland’s 2 companies The Stockholm City Company Uppstäderna’s Company In 1717, just before the Norwegian campaign, the båtsman companies was reorganized in to 7 Sea Regiments of which three was Marine Infantry. However after the death of King Karl XII in 1718 the båtsman companies went back to the old organization prior to 1717.

The Indelta "Båtsmän" (Indelta båtsmanshåll)

The "indelta" båtsmän (indelta båtsmanshåll) were located within the province/county of Blekinge and in Södra Möre (in the south- eastern part of the province of Småland, on the Blekinge borderline). It is "båtsman" in singular and "båtsmän" in plural. In total there were 2,301 "indelta" båtsmän (båtsmanshåll) of which 1,500 were located in Blekinge and 801 in Södra Möre. There were a few allotted båtsman "rotar" in Blekinge as well.

Blekinge Båtsman Companies

Prior to 1845 the "båtsmän" in Blekinge province formed three companies. After 1845 they formed six companies: 1st  Blekinge Indelta Company (1) 2nd Blekinge Indelta Company (2) 3rd Blekinge Indelta Company (3) 4th Blekinge Indelta Company (4) 5th Blekinge Indelta Company (5) 6th Blekinge Indelta Company (6) There were 1,500 "indelta" båtsmän plus 27 allotted (roterade) båtsmän in Blekinge. The allotted båtsmän served in the same companies as the "indelta". The Blekinge companies belonged to the Karlskrona Naval Station, Blekinge.  

Södra Möre Båtsman Companies

The "indelta" båtsman "rotar" of Södra Möre was located within the County of Kalmar. 1st  Södra Möre Indelta Company (7) 2nd Södra Möre Indelta Company (8) 3rd Södra Möre Indelta Company (9) There were 801 "indelta" båtsmän plus 15 allotted (roterade) båtsmän in Södra Möre. The allotted båtsmän served in the same companies as the "indelta". The Södra Möre companies belonged to the Karlskrona Naval Station, Blekinge.

The Allotted "Båtsmän" (Roterade båtsmanshåll)

There were 3,351 allotted båtsman's "rotar" distributed on 22 båtsman's companies. These "rotar" were located along the coast of the provinces of Uppland, Södermanland, Östergötland, Småland, Öland, Gotland, Halland, Västergötland, Gästrikland, Hälsingland, Medelpad, Ångermanland and southern Västerbotten. In 1845 9 of the companies belonged to the Karlskrona Naval Station, 10 to the Stockholm Naval Station and 3 to the Gothenburg Naval Station. Up until 1810 every "rote" also had to provide a reserve båtsman (fördubblingsbåtsmän ) at time of war. The figures within parenthesis are each company's company number.  

Roslag Båtsman Companies

One company was established in 1641. The company was in 1645 a part of the 2nd Ship Regiment. The company was extended to 2 companies and later to 4 companies. Companies 1845: Norra Roslag 1st Båtsman Company (28) Norra Roslag 2nd Båtsman Company (29) Södra Roslag 1st Båtsman Company (15) Södra Roslag 2nd Båtsman Company (16) 67 of the båtsmän in the Roslag companies were located within the county of Uppsala, the rest within the county of Stockholm. "Norra" means northern and "södra" southern. In total the Roslag companies 529 båtsmän, of which 125 in Norra 1st, 142 in Norra 2nd, 125 i Södra 1st and 137 in Södra 2nd. The Roslag companies belonged to the Stockholm Naval Station.

Södermanland's Båtsman Companies

One company was established in 1641. The company was in 1645 a part of the 1st Ship Regiment. Companies 1845: First Södermanland Båtsman Company (13) Second Södermanland Båtsman Company (14) The First Company was located within the county of Stockholm (137 men), the Second within the county of Södermanland (142 men), in total 276 båtsmän. The Södermanland companies belonged to the Stockholm Naval Station.

Östergötland Båtsman Company

One company was established in 1641. The company was in 1645 a part of the 1st Ship Regiment. Companies 1845: Östergötland Båtsman Company (12) All of the " rotar" (194 men) were located within the county of Östergötland. The Östergötland Company belonged to the Karlskrona Naval Station.  

Tjust Båtsman Company

Companies 1845: Tjust Båtsman Company (10) All of the " rotar" (118 men) were located within the county of Kalmar. The Tjust Company belonged to the Karlskrona Naval Station.  

Småland Båtsman Company

One company was established in 1641. The company was in 1645 a part of the 1st Ship Regiment. Companies 1845: Småland Båtsman Company (11) All of the " rotar" (121 men) were located within the county of Kalmar. The Småland Company belonged to the Karlskrona Naval Station.

Öland Båtsman Companies

One company was established in 1637. The company was in 1645 a part of the 1st Ship Regiment. Companies 1845: Öland 1st Båtsman Company (17) Öland 2nd Båtsman Company (18) The First Company was located on the northern part of the island of Öland (125 men) and the Second on the southern part (138 men), in total 263 båtsmän. The Öland Companies belonged to the Karlskrona Naval Station.

Gotland Båtsman Companies

One company was established in 1647. The company was in 1645 a part of the 1st Ship Regiment. Companies 1845: Gotland 1st Båtsman Company (19) Gotland 2nd Båtsman Company (20) The First Company was located on the northern part of the island of Gotland (122 men) and the Second on the southern part (138 men), in total 260 båtsmän. The Gotland Companies belonged to the Karlskrona Naval Station.  

Halland Båtsman Companies

Established in 1675. The company was in 1675 a part of the 2nd Ship Regiment. Companies 1845: Södra Halland 1st Båtsman Company (25) Norra Halland 1st Båtsman Company (26) Both the southern company (135 men) and the northern (229 men) were located within the county of Halland, in total 364 båtsmän. "Norra" means northern and "södra" southern. The Halland Companies belonged to the Karlskrona Naval Station.

Bohuslän Båtsman Companies

Established in 1661. The company was in 1661 a part of the 2nd Ship Regiment. Companies 1845: First Bohuslän Båtsman Company (21) Second Bohuslän Båtsman Company (22) The First Company (289 men) was located within the northern part of the county of Göteborg and Bohus län and the Second Company within the southern part (188 men), in total 477 båtsmän. The First Company belonged to the Karlskrona Naval Station (earlier to the Gothenburg Naval Station) and the Second Company to the Gothenburg Naval Station.  

Västergötland Båtsman Company

Established in 1638. The company was in 1645 a part of the 2nd Ship Regiment. Companies 1845: Västergötland Båtsman Company (27) All of the " rotar" (87 men) were located within the county of Älvsborg. The Västergötland Company belonged to the Gothenburg Naval Station. When the Gothenburg station was shut down in the 1850's the company was transferred to the Stockholm Naval Station.  

Norrland Båtsman Companies

In 1638 there was one båtsman company in Norrland called The Norrland Båtsman Company. The company was in 1645 a part of the 2nd Ship Regiment. All of the "rotar" were located within the provinces; Gästrikland, Hälsingland, Medelpad and Ångermanland. After a reorganization and the establishment of the Navy Allotment System in 1687 the Norrland Båtsman Company was split in two; Norrland 1st Båtsman Company Norrland 2nd Båtsman Company The second Company was recruited within Ångermanland. In 1716 the Norrland companies were split a further time, now into four companies: First Norrland 1st Båtsman Company (141 men) First Norrland 2nd Båtsman Company (173 men) Second Norrland 1st Båtsman Company (173 men) Second Norrland 2nd Båtsman Company (175 men) in total 662 båtsmän. In 1875 the names of the companies were changed into the Norrland First, Norrland Second, Norrland Third and Norrland fourth Båtsman Company. Companies 1845: First Norrland 1st Båtsman Company (30) First Norrland 2nd Båtsman Company (31) Second Norrland 1st Båtsman Company (32) Second Norrland 2nd Båtsman Company (33) The "rotar" of the First Norrland 1st Båtsman Company (141 men) were located within the province of Gästrikland (39) plus within the province of Hälsingland (102 men). The "rotar" of the First Norrland 2nd Båtsman Company (173) were located within the northern part of the province of Hälsingland (64 men) plus within the province of Medelpad (109 men). The "rotar" of the Second Norrland 1st Båtsman Company (173) were located within the southern part of the province of Ångermanland and the "rotar" of the Second Norrland 2nd Båtsman Company (175) within the northern part of Ångermanland. Between 1845 and 1853 the Second Norrland 2nd Båtsman Company carried the name the Second Norrland Artillery Båtsman Company. Company names from 1875: Norrland First Båtsman Company Norrland Second Båtsman Company Norrland Third Båtsman Company Norrland Fourth Båtsman Company When the Karlskrona Naval station was founded in 1682 a great number of båtsmän and their families were subjected to a compulsory transfer to Karlskrona and Blekinge. In total there were 448 regular and reserve båtsmän transferred from the Norrland companies to Blekinge. The Norrland companies belonged to the Stockholm Naval Station. Between 1756 and 1823 the Norrland companies were assigned to the The Stockholm Squadron of the Army Fleet.

City Båtsman Companies

The cities were subjected to the keeping of båtsmän from the early beginning. The providing of båtsmän to the Navy were the only obligation the cities had to do within the Allotment System. There were no Army "rotar" in the cities. However, there were quite a lot of vacated båtsman "rotar" in the cities. Instead of keeping a båtsman, these rotar paid a vacancy fee to the Navy. In 1748 a majority of the city båtsman "rotar" were placed in a vacant state. An exception was the båtsman "rotar" in Stockholm which remained until 1842. However at time of war the vacated city "rotar" were reactivated. In 1769 there were 892 regular (ordinarie båtsmän ) and 877 reserve (fördubblingsbåtsmän) båtsmän in the cities. The city båtsman served in the ordinary båtsman companies at the naval station they belonged to. However, the city båtsmän from Skåne and Blekinge, from the "uppstäder" and from the Stockholm City served in 3 individual companies.

Stockholm City Båtsman Company

The company numbered more than 100 båtsmän and was active until 1842 when it was disestablished. In the company served not only the Stockholm City båtsmän but also the båtsmän from the cities of Södertälje, Mariefred, Strängnäs, Torshälla and Eskilstuna. Stockholm City alone provided 100 båtsmän. Stockholm City Båtsman Company

Skåne/Blekinge's cities Båtsman Company

Established 1675. The company was in 1675 a part of the 1st Ship Regiment. The Blekinge/Skåne Båtsman Company

"Uppstädernas" Båtsman Company

Established 1638. The company was in 1645 a part of the 2nd Ship Regiment. "Uppstäder" was a term used for cities far away from the coast. The båtsmän from the "uppstäder" had less sea experience and their task on board was mainly to serve at the guns or to serves as rifle marksmen (bösseskyttar). Therefore these båtsmän often were referred to as "bösseskyttar". In 1675 the company numbered 249 men. The "Uppstädernas" Båtsman Company (Uppstädernas Bösseskytt Company)

Ship Regiments

In 1690 the båtsmän were divided into 17 Båtsman Companies which formed 3 Shipp regiments.

1st Ship Regiment

Södermanland's Companies 1641 Östgöta Company 1641 Öland's Companies 1637 Gotland's Companies 1647 Småland Company 1635 Blekinge/Skåne Company 1675    

2nd Ship Regiment

Roslag's Companies 1640 Norrland's Companies 1638 Västgöta Company 1638 Bohuslän's Companies 1661 Halland's Companies 1675 Uppstädernas 1638 bösseskyttar  

3rd Ship Regiment (Finland)

Åland Company 1639 Åbolän Company 1638 Nyland Company 1640 Österbotten Company 1637 Österbotten's 1675 bösseskyttar The years are the year of establishment of respective company.

Related Links

The Allotment System The Navy & the Army Fleet Swedish Wars Overview - Navy companies

Source References

Facimil utgåva av "Statistiskt sammandrag af svenska indelningsverket, 2: bandet av C. Grill från 1856”, utgiven av Svenska Släktforskningsförbundet 1988. Top of page
xxxxx Swegen xxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Military Hans Högman
Copyright © Hans Högman 2017-05-02

Navy "Båtsman" Companies

4. Swedish Regiments -

Navy

Indelta båtsman companies:

Blekinge Companies Södra Möre Companies

Roterade båtsman companies:

Roslag Companies Södermanland Company Östergötland Company     Tjust Company     Småland Company     Öland Companies

Introduction

There were several different types of seamen onboard the Navy ships: "Båtsmän" Kofferdimatroser Enlisted seamen Volunteers Skeppsgossar and of course the army soldiers. The Navy recruited their seamen in a few different ways.

Båtsmän

"Båtsmän" was the Swedish name of the navy seamen provided by the Allotment System. The "båtsmän" was provided in the same manner as the soldiers in the Army, that is through the "rote" farmers. Literally "båtsmän" means "boatsmen". It is "båtsman" in singular and "båtsmän" in plural. Aboard a ship of line there were about 70 corporals and volunteers. Volunteers (volontärer) were trainees. They stared off as non-commissioned officers and were under training to become officers. The volunteers were often in command of the guns.

Kofferdimatroser

There were also about 20 “kofferdimatroser”. They were professional seamen drafted from the merchant navy. They were in charge of all the work that had to do with the actual sailing (with the help of the "båtsmän"). The “kofferdimatroser” were part-time enlisted seamen  and had a personal contract with the Navy. They were paid in cash and had to serve in the Navy for 6 month per year. Rest of the year they served on merchant ships.

Enlisted Seamen

A number of enlisted “båtsmän”/seamen was based at the naval station at Karlskrona. They were a kind of “elite” seamen and together with the crew drafted from the merchant navy (kofferdimatroser) they performed the more advanced sailing duties on board the ships.

The Crew

The number of "båtsmän" onboard a ship of line was about 250. There were also circa 30 “skepsgossar onboard a ship . "Skepsgossar" were young boys and their task was to run with gunpowder to the guns during battle. The gunpowder was stored in save places far below deck and these storage places had very low ceilings so they needed young boys to carry the gunpowder from those areas. When the “skepsgossar” became 18 years of age they became Volunteers and stared their training to become officers. Then there were about 110 soldiers from the army The "båtsmän" were deckhands doing all sorts of duties plus manning the guns during battle. Generally you could say that the "båtsmän" were low in rank and duties on board the ships. There were four classes of the "båtsmän", depending of their experience. 1. No experience (Obefaren):   None or very little sea-going experience (No experience in seamanship) 2. Some experience (Sjövan):   At least 6 month of sea-going experience (Service at sea) 3. Experienced (Befaren ):   At least 12 month of sea-going experience (Served on foreign voyages) 4. Very experienced (Välbefaren): At least 24 month of sea-going experience (Served on voyages to remote waters) A “Befaren” (Experienced) "båtsman" was capable of reading the compass and therefore could work as an helmsman and with sounding. I guess a “Befaren” or “Välbefaren” classed båtsman could be classified as a skilled seaman? The obefaren” and “Sjövan” båtsman were more like deck hands?

English word for "båtsman"?

It is difficult to find an English translation of the title "Båtsman". They were a type of semen serving on board the Navy ships as explained above. The special thing about the "båtsmän" was the way they were provided - recruited - trained. The title seaman is not incorrect but "seaman" doesn't pinpoint this special type of seaman the "båtsmän" were. A direct translation would be boatsman”, however there is no such naval title in the English language. Since båtsmän only existed in Sweden and since this title is very difficult to translate I’ve kept the Swedish word "båtsman" in the articles on my website. It then won't be mixed with any English/American naval titles. It is one "båtsman" (sl.) and two "båtsmän" (pl).

Two ways of recruiting the

"båtsmän" within the Allotment

System 

Allotted ("roterade") båtsmän:

The majority of the "båtsmän" were recruited in a similar way as the soldiers in the Infantry, that is through the "rote" farmers. This way of providing the soldiers/båtsmän was called "rotering" and the "båtsmän" recruited this way was referred to as "roterade" båtsmän or allotted båtsmän.

Indelta båtsmän:

However, there were a minor part of the "båtsmän" recruited in a similar way as the horsemen in the Cavalry, that is through the system of "rusthåll". A "rusthåll" farmer had a personal contract with the Crown and had the responsibility to provide a båtsman, uniform, a båtsman's cottage, etc. In return the "rusthåll" farmer was exempted from paying taxes and did not have to participate as a "rote" farmer. He, like the "rote" farmers, was also exempted from having to serve as a soldier. The "indelta båtsmän" were recruited in the province of Blekinge and in the southeastern part of Småland (Södra Möre).

Båtsman Companies

The "båtsmän" was organized in special Navy companies called "Båtsman Companies" ("Båtsmans kompanier"), not in regiments. The Army officers lived in the same area as the soldiers, that is in the province of the regiment. In the Navy the officers lived at the naval stations. There was, though, a company commander living in the same area as the "båtsmän". However, once the "båtsmän" arrived at the naval station sea officers took charge of the båtsman companies. Each company was organized into 4 corporalships (korpralskap) of 25 men (24 "båtsmän" and 1 corporal). Up until 1810 every Navy "rote" had to provide an extra or reserv "båtsman" in time of war. The Navy was the only defense branch having "rotar" in towns and cities. However these Navy city "rotar" was quite early put in a vacated status. Instead of providing a "båtsman" the city "rotar" had to pay a vacancy fee to the Crown. In October 1634 all coastal parishes were linked to the Navy Allotment System (Båtsmanshållet). The number of "rotar" was extended in 1640. Every parish within 10 km (6 miles) from the coast was now linked to the Navy Allotment System. A new naval station was established in Karlskrona, in the southeastern part of Sweden, in 1680. Prior to 1680 the major naval base was in Stockholm. The number one enemy of Sweden in those days was Denmark. In order to set sail a lot earlier in spring, than was possible in Stockholm, Sweden needed a naval station further south, a location where the ice broke up a lot earlier. The place chosen was Karlskrona in the province of Blekinge where a both a city and a naval base was founded. In order to quickly get a enough navy seamen to the new naval base a great number of båtsmän and their families were subjected to a compulsory transfer to Karlskrona and Blekinge. Those båtsmän was first of all taken from Norrland and northern Finland, that is from the remote provinces. In total 1.350 båtsmän plus their families were transferred. The "rotar" in Blekinge and Södra Möre who had to maintain these båtsmän was "indelta", not allotted. At the end of the 17th century the Navy Allotment System consisted of 6 "indelta" båtsman companies and 21 allotted båtsmäns companies (3 of these were city companies).

In 1700 the allotted "båtsmän" were

organized into the following Båtsman

companies: 

Roslag’s 2 Companies Östergötland Company Tjust Company Bohuslän’s 2 Companies Åland and Southern Finland Company Gotland’s 2 Companies The Cities of Skåne’s Company Norrland’s 2 Companies Södermanlands’ 2 Companies Småland Company Västergötland Company Öland’s 2 companies The Stockholm City Company Uppstäderna’s Company In 1717, just before the Norwegian campaign, the båtsman companies was reorganized in to 7 Sea Regiments of which three was Marine Infantry.  However after the death of King Karl XII in 1718 the båtsman companies went back to the old organization prior to 1717.

The Indelta "Båtsmän" (Indelta

båtsmanshåll)

The "indelta" båtsmän (indelta båtsmanshåll) were located within the province/county of Blekinge and in Södra Möre (in the south-eastern part of the province of Småland, on the Blekinge borderline). It is "båtsman" in singular and "båtsmän" in plural. In total there were 2,301 "indelta" båtsmän (båtsmanshåll) of which 1,500 were located in Blekinge and 801 in Södra Möre. There were a few allotted båtsman "rotar" in Blekinge as well.

Blekinge Båtsman Companies

Prior to 1845 the "båtsmän" in Blekinge province formed three companies. After 1845 they formed six companies: 1st  Blekinge Indelta Company (1) 2nd Blekinge Indelta Company (2) 3rd Blekinge Indelta Company (3) 4th Blekinge Indelta Company (4) 5th Blekinge Indelta Company (5) 6th Blekinge Indelta Company (6) There were 1,500 "indelta" båtsmän plus 27 allotted (roterade) båtsmän in Blekinge. The allotted båtsmän served in the same companies as the "indelta". The Blekinge companies belonged to the Karlskrona Naval Station, Blekinge.  

Södra Möre Båtsman Companies

The "indelta" båtsman "rotar" of Södra Möre was located within the County of Kalmar. 1st  Södra Möre Indelta Company (7) 2nd Södra Möre Indelta Company (8) 3rd Södra Möre Indelta Company (9) There were 801 "indelta" båtsmän plus 15 allotted (roterade) båtsmän in Södra Möre. The allotted båtsmän served in the same companies as the "indelta". The Södra Möre companies belonged to the Karlskrona Naval Station, Blekinge.

The Allotted "Båtsmän" (Roterade

båtsmanshåll)

There were 3,351 allotted båtsman's "rotar" distributed on 22 båtsman's companies. These "rotar" were located along the coast of the provinces of Uppland, Södermanland, Östergötland, Småland, Öland, Gotland, Halland, Västergötland, Gästrikland, Hälsingland, Medelpad, Ångermanland and southern Västerbotten. In 1845 9 of the companies belonged to the Karlskrona Naval Station, 10 to the Stockholm Naval Station and 3 to the Gothenburg Naval Station. Up until 1810 every "rote" also had to provide a reserve båtsman (fördubblingsbåtsmän ) at time of war. The figures within parenthesis are each company's company number.  

Roslag Båtsman Companies

One company was established in 1641. The company was in 1645 a part of the 2nd Ship Regiment. The company was extended to 2 companies and later to 4 companies. Companies 1845: Norra Roslag 1st Båtsman Company (28) Norra Roslag 2nd Båtsman Company (29) Södra Roslag 1st Båtsman Company (15) Södra Roslag 2nd Båtsman Company (16) 67 of the båtsmän in the Roslag companies were located within the county of Uppsala, the rest within the county of Stockholm. "Norra" means northern and "södra" southern. In total the Roslag companies 529 båtsmän, of which 125 in Norra 1st, 142 in Norra 2nd, 125 i Södra 1st and 137 in Södra 2nd. The Roslag companies belonged to the Stockholm Naval Station.

Södermanland's Båtsman Companies

One company was established in 1641. The company was in 1645 a part of the 1st Ship Regiment. Companies 1845: First Södermanland Båtsman Company (13) Second Södermanland Båtsman Company (14) The First Company was located within the county of Stockholm (137 men), the Second within the county of Södermanland (142 men), in total 276 båtsmän. The Södermanland companies belonged to the Stockholm Naval Station.

Östergötland Båtsman Company

One company was established in 1641. The company was in 1645 a part of the 1st Ship Regiment. Companies 1845: Östergötland Båtsman Company (12) All of the " rotar" (194 men) were located within the county of Östergötland. The Östergötland Company belonged to the Karlskrona Naval Station.  

Tjust Båtsman Company

Companies 1845: Tjust Båtsman Company (10) All of the " rotar" (118 men) were located within the county of Kalmar. The Tjust Company belonged to the Karlskrona Naval Station.  

Småland Båtsman Company

One company was established in 1641. The company was in 1645 a part of the 1st Ship Regiment. Companies 1845: Småland Båtsman Company (11) All of the " rotar" (121 men) were located within the county of Kalmar. The Småland Company belonged to the Karlskrona Naval Station.

Öland Båtsman Companies

One company was established in 1637. The company was in 1645 a part of the 1st Ship Regiment. Companies 1845: Öland 1st Båtsman Company (17) Öland 2nd Båtsman Company (18) The First Company was located on the northern part of the island of Öland (125 men) and the Second on the southern part (138 men), in total 263 båtsmän. The Öland Companies belonged to the Karlskrona Naval Station.

Gotland Båtsman Companies

One company was established in 1647. The company was in 1645 a part of the 1st Ship Regiment. Companies 1845: Gotland 1st Båtsman Company (19) Gotland 2nd Båtsman Company (20) The First Company was located on the northern part of the island of Gotland (122 men) and the Second on the southern part (138 men), in total 260 båtsmän. The Gotland Companies belonged to the Karlskrona Naval Station.  

Halland Båtsman Companies

Established in 1675. The company was in 1675 a part of the 2nd Ship Regiment. Companies 1845: Södra Halland 1st Båtsman Company (25) Norra Halland 1st Båtsman Company (26) Both the southern company (135 men) and the northern (229 men) were located within the county of Halland, in total 364 båtsmän. "Norra" means northern and "södra" southern. The Halland Companies belonged to the Karlskrona Naval Station.

Bohuslän Båtsman Companies

Established in 1661. The company was in 1661 a part of the 2nd Ship Regiment. Companies 1845: First Bohuslän Båtsman Company (21) Second Bohuslän Båtsman Company (22) The First Company (289 men) was located within the northern part of the county of Göteborg and Bohus län and the Second Company within the southern part (188 men), in total 477 båtsmän. The First Company belonged to the Karlskrona Naval Station (earlier to the Gothenburg Naval Station) and the Second Company to the Gothenburg Naval Station.  

Västergötland Båtsman Company

Established in 1638. The company was in 1645 a part of the 2nd Ship Regiment. Companies 1845: Västergötland Båtsman Company (27) All of the " rotar" (87 men) were located within the county of Älvsborg. The Västergötland Company belonged to the Gothenburg Naval Station. When the Gothenburg station was shut down in the 1850's the company was transferred to the Stockholm Naval Station.  

Norrland Båtsman Companies

In 1638 there was one båtsman company in Norrland called The Norrland Båtsman Company. The company was in 1645 a part of the 2nd Ship Regiment. All of the "rotar" were located within the provinces; Gästrikland, Hälsingland, Medelpad and Ångermanland. After a reorganization and the establishment of the Navy Allotment System in 1687 the Norrland Båtsman Company was split in two; Norrland 1st Båtsman Company Norrland 2nd Båtsman Company The second Company was recruited within Ångermanland. In 1716 the Norrland companies were split a further time, now into four companies: First Norrland 1st Båtsman Company (141 men) First Norrland 2nd Båtsman Company (173 men) Second Norrland 1st Båtsman Company (173 men) Second Norrland 2nd Båtsman Company (175 men) in total 662 båtsmän. In 1875 the names of the companies were changed into the Norrland First, Norrland Second, Norrland Third and Norrland fourth Båtsman Company. Companies 1845: First Norrland 1st Båtsman Company (30) First Norrland 2nd Båtsman Company (31) Second Norrland 1st Båtsman Company (32) Second Norrland 2nd Båtsman Company (33) The "rotar" of the First Norrland 1st Båtsman Company (141 men) were located within the province of Gästrikland (39) plus within the province of Hälsingland (102 men). The "rotar" of the First Norrland 2nd Båtsman Company (173) were located within the northern part of the province of Hälsingland (64 men) plus within the province of Medelpad (109 men). The "rotar" of the Second Norrland 1st Båtsman Company (173) were located within the southern part of the province of Ångermanland and the "rotar" of the Second Norrland 2nd Båtsman Company (175) within the northern part of Ångermanland. Between 1845 and 1853 the Second Norrland 2nd Båtsman Company carried the name the Second Norrland Artillery Båtsman Company. Company names from 1875: Norrland First Båtsman Company Norrland Second Båtsman Company Norrland Third Båtsman Company Norrland Fourth Båtsman Company When the Karlskrona Naval station was founded in 1682 a great number of båtsmän and their families were subjected to a compulsory transfer to Karlskrona and Blekinge. In total there were 448 regular and reserve båtsmän transferred from the Norrland companies to Blekinge. The Norrland companies belonged to the Stockholm Naval Station. Between 1756 and 1823 the Norrland companies were assigned to the The Stockholm Squadron of the Army Fleet.

City Båtsman Companies

The cities were subjected to the keeping of båtsmän from the early beginning. The providing of båtsmän to the Navy were the only obligation the cities had to do within the Allotment System. There were no Army "rotar" in the cities. However, there were quite a lot of vacated båtsman "rotar" in the cities. Instead of keeping a båtsman, these rotar paid a vacancy fee to the Navy. In 1748 a majority of the city båtsman "rotar" were placed in a vacant state. An exception was the båtsman "rotar" in Stockholm which remained until 1842. However at time of war the vacated city "rotar" were reactivated. In 1769 there were 892 regular (ordinarie båtsmän ) and 877 reserve (fördubblingsbåtsmän) båtsmän in the cities. The city båtsman served in the ordinary båtsman companies at the naval station they belonged to. However, the city båtsmän from Skåne and Blekinge, from the "uppstäder" and from the Stockholm City served in 3 individual companies.

Stockholm City Båtsman Company

The company numbered more than 100 båtsmän and was active until 1842 when it was disestablished. In the company served not only the Stockholm City båtsmän but also the båtsmän from the cities of Södertälje, Mariefred, Strängnäs, Torshälla and Eskilstuna. Stockholm City alone provided 100 båtsmän. Stockholm City Båtsman Company

Skåne/Blekinge's cities Båtsman Company

Established 1675. The company was in 1675 a part of the 1st Ship Regiment. The Blekinge/Skåne Båtsman Company

"Uppstädernas" Båtsman Company

Established 1638. The company was in 1645 a part of the 2nd Ship Regiment. "Uppstäder" was a term used for cities far away from the coast. The båtsmän from the "uppstäder" had less sea experience and their task on board was mainly to serve at the guns or to serves as rifle marksmen (bösseskyttar). Therefore these båtsmän often were referred to as "bösseskyttar". In 1675 the company numbered 249 men. The "Uppstädernas" Båtsman Company (Uppstädernas Bösseskytt Company)

Ship Regiments

In 1690 the båtsmän were divided into 17 Båtsman Companies which formed 3 Shipp regiments.

1st Ship Regiment

Södermanland's Companies 1641 Östgöta Company 1641 Öland's Companies 1637 Gotland's Companies 1647 Småland Company 1635 Blekinge/Skåne Company 1675    

2nd Ship Regiment

Roslag's Companies 1640 Norrland's Companies 1638 Västgöta Company 1638 Bohuslän's Companies 1661 Halland's Companies 1675 Uppstädernas 1638 bösseskyttar  

3rd Ship Regiment (Finland)

Åland Company 1639 Åbolän Company 1638 Nyland Company 1640 Österbotten Company 1637 Österbotten's 1675 bösseskyttar The years are the year of establishment of respective company.

Related Links

The Allotment System The Navy & the Army Fleet Swedish Wars Overview - Navy companies

Source References

Facimil utgåva av "Statistiskt sammandrag af svenska indelningsverket, 2: bandet av C. Grill från 1856”, utgiven av Svenska Släktforskningsförbundet 1988. Top of page