Ostrobothnian
Tjöck
Land & Livelihood
Tjöck is the rural area around the city of Kristinestad. It is on the western coast of Finland which has many islands and skerries. The Esse and Isojoki rivers flow through the parish. Compared to most of the flat parishes in Ostrobothnia, Tjöck is hilly.
Agriculture and forestry have long been a significant source of Tjöck’s livelihood. 5
This map highlighting the combined Kristinestad-Tjöck parish from 1938 displays on the HisKi project website. It is made available by the Genealogical Society of Finland.
Parish History
The name Tjöck is recorded in history as far back as 1303 when Sweden’s King Birger Mangusson wrote his top official, Nils Andersson, that the farmers Michael de Lappafärd (Lappfjärd), Andar da Sastamal (Sastmola) and Tobbe de Tinka (Tjöck) should be able to work without difficulties with new cultivation of Tavastland (a historical province of Sweden). 5
- Tjöck was part of the Lappfjärd parish from 1594 – 1896
- Kristinestad, a city within Tjöck, was a part of Lappfjärd parish from 1649 – 1896.
- Kristinestad and Tjöck kept seperate church records for many years.
- Kristinestads stads- och landsforsämling translates to ‘the rural part of Kristinestads’ or Tjöck.
- Kristinenstad (including Tjöck) became an independent parish in 1897.
- In 1921 the parish name became Kristinestad – Tjöck församling 4,1
Parish Records
Parish Communion records are listed by farm name and because farm names often were used as a part of a person’s name, it is interesting to note the following farms.
The villages and farms of Tjöck were recorded in T.W. Karsten’s work, Svesk Bygd I Osterbotten: Nu Och Fordom. 2 Tjöck Parish Communion records were not used to confirm these findings.
To open a printable list of villages and farms (pdf), click here.
Villages & Farms
Rural areas and larger cities kept parish records separate. The focus of this article is on the rural area, known as Tjöck.
The two historic villages within Tjöck are: Påskmark and Tjöck.
- Yrjens
- Lillmals
- Stormala
- Kas
- Antfolk
- Bengs
- Eriks
- Pellfolk
- Grannas
- Äbbol
- Guss
- Erlands
- Kvis
- Äppel
- Hermans
- Ålme
- Hints
- Smeds
- Buts
- Lillant
- Raggnäs
- Tomasfolk
- Åback
- Surs
- Björs
- Hebblas
- Groop
- Nisslas
- Ingandt
Parish Church
The first wooden church in Kristinestad was built between 1654 and 1658 at the same place as the Ulrica Eleonora church is today. The first church burned down in a lightning storm in 1697. 3, 9
The second church, the Ulrica Eleonora Church, was built in 1700 and its clock tower in 1704. The church was named after Sweden’s Queen Ulrica Eleonora, wife to King Charles XI and mother of King Charles XII. She was described as “patient and gentle, happy to read, favored the arts and practiced charity.” 8 In 1714, during the war between the Swedish Kingdom and Russia, the church was vandalized and many pieces were stolen. In 1738 the church was restored and readied again for use. 3
After another church opened in 1897, the Ulrica Eleonora Church was abandoned for several decades. It was restored again in 1965. It is used primarily for summer wedding ceremonies (between June and August) because it is not heated. 3, 9
The third church, made of red bricks built in 1897 became the primary church building. It was designed by Jacob Ahrenberg. 3
Image: Ulkrika Elenora Church in Kristinestad.
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Attribute Author Tomisti
Folk Dress
Each parish has a unique folk dress. Parish folk dress can be recognized by its style, colors and patterns.
Tjöck was part of the Lappfjärd parish until 1897 and as such they share the same folk dress. Women’s folk dress in Tjöck was available in five designs; party, grief, mourning, church and workwear. The costume was still used in the 1940’s by the older women. 5
References:
- Genealogical Society of Finland, HisKi project, Tjöck parish, http://hiski.genealogia.fi/hiski/a2k4rt
- Karsten T.W., Svesk Bygd I Osterbotten: Nu Och Fordom; Helingfors, 1923, pages 18 – 21
- Kristinestad churches; http://www.kristiinankaupunginseurakuntayhtyma.fi/info-ja-asiointi/the-churches-of-kristinestad
- Kristinestads Svenska Församling, svensk@evk.fi
- Tjöck; https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tjöck
- Tjöck folk dress: http://sydaby.eget.net/swe/drakt.htm
- Lappfjörd Tjöck folk dress, Brage costume agency, https://draktbyra.brage.fi/brage/folkdrakter/view-47835-9
- Ulrika Elenora; https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulriika_Eleonoora_(vanhempi)
- Ulrika Eleonora church image and information, Kristinestad church; https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulrika_Eleonoran_kirkko_(Kristiinankaupunki)
