Excerpts from pages 40-41 of the ‘Delaware Finns’ by E. Louhi, New York Humanity Press, 1925.
Submitted by June Pelo.
The ship Charitas left Stockholm for Gothenburg on May 3, 1641, having on board eight hired soldiers, two soldier prisoners, and two misdemeanants who were sent for punishment, and twenty-three others. Among the twenty three others were some hired servants for the company, a nobleman and a priest who both took the trip to the colony for adventure, and several other adventurers, and a few regular colonists. But in Gothenburg, where the ship Kalmar Nyckel was prepared for the voyage, were gathered some prisoners and many other Finns with their families, who all were born pioneers and colonists. Both ships left Gothenburg in July 1641. The officers on the ships and for the trading post were Dutch, with one exception. Most of the soldiers and some of the sailors were Swedes and Finns. The actual colonists were nearly all Finns, most of whom had their families with them. Among the Finns that arrived at the Delaware River expedition were:
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- Anders Andersson, an involuntary emigrant who served the company until 1648, after which he became a freeman. He had a farm in the neighborhood called Finland. He has numerous descendants in Pennsylvania.
- Måns Andersson was employed as a servant until 1648, after which he became freeman and began a farm in Finland which the company acquired in 1654.
- Anders Hansson was hired as a soldier by Kling and began a farm later at the community of Finland.
- Matts Hansson was a brother of Anders Hansson, a gunner, and hired as a constable for the colony. Matts brought his wife with him. He became a freeman in 1646. He was one of the commissaries during the Dutch rule.
- (I believe this was another person with name of ) Matts Hansson. This Matts Hansson was from Admiral Fleming’s family estate near the town of Porvoo, Finland. He was sent as punishment to the colony and in 1653 received permission to return home.
- Israel Helme was an involuntary emigrant from Mora, Central Sweden. Israel brought his family with him. During the Dutch rule he became a prominent businessman and was one of the most influential men in the Finnish colony and on the Delaware River before the establishment of William Penn’s colony.
- Ivar Hendricksson (also spelled Ivert and Evert), was hired as soldier by the Kling. In the colony he was later known as a turbulent fellow. Had a farm first at Finland and later at Crane Hook, where he was captain of the Finnish militia during the rule of Duke of York.
- Karl Johansson was a bookkeeper from Kakisalmi, a town on Lake Ladoga, in Finland. He was sent for punishment for some misdemeanor. He worked in the colony as commissary of provisions and auditor of accounts. Karl returned to Finland in 1648.
- Clement Jöransson was sent for (Burnbeating was a particular way of manuring land, by cutting off the peat or turf, laying it in heaps, and burning it to ashes.) He planted tobacco at Upland in 1644. He served also as a soldier and later became freeman.
- Jöns Påfvelsson, was also sent for Jöns died on July 9, 1643, at Upland.
- Måns Jurrensson (also Jöransson) was an involuntary emigrant. He worked as a laborer and later became a freeman.
- Peter Larsson Cock (Kock) was an involuntary emigrant. He was held in Smedjegård prison at Stockholm waiting for the sailing of the ship Charitas. He planted tobacco at the Schuylkill River in 1644 and later became a freeman. Peter married Margaret Helme, daughter of Israel Helme. Peter Cock became one of the leaders in the Finnish colony after the downfall of the Swedish rule and was the most influential man on the Delaware River at the arrival of William Penn. He had six sons and six daughters, and his family had branched in1693 into forty-seven persons, bearing the name of Cock, besides the children of the daughters. Peter Cock died in 1688, in great prosperity. His descendants bear mostly the name of Cox.
- Eskil Larsson also was an involuntary emigrant. He had been condemned to serve in the army and his property confiscated for He had escaped from the army and was held in Smedjegård prison at Stockholm from where he was placed on board the ship Charitas. He planted tobacco for the company at Upland in 1644.
- Bertil Eskilsson was Eskil Larsson’s son. He had been condemned to the army and his property confiscated for Later he requested to be sent to the Delaware Colony, which was permitted. He had a farm at Kalkeon Hook in 1677.
- Hendrick Mattson was a boy hired by Kling. His salary was to be 10 RD a year and received 10 D in copper money on departure. He planted tobacco for the company at the Schuylkill River in 1644. Hendrick became a soldier on October 1, 1646, and served until March 1, 1648, when he became a freeman.
- Knut Mårtensson was from Vasa, Finland. He came over as a sailor on the ship Charitas. He started planting tobacco for the company at Christina in1644. Had a farm at Finland in 1677.
- Anders Classon Mink was an involuntary emigrant. He herded the company’s hogs in 1644 and became a freeman in 1646.
- Clas Andersson Mink was Anders Classon Mink’s son. He herded hogs with his father in 1644.
- Paul Mink, another son of Anders Classon Mink, also was born in Sweden. He lived as a farmer in 1693.
- Måns Månsson came over voluntarily and worked for four years for the company to pay for the passage over the ocean. In 1654 he rented land from the company at Finland. The company was to furnish a pair of oxen and give him half of the seed and in return the company was to receive half of the product of his land.
- Martin Thomasson was from Pohjanmaa, Finland. He served as soldier and was killed by the Indians on March 4, 1643, between Fort Christina and Elfsborg.
- Johan, a boy hired by Kling drowned at Upland on March 1, 1644.
- Olle Tossa (Tossawa) came over as a sailor on the Kalmar Nyckel. During the Swedish rule he went under the name of Olof Toorsson. One of his descendants has a two century old gravestone standing at the Trinity Church in Wilmington, Delaware.