A family photo 1879
If we allow ourselves to set aside the fact that they did not have any cameras i Styggviken 1879, we could imagine our family posing for us like this, in front of their cottage in Styggviken. They would do that to let us have a feeling of what it was like to gather the whole family one last time before it would start splitting
(Some of the faces in this montage are blurred; the ones of which there exist no photos.)
We can then be clear of, their names still in Swedish, from the left: Erik, born 1860, Per Erik, 1850, mother Maja Lisa 1823, Daniel 1855. And standing behind: Johanna 1857, the father Wåg Erik Jansson 1818 and Sofia 1863
Why would we be interested in these persons?
Beside the fact that we would not be the persons we are without them, they represent to us the giant step in the history of mankind that was developing in our part of the world at this time.
Up to the 19th century, life went on rather unchanged from generation to generation. But these people encountered totally different circumstances. The industrialisation had started, and that meant among other things, movement of people to parts of the country where there was work and opportunities to earn enough to support yourself.
But the economy was not very stable. Periods came when there was no work to be found, poverty, diseases and starvation reigned. Emigration became an idea of a better life. In our family four of the five sons and daughters emigrated . The family was split for all future.
But now we can mend some of that... and give those who come after us as a gift
(Pär Lagerkvist is a Swedish Nobel prize winner)
This website
The purpose of this website is to document and present the family as described above. The website is made for descendants of the family who lived in Styggviken and of which a large part emigrated to the USA. For communication, development, and discussion between the members, there is a special Facebook group, called Styggviken family
The website is structured as follows; first an introduction to the place, Rävvåla, and a description of the large industry there earlier, iron ore production. Then the man who came to work in this industry is presented, being our representative of the new economy. After that his son, the father of those who are now our cohesive family cement. These sons and daughters and their life stories are finally presented separately. The idea is that this will be a joint project, where the result will be a unique description of a Western family in the modern era.
Clarification: the names
The farm names began to appear in the church books in Dalarna in the 17th century. By then the population had grown and at the same time the number of names had decreased. Eventually it became difficult to distinguish several "Per Hansson" or "Karin Larsdotter" from each other, and they began to note the name of the farm as a heading for the family. It was like adding a number to the phone number. "Lasses Per Larsson" and "Lasses Karin Larsdotter".
In colloquial language, the use of a farm name followed by a personal name has been most frequent in Dalarna, Hälsingland, on Gotland, in Norrbotten and in Ostrobothnia and eastern Uusimaa in Swedish Finland. Dalarna is distinguished by the fact that the farm name has also been, and is, an official name, and is inscribed in the church books. But it would not be Dalarna if the system with farm names were simple, logical and predictable. These are districts where stubbornness is sometimes elevated to art. Fine art.
Sparf is one of many farm names after soldiers: Bössa, Blylod, Hane, Wärre, Blixt, Massiv, Spjut. All expressions of deed and masculinity. And then the usual male names - Pers, Anderses, Hanses, Prans (Per Hans), Knis (Erik Nils), Lassas (Lars Lars), Khans (Erik Hans). But, it would not be Dalarna if there were no exceptions. Mainly in Västerdalarna we find feminine farm names: Annicka, Barbro, Lenas, Lisbet, Ingri, Saras, Segris, Olambritt, Pellanna.
This hassle is an expression of the importance that the Dalarna people attach to their names. Their names give them associations and take them back to home and origin. Published on Språktidningen (https://spraktidningen.se)
Wåg (pronounced as if written Vauge) is a name that Erik Jansson's father Jan took, or was given. We will come back to the name story. For now we note that it means libra or scale and is connected with iron handling, which was the big economic factor in this part of Sweden
This is an iron scale of the kind that likely is the origin of the name Wåg (or Wååg as it was spelled later on)
Clarification: the place
The region is called Bergslagen, which refers to mountains where metals can be found
Plan for this internet project
I, Britt, have been a genealogist in my spare time for many years. I intend to supply my knowledge of the Wåg family's life in Sweden in reasonable portions.
My hope is that my American cousins will help building a stock of knowledge forming a thorough description of a family in those revolutionary times when big parts of the population relocalised and found a new homeland. Write what you know and email it to me, and I will publish it.
I would love if Dan's descendants would write to be published on the Daniel site all they know about how he came to the new country, managed to find jobs, raised a family etc. Everything you know about his life!
And I would love if Hanna's descendants would do the same with all about Hanna's life in the States to be published on the Johanna site! I know you have a lot to tell...
The youngest sister, Sofie, ended up in Canada. I have now succeded in getting in contact with one of her descendants. It would be lovely to complete the family with them and publish Sophia's story on the Sophia site.
The fourth sibling, Erik, emigrated 1884, and is noted when he arrived in New York. But after that there is no information about him, except maybe Per Erik's brother-in-law writing from Two Harbors 1888: "Per Erik's brother Daniel was here ... his family is in Minneapolis. Erik he was in Gran wood last autumn when Telning Daniel was there." I don't know if he is referring to our Erik. What is Gran wood? Is it maybe something someone of you know about? Otherwise I am afraid we must suppose he has had some kind of accident and lost his life.
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