Gallery Samples Stories of our Ancestors | Page 11

a) Who was MARGARETA’S mother, ‘the lady of royal birth’?
b) Was she connected to OLSSON?
c) Who was MARGARETA’S husband?
d) Was the line of ancestry through him?
I doubt whether we’ll ever know, but wouldn’t it be fun to find out!
We have spoken about CG’s mother ELSA but not yet about his father.

CHAPTER 3: CARL GUSTAV’S FATHER’S ANCESTRY:
This section is marked on the Chart as: THE FAMILY ON THE ISLANDS OF THE ARCHIPELAGO

C

arl Gustav’s father, ANDERS JOHANSSON (17.01.1821 – 10.11.1876), was a sea Captain and
owner of a two-masted cargo vessel. He also owned a valuable freehold estate on
Kapstado Island with house, barns, farmlands and animals and was considered ‘a man
of substance’. The names of Carl Gustav’s six siblings are noted on the Chart but the
only one we have any information about is EMANUEL as his descendants were the people
Ruby, Vera and Yoland made contact with. They live in Partille, Sweden. Yoland visited them so
she knows more about them. I have kept some of the letters that were written to Ruby if
anyone is interested.
There is in our possession a somewhat rough English translation of a letter written by Carl
Gustav from Grahamstown to his brother Emmanuel in Sweden. I have included it in PART 2 as
it gives a glimpse into Carl Gustav’s life, including both the South African and Swedish
connection.
The letter to Emmanuel was discovered exactly 99 years after it was received, by relatives who
were clearing out the attic of the house where Emmanuel’s family were born and lived.
The house was being renovated and the letter was found in a large box with other papers and a
copy sent to us by Emmanuel’s granddaughter Inga.
Apparently, the house still stands today on the island; It is occupied but I have no idea by
whom.
Many of the ancestors of this Swedish family of Andersson were born on the islands of the
South Archipelago on the coast of Gothenburg. In his book translated as Outposts of the Sea Carl
Bager (a relation it seems, see Google) writes that in the early 1700s Privateer Ships of War
were used to guard and protect the mainland. These ships were manned by the islanders with
the approval of the State. Two such ships were Jagamen (The Hunter) with Captain Erick
Andersson and Vinthunden (The Greyhound) with Lieut. Jonas Gundmundson Douberg as
commander. These men were also both relatives.
The two sea captains apparently served with great distinction and were held in high esteem
when ‘the war’ ended.
There were many wars and discords happening at the time and I wonder if the war to which
this refers is the Great Northern War. There is lots of information about this war on Google.
??((0