Week 34 – Newest Discovery

It's not a secret that Philadelphia is my favorite city in the whole entire world. I've always known my roots there run deep, especially during the Revolutionary War era. I have walked the streets where my Patriot ancestors did, I've sat in the pews where they worshiped, and I've visited with them at their final resting place. I love Philadelphia. According to the ethnicity estimates on my DNA, I show to have quite a bit of Scandinavian ancestry. None of my known Philadelphia ancestors were Scandinavian, that I was aware, but just recently I discovered that I descend from Swedish immigrants who came to the area around present day Philadelphia, as early as 1641.

History was always my favorite class in school. The day we learned about the Realm of Sweden and that it was one of the great powers of Europe during the middle of the 17^th century, I must have been absent.   At that time, Sweden also included Finland and Estonia, as well as certain areas of, what is today, modern Germany, Latvia, Norway, Poland and Russia. It was ruled by King Gustavus Adolphus (I cannot lie, I do not recall ever hearing this name) and Queen Christina. As other European countries had begun to establish colonies in the New World, the Swedish South Company was founded in 1626 to establish colonies between Florida and Newfoundland, especially in the area of the Delaware River. The first expedition landed at a place on the Minquas Kill and built a fort there. Fort Christina was named after their Queen, and is in present day Wilmington, Delaware. Over the next few years, more than 600 Swedes, Finns, and others settled in the area.  New Sweden, or Nya Sverige, consisted of, not only Fort Christina, but also Fort Nya Effsborg (east bank of the Delaware near Salem, New Jersey); and Fort Nya Gothenborg on Tinicum Island (immediately southwest of Philadelphia).

My eighth great-grandfather, Peter Larsson, was born in Bangsta in Turinge Parish, Stockholm, Sweden, in 1610. His father, Lars Persson, had six sons, Peter being the oldest. Many of the laborers of New Sweden were sent to America as punishment for some crime. Just prior to his departure for America, Peter had been imprisoned at Smedjegarden in Stockholm. The reason is unknown, but in 1641, he was transported to New Sweden aboard the Charitas. While at sea, he served as the cook, and thus his surname was added. He was now Peter Larsson Kock (cook in Swedish). The family of Mans Svensson Lom, which included his fifteen-year-old daughter, Margaret, sailed on the same ship. Soon after the beginning of the year 1643, Peter and Margaret were married in what was likely the first marriage ceremony in New Sweden.

Peter Cock (the name had become anglicized) soon became a freeman and he took on a leading role in New Sweden. As an interpreter for Governor Printz, in 1651, he aided in the negotiations with the Indians regarding the claim to the land where the Dutch had built Fort Casimir (present day New Castle, Delaware). He was then accused by Governor Printz of trading guns with the Indians. Although exonerated by the jury, the Governor insisted he still serve a three-month sentence at hard labor. In 1653, the freemen filed a grievance against Printz which opposed his rule. Peter Cock, along with 21 others signed the directive which they took to the Swedish government. The next year, Governor Printz was returned to Sweden.

Peter Cock also served under Governor Ring on the New Sweden court. In 1655, the Dutch marched from Nieuw Amsterdam (present day New York City) and easily captured both Fort Trinity and Fort Christina.  Although now incorporated into Dutch New Netherland, Peter continued to serve as a justice. He retained this position under both Dutch and English rule, until his son, Captain Lasse (Lars) Cock, succeeded him in 1680. Peter was known as a good negotiator and was called upon often to arbitrate incidences with the Native Americans. In 1664, the Dutch were ousted by the English, and the Swedes retained their property, but were now under the rule of the Duke of York.

A group of Swedes mounted an insurrection against the English in 1669. Although Peter was quite involved in the rebellion, he eventually sided with the English, as did the more affluent Swedes. In an effort to rally the Swedes and Finns into overthrowing the English, a man claiming to be a member of the Swedish royal family, the Konigsmark’s, came to the colony. Peter played a major role in quelling the uprising. While many of the colonists hid the man and provided him with the best they had to offer, Peter reported him to the English. While imprisoned, the Konigsmark impersonator was interrogated by “Captain Kock” who demanded to know his true identity. He eventually gave his name as Marcus Jacobson, and it was determined he could neither read nor write. For his punishment, the imposter was branded and sold as a slave in Barbados. The Swedes who had sided with the phony lost half of their property, stock, and clothing.

Peter was once again called upon when a council met at his home to determine if any retaliation would be brought about in the murder of two Dutch men by Indians. It was decided that it wasn’t the right time of the year to bring down a war; and that they would wait until the spring in order to have time to make any preparations in the way of food, ammunition and salt. It was signed by Peter Cock and Peter Rambo, with their marks. As it turns out, no war occurred in the spring, but the tension between the colonists and the Indians remained.

When William Penn’s commissioners began their plans to plat the city of Philadelphia, the Swanson family and Peter Cock owned most of the land. Both Cook and the Swansons were offered larger tracts of land elsewhere. The Swansons received 600 acres and Peter Cock received 200 acres, in what is today out north of the city in the Liberties.  Peter and Margaret made their home on a considerable plantation, known as “Kipha” which was located on Peter Cock’s Island, which were actually two islands in the Schuylkill, later known as Fisher’s Island and Carpenter’s Island. They had a total of thirteen children. All but one lived to adulthood, married, and had children of their own, eventually giving Peter and Margaret more than one hundred grandchildren. Peter died 10 Nov 1687. He was seventy-seven years old. Margaret died on 13 February 1703, outliving her husband sixteen years. She was buried at Gloria Dei.

In 1693, Peter’s oldest son, Lars, in attempting to reconnect with his father’s family in Bangsta, wrote a letter which he sent to Sweden. After fifty-two years, he was looking for his uncle Mouns Larsson, if still alive, or any of his father’s other brothers, sisters, or their descendants…

"Highly honored, dear paternal uncle Mouns Larsson:

Greetings in God Almighty! Now letting you know, dear uncle, with this my letter, my circumstances and those of my family, and of former acquaintances out in this land, hoping that with God's help I may, at the first opportunity, receive a gladdening and good reply.

In the first place, what pertains to my father: He came out here to the country of New Sweden, sent by his Royal Majesty to settle the land with the others, his countrymen; which he also did honorably for the high authorities. My late father was selected as a president [justice] in New Sweden which he did with the greatest loyalty; and during the Holland Dutch regime he was also a president on the court; and in the English regime's time likewise. My late father was always in advice and counsel with them.

My late father, after he had been in this country one year and a half, gave himself into the state of holy matrimony and had with his dear wife thirteen children whereof now, God be praised six sons and six daughters are living, all well provided for with wives and husbands, so that of all my late father's lineage in this first degree, that is children and grandchildren, there are living seventy-one souls; and in the year 1687, the 10th of November, my dear father fell asleep, in the name of the Lord, at a good age, leaving after him my dear mother. I, my dear father's eldest son, Lars Parsson, am likewise healthy. My wife and children are in good circumstances also. I have had, together with my dear wife, eleven children, of whom six sons and two daughters are now living. And we are, God be praised, living in plenty. I am also seated in my late father's place and succeed him, and am also a member of our noble Governor's highest Council, and a counsellor. Also I have been on the court since I reached the legal age, and I am now going on my fiftieth year. My late father had never received any letter from his fatherland, for many years not knowing who among his parents, brothers, relatives and former acquaintances might be alive; but he has told me that he had five brothers living and three sisters when he came from the fatherland; but God know who among them might be living now.

If my uncle Mouns Larsson is dead, or the other brothers of my father, then I hope that their children of grandchildren may be alive, that I may receive a gladdening answer to this my letter. They lived at Bangsta hamlet in [the province of] Sodmerland. My father's father's name was Lars Persson. He lived at the same hamlet. Now, hoping that if any of my father's brothers should be alive, that those who know his family and former acquaintances might cause this to be placed in their hands, and that I might receive a gladdening reply by the first ship, praying that you direct your letter to Gothenburg to His Royal Majesty's Postmaster, Johan Thelin, and he shall certainly have it delivered. And we live as Passayongh  on the Delaware River in Pennsylvania.+

Commending you together with our whole family in the almighty, and under his gracious protection, and will ever be found your most obedient,

Lars Persson Cock

P.S. When you write a reply to me, write to me thus, Lars Parsson Cock." Since we were living here among foreign nations, my late father took that surname so that we and others could be distinguished from one another.

Dated and written at Pennsylvania River, the 31st of May 1693."

It is unclear whether this letter was ever received by his extended family, however it did make its way to the Stockholm Archives, where it is reported to be today. Many of the next generation of descendants anglicized their name even more, changing it to Cox. I descend from Peter's son, also named Peter, who married Helen Helm. Helen's father, Captain Israel Helm, was also quite prominent in New Sweden. Helen's mother was Catherine Rambo, daughter of Peter Rambo. It is hard to locate a record of New Sweden that didn't include either the Cock, Rambo or Helm name. I knew my roots ran deep in Philadelphia, but I had no idea they extended all the way back to it's origin.