One Short Month, 52 Ancestors

If you were to search for information on infant and maternal mortality in past centuries, would you be surprised by the statistics? During a recent search, I learned that survival was rare for infants born to a mother who died in childbirth. Such was the fate of Lisa Ericsdotter and her twins. 

Lisa was born to torpare (crofter) Eric Ericsson and Stina Månsdotter in Grebo parish on 25 November 1765. She was the youngest of the siblings who survived to adulthood. Her oldest brother and older sister focused on the family and the croft, while Lisa and the younger brother left to find jobs. Lisa did help out her oldest brother, Olof, when he established his own household and again when his first wife died, moving in and out of his home several times over a period of about 15 years.

With the death of her father in 1796, and with her brother settled into a second marriage, Lisa was free to work or marry as she chose. Her sister, Catherina "Caisa" Ericsdotter, had married a mason (murare) and moved to his home near the town of Åtvidaberg. Likely through that family connection, Lisa met another bricklayer .

On 12 October 1800, Daniel Grönlund of Åtvid parish married Lisa Ericsdotter in her home parish of Grebo. Lisa joined Daniel and the couple lived near or with her sister's family, appearing on the same page of the husförhörslängd, household survey, for 1801.

Seven and a half months after her marriage, on May 24, Lisa gave birth to twins, who were christened the same day. Such a quick christening may indicate the twins were not expected to survive, probably being born prematurely. 

Twins Carl and Lena Caisa were born and christened on 24 May 1801
to Murar. Dan. Grönlund and wife Lisa Ericsdotter (age 36) of Kopparverket
Åtvid CI:5 Page 53

Lisa Ericsdotter died three days later, on 27 May 1801, with the cause listed as barnsbörd, childbirth. 

Lisa's sister probably did all she could for the babies, but it was not enough, as both died within one month of their mother. Helena Catharina (Lena Caisa) Grönlund died on 20 June, and Carl Grönlund died five days later, on 25 June 1801.

Orientation

The family lived in the orange area on the map and Lisa was in the generation where the star appears.

Sources

• Grebo Church Records for births, deaths and marriages
• Grebo Clerical Survey records
• Grebo Mantals Tax Lists 
• Åtvid Church Records for births, deaths and marriages
• Åtvid Clerical Survey records
• Lantmateriet.se Historical Maps