Part 1: Ola Sträng Mårtensson from around Ystad (Håkansson – Hawkinson family of Osage City, Kansas)

The family tradition surrounding Håkan and his daughter, Jennie (my gr. Grandma), who settled in Osage City, Kansas in the 1860’s (Jennie) – 1901 (Håkan). My dad and his siblings always said that Grandma Jennie’s family were tailors when in Sweden. Jennie resewed Uncle Don’s old coat to make it look new again. They told the family that they worked in the summer home and had sewn clothes for the king’s children. We had no proof of a connection to a “castle” until Fall 2015 when I found Mårten on the household records living away from his family on the grounds of Marsvinsholm Castle. Now there are 3 generations that have been found at either Rydsgård or Marsvinsholm. Sometimes the whole family is shown living there and sometimes just one is and the rest of the family is somewhere else. Ola, Mårten, and Håkan are listed as tailors in some of the records. I'm not sure how to research the claim of sewing for the king's children but the story is a bit closer to what the records say so I'm not ruling it out!

1.      Ohla – Ola – Sträng – Mårtensson. This family lived around Ystad.

1815 Ola and Måtta are married in Blentarp: Blentarp (M) CI:3 (1776-1816) Image 2670 / page 518 (v108589a.b2670.s518)

1816 Mårten born to Ola and Måtta in Blentarp: Blentarp (M) CI:3 (1776-1816) Image 2770 / page 538  (v108589a.b2770.s538)

1818 Ola and family moving from Blentarp to Rydsgård: Blentarp (M) AI:4 (1817-1818) Image 43 / page 39  (v108545.b43.s39)

Blentarp Church, Skåne, Sweden

1818 Ola Mårtensson is listed at Rydsgård Sateri: Villie (M) AI:3 (1818-1827) Image 303 / page 298  (v113034.b303.s298)

1818 Ola Mårtensson’s wife Måtta and sons Mårten and Sven are listed as living at Evarp: Villie (M) AI:3 (1818-1827) Image 243 / page 235 (v113034.b243.s235) Evarp is a farm within Rydsgård.

Rydsgård Church, Skåne, Sweden

1820 Ola and family moving from Rydsgård to Slimminge: Villie (M) B:1 (1786-1826) Image 1080  (v113044a.b1080)

Slimminge Church, Skåne, Sweden

1824 Ola and family listed in Övraby: Villie (M) B:1 (1786-1826) Image 1080  (v113044a.b1080)

1827 Ola and family moving from Övraby to Styrestad but never found there. Villie (M) B:1 (1786-1826) Image 1080 (v113044a.b1080)

Övraby Church, Skåne, Sweden

1827 Ola and family moved from Övraby to Gusnasva Balkåkra: Balkåkra (M) AI:8 (1827-1831) Image 1890 / page 181 (v108321a.b1890.s181)

1837 Ola and family living in Balkåkra: Balkåkra (M) AI:10 (1837-1842) Image 183 / page 189  (v108323.b183.s189)

1847 Ola and Måtta both died in Balkåkra in April. Balkåkra (M) AI:12 (1845-1850) Image 286 / page 464  (v108325.b286.s464)

Balkåkra Church ruins, Skåne, Sweden

Southern Skåne around Ystad

Next up:
Part 2: Ola and Måtta’s son, Mårten Olasson