Andrew Bankson, Jr. 1672-1750 m. Gertrude Lars Boore

Andrew Bankson, Jr. was born about 1673 in Philadelphia County, and married Gertrude (daughter of Lars Larsson and Elizabeth Boore) before 1697. The family lived at Potquessink, according to the Gloria Dei list of members by Rev. Rudman in 1697-98. Andrew was active in the political affairs of Philadelphia, serving as a justice of the peace among other court positions.

Andrew purchased101 acres in Byberry Township from John Hart on 9 December 1697. (Phila. Exemplification Book 7:197-198), 20 April 1999) On 19 July 1721 he deeded 147 1/2 acres of land in Moyamensing, along with his brothers, Bengt, Joseph, and Daniel, to brothers, John and Joacob(Philadelphia Deeds Book F-7, p. 86). He died in Chester county in 1750. Two of his sons moved to Talbot County, Maryland where they were married in St. Peter's Parish. Andrew and Gertrude lived at Potquessing Creek (Source: Ron Beatty).

Gertrude Lars Boore Bankston
1670-after 1706

Gertrude Lars Boore was born about 1670 to Lars Larsson and Elisabeth Boore in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As with most colonial women, few records are available to tell us about Gertrude. We gain insight about early colonial women by researching records of land dealings, church membership, and government documents recorded by the husband’s name.


Let's imagine that Gertrude, a Swedish girl, participated in the celebration of Luciadagen or Saint Lucia’s Day held annually on 13 December. It was the custom from medieval times of honoring a young girl who gave up marriage to care for the poor. The oldest daughter played the role of Santa Lucia, taking food to the poor. The daughters woke the family before dawn, bringing them Lucia buns and pastries. Knowing the Swedish tradition, it takes but one more candle to light our minds so we may visualize Gertrude as she prepared for her role as the Queen of Light.


GERTRUDE AND LUCIADAGEN

It is 12 December, the night before Luciadagen. Thirteen-year-old Gertrude, in preparation for her role as Saint Lucia, bathes and washes her hair twice, wiping it dry after adding a fragrant oil, and braids thick plaits that she winds tightly around her head. After praying with her sisters, she climbs under the horsehair blanket and snuggles her feet on the warm bricks under the bedding. She tries to sleep, but her joy and excitement are too great.


The darkness gives way to dawn’s first light; awaking with a start Gertrude realizes she must have slept after all. Throwing off the covers, wiggling her toes into slippers, Gertrude bounces out of bed to light a candle and awaken her sisters. Returning to her room at long last she slips into the ankle length white dress and red sash worn only on this special day. It is the most beautiful dress she has ever seen except for her cousin’s wedding dress. Running her hands down its soft gathers, she twists and turns to watch the skirt flare around her.


Now she is ready with the exception of the wreath. Placing the lingonberry twig garland on her head she bends low so her sisters can light the white candles. With her head kept perfectly straight, Gertrude walks with her sisters across the narrow creaky floor toward the kitchen.
“I should have waited until I was in the kitchen to light the candles,” she scolds herself. “But this does give us light for the hallway.”


Gertrude and her sisters gather baked goods to carry to the neighbors. With the baskets in their arms they gather the torches stacked close to the fireplace, tilting them into the glowing coals and cautiously make their way toward the canoe to row to the neighbors’ homes.


The trip was filled with merriment and the girls are giddy upon returning home. They try hard to stifle their giggles as they carry the torches into the house to add to the coal to warm the kitchen. Fetching candles to light the fire, they place them in pewter night candleholders. Candles lifted high, they gather trays with saffron buns, cakes, and gløgg, and tiptoe to their parent’s bedside. Mother and Father awake with glee. The merriment continues as they enjoy the delicious breakfast and sing songs of thanksgiving for the Queen of Light who brings light home to the darkest time of the year.

Anders (Andrew) Bengtsson, 1640-1705

15 March 1656 - the Swedish ship, Mercurious, sailed up the Delaware River. The Dutch did not desire this ship to go up river - but the Indians were friends of the Swedes and permitted the ship to pass the Dutch port. The Rev. Mr. Rudman wrote, "Among the passengers on the vessel was Anders Bengtsson, who this day, April 1703, gave me this verbal account."

Our study follows the Bengtsson line with the emigrant ancestor who was born in Sweden and may have been the son of Peter Bengtsson of Gothenburg, Sweden who supplied cash and merchandise for Admiral Fleming's expedition to the new world.

Andrew was one of the founders of the Gloria Dei Church and was a trustee in 1689. According to memo written by Dr. Collin, it is stated "the parsonage on Passyunk was bought by, or from, Andrew Bengtson, containing eighty acres of land." Andrew Bankson was a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1683, 1686, and 1698. He held many positions of honor and importance in the Colony.

Andrew had many land holdings and left a long line of descendants who took part in the social, religious, and business life of Pennsylvania and other parts of the country in which they settled. His will was probated 2 September 1706 and he names his wife, Gertrude, sons: (Banct) Benjamin, Andreas Jr. (Andrew), Peter, John, Jacob, and Daniel. His daughers were Catherine and Briggetta. The will of Andrew Bankson, Sr. is recorded in Will Book 2, Page 238. city Hall, Philadelphia, PA.

Source: Anne M. Haigler, Bankston Cousins, Florissant, MO.

This is a link to a genealogy website with an article about Anders Bengtsson by Dr. Peter Craig:
http://www.heardsrus.com/andrewbanksonbio.htm

Gloria Dei Church - Philadelphia, PA

Thanks to Jon Forde for the photograph of Gloria Dei (Old Swedes Church) - located at Delaware and Christina Streets in downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The first church was a log structure on Tinicum Island founded in 1677; later the congregation was moved and a new structure erected near Penn's Landing in Wicaco (now South Philadelphia). It was originally a log structure, too. This new building was built (with later additions) in 1700. The congregation was the first Lutheran Church in "New Sweden." Peter Gunnarson Rambo was the founder and his son-in-law, Anders Bengtsson, Sr., took on a significant role in building and financing the new structure. About the time of the Revolutionary War the congregation became Anglican (which it remains today).

The church was built on land given by Catherine Swanson, widow of Swan Swanson and their three daughters, one of who married Peter Bankson.

Editor's Note:

I moved the Norwegian photos to the Norwegian genealogy blogspot so that you don't get confused about who is Swedish and who is Norwegian! Have you heard the saying I used to hear from my Norwegian father: "Ten thousand Swedes run through the weeds chased by one Norwegian!"

This is the link to the Norwegian blogspot that has a lot of new photos and the history of Hallingdal: http://norwegiangenealogy.blogspot.com/

Cynthia-Genealogy Journal blogspot is about my mother's Southern family beginning with the Swedes: Peter Gunnarson Rambo and Britta Mattsdotter - and following the line through their daughter, Gertrude Rambo, who married Anders Bengtsson.

Gertrude Rambo

The historical facts are well-documented; sources will be provided upon request. Yet, I take artistic license by “imagining” a story behind the historical facts. My children have no interest in “facts” but readily tune into the stories of their ancestors. For instance, as a pastor very familiar with Lutheran Catechesis, an image of a young Gertrude on the day of her confirmation comes quickly to mind. In addition, I know first-hand the fear and apprehension of a young girl as she approaches her First Communion. The story starts to take shape.


Gertrude Rambo, born 19 October 1650, was one of nine children born to Peter Gunnarson Rambo and his wife, Brita Mattsdotter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Peter Rambo founded the first Lutheran congregation in the colonies. (See older posts for Peter and Brita’s story). A special thanks to Dr. Peter Craig, F.A.S.G., Swedish Colonial Society historian and to Ron Beatty for the historical facts.

GERTRUDE AND THE RITE OF CONFIRMATION
By the Rev. Dr. Cynthia and the Hon. Church Mouse


Now is the hour. After three years of Catechesis, Gertrude, fair head bowed, brow damp with beads of perspiration, heart pounding wildly, solemnly confesses her sins. Upon receiving the absolution promised in the ancient Swedish liturgy, a soft sigh escapes her trembling lips. The long, white robe does not conceal the relief shown in the shrug of her shoulders. Gertrude's sweet soprano voice joins those gathered on this Festival Sunday intoning the responses to the Introitus, Kyrie, and Gloria. The warm glow of candlelight dances across a velvet - peach complexion revealing faint shadows under her eyes.


Gertrude had not slept well last night. Lack of proper rest, along with deep anxiety about this important day, makes it increasingly difficult to stay focused on the Collect, Epistle, and Graduale while her brother, Gunnar, one year older, is making faces at her. Gunnar, who cannot sit still a moment, delights in teasing his younger sister despite the solemnity of the occasion. Gertrude glares with disapproval at Gunnar who flashes his famous Gunnar Grin: a smile that simply does not stop. Gertrude returns the smile, helplessly, realizing that he is the only one who gets away with smiling in church.


She tries again to pay attention during the reading of the Gospel and the sermon that follows. For Gertrude, the sermon is too long - almost unbearable. She struggles to keep her thoughts on the message. “The pastor does ramble on!” The thought bursts into her silence so clearly she glances at her parents to see if they might have heard it, too. But her parents are completely absorbed in the booming voice coming down from the pulpit. Gertrude stares at the angel over the baptismal font. Will this ever end? As if in answer to prayer, the pastor says the Amen.


Gertrude's anticipation increases as she rises from her chair to affirm her faith in the words of the Apostles’ Creed. Kneeling at the altar, the pastor places his hands on her head and beseeches God with thanksgiving:


Pour your Holy Ghost upon Gertrude, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence. Gertrude, child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Ghost and marked with the cross of Christ forever.



“Children of the Heavenly Father, safely to His bosom gather,” sings the congregation with great gusto. Gertrude returns to her place, quite radiant and flushed with happiness as the Swedish Mass moves forward through the remainder of the liturgy: the Offertory, Prefatio, Sanctus, Prayer of Consecration, Verba Institutionis, Pater noster, Secreta, Pax, and Agnus Dei and on to the high liturgical point: the Eucharist.

And now the crescendo; now comes the moment of Gertrude's First Communion. Once again, with fear and trepidation, she rises, moves forward to the altar and kneels; the priest places the morsel of bread onto her tongue with the words, “The body of Christ, given for you!” Softly she whispers, “Amen.” The priest returns with the pewter chalice and tips it to her lips saying, “The blood of Christ shed for you!” “Amen” she replies as the wine spreads its warmth into her being. “Amen and Amen!,” she whispers under her breath. As she returns to her place, the congregation sings the Postcommunio. “The music is so joyful, It sings me!” She feels considerably taller rising to receive the blessing that concludes the Swedish Mass.

"When we get home, Gunnar," she threatens as they recess, "I am going to pinch you." He laughs, "You are going to have to catch me first." And joyfully, Gertrude and her family return home to a great feast: a smorgasbord with pepparkakor (gingersnaps) for dessert. The Hon. Church Mouse is not invited.+++
GERTRUDE AND ANDERS
Eighteen-year-old Gertrude, child of God, was married in the “new church” at Wicaco (Gloria Dei), a low, square, log-timber structure with a short steeple. "She was given in marriage 22 November 1688 to Anders Bengtsson, known to the English as Andrew Bankson. The newlyweds embarked on their life together on their farm at Mayamensing along the Delaware River in present South Philadelphia. Anders served for many years as a justice on the court and as a church warden and lay reader for the Swedish church at Wicaco.

Pastor Andreas Sandel, a successor to Andreas Rudman, at Gloria Dei (Old Swedes Church)
relied heavily on the advice of Anders Bengtsson. On 14 September 1705, Sandel presented the
final word covering his friend’s life: “I buried Anders Bengtsson, born in Sweden near Gothenburg in the parish of Fåxarn (Fuxerna) and Hanstrom farm. He drowned in the Delaware, sixty-five years old”

Gertrude and Anders had nine children, generally known by the surname of Bengtson in church records, but usually as Bankson in English records. More about Anders Bentsson will be posted soon as we follow the lineage of their son, Andrew Bankson, Jr. and their role in the life of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.

The Kalmar Nyckel Ship

Photo used with permission of the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation: www.kalmarnyckel.org/

Peter Gunnarson RAMBO 1612-1698

Peter Gunnarson Rambo was born about 1612 in Hisingen, Sweden. He arrived in America on 17 April 1640 aboard the ship, Kalmar Nyckel, which reached port in "New Sweden" after a far from pleasant journey; the voyage is described in a letter he wrote to his sister in Sweden which has been preserved in Sweden. Peter brought apple seeds with him that were named for him: the Rambo Apple which was the apple distributed by Johnny Appleseed. Peter was well-known by William Penn and served in many official capacities. He was the founder of the first Swedish Lutheran Church in the colonies located originally on Tinicum Island and later moved to Wicaco where it is known as Gloria Dei (Old Swedes Church). Following the Revolutionary War, the congregation became Anglican. It is located near Penn's Landing in downtown Philadelphia.

On 7 April 1647, Peter married Brita Mattsdotter, who was born about 1630, a Swedish girl born in Swedish-occupied Vasa, Finland. Nothing is known of her family apart from the family name, Mattsdotter, meaning she was Brita, the daughter of Matt. She was most likely named for one of her grandmothers or aunts. First daughters were named for the mother’s mother; second daughters were named for the father’s mother.

Brita Mattsdotter would not stay in Vasa, unlike most Swedish daughters in the seventeenth century. She probably made the voyage to America before her eighteenth birthday, before the arrival of the ship Swan in January of 1648. She was not listed on the passenger lists after that date. According to historian, Dr. Peter Craig, she may have been an unnamed servant girl arriving in 1641 (see the Swedish Colonial Society Archives).

It is easy to imagine a Scandinavian girl: fair-skinned, rosy red cheeks kissed by winter’s icy breath, heaven spilling over into eyes of blue. Brita would have danced with delight in springtime as the snow melted--freeing her from winter’s heavy clothing. She would have rejoiced when the sun’s golden orb increased the days of summer seeming to say, “Brita Mattsdotter, I am sorry for my long winter’s absence, come, enjoy me to the fullest for I cannot stay with you long.” She inhaled summer to the dregs, knowing autumn would send her scurrying to prepare for snowfall.

During winter, the family likely dwelled in a home built into the earth for warmth. Without sunlight, Brita’s mother would have taught her handwork at a very early age, learning how to card wool, turn it into fabric, and create clothing embellished with fine embroidery.

In early June, the women's job was to move the animals to the seter (a portion of the farm higher in the mountains) for the greener pastures. Housing on the seter was primitive requiring strong women to manage such conditions. (Scandinavian men are good-looking and the women are strong!) Here the women made the richest cream and sweet butter from the lush grasses. Without doubt, Brita ate heartily when her mother served sockerkaka (sugar cake) with wild strawberries and heavy cream.

We may never know why Brita left Vasa for the New World. Had her parents died young leaving her an orphan? There are so many questions that remain my imagination takes flight seeking stories behind the historical facts.

Peter was eighteen years older than Brita at the time of their marriage in 1647. She was likely less than 18 and he was 35. How did they meet? Was he so ruggedly handsome she thought he hung the moon? Was he totally besotted by her eyes so blue? Did they take an earthy delight in each other - with love and laughter? Soon my mind is spinning another story!

Peter and Brita had eight children. Brita died on 12 October 1693 at the young age of 63 and Peter died 12 January 1698 at age 86.

Fortunately, a wonderful new book on the Rambo family is now available in print(authored by Ron S. Beatty); perhaps you will discover insights that can be informative for me. Information about the book and an accompanying CD can be found on this link:
http://www.members.aol.com/rsbeatty/rambo.htm

If you think you might connect to this family, you might want to investigate the website of the Swedish Colonial Society and look in their archives; I would encourage membership in this fine organization:

http://www.colonialswedes.org/

Or you can join the rootsweb Rambo List:

RAMBO-L-request@rootsweb.com

Send an E-mail to the link and add Subscribe in the subject of the E-mail.

If you know any great stories about Peter and Brita, write to me!

Genealogy Research Trip

It is time to take a break from heavy thinking.

I am heading to the northlands on a genealogy research trip.
If you see me on the highways and by-ways, please wave or offer water.

Thanks to J.B. for this Kodak moment!

Back to blogging after the Fourth of July!

Blog Organization 101.b (b=bull)

Everywhere I looked today I found organizational systems.

Books have a beginning and an end; they are neatly organized into chapters following the table of contents with an index at the end. That is important to some of us who read only the table of contents and the last page of the last chapter to determine whether the book is worth reading in its entirety.

The theology books on my shelves are organized by Systematics, Church History, Greek and Hebrew studies, Lexicons, several translations of the Bible, reference works, counseling, etc.

My history books are usually organized by specific periods of time such as the Antebellum South, Civil War, etc. History itself has a beginning and is likely to have an end (of life as we know it); and it is organized by time. My time seems to be organized around arising and going to bed.

There are only a couple of books on mathematics, high on the shelf, left over from college days thirty trillion years ago. Mathematics is structurally organized in such a way that I cannot make a negative balance in my check book add up to a positive one unless I go to the bank and add a deposit. There is an end to the negative numbers as far as the bank is concerned. But mathematics really has no beginning or end. It goes on ad infinitum.

My computer is organized using Windows XP Professional as opposed to the newer Vista that I removed a few days ago because it was not well-organized. Google has a great organizational system for finding websites about most anything. Websites I find attractive are not cluttered with too much information.

If I were you I would be thinking about now, "This post is cluttered with too much information! What is the point? Where is the end? It seems like it is going no-where."

But that is the point I am making with this post. A blog is a lot like mathematics with a huge cache (1 GB) of space in time that needs structure and a system of classification for archival purposes. How can it be organized and simplified so that something is easily found when searching the archives? Perhaps the answer is to title posts in this blog by surname, first name, date, with the subject the label: Title: Bankston, Lawrence 1704; Label: RWS documentation???

Yesterday, I read through a lot of blogs; many are narcissistic ramblings of self-absorbed people. Like, who cares? Reading my own ramblings I find that they are often incoherent, disorganized and, like, who cares? Hopefully, the readers of this blog will see the blog become better organized into an easy format to follow on topic.

Like Mary of Nazareth I am pondering all of these things... how can this be?

But the Norwegian genealogy blogspot is moving along beautifully. Check out that blogspot and look at the new pictures:

http://norwegiangenealogy.blogspot.com/

Blog Organization 101

In the beginning I wanted to create a genealogy world on this blog because "this is Good." After spending six days at this computer attempting to get my entire world of genealogy organized in one blog it became necessary to start other blogs per subject matter. Three blogs are now operative necessitating three times the work.

Each blog needed documents and photos that could be added to the site. That meant creating a web album which now has a huge cache of 18 or 19 albums that are loaded with documents and photos; and there are so many more to upload. I have just begun to get them organized. Some photos have captions. Most of the documents are organized by the name of the album. More photos and documents will be added as time permits.

God created the world in six days and said "This is good" each step of the way. I created chaos in six days and said "This better get organized or it gets a Big Bang with the delete key." It is only good in that Google's search index will not pick up the blogs for 4-6 weeks allowing time to find ways to simplify the sites and the photos lest blogging becomes the God of my life.

And you know the rest of the story: "On the seventh day... " But, I need to rest seven days...!

In the Beginning...

Sunday, 10 June 2007

Thanks to cousin Ron for creating a unique blogspot I discovered searching the main page of his website for names on plat maps. This gave me the impetus to strike out on my own with a genealogy blog. The blog was easy to create (thanks to Google).

And now I am ready to begin by posting the surnames that are in my family line that I would like to discuss. Southern ancestral names are: Rambo, Bankston, Sappington, Jarrett, Ivey, Hamlin, Brooks, Cobb, McDonald or McDaniel, Miller and King. The immigrant ancestors appeared as early as 1640 in Pennsylvania (New Sweden) and in Virgina (Jamestowne, Surry and Sussex Counties). This is a hyperlink to my website, The Spirit in the South, on rootsweb.com:

http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=spirit&id=I2048


Norwegian surnames are Vold, Gandrud, Gulsvik, Sefre or Savre. Those names appear in Flaa, Nes of Buskerud County, Norway in the Hallingdal Valley about one and one half hour north of Oslo.

Additional Norwegian surnames are Holstad, Turvold and Forde. Those surnames came from the Sognefjord region of Norway near Vik and of course, Ferduh (phonetic pron.) of Forde. That community is north of the Sognefjord near the Jolster Glacier.

It is good to remember that in Norway the patriarchal naming system was in place until the 20th century when the Norwegian government decided there were too many Ole's in Norway and demanded that everyone adopt a surname. They often took their farm names or the name they were known by in Norway. For instance, Olesson (the son of Ole) became Olson.

This is the link to my website on rootsweb.com, Hallingdal to Amerika

http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=SHOW&db=halag&surname=Aavestrud%2C+Arne+Tollefsrud

In the beginning... it is necessary to clarify that this blogspot is for discussion and information sharing. All of the documentation that I have is posted on the two websites listed above. I may have ideas about how to help you research your family, but I cannot do research for you. Now, let the party begin!

Cynthia