The Swedish Colonial Society

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The Swedish Colonial Society

Founded in 1909, SCS is the oldest Swedish historical organization in the U.S. dedicated to preserving the legacy of the New Sweden Colony in America.

Historical and lineage society.

08/25/2025

Philadelphia City Hall Plaques

A the very center of Philadelphia, William Penn planned a park on the central square. This square is now the location of the fabulous French Renaissance City Hall, with its huge stature of William Penn looking northeast towards the location of the site of his treaty with the local Lenape. All of the statuary was completed by Alexander Milne Calder (grandfather of the famed mobile artist) who worked on hundreds of sculptures during the 30 years it took to complete the huge structure.This plaque, funded by the Society of Colonial Dames, memorializes the New Sweden Colony by giving a description of its geography and listing its governors and 10 prominent families.
Visitor Information
The City Hall Tower Observation Deck is open Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to noon for school group tours & noon to 4:15 p.m. for general admission. For tours and tower admission, visit the Tour Information Center in Room 121, phone (215) 686-2840). Philadelphia City Hall 1401 John F Kennedy Boulevard, Philadelphia, 19102, PA.

The New Sweden Settlers listed are: Anders Svennson Bonde, Johan Campanius, Peter Larsson C**k, Anders Larson Dalbo, Mans Nilsson, Kling, Joran Kyn, Peter Lindstrom, Peter Minuit, Johan Printz, Peter Gunnarsson Rambo, Peter Hollander Ridder, Johan Risingh, Captain Sven Skute, and Olof Persson Stille.

Swedish Governors listed: Peter Minuit, Peter Hollander, Johan Printz, and Johan Risingh.

Inscription: The Commeration of the Swedish Settlements on the Delaware 1638-1655
New Sweden embraced within its boundaries the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and included lands on the West side of the Delaware from Cape Henlopen to Trenton Falls and on the East side from Cape May to Mantua Creek.
At the southern entry on Broad Street is a plaque dedicated in 1909, the same year that the Swedish Colonial Society was formed. Source: New Sweden on the Delaware: A Photographic Tour of the Historic Sites of America's First Swedes and Finns p. 46-47, published by the Swedish Colonial Society. Photos: Britannica.com, https://www.phlvisitorcenter.com/city-hall-building-tour.

08/22/2025

From the Swedish Colonial Society Governor Joseph Mathews

Leif Lundquist and I visited the Millesgården Museum on Lidingö island today where we enjoyed the Wild Boar and the Fish With Emigrants sculptures. Even in the rain, it’s a wonderful site overlooking the Stockholm inlet.

08/19/2025

There's an Open House at the Farmstead during the Tinicum Township Farmers Markets on Wednesday August 20.

08/19/2025

August 19, 1720

Sven Swensson's widow Catharine was allegedly 92 years old when she was buried 19 August 1720.*

A Wicaco church (Gloria Dei) warden, Sven Svensson was the eldest and sole surviving son of Sven Gunnarsson in 1693. He was born in Sweden and his wife Catharine (parents not identified) was born near Stockholm.
Sven Swensson was a justice on the Upland court in 1681-82 and was elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1683. His will of 21 July 1696, proved 8 October 1696, named four daughters: Brigitta, who in 1693 was married to Sven Bonde; Margaret (born 1671); Barbara (1674); and Catharine (1682). His only known son, Lars Svensson, died unmarried by 1693. Sven's widow Catharine was allegedly 92 years old when she was buried 19 August 1720.*
*'Swen Swenson & son' were tydable (aged 16-60) in 1677. The son presumably is the same person as 'Lasey Swanson' who witnessed, with Swan and Andrew Swanson, an Indian deed in West Jersey on 10 September 1677. Frank H. Stewart, Indians of Southern New Jersey, 60-61. Both Swan and 'Lawrence' Swanson witnessed a bond by pastor Jacob Fabritius on 21 April 1684, but only the father's name appeared on a pledge list of 10 August 1684 for Fabritius' salary. The reported age of Swan's widow at her death is suspect; if true, she was 54 years old at the time of the birth of her youngest daughter.
Source: The 1693 Census of the Swedes on the Delaware by Dr. Peter Stebbins Craig, p. 33-34. Note: The book is out of print.
Picture: Swedish Lutheran Church at Wicacao, 1677-1699, https://preserveoldswedes.org/gloria-dei-old-swedes-church-at-wicaco-southwark-philadelphia/

08/12/2025

Pompeon Hook or Finns Point

August 12, 1676
Upon the arrival of John Fenwick as self-proclaimed governor of the Salem Tenth, the four Finns obtained patents from him on 12 August 1676 in return for oaths of allegiance and further payments for the land they occupied.*

On 25 June 1668, a Huguenot named Pierre Jegou secured a license to purchase Indian lands on Pumpkin Point or Pompeon Hook. On 8 November 1671, he conveyed these lands to four Finns, Lars Hendricksson, Staffan Jöransson, Erick Jöransson, and Matthias Bartlesson.** Thereafter the tract was also called Finnstown Hook, Finns' Hook or Finns' Point, the name that survives today.
Upon the arrival of John Fenwick as self-proclaimed governor of the Salem Tenth, the four Finns obtained patents from him on 12 August 1676 in return for oaths of allegiance and further payments for the land they occupied.*

Source: The 1693 Census of the Swedes on the Delaware by Dr. Peter Stebbins Craig, p. 152. Note: The book is out-of-print.
Picture: Finns Point plaque, https://www.hmdb.org/. Picture: Finns Point is a small promontory in Pennsville Township, Salem County, New Jersey, and New Castle County, Delaware, located at the southwest corner of the cape of Penns Neck, on the east bank of the Delaware River near its mouth on Delaware Bay. Finns Point is a small promontory in Pennsville Township, Salem County, New Jersey, and New Castle County, Delaware, located at the southwest corner of the cape of Penns Neck, on the east bank of the Delaware River near its mouth on Delaware Bay. Wiki.

*On 3 April 1677, Stephen Juriansen, Lace Hendricks and Mathias Bartleson sued John Fenwick in the New Castle court for restitution of their purchase money, claiming that Fenwick sold them land without having any right to the same. The lawsuits were postponed because Fenwick was then a prisoner in New York. On 2 October 1677, the lawsuits were dismissed on the statement from the plaintiffs that they had reached an agreement with Fenwick. In May 1678 Fenwick issued a further patent to the four Finns, describing their lands as embracing 1,040 acres, including 240 acres of meadow and 60 acres of swamp, at Finnstown alias Pompeon's Hook. In Fenwick's patents, Matthias Bartlesson was called Matthias 'Spartleson.'
** The deed, which identified the purchasers as Laes Hendrick, Erick & Steffan Jurianse and Matthew Tenho [sic], was not abstracted in the New Jersey Archives. A condition of this deed was that it would be confirmed by a government patent. Later, in 1676, Stephen Juriansen, Lace Hendrix, Matthias Bartleson and Erik Jurians of Pompeon Hook successfully sued Peter Jegou in the New Castle court for failure to deliver a promised patent and won a judgment of 1800 guilders. Jegou's petition for a rehearing in equity was granted and he appears to have been freed from this judgment.

08/07/2025

3 more photos from yesterday

08/07/2025

We held another Open House for yesterday’s August 6 Tinicum Farmers Market from 4:30 to 7:30. Bill Moller and Joe Mathews were docents. It was a good event with a steady flow of appreciative visitors.

08/06/2025

We had a great day on Saturday, August 2nd, at the Farmstead and at the History Gallery/Lazaretto. Docents were Kim-Eric and Ruth, Carina, John, Bill, and Joe. Ingrid, daughter of Ragnhild and Carl, visited the Farmstead. It was great to see her!

08/05/2025

Hi again, Folks!😊

Another friendly reminder that we’re open again this Wednesday, August 6, at the Farmstead from 4:30 to 7:30 during the Tinicum Farmers Market. Hope you can drop by to chat with visitors.
Joe M.

Tinicum Farmers Market/ Swedish Farmstead Open House
WHERE: Governor Printz Park
Taylor Avenue and W. 2nd Street
Essington PA 19029

07/29/2025

ABSOLUTELY DON’T MISS the Open House!

The Swedish Farmstead and the Study Center/Archives at the Lazaretto will be open:
Saturday, August 2nd
11 AM to 2 PM

WHEN: Every first Saturday of the month from 11 AM to 2 PM
WHERE: Governor Printz Park
Taylor Avenue and W. 2nd Street
Essington PA 19029

The Swedish Farmstead at Governor Printz Park, Tinicum Township, Pennsylvania and the Study Center/Archives at the Lazaretto will be open.

07/28/2025

We had Open House at the Swedish Farmstead at Governor Printz Park during the Tinicum Farmers Market on Wednesday July 23rd. Bill Moller, Carina McKee and myself were docents. We had another enjoyable time meeting visitors. Here are some photos we took. Next Open House is Saturday August 2nd, 11 to 2. The History Gallery will be open also...

07/23/2025

Here's a link:

https://www.njpbs.org/programs/drive-by-history/

Address

97 Wanamaker Avenue Essington PA
Philadelphia, PA
19029

Telephone

+12153891513

Website

http://www.colonialswedes.net/

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