Written by Britta Forsman in March, 2023

This story is about the young saltpetre boiler, Sune (Suni) Hansson Sommer (Sommar), born in Småland in Sweden, was sent to Vörå in Finland, where he became an important ancestor for thousands of descendants. The story also describes a time in the Israels family history, and gives some information about Sune's relatives in Sweden.

Only 19 years old in 1745, Sune was sent by the Swedish Crown (Svenska Kronan) to Vörå in Finland. He and many other skilful saltpetre boilers were given the task of teaching the Ostrobothnian farmers how to make saltpetre and how to collect the ingredients during the daily working on the farms. For this purpose, the farmers also were taught how to build saltpetre (Potassium Nitrate) barns for the boiling procedure.

Urine, urine soil, cadavers and so on were boiled for a long time in big kettles of 800 litres. The saltpetre was sent to gun powder factories. In the 1700s, the need of gun powder was very great when Sweden and Finland were involved in many wars.

After one year in Vörå, Sune married Anna Hansdotter Israels (1724-1805), the daughter on the Israels farm in Rekipeldo village (nowadays Rejpelt) in Vörå. Through this marriage, Sune became a son-in-law (måg) of Anna's parents Hans Mattsson (1689-1766) and Brita Johansdotter Israels (1701-1780). This farm had a history going back to 1565, at least. Hans Mattsson's father-in-law Johan Andersson Israels was killed in the battle of Napue in 1714. In the district court (tinget) in 1724, Matts Hansson asked for an exemption from taxes for two years. After the Great Wrath of 1713-1721 (Stora Ofreden), everything at Israels farm was destroyed in some way by the enemy. Two smaller houses and eight meadow barns were burned. Everything belonging to the farm was in extremely bad condition, fields and forests. Matts Hansson was the owner of half a horse, one ox, two cows, one calf and four sheep. All the losses after the Cossacks' ravaging were felt very heavily. Brita had besides her father also lost her little brother Matts Johansson to take care of. He was 7½ years old when he was taken by the Cossacks. He came never home. Brita's uncle, Matts Persson, 25 years old, met the same fate.

Back to Sune:
Sune became a respectable and important farmer in the Israels farm, still working also with teaching saltpetre boiling. Of Anna's and Sune's eleven children five became adults, four daughters and one son.

They had descendants "spread out in Finland, Sweden, Germany, Australia, New Zealand (Erik West) and America." The last quotation is by the family searcher Torbjörn Nikus, born in 1945 at Israels nr 11 in Rekipeldo (Rejpelt) village. After 20 years of researching the family, Torbjörn published a book with many thousands of Sune's descendants. We can even find Karl Gustaf Westerholm's and his wife Johanna Matilda Widman's five children and nearly all their grandchildren: 2570 tables on 323 pages and a register with names on 86 pages with only names of Sune's descendants. On page 136, table 1078, we find Thor Westerholm and Margit Höglund with their children, Sven, Inga and Gustaf. Table 1077 includes Elvi Westerholm and her husband Axel Englund, but not their son Eugen. Table 1079 contains Britta's parents, Irma Westerholm and Joel Holmström, but not their children (Ragni, Kurt and Britta).

The title of this fantastic family book is: "Släkten Israels, Vörå, Sune Hanssons efterkommande." It is my best information source.

Anna's and Sune's children:
Brita Sunedotter, born 8 October 1747 in Rekipeldo, died 16 May 1809 in Rekipeldo, Bastubacka.
Hans Suneson, born 9 March 1749 in Rekipeldo,died 7 May 1809 in Rekipeldo.
Lisa (Elisabet) Sunedotter, born 2 September 1754 in Rekipeldo, died 26 December 1835 in Miemoisby.
Maria Sunedotter, born 14 Januari 1758 in Rekipeldo, died 26 November 1830 in Rekipeldo.
Anna Sunedotter, born 18 May 1765 in Rekipeldo, died 28 December 1845 in Maxmo, Särkimo, Finne.

Parents: Anna and Sune married 14 September 1746.
Sune Hansson Sommer, born 1 January 1726 in Wrankunge soldier cottage soldier (soldattorp) in Skatelöf parish (socken) in Småland, died 2 October 1798 in Rekipeldo. Anna Hansdotter Israels, born 19 September 1724 in Rekipeldo, died 25 Januari 1805 in Rekipeldo.

Sune was born 1 December 1726 in Sweden, in Wrankunge Skatelöf, in Småland. His parents were the horse rider (ryttare) Hans Georg Sommer (1688 or 1694 - 2 October 1758) and his wife Elin Svensdotter (October 1690 - 7 January 1754). Hans was probably born in 1688, according Torbjörn Nikus, because Hans Georg was 70 years old when he died.

Hans Georg and Elin were married in 18 January 1721 in Skatelöf (Skatelöv nowadays). Elin was born in Västra Torsås, Olofshult and died in Vrankunge, Skatelöf. Her father was Sven Jakobsson, born in 1654 and died in 1724. Elin's mother was Svenborg Nilsdotter, born in 1663 and died in 1743.

Sunes father, Hans Georg Sommer, was accepted as a rider for the root no.25 (Vrankunge) under the Sunnerbo Company and Smälands Kavalleri regiment around 1718. He then served as deputy chief of the county Johan Nyman and Mäns Persson waiter during the tax break Wrankunge. At one point, he was a county clerk.

For Hans Georg and Elin, I have nine children: 1. Ingärd b.1720, Jöran b.1722, Sune (1726-1798), Kristian (1728-1808), Jöns b.1731, Anna b. 15 September 1736, Kristina b. 15 September 1736, Sven b.1739. Maria Sonen Kristian Hansson Sommer, born 28 December 1728, had four sons: Nils 1752, Sven 1754, Jöns (1757-1845) and Per (1762-1758).

Hans Georg's son Sven Hansson Sommar (1739) was probably the one who took over Ryttartorpet after his father. Some sources suggest that Hans George's father possibly came from Germany.

Sune was 20 years old in 1746. He married Anna Israels, who was 22 years old and had no siblings. Sune became the son-in-law to Anna's parents Hans Mattsson (1689-1766) and Brita Johansdotter Israels (1701-1780). Sune was, of course, still working with teaching saltpetre working and also working at the farm.

The Cossacs' ravaging and the battle at Napue in 1714 were terrible. The losses were felt very heavily. Brita (Anna's mother) lost her father Johan Andersson Israels in 1714. Either he died in the battle or was taken by the Russians to Russia. Brita's little brother Matts Johansson was taken by the Russians. He was 7½ years old. From Israels, Matts Persson, 25 years old, was taken by the Cossacs and came never home. He was probably Brita's mother's brother.

Names often were spelled in different ways in different documents. The name "Sune" was a little strange for people in Ostrobothnia. You can find it as Sunu, Suna, Suni and Sune, of course.

Sune was very kind to the children and tried to think of his wife as well as the children, Hans (1749-1809), Brita (1747-1809), Lisa (1754-1835), Maria (1758-1830) and Anna (1765-1845) when he wrote his testament (Last Will).

According to tradition, the oldest son inherited the home. Hans inherited Israels, but would be obliged to pay the sisters decided sums. All Sune's and Anna's children became established in society. Brita married the corporal Adolph Ekman, even he from Småland. Lisa became a farmer's wife in Miemois. Maria married soldier Matts Nordman from Rökiö, and Anna married the son of the parish tailor (sockenskräddare), the farmer Anders Carlspets-Finne in Maxmo.

(Source: Torbjörn Nikus Sune Hansson's descendants)

When Sune came to the Israels farm, it was a main home. On April 30, 1759, Sune Hansson redeemed Israels' home for tax purposes. This meant that the proprietor was his own master, but of course paid taxes.

("Tax farmer" = self-owned farmer in the taxed home)

Sune Hansson's Last Will:

A boiling barn in Vörå

Hans Sunesson Israels b. 9 March 1749 in Vörå, Rejpelt, Israels. Married 3 June 1777 to Lisa Mattsdotter Miemois b. 7 August 1758, Vörå, Keskis. Hans Sunesson died 7 May 1809 in Vörå, Rejpelt, Israels. Lisa died 31 July 1798, Vörå, Rejpelt.

Hans and Lisa's children:

Anna Hansdotter, born 1779 in Rejpelt. Died 1780.

Lisa Hansdotter, born 30 March 1781 in Rejpelt. Died 24 April 1809.

Beata Hansdotter, born 26 April 1783 in Rejpelt. Died 3 January 1858, Rejpelt.

Hans Hansson, born 1785 in Rejpelt. Died 1785.

Anna Hansdotter, born 18 March 1790 in Rejpelt. Died 14 January 1825.

Brita Hansdotter, born 28 November 1791 in Rejpelt. Died 6 September 1871 in Tuckur.

Margareta (Greta) Hansdotter, born 19 April 1795 in Rejpelt, Bengs. Died 17 May 1880, Rejpelt, Bengs.

Hans Hansson, född 1797. Died 1798.

Hans and Lisa had two sons, both named Hans and both died very young. Through drawing of lots between the girls, 13 March 1811, Anna and Beata were chosen to divide up Israels. Anna Hansdotter (1790-1825) married Mickel Johansson Långs. Anna died young with tuberculosis and their only son Hans Mickelsson Israels became owner of Israels at the age of 8 years old.

Hans Mickelsson Israels (1817-1902) was married to Lisa Eriksdotter Kastus (1813-1890). In the picture, we can see him sitting in front of his five sons.

Hans Sunesson's daughter Brita Hansdotter Israels (1791-1871), was born in Rekipeldo and died in Tuckur. She married the farmer Erik Johansson West (1788-1842) at West number 5 in Rekipeldo. Erik West and Brita had 12 children. They were the parents of our ancestor Hans West who moved to Jakobstad, changed his name to Westerholm, became a master of painting in 1849.

Hans Westerholm and his first wife Brita Cajsa Andersdotter Rudnäs (1827-1868) had 13 children. Only Chatarina Carolina 1850, Sven Erik 1853, Lovisa Augusta 1858 and Karl Gustaf 1867, grew up to adulthood. Karl Gustaf went on with the painting firm. He and his wife Johanna (Hanna) Widman and their five children, Elvi, Gösta, Thor, Rachel and Irma, living at Hamngatan 1 in Jakobstad.

Back on well-known Hamngatan after our imaginary trip in time, the parents Brita Hansdotter Israels and Erik Johansson West, from Vörå, West hemman nr 5, "find" their son Hans Westerholm and his family here in Jakobstad.

It could nearly have been happening. Brita died in 1871, but Erik had already died in 1842 (The family photo was taken in 1869). Now the circle is complete.

This is the wedding photo of Hans and his second wife Helena Sundqvist (1829-1904), taken in March 1869. Helena is sitting with Karl Gustaf on her knee. Behind her is her own daughter Maria Wilhelmina Sundqvist, born in 1850. Lovisa emigrated in 1913 to America with her son Emil. Lovisa was married to Emil Jansson, a sailor who drowned during a winter storm in December, 1906. Behind Hans is his eldest child, Chatarina Carolina, and next to her Sven Eric, born in 1853. In 1877, he disappeared from the ship Equator in Philadelphia. In America he started a new life, built a house and married Kate Gheam. They had no children.

Hans and his second wife had two children, Aina Maria born 1870 and Hans Wiktor Ivar born 1873. Both of them died as teenagers from typhus and tuberculosis.

Sven working on his roof

These photos are taken in about 1924 in the USA. Sven Westerholm with the white cap. Between him and his wife Kate Gheam is Thor Westerholm sitting. A friend from Jakobstad, Gösta Malmberg, to the left.

Sune Hansson Sommer is #4 in the chart below: