Olof Olofsson Stålhammar ^8060,8115

  Research Notes:

Summary: Combining the information from below, Olof Olofsson Stålhammar (b. bef 1630) had come to Söderhamn in Gävleborg län sometime around the beginning of the gun/rifle factory in Söderhamn that was started about 1620. Although it is uncertain where he was born, it is probable he was born in the area around of Stockholm. Olof Olofsson Stålhammar was a gun/rifle smith (blacksmith). Sweden, through the King of Sweden (Gustav Adolph II), was involved in the "Thirty Years War" (1618-1648), a war between Catholics and Protestants and this war required increased armaments, and hence the opening of another gun/rifle factory. Apparently this King was a good strategist and army commander. He had championed the Protestant cause. He died in battle in 1632.

Olof Olofsson Stålhammar married Karin Olofsdotter. There is little or no information on her) but she was likely from or lived at Arbrå parish, about 50 kms to the north west of Söderhamn. They had at least 1 child, and likely 2 but probably more:

(1) Karin Olofsdotter (1655-1737) married to Halvar Rolfsson (1650-1707) and they both died at Kårböle in Färila parish, Gävleborg. Some Family Tree Researchers have noted that Karin was born at Arbrå parish.
(2) Jonas "Olofsson" (b abt 1650). I have no direct evidence of his birth. There is one brief post in response to my inquiry on Anbyforum by Gustav Stålhammar (a relative?) on 26 Mar 2018, and in this he writes that Olof Olofsson Stålhammar (b bef 1630) "... I know they had a daughter, also named Karin, in 1655 (passed 1737) and a son, named Jonas". Additionally there is evidence of a person name Jonas Stålhammer born about 1650 (see point 1 below). If this son's given name was Jonas his efternamn (patronymic name) would most likely be "Olofsson", the son of Olof.

There are no records of people living in Söderhamn in the mid 1650's. The earliest record that exists (or at has survived) is the Söderhamn (X) Husförhör book (vol AI:1a, 1710-1750). This volume has some significant damage, but on page 22 (right side, no 4) there is the name, "Jonas Stålhammar Enka, .... (Karin ??) born in 1665, married 1695, and came to Söderhamn in 1691" and "... dotter, Lisa, b.1695". In the next volume (AI:1b, 1733-1737) on page 51 (at the bottom) there is the notation, "Jonas Stålhammer's dotter, Lisa". On page 81 of the same volume (second side, about mid-age) there is a notation in the first column, "Jonas Stålhammars enka? död ..." and in the third colunm, "dottern Lisa" with a notation "p. 39:5" (there are a number of similiar notations of various pages) - this likely means a reference to the "death/burial book", but the earliest book starts in 1739 and this notation likely references.

These 2 references to "Jonas Stålhammar" would indicate that he died prior to 1721. But no birth year is recorded, nor is there a record of an 'efternamn.'

As I indicated in my document Stålhammar - Generations (written, 4 Apr 2018),

"... Given the birth year for Karin of 1655, it is reasonable to assume that other children would have be born some time in the 1650's and thus, the reported birth year for Jonas ... of 1650 allows for a reasonable conclusion that they are brother and sister. In this document, I have used the information from the wikipedia page (see point 1.a. below) as a starting point, and followed as much as I could the information from the Söderhamn (X) Husförhör book and birth books, to follow 5 generations, assuming the first generation is "Olof Olofsson Stålhammar, born before 1630).


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


1. following information is found by a general google search, "Stålhammar"


a. Stålhammar surname: see point 2

https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/St%C3%A5lhammar
<https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stålhammar>; is a Swedish surname. There are at least two older generations with this name: The noble Stålhammar from Småland, as well as the smithy [smedssläkten] Stålhammar, which can be traced to the 16th century [1500's] in Värmland and Hälsingland. In the 19th century, Skåne's genera were also added. family [see below] can be traced to Mästersmeden Jonas Stålhammar and his wife Cherstin Stålhammar. Their descendants are found on the factor in Söderhamn during the 1700s and 1800s. Från Hälsingland släkt kan spåras till Mästersmeden Jonas Stålhammar och hans maka Cherstin Stålhammar. Deras ättlingar återfinns på faktoriet i Söderhamn under 1700 och 1800-talen.


Jonas Stålhammar (ca 1650-1705)
Elisabet Jonsdotter Stålhammar (1695-)
Clas Jonsson Stålhammar (1698-)
Olof Stålhammar (1746-)
Christina Stålhammar (1749-)
Olof Stålhammar (ca 1700-)
Jonas Jonsson Stålhammar (1706-) [see Gustav Stålhammar's Anbytarforum post 12 Dec 2018]
Nils Stålhammar (1738-)
Jonas Stålhammar (1743-1746)
Anna Stålhammar (1748-)


a. (ii)

There is a family wiki on Adelsvapen.com, re; Per Jönsson Stålhammer b 1613 in Småland, but it only follows this family and no mention of Olof Olofsson Stålhammer


b. <http://www.soderhamn.se/download/18.6ae79675147f47c6199a20e/1410442020104/Stadsvandring+2014.pdf> p.2, "Vapen ..."
The King's wars increased the demands for arms for the battlefield in the early 1600s. Gunsmiths were needed as indicated in a royal letter and were ordered to move into the cities. In 1620, the rifle factory was set in Söderhamn and the same year, Söderhamn received its city privileges. Trades and crafts were developed, but by the end of the 18th century, a decline for the rifle factory began in 1813 the production was moved to Eskilstuna. Söderhamn also has an old tradition with skilled silvermen. Especially in the 1700's, several 'south harbor' silversmiths became widely known. The city weapon, the ship (a pinass) with crossed rifles, showing the old main industries of the city and was also the city's silver stamp.

b. (ii). "The King's wars" This likely refers to the "Thirty Years War" from 1618-1648 - The war was fought between Catholics and Protestants and also drew in the national armies of France, Sweden, Spain, Denmark, and the Habsburg dynasty that ruled the Holy Roman Empire (from, https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/modern-europe/wars-and-battles/thirty-years-war). There also was the Polish'96Swedish War (1626'9629), which is likely a part of the "30 years War"
- the Swedish King at the time was Gustav II Adolf Vasa - he died during the wars in 1632. He was succeeded by his daughter, Christina who reigned from 1632-1654 when she "abdicated, converted to Roman Catholicism and left the country". She was succeeded by Charles XI who reigned from 1655-1697

- the following link goes to wikipedia and towards the bottom of the page, there is a chart, re: Family Tree, that outlines (in bold) the monarchs until 1837
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Vasa



2. See my document, Stålhammar - Generations written, 4 Apr 2018 and revised 3 Jul 2019

Olof married Karin Olofsdotter.