In the landscape of Småland in the southern part of Sweden;

 there were many districts.

 In the northwest- between Gränna and Tranås- Vedbo District is situated. It is divided into a northern (Norra Vedbo) and a southern part (Södra Vedbo). In the Northern part, Adelöv parish is situated where we find Sötåsa as one of the small villages.

Adelöv church is in the center of the parish:

Sötåsa is one of the many villages in Adelöv parish. (See map by pressing the colored names)

Sötåsa village had 3 big farms in the 1800s:

Sötåsa Norrgård = North farm, Sötåsa Mellangård = Middle farm and Sötåsa Södergård = South farm.

Sötåsa South farm consisted of 3 main parts in the 1800s:

1. The old house where the family first lived and later Johannes and Anna-Greta stayed at the Exclusion-contract. (See Johannes page)

2. the new house built 1869 by Johannes (does not exist any more)

(Put arrow on the photos to get description of pictures)

3. One little house for a soldier: Soldattorp nr 12 Hästhagen= a little cottage which a soldier in the Swedish army could live in as long as he served the army. This was a common way farmers paid a sort of tax, by having a soldier at their farm and the tax was paid to the soldier by giving him shelter and defined amounts of foods and tools etc. A 200 year old tradition going on from the 1600s to 1901. There were clear rules about in what condition that place should be in. Inspections were made and documented. If the soldier was killed or died, his family had to move, but could get some help at least for a while. The soldier living at Sötåsa South farm 1853 was G Ax*- (*swedish article about Soldiers life)

The view over Sötåsa lake: Önnestorp farm is on the other side of the lake.

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The history of Sötåsa in our family goes far back.

All the children of Johannes and Anna-Greta were born in Sötåsa South farm. They all moved away eventually. The oldest daughter Christina and her family stayed for quite a few years on the farm and worked together with her parents. It was sold to the neighbours of Sötåsa in Källevik 1874 by Johannes and Anna-Greta who were in their 70ies. Christinas family then moved to the other side of the lake, to Önnestorp, where they bought some land. Johannes and Anna-Greta stayed at the farm on a traditional Exclusion contract at the farm for the rest of their lives and even after the first buyer died and the sons took over. The youngest daugher Matilda was 16 years old at the time of selling and was still living at home. The contract ended 1900 as Anna-Greta died.

We have been wondering about the fact that the farm was not inherited or bought by one of the many children. It was sold to Johan Johansson in Källevik and later taken over by his sons Johan and Georg Johansson. Based on this it seems as if these neighbours were at good terms. The answer to this question will remain a substrate of speculation.

Johannes’ mother Stina (1769) and her brother Johan and sister Maria had grown up in Källevik, the neighbouring farm. Johannes’ father Håkan Johannisson, came from a neighbouring village- Boaryd.

In 1793, at Sötåsa South farm, a Jonas Svensson (1729) lived there together with his wife Maria Olofsdotter, both from Adelöf, and a Nils Monson (1754) with his family of wife and 2 daughters.

?It has been said there was a selling contract where Stina (Johannes mother) was becoming the owner of the neighbouring farm Sötåsa South farm. (?)

Johan Larsson- Stinas brother, took over Källevik by 1803.  Stina and Johan and their mother Cisilia had resided in Bållarp farm (north of Sötåsa lake) during some time after 1797 as they left Källevik for some years (The father Lars died 1800). Stinas brother Johan died only 49 years old and the rest of his family moved to Nöttekulla, another village in the same parish. Eventually a Johan Svensson from Lomma moved to Källevik and his son Johan was the one who bought Sötåsa South farm from Johannes 1874. (By now we dont know if these people were related in any way)

Below is a map where You may zoom in over Sweden: where the red pin is : is Sötåsa South farm

Picture above: Vireda parish village where the old little cottage to the right is very old and most certainly was visited by Sofias ancestors through the years.

Sofias Mother: Stina Lisa Carlsdotter (20 Sept 1811-1897)- Sofias father: Johan Samuelsson Sötåsa Norrgård (29/9 1813 -) His father and Sofias grand-father was Samuel Johansson 12 April 1787.

Johan and Stina-Lisa Samuelsson lived in Sötåsa Northern farm

Sofias mothers mother: Lisa Johansdotter-Hagström 1784 –

Mothers mothers mother: Maria Jaensdotter Hagström 7 Jan 1747- (ArkivDigital Vireda Births Churchbooks AID:v36508.b196.s403)

Mothers mothers mothers mother: Britta Johansdotter- Roth – Korp Born 29 dec 1702 -(AID: v36507.b126.s275??) – married to Jaen Hagström Olofsson in Elmberg, Vireda 6 Dec 1743 (AID:v36508.b130.s271)

????? Mothers mothers mothers mothers mother: Anna Roth Jonsdotter from Elmberg 1673 – 1743 April 10. She was married to ‘the rider’ Johan Olofsson-Korp 7 April 1697 when she was 24 years old (AID:v36507.b194.s419). They had their first child Maria 28 febr (AID:1798. v36507.b189.s409)

Anna* Rooths father was Jonas Rooth*, cornett (1630-1678)- an officer, carrying the flag in the Military company. He was born 1630 during the 30-years of war (1618-1648) when Gustav II Adolf was creating a strong protestantic superpower in Europe.

The contemporary TIMES OF Jonas Rooth- 1600s

Gustav II Adolf diseased 1594-1632 in the Battle of Lützen and he was followed by his 6-year-old daughter Queen Kristina (1626 – 89)who was guided by the strong and skillful Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna in the wars and raised to be a knowledgable lady. She was an independent ruler from 1644.

.  She abdicated 27 years old (1653) to become a catholic and settled in Rome, the rulership was taken over by her cousin Carl X Gustav (1622-1660) who also was a successful war-leader. In a very eventful occation, he had his armies march over the frozen ices of Öresund to Denmark and won the big victory of Roskilde where Sweden took Skåne (the southern part of Sweden) from Denmark 1658. This was followed by a hard time for the reluctant danish people of Skåne, who were forced to learn Swedish, or they would lose their benefits- a very efficient way of ‘Swedenize’ the region. Carl X Gustav died though in pneumonia only 37 years  old, 1660,  leaving his son Carl XI, 4 years old – to a regency led by, above all, Magnus de la Gardie who had married Carl X:s sister. He was not interested in continuing wars and spent the state money more on cultural development as renovating and developing beautiful castles. He was a very mighty and rich man but spent enormous amounts on the little powerful noblemens interest.

By the time Carl XI (1655-97) became 18 years old- 1875- and was crowned, the state savings were very spare.Carl himself was trained to become a king but was not very interested in the politics. He was dyslexic and withdrawn and he started to be questioned by the rulers if he ever would suit to be a good king. The summer of 1776 the Danes attacks Sweden by Skåne to take it back. The young Carl XI – 21 years old- is abandoned by Magnus de la Gardie, but instead supported by one of Magnus younger critiques Johan Gyllenstierna. They gather an army of 8000 men and meet the Danish king and his brother in law: Christian V – in the battle of Lund 1876. 9000 soldiers die- being one of the bloodiest wars in world history

 It is frozen in the middle of the winter so they cannot bury the bodies until the spring comes. Then they are buried in massgraves where they still are.  Sweden is the winner of the war, but the prize is high. Carl the XI gets a terrible experience from this war, loosing so many men and seeing the terror of it and this makes him try to avoid all kinds of war after this. But he has to make up with the opposing ‘swedish danes’ in Skåne. A group called Snapphanarna are led as an opposition by Sven Poulsen and he has organized guerilla groups, taken from all kinds of people in the southern parts of Småland and Skåne and the Danish wars will continue but Carl XI will put much effort and thought into curbing this opposition.

Jonas was fighting in these wars and dies in  Västra Hemmeslöv, or ……….. Östra Sönnerslöv, (??)- …………………….Skåne, Dec 8 1678.

This is also the turn for the noblemen, and the king forces them to give back all the castles and riches to the state. (The Reduction) Magnus de la Gardies wealth is reduced from many many castles and mansions to one castle and he looses all his power. He is buried in Varnhems monestary church.

After Jonas Rooths death there is a thourough organization made by Carl XI, among the soldiers  as they recieve a piece of land for their families each at a farmers land and the farmers have to follow certain distinguished rules for them so they will survive. On the other hand the farmers dont have to fight and the people may now live in peace. This becomes a smart peace-creating solution and  it is so well organized and well-liked reform, so it lasts for 200 years. (1682-1901)

THE COMMON peoples atmosphere:

During this time the common people were very poor and many people were starving. The gap between the rich and the poor was never as wide as during this time. The church was string and preached strict messages about the devil and hell. People felt constricted and it was often combinated with superstition. Witchcraft was suspected in many places and 100s of people were executed, being accused of being in abundance with the devil. The witch trials were at its peak in history (1668-76) It was a mass psychosis without equal. People were drowned, burned, tortured and beheaded. It is Swedens largest mass execution in time of peace supported by the law. The law of punishment for witchcraft was abandoned 1779.

Jonas Rooth was married to Annika Olofsdotter (1635-1700) who was the daughter of the priest Korp and they had 4 children: Anna* 1664-1756, Anders (Andreas) 1673-1743, Johan 1672- and Nils Rooth* d y 25/3 1669 – 27/10 1722: See special history below!

Jonas was ennobled as he came home from the wars and got the farm Elmberg/Älmeberg in Vireda parish as a gift from the state.

Jonas Rooths father was Nils Nilsson, a farmer – diseased 1651. He was probably married to Sigrid Håkansdotter. They had 3 sons who went into the army- not unexpected during this time of the Swedish European wars. Sigrid was the daughter of Håkan Ingmarson, who was son of Ingmar Jonsson, who was son of Jon Nilsson 1542.

VIREDA CHURCH with the Arms of the Rooths*- see text by pointing at the pictures: