*** A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BOMSTAD / Ørn FAMILY IN SWEDISH-LAPPI, ***
******************** FINLAND AND TROMS, NORWAY ************************
The Bomstad family's origins were in the Tornio and Alatornio area of Finnish Sweden and Swedish "Overtornea", in the towns of Karungi (Karunki] and Mounio, which lie or near the border between the two countries. The modern location of the Karunki parish church in Finland is: 95530 Karunki, P16-400 004. According to the Balsfjord and Malangen Bygdebok, Johannes Josefsson Orn first arrived at Lyngen, Troms, in 1764, and then relocated to Balsfjord about 1771 where he established the Bomstad farmstead.
According to Nils Johan Fosli, of Troms, Norway (Genealogist), Johannes Josefsson Orn was a "Kven" settler in Balsfjord in 1776. A Kven is a person of Finnish ancestry living in Norway, who in 1999 is considered an ethnic minority. According to LaVonne Bomstad-Hookom's research which is supported by the Swedish military records of Johannes Josefsson Orn, he was probably Finnish/Swedish. Pello lies directly on the Swedish/Finnish border, about midway between the towns of Muonio and Tornio (on the north and south respectively.) Muonio, where he was stationed and married Susanna Larsdatter, is located on the Swedish/Finnish border, close to the adjoining border of Norway, and close to Enontekio, Finland.
According to the Tromso, Troms, Norway Church book (per L.D.S. film #127128), Johannes Josefsson Orn may have suffered an injury to one of his hips, which may have led to his retirement from military duty for Sweden, and subsequent health problems with his hips.
Johannes & Susanna's son Abraham Johannessen Bomstad, who is our Bomstad ancestor, was born just before the family traveled over the Kjolen mountain pass from Finland to Troms in 1764/65.
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Paraphrasing the translation provided by Tore Nygaard of Linkoping, Sw. from the "Malangen & Balsfjord Historie fram til 1830-åra" ... The new Register (roll) Commission arrived at Balsfjordan in 1775, almost 34 yrs. to the day from the earlier tax assessments. The Commission assessed 8 clearings in 1775, some of which had been earlier appraised.
While Josefsson was regarded as the "cleaner" (clearer) of the area known as Bomstad farm, before his arrival there it was known as good grazing land. This could be an indication that the Sami (Lapps) had used it in earlier time. The name of the farm tells us about a barrier or fence in the river (Bom = bar, fence) and (sted = place.) An author named Quigstad defined it as a barrier that might have been in connection with the floating of timber. It could also have been an old fence for fishing of salmon, and thus a living place for the "sea Sami" in summer and autumn. During the autumn & winter the Kjosen fjord froze over, so the place was not very useful for those who had to get to the sea for a living. This was obviously a disadvantage the Register Commission took into consideration when assessing the farmstead.
Bomstad farmstead was somewhat up from the sea and the beach in Nord-Kjosen was assessed in 1775. The Kven (Finnish speaking Swede) Johannes Josefsson who had left Sweden, probably in 1763, must have expected to find better conditions in Troms than he left behind in Swedish/Finland. He came from the area on the other side of what was called "Kjølen" (the mountainous area between Norway & Sweden,) When the Josephsen family arrived at Jyykeä (Lyngen) in 1764, their 4th child was born and christened Israel. The 2nd youngest child Abraham was still nursing when they left Finland.
According to his translation from "Bidrag til Balsfjordens Historie" by N.S. Magelssen, publ. before 1900 ... The farm Bomstad was originally "cleaned" (cleared) by Johannes Josefsson who got permission from the landlord (proprietor.) The assessment took place on 8-16-1775. Josefssen could not explain how long he had lived there as he did not understand Norwegian, and the Commission did not understand his kven language (a Finnish dialect.) The clearing was taxed for 12 "merker" and he was told to pay taxes according to this value. The commission said he had already gained from using the land without taxation long enough, so therefore he should no longer be free from taxation.
Johannes died in 1785 (age 50), his widow lived several years after him. Their children & spouses were listed. Note: age of Johannes is in error, he died at age 57.
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Number of Guests to Date:
*** A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BOMSTAD / Ørn FAMILY IN SWEDISH-LAPPI, ***
******************** FINLAND AND TROMS, NORWAY ************************
The Bomstad family's origins were in the Tornio and Alatornio area of Finnish Sweden and Swedish "Overtornea", in the towns of Karungi (Karunki] and Mounio, which lie or near the border between the two countries. The modern location of the Karunki parish church in Finland is: 95530 Karunki, P16-400 004. According to the Balsfjord and Malangen Bygdebok, Johannes Josefsson Orn first arrived at Lyngen, Troms, in 1764, and then relocated to Balsfjord about 1771 where he established the Bomstad farmstead.
According to Nils Johan Fosli, of Troms, Norway (Genealogist), Johannes Josefsson Orn was a "Kven" settler in Balsfjord in 1776. A Kven is a person of Finnish ancestry living in Norway, who in 1999 is considered an ethnic minority. According to LaVonne Bomstad-Hookom's research which is supported by the Swedish military records of Johannes Josefsson Orn, he was probably Finnish/Swedish. Pello lies directly on the Swedish/Finnish border, about midway between the towns of Muonio and Tornio (on the north and south respectively.) Muonio, where he was stationed and married Susanna Larsdatter, is located on the Swedish/Finnish border, close to the adjoining border of Norway, and close to Enontekio, Finland.
According to the Tromso, Troms, Norway Church book (per L.D.S. film #127128), Johannes Josefsson Orn may have suffered an injury to one of his hips, which may have led to his retirement from military duty for Sweden, and subsequent health problems with his hips.
Johannes & Susanna's son Abraham Johannessen Bomstad, who is our Bomstad ancestor, was born just before the family traveled over the Kjolen mountain pass from Finland to Troms in 1764/65.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Paraphrasing the translation provided by Tore Nygaard of Linkoping, Sw. from the "Malangen & Balsfjord Historie fram til 1830-åra" ... The new Register (roll) Commission arrived at Balsfjordan in 1775, almost 34 yrs. to the day from the earlier tax assessments. The Commission assessed 8 clearings in 1775, some of which had been earlier appraised.
While Josefsson was regarded as the "cleaner" (clearer) of the area known as Bomstad farm, before his arrival there it was known as good grazing land. This could be an indication that the Sami (Lapps) had used it in earlier time. The name of the farm tells us about a barrier or fence in the river (Bom = bar, fence) and (sted = place.) An author named Quigstad defined it as a barrier that might have been in connection with the floating of timber. It could also have been an old fence for fishing of salmon, and thus a living place for the "sea Sami" in summer and autumn. During the autumn & winter the Kjosen fjord froze over, so the place was not very useful for those who had to get to the sea for a living. This was obviously a disadvantage the Register Commission took into consideration when assessing the farmstead.
Bomstad farmstead was somewhat up from the sea and the beach in Nord-Kjosen was assessed in 1775. The Kven (Finnish speaking Swede) Johannes Josefsson who had left Sweden, probably in 1763, must have expected to find better conditions in Troms than he left behind in Swedish/Finland. He came from the area on the other side of what was called "Kjølen" (the mountainous area between Norway & Sweden,) When the Josephsen family arrived at Jyykeä (Lyngen) in 1764, their 4th child was born and christened Israel. The 2nd youngest child Abraham was still nursing when they left Finland.
According to his translation from "Bidrag til Balsfjordens Historie" by N.S. Magelssen, publ. before 1900 ... The farm Bomstad was originally "cleaned" (cleared) by Johannes Josefsson who got permission from the landlord (proprietor.) The assessment took place on 8-16-1775. Josefssen could not explain how long he had lived there as he did not understand Norwegian, and the Commission did not understand his kven language (a Finnish dialect.) The clearing was taxed for 12 "merker" and he was told to pay taxes according to this value. The commission said he had already gained from using the land without taxation long enough, so therefore he should no longer be free from taxation.
Johannes died in 1785 (age 50), his widow lived several years after him. Their children & spouses were listed. Note: age of Johannes is in error, he died at age 57.
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Number of Guests to Date: