The farmer’s boy who died in battle
David Gustafson
A restless youth
John Ahlforth & Grace Mitchell
Difficult times at Liljeholmen – Erik Alfort and his children
Svenska – English
From beyond the seas – A history of the Alfort family.
Chapter 5
Difficult times at Liljeholmen – Erik Alfort and his children
© Esben Alfort 2014-2023
While as we have seen Erik Alfort may not have been a suitable husband for Maria, there is no doubt that he had a lot in common with his father-in-law Gabriel Gyllenståhl. He too had a habit of expecting to be obeyed. He had a hot temper and regularly filed lawsuits with his neighbours, his servants, and even his own daughter Maria Catharina Alfort, who was only told at her parents’ death that they had disinherited her. Erik was growing ever more irritable, possibly because of finansiable troubles. These were difficult times for many, and the Alforts at Liljeholmen were no exception, but thanks to the son Gabriel Ahlfort’s pioneering work in developing more effective farming methods they managed to survive and thrive on the meager soils by the lake Sommen for generations afterwards. The third brother Carl Henric Ahlfort died during a military campaign in Finland, but he had an illegitimate son who was adopted by the family, so in principle there could be an entire unknown branch of the family just waiting to be discovered.
Life and death on the seven seas – Captain Gabriel Ahlfort
Svenska – English
From beyond the seas – A history of the Alfort family.
Chapter 7
Life and death on the seven seas – Captain Gabriel Ahlfort
© Esben Alfort 2014-2023
Captain Gabriel Ahlfort travelled to Indonesia, India and Mecca, and he knew the shores of Europe better than his home county. He saw some incredible things and had real stories to tell when he returned a wiser and stronger man.
A difficult start in life
Anna Ört & Gustaf Larson
Major Andries
Andries Krogman & Elizabeth Simons
From mining to farming
Letta Lawver & Ollie Brown
Eldest son of a Swedish farmer
Walter Rudeen & Anna Johnson
Farming pioneers in Nebraska
Augusta Carlson & Gustaf Rudeen
All gone to America
Christina Gustafsdotter & August Jacobson
From beyond the seas
Svenska – English
From beyond the seas – A history of the Alfort family.
Chapter 1
From beyond the seas
© Esben Alfort 2014-2023
The Alfort family came to Sweden in the middle of the 17th century when a master shipbuilder emigrated from England, but according to family tradition his ancestors were originally huguenot refugees fleeing religious persecution in France. Church registers and other archives of historical documents can tell us a lot about the history of the family in Sweden, but very few sources give direct information about this early period. Even so, we can make some educated guesses.