2144. Olof Larsson2144 Olof Larsson, XII:7. Olof died in Viksjö, Stigsjö sn. Occupation: Settler. Residence: Viksjö, Stigsjö.Sources: Gothe, Finnkolonisationen page 37ff (Father 4240; Mother 4241) In the judgement book of Säbrå for the year 1620 there is an interesting, detailed and faithful picture of that time. Then they had a real Finn-wedding in Viksjö. But it ended with a case of manslaughter. For that reason so many details have been known. The Finn Oluf Larsson was probably living in the so-called Oldfarm in Viksjö. On the 19th of November in 1620 he arranged a marriage for the son Oluf Olufson . In the wedding festivities participated besides many Finns also the clergyman and several farmers from the parish. Later in the evening Erik Eriksson came to the celebration. He was a Finn who earlier lived with his wife during three years in a small cottage at Oluf Larsson´s. Then he visited Medelpad in trying to find a crofters holding there. Erik got drunk in spite of the fact that he was not invited to the marriage. Witnesses said that Erik soon started to reproach his wife for Matts Nilsson from Rautalampi, who was a farm-hand at Oluf Larsson. The bride had got to bed and Erik saw that Matts was dancing with Karin, a maid at the farm. Erik got furious and reproached the farm-hand for the same suspicions as he had against his wife. With a sheath-knife in his hand he tried to get hold of the farm-hand. The people cried: "Protect you Matts!" But the young Finn answered calmly: " I have no reason to be afraid of Erik" after which he occupied the seat of honour. Erik came then running and beat Matts with the knife in his left shoulder and cut off the sinews. The farm-hand beat then after Erik with his knife a and hit Erik in his shoulder. But the wound was healed after six days. The clergyman bound a bandage on the wound of Matts. No reconciliation was possible. Matts said to Erik. "If I get well I will hurt you very much again". Matts died after one month. Erik was arrested and put in the prison in Härnösand. But he succeeded to escape from the prison. Several Finns succeeded to do this during that time. The wife of Erik could prove that the suspicions of her husband were unfounded. Besides Oluf Olsson and his wife witnessed ten Finnish wives and maids, who every day had been together with her. There is a long list of names. The report of the under chief judge in district court Nils Bengtsson is very thorough. Two years later Olof Larsson is fined for that he "against prohibition has had many Finns and vagrants living in his farm and that they have been fishing and in other ways using the forests of the other farmers." Olof Larsson had a number of sons, who must be said to be extremely loose-living. They are found doing their adventures on many places far away from Viksjö. The following shows that the wealth at Finn-farms was very good that time. In the year 1620 Olof Larsson had 2 horses, 2 mares, 1 foal, 2 oxen, 2 bulls, 24 cows, 2 bullocks, 1 heifer, 36 sheep and 6 pigs. He also is said to have a sowing of 4 tunnor (1 tunna = 147 litres) on the fields and 4 tunnor on burn-beaten land. The most rich of the other farmers in the parish had this year 20 cows. The Finn-farms in Viksjö thus seem to have developed very fast and powerfully. The wealth was seen both on the fields and the burn-beaten lands and also in the cow-houses. Olof married Kirstin, XII:74. They had the following children:
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