In connection to the 1634 Swedish Constitution Sweden got a new administrative machinery.An important part in this was a new regional administrative subdivision of Sweden into “Län”. This subdivision into Län was carried through also in the Finland region. Sweden proper (Egentliga Sverige) was divided into 12 Län and Finland into 5 Län. (It is "Län" both in singular and plural).Län is normally translated into “County” in English but shouldn’t be mixed with the term county also used in the USA.The 5 Län in Finland were:1.Åbo och Björneborgs län (Turun ja Porin lääni) 2.Nylands och Tavastehus län (Uudenmaan ja Hämeen lääni) 3.Viborgs och Nyslotts län (Viipurin ja Savonlinnan lääni) 4.Österbottens län (Pohjanmaan lääni) 5.Kexkholms län (Käkisalmen lääni)The Län names within brackets are the Län names in Finnish.Map of the Finnish Län according to the 1634 Swedish Constitution.The subdivisions of Finland into Län, hundreds and parishes have, throughout the centuries, been exposed to many more and far-reaching changes than in Sweden proper. These changes are due to two reasons:•Changes to the administrative divisions•Loss of territory in southeastern of Finland due to warThe ceded territories meant adjustments of the divided or remaining Län and parishes. Both in the peace treaty of Nystad in 1721 and the peace treaty of Åbo in 1743 significant areas of southeastern Finland were ceded to Russia, foremost Viborg Län.A major administrative adjustment of the subdivision into Län in Finland was taken place in 1775. However, many parishes weren’t adjusted accordingly which meant that some parishes ended up with parts of their parishes in another Län. This was also the case for the hundreds.An aggravating circumstance for genealogical research in Finland is the fact that in some cases the secular parishes (the administrative socken) was adjusted while the church parishes (the ecclesiastical socken) wasn’t. In the same place it therefore could be two parishes (socken) with the same name (the administrative socken and the ecclesiastical socken) but with partly different territorial boundaries.Further, new parishes have been instituted by splitting old parishes. There are also examples of parishes that have been merged into a new parish with either a completely new parish name or have kept the name of one of the old parishes.So, when we are talking about parishes in Finland we are dependent of the period of time in order to know which area a parish constituted and which Län it belonged to.This, of course, constitutes a problem for the soldier researchers.
Spelling of the parish names in Finland
The parish names used in this article are the parish names used in the “Den Kungliga Krigsvetenskapsakademin” (The Swedish Royal War Science Academy) publication of 1852.The parishes in Finland mostly carried names in Finnish. Some parishes have Swedish names. However, many parishes have both Finnish and Swedish names.The spellings of the parish names in the publication are from the mid 1800’s and therefore not always up to date with the current spelling. The spelling of the names in Finnish is probably correct in most cases but there are probably a few parish names in Finnish that has been modified to look more Swedish.I have had no possibility of normalizing the spelling of the parish names!You have to consider this when you use the parish register below.If anyone finds an incorrect spelling of a Finnish parish name, please contact me.Many parishes had “rotar” belonging to more than one regiment within its territorial area. Since the names of the “rotar” (pl.) are not in the Swedish Royal War Science Academy’s publication this might force you to search for your soldier in more than one regiment.
How to Locate your Soldier in the Military Records
You probably have first noted that your ancestor was a soldier in the parish (church) records (Household Examination Rolls). Thereby you know the parishwhere he lived as a soldier. The parish name is important if you want to identify the regiment he served in.When you do soldier research it is the General Muster Rolls (GMR) you research. Before you can locate your soldier's military records, i.e. the GMR:s, you need to find the name of the regiment your soldier served in. To limit your search you also need to find out which company of the regiment he belonged to. The Parish Register below will help you find the regiment. Once you have identified the regiment in the parish register, go to the Regiment Register to find which of the companies of the regiment which had “rotar/rusthåll” in your parish.When you have both the regiment and the company you have enough information to search for your soldier in the GMR:s. If you know his soldier number, which can sometimes be found in the household examination rolls, it will be easy to find the soldier once you have identified the company and regiment.
Parish Register
The names of the regiments below are the Swedish names. You need the Swedish names to be able to find the regiments’ in the general muster rolls.•Infanteriregemente = Infantry regiment•Kavalleriregemente = Cavalry regiment•Regemente = RegimentThe listing of parishes below shows per parish the names of the regiments that had rotar/rusthåll in respective parish.Parishes:A - G, H - J, K - L, M - O, P - R, S - T, U - Ö, Workinig order
Assikkala
•Tavastehus infanteriregemente•Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente
Birkkala
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente•Björneborgs infanteriregemente
Bjerno
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente•Åbo läns infanteriregemente
Borgå
•Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente•Nylands infanteriregemente
Christina
•Viborgs och Nyslotts läns kavalleriregemente•Savolax regemente
Elimä
•Viborgs och Nyslotts läns kavalleriregemente•Kymmenegårds regemente (fd. Viborgs läns reg.)
Esbo
•Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente•Nylands infanteriregemente
Eura
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente•Björneborgs infanteriregemente
Eura Åminne
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente•Åbo läns infanteriregemente•Björneborgs infanteriregemente
Gamla Karleby
•Österbottens regemente
Haliko
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente•Åbo läns infanteriregemente
Hauho
•Tavastehus infanteriregemente•Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente
Helsing
•Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente•Nylands infanteriregemente
Hirvinsalmi kap.
•Savolax regemente
Hollola
•Tavastehus infanteriregemente• Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente
Hvittis
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente• Björneborgs infanteriregemente
Idensalmi
•Savolax regemente
Ijå
•Österbottens regemente
Ikalis
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente• Björneborgs infanteriregemente
Ilmola
•Österbottens regemente
Ingo
•Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente•Nylands infanteriregemente
The Allotment System in Finland during the
Swedish period (2)
Janakkala
•Tavastehus infanteriregemente•Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente•Nylands infanteriregemente
Jokkas
•Viborgs och Nyslotts läns kavalleriregemente• Savolax regemente
Jorois
•Viborgs och Nyslotts läns kavalleriregemente•Savolax regemente
•Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente•Nylands infanteriregemente
Tennilä
•Tavastehus infanteriregemente•Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente•Nylands infanteriregemente
Tuulois
•Tavastehus infanteriregemente•Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente
Tyrvis
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente•Björneborgs infanteriregemente
Töfsala
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente
Uleå
•Österbottens regemente
Ulfsby
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente•Björneborgs infanteriregemente
Uskela
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente•Åbo läns infanteriregemente
Valkiala
•Viborgs och Nyslotts läns kavalleriregemente•Kymmenegårds regemente (fd. Viborgs läns reg.)
Vederlax
•Kymmenegårds regemente (fd. Viborgs läns reg.)
Vekelax (Fredrikshamn)
•Viborgs och Nyslotts läns kavalleriregemente•Kymmenegårds regemente (fd. Viborgs läns reg.)
Vemo
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente•Åbo läns infanteriregemente
Verolax
•Viborgs och Nyslotts läns kavalleriregemente
Vesilax
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente• Björneborgs infanteriregemente
Vihtis
•Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente•Nylands infanteriregemente
Virmo
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente•Åbo läns infanteriregemente
Vörå
•Österbottens regemente
Working Order
Begin by browsing the parish register above to find the regiment of your soldier. Then go to the regiment register to find the name of the company.•Regiment Register
Contents (click on preferred chapter in gray navigation list below):
Source References
1."Fd. finska arméns indelning och förläggning" (The former Finnish military allotments), Kongl. Krigs-vetenskaps-Akademins (The Swedish Royal War Science Academy) publication, n:o 9, September 1852 and n:o 10 October 18522."Statistiskt sammandrag af svenska indelningsverket" (Statistical Digest of the Swedish Allotment System), by C. Grill from 1856
In connection to the 1634 Swedish Constitution Sweden got a new administrative machinery.An important part in this was a new regional administrative subdivision of Sweden into “Län”. This subdivision into Län was carried through also in the Finland region. Sweden proper (Egentliga Sverige) was divided into 12 Län and Finland into 5 Län. (It is "Län" both in singular and plural).Län is normally translated into “County” in English but shouldn’t be mixed with the term county also used in the USA.The 5 Län in Finland were:1.Åbo och Björneborgs län (Turun ja Porin lääni) 2.Nylands och Tavastehus län (Uudenmaan ja Hämeen lääni) 3.Viborgs och Nyslotts län (Viipurin ja Savonlinnan lääni) 4.Österbottens län (Pohjanmaan lääni) 5.Kexkholms län (Käkisalmen lääni)The Län names within brackets are the Län names in Finnish.Map of the Finnish Län according to the 1634 Swedish Constitution.The subdivisions of Finland into Län, hundreds and parishes have, throughout the centuries, been exposed to many more and far-reaching changes than in Sweden proper. These changes are due to two reasons:•Changes to the administrative divisions•Loss of territory in southeastern of Finland due to warThe ceded territories meant adjustments of the divided or remaining Län and parishes. Both in the peace treaty of Nystad in 1721 and the peace treaty of Åbo in 1743 significant areas of southeastern Finland were ceded to Russia, foremost Viborg Län.A major administrative adjustment of the subdivision into Län in Finland was taken place in 1775. However, many parishes weren’t adjusted accordingly which meant that some parishes ended up with parts of their parishes in another Län. This was also the case for the hundreds.An aggravating circumstance for genealogical research in Finland is the fact that in some cases the secular parishes (the administrative socken) was adjusted while the church parishes (the ecclesiastical socken) wasn’t. In the same place it therefore could be two parishes (socken) with the same name (the administrative socken and the ecclesiastical socken) but with partly different territorial boundaries.Further, new parishes have been instituted by splitting old parishes. There are also examples of parishes that have been merged into a new parish with either a completely new parish name or have kept the name of one of the old parishes.So, when we are talking about parishes in Finland we are dependent of the period of time in order to know which area a parish constituted and which Län it belonged to.This, of course, constitutes a problem for the soldier researchers.
Spelling of the parish names in Finland
The parish names used in this article are the parish names used in the “Den Kungliga Krigsvetenskapsakademin” (The Swedish Royal War Science Academy) publication of 1852.The parishes in Finland mostly carried names in Finnish. Some parishes have Swedish names. However, many parishes have both Finnish and Swedish names.The spellings of the parish names in the publication are from the mid 1800’s and therefore not always up to date with the current spelling. The spelling of the names in Finnish is probably correct in most cases but there are probably a few parish names in Finnish that has been modified to look more Swedish.I have had no possibility of normalizing the spelling of the parish names!You have to consider this when you use the parish register below.If anyone finds an incorrect spelling of a Finnish parish name, please contact me.Many parishes had “rotar” belonging to more than one regiment within its territorial area. Since the names of the “rotar” (pl.) are not in the Swedish Royal War Science Academy’s publication this might force you to search for your soldier in more than one regiment.
How to Locate your Soldier in the Military
Records
You probably have first noted that your ancestor was a soldier in the parish (church) records(Household Examination Rolls). Thereby you know the parishwhere he lived as a soldier. The parish name is important if you want to identify the regiment he served in.When you do soldier research it is the General Muster Rolls (GMR) you research. Before you can locate your soldier's military records, i.e. the GMR:s, you need to find the name of the regiment your soldier served in. To limit your search you also need to find out which company of the regiment he belonged to. The Parish Register below will help you find the regiment. Once you have identified the regiment in the parish register, go to the Regiment Register to find which of the companies of the regiment which had “rotar/rusthåll” in your parish.When you have both the regiment and the company you have enough information to search for your soldier in the GMR:s. If you know his soldier number, which can sometimes be found in the household examination rolls, it will be easy to find the soldier once you have identified the company and regiment.
Parish Register
The names of the regiments below are the Swedish names. You need the Swedish names to be able to find the regiments’ in the general muster rolls.•Infanteriregemente = Infantry regiment•Kavalleriregemente = Cavalry regiment•Regemente = RegimentThe listing of parishes below shows per parish the names of the regiments that had rotar/rusthåll in respective parish.Parishes:A - G, H - J, K - L, M - O, P - R, S - T, U - Ö, Workinig order
Assikkala
•Tavastehus infanteriregemente•Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente
Birkkala
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente•Björneborgs infanteriregemente
Bjerno
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente•Åbo läns infanteriregemente
Borgå
•Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente•Nylands infanteriregemente
Christina
•Viborgs och Nyslotts läns kavalleriregemente•Savolax regemente
Elimä
•Viborgs och Nyslotts läns kavalleriregemente•Kymmenegårds regemente (fd. Viborgs läns reg.)
Esbo
•Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente•Nylands infanteriregemente
Eura
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente•Björneborgs infanteriregemente
Eura Åminne
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente•Åbo läns infanteriregemente•Björneborgs infanteriregemente
Gamla Karleby
•Österbottens regemente
Haliko
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente•Åbo läns infanteriregemente
Hauho
•Tavastehus infanteriregemente•Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente
Helsing
•Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente•Nylands infanteriregemente
Hirvinsalmi kap.
•Savolax regemente
Hollola
•Tavastehus infanteriregemente• Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente
Hvittis
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente• Björneborgs infanteriregemente
Idensalmi
•Savolax regemente
Ijå
•Österbottens regemente
Ikalis
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente• Björneborgs infanteriregemente
Ilmola
•Österbottens regemente
Ingo
•Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente•Nylands infanteriregemente
The Allotment System in
Finland during the Swedish
period (2)
Janakkala
•Tavastehus infanteriregemente•Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente•Nylands infanteriregemente
Jokkas
•Viborgs och Nyslotts läns kavalleriregemente• Savolax regemente
Jorois
•Viborgs och Nyslotts läns kavalleriregemente•Savolax regemente
•Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente•Nylands infanteriregemente
Tennilä
•Tavastehus infanteriregemente•Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente•Nylands infanteriregemente
Tuulois
•Tavastehus infanteriregemente•Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente
Tyrvis
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente•Björneborgs infanteriregemente
Töfsala
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente
Uleå
•Österbottens regemente
Ulfsby
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente•Björneborgs infanteriregemente
Uskela
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente•Åbo läns infanteriregemente
Valkiala
•Viborgs och Nyslotts läns kavalleriregemente•Kymmenegårds regemente (fd. Viborgs läns reg.)
Vederlax
•Kymmenegårds regemente (fd. Viborgs läns reg.)
Vekelax (Fredrikshamn)
•Viborgs och Nyslotts läns kavalleriregemente•Kymmenegårds regemente (fd. Viborgs läns reg.)
Vemo
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente•Åbo läns infanteriregemente
Verolax
•Viborgs och Nyslotts läns kavalleriregemente
Vesilax
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente• Björneborgs infanteriregemente
Vihtis
•Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente•Nylands infanteriregemente
Virmo
•Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente•Åbo läns infanteriregemente
Vörå
•Österbottens regemente
Source References
1."Fd. finska arméns indelning och förläggning" (The former Finnish military allotments), Kongl. Krigs-vetenskaps-Akademins (The Swedish Royal War Science Academy) publication, n:o 9, September 1852 and n:o 10 October 18522."Statistiskt sammandrag af svenska indelningsverket" (Statistical Digest of the Swedish Allotment System), by C. Grill from 1856
Begin by browsing the parish register above to find the regiment of your soldier. Then go to the regiment register to find the name of the company.•Regiment Register
