How to Research Sailors in the Navy Rolls - Sweden (Part - 3)

Båtsmansrullor - Båtsman Rolls (Sailor Rolls)

If you are researching navy båtsmän from the 1880s you should browse the series båtsmansrullor. They begin in the 1880s (there might be some from the 1870s too). This series is a goldmine if you have sailors from the 1880s and thereafter. These rolls are very detailed since they hold information regarding each sailor's duty, voyages, grades etc. Each sailor's service data was kept in individual books called "båtsmansrulla"; one book per sailor. These rolls are found under respective naval station.

The Parish Records - Husförhörslängd (HFL)

In the following example we will search for båtsman (sailor) Nils August Björk in the navy rolls. I have found Björk in the Tystberga parish records (Södermanland, D). Björk was born on 1833-01-28 in Tystberga parish. We will find sailor Björk in the parish records for Bogsta parish, Södermanland. Björk is his sailor/soldier name. Source: Bogsta AI:12 (1856-1860) Image 75 / page 62.

Tutorial 3: How to Research Navy Sailors,

Sweden (3c)

Above, extract from Bogsta parish book, Bogsta AI:12 (1856-1860) Image 75 / page 62 (AID: v54596.b75.s62, NAD: SE/ULA/10132). The extract above lists båtsman (sailor) Nils August Björk born on January 28, 1833, in Tystberga parish, Södermanland. His wife Anna Sofia Ersdotter was born on November 3, 1829, in Nicolai parish (Nyköping city), Södermanland. The couple has one child listed, Johan August, born on October 28, 1857, in Bogsta parish. Column "Inflyttat" (Moved in) shows that the couple moved from Tystberga parish into the sailor croft (cottage) in Bogsta parish on October 26, 1857, only 2 days before Anna Sofia gave birth to their son Johan August. Anna Sofia was, in other words, heavily pregnant when they moved into the croft. On top of the extract above we can read that the name of the sailor croft was Knutstugan. Björk's sailor number was 65 (rote number) which is also stated in the heading. Bogsta parish in located by Lake Runnviken, northeast of Nyköping city, Södermanland Län, not far from Tystberga parish where Nils August was born. • Född = Born • År = Year • Uti = Place of birth • Månad och dag = Month and day • Döpt den = Baptized, date • Inflyttat = Moved-in

The Navy Company (Båtsmanskompaniet)

Since the sailor croft was located in Södermanland we can assume that Björk served in one of the two Södermanland companies; Södermanlands Första Båtsmanskompani respective Södermanlands Andra Båtsmanskompani (Södermanland First Navy Company and Södermanland Second Navy Company). Södermanland is the name of both a province as well as a län (county). The province and the län encompass largely the same area but the northeastern part of the province is located in Stockholm län while the other part of the province is located in Södermanland län. The First Company was located in Stockholm län while the Second Company was in Södermanland län. Both companies were subordinated the Stockholm Naval Station. Björk's sailor croft in Bogsta parish was located in Södermanland län which means that he ought to have served in the Södermanland Second Navy Company (Södermanlands Andra Båtsmanskompani). To be sure we have to consult Grill’s work. There is an example in this Navy article about how to use Grill to find the name of a sailor's navy company so I won't repeat this information here. For more information, see Grill.

Grill

Before you can locate a sailor's military records, you must first identify the navy unit in which he served. Our sailor (båtsman) Nils August Björk, lived in Bogsta parish, Södermanland, when he was a sailor (that's where his sailor croft was located) so we begin by browsing Grill's parish index for Bogsta parish to find which navy company had rotar in the parish. Then we browse the unit the parish index refers to. See the parish index in Grill; Tryckt litteratur GrillReg:1 (0-9999) Image 100 / page 7 (AID: v792967.b100.s7, NAD: SE/AD/00001). Here we find a reference to page 34, volume 3, which is the Navy section of Grill. Page 34 is a page concerning The Södermanland Second Navy Company (Södermanlands Andra båtsmanskompani). Here we find information that navy rote 65 in Bogsta parish is Berga och Eke (under Ökna). See Grill; Tryckt litteratur Grill:3 (1858-1858) Bild 230 / sid 35 (AID: v792655.b230.s35, NAD: SE/AD/00001).

The Navy General Muster Rolls

We now know that båtsman (sailor) 65 Nils August Björk served in the Södermanland Second Navy Company (Södermanlands Andra båtsmanskompani) and that the name of his rote was "Berga och Eke" (Berga and Eke). Since Björk moved into the sailor croft in October 1857 we can assume that he was enrolled that year. This chapter is about the båtsman rolls but they do not begin until the 1880s and since Björk was enrolled in 1857 we have to start by search for him in the Navy general muster rolls. We browse the rolls "Rullor flottan 1635-1915". Series IV contain the companies under Karlskorna Naval Station while series XIIIc contain he companies under Stockholm Naval Station. Since the Södermanland Second Navy Company was placed under Stockholm Naval Station we browse series XIIIc for båtsman 65 Björk. We find the navy company in the roll "Rullor flottan 1635-1915 XIIIc:344 (1857-1858) Image 20" for year 1857. The 1857 general muster:

Above, extract from Navy roll: Rullor flottan 1635-1915 XIIIc:344 (1857-1858) Image 210 (AID: v399341a.b210, NAD: SE/KrA/0503036). The above extract lists båtsman (sailor) 65 Nils August Hamberg Björk, enrolled at the company general muster on June 27, 1857. Björk was born in 1833 which means he was 24 years old when he was enrolled. See the column to the far right (Närvarande ålder - Current age). His surname is Hamberg while his sailor name is Björk. The predecessor at the rote is also listed; Anders Persson Björk (b. 1805). He was enrolled in 1828 and had served for 29 years. He was 51 years old when he was discharged at company's the general muster in 1857. At the right-hand side we find a notation why he was discharged; he died on April 22, 1857 (not shown on the extract above). • Båtsmannens Nummer = Sailor number • Födelse-Ort = Place of birth • Antagen i tjänst = Date of Enrollment • Tjenste-år = Number of service years • Födelse-år och dag = Date of birth • Närvarande ålder = Current age • Socken = Parish The 1862 general muster:

Above, extract from Navy roll: Rullor flottan 1635-1915 XIIIc:351 (1862-1863) Bild 150 (AID: v399348.b150, NAD: SE/KrA/0503036). The above extract from the company's general muster in 1862 lists sailor Björk with both his surname as well as his sailor name, Nils August Hamberg Björk. His date of birth is noted as January 28, 1833. Björk had at the general muster 5 years of service (column "Tjenste-år").

Båtsmansrullorna - Båtsman Rolls

We will now make a jump in time until we find the first båtsman rolls for the Södermanlands Andra båtsmanskompani (Södermanland Second Navy Company) and more specifically for sailor N:o 65 Björk. From the 1880s each sailor were registered in individual service books called "båtsmansrulla" (båtsman roll or sailor roll). [Båtsmansrulla is singular and båtsmansrullor is plural.] These rolls or books contain service data about respective sailor with notes about their duties aboard ships at sea as well as duties at the naval station. You might even find issued certificates for sailors inserted in their respective books. The båtsman rolls are found under respective naval station, so in this case we will search for 65 Bjök's båtsman roll under the Stockholm Naval Station since the Södermanland Second Navy Company, where Björk served, was organized under the Stockholm Station. Among the Stockholm station's båtsman rolls we search for n:o 65 Björk's roll.

Above, the front page of the båtsman roll for N:o 65 Björk, Södermanlands Andra båtsmanskompani (Södermanland Second Navy Company): Stockholms station: Södermanlands 2. båtsmanskompani D6:3 (0-9999) Image 280 (AID: v741217a.b280, NAD: SE/KrA/0530F064Ö). The extract above shows the front page of sailor n:o 65 Björk's individual båtsman roll (book) with information of Björk's service data. The label actually has a note that 65 Björk retired from service on July 30, 1891, "30/7 91 afsked med rotens medgivande". In other words, Björk retired with concent of the rote.

Above, extract from N:o 65 Björk's båtsman roll: Stockholms station: Södermanlands 2. båtsmanskompani D6:3 (0-9999) Image 291 (AID: v741217a.b291, NAD: SE/KrA/0530F064Ö). The extract above shows the main page of N:o 65 Björk's båtsman roll. After the heading "Hufudrote" (Main rote) we find the name of the rote Björk beloned to; "Berga och Eke". After "Torpet beläget" (location of the sailor croft) we find the location of his croft (cottage); 3/20 Mil norr om Bogsta kyrka strax vid vägen". "Mil" is a measure of length and is 10 kilometers (6 miles). So, 3/20 Mil is 1.5 Km or about 1 mile. The croft was located 1.5 km (1 mile) north of Bogsta church by the road. The heading "Postkontor" (Post office) hold information about the closest post office and was located in Ökne, Bogsta parish. Headings: • Korporalskap = Corporalship; in modern terms roughly the same as platoon. Björk served in the 3rd Corporalship. • Län = County; Nyköping län which is an old name of Södermanland län • Härad = Hundreds; Rönö Hundreds • Socken = Parish; Bogsta parish • Hufvudrote = Main rote; Berga and Eke • Torpet beläget = The location of the sailor croft • Postkontor = Post office

Above, extract from N:o 65 Björk's båtsman roll: Stockholms station: Södermanlands 2. båtsmanskompani D6:3 (0-9999) Image 292 (AID: v741217a.b292, NAD: SE/KrA/0530F064Ö). The extract above shows page 2 of N:o 65 Björk's båtsman roll. Here we find personal data about sailor N:o 65 Björk. • Född den (Born on) January 28, 1833, in Tystberga parish (socken), Nyköping län. • Antagen till (enrolled); Enrolled as a båtsman (sailor) on June 27, 1857. • Namn enligt prestbetyg (Full name according to the birth certificate); Nils August Hamberg. • Ålder vid antagningen (Age at the time of enrolment); 24 years and 5 months (24 5/12). • Yrke d:o (occupation at the time of enrolment); Dräng = farmhand. • Gift eller ogift d:o (married or unmarried at the time of enrolment); Ogift = Unmarried. • I lagstadd tjenst intill den (Leagally employed by contract until); October 24, 1857. Björk was legally bound by an employment until October 1857 when he was enrolled in June 1857. • Legokontraktet dataerat den (the contract was signed on); May 23, 1857. • Aflagt krigsmannaeden den (swore the oath of allegiance); January 29, 1858. An oath of allegiance is an oath whereby a subject or citizen acknowledges a duty of allegiance and swears loyalty to monarch and country. The military oath of allegiance in Sweden is called soldaterinran today but formerly called krigsmannaed or krigsmans erinran or faned. At the bottom of the page we find a notation that Björk later was married (Gift). Here we also find the notation that he retired from service on July 30, 1891. Since Nils Björk was born in 1833 he was 58 years old when he was discharged in 1891. He had then served as a sailor in the Navy for 34 years. This means he qualified for a pension. A soldier/sailor normally needed 30 years of service and be above the age of 50 to qualified for pension. The right column in the above extract holds information about Björk's appearance; light hair, blue eyes, insignificant growth of beard and average bodily constitution. Notations in 1882; his height was 5 foot 9 inches, had blue eyes, dark hair, grey beard and inclined to thinness. Björk was 49 years old in 1882. Björk was according to the roll unmarried when he was enrolled in June 1857. According to the parish record he and his highly pregnant wife moved into the soldier croft (cottage) on October 26, 1857. It is safe to assume that the couple was wedded between those two events.

Rosters (Tjänstgöringsförteckningar)

The båtsman rolls holds detailed information about respective sailor's (båtsman) duties aboard ships at sea and at the naval station.

Above, extract from N:o 65 Björk's båtsman roll: Stockholms station: Södermanlands 2. båtsmanskompani D6:3 (0-9999) Image 293 (AID: v741217a.b293, NAD: SE/KrA/0530F064Ö). The extract above shows page 3 of N:o 65 Björk's båtsman roll. Here we find information that Björk did duties as a navy tailor (skräddare) in 1874. See the 3rd column "Yrkesafdelning och hantverk" (Profession and crafts). Roster:

Above, extract from N:o 65 Björk's båtsman roll: Stockholms station: Södermanlands 2. båtsmanskompani D6:3 (0-9999) Image 293 (AID: v741217a.b293, NAD: SE/KrA/0530F064Ö). The extract above shows page 4 of N:o 65 Björk's båtsman roll. This extract shows 65 Björk's roster (duty list). It holds his duties between 1858 and up to 1891 when he retired, i.e. through his entire period of service. Between 1868 and 1871 he served aboard navy ships at sea for three months a year. His post aboard was "skaffare" (storekeeper or purveyor). A "skaffare" was responsible for the acquiring of provisions to warships. See the column labeled "Befattning" (Position). The 4th column labeled "Tjänstgjort å" (Served at) lists the name of the ships Björk served at including types of ships. In the beginning of his navy career he served aboard gun tenders (kanonjolle), among them the gun tender Frigga. Later Björk served on steam gun sloops (kanonångslupar), among them the steam gun sloops Alfhild and Hogland. In 1871 he served aboard the armored ship Gramer. In 1884 he did 4 months' guard duty at the Galley shipyard, Stockholm Naval Station. The above roster shows that Björk served for long periods at the naval station up to 12 months each time. After 1873 he seems to served only on land, i.e. at the naval station and not at sea. There are no entries in his roster after 1889 (he retired in 1891). The last entry in his roster is for 1889 and the entry in the 4th column is "permitterad" which means that he was granted a leave (temporary dismissal). The allotted infantry soldiers were normally summoned during the summer months in peace times while the allotted sailors were summoned up to 12 months at a time as we can see in Björk's roster. Dictionary: • År = Years • Från och med = From date • Till och med = To date • Tjänstgjort å = Served at • Tjänstetid = Period of service • Till sjöss = At sea • I land = on land (at the naval station) • Mån. = Months • Dag. = Days • Befattning = Position (Occupational position) • Betyg för = Grades regarding • Uppförande = Behavior • Tjestbarhet = Fitness for service • Af hvem attesteradt = Certified by • Uppford. is short for uppfordrad = Summoned or called up. For example, "Uppford. 12 m 16 dag." means "summoned for 12 months and 16 days". • Stationen = The naval station • Galervarfsvakten = Galley shipyard guard duty • Skaffare = Purveyor • Gast = deckhand • Permitterad = granted a leave (temporary dismissal)

Båtsman Contracts (Båtsmanskontrakt) - Navy Service Contracts

Sailor Nils August Björk's bårsman roll (båtsmansrulla) contain a number of loose documents inserted into the roll and among them his service contract (båtsmanskontrakt). A contract was drawn up between the rote farmers in the rote and the new båtsman of the rote when he was enrolled as a recruit. The contract held information about the rote farmers' obligations towards the båtsman such as the "lega" (single payment at the time of the recruitment), "lön" (annual salary) and fringe benefits (hemkall), paid with products from the rote farms to the sailor at his sailor croft. This was products such as provisions, seed for sowing, firewood, transportation to the flour-mill when needed etc. Beside the so- called hemkall the sailor also received an annual barrel of grain. As mentioned in the beginning of the article; during the time of the Allotment System, the farms of a particular rote had contractual responsibility to provide a dwelling for its soldier/sailor and his family. The soldier croft (soldattorp) respectively the sailor croft (båtsmanstorp) was a cottage on the property of one of the farms in the rote. Use of the dwelling was part of the soldier’s/sailor's pay. The croft also included a small field (1-2 acres), some farm animals and a few outbuildings. The soldier/sailor could live at the croft only while he served in the military. When a soldier/sailor retired (or died) he and his family had to move out. The farmers of the rote were then required to provide a new soldier, who would take over the soldier croft. If the soldier/sailor died his family had to vacate the croft within three months. Both the recruit as well as the contract had to be approved by the Captain of the Company. The recruit didn’t officially become a sailor until he was approved at the next general muster (generalmönstring). The Navy service contracts are normally searched for under respective company achieve. They can also be searched for under respective naval station. However, in the case of sailor Nils August Björk's contract of 1857 it was found inserted in his båtsman roll. The service contracts are not always found since they have unevenly been kept. However, most for provinces the contacts can be found from the beginning of the 1800s. Sailor 65 Björk's service contract have been preserved though. See below:

Above, extract from N:o 65 Björk's båtsman roll; his service contract: Stockholms station: Södermanlands 2. båtsmanskompani D6:3 (0-9999) Image 281 (AID: v741217a.b281, NAD: SE/KrA/0530F064Ö). The extract above shows sailor 65 Nils August Björk's Navy service contract (båtsmanskontrakt ) which was drawn up on October 24, 1857. At the top of the contract we find Björk's full name and present occupation and address; drängen (farmhand) Nils August Jansson, Klävsta, Tystberga parish. Below his name is a section with 6 clauses with the terms of the contract; the rote farmers' obligations towards the båtsman and the båtsman's obligations towards the rote. Further down we find the rote farmers' signatures; Anders Olsson in Berga, Johan Andersson in Berga. Nils August has signed the contract close to the bottom with Nils August Jansson. Thereby we also know his patronymic; Jansson. At the far bottom we have Corporal Fagerlund's signature. He witnessed the signatures of the involved parties. For a transcription of the above contract, see Navy Service Contract (båtsmanskontrakt).

Different Certificates - Birth Certificates (Prästintyg)

Soldiers and sailors needed to present a number of certificates when they were recruited, among them a birth certificate (prästintyg). The birth certificates were issued by the parish ministers and were therefore often referred to as "the parish minister certificate" (prästintyg). Nils August Björk's birth certificate was inserted in his båtsman roll. See below:

Above, extract from N:o 65 Björk's båtsman roll; his birth certificate: Stockholms station: Södermanlands 2. båtsmanskompani D6:3 (0-9999) Image 282 (AID: v741217a.b282, NAD: SE/KrA/0530F064Ö). The extract above shows sailor 65 Nils August Björk's birth certificate (prästintyg) dated June 21, 1857, i.e. when he was recruited as a sailor in the Södermanlands 2. båtsmanskompani (Södermanland 2. Navy Company). The certificate is signed by the parish minister in Nils August's home parish, assistant parish minister (comminister) Åhman, Tysberga parish rectory (prästgård). The certificate is issued for drängen (farmhand) Nils August Hamberg in Käfta Norrgård, Tystberga parish and certify that he was born on January 28, 1833. Nils August's patronymic was Jansson, as we have found above, but he obviously adopted a family name prior to his enrolment; Hamberg. The certificate also affirms that Nils August has satisfactory knowledge of Christianity, has partaken the Holy Communion regularly and an irreproachable conduct (oklanderlig vandel). The certificate also states that Nils August was unmarried and was vaccinated. The vaccination mentioned is the vaccination for smallpox, which became compulsory in 1816. The parish minister certificate holds more information than a conventional birth certificate. To find out whether Nils August adopted his family name Hamberg before he was enrolled in the Navy we will take a look in the parish records of the parish where he lived before his enrollment in 1857. He lived then in Klävsta, Tystberga parish, Södermanland.

Above, extract from Tystberga parishbook, Tystberga AI:12 (1856-1860) Image 45 / page 41 (AID: v62663.b45.s41, NAD: SE/ULA/11611), left-hand side. The above entry shows Nils August's entry in the household examination roll for Klävsta village, Tystberga, as of 1856 - 1860. He is listed as Dr. Nils August Hamberg. "Dr" is short for "Dräng" which is farmhand in English. So, Nils August adopted his family name Hamberg prior to his enrolment in the navy.

Above, extract from Tystberga parishbook, Tystberga AI:12 (1856-1860) Image 45 / page 41 (AID: v62663.b45.s41, NAD: SE/ULA/11611), right-hand side. The above image shows the right-hand side of the entry. The first three columns are the Moving-out columns and the entry shows that Nils August moved to Bogsta parish in 1857 where he was recruited as a båtsman (sailor) for rote 65. The third column from the far right is the marriage column (Wigd) and according to the entry he was wedded on August 23, 1857. The notation to the far right holds information that he married the maid (piga) Anna Sofia Ersdotter. In other words, the couple married before they moved to the sailor croft in Bogsta, which they did in October 1857. Anna Sofia was heavily pregnant at the time; on October 28, 1857, she gave birth to a son.

Different Certificates - Medical Certificates (Läkarintyg)

As mentioned above, soldiers and a sailors needed to present a number of certificates when they were recruited. One of these certificates was a medical certificate (läkarintyg). Nils August Björk's medical certificate was inserted in his båtsman roll. See below:

Above, extract from N:o 65 Björk's båtsman roll; his medical certificate: Stockholms station: Södermanlands 2. båtsmanskompani D6:3 (0-9999) Image 283 (AID: v741217a.b283, NAD: SE/KrA/0530F064Ö). The extract above shows sailor 65 Nils August Björk's medical certificate (läkarintyg) dated June 27, 1857, i.e. when he was recruited as a sailor in the Södermanlands 2. båtsmanskompani (Södermanland 2. Navy Company). The certificate is signed by the district medical officer (provinsialläkare) in Nyköping city. Nils August has for some reason been named Holmberg in the certificate instead of his real name Hamberg. The certificate affirms that Nils August has a sound and strong bodily constitution (sund och stark kroppsbeskaffenhet och byggnad) and was of good health (frisk). He was fit for active service (till krigstjänst duglig).

Different Certificates - Certificate from the former employer (Arbetsgivarintyg)

As mentioned above, soldiers and a sailors needed to present a number of certificates when they were recruited. One of these certificates was a certificate from the former employer (arbetsgivarintyg). This certificate was needed to clarify that the recruit wasn't legally bound by a contract of employment preventing him from entering military service. For example, if a farmhand still was contractually tied to an employment at a farm he couldn't be enrolled until he was released from his present contract of employment. Farmhands were contractually employed for 12 months' periods, normally October to October. Below is farmhand Nils August Hamberg's certificate from his employer, farmer Pehr Eric Carlsson, affirming that Hamberg was free to enter a new employment. The certificate was inserted in his båtsman roll. See below:

Above, extract from N:o 65 Björk's båtsman roll; his former employer's certificate: Stockholms station: Södermanlands 2. båtsmanskompani D6:3 (0-9999) Image 284 (AID: v741217a.b284, NAD: SE/KrA/0530F064Ö). The extract above shows sailor 65 Nils August Björk's employer's certificate dated June 25, 1857, i.e. when he was recruited as a sailor in the Södermanlands 2. båtsmanskompani (Södermanland 2. Navy Company). The certificate is signed by his former employer, farmer Pehr Eric Carlsson in Klävsta, Tystberga parish. The certificate states that Nils August Hamberg has served as a farmhand (dräng) for Carlsson for a period of three years. During this time Hamberg has been behaving honestly, soberly and been good-tempered (ärligt, nyktert och beskedligt) and is free to take up a new employment.

Tutorials:

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Images

Images Hans Högman, 2015.

Source References

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How to Research Sailors in the

Navy Rolls - Sweden (Part - 3)

Båtsmansrullor - Båtsman Rolls (Sailor

Rolls)

The Parish Records - Husförhörslängd (HFL)

Tutorial 3: How to

Research Navy Sailors,

Sweden (3c)

Navy - Start, Båtsman Rolls, Båtsman Contract, Certificates, Croft Inspections, Retirement & Pension

The Navy Company (Båtsmanskompaniet)

Grill

The Navy General Muster Rolls

Above, extract from Navy roll: Rullor flottan 1635- 1915 XIIIc:344 (1857-1858) Image 210 (AID: v399341a.b210, NAD: SE/KrA/0503036). The above extract lists båtsman (sailor) 65 Nils August Hamberg Björk, enrolled at the company general muster on June 27, 1857. Björk was born in 1833 which means he was 24 years old when he was enrolled. See the column to the far right (Närvarande ålder - Current age). His surname is Hamberg while his sailor name is Björk. The predecessor at the rote is also listed; Anders Persson Björk (b. 1805). He was enrolled in 1828 and had served for 29 years. He was 51 years old when he was discharged at company's the general muster in 1857. At the right-hand side we find a notation why he was discharged; he died on April 22, 1857 (not shown on the extract above). • Båtsmannens Nummer = Sailor number • Födelse-Ort = Place of birth • Antagen i tjänst = Date of Enrollment • Tjenste-år = Number of service years • Födelse-år och dag = Date of birth • Närvarande ålder = Current age • Socken = Parish The 1862 general muster:

Båtsmansrullorna - Båtsman Rolls

Above, the front page of the båtsman roll for N:o 65 Björk, Södermanlands Andra båtsmanskompani (Södermanland Second Navy Company): Stockholms station: Södermanlands 2. båtsmanskompani D6:3 (0- 9999) Image 280 (AID: v741217a.b280, NAD: SE/KrA/0530F064Ö). The extract above shows the front page of sailor n:o 65 Björk's individual båtsman roll (book) with information of Björk's service data. The label actually has a note that 65 Björk retired from service on July 30, 1891, "30/7 91 afsked med rotens medgivande". In other words, Björk retired with concent of the rote.

Rosters (Tjänstgöringsförteckningar)

The båtsman rolls holds detailed information about respective sailor's (båtsman) duties aboard ships at sea and at the naval station.

Above, extract from N:o 65 Björk's båtsman roll: Stockholms station: Södermanlands 2. båtsmanskompani D6:3 (0-9999) Image 293 (AID: v741217a.b293, NAD: SE/KrA/0530F064Ö). The extract above shows page 3 of N:o 65 Björk's båtsman roll. Here we find information that Björk did duties as a navy tailor (skräddare) in 1874. See the 3rd column "Yrkesafdelning och hantverk" (Profession and crafts). Roster:

Above, extract from N:o 65 Björk's båtsman roll: Stockholms station: Södermanlands 2. båtsmanskompani D6:3 (0-9999) Image 293 (AID: v741217a.b293, NAD: SE/KrA/0530F064Ö). The extract above shows page 4 of N:o 65 Björk's båtsman roll. This extract shows 65 Björk's roster (duty list). It holds his duties between 1858 and up to 1891 when he retired, i.e. through his entire period of service. Between 1868 and 1871 he served aboard navy ships at sea for three months a year. His post aboard was "skaffare" (storekeeper or purveyor). A "skaffare" was responsible for the acquiring of provisions to warships. See the column labeled "Befattning" (Position). The 4th column labeled "Tjänstgjort å" (Served at) lists the name of the ships Björk served at including types of ships. In the beginning of his navy career he served aboard gun tenders (kanonjolle), among them the gun tender Frigga. Later Björk served on steam gun sloops (kanonångslupar), among them the steam gun sloops Alfhild and Hogland. In 1871 he served aboard the armored ship Gramer. In 1884 he did 4 months' guard duty at the Galley shipyard, Stockholm Naval Station. The above roster shows that Björk served for long periods at the naval station up to 12 months each time. After 1873 he seems to served only on land, i.e. at the naval station and not at sea. There are no entries in his roster after 1889 (he retired in 1891). The last entry in his roster is for 1889 and the entry in the 4th column is "permitterad" which means that he was granted a leave (temporary dismissal). The allotted infantry soldiers were normally summoned during the summer months in peace times while the allotted sailors were summoned up to 12 months at a time as we can see in Björk's roster. Dictionary: • År = Years • Från och med = From date • Till och med = To date • Tjänstgjort å = Served at • Tjänstetid = Period of service • Till sjöss = At sea • I land = on land (at the naval station) • Mån. = Months • Dag. = Days • Befattning = Position (Occupational position) • Betyg för = Grades regarding • Uppförande = Behavior • Tjestbarhet = Fitness for service • Af hvem attesteradt = Certified by • Uppford. is short for uppfordrad = Summoned or called up. For example, "Uppford. 12 m 16 dag." means "summoned for 12 months and 16 days". • Stationen = The naval station • Galervarfsvakten = Galley shipyard guard duty • Skaffare = Purveyor • Gast = deckhand • Permitterad = granted a leave (temporary dismissal)

Båtsman Contracts

(Båtsmanskontrakt) - Navy Service

Contracts

Sailor Nils August Björk's bårsman roll (båtsmansrulla) contain a number of loose documents inserted into the roll and among them his service contract (båtsmanskontrakt). A contract was drawn up between the rote farmers in the rote and the new båtsman of the rote when he was enrolled as a recruit. The contract held information about the rote farmers' obligations towards the båtsman such as the "lega" (single payment at the time of the recruitment), "lön" (annual salary) and fringe benefits (hemkall), paid with products from the rote farms to the sailor at his sailor croft. This was products such as provisions, seed for sowing, firewood, transportation to the flour-mill when needed etc. Beside the so-called hemkall the sailor also received an annual barrel of grain. As mentioned in the beginning of the article; during the time of the Allotment System, the farms of a particular rote had contractual responsibility to provide a dwelling for its soldier/sailor and his family. The soldier croft (soldattorp) respectively the sailor croft (båtsmanstorp) was a cottage on the property of one of the farms in the rote. Use of the dwelling was part of the soldier’s/sailor's pay. The croft also included a small field (1-2 acres), some farm animals and a few outbuildings. The soldier/sailor could live at the croft only while he served in the military. When a soldier/sailor retired (or died) he and his family had to move out. The farmers of the rote were then required to provide a new soldier, who would take over the soldier croft. If the soldier/sailor died his family had to vacate the croft within three months. Both the recruit as well as the contract had to be approved by the Captain of the Company. The recruit didn’t officially become a sailor until he was approved at the next general muster (generalmönstring). The Navy service contracts are normally searched for under respective company achieve. They can also be searched for under respective naval station. However, in the case of sailor Nils August Björk's contract of 1857 it was found inserted in his båtsman roll. The service contracts are not always found since they have unevenly been kept. However, most for provinces the contacts can be found from the beginning of the 1800s. Sailor 65 Björk's service contract have been preserved though. See below: