Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Jonas NEILSON
Born in Skaning Hundred, Skaraborg, Lan, Sweden.
The King of Sweden, Gustavus Adolphus, sent colonists to the New World. Jonas left from Stockholm, Sweden in September of 1642. Jonas Neilson arrived in America on February 15, 1643. The colonists settled on Tinicum Island. Jonas Neilson built a house in 1650 that is still standing. It is located on the west side of the Schuylkill River near Philadelphia, PA. It is very small and has only two rooms and an attic, but it has a rich history. Court was held in this house and George Washington once visited. Jonas went back and visited Sweden on the ship the "Eagle" in July of 1654. He returned on to Philadelphia on the ship "Mercurius" in March of 1656.
Jonas Nilsson was born in 1620. He arrived in New Sweden in 1643 and served as a soldier at Fort Elfsborg until 1648 when he became a freeman. He then established an Indian trading post on Kingsessing Creek southwest of the Schuylkill in present West Philadelphia. His first patent for this land was issued 18 May 1672. A friend and protector of Armegot Printz, daughter of the former governor, Jonas was a witness to her sale of a church bell to the Swedish church on 24 May 1673. An imposing character, he was reported to be six and a half feet tall. His home was the center of trade with the Minquas Indians arriving from the west via the Great Minquas trail. Jonas' wife Gertrude, was also a formidable woman. Her outspoken criticism of defamatory remarks by the English against the Swedes was at least once the subject of court notice.
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