March 2025 Program
History and Genealogy of New Sweden
by Richard K. Konkel, Attorney
Watch the recorded presentation here.
Pennsylvania has often been called the most non-English of the original 13 Colonies. The first European settlers in what is now Pennsylvania, Delaware, and parts of New Jersey and Maryland were not English, but Swedes and Finns who established the Swedish Colony of New Sweden which existed from 1638 until 1655 when it was taken over by the Dutch, and then eventually the English. This small settlement of Swedish pioneers remained and flourished in the lower Delaware River valley, leaving a large number of descendants in the mid-Atlantic region and beyond.
About the speaker: SCPGS Vice President Richard Konkel counts himself as a descendant of some of the original settlers of New Sweden. Richard Konkel is a native of York and has been an attorney here for nearly thirty years. He has been a member of the SCPGS for 40 years. He does much research on ancestors in Germany and America. He practices law at the CGA Law Firm and plays cello in the York Symphony Orchestra.
Presentation overview:
Most people forget that the colonization of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Delaware was done before William Penn acquired his land inPennsylvania. As a result of the Thirty Years’ War, Sweden had become a great power and was looking toexpand its presence in the new land. Small settlements were established between 1638 and 1655- slowly creeping into Pennsylvania and the edge of Maryland. In 1655, the Dutch decided that they needed to build up their hold on the new land and expand New Netherland’s territory. Although Sweden did not leave a large footprint on America, they were responsible for introducing Lutheran Christianity leaving several churches known as Old Swedes – one in Philadelphia, PA and one in Wilmington, DE. In addition, there are rivers, creeks and permanent settlements that once carried Swedish names. The Swedes also introduced block house ( forts) and log cabins. They were best known for their ability to negotiate with the Lenape Indians and have peaceful interactions.
When the Swedes settled in the area, they found it necessary to adopt surnames. They moved further west in Pennsylvania and Maryland. The name “Yocumtown” is of Swedish and Danish origin. Rambo Run in Hopewell Twp. comes from Peter Gunarsson Rambo, who grew an apple named after him – the Winter Rambo Apple. Descendants of Peter eventually migrated from Chester County, PA to East Hopewell Twp. in York County, PA. Several other York County families (including Richard’s) are descendants of those early Swedish families. The Gable family descends from the Springer and Hersey families; Carl Springer was the Swedish ancestor and Hersey, the French. The Reno family is descended from the Rambo family. Several baptisms have been found in the Old Swede’s Church in Wilmington, DE for the Hendrickson family. There has been speculation that that particular line might be ancestors of the Hendrix family which migrated from Maryland to southern York Co.
For a more detailed history of New Sweden, there are three websites that can provide information:
Penn State University Library Student Research: https://libraries.psu.edu/about/collections/unearthing-past-student-research-pennsylvaniahistory/new-sweden-brief-history
Family Search: https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/New_Sweden_Genealogy
Swedish Colonial Society: https://colonialswedes.net/brief-history