Many of the old Swedish parish records list an ancestors title or occupation.
The words are often confusing, antiquated and make little sense to me.
Now and again I like to investigate, do some research.
What is the meaning of my ancestors title or occupation?
How did he support and feed his family in his time?
This 1811 parish record of the marriage of my third great grandparents Olof Majholm and Brita Broberg. They were the parents of Charlotta Majholm, Robert Albin's mother. They posted banns in the church as was the custom for three consecutive weeks; September 1,8 and 15. They exchanged their vows the following week on September 22, 1811.
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| År 1811 -recorded by a local parish priest, church of Sweden, Arboga Landförsamling |
What is noted is just before his name is his title or occupation. "Kardmakarmästare" or Master Card maker was an honorable occupation and skill. No, great great great grandpa Olof was not the first guy to work for Hallmark. He handmade a wool comb or card maker. Carding is the processing of brushing raw or washed fibers to prepare them as textiles. A large variety of fibers can be carded, cotton and wool are probably the most common fibers to be carded. Carding is used to take non-aligned fibers and prepare them for spinning or to produce webs of fiber to go into non-woven products such felt.
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| The woman on the right is combing wool with her card. The woman on the left spins the carded wool into yarn. |
This was the early 19th century mind you, and fabric or yarn for knitting was made by hand individually by each family or by a local artisan. It wasn't until the industrial revolution that making of fabrics and yarns became mechanized. A sturdy well made wool comb/carder was a treasured household item.
My 3X great grandfather
kardmakarmästare
Olof Majholm
b: 20 June 1780 Östhammar, Stockholm, Sweden
d: 13 January 1827 Arboga landsförsamling, Västmanland, Sweden
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