The Farm of Västra Skafnäset

The farm of Västra Skafnäset was beautifully situated on the slope leading down to the lake.

Carl Ersson and Västra Skafnäset

Carl Ersson moved at the age of 27 from Åskagen to Skafnäset to assist his aunt Sara Hansdotter with the farm and mining operations, after she had been widowed following the death of the miner Jan Ersson in 1788. The couple had no children.

Sara and Carl belonged to the Åskagen family, which had considerable influence in many of the ironworks and mines in the area. When his aunt Sara died, Carl inherited the farm of Skafnäset together with its associated industrial operations.

Carl married Anna Kajsa Ersdotter in 1766. They were married for 21 years and had 18 children, of whom 5 died in infancy (register, image 2).

Carl was a highly industrious and well-respected man in the district. For many years he served as a bergssexman – the trusted representative of the mining community at mines and mining districts – with responsibility for overseeing the operations of the mining district.

During his tenure he developed the operations considerably. He owned properties in Grythyttehed, shares in Grythytte slate works, and shares in Bovik, Torskbäcken and Yngshyttan.

In 1800 he built the house of Västra Skafnäset – a large building with 11 rooms. From the fire insurance document one can read that the house had no fewer than 9 tiled stoves, full and half-French doors, and windows with Swedish glass.

Ownership after Carl Ersson

After Carl’s death, the eldest son Erik Johan inherited the farm. He continued to run the industrial operations and the farm, most likely until his death in 1840.

Erik Johan and his wife Stina Kajsa had two daughters, both of whom moved to Örebro. Stina Kajsa left Skafnäset in 1849. Where she moved to at that time is unclear, but from 1863 she lived in Örebro, where she remained until her death in 1899.

Schoolhouse 1850–1909

From 1850, the house was used, following renovation, as a schoolhouse and teacher’s residence.

Teaching continued there until the end of 1909, when it was moved to the newly built schoolhouse in Persberg.

Fire Insurance Document, 4 April 1805

The following is a transcript of the fire insurance document relating to the farm of Västra Skafnäset. The numbers of the buildings in the insurance document are shown on the attached map (image 1).

The valuation was carried out on 4 April 1805 in accordance with the Royal Majesty’s regulations of 15 April 1762 concerning the general fire insurance fund.

The valuation covers five buildings:

No. 1 – The Manor House (main building) Built in 1800 Two storeys of mature pine timber 28 ells long, 19 ells wide, 10.5 ells high Covered with birch bark and dressed limestone Red-painted, in finest condition Stone foundation 1 ell high

Layout: Ground floor: 6 rooms (great room, kitchen, kitchen chamber, children’s chamber, parlour, guest room) Upper floor: entrance hall and 4 guest rooms

Fittings and details (selection): 9 tiled stoves (2 new tiled stoves, 6 iron tiled stoves) Kitchen range with baking oven 9 larger windows on the ground floor 11 windows on the upper floor Full and half-French doors Painted wallpaper in three rooms Oil-painted dado and skirting panels Entrance porch with fluted columns

Value of building: 1,058 Riksdaler Banco

No. 2 – Secondary Dwelling (1795) One storey 3 rooms (brewhouse room, farmhands’ room, maids’ chamber) Range with baking oven 2 iron tiled stoves Value of building: 358 Riksdaler Banco

No. 3 – Storage Building (1797) Two storeys Grain store and dog kennel Staircase between floors Value of building: 423 Riksdaler Banco

No. 4 – Threshing Barn and Hay Barn (1803) Threshing floor Hay barn Equipment room Value of building: 112 Riksdaler Banco

No. 5 – Cowshed (1804) Cow house for 16 head of cattle 2 fodder barns Adjoining No. 4 Value of building: 170 Riksdaler Banco

Total Valuation

Total value of the entire property: 2,124 Riksdaler Banco Specie

The valuation also notes: A water well that holds water at all times The nearest neighbour at a distance of 100 ells

Fire Equipment (1805)

The owner declared the following fire equipment: 2 new copper hand pumps 4 swabs 2 leather buckets 4 fire ladders 4 fire hooks

Certified 5 April 1805 by master builder Bengt Bransell.

Sources and Acknowledgements

The map and insurance document were obtained from Arkiv Digital. Thanks to my sister Lisbeth, who succeeded in locating the map, the insurance document and the probate inventory of Anna Kajsa, which reveals a very prosperous household.