Bernhard Benedicks

http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernhard_Benedicks

http://runeberg.org/millionar/1/0005.html

Bernhard Benedicks was the son of Michael Benedicks, a rich Jewish jeweler for the Swedish crown originally from Germany. He owned an iron factory outside of Uppsala which was purchased in 1802. This factory allegedly developed the first electrolysis technique to convert iron into steel, but burnt down in 1901. The Benedicks family was incredibly wealthy (one of the richest families in Sweden at the time) and Louisa worked for him as a maid.

Speculation as to his identity has continued for several decades, but a religious newspaper article confirms that Louisa worked in his household when she got pregnant. The only other man present in the household was his nephew (brother's son), Gustav who was 20 years old.

It is almost certain, though, that Bernhard is the father of Ester. After Louisa remarried (after being bought off for ~5,000 RK, a very large sum at the time) in northern Sweden, she named her first son Bernhard as his middle name. Moreover, there was a large age gap between Gustav (20) the nephew and Ester (34) at the time. Louisa's silence was bought.

• Updated from MyHeritage Family Trees via sister Marie-louise Benedicks by SmartCopy: Nov 26 2015, 16:24:35 UTC

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• Updated from MyHeritage Family Trees via brother Carl* Thedor Benedicks by SmartCopy: Nov 26 2015, 16:28:02 UTC