Johan Christopher Ruuth

Johan Christopher Ruuth I (1768-1822) aka Johan Christopher Örbom, aka Johan Orbom; Vicar on the Graninge Estate from 1804 to 1808; 19th Vicar of Hede, Sweden from 1808 to 1822 (b. December 07, 1768, Näskott, Faxälven, Jämtland, Sweden - d. July 16, 1822, Hede, Sweden)

Birth: He was the son of Erik Johan Örbom (1723/24-1815), Major of the Jämtland regiment; and Helena Ruuth (1729-1822), aka Helena von der Hude.

Siblings: Christina Örbom (1758-1796) who married Lars Johan Feltström (1758-1831); Elisabet Helena Örbom (1761-1837) who married Pehr Gerdlund (1763-1824); and Carl Johan Örbom (1765-1836) who married Fredrika Lovisa Hofling (1778-1843).

Education: Johan went to Frösö school, just a little south of Näskott, and went to Härnösand high school in 1783, and became a university student in Uppsala in 1787.

Tutor: For several years he was a private tutor in the manors in Ågermansland.

Ordained priest: He was ordained as a priest December 09, 1792 and took his mother's maiden name, Ruut as his own name. After his ordination he was an assistant to Per Rissler in Sveg, Sweden. When Rissler died, Johan took over his pastorship. On October 21, 1795 Johan took charge of the parish in Linsell, south of Hede.

Sollefteå: On November 17, 1803 he took charge of the parish in Graninge in Sollefteå. Johan took his final exam March 14, 1806. After 5 years in Graininge he came to Hede on May 25, 1808, where he worked for 14 years.

First marriage: Johan married Catharina Maria Martinell (1773-1813) on August 04, 1796 in Näskott, Sweden.

Children: They had the following children: Catharina Helena Ruut (1797-?) who was born in Linsell, married Michael Huss (1782-1836), a vicar and they lived in Mo; Johanna Gustafva Ruut (1800-1860) who married Israel Israelsson Näslund III (1796-1858); Eric Gustav Ruut (1803-1864) who was a student in 1822 and later joined the King's Guard; Jacob Efraim Ruut (1808-?) who was born in Hult and went to school in Härnösand and traveled to Finland with an acting group, that later came to St. Petersburg where he first became a teacher and then obtained a counsellor position; Kristina Margarita Ruut (1810-?) born in Hede and married Carl Gustav Högström, a bookbinder in 1833, they lived in Östersund; Carl Johan Ruut (1812-1832) who was born in Hede and committed suicide on December 28, 1832 in the Stallmästargården (the stable master's house) in Stockholm; and Maria Elizabeth Ruut (1813-1815).

Death of wife: Catharina Martinell died in childbirth with her last child.

Second marriage: After her death Johan married Elisabeth Margareta Nordenström (1784-1825).

Children: They had the following children: Sara Elizabeth Ruut (1816); Sara Maria Ruuth (1817-1868) who married Olof Jacob Weidner, a priest and they lived in Sunne; Johan Olov Ruut (1817-1853) who was a priest in Multrå; and Johan Christopher Ruut II (1823-1899) who was a priest in Stöde.

Faithful shepherd: It was said of Johan Christopher Ruuth I that he was "a faithful shepherd and a tender friend of the people".

Death: He had exceptionally good health, but had a stroke the July 16, 1822, and died the same day, in his 55th year.

Relationship: Johan Christopher Ruuth I (1768-1822) was the fourth great-grandfather of Richard Arthur Norton (1958- ).

Source: Researched and written by Richard Arthur Norton (1958- ) for Findagrave starting on January 4, 2004.