Lars Persson Cock

Burial record:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/132208033/lawrence-petersson-cock

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1693 Letter by Lars Persson Cock

(The Swedish and Finnish settlers along the Delaware continued to use the Swedish language in church services long after the surrender of the colony in 1655. In 1693, a census of the members of the Swedish churches was taken in aid of a request to Sweden for two ministers to be sent over, along with a number of Bibles, psalm books, catechisms, etc. in Swedish. Four letters were sent at that time, including a letter from Lars Persson Cock, son of Peter Larsson Cock, to his uncle, Mouns Larsson, the original of which is in an archive in Stockholm:

Highly honored, dear paternal uncle Mouns Larsson:

Greetings in God Almighty! Now letting you know, dear uncle, with this my letter, my circumstances and those of my family, and of former acquaintances out in this land, hoping that with God’s help I may, at the first opportunity, receive a gladdening and good reply.

In the first place, what pertains to my father: He came out here to the country of New Sweden, sent by his Royal Majesty to settle the land with the others, his countrymen; which he also did honorably for the high authorities. My late father was selected as a president [justice] in New Sweden which he did with the greatest loyalty; and during the Holland Dutch regime he was also a president on the court; and in the English regime’s time likewise. My late father was always in advice and counsel with them.

My late father, after he had been in this country one year and a half, gave himself into the state of holy matrimony and had with his dear wife thirteen children whereof now, God be praised six sons and six daughters are living, all well provided for with wives and husbands, so that of all my late father’s lineage in this first degree, that is children and grandchildren, there are living seventy-one souls; and in the year 1687, the 10th of November, my dear father fell asleep, in the name of the Lord, at a good age, leaving after him my dear mother. I, my dear father’s eldest son, Lars Pärsson, am likewise healthy. My wife and children are in good circumstances also. I have had, together with my dear wife, eleven children, of whom six sons and two daughters are now living. And we are, God be praised, living in plenty. I am also seated in my late father’s place and succeed him, and am also a member of our noble Governor’s highest

Council, and a counsellor. Also I have been on the court since I reached the legal age, and I am now going on my fiftieth year. My late father had never received any letter from his fatherland, for many years not knowing who among his parents, brothers, relatives and former acquaintances might be alive;

but he has told me that he had five brothers living and three sisters when he came from the fatherland; but God knows who among them might be living now.

If my uncle Mouns Larsson is dead, or the other brothers of my father, then I hope that their children or grandchildren may be alive, that I may receive a gladdening answer to this my letter. They lived at Bångsta hamlet in [the province of] Södmerland. My father’s father’s name was Lars Persson.

He lived at the same hamlet. Now, hoping that if any of my father’s brothers should be alive, that those who know his family and former acquaintances might cause this to be placed in their hands, and that I might receive a gladdening reply by the first ship, praying that you direct your letter to Gothenburg to His

Royal Majesty’s Postmaster, Johan Thelin, and he shall certainly have it delivered. And we live at Passayongh on the Delaware River in Pennsylvania. Commending you together with our whole family in the almighty, and under his gracious protection, and will ever be found your most obedient Lars Persson Cock

P.S. When you write a reply to me, write to me thus, “Lars Pärsson Cock.” Since we were living here among foreign nations, my late father took that surname so that we and others could be distinguished from one another.

Dated and written at Pennsylvania on Delaware River, the 31st of May 1693.