Trumpetare Casper Hagelbeck

In January 1718 two children are born in Uppsala within one week by parents with similar family names, see https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/C0004336_00093.

1) Christian, son of trumpeter Casper Hagelbeck and Catharina Geråtsier. Among the godparents is jungfru Maria Johanna Geråtzkier.

2) Anna Elisabet, daughter of trumpeter Jacob Geratsier and Mad[ame] Maria Loding.

Casper and Catharina ”Gerotze” also had a daughter, Anna, born in Uppsala 1723-09-10.

Trumpetare was a military rank. Trumpeters were employed in the artillery or the cavalry. There is a trumpeter called Casper Hagelbeck who figures in a novel by Lars Widding, Den siste karolinen. The character is obviously based on a real person - our Casper, or a relative? In the novel, Hagelbäck freezes to death in the disastrous ”death march of the Caroleans” in 1719. Our Casper lives on. Widding may have been ignorant of Casper’s fate, or it may be that he simply thought that Casper’s death would make a better story. The Casper who married Catharina "Geråtsier" was a trumpeter in the cavalry, Jämtlands kavalleriregemente (dragonregemente), and lived in Silje (a ”trumpetarboställe”) in Rödön, Jämtland. . He took part in the last battle of the Great Nordic War, the battle at Selånger /Sundsvall in May 1721. There were two trumpeters in the regiment, and both were taken prisoners and sent to S:t Petersburg. Source: https://www.tailorandarms.com/2016/04/25/273/ and: https://forum.genealogi.se/index.php?topic=11624.20;wap2. Casper returned about a year later.

Casper is registered as a trumpeter at Silje in Rödön from 1716, see communion book https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/C0036125_00071 (Rödöns kyrkoarkiv, Husförhörslängder, SE/ÖLA/11090/A I/1 (1711-1721), bildid: C0036125_00071).

Casper’s father: a very likely candidate is trumpeter Eric Hagelbeck. On October 20 1691 Eric’s and his wife Anna’s son Petter is baptized in Gamla Uppsala parish, see https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/C0003620_00028 . Anna is ”kyrkotagen” in November 1691 - the ritual of ”churching” taking place 40 days after a woman had given birth, We know that Casper’s father was a trumpeter, that his mother was called Anna, and that he himself had his first son baptized in Uppsala. Erik Hagelbeck lived in Björkby, according to another christening record from Sept 11 1686, when his daughter Johanna is born, see https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/C0003620_00015. In December 1688 a son, Erik, is born.

Casper’s mother: Casper is mentioned in 1732, when the inventory of estates after his deceased mother supplies important information about the link to the Schultz family, see https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/C0104690_00245 (Uppsala rådhusrätt och magistrat, Bouppteckningar, SE/ULA/11661/F II a/11 (1731-1734), bildid: C0104690_00245). Two brothers, both trumpeters, inherit their mother Anna Schobert - Nils and Casper. Nils (Niclas) is present at the inventory, but Casper is represented by his brother-in-law - Jacob Ludw. Schultz! Jacobs wife Anna Maria and Casper's wife Catharina must have been sisters. The inventory after "min sahlig mama" ("my late mama") bears witness of a fairly comfortable economy. It is signed by Niclas and Jacob.

At the time of Christian's baptism in Uppsala 1718, Casper and Catharina are not yet married. The marriage takes place the following year in Rödön, Jämtland, in July 1719. Maybe the dramatic final years of the Great Northern War interfered with their plans.