28. The boatswains cottages

A boatswain was a military man in the Swedish divisional system created in 1680 to provide the armed forces with soldiers and sailors. Our villages are required to maintain three boatswains – two in Norrby and one in Bergby. The boatswain enlisted belong to Norra Roslag’s 2nd boatswain company. Norrby’s rote is assigned numbers 22 and 23 with the boatman names Nord and Stark. Bergby gets number 24 with the name Blomma. The names follow when new boatswains take office. The boatswain are assigned a croft and some land for cultivation and grazing. A contract is drawn up between the boatswain and the roten, that is, the farmers who own the croft and are responsible for the boatswain’s livelihood. In 1901, the General Conscription Act was introduced, and thus the divisional system and the system of boatswain ceased to exist after over 200 years of operation.

The boatswain’s cottage has been located in several places over the years. A few boatswain’s cottages were located along this road to Bergboö. The cottages remain but have been heavily rebuilt. Bergby’s boatswain’s cottage is located opposite Bergby Gård on the border with Malmberga and is in more original condition. The last boatswain at Norrby route 22 is Johan Nord. He was hired in 1840 and remained in service until 1891.

The last boatswain at Norrby rote 23 is Erik Gustav Stark Lund. He was first a farmhand at Bergby Gård. In 1871 he was given the job of boatswain and married Karolina Jansdotter, the daughter of the Judge at Bergby. He left his job in 1896. The boatswains are long dead but the names Nord, Stark and Blomma live on. There are 12 people with the surname Blomma (2025) in Sweden. Some boatswain’s cottages are still preserved and are reminiscent of over two hundred years of military history.

NOTE: Respect the peace and quiet of the home – do not enter the property!