How Sweden Came to America

ByPastor Alan Campbell
Sweden

s America celebrates yet another Thanksgiving, we are reminded that not only is the United States the great Manasseh nation of Bible Prophecy – but it is also the land where all 13 Tribes are representatively regathered in these ‘last days’ the Christian era of Prophecy, amongst those tribes was Naphtali, whose descendants are found amongst the Swedes today.

During the 17th Century Sweden was a European “great power” whose territory included parts of Norway, Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and even portions of the German and Polish coast. The Baltic was a Swedish lake and their King Gustavus Adolphus, the “Lion of the North” was the Protestant champion during the Thirty Years War.

The Swedes sought to establish colonies in the New World and in 1637 they formed the New Sweden Company to trade in Furs and Tobacco in North America. Under the command of Peter Minuit the first expedition sailed from Sweden in two ships. Kalmar Nyckel and Fogel Grip in 1637. Minuit had been Governor of the Dutch colony on Manhattan island from 1626 – 1631.

The ships reached Delaware Bay in 1638 and the settlers built a fort named Christina in honour of their Queen, where Wilmington is situated today. New Sweden was at its height from 1643 – 1653. A new fort named Elfsborg was built near to where Salem, New Jersey is today. Some 600 Swedes and Finns established farms and settlements on both sides of the Delaware River in modern Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and into Maryland.

However, New Sweden was to be conquered by the Dutch Governor Peter Stuyvesant of New Amsterdam (modern New York). Swedish sovereignty had come to an end, but the Swedes and Finns remained and came under British rule in 1681 when William Penn received his Charter for Pennsylvania and the three lower counties which make up present day Delaware.

Swedes and Finns did not come again to America in large numbers until the mid 19th Century. Swedish immigration was at its height from 1867 – 1914. In the mid I880’s, 37,000 Swedes per year on average arrived in USA heading West to settle in Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas and California, which remain states with large numbers of Swedish Americans to this day. God Almighty said: “Turn O backsliding children (Israel) saith the Lord, for I am married unto you, and I will take you one of a City and two of a family and I will bring you to Zion.” Jeremiah 3:4. (courtesy Kingdom Tidings)

Editor: It is difficult to believe that it is going on three years when Northern Ireland Pastor Campbell’s voice was stilled. We in this association really miss him. He was a regular visitor and imparted so much wisdom to our members and guests. Even during his past two/three years when he struggled health wise, he insisted upon getting the message out through this magazine. To tell you a little of his courage and commitment to God Almighty, he would have me telephone him when he could no longer write so he could dictate his monthly article. Alan was a true servant of God.