by Harald von Knorring

After an article in the newspaper Sörmlands Nyheter

Mr Lennart Ekholm in Nyköping is a skilled bulider of boat models. Now he has also built a model of a steamship having a connection to our family. The steamboat S/S Ellida was launched in Nyköping in 1827, ordered by Anton baron von Knorring.

The wooden steamer measured 28 meter in lenght. After having been built on the shipyard it was towed to the Samuel Owen factory in Stockholm to have its engine of 36 hp mounted.

Thereafter it was used as a liner between the harbours of Nyköping, Södertälje and Stockholm, as well as between Västervik and the island of Gotland, all situated at the east coast of Sweden in the Baltic see.

In 1829 passenger routes where announced to the city of Visby, on Gotland. On these routes the steamer waited there for 5 days. In that summer was the crown prince Oscar one of the passengers.

Its last tours was among other harbours to Gävle and Kalmar. In 1855 the ship hit a shoal and sank at Ratan, ca 4 km north of Umeå.

In our family book the former genealogist of the Swedish House of Nobles mr Pontus Möller tells us among other things the following:

Anton, son of Isaac, born in 1766 8/9 at Redberga, Marka parish in Skaraborg, died in 1834 17/5 on his castel Börstorp in Hassle parish.

-         1772 volunteer at the Västgöta cavalry regiment

-         1777 1/2 in service at queen Lovisa Ulrika

-         1780 in service at the royal court and a member of Par Bricole

-         1782 25/6 second lieutenant at the queens regiment

-        1787 10/12 lieutenant there. Took part in the finnish war of 1788‑90 against the russians, he also took part in the battle against Norway in 1808 and was prisoned

-         1791 24/4 captain

-         1792 21/5 captain

-         1793 30/6 in service at the infantery

-         1796 28/2 major in the army

-         1799 15/11 major at the regiment of Skaraborg

-         1802 9/12 knight of the order of Serafimerorden

-         1805 22/7 colonel in the army

-         1808 16/1 at the regiment

-        In 1808 he was fooled to capitulate at Praestebakke church, and in 1809 therefore punished to 6 months suspension and to compensate for two lost cannons, in 1810 the King changed it in to two months of suspension.

-         1810 15/5 retirement.

Parts of his archive are since 1930 kept at the library of Uppsala University.

During the 19th century Inga Siwertz wrote about the Börstorp castle: The new 36 year old owner had made his military career, joined the finnish war in 1788 and would take part in the wars in Pommern and Norway in 1808. He showed to be a skilledowner of the estate, which at that time consisted of 45 farms and the whole of Enåsa parish. Thereby von Knorring was the greatest landowner in this part of Sweden since medieval times.

The parish records shows that Anton also hat time and interest to take part in matters concerning local defence, salary to the local teacher, repairment of the church bell etc. Especially is mentioned his concern about the new school Örvallsbron.

His granddaughter Agda Lindencrona gives in her memoirs a vivid picture of his death: On May 17, in 1834, a violent storm occured in the region. The 68 year old von Knorring suddenly became sick, sank dead down on a sofa in the same time as a lightning hit the castle. After him the Börstorp castle was herited to the daughter Wilhelmina, married Leuhusen.

In 1802, 16/9, he married the countess Augusta Spens at Börstorp, born 1781 29/11 in Södra Råda in Värmland, dead in 1857 17/4 in Mariestad, daughter of count Carl Gabriel Spens and his 1st wife countess Ulrika Augusta Palbitzki.

In our family book there is a lot more about Anton, his wife and childrens.

Sources:

- Ätterna Knorring by Pontus Möller et al,

- Sörmlands Nyheter