Its interesting you should say that.

The story passed down to me about my grandfather was that his mother was indeed the victim of unwanted advances from her employer. Yet that great grandmother was the one who had three children all while unmarried and she listed the father (different for all three) in each of her children's birth record. So I don't think that was her situation.

My theory is that the story about the unwanted advances was actually about Elna and it got confused as the story was passed down. But its doubtful that it can ever be proven.

I have had discussions about the illegitimacy in my family with others who are tracking their non Swedish families. All are surprised by how common it was in Sweden.

Do you think it was much more common in Sweden than elsewhere? Or do you think that in Sweden it was very important to be honest, where in other cultures illegitimacy was hidden and lied about?

Karen Verschoor