Beecroft/Becraft Ancestors

Johan Gustafsson and Brita Lena Månsdotter

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Husband Johan Gustafsson [4317]

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           Born: 1618 - Kinnekulle, Skaraborg lan, Sweden
     Christened: 
           Died: 1682 - Kingsessing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America 1
         Buried:  - Old Swedes Churchyard, Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware, United States 1
FamilySearch ID: LTPM-BY3

       Marriage: Abt 1654 - Fort Trinity, New Castle Co, DE

Events

• He emigrated on 1 Nov 1642 from Sweden. Johan Gustafsson (1618-1682) sailed from Gottenburg November 1, 1642, on the "Swan" with Governor Printz in the Fifth Swedish Expedition and arrived on the Delaware below the present site of Philadelphia, Feb 15, 1643. Johan was one of the twelve soldiers in Fort Elfborg below the present city of Philadelphia on the east side of the Delaware from 1644 to 1653.

He came as a soldier under Governor Printz. Printz' successor, Governor Rising, promoted him to the position of a gunner and, as such, he was stationed at fort trinity(New castle) in 1655 when Captain Sven Skute surrendered the fort to the Dutch.

Came on the SWAN to the colony of New Sweden, on the Delaware River on 1 Nov 1642. Landed at Fort Christina (now Wilmington), DE), 15 Feb 1643.
Later stationed at Fort Elfsborg, and then to Fort Trinity.

• Immigration: Emigrate from Sweden on the "Swan", to Delaware, 1 Nov 1642, Delaware, British Colonial America.

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Wife Brita Lena Månsdotter [4316] ²

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           Born: Abt 1638 - Skaraborg, Västerbotten, Sweden 3
     Christened: 
           Died: 22 Aug 1724 - New Castle, Delaware, British Colonial America 3
         Buried: 22 Aug 1724 - Old Swedes Church, Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware, United States 3
FamilySearch ID: LH8Q-XHW

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         Father: Måns Magnus Andersson [4318] (Abt 1601-1679) 4
         Mother: Britta Stina Andersdotter [19057] (1612-Bef 1646) 3

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Children

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1 M Hans Gustafsson [4314]

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           Born: 1662 - Kingsessing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America 5
     Christened: 
           Died: 10 Dec 1718 - Cecil, Maryland, British Colonial America 5
         Buried:  - Saint Mary Annes Episcopal Church Cemetery, North East, Cecil, Maryland, United States 5
FamilySearch ID: L4MB-WGT

         Spouse: Mary Rawson [4315] (1666-1714)
           Marr: 1683 - Gloria Dei Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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2 M Peter Gustafsson [9740]

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           Born: 1670 - Kingsessing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
     Christened: 
           Died: 20 Aug 1699 - Gloria Dei Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
         Buried: 30 Aug 1699 - Gloria Dei Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
FamilySearch ID: LTPM-BZT

         Spouse: Brigitta [9741] (      -      )

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General Notes: Husband - Johan Gustafsson

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Kinnekulle is a large wooded hill or plateau, nine miles long and four miles across, rising 860 feet above Lake Vanern in Skaraborg Lan in central Sweden.

"jan JUSTEN" on 13 Feb 1655/56 (English Calendar), requested he be allowed to make a plantation on the Christina Kill.

By 1669 he was at Kingsessing/West Philadelphia, PA; on the banks of Schuulkill and was granted a patent there as John EUSTA, dated 16 May 1669.

In the first English census of the Delaware, taken in 1671, Johan gustafsson was listed as "John Eustace." The Nov 1677 tax list for the Upland court jurisdiction showed a slight improvement in nameing "Jan Justa & 2 sons" as taxable (i.e., over 16 years of age).

After the surrender of New Sweden to the Dutch, John Gustafsson moved northward to Kingsessing where he died c. 1682, leaving a widow and at least eleven children. They kept Gustafsson as their surname, but it was heard and written by the English and Eustason, Justison, etc. Justis, Justus or Justice finally evolved as the family surname.

Place of death possibly Upland Court District.

Sources

1 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 28 Nov 2025), entry for Johan Gustafsson, person ID LTPM-BY3.

2 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 28 Nov 2025), entry for Britta Mansdotter, person ID LH8Q-XHW.

3 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 28 Nov 2025), entry for Brita Lena Månsdotter, person ID LH8Q-XHW.

4 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 28 Nov 2025), entry for Mans Andersson, person ID G4ZM-7TX.

5 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 28 Nov 2025), entry for Hans Gustafsson, person ID L4MB-WGT.