Nykil church from 1786

Nykil parish was under Valkebo administrative county district. Nykil is in the borderland between the flat country of Östergötland in north and the forest in the south. In the south it the borders on Ulrika parish. The first time the parish is mentioned in a document was 1345 and was called Nyakil (New Kil) in the contrary to Gammalkil (Old Kil). The name of the parish is a scenery term and refers to the new clearing that stretch into the woodland like a wedge formation. Before the country was used for cultivation in this area, it was used as pasture with chalets. The farms where these chalet were, has often name compounded with "-bo". The origin of "bo" was "boda" or "säter", e.g. Haraldsbo (Harald's chalet), Tobo (Tove's chalet), Dockebo (Docke's chalet), Gålsäter, Räcksäter and Rösäter and so on. Other quite old name of farms is built upon scenery terms, e.g. "bäck" (brook), Drögshult (after lake Drögen), Limmerhult (after lake Limmern) etc.

Nykil parish was separated from Gammalkil parish under the early Middle Ages . In 1761 the southern parts of Nykil parish was separated and became a part of Ulrika parish. From 1962 Nykil , Ulrika and Gammalkil has been united into one parish. A church building was built up under the 13th century. Only a part of the tower is left of this old building. The tower was built in 1761 to 1763 and during the 19th century it was made lower. The master builder Casper Seurling, from Mjölby, built the other parts of the church in 1784 to 1786. Nykil church is an example of the Gustavian style of architecture. Nave and chancel is forming a church room with big windows, which create space and light. The ceiling is barrel-vaulted. The altar, pulpit and a gallery with an organ, dominate the interior. There is a wood sculpture representing Madonna and the Child Jesus at the chancel. That sculpture is from the end of the 14th century. There is among other things a seven-branched candlestick, which in 1666 was donated by Colonel Johan Drake and his wife Margareta Klingspor. The candlestick is fitted with theirs alliance crest that are Drake and Klingspor.

My ancestors lived in the following places in Nykil parish

Munktorp and Damsäter

The crofter Anders Carlsson and his wife Anna Matsdotter lived in Munktorp and Damsäter. Annika Andersdotter was born In 1750. In 1778 she got married to the soldier Lars Persson Sollfeldt in Ulrika parish. Lars was born in Nystugan at Stora Kolaryd.

Nystugan under Stora Kolaryd lands

In December 1750 Per Gabrielsson Viman was approved as a soldier for the "rote" no. 10, Kinds Company of the Första Livgrenadjär Regementet (the Royal First Life Grenadian Regiment). A month earlier Per had got married to Ingeborg Larsdotter in Nykil parish. The married couple moved to the Nystugan under Strora Kolaryd lands. Kolaryd is located only 2 kilometres north of Nykil church. The couple got two daughters, Helena and Margareta, and two sons, Lars and Gabriel. The wife Ingeborg died only 41 years old and one and a half year after she had delivered her son Gabriel. In 1777 Per had rose to corporal and his son Lars had at that time moved out and had became a soldier for the "rote" no. 2, Sålltorp in Ulrika parish. Per Gabrielsson Viman died in 1783 and was 55 years old.

Skogsberg and Skogstorp on Dröghult lands

When the soldier in Ulrika parish, Sven Planck Wallpoll, was dismissed from Första Livgrenadjör Regementet in 1825, he and his family moved to the croft Skogsberg on Dröghult lands. This place is in Nykil parsih but very closed to Ulrika parish. The family was Sven's wife, Ingeborg Larsdotter, Gustaf, 20 years old, Niclaus, 13 years old, Johannes, 10 years old, Anna, 7 years old and Anders, 4 years old. The oldest son, Gustaf moved after one year to Skälstrop in Vist parish. Gustaf became a soldier in the same regiment as his father. The year after that, also Nicalus moved to Ullstorp in Nykil parish. He was at the time, 15 years old. In about 1835, when son Johannes was 15 years old, also he moved out. Johannes moved to Sandbäcken on Skullebo lands. The youngest son, Anders, left also his parent's home when he was 15 years old. Anders moved first to Hejebo? and then further on to Kättestad. At last also the daughter Anna moved out at 22 years of age. Sven and Ingeborg were not alone for long. Johannes moved back and became the owner of the croft that now is called Skogstorp. Sven and Ingeborg moved to a "tillhus" which means a cottage next door to Johannes cottage. At 71 years of age, Ingeborg died. Sven, who had had a bad eyesight since he was retired from his military service, moved in 1865 to a "tillhus" next door to Lillstugan on Fogelkulla Mellangård lands. In 1873 Sven, who was blind and 96 years old , moved to Skullebo. In the same year he died. Johannes pledged his croft during the 1860th and moved to an unfamiliar place in 1868.

Lillsätter on the farm Åbysätter lands

Maja Nilsdotter moved in 1824 from Svarvarestugan in Ulrika parish. She married to the soldier Sven Bark in the 19 of October 1824 and moved to the soliers croft, Lillsätter on the farm Åbysätter lands. She delivered a son in the 7th of June 1826. The son was christened Carl Johan. As a soldier, Sven Bark was commanded to Göta Kanal. During his work on the canal, he died in 1827. The young widow and mother got married again to Gustaf Ström, soldier in Skältorp, Vist parish.