Hans and Anna Stina Mattsson Andersson (Parents of Erik Albert Hansen)

Hans and Anna Stina Andersson

(Parents of Erik Albert Hansen)

Sweden

In Gustafs, Sweden, on November 22, 1822, twins were born to Anders and Stina Andersson. Eric was the first to be born and then his brother, (Han) came shortly afterwards. They were welcomed by a sister Greta and a brother Anders. Just two years before they were born Stina gave birth to her first set of twins, Mats and Sara, but they died before they were two years old. As the family grew Sara (lived only a week), Christina, Sara, Anna, and Lisa (lived only three months) were born into this loving family.

            Hans met and married Anna Stina Mattsson on July 9, 1852. He was thirty years old and she was eighteen. They made their home in Solvarbo, Gustafs, Sweden.

            Anna Stina Mattsson was born May 7, 1834 in Gustafs Sweden. She was the daughter of Mathias Hansson and Stina Larsson. She was the oldest child in a family of three children. She had a brother Anders and a sister Lisa (who died in 1843).

            Hans and Anna worked hard to have a happy home for their family. They had seven children namely: Hans August, Greta Lisa, Anna Stina (lived only four years), Anna Mathilda (lived only one year), Johan Arvid, Erik Albert and Hilda Sofia (lived only one year.)

            The sad thing is we do not know very much about this family. We know names and dated but nothing of what they did. Erik Albert (The father of Mae Sorenson, who is the mother of Darrell Sorenson who is the father of RaNae Roberts) is our ancestor and he came to America and raised his family here. He is the only one who came to America out of his family. RaNae corresponded with a lady named Marianne Anderson {she is the daughter of Ellen Svens who was the daughter of Erik August who was the son of Greta Lisa (the older sister of Erik Albert)}

            Marianne sent RaNae all of Greta Lisa’s Families genealogy and as a family, we were able to go to the temple and do the work for them. It took us a while to get it done. Finally on April 21, 1998, Darrell and Merlyn Sorenson took their friends Wayne and Julie Johnson to the temple to finish the sealings for this family. All through the sealing session they all felt a joyous feeling. Even the sealer commented that he felt the presence of others there as did all. Darrell wondered if his ancestors they had just done the work for, really witnessed the sealings and if they had accepted the work that was done for them. As they were leaving the temple, these thoughts dwelling in Darrell’s mind, the gentleman in front of the four of them went to push the outer door open, but it opened on it’s own. The gentleman commented, “I didn’t think this door opened by it’s self, and Merlyn replied, “I didn’t think so either.” The five of them went out and the door remained open. There were five witnesses that night that saw the door open and stay. Darrell knew in his heart this was an answer to him, that his ancestors were there and had accepted the work that was done for them that night. He felt they showed this by opening the door. As they continued along the sidewalk, Darrell looked back and saw the door slowly close. Prayers had been answered and a family had been sealed for eternity.

            About three weeks later in May 1998, RaNae Roberts received a letter written by a lady in Milton Louisiana whom she had written to inquiring about that Hans Andersson Family. Her name was Sandra Mattson, daughter of Johan Algot Mattson, who was the son of Johan Alfred Mattson who was the son of Greta Lisa (the sister of Erick Albert.) Sandra didn’t know much about genealogy and thought we were not related but she sent a picture of Johan Alfred’s family with their names. It only took one glace at the picture to know (Erick Albert) had to be related for he looked like a twin to Johan Algot (the son of his nephew Johan Alfred) This was a second testimony to us that this family had accepted the work and very much wanted for us to know who they were and that we are all a part of this family.

            Although we do not know anything about Hans and Anna Stina Andersson, this story is of their daughter Greta Lisa’s family.  We are thankful we had the opportunity to do the temple work for them.

            Hans Andersson died April 22, 1898 at Solvarbo, Gustafs, Sweden at the age of 76. His wife lived until July 30, 1909, being 75 when she died in Solvarbo, Gustafs, Sweden.

            Hopefully someday we will have more information to add to the history of this family.