The Waldemarsson farmhouse in Råröd, Sweden

The Waldemarsson farmhouse in Råröd, Sweden

The churchbook for Stehags parish documenting Nils' death on February 24, 1890. He is on the right-hand side of the ledger, #6. It shows he was 63 years and 13 days old at the time of death. According to Mattias Åkerblom, the cause of death was "blodstörtning" - or bleeding from the lungs.

According to Mattias Åkerblom, a descendant of Nils, the birthdate shown on this marker - February 10, 1826 - is erroneous.

Above Nils' name on the headstone it reads "Nämndemannen" (lay assessor). M.Å.

"In Sweden, lay judges (nämndemän, also known as lay assessors) sit alongside professional judges in district and appellate general and administrative courts, but decide virtually no civil cases. Lay judges are always in the majority in district courts, whereas the professional judges are in the majority in the appellate courts.

Municipal assemblies appoint lay judges for the district courts and the county councils appoint lay judges for the appellate and county administrative courts. They are appointed for a period of 4 years, and may not refuse appointment without valid excuse such as an age of 60 years. Typically, a lay judge will serve one day per month in court during his or her tenure.

In principle, any adult can become a lay judge. Lay judges must be Swedish citizens and under 70 years old. People that cannot be lay judges are judges, court officers, prosecutors, police, attorneys, and professionals engaged in judicial proceedings. In practice, lay judges in Sweden are elderly, wealthy, and better educated. Lay judges are usually politicians from the local authority from which they are appointed, appointed in proportion to political party representation at the last local elections.

The use of lay judges in Sweden goes back to Medieval times."

Taken from this website.

Isaiah 24:19-20; King James Version

19 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.

20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.