Lars and the two Britas and Ek
In 1743 Lars Jonasson marries Brita Svensdotter. Lars lives at Lura, a crofters house belonging to the vicarage like Backen and Tröka. The same year is the first child born, Gustav. They now live in the hamlet Ek. And now Lars carries the name Ekman and it is the first time I stumble upon the name. Lars was a soldier already at the marriage, and maybe he has got the name from the hamlet Ek. And since that the name has been used in the family to and fro through 255 years sofar. Gustav dies only 10 days old, not unusual at the time, but Lars and Brita have more children. Sven (1744, name after Brita's father), Jonas (1747, name after Lars' father), Ingegerd (1749, Brita's mother's name), Johannes (1753) and Anders (1756). Six children during 13 years. All of them born at Ek or Ek Bygget except Jonas who was born at Ekarp, another hamlet. When Brita dies 1773 their address is "at Brogården", and she is called "widow after dismissed soldier Ekman". When Lars dies in 1785 he lives at Ek again. The family has thus moved Lura-Ek-Ekarp-Ek-Brogården-Ek. Strange.
When Brita dies in 1773 Lars marries Brita Andersdotter, a widow ten years younger than Lars. They live at Eks Nedregård and have no children, not surprisingly thinking of their age. A mystery is that when Lars dies his mothers name is said to be Anna, probably a mistake by the priest.