The Emigrant Company Takes Shape

The Emigrants

This flow traces how a handful of people with different hardships gather around one departure and become a fragile traveling community.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

Separate Reasons to Leave Separate Reasons to Leave from "The Emigrants". Separate Reasons to Leave A varied company Karl Oskar Nilsson seeks land, Robert Nilsson rejects masters, and Danjel Andreasson seeks room for his faith.

Separate Reasons to Leave from "The Emigrants". Separate Reasons to Leave A varied company Karl Oskar Nilsson seeks land, Robert Nilsson rejects masters, and Danjel Andreasson seeks room for his faith.

Separate Reasons to Leave A varied company Karl Oskar Nilsson seeks land, Robert Nilsson rejects masters, and Danjel Andreasson seeks room for his faith. Each departure begins in a different private crisis. Common direction Their motives do not make them alike, but the route to Karlshamn brings their separate decisions together. A group begins where individual journeys overlap.

Danjel Joins the Journey Danjel Joins the Journey from "The Emigrants". Danjel Joins the Journey A religious summons Danjel Andreasson tells Karl Oskar Nilsson that he believes God has directed him toward a new land.

Danjel Joins the Journey from "The Emigrants". Danjel Joins the Journey A religious summons Danjel Andreasson tells Karl Oskar Nilsson that he believes God has directed him toward a new land.

Danjel Joins the Journey A religious summons Danjel Andreasson tells Karl Oskar Nilsson that he believes God has directed him toward a new land. He expects to leave with his household and followers. Expanding the company His decision adds children, a servant, and Ulrika of Västergöhl to the travelers. The planned family party becomes a more complicated communal venture.

Three Wagons at the Junction Three Wagons at the Junction from "The Emigrants". Three Wagons at the Junction Gathering to depart Travelers from Korpamoen, Kärragärde, and Hästebäck meet with their belongings loaded onto wagons.

Three Wagons at the Junction from "The Emigrants". Three Wagons at the Junction Gathering to depart Travelers from Korpamoen, Kärragärde, and Hästebäck meet with their belongings loaded onto wagons.

Three Wagons at the Junction Gathering to depart Travelers from Korpamoen, Kärragärde, and Hästebäck meet with their belongings loaded onto wagons. They are joined by relatives, children, servants, and companions. A provisional family The group debates who should lead, then looks to Karl Oskar Nilsson as the first to commit. Their connection is practical and tentative, not yet a settled community.

The Road to Karlshamn The Road to Karlshamn from "The Emigrants". The Road to Karlshamn Leaving familiar routes The wagons pass through Blekinge toward Karlshamn, while Robert Nilsson jumps down to open gates and count them.

The Road to Karlshamn from "The Emigrants". The Road to Karlshamn Leaving familiar routes The wagons pass through Blekinge toward Karlshamn, while Robert Nilsson jumps down to open gates and count them.

The Road to Karlshamn Leaving familiar routes The wagons pass through Blekinge toward Karlshamn, while Robert Nilsson jumps down to open gates and count them. The journey turns his imagined escape into physical movement. Public scrutiny Strangers watch the emigrants and mistake their loaded wagons for gypsy carts. The travelers carry both the stigma of home and the hope of a different reception abroad.

A Company at the Harbor A Company at the Harbor from "The Emigrants". A Company at the Harbor First sight of the sea The travelers reach the harbor cold and exhausted, then see the Charlotta waiting offshore.

A Company at the Harbor from "The Emigrants". A Company at the Harbor First sight of the sea The travelers reach the harbor cold and exhausted, then see the Charlotta waiting offshore.

A Company at the Harbor First sight of the sea The travelers reach the harbor cold and exhausted, then see the Charlotta waiting offshore. The small ship seems inadequate beside the water it must cross. Commitment tested They must find temporary lodging and wait before boarding. The group’s unity now depends on facing the danger they had previously imagined from a distance.

During preparations in Ljuder Parish

Late in the preparations, before the spring departure

April 4, 1850, at Åkerby Junction

The days following April 4, 1850

Early morning, before boarding in Karlshamn