Calmare Nyckel
Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 4:57 pm
In January 1629, in Stockholm, the representatives of Swedish coastal towns had drawn up the constitution of the so called 'Ship Company' at the request of the Swedish King Gustavus II Adolphus, for building or buying a number of vessels (16) of about 360 tons and armed with 12 - 16 guns. This company was given certain privileges.
In peacetime the vessels would be used for trade, but in war they would be transferred to the Navy.
The towns of Kalmar and Jonkoping were to provide one ship. In 1629 a new, three masted ship was bought in Holland for 13,450 Daler silver coins. She was given the name "Calmare Nyckel". Her dimensions were:- length 33 metres. breadth 8.1 metres and height between decks 1.95 metres. Her armament consisted of 16-6 pdr. guns.
"Calmare Nyckel" was transferred to the Navy in 1634, but was later lent to the "South Company" founded in 1626 and later to the "West Indian Company" founded in 1640, or as it was also called "Nova Suecia Company". She was in service for the former company as "Calmare Nyckel" and together with the "Fogel Grip" sailed from Gothenburgh on November 27th 1637 with colonialists for the future Colony New Sweden on the Delaware River in North America. After a dramatic and adventurous voyage over the North Sea, the vessels were forced to call at the Dutch island of Texel for repairs. In the middle of March 1638 they arrived at the estuary of the Delaware River. On March 29th the colonialists could occupy their new land, when the leader Peter Minuit had finished the negotiations with the Indians.
The Captain of "Calmare Nyckel" was Anders Nils Krober, 1st Officer Michael Simmsen and 2nd Officer Jakob Sandelin.
In June the same year "Calmare Nyckel" set out for the West Indies on the return journey to Sweden. Also this time the North Sea offered rough weather. With broken main mast and other severe damage, she was forced to visit Holland for repairs, before she could continue home.
In 1639 - 1640 "Calmare Nyckel" made a second voyage. One of the passengers on this trip was the first Governor of the Colony, Lieutenant Peter Hollender.
Two further trips were made in 1641 - 1642 and 1643-1644 to "New Sweden" and West Indies respectively. After returning home she was transferred to the Navy.
As a naval vessel"Calmare Nyckel" took part in sea operations on the West Coast in 1645. In 1646 - 1647 she belonged to the fleet in the Baltic Sea and served as a troop transport.
In 1649 she was to be equipped for a new expedition to "New Sweden" but she was found in such bad condition that this was impracticable.
"Calmare Nyckel" was sold in 1651 to Cornelius Rolofson. Her further activities after this date are unknown.
Log BookAugust 1971 article by Goran Liljestrom
Finland SG1147 Sweden SG204 518 USA SG846 A2345
In peacetime the vessels would be used for trade, but in war they would be transferred to the Navy.
The towns of Kalmar and Jonkoping were to provide one ship. In 1629 a new, three masted ship was bought in Holland for 13,450 Daler silver coins. She was given the name "Calmare Nyckel". Her dimensions were:- length 33 metres. breadth 8.1 metres and height between decks 1.95 metres. Her armament consisted of 16-6 pdr. guns.
"Calmare Nyckel" was transferred to the Navy in 1634, but was later lent to the "South Company" founded in 1626 and later to the "West Indian Company" founded in 1640, or as it was also called "Nova Suecia Company". She was in service for the former company as "Calmare Nyckel" and together with the "Fogel Grip" sailed from Gothenburgh on November 27th 1637 with colonialists for the future Colony New Sweden on the Delaware River in North America. After a dramatic and adventurous voyage over the North Sea, the vessels were forced to call at the Dutch island of Texel for repairs. In the middle of March 1638 they arrived at the estuary of the Delaware River. On March 29th the colonialists could occupy their new land, when the leader Peter Minuit had finished the negotiations with the Indians.
The Captain of "Calmare Nyckel" was Anders Nils Krober, 1st Officer Michael Simmsen and 2nd Officer Jakob Sandelin.
In June the same year "Calmare Nyckel" set out for the West Indies on the return journey to Sweden. Also this time the North Sea offered rough weather. With broken main mast and other severe damage, she was forced to visit Holland for repairs, before she could continue home.
In 1639 - 1640 "Calmare Nyckel" made a second voyage. One of the passengers on this trip was the first Governor of the Colony, Lieutenant Peter Hollender.
Two further trips were made in 1641 - 1642 and 1643-1644 to "New Sweden" and West Indies respectively. After returning home she was transferred to the Navy.
As a naval vessel"Calmare Nyckel" took part in sea operations on the West Coast in 1645. In 1646 - 1647 she belonged to the fleet in the Baltic Sea and served as a troop transport.
In 1649 she was to be equipped for a new expedition to "New Sweden" but she was found in such bad condition that this was impracticable.
"Calmare Nyckel" was sold in 1651 to Cornelius Rolofson. Her further activities after this date are unknown.
Log BookAugust 1971 article by Goran Liljestrom
Finland SG1147 Sweden SG204 518 USA SG846 A2345