Meet your relatives from the past 

The second half of Charles's research explored the branches of the family that led to Philo Pendleton and Leonard Gyllenhaal. Their lineages meander through England, Ireland, France, Belgium and Sweden, and crossed the Atlantic in colonial days in the case of the Pendletons and the mid 1800s for the Gyllenhaals. The histories are filled with ancestors who made fortunes in some cases, lost fortunes in others and fought in the Revolutionary and Civil wars, as well as early European battles. 

Charles's narrative begins with the Pendletons family, leading up to Philo's father Charles Rittenhouse Pendleton. He was a legend in Georgia where he rose to be one of the most powerful voices in the state, and he clearly was an enormous influnce on his daughter. The Gyllenhaal story, touched on briefly in "The First Gyllenhaals, is told in great detail below, right down to the decree that made barons of the first-born Gyllenhaals through the centuries. 

By Charles Pendleton Gyllenhaal

The PENDLETONS

The Pendleton family history is recorded back to the 15th century and a small town in England three miles from Manchester. The town is named "Péndleton.” The town is on a hill and the Pendleton name apparently came from this hill. In Gae1ic "pendle” means summit and "dun" means hill. The family coat of arms indicates that an ancestor had distinguished himself In the Crusades 400 years earlier. This coat of arms still hangs over an inn in Pendleton and nearby is a manor house still owned by a Pendleton family.

Most Pendletons in this country are descended from Philip Pendleton, a minister, who came to this country in 1674. He apparently was single when he left England and he married a Virginia lady, Isabella Hurt, in 1682.

Of the Pendletons in America, Grandfather Charles R. Pendleton wrote in 1911 (quoting a 1881 biographer): "The Pendleton family are of English descent. Two brothers of the gentry class, one a Protestant minister and the other a lawyer, came to Virginia some time before the Revolution. The brothers' children (only one had children) consisted of five sons and one daughter, from whom descended, as far as it is known, all of that name in the United States (except some far down east), among whom may be mentioned Edmund Pendleton of Revolutionary memory (President of the House of Burgesses and chairman of the committee on safety and said by John Esten Cooke to have been the real author of the Declaration of Independence, who was one of the five sons referred to; Senator George H. Pendleton of Ohio; the Rev. Dr. Pendleton of Tennessee; and Dr. Edmund M. Pendleton of Georgia. The daughter married a Gaines of Virginia and was the mother of Edmund Pendleton Gaines, a distinguished general in the United Army. The Virginia family was connected with the Dandridges and the Washington and Lee families by blood and marriage ties.

Philip’s great grandson, also named Philip, was a Captain in the Revolutionary War. The captain's son, Coleman, (1780-1862) went from Virginia to Georgia on horseback as a missionary for the Christian Church, He stayed and became a Methodist. He married a Georgia girl, Martha Gilbert, whose father was wounded during the Revolution. They settled  in Eatonton, Georgia. One of his sons, Philip Coleman Pendleton, was the first New Church Pendleton and the head of our branch of the family that became so important in the history of the General Church.  His story follows. 

Philip C. Pendleton (1812-1869)

Philip C. Pendleton, our ancestor, had a varied career. He was a newspaper publisher, magazine editor, military man, farmer and more. While quite young he left home and moved to Macon, Georgia, where he at first studied law. As law didn't pay in the small town of Macon, he went into the newspaper business. For several years he published "The Southern Post", a weekly. The Seminole War in Florida broke out, and the young editor suspended publication and enlisted in the Macon volunteers and fought in Florida. At one time his unit was surrounded and almost starved out. They came close to eating the commander’s horse.

At about this time a movement was born in Macon to establish the "Georgia Female College", now named Wesleyan, the first college in the world to grant degrees to women. The returned soldier, very much interested in the college, began publication in 1840 of a literary monthly known as "The Southern Ladies’ Book”, partly to support the college. The “Introduction" to the magazine by the young editor, single and in his twenties, was mainly a plea for female education. He seemed to be saying that the female mind was capable of more than the trivial matters it was concerned with in those days. Articles in the publication, although written by men, were aimed at women and at improving women’s education. Many articles were written by men associated with the new college.

The magazine wasn't a financial success and within a year it was moved to Savannah, a bigger city farther south in Georgia on the ocean. Here he ran into another difficulty: "Godey’s Ladies Book" of Philadelphia threatened to sue because of the name. In January 1841 he changed the name to "The Magnolia”. While in Savannah he met Catherine Tebeau, a very beautiful and talented young lady, whose father’s family originated in France and became quite famous. In Georgia, Waycross was originally named Tebeauville. (This family will be covered separately.) The mother came from New York and belonged to the family into which George Washington’s sister married. Philip and "Katie", as he called her, were married in November 1841.

The “Magnolla” had a fitful life of a year and a half in Savannah and then was moved to Charleston, South Carolina, a larger city. After two more years it became apparent that the time for a Southern ladies magazine had not yet come, and the "Magnolia” failed. Phillip then moved his family back to Georgia and taught for several years in Springfield, near Savannah. He then moved to Sandersville in Central Georgia and became principal of a female seminary there. He later bought the local newspaper. Then, because of his wife’s health, he decided to move further south. He went first to Florida, without his family, where he grew oranges for a while. Then it was back to Georgia. There he bought acreage in the pine woods near the Okefenokee swamp on the border with Florida. He went into the lumber business.

The Civil War broke out when Philip was 50 years old. Despite his age he volunteered to the call of his state and raised a company of volunteers from the county where he lived. This became the Fiftieth Georgia Regiment, and he was the commanding officer, a Major. For part of the time his son, William F. Pendleton, later bishop of the General Church served with him. He participated in several Virginia campaigns, being in the thick of the fight at the second battle of Manassas. Major Pendleton was eventually culled out of the Southern Army because of his health and returned home. He then moved to the Valdosta area and engaged in planting, broken in health and fortune. Regardless he began in 1867 publication of the "South Georgia Times" in Valdosta. At one point, while a leader in a movement to get emigrants to settle in Georgia, he traveled to Scotland, organized a group of Scotchmen who had left jobs and homes to go the new land. The deal fell through and he barely escaped the wrath of the victims.

Major Pendleton died when, while riding in a buggy with his 4-year-o1d son, Nathaniel, the horse bolted, and he and his son were both thrown out. The Major hit a tree. His son survived and later became Bishop of the General Church. Of his father, Editor C. R. Pendleton wrote. "I could fill a volume with striking incidents of his checkered life, approaching and during the stirring times of the American crisis — of his public debate in Sandersville with Linton Stephens — his opposition to secession — his two hours interview with Gen. Robert E. Lee at Tebeauville (now Waycross), which I personally witnessed as a boy. Lee then being in command of the coast defenses of Carolina, Georgia and Florida, the first year of the war — his conversion to the religious philosophy and science of Emanuel Swedenborg, though he never severed his connection with the Methodist Church.”

"He was a Whig before the war, a Jefferson Davis partisan during the war (although he always opposed secession), a Democrat after the war, and a patriot all the time. He never sought political office. In 1868 he and Gen. Range Wright of Augusta represented Georgia in the Democratic Convention in New York which came within a few votes of nominating George H. Pendleton as the presidential candidate.

His wife survived him. They had five sons and two daughters, Emma and Zella, who remained unmarried. William F, was Bishop of the General Church, as was the youngest, Nathaniel Dandridge. Louis, a bachelor, became a noted author,.He lived most of his life in Bryn Athyn and wrote "Kidnapping Clarence" and other books for boys that were sold nationwide. He also wrote "The Wedding Garment”. Philo died when he was 21 years old. Charles R., the youngest, was nationally known as Editor and Publisher of the Macon Telegraph. His story comes next.

The TEBEAU FAMILY

The first Tebeau of whom there is a record was James, who came to America while quite young. Although of French heritage, he travelled with his Mother and Stepfather as members of Oglethorpe’s party of Englishmen who colonized Georgia. They settled in the Savannah area. Apparently he was placed in an "orphan house" at first, but soon left it to help his Mother with her "planting concerns.”

JAMES married SUSAN HENKS, the daughter of one of the first settlers in Georgia. Their son JOHN remained in the Savannah area, married CATHERINE TREUTLAND. He developed a successful cotton plantation on Wilmington Island and maintained a town house in Savannah, too. JOHN died in 1807.

The Treutlins were interesting ancestors. CATHERINES’ grandfather left England with Oglethorpe, but was captured by the French and died as a prisoner-of-war. His sons, one of whom,  John Adam,  was later Governor of Georgia, were also captured, but were released and came to Georgia. FREDERICK TREUTLIN developed a cotton plantation on Wilmington Island, near the Tebeaus, The son who was Governor was murdered later in South Carolina.

FREDERICK E. TEBEAU, the son of JOHN and CATHERINE, married HULDA LEWIS, who has been described as a "different type of person". She was beautiful and very dainty. In fact, she wouldn’t touch money, but picked it up with a piece of tissue. She was pious and insisted that both her children and the young black children in the household memorize bible verses. She also tried to teach them to read. It is said she made marvelous preserves which were completely gobbled up by the Northern troops when they came through Savannah at the end of the Civil War.

CATEERINE SARAH DELISSA TEBEAU, the daughter of FREDERICK AND HULDA, like her Mother was very beautiful. She met PHILP C. PENDLETON at a party at a home in Savannah where he was staying temporarily while publishing the “Magnolia”. They were married in 1841. Apparently, CATHERINE was the stronger parent of the two. While PHILIP shifted from one endeavor and location to another all his life, the offspring of the marriage turned out to be unusually successful people. One of the parents obviously was very effective.

Nationally Known Journalist

Grandfather Charles R. Pendleton was an unusual man. His education consisted of fifteen months in grammar school, but as editor and publisher of a small city newspaper, the “Macon Telegraph", he became well known for his journalism, his political influence and his fairness. He was known nationally, but especially throughout the south. At his death, tributes to him appeared in all the major southern newspapers.

He was born in 1850 in Springfield, Georgia, where his father, having temporarily abandoned journalism, was teaching school. The Pendleton family made several more moves while Charles was growing up, finally settling on a farm outside Valdosta, Georgia. This was after his father had served in the Civil War. Apparently, Charles received his limited education in Valdosta. Perhaps, because it seems to have been decided that he should devote himself to running the family farm, it wasn't felt that it was necessary that he get much schooling.

The farm was purchased in about 1863. A little later William (later the Bishop), who also served in the Civil War, arrived in Valdosta on furlough to visit his family. He wrote that he was told what country road to take to reach the farm. He knew he was home when he saw "Charlie" in the field working behind a plow. "Charlie" was thirteen years old.

In 1867 Father Pendleton once again got the publishing urge and started a newspaper and printing business in Valdosta. When he died in 1869 his son, Philo, took over the printing business and the newspaper, the "South Georgia Times". At this point William was in Medical College in Savannah and older brother James at the University of Georgia in Athens studying law. Philo died in 1870, apparently during a siege of typhoid fever which affected many in the family. At first James took over management of the business, but he also became ill with typhoid fever and never really recovered, ending up in a sanitarium. William at this point was in the New Church theological school in Massachusetts. There was talk of selling the business, but instead William returned home and took over with Charles helping and listed as "Travelling Agent”.

It soon became apparent that Charles was capable of taking over the family business completely, despite his youthfulness. William wrote that one day Charles had seen on the street a drunken countryman trying to mount a horse from the rear end. The account he wrote about the incident persuaded his older brother that Charles had writing talent. Charles took over as editor when he was twenty-two years old. William went back to theological school.

The newspaper, later to be known as the "Valdosta Times", flourished under his management. An article in 1881 in a contemporary newspaper sums up what he had accomplished by then: "He was quite a lad when he had, until 1864, only the advantages of the common school of the country in the way of education, and of society comparatively none.” From the time of the removal to Lowndes (Valdosta Area) until the close of the war he labored on the farm, assisting his father, who had not recovered from the effects of the severe exposure in the Virginia campaign. Instead of preparing for and entering college, as his father had greatly desired, pecuniary considerations compelled him to go to the plow-handles; and, as opportunity afforded, attended, at intervals, the Valdosta Institute receiving about fifteen months schooling. In all, with this experience and a limited education, and with a mortgage double the value of the Times office, he commenced his editorial career. In 1874 the mortgage was foreclosed. He had now so far established a character and such business relations as to enable him, with the help of brothers, to pay the remaining unpaid portion of the debt. Two years later in 1876, the Times office was destroyed by fire, leaving him without a dollar.

"By the assistance of friends, with the loss of only a few week’s publication, he started again, and from that day to this his paper has continued to prosper, gaining steadily the patronage of the people of his town and the surrounding country. “Charlie Pendleton”, as he is familiarly called, was the first man in the State to attack the wild land swindle a few years back; and he vigorously fought it until the whole thing was unearthed and its carcass exposed to the burning rays of an indignant public, gaining for himself thereby the bitter enmity of interested quill drivers and others who had fingers in the pie. We mention also, as quite a feather in his cap, that Charlie Pendleton organized the first party of white men that ever explored to its centre and through the vast wilderness known as the Okefenokee Swamp, there enjoying the hospitality of the mosquitoes, the music of the frogs, and the companionship of bears and alligators for seven weeks.

"From a careless view, to the passer by he would not appear to be what people call a success in life; yet when we take into consideration the financial condition of the paper, its destruction by fire, that he has mainly been instrumental in supporting his mother, an afflicted brother, two younger brothers and two sisters, educating and preparing them, (his younger brother and sister), for the active duties of life, it would take no great stretch of the imagination to arrive at quite a different conclusion, and to reasonably suppose that he has done some good for his State, country, town, neighbors and family, and put a little money in his own pocket.”

I have clippings of an article he wrote about the Okefenokee, and a series of articles about his trip through Mexico.

In 1898 he bought control of the newspaper in partnership with his business managers, W.T. and P.T. Anderson. According to Mother, they stole the newspaper from the family at Grandfather's death in 1914. “P.T.” the younger, was still alive when I worked at the Telegraph, and I was invited to his house for one very stuffy dinner. They were businessmen not editors. The newspaper was sold to Knight-Ridder in 1969.

In 1879 he became enamored of Sallie Patterson Peeples of Valdosta. In April of that year, he wrote her that it was time for her to tell her mother that they planned to marry. Then later he would n approach your father on the subject". The letter was addressed "My Dear Miss Sallie".

They were married seven months later. According to Aunt Zera he called her "Miss Sallie" all during their married life. Her many grandchildren called her "Boomama.”

Grandmother Pendleton died in 1938. They had eight children who reached adulthood. They were: Charles R., who married Ruth Hicks. He was head of the Academy College for many years; Luelle, who married Curtis Hicks, a businessman; William, who married Stella Roberts and was a Macon businessman; and Mother. Louis, who remained a bachelor, Carita, who married Richard de Charms, a construction engineer and bridge builder, Vida, who married John Gyllenhaal. They raised a family in Glenview, and Zera, who kept her hand in journalism, and married George Nottingham, a judge in Macon. All of those who married produced children.

Grandfather Pendleton died of Bright’s Disease in 1914, when he was 63 years old and after 40 years in the newspaper business. The governor of Georgia and a former governor were honorary pallbearers at his funeral. The many letters and telegrams received, and the complimentary obituaries that appeared nationwide, attest to the high regard in which he was held.

Here are some. "Brilliant and gifted, but modest as a girl. “He was the uncompromising foe of hypocrisy and sham; and the able champion of honest government.” "Colonel Pendleton did not bow down to fetishes. He saw the truth at a glance, and he tracked it with single fidelity. He was ready to tilt with all that came, to give and take.”

It was also written: “the charm of his life was its simplicity, his relations with his family and those who were associated most intimately with him. His home was a charmed circle where he presided with dignity and grace, No home was filled with more filial love and parental affection. In his business relations with his employees he was always a friend and helper”

The Sons of the Academy Bulletin wrote: "SA splendid type of the stalwart New Churchman, who carries his faith into the ultimate deeds of life’s battle. Mr. Pendleton was a loyal supporter of the Academy.”

The opinions of Charles R. Pendleton

Because of the statewide attention Charlie Pendleton received while editor of the Valdosta Times, he was asked to move north and take over editorship of the much larger Macon Telegraph. Within a year the newspaper became the second largest newspaper in the state. He retained ownership of the Valdosta weekly, but as editor of a daily newspaper in a much larger city he had a very much wider audience to which he could express his views. His opinions covered a wide area of topics, as he was a very intelligent and well-informed man. He was very much interested in politics, but, as a journalist, refused public office except for a spell in the legislature when he was very young, in fact the youngest in history. He supported and was a close friend of Oscar W. Underwood, who served in Congress both as a representative and senator, and also ran for president. Col. Pendleton (as he was often called, though never a real colonel) was head of the Georgia delegation to the Democratic national convention when Underwood was its choice. He was also its head when William Jennings Bryan was the choice of the delegation, even though he personally opposed Bryan. He was one of the first Southern Democrats to desert Bryan and attracted editorial comment nationally when he did so. He helped get Joseph M. Brown elected Governor of Georgia and officially notified him of his election.

He abhorred sham and demagoguery. In his editorials he stood up for what he believed and praised those he felt were deserving. At one point he was urged to take the appointment as U.S. Senator at the death of the incumbent. He turned the chance down.

He had very strong opinions which he often put in print. At the end of the century he opposed free silver and the Populist Party; favored the gold standard for U.S. currency; said the Germans were more of a threat to the U.S. than the Filipinos, when it seemed officialdom felt otherwise. He fought for more pay for teachers; said the South should manufacture cloth from cotton, as well as grow it. His opinions on the race question would be very unpopular nowadays.

In 1913 he wrote in the Sons of the Academy of the New Church Bulletin: "Woman is neither equal, nor superior nor inferior to man. The glory of womanhood is unlike the greatness of manhood, although affiliated like light heat are affiliated, but different in purpose and effect; or like the glory of the rose with the affiliated and protecting thorn, part of the same life and stem. Woman is superior to man in all that is womanly. Man is stronger than woman in all that is manly. There is no superiority between them. In 1911 he wrote in regard to the women’s vote that women should participate in politics equally with men, and that if women got the vote "There will be no prisons, scaffolds, children in factories; no girls driven to the streets", as some ladies were saying. Incidentally, he was against an anti-beer bill in 1911. And several accounts say that he was the best fisherman in the state

The PEEPLES FAMILY

This family can trace its history back to 1115 AD and before. They originated in Flanders. They got permission to cross the channel and settle in Scotland, because they were being persecuted. At first, they lived in tents. PEEPLES (or the original "Peebles") means "dwellers in tents.” Then they were persecuted by the British. So, they dug caves below their tents to escape from them.

In about 1650 DAVID PEEBLES settled in Virginia with five children. His wife is thought to have died In Scotland, and he remarried in Virginia. He died in 1659.

His son WILLIAM (1635-1695) was born in Scotland and came to Virginia to take over the estate after his Father’s death. He had three wives. WILLIAM II, by his first wife, inherited the estate. He became a Quaker. His oldest son, Ahenry , was born about 1690 in Virginia. He was a loyalist during the Revolution, while most of his brothers and sisters were revolutionaries. He too had three wives. He died about 1782.

His second son WILLIAM (1720—?) had four sons. They moved to South Carolina and for some reason changed the name to "PEEPLES" WILLIAM later joined them there. His oldest son was also named WILLIAM (1757—1791), and he served in the Revolution with the rebels. His son HENRY (1786—1854) established a retail business in South Carolina, made a fortune and lost it. He then moved to Georgia and eventually operated a general store near Valdosta. He married MARY SMITH, and they had eight children.

Their youngest child was RICHARD AUGUSTUS PEEPLES (1829-1893). He was a captain in the infantry during the Civil War. After the war he became Judge of the County Court in Valdosta. He married SARAH JANE CAMP. They had five children. She died in 1863 and AUGUSTUS remarried.

AUGUSTUS and SARAH JANE were the parents of SALLY PATTERSON PEEPLES, who married CHARLES R. PENDLETON. She later became known as "Boomama” to her grandchildren.

PENDLETON GENEOLOGY

(Other Pendletons are recorded in Manchester, England, back to 1496)

HENRY PENDLETON

(Lived in Norwich, 17th century.)

HIB son:

PHILIP (d. 1721) married ISABELLA HART,

Their oldest son:

HENRY (1683-1721) married MARY TAYLOR.

(Second son Edmund was famous Revolutionary statesman)

Their oldest son:

JAMES (1702-1762) married ELIZABETH ?.

Their third son:

PHILIP (1748-1763) married MARTHA AUBREY. (He was Captain in Revolution.)

Their seventh child:

COLEBLAN (1780-1862) married BLARTHA GILBERT.

(Her father was a captain in the revolution)

Their third child:

PHILIP Coleman (1812-1869) married CATHARINE SARAH BELISSA TEBEAU. (Philip and the Tebeaus covered separately.)

Their fifth son:

CHARLES R. (1850-1914) married SALLIE PEEPLES.

(Charles R. and the Peeplee are covered separately. )

Their daughter:

PHILO married LEONARD E, GYLLENHAAL

The GYLLENHAALS

A close study of the early ancestors of the Gyllenhaal family has turned up some facts that are very new and very surprising to me. The first Gyllenhaals weren’t long-time, haughty nobles. They came closer to being inventive dirt farmers. The earliest Gyllenhaals, including the famous entomologist, were people I’m happy to claim as ancestors. Even though no one in our family has dwelt very much on the "noble’ part of our inheritance, the impression I used to have of the early Gyllenhaals proved to be quite inaccurate.

The Gyllenhaal name and nobility came about in an entirely different manner and much later than I expected. During the Thirty Years War in the 17th century, when Sweden set out to take over Europe, and especially during a particular fight with the Danes, a young cavalry lieutenant, Nils Gunnesson, who was a commoner, conducted himself "truly bravely and zealously". He was with the Westgothia cavalry. He was made a baron and a nobleman, and a coat of arms was given to his family and all his descendants, both male and female. In 1672. The word “gyllen", which means golden, was added to his last name: “Haal” , as was the custom, the name he used was his father’s name with "son" added to it. His father was Gunne Haal. Why "gyllen” was picked wasn’t explained in the document which accompanied the Coat of Arms.

There was no "Golden Hall" presented along with the coat of arms. The Gyllenhaals weren't a powerful or wealthy family of knights descended from kings. (How some of us are descended from kings is explained next.) One account states that the first Gyllenhaals were in narrow circumstances. Hans, the son of Lieutenant Neills Gunnarsson Gyllenhaal, bought an estate named Hoberg. The estate was very much run down, and it wasn't bought to be a "family castle", but rather to be a farm, and a source of income for his family. (see illustration) Hans turned Hoberg into a model farm by removing big quantities of stone from the fields, and making them into fences along the edges, by the sweat of the Baron’s own brow. The estate is still there and occupied.

This couldn't have been the “golden hall" that some of us thought existed, for it was acquired after the name came into being. It was, however, an important base of operations for the grandson of the first Gyllenhaal, the entomologist, Leonard Gyllenhaal. The estate, surrounded by wooded areas, was very useful to him in his studies. Perhaps because he was a nobleman, Anna Fleetwood, of the long time noble Fleetwoods, and also a descendant of the famous Gyllenstiernas, found him both attractive and royal enough, and they married. They moved into Hoberg after his army service. It is through the Fleetwoods that we can claim kings as ancestors.

This story is more interesting and complicated than it sounds. The Genealogy entitled “King Carl VII”, which appears following this, shows that we are descended from a king. However, this early king didn’t just inherit the throne. Instead, he got together an armed following, took over the Stockholm area and got himself "elected" King, back in the fifteenth century. He was Sweden's first Swedish king. (The earlier kings were either Danes or Norwegians.) This ancestor became King on three separate occasions. He obviously was not the evil king referred to in the Writings.

Carl VIII was probably descended from the Vikings. The Vikings were Nordics, who beginning in 300 A.D. conquered much of the known world. They raided Britain and must have sacked their banks, (30,000 Anglo-Saxon coins have been found in Sweden.) After the Viking era a number of royal Danish and Norwegian families developed and ruled Sweden and all of Scandinavia. In 1250 AD all the Swedish noble families had died out and in 1412 a Norwegian king was in charge. It was then that three aristocratic, wealthy, land-owing (but not noble) families got an army together and took over. Karl Knutsson Bonde, head of one of the families, and our ancestor, became commander, executed a few people, and got himself elected the boss of the Stockholm area. He stepped down in 1442, under pressure.

Then, six years later, he got another armed force together, appeared in Stockholm and got himself "elected" Carl, King of Sweden. He was also King of Norway for a while. After a few years, and after appropriating land belonging to others and making it his own, he had to flee. The King of Denmark took over and because he taxed too much the Swedes decided they had better bring King Carl back again. His second kingship lasted a year. They brought him back for a third try in 1437 and he died "in office" in 1470. There was a yearning in Sweden during his reigns to limit the power of Kings by councils. This became constitutionalism. This and a yearning for national independence was used by King Carl with telling effect to gain his own advantage.

Erik Gyllenstierna, Jr. married Carl's daughter, Christina. This didn't make him royalty, but it did make it possible for us to have been descended from a rather slippery king. The Gyllenstierna name didn’t turn into Gyllenhaal, as some believe. Actually, after a female descendant of the Gyllenstierna family had married a Baron Fleetwood, a female descendant of theirs married the famous Baron Gyllenhaal, the entomologist. We are directly descended from them.

During an earlier period, we picked up another noted ancestor when Carl Gyllenstierna, married Marina Grip. The Grips were business magnates with huge holdings, Gripsholm castle in Sweden, home of many kings, was built in honor of the first Grip.

The Gyllenstiernas were very powerful when Carl VI11 was ruling, Kristina Gyllenstierna, a relative of Erik, was married to Sten Sture, who succeeded Carl as ruler. The Danes had attacked Sweden again and wounded Sture, who later died of his wounds, Kristina, his wife, ended up in control of Stockholm for a while, (It could be considered that we are related to an early female mayor, ) She finally negotiated a surrender but was soon double-crossed by the Danes, In the 13th Century, King Erik XIV created an estate and gave the title Baron to the Gyllenstiernas, The story of Leonard Gyllenhaal, the entomologist follows.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST

The two grandsons of the first man to bear the name “Gyllenhaal” were both naturalists. They were the sons of Lars, who bought and developed the estate called Hoberg. The oldest, John, was a famed botanist, geologist and director of a copper factory. Leonard, our ancestor, was at first a botanist. He became a very famous entomologist after twenty years’ service in the Army,

Leonard was born in 1712 in Skara, several miles from the Hoberg estate. He was named for his uncle, who had no children. He died in 1840. While a young man he studied at Uppsala University, under Linnaeus (Carl von Linne), who was the world's most famous at the time. Linnaeus organized the identification of species, and published a work detailing 8,000 of them. Uppsala was then the world capital of botany. Linnaeus must have been the reason both Gyllenhaal sons turned to botany and other sciences.

Leonard’s parents apparently were not well off and it was necessary for him to enter the military to support himself. A year after Leonard entered the Royal Guards, his father bought the Hoberg estate. He bought the old tax—free property primarily to make it into a farm. It included considerable acreage not suitable for cultivation and some run—down buildings. He rebuilt the residence into a beautiful two—story home and built a new cow barn. Over the years it became a model farm and estate.

Leonard started in the Royal Guards as a yeoman. He spent about 20 years in the Guard. He served in the Army of Gustavas Adolphus and retired with a pension as a major. He then settled into life on the farm at Hoberg shortly after his father died. One account states that he introduced new methods and through drainage control increased considerably the arable land on the estate. Leonard continued developing the farm, primarily with his own hands. His great physical strength was well known.

He was visited in 1806 by the German minerologist Haussmann, who described him as strong physically and spiritually. Haussman wrote: “ learned to know him as a modest, righteous man of great learning. He is the owner of a pleasant manor, surrounded by a considerable garden, which he has by his own hands changed from a stony desert to what it is now. He has himself removed big blocks of gneiss (rock), partly by means of blasting, and has used them for a stone wall around his garden, a practice which deserves following in Sweden.”

While working the farm, major Gyllenhaal (as he was most often called) developed a great interest in the study of insects, especially Swedish beetles. His large work, "Insecta Specia Coleopteran, in four volumes, resulted in his being made one of the four foreign members of the "Societe Entomologique” in Paris. It also brought him many other honors and membership in other learned societies.

The major built his insect collection in a novel way. He spread the word around the area that he would buy insects. He paid about seven cents for a unique one. He apparently collected many hundreds this way. The story is told of an old lady, who, hearing of this, got together a bagful of flies. She took them to him and explained they were houseflies, horseflies and cattle—flies and expected a fortune in payment. He settled for seven cents, sent her away with her bag of insects and asked her not to come back. This may be why the little summer pavilion behind the main house was known as "The Flyhouse.”

The German wrote; "In a summerhouse he keeps his comprehensive library. The entomological collection of Swedish insects, which Gyllenhaal has, is at least as valuable as his literary treasures.” The little summerhouse, which he built himself, was behind and away from the main building, in a grove of trees in the garden. He used it as a place where he could shut himself up and work both night and day when he was in the mood for its

There is a mysterious story told in the area around the Hoberg estate, involving major Gyllenhaal. One March a mysterious stranger arrived on horseback at the estate. In the evening. He found the main building dark, but saw a light in the little pavilion in the back. He went there and was received by a servant, to whom he gave a signet ring with a coat of arms on it. The ring was given to the major, who then received the stranger, recognized him and took him in. His horse was taken to a far—off field and the servant was sworn to secrecy. The stranger used the pavilion as a hiding place for a long time and then was moved to a distant farmhouse. To keep himself busy he kept the household supplied with fish from lakes he fished in the neighborhood. After many years he died of tubercu1osis. His secret was never revealed, although it was guessed that he had assassinated a king. No one knows the whereabouts of the ring, which could have solved the mystery of the stranger’s identity. Perhaps it is buried on the estate and will someday show up. Some think the stranger was the murderer of King Gustavas the Third, whose demise occurred at about this time. There is a long version of this story, which Ruth and I have.

A portrait of Major Gyllenhaal still hangs in the main building at Hoberg and his pavilion is still there. In addition, a portrait of him hangs in the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences at Stockholm, where a portrait of Swedenborg also hangs.     A medal was struck by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1848 in memory of him and can be seen there. Another was issued in 1959. A portrait of Leonard Gyllenhaal’s brother John hangs in the house of the Society of Sciences in Uppsala.

EARLY NEW CHURCHMAN

Leonard Gyllenhaal, the entomologist, was not only a famed scientist but was also one of history’s first New Churchmen. He was a devoted believer in the Writings and very active in their translation and publication. He was twenty years old when Swedenborg died. He first learned of the Writings from his uncle, Dr, Paul Wahlfelt, while a student. Later while a young lieutenant in the Royal Guard he was a member of a society devoted to the spread of the Writings, which met secretly because of government persecution.

Dr. Wahlfelt, his Mother’s brother, was a professor at Uppsala Junior College in Skara, near the Gyllenhaal home. Skara is in West Gothland Provence, between Stockholm and Gothenberg. Swedenborg had also attended this schooI and apparently was an acquaintance of Dr. Wahlfelt. Swedenborg’s father, Jesper Svedberg, was bishop of Skara for many years.

One of Leonard’s relatives, Anika Gyllenhaal, married Lt. David Frolich. Their son David married Maria Elisabeth Swedenborg, a niece of Swedenborg, and their daughter Catherine married Jesper Swedenborg his nephew.

As noted Leonard Gyllenhaal’s interest in the Writings began at an early age. According to one account: "Through his mother Anna Catherine Wahlfelt and his maternal Uncle Paul, Leonard was introduced to the teaching In the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg. From his thirties on Leonard was an ardent New Churchman. The New Church had at this time a strong foothold in the province where Leonard lived. In a letter Leonard Gyllenhaal tells his brother how their uncle in his last days rejoiced over the decline of his body and how he, a moment before his death, with a smile, had told the people present that his pulse had stopped. 

The death of his uncle convinced Leonard about the existence of another world and that the transition there was easy and joyful for someone who has not bound his spirit to the material. Leonard translated Swedenborg’s works and made many copies in his neat hand writing and supported generously the printing and distribution of Swedenborg’s works. He wanted to, as he writes: “secure the availability for the public of such books that contain unadulterated truth.” He was never a supporter of the fanatical type of Swedenborgianism common in some circles, but belonged to the level—headed and pious group of men who in 1796 founded the society “Pro Fide et Ceritate.”

This society was organized to continue the publication of the Writings in Swedish and other languages. Other members included the Rev. Jonas Odhner and his son the Rev. Pehr Odhner, forbearers of the current New Church family. They too were introduced to the Writings by Dr. Wahlfelt, Jonas Odhner translated the first Swedish edition of the "True Christian Religion", printed in 1795, probably at Leonard Gyllenhaal’s expense.

Major Gyllenhaal was also described as the principal supporter of the Rev. Johan Tybeck, defraying the expense of many of his publications. The Rev. Tybeck was a foremost standard bearer of the New Church in Sweden and was persecuted and placed on trial for heresy by the Swedish Consistory when he was 61 years old. He was deposed from the Swedish Church. He was supported by major Gyllenhaal throughout the trial and afterwards.

Another account of the accomplishments of major Gyllenhaal is contained in the "Annals of the New Church”.

Major Leonard Gyllenhaal, the friend of John Tybeck, was a member of the Society “pro Fide et Charitate”, which succeeded the “Exegetic Philanthropic Society.” He had a valuable collection of documents concerning Swedenborg and copies of some of the MSS, which after his death in 1852 came into the hands of Dr. A. Kahl. Among these is an important copy of the work entitled “Canons Concerning Major Gyllenhaal.” Dr. A, Kahi in his “Nya Kyrkan” furnishes the following account: 

"Leonard Gyllenhaal was universally known and respected throughout the whole of Sweden for his indefatigable activity in the promotion of science and manufacture, for hie lofty, unprejudiced and patriotic sentiments, and for his exemplary Christian life and character. As the greatest Swedish entomologist of his time, he enjoyed also European celebrity, and corresponded with many scientific men abroad. The great esteem in which he was in the world, added weight and importance in the eyes of the public to religious ideas which he represented, and for which he lived. Whilst yet young he was introduced into a knowledge of the doctrines of the New Church by one of his relatives, Doctor Wahlfelt of Skara. After he had arrived at the age of manhood he translated, copied, and gave away many of Swedenborg’s theological works, and during the repression of the freedom of the press in Sweden from 1790 to 1810, he laboured in this wise for the spread of the doctrines of the New Church. 

Even in advanced age his countenance brightened up whenever he met with anyone who shared his religious convictions and was willing to work for them. He himself had drawn deeply from the fountain of truth in the New Church and in conjunction with his friend Schonherr he assisted and supported every literary undertaking for the advancement of the New Church. In the help and friendship of these two men Tybeck found his greatest earthly support. They collected the funds for his support which amounted annually to about 500 or 600 crowns. They also furnished the means for printing and spreading his writings during his lifetime and they, afterwards, took charge of the correspondence and MSS which he left behind and which is still carefully preserved. Gyllenhaal and Schonherr were justly considered the most influential of all the members of the society “pro Fide et Charitate”

Before his death Major Gyllenhaal presented his valuable entomological collection to the Society of Sciences at Uppsala. In 1866 it was put in the Zoological Museum in Uppsala University.

It was unusual then, but the major passed on to his children his knowledge and love of the Writings. His son, Frederick Leonard Gyllenhaal, who lived from 1802 to 1873, kept up this interest and passed it on to the next generation. His son, Anders Leonard, emigrated to the United States. He was the grandfather of my generation, and his story comes next.

FIRST AMERICAN GYLLENHAAL

Anders Leonard Gyllenhaal was the grandfather of my generation. He was an unusual man, with a varied and exciting life on the sea and in various parts of the United States, before becoming the well-known editor of a Swedish-language newspaper in Chicago. He was also one of the founders of the New Church community in Glenview. His father, Frederick Leonard, was the owner of several Swedish iron foundries and apparently was quite successful before becoming plagued with financial problems. Perhaps this is why Anders left home at an early age.

Grandfather Gyllenhaal was born in 1842 while his family was living near one of his father’s iron mines in Vastmanland. After several moves the family ended up back in Skara, where he went to school. He graduated from the Uppsala Junior College when he was 18 years old. He then went to sea on one of his father’s freighters, visiting India and other lands in the Orient.

After several years at sea, he returned to Uppsala hoping to obtain a degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The famed poets Carl Snoilsky and C.D. Wirsen were among his friends. One writer, in describing Grandfather Gyllenhaal, quotes a statement written by Poet Wirsen: "The Plato of the North sat in the halls of learning and spoke, clearly and deeply, naively and learnedly, of the shining world of eternal ideas.”

But it wasn't to be. In 1862 the family financial problems again forced him to quit his studies. Like many young Swedish men in those days, he chose to emigrate to the United States. Obviously, considering that at his young age he had already traveled the world, he was unafraid of the challenge. Initially he was involved in several unusual pursuits. The first decent job he could find was in a hat factory in Brooklyn. Then an enterprising fellow Swede involved him in the formation of a company for the management of 1ead mines in southern Missouri. Because of a shortage of money, they had to sell out to others, who reportedly then made a fortune from the operation.

He then moved to Chicago, but after a year left for Mississippi. There he and some fellow Swedes bought a cotton plantation. Within a year he was back in Chicago, after contracting malaria in the south. He then worked for several years for the Western News Co., his first job in journalism. In 1874 he became editor of "The New Swedish American", a Swedish language newspaper.

Grandfather was a loyal Republican and when the owner of the paper sold out to some Democrats, he quit and moved to another newspaper, the “Gamla och Nya Hamlandet.”       He later moved to the "Svenska Tribunen" and in 1893 became its Editor-in-Chief. He held that position until his death in 1905.

In 1880 he married Selma A. Nelson, the daughter of Swain Nelson, a pillar of the Immanuel Church in Glenview. Nelson was a well-known and financially successful nurseryman in the Chicago area. Among other accomplishments, he designed the famous Lincoln Park in that city, where they first lived. Swain Nelson and Alvin Nelson, his brother, built large homes in Glenview on Park Drive. Apparently, that was the beginning of the New Church community there. The Gyllenhaa1s built a home between them. It has just recently been torn down. The Nelson houses are still there.

The A.L. Gyllenhaals had seven children, Leonard was the oldest. Another, Frederick, was a New Church minister. John raised a family in Glenview. Alvin remained a bachelor. Vida was an Academy teacher and in charge of the Dining Hall there. Margaret married Bert Henderson and Agnes married Jesse Stevens, and both raised families in Glenview.

Grandfather, a hard worker, virtually died on the job. He had left the newspaper to return home, after having written an obituary for a friend which ended he rest in peace. At the railway station he collapsed and died. He was very much admired in the Swedish-American community. Another Swedish language newspaper said of him: "The departed was throughout his life a friend of peace and an industrious working man. He was of an introspective nature and avoided the boisterous social life He held strong opinions on politics and religion and defended them with ardor when it became necessary to do so. In the main, however, he disliked conflict for its own sake, and when he did battle, he did so with clean weapons.” A friend is quoted as saying: "He had one of the best minds which have ever stood at the disposal of the Swedish-American press, and he put all of his considerable energies into his work.”  His devotion and usefulness to the Church is noted In other tributes to him at the time of his death, as is the fact that he didn't take the nobility of his birth very seriously.

COAT OF ARMS

The Gyllenhaal coat of arms hangs in the House of Nobility in Stockholm in color on a copper plate. The account below is part of the official document, sent by the House of Nobles to Ruth and Leonard.

Year 1672 December 5th

Sent by Colonel Pehr Harta

We, Christina by the grace of God Queen of Sweden, make known. in order that virtue and manliness toward the Sovereign and the Fatherland may not be without Its due remembrance and reward; therefore in as much as our faithful servant and lieutenant in the Westgothia cavalry, the faithful and Intrepid Niells Gunnarsson as from his youth exerted himself and taken pains to grasp the things by means of which he might serve his sovereign and Country, and has especially trained and permitted himself to be used in war, first abroad and afterwards here within the country in the last Danish conflict wherein he has conducted himself truly bravely and zealously, so that his commanders give him particular testimony of this.. wish to present and give to him and his legitimate heirs male as well as female, those born as well as unborn the following coat of arms, namely; A red shield, within it an armed arm holding upright a standard; above the shield a tilting helmet, the cover and crown with blue white and red divided; above the helmet two standards of blue color in which are placed upright two red feathers and a white one between the two standards mentioned, precisely as it is here painted and reproduced with their proper colors. So also we grant him Niells Gunnargson and his legitimate descendants, in order that they may be distinguished from other families here in the kingdom to be named Gyllenhaal and to bear and use this described escutcheon and arm in all noble and knightly matters, performances and festive gatherings, in the field, In battles, stormings, skirmishes, tournaments, tiltings, reproductions, seals, and also on all other occasions in jest and in seriousness according to what seems best.. We request for this reason all potentates, kings, princes, free republics and all others that he Nielss Gunnarsson Gyllenhaal and his legitimate descendants happens to meet with to respect kindly and courteously each one in accordance with his estate and merit; we wish also that they acknowledge the oftnamed Niells Gunnarsson Gyllenhaal and his legitimate descendants as true noblemen…

Christina

That this copy is the same in words and sense as the original itself is testified by the undersigned, Date Haggetorp Nov. 20th 1672

Johan Polman

Relatives in Sweden

There are a number of Gyllenhaals and other Gyllenhaal descendants living in Sweden. Leonard, Ruth and Martha have kept in touch with them over the years and häve visited them. Peter and Marion have also visited some of them recently.

Baron Lars-Herman Gyllenhaal was born in 1906 and was married to a lady named Dagmar. He died recently. Their son, also Lars-Herman, wrote Ruth recently of his death. This family is directly descended from Lars Gyllenhaal (1645—1710), the oldest son of the original Baron Gyllenhaal (Nils Cunnarson. {Note that spellings vary} and therefore is entitled to use the title. (See page 166), We are descended from the younger brother, Hans. The younger Lars-Herman is in the Swedish Army and is writing a book about an uncle on his Mother’s side who was shot down over Europe in World War II and escaped through the "underground".

Mrs. Anna Nordensten is another cousin living in Sweden. She is descended from the younger brother’s side of the family. Her grandmother, Hilda, was Grandfather A.L. Gyllenhaal’s sister. She stayed in Sweden when he came to America. She married Henrikv Von Delwig. Mrs. Nordensten and her husband have a son, Lars, who is a dress designer living in New York City. He has visited in Bryn Athyn. There are also two sisters, who live in Sweden, Ewa and Maria, (See Page 169 for the family tree of this family).

There is another couple, Carl and Inger Gyllenhaal, in Sweden. He is related to Lars-Herman Sr. They have three grown children.

GYLLENHAAL GENEOLOGY

GUNNE OLOFSSON HAAL

(Nothing else known about him.)

His son:

NILS GUNNESON HAAL (1621-1681) (Knighted GYLLENHAAL in 1652) Married MARTA HIERTA

Their second eon:

    HANS GYLLENHAAL (1655-1710) married BARBRO LILLIESTIELKE.

Their second son:

ABRAHAM (1695-1743) married MARIA LYBECKER.

Their second son:

HANS (1721-1796) married ANNA WAHLSTEDT (Her family knew Swedenborg.)

Their second son:

LEONARD (1752-1840) married CHRISTINA HARD.

                          (He was the famous entomologist)

Their son:

                     FREDRIK LEONARD (1802-1873) married CHRISTINA WESTLING,

Their oldest son:

ANDERS LEONARD (1842-1905) married SELMA NELSON. (He emigrated to the United States.)

Their oldest son:

LEONARD EFRIAM (1881-1934) married PHILO PENDLETON.

Their oldest son

LEONARD EFRIAM (1917-1284) married RUTH DAVIS

Their oldest son

LEONARD ANDERS (born 1944) Married MARTHA CAVAGNARO

Their son

LEONARD DEAN (born 1968)

                       OUR ANCESTOR, the KING

                 Our Ancestor, KING CARL VIII

Carl VIII Knutsson Bonde (1408—1470)

                              King of Sweden 1448-1457, 1464-1465 and 1467-1470 

                                   King of Norway 1449—1450 married Brigitta Bielke (1436— ?)

 Their daughter:

Christina Bonde (1432—1499) married Erik Gyllenstierna

Their son:

Carl Gyllenstiierna (1541— ? ) married Marina Grip

Their son:

Erik Gyllengtierna (1586— ? ) married Carin Bielke

Their son:

Carl Gyllenstlerna ((1575—1621) married Anna Ribingo

Their daughter:

Brita Gyllengtierna (1606—1653) married Baron Georg Fleetwood

Their son:

Baron Gustav Fleetwood (1642—1705) married Baroness Marta Stake.

Their son;

Baron Gustav A, Fleetwood (1682—1757) married Anna Uggla

Their Daughter Anna Hard married:

LEONARD GYLLAJHAAL (1752-1840), the Entomologist.

  (Above supplied by the Swedish House of Nobles)

(There is no other connection between Gyllenstierna and Gyllenhaal.)

MORE KINGS

According to the New Church Life (December 1905) our Grandfather Anders Leonard Gyllenhaal "was descended, albeit on his Mother's side, from Sweden’s two first Vaga kings, Gustav and Erik XIV, from the latter through his daughter by Queen Karin Mansdotter, the Princess Sigrid,”