SKYTTE, GUSTAV ADOLF [SSNE 4921]

Surname

SKYTTE, DUDERSHOFF, STRÖMSRUM

First name

GUSTAV ADOLF, GUSTAF ADOLPH

Title/rank

BARON

Nationality

SCOTO-SWEDE

Text source

Gustav Adolf was the son of Jakob Skytte [SSNE 4920] and his wife Anna Nilsdotter Bielkenstierna. He was also the grandson of Maria Neave [SSNE 6272] and Johan Skytte [SSNE 4754]. His siblings included Jakob, Johan, Maria, Gunnilla, Christina Anna [SSNE 7271] and Sofia Beata. He was born in 1637 in Uppsala and attended the university in 1647. He was enrolled as a master of horse in the Småland cavalry regiment from 1657-1658.

However, in 1657 he (and according to some his sister Christina and Erik Bagge) murdered the crew of a Dutch ship they had freighted, and through a fake letter Gustav Adolf made himself owner of the ship. Erik Bagge was later murdered, probably by Gustav Adolf, who used his illegally obtained ship to perpetrate piracy in the Baltic every summer. These activities occurred around the island of Öland as Gustav Adolf was said to be operating out of an inherited property located at Strömsrums säteri, Ålem parish.

Shortly after beginning his piratical activities, on 9 February 1659 Gustav Adolf married Brita Margaretta Hamilton [SSNE 6386], daughter of Hugo Hamilton of Dalserf [SSNE 2582] and Margareta Forrat [SSNE 6267], thereby reinforcing his Scottish connections, inherited from his grandmother. However, it must be pondered as to how much of Gustav Adolf's illegal activities were known to his new wife and her family.

In 1661 he again murdered the crew of a Dutch trade ship, apparently again along with his sister Christina and his brother-in-law, Gustav Drake, but this time his crime was discovered and he and 5 accomplices were imprisoned in Jönköping castle. Although Drake and his wife had escaped captivity, the others were all subsequently executed for their crime. Gustav Adolf was executed by firing squad, seen as a "soldier's death", on 27 April 1663. His father-in-law had in vain sought clemency for his daughter's wayward husband.

 

 

Sources:

Swedish Krigsarkiv, index to muster rolls; G. Elgenstierna, Svenska Adelns Ättartavlor, vol.7, pp.319-320; Svenska Män och Kvinnor, vol.7, p.94; Anteckningar om Svenska Qvinnor, (Stockholm, 1864) p.341.

Service record

SWEDEN, SMALANDS REGIMENT

Arrived 1657-01-01, as OFFICER

Departed 1663-12-31, as CAPTAIN OF HORSE

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY