Parish scribes in the Finnish province of Ostrobothnia in the 17th and 18th centuries

Authors

• Arja Rantanen Vaasan maakunta-arkisto

Abstract

In the province of Ostrobothnia, peasants could employ parish scribes. These proved out to be an essential resource for illiterate peasants in the 17th and 18th centuries. The scribes helped Finnish-speaking people to produce documents in Swedish, the official language of the Swedish empire. The parish scribe institution that continued until 1868 made it possible for peasants to take part in administrative and political life. The author argues that the use of the parish scribes represents functional literacy in the peasant society. Scribes had to win the confidence of peasants. They were often recruited from local administrators who knew how to handle different administrative and legal tasks. Their skills were valued and respected; they belonged to the upper layers of the class society. The study of the parish scribes draws from administrative history, social history, and genealogical research. This review has its source in the unique material of Finnish parish registers and archives as well as the court protocols.