BIRTH AND EARLY EDUCATION 
arose the favourable circumstance that the pastorate 
descended from father to son, or from father-in-law 
to son-in-law, for a series of years, Brodersonius being 
successor to his father, and being followed by his 
son-in-law, and in turn by the latter’s son, Samuel, 
altogether making five successions in the family. 
On the 31st June, 1709, the removal took place 
from South Rashult to the rectory at Stenbrohult, 
distant about an English mile by a beautiful woodland 
path. In this new abode the parents of Carl 
Linnaeus had four other children—one son, Samuel, 
and three daughters. All accounts show that the 
modest home was the abode of complete affection, 
simple habits, and sincere piety. The father, on the 
testimony of his younger son, was very honest and 
trustworthy, knew nothing of the world’s deceits, dis¬ 
trusted its fashion and vanity, always friendly, merry 
and glad, and very jocose, and by no means vindictive. 
If he saw anyone suffering from whatever cause, he 
was so tender-hearted that he could not refrain from 
tears. His spiritual duties he discharged faithfully 
and honestly. At the same time he applied himself 
to putting the church and rectory into better order, 
both as to the buildings and their surroundings; he 
was a good householder and thrifty. (The rectory 
was reduced to ashes by a disastrous fire in the night 
of the 20th April, 1748.) Assuredly he was not rich 
in earthly treasures, but by wise forethought, he 
had money to lend, or to buy small pieces of land 
in the parish. Besides his rectorial duties, he 
had, until 1720, to combine them with the curate’s 
functions. 
The mother’s disposition was, according to her 
elder son’s testimony, quick and active. She left 
behind her the reputation of living with her husband 
in true love, displaying great common sense, for 
twenty-seven years and three months, until her death, 
and her five children were reared in praiseworthy 
fashion. She comported herself so well with high 
