Dr. Timen Stiddem was probably born at Hammel in Skanderborg, Denmark (near Arhus), or the Netherlands (or possibly Sweden). He was living in Gothenburg, Sweden in the 1630s. He was no doubt anxious to learn about the new world being colonized by the Swedish, known as "New Sweden" (present day Delaware). Dr. Stiddem signed on as a ship's barber-surgeon for a voyage to New Sweden. Dr. Stiddem sailed four times for North America (arriving three times). He went to New Sweden the first time in 1638 aboard the ship called the Kalmar Nyckel, the first of Sweden's attempts to establish a colony in New Sweden. The Kalmar Nyckel landed at the "Rocks" or Fort Christina (present day Wilmington, Delaware) on March 29, 1638.

Dr. Stiddem returned to Sweden and married. His first wife and children were murdered near Puerto Rico in 1649 during the ill-fated Swedish voyage to America aboard the Kattan (Cat). He returned to Sweden to remarry and sail again with his wife on Sweden's Tenth Expedition aboard the Örn (Eagle), which arrived in New Sweden on May 22, 1654. This was Dr. Timen Stiddem's last trip from his homeland, Sweden. He stayed and settled in New Sweden at Fort Christina, or what was to become Wilmington, Delaware.

Dr. Timen Stiddem (Timothy Stidham) was a prominent citizen and doctor in Wilmington. He is recorded in history as the first physician in Delaware (ref. J. Thomas Scharf, History of Delaware, p. 471).


In 1683, Timen Stiddem and his sons pledged allegiance to the King and England and obedience to William Penn.


Letter from Timen Stiddem to Axel Oxenstierna, 1651, requesting assistance following Timen's return to Sweden after the ill-fated voyage of the Kattan.

Deed from From Gov. Frances Lovelace, 1671, for lands along the Brandywine River. (Courtesy of the Historical Society of Delaware)

Map of the Crane Hook, 1680-1685.

Map of the Crane Hook Church site, 1787.

Map of Wilmington, 1772 showing location of Tymen Stidham's house and land, along with other prominent landmarks..

Map of Wilmington, Delaware in 1867, showing Timen Stiddem's house (though not labled as such) at 14th and Poplar Streets (circled in white in upper middle). (Researched by Richard Steadham)

Three-dimensional map drawing of Wilmington, Delaware in 1874, showing Timen Stiddem's house (though not labled as such) at 14th and Poplar Streets (circled in white in upper right-hand corner). An enlargement of the area around 14th and Poplar Streets. (Researched by Richard Steadham)

PHOTOGRAPHS and DRAWINGS of Timen Stiddem's home in Wilmington, Delaware on the Brandywine River.

PHOTOGRAPHS and DRAWINGS of Timen Stiddem's Old Barley Mill in Wilmington, Delaware on the Brandywine River.

• Married: ABT 1644 in ,,,Sweden

1. child STIDDEM
2. child STIDDEM
3. child STIDDEM

• Married: ABT 1653 in ,,,Sweden

1. Lulof (Lyloff) (Luloff) [2] STEDHAM b: ABT 1654 in ,New Castle Co.,Delaware,"New Sweden"
2. Lucas [3] STEDHAM b: ABT 1656 in Swanwick,New Castle Co.,Delaware,"New Sweden"
3. Erasmus Asmund [4] STEDHAM b: ABT 1658 in Christina,New Castle Co.,Delaware,"New Sweden"
4. Adam [5] STEDHAM b: ABT 1660 in Christina,New Castle Co.,Delaware,"New Sweden"
5. Benedictus (Benjamin) [6] STEDHAM b: ABT 1662 in Christina,New Castle Co.,Delaware,"New Sweden"
6. Ingeborg [7] STEDHAM b: ABT 1664 in ,New Castle Co.,Delaware,"New Sweden"
7. Elizabeth [8] STEDHAM b: ABT 1666 in ,New Castle Co.,Delaware,"New Sweden"
8. Maria [9] STEDHAM b: ABT 1668 in ,New Castle Co.,Delaware,"New Sweden"
9. Magdalena [10] STEDHAM b: ABT 1671 in ,New Castle Co.,Delaware,"New Sweden"

• Married: AFT 1680 in ,,Delaware
• Note:

  In 1680, following his second wife's death, he married Christina Ollesdotter, the widow of Wallraven Janssen de Vos. Christina arrived in New Sweden as an orphan, her parents having died at sea. (Ref. Peter Craig)