[Barbro Christina Hästesko-Fortuna (1698-1771), lady of a manor and physician]

Barbro Christina Hastesko Fortuna's parents were Lorentz Hastesko-Fortuna, descendant from a famous military family, and Sofia Gios, the daughter of Lagman Johan Gios and Sofia Ille. The mother died in 1699 after the birth of Sofia's only brother. The father died in 1705. The orpahn girl was given in marriage almost as a child to an officer by name Carl Johan Norman. He was killed in 1710 in the Great Northern War. The young wife was in captivity in Russia until 1721. There she studied medicine. Soon after her release in the summer of 1721, she married Captain Johan Ventzel Rotkirch. The husband belonged to a well-known military family of German extraction. Barbro Christina Hastesko-Fortuna and her husband inhabited the Stensbole manor at Porvoo. A total of 10 children were born in the family. In spite of her duties as lady of a large manor and the mother of a big family, Barbro Christina Hastesko-Fortuna treated eye diseases in all social classes in a wide area. Her function was examined in 1769 by request of her son at a session of the Porvoo District Court. The Court issued a laudatory statement. The medicines prepared by her were effective as testified by both young and old witnesses, particularly when they were used according to her instructions.