Career
Their case was a notable one and is often referred to in Sami history. Erik Eskilsson, as well as Thorsson, belonged to the more wealthy of the Sami in Norrbotten and thereby felt secure to maintain their religion due to the taxes they could afford to give to the crown. Afterward, the vicar visited them in the company of the Christian Sami.
Eskilsson and Thorsson followed him and retrieved the drum.
The Vicar reported them to the authorities for blasphemy and recommended the death sentence, as it was his opinion that the Sami would never be truly Christian unless such "weeds" were exterminated. On 7 February 1687, Eskilsson and Thorsson were put on trial in Arjeplog.
Erik Eskilsson was freed from the charges of insulting a clergyman after it was revealed that the vicar was selling alcohol to the Sami and Eskilsson was drunk during the incident in question. There is no further information on the case against Thorsson.
Between 1665 and 1708, there were three confirmed death sentences among the Sami for blasphemy, which was the usual charge against Sami who refused to officially relinquish their religion.
