When Erik Nilsson was born in 1700, in Ramsberg, Örebro, Sweden, his father, Nils Ersson, was 60 and his mother, Cherstin Larsdotter, was 51. He married Ingeborg Christophersdotter on 11 July 1714. They were the parents of at least 7 sons and 6 daughters. He died on 30 October 1736, in his hometown, at the age of 36, and was buried in Ramsberg, Örebro, Sweden.