Her father, Nils Sjöberg. was a Chancellor at the Royal Swedish Army Materiel Administration (Krigskollegium), although he may have been musically talented as well.[2] Johanna died when Josabeth was eighteen and Nils followed two years later, leaving her without a means of support. As a result her older brother, Nils, who was a Master Builder's apprentice, became her guardian. They shared an apartment with a widow until she got married, then Josabeth lived by herself.