 Hadorph documented ancient monuments during extensive voyages in Sweden, and he collected a great many older manuscripts, such as collections of laws.He also made many drawings of runestones, and supervised the production of more than 1000 woodcuts of runestones.He was born at Haddorp in Slaka parish in Östergötland, Sweden to Nils Johansson (or Jonsson or Jönsson) and his wife Anna Hansdotter.