They regarded luxury consumption and wealth, growing in Stockholm because of the flourishing merchant business in Sweden during the Age of Liberty, as sinful.
As they had renounced all worldly possessions, they also adopted the most simple dress possible, and were therefore referred to as Gråkoltarna, 'the Grey Shirts'.
Anna Maria van den Aveelen denied having participated in a sect and claimed that the gatherings had been common prayer gatherings by the people and guests of her household, and was left with a fine and lectures on how to avoid breaking the laws of the church, as were Lexelius and his wife.
Swedish historian Bengt Sundkler described them as "an apocalyptic-kiliastic pietist movement, the so-called Gråkoltarna [Greyfrocks] in Stockholm of the 1730s" who were "impoverished, destitute Swedes appearing in penitential grey coats".
[1] In prison, the women refused to work, attend religious services, convert back to the church or eat.
Maria Eriksdotter was released in 1736, after having become pregnant with a member of the sect and allowed to marry him, and Forsman returned to her own spouse after this.