(written 1987 by Arnfinn Kjelland, for Vol. 1)
The "Gards og slektshistoria for Lesja" will consist
of 3 volumes when completed. Volume 1 covers the western part of the municipality,
Lesjaskogen (published 1987, ISBN 82-991096-0-4). In relation to the church
Lesjaskogen is a section of the parish, while the rest of the municipality
constitutes the main parish.
In a historic perspective this is a relevant division. Lesjaskog (before
1855 named Lesjaverk) parish has been a separate administrative unit within
the parish - at least from the time the ironworks started in the 1660s.
Perhaps there was a part of the parish here during the Middle Ages.
Volumes 2 and 3 will cover Lesja main parish.
In the books you will find a brief overview of the "grender"
- groups of farms - we believe the municipality has been divided into.
After the introduction to each "grend" you will find the main
contents of these books, the history of the farms in this "grend".
This history contains both a physical and historical description of the
farm itself and a survey of the people who lived there. This is generally
referred to, somewhat imprecisely, as genealogical history. All farms,
cottager's farms and recent residences in the municipality are described
here. The time period from around 1600 up to 1986 is covered.
The books are illustrated with maps, drawings and pictures.
On pages 7 and 8 in this booklet there is also a list of important words,
idioms and expressions.
A "grend" is originally a larger community than a farm. In
the books they are mainly the same as the school districts established
early in this century. Voting districts and national statistics are still
split up into these districts.
In earlier days, this term ("grend") was equivalent to "beiarlag"
- a group of farms from which people were invited to the important events
in a farm family's life - baptisms, marriages and funerals. It is believed
that these "beiarlag" reflect the oldest undivided farmland of
an area - "urgarden" - the prehistoric farm. The system of "beiarlag"
wore off more or less before World War II at Lesjaskogen. The available
knowledge of the system is described in the books.
In these chapters you will find a physical description of the "grend"
- its borders and surroundings. Features particular to this "grend"
are described and explained.
The development of the settlement is described: which is the oldest farm
(1500 years or older at Lesjaskogen, in fact), how a number of "namnegardar"
(named farms, see below) have appeared, and briefly how these named farms
have been divided into "bruk" (holdings) and cottager's farms.
The number of homes in the "grend" is shown graphically. The
curve is divided into the total number of holdings and cottager's farms
up to around 191020. Then the cottager's farms vanished (a lot of
them became ordinary holdings and today these might be among the largest
in the area), and new residences grew up. In Vol. 1 you will find the development
for the whole of Lesjaskogen in the graph on page 11, and for Einbugrenda
on page 166.
In a table for each "grend" you will find the population of all
named farms, holdings and cottager's farms. The figures are taken from
the censuses from 1801 up to 1900. Numbers from the censuses after 1900
cannot be published for each farm separately, and are therefore aggregated
up to "grend"level and shown in a small table.
The last part of these introductions contains a brief discussion of the
development of economic life in each "grend". In the main introduction
in Vol. 1, page 18, you will find a table concerning the agricultural selfsupporting
ability in all "grender". That table gives the total number of
people in the "grend", and the number of people supported by
the farm production, at different times (see also below).
You will also find a graph showing the distribution of the gainfully employed
population in the "grend" among:
The graph covering Lesjaskogen is shown on page 19.
The last tables of the "grende"introductions show agricultural
statistics from 1939 until 1980.
The first one shows holdings over 5 decares (1 decare is about a quarter
of an acre), and holdings over 5 decares with cows (milk yield).
The second shows the agricultural area in the "grend", according
to use for grain, potatoes, meadows for mowing, "grønfor og
silo" - green forage and ensilage - and uncultivated grassland.
The third shows the production of ensilage by cubic meter (m3
) - 1.31 cu yards.
The last one shows the number of livestock in the "grend": horses,
cows, other cattle, sheep/goats and pigs.
After each "grende"introduction, you will find the "namnegardar"
in the "grend" reviewed. A "namnegard" is defined as
a farm with one individual, distinct name which is used in the documents.
Each such named farm is normally divided into several holdings.
The land area of the "namnegard" is clearly defined. All holdings,
cottager's farms and recent residences that exist, or have ever existed,
within that area are described in the "namnegard"chapter.
All people who have lived within that area for a period are mentioned under
the holding, cottager's farm or other residency where they lived. Each
of the holdings etc. has been given a number, and these numbers are essential
for using the crossreference system to identify the people (e.g.,
if you want to trace your ancestors). In the main index, which begins on
page 630, the "grender" are given in bold print and the "namnegarder"
in italics. The number before each holding etc. is the number that is used
in the crossreferences.
The named farm ("namnegard") histories follow a rather strict
pattern. Below the heading you can see some numbers, from old and new land
registers. The "skyld" - land taxation - is also given.
At the beginning of the main text you will find (as in the "grender")
a physical description of the named farm. Then the oldest history is explained,
the landowners before the farmers themselves bought the holdings during
the eighteenth century, the linguistic meaning of the name of the farm,
archeological findings, the use of summerfarms (setrar) etc.
In this part you will also find tables concerning the agricultural production
on each holding and cottager's farm in the named farm ("namnegard")
area, and for some named farms a graph showing how the named farm has been
divided into holdings throughout the centuries. This division is also discussed
in the text.
Then you will find the existing holdings described. Here there is a brief
introduction, repeating how the holding was established, older sites of
the houses, presentday cultivated land etc. The main part of the holding's
history consists of a description of the production and the living conditions
on the holding throughout its history. The description is based on the
data given in the tables and an analysis of the estate registrations if
existent.
The main use of the estate registrations is of course to establish genealogical
relationships. In an estate registration all living heirs are listed, and
the estate they could divide. The registration of the estate is usually
very accurate.
We have used these registrations in one particular, unusual way. In the
period from the 1660s until around 1840 the net estate a person left (e.g.,
50 riksdaler) has been recalculated into the equivalent value of Norwegian
kroner in 1980. This has been done to give the reader a certain perspective
of the living conditions on the farm at the time of the registration.
The index for recalculation has been the price of a heifer. In 1980 a heifer
cost around Nkr 10,000. In 1659 the average price was 2.2 riksdaler, in
1685 it was down to 1.79 riksdaler, in 1767 it was 3.26 riksdaler and in
1810 (during the Napoleonic wars) it was 11.48 (!) daler. The index is
given as a graph on page 17.
The detailed tables under each named farm come in two parts which both
contain existing information for each holding and cottager's farm. They
are listed in the table in the same order as in the books. The first two
columns of both tables give information about the source and the year for
the information.
The first table ("INNMARKSPRODUKSJON, ...") gives specific information
about the crop seed and yield of each holding, in the three first doublecolumns
(see below for translation of expressions). All figures in this part of
the table are given in kilogram. Then you will find a column below the
heading "MAT". This number states the net yield recalculated
into kilocalories (by million kcal).
The column under "ÅKERAREAL" gives the area in decares
used for crop cultivation. Under "FORAVLING" you will find the
actual hay yield given in the source, first in kilogram, then recalculated
into feed units.
The second table ("HUSDYRHALDET, ...") gives data regarding the
use of livestock on the holdings, and aggregated data for the whole production.
After source and year you will see the actual number of livestock on the
holding. Under "KYRLAG" these numbers are recalulated into one
number, as follows: 1 kyrlag = 0.5 horse = 1 cow = 2 other cattle or pigs
= 6 sheeps or goats. Because of this you should be able to compare the
livestock on each farm.
The next column, "Forbehov", states the need for fodder this
actual livestock has. Both growth, reproduction and production are taken
into consideration. This figure can be compared with the given hay yield
in some of the sources. The rest of the need was probably covered by straw
from grain cultivation, and to a considerable extent by reindeer moss collected
in the mountains.
The column "Husdyrprod." gives the production of milk and meat
from the livestock, available for people to eat, recalculated into kilocalories.
The next column then gives the total amount of kcal available. This number
has been divided by 365 days a year and 2000 kcal a day (average minimum
for a normal population). Thus we find how many people could live from
the total production on the holding. In the "grende" introductions
(see above) these numbers are aggregated.
There is one table per named farm ("namnegard"). Under each holding
you will find crossreferences to the page number for the table.
You will find detailed maps covering almost all cultivated land in Lesja
municipality. The maps might cover more than one named farm ("namnegard").
If we know the location of cottager's farm which vanished long ago, it
will be on a map. In the text you will find crossreferences to the
maps.
You will also, under some of the named farms, find old maps covering parts
of the farm area. The oldest ones are from the 1860s.
In former days, most of the cultivated farm land in Norway was divided
into parcels. Each holding, when it was separated from the original named
farm or holding, received a part of each piece of cropland and meadow.
Throughout the centuries the parcel system could be very complex, especially
in Western Norway.
In Lesja we also find these features on most farms. From the 1860's the
need for rearrangement became urgent, as new machinery became available.
Then these old "land rearrangement maps" were drawn up.
As mentioned above you will find graphs showing the division of some of
the large named farms into holdings. In these graphs the names of the holdings
are given, with the corresponding percentage of the total land rent of
the named farm.
Under almost all farms and holdings you will find some (usually rather
old) pictures, of the farm and/or the people. You might also find pictures
of archeological finds, if there have been any on the named farm area concerned.
All named farms ("namnegardar") have a drawing in connection
with the major heading. The drawing shows the farm and its nearby surroundings
in the mid 1980s.
If your primary interest is tracing your ancestors, this is the key
part. It contains basic information about all the people we have been able
to trace as inhabitants of each holding, through many years of intensive
research.
You will see that this part of the holdings' history is divided into small
sections, with a heading printed in boldface type. The named farm we are
looking at might be Kvam (pp 206240). The heading might appear as
follows:
45. Ca. 1850 - 1869. (this is from Oppistugu Kvam, page 220)
The first two figures are essential for the crossreference system.
The first one (4) refers to the holding number, and the second one (5)
refers to the family number. If you are in doubt about which named farm
("namnegard") you are working with, look at the top of the page.
This "family heading" - Kvam (45) - refers exclusively to
the family of Eli and Henrik.
The next figures refer to the period of time when Eli and Henrik used the
holding.
Then let us have a look at the family information. First, the name of the
woman or man who took over the farm from her/his parents, or bought it,
is given in italics. Here, Henrik's name appears without any more references
as to his patronymic (father's name). This means that he comes from the
preceding family. His years of birth and death (1817 and 1903) are then
given.
Henrik married Eli in 1846. Her patronymic was Olsd. (abbr., Ola's daughter
= daughter of Ola). She came from the holding Bjorlivollen, under the named
farm Bjorlie, family no. 92. You might then turn to page 84, where
you will find Eli's parents and further ancestors, under family 92.
There you find Eli as the 4th child of Guri and Ola, her year of birth,
and a reference to Oppistugu Kvam (45). In addition, you can see that
Eli's father also came from Oppistugu - Eli and Henrik were cousins.
Then you will usually find some information as to when Henrik and Eli took
over the farm, and in some few cases extra information - e.g., whether
they had children before they married etc.
Then you will find all Eli and Henrik's children. In this case the whole
family emigrated to the USA. All available information about each of them
is listed here. If any of them had married in Lesja, you would have found
a reference, and further information under the new family.
For the next family under this holding, Anne and Syver, family 46,
you will find only brief information. The reason is that they had another
holding most of their lives (MidtiSlettom), and all relevant information
will be found there.
You might also find references with a letter added to the last figure,
e.g., on Sy Kvam, page 224, "family" 58b. (The first figure,
5, indicates that Sy Kvam is holding no. 5 under Kvam.)
Under reference 58b and similar entries you will find information
about a type of family that does not fit into what we might call a "normal"
family pattern. They may not have owned a holding or rented a cottager's
farm. They may have been carpenters, teachers, shoemakers etc.. They have
probably lived on that particular holding for a while (the period given
in the boldface heading). Families separated by letters might also indicate
that two or more families actually used the holding together. You will
find an example on pages 196197, the holding Øygarden under
Einbu. The families 86a and 86b used half of the holding each
during for the periods given in the boldface headings.
This crossreference system, and the basic information, is the same
thoughout all volumes of the Bygdebok.
Listed in approx. the same order as they appear in the text.
gard - farm
namnegard - named farm, farm with an individual name (Bjorlie, Kvam,
Tynnøl, Bottem)
gardsbruk, bruk - holding (part of a named farm) (Oppistugu, Sygard, haugen,
brekka)
hovudbruket - the main holding of a named farm (if any)
husmann - cottager
husmannsplass - cottager's farm
nyare heimar, nyare bustadhus - new residences
folketeljing - census
jordbruksteljing - agricultural census
dødsbuskifte, skifte - estate registration, settlement of
a deceased person's estate
kyrkjebøker - church records
sjølvberging, sgrad - selfsupport, degree of ~
(in percent)
menneske garden fødde - number of people supported by the
farm production
korn til trusking - grain cut for threshing (not green for fodder)
poteter - potatoes
eng - meadows
grønfor og silo - fodder cut green for feed and ensilage
utslåttar - outfields, outlying meadows, uncultivated grassland
hest - horse
ku, kyr, mjølkekyr - cow, s
anna storfe - other cattle (oxen/bulls, beef cattle, calves etc.)
sau, geit - sheep, goat
matrikkel - land register, comprehensive field description, tax
rolls
skyld, landskyld, skyldsett - main rent, property lease, put under
rent, assessment of land
huder, skinn, daler, ort, skilling, mark, øre (under the
main heading of each named farm and holding) - different rent units; the
oldest ones (huder, skinn) refer to livestock products
grenser - borders
naturtilhøve - natural conditions
eigedomstilhøve - ownership (of the named farm or holding),
law of property
drift og levekår - agricultural use and living conditions
driftsopplysningar - information about agricultural use
omrekna til 1980verde - old sums of money recalculated showing
actual value in 1980 (see above, and Vol. 1, page 17)
overskot av drifta - surplus from agricultural production, available
to feed the people on the holding (after next year's seed grain had been
stored)
var frå - was from, came from
sjå - see, look up (refers to another named farm, holding
number and family number)
sjå framafor - see above
fekk med - had with (used in connection with birth without marriage:
"He had with (mothers name and reference) the son:")
g. (1800) m. - married (e.g., 1800) to
g. 2 g. m. - married 2nd time to, second marriage
bygsel, fyrstebygsel, holding/3. årstake - forms of earnest
money, property lease
skøyte - deed (of conveyance)
flytte til - moved to (outside Lesja)
bur i - lives in (outside Lesja)
driv/dreiv med, arb. med/i, er (about a person) - present or past
occupation