In tracing the name ‘NILSEN’ in Norway it must first be understood that surnames in Norway were patronymic, that is a surname is a combination of the father’s name with an appropriate suffix. So ‘sen’ was added to signify ‘son of’ and ‘datter’ was added to signify ‘daughter of’. It was also normal for women to keep their maiden name after marriage. There are various spellings and abbreviations of these suffixes (for the purpose of this document I will abbreviate ‘datter’ to ‘dtr’).
It was not uncommon therefore pre-1900 in Norway to have a family with four different surnames. Although by the late 1800’s it seems that families were settling on a common surname for their household, firstly in the towns and then in the countryside. The use of fixed family surnames however was not made compulsory by law in Norway until 1925.
The goal of the genealogists is to trace their own surname back to its origin. In Norway this can be quite simple as patronymic names were in use until the late 1800’s. It is definite that our spelling of ‘Nilsen’ is settled upon as a family surname by 1890 when Nils, who by tradition should have been ‘Nils Andreasen’, is given the surname ‘Nilsen’, as is all his brothers and sisters who follow. In fact our spelling of ‘Nilsen’ survives in its present form back to 1811. This is more coincidental than by choice.
It seems as though the family originated from the area known as Lier in the county of Buskerud, Norway. More specifically there are lots of links to the parish of ‘Frogner’. Prior to that, the ancestors came from further north in Norderhov. The earliest ancestors can be traced to Sole in Eggedal, about 70km WNW of Oslo.
This paternal line living at the ancient farm of Sole, Eggedal can be found as early as the mid-1500’s. It is most likely that these ancestors were farmers who owned lands and cut and sold timber as a trade. They would have also had fishing rights and kept livestock for subsistence.
It is known at this time that the ancestors owned vast property interests in Buskerud County, with ownership of at least eight farms over a wide area. In the mid-1600’s there is a move from Eggdal parish to Norderhov parish (about 40km), where the family live for at least 100 years. After this move the size of the family increases significantly after Torsten Narvesen fathers eleven children.
The next move south to the Lier valley happens sometime after 1762, after Tosten Gulbrandsen’s father dies in Norderhov parish. The family can be found in the Lier valley for at least 150 years. Sadly though, the wealth of the ancestors has been distributed elsewhere by this time. Nils Nilsen, the first ancestor to carry the surname, is recorded in the burial registers as a ‘poor labourer’.
The next generation moves away from a live working on farms to a life dominated by the water. After a move closer to Drammen, Andreas Nilsen owns a small boat and trades goods with the sailors as they come into Drammen port. At least two of his sons join the ever-growing merchant navy and travel the world, settling in Australia or the USA.
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Charles Nils NILSEN was born on 25th May 1890 and registered under the name Niels Nielsen. It was not until about 1911 that he took on the name Charles as his Christian name. He was baptised in the parish of Strømm on 6th July 1890.
He grew up in Drammen where his father worked as a ‘waterclerk’ supplying goods to visiting ships in the Drammen Fjord. Nils and his brother Fin worked with their father in this business. It was known that Nils was not close to his father and left home at the earliest opportunity.
Nils ran away from home at age 15 (c1905) and joined the merchant navy sailing to foreign ports to collect grain etc.
There is record of his service with the Norwegian merchant fleet. Officially he signed up on 4th January 1908 at age 17. He served on 7 ships of various kinds, all registered in Norway. At the time his address was Tordenskjolds farm number 27. This location is in Drammen just south of the fjord.
(‘further’. Norwegian word = vidre. Meaning that the ship went from one place to another, and then further on to other places.)
’By 1911 Nils was a crewmember of the Norwegian ship ‘Primus’.
The ‘Primus’ was a 1091 ton steel barque built in 1891 by Grangemouth Dockyard & Co., Scotland. It measured 210.8 feet x 34.0 feet x 19.5 feet. She was built originally for Julius Hendorf and registered in Blake, Germany but in 1901 she was sold to Adolf Schiff and registered in Elsfleth, Germany. Then in 1905 she was sold to O.T.Tønnevold of ‘Skibsacties Primus’ and registered in Grimstad, Norway. She stayed with this company throughout her subsequent career. The ‘Primus’ left Montevideo for Ipswich on 15th October 1915 with a cargo of barley and was lost somewhere in the North Atlantic. In 1916 she was simply reported as ‘missing’. Nothing more was heard of her and her crew of 17.
The ‘Primus’ is known to have docked at Fremantle in Western Australia for 42 days, 15 hours & 10 minutes sometime between 1-7-1909 and 30-6-1910. You could safely assume this was sometime in late summer and she was there to collect grain. No crew lists exist for this stop but it is possible that Nils was a crewmember at the time. Nils did say that he stopped in Perth during his sailing life.
The ‘Primus’ probably then sailed back to England before heading south once more to collect grain. She docked at Luderitz Bay in South West Africa (now Namibia) before arriving at Port Adelaide on 2nd March 1911. At that time the master of the ship was W.B. Markussen and she was under orders from George Wills & Co. (agents).
It was common for Scandinavian sailors to jump ship in Australian ports in the late 19th century. Swedes & Norwegians accounted for a quarter of the seafaring population in Port Adelaide.
The ‘Primus’ left Port Adelaide on the 7th March 1911 but held anchorage in the harbour before departing for Port Victoria, South Australia on 9th March 1911, arriving there on the 11th
It then loaded 21,218 bags of wheat before departing Pt. Victoria on the 16th April 1911.
It is here that Nils deserted his ship at Pt. Victoria, South Australia at the age of 20. Nils had decided that he would desert his ship as it was leaving Port Victoria and meet a fellow crewmember at a certain place in the township. When Nils arrived, his friend wasn’t there. Nils then changed his mind and swam out to the ship, which had since left, to rejoin his mate. However his friend wasn’t on the ship either and Nils realized that he was ashore and he had missed him. Nils then swam ashore and rejoined his friend.
Nils changed his name to ‘Charlie Dick’ for a time in order to avoid being caught. He got this name from a fish merchant whose name was ‘Charlie’. Even after returning to his correct surname ‘Nilsen’ he kept the name ‘Charlie as his own.
I have made some attempt to try to discover who this ‘Charlie’ living in Pt. Victoria could have been. It could have been Charlie Pimlott who ran a post office and store, including butchery in 1912. It could have been Charlie Mueller who between 1902 & 1916 was one of the managers of the local Hotel. Or possibly Charlie Willing who ran a mail delivery and passenger service between Pt. Victoria, Moonta and Minlaton. He also became manager of the Wauraltee Hotel in Pt. Victoria.
Charles spent a short time working on wheat and dairy farms on the Yorke Peninsula (Pt. Victoria, Ardrossan & Maitland). In early 1912 he was working at the Wool Bay Lime Works near Stansbury. Apparently it was one of Charles’ friends who wanted to go up to Broken Hill to live. It was not Charles’ intention to stay there but of course we know he did. They probably travelled up to Broken Hill by train. Charles would have been about 21 when he came to Broken Hill. He worked first of all on the mines in the acid plant. He lived at ‘Teague’s’ boarding house in Blende Street near Jubilee Oval and also with a Mrs S. Amos in Brazil Street. His marriage certificate listed his occupation as an ‘assayer’.
Charles Nils NILSEN married Beatrice Mary MUDIE on the 14th May 1913 at the Broken Hill Church of Christ by Edward John Taylor Tuck. They honeymooned on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia.
Charles applied for Naturalization on the 23rd August 1913 at age 23. At the time he was living at 509 Argent Street and listed his occupation as a ‘coal trimmer’. He signed the Oath of Allegiance on the 29th August and was granted naturalization in Melbourne on 10th September 1913. He received his naturalization certificate on the 29th September 1913.
Charles & Beatrice had nine children, all born in Broken Hill:
1)Charles Ramsay NILSEN. *Born 14-2-1914.
*Died 26-9-1997 in Broken Hill.
*Married 18-10-1941 to Lorna Dorothy WINDERS in Broken Hill.
Issue:
a)Valerie Lorna NILSEN. b.1943-Broken Hill.
m.30-5-1970-Malcolm Brian Robinson-Broken Hill.
b)Graeme Charles NILSEN. b.1946-Broken Hill.
m.8-10-1966-Shirley Anne LAMONT-Broken Hill.
c)Janice Mary NILSEN. b.1952-Broken Hill.
m.30-9-1977-Barry Wayne Cockrum-Adelaide.
2)Dora Marie NILSEN. *Born 16-4-1915.
*Died 24-3-2004 at Loti Stuart Hospital-Sydney
*Married 25-3-1939 to Allan Leonard King in Broken Hill.
Issue:
a)Marlene Joyce King. b.1940.
m.Ashley McDonald with issue.
i)Matthew McDonald.
ii)Caroline McDonald.
iii)Andrew McDonald.b.1965.
b)Nita June King. b.25-5-1944.
d.19-4-2009 in Sydney, NSW.
m.Robert Smith with issue.
i)Daryl Smith.
ii)Duncan Smith.
c)Peter Leonard King. b.1945.
m.Dympna Unknown with issue.
i)Lyndley King.
ii)Jacqui King.
3)Alfred (Alf) Finley NILSEN. *Born 14-10-1917.
*Died 30-8-2008 in Nelson Bay, NSW.
*Married 12-11-1941 to Gloria Isabella Edwards in Broken Hill.
Issue:
a)Coralee Fay NILSEN. b.1945.
b)Kelvin Neil NILSEN. b.1948.
4)Edward (Kelly) Andreas NILSEN. *Born 30-12-1918.
*Died 8-1-2004 in Broken Hill. Aged 85.
*Married 20-4-1940 to Eunice Jean Whitten in Broken Hill.
Issue:
a)Raymond John NILSEN. b.1943.
b)Dean Edward NILSEN. b.13-5-1953.
d.14-3-1971. Dean died in a car accident.
c)Dennis Ross NILSEN b.1958.
5)Rita Margaret NILSEN. *Born 1921.
*Married 20-12-1941 to Laurence William Knill in Broken Hill.
Issue:
a)Pamela Margaret Knill. b.1946.
b)Linda Loraine Knill. b.1949.
c)Dian Dawn Knill. b.1951.
6)Roald Scott NILSEN. *Born 2-3-1929.
*Died 11-3-2005 in Broken Hill.
*Married 20-8-1930 to Enes Elizabeth Pellizzer in Broken Hill.
Issue:
a)Susan Elizabeth NILSEN. b.1952.
b)Paul Scott NILSEN. b.1957.
c)Timothy John NILSEN. b.-1960.
d)Mark Charles NILSEN. b.1962.
e)Jennifer Margaret Mary NILSEN. b.1963.
f) Brendan Anthony NILSEN. b.1968.
7)Barbara May NILSEN. *Born 1930.
*Died 13-6-2015 in Adelaide.
*Married 15-6-1957 to Donald Trevor Murphy in Kent Town, Adelaide.
Issue:
a)Rosemary May Murphy. b.1958.
b)Trevor Nils Murphy. b.1960.
d.3-9-1960.
c)Mark Donald Murphy. b.1961.
d)Brian Alfred Murphy. b.1966.
8)Agnes Ellen NILSEN. *Born 28-8-1933.
*Died 16-4-2009 in Adelaide.
*Married 13-2-1954 to Jack Bradshaw Sutton in Adelaide.
Issue:
a)Vicki Lee Sutton. b.1954.
b)Malcolm John Sutton. b.1957.
c)Judi Margaret Sutton. b.1960.
9)Neil James NILSEN. *Born 18-9-1935.
*Died 23-2-1948 in Broken Hill. Aged 12.
Charles Nils NILSEN worked at North Broken Hill Limited from 1st December 1913 to 22nd March 1916 as a sailor in the surface gang. Sailors were also called ‘riggers’ and did a lot of rope and canvas work. No doubt Charles’ experience on windjammers would have helped him to do this job well. After that he joined the local fire brigade, working for a period of 10 years for the Broken Hill fire brigades in Blende Street, Railwaytown and South Broken Hill. On the13th December 1926 he joined the North Mine as Resident Fireman & Ambulance Officer.
They lived at 344 Wolfram Lane off Oxide Street, 410 Cobalt Street, 166 Wills Street and also the North Mine staff cottages. The North Mine cottages were just off Menindee Road on mining lease land. It was a big house with four bedrooms, lounge, dining, sleep out, bathroom and large kitchen. It was a split level home with a big veranda at the front and left side. There was a grassed area to the right side of the home and a big gum tree that was planted by Charles after he took a seedling from a local reservoir. There was also a large, flat play area near the house where the boys played cricket, football and baseball. Often 20 or so kids would turn up on a Saturday afternoon to play cricket or football, and there were always extra kids at mealtime that needed to be fed. This is where their son, Neil, was killed when he was struck with a cricket ball at age 12.
In 1927 Charles had a visit from his brother Fin. Fin was whaling in Antarctic waters and went up to Broken Hill to visit his brother. Fin was known to be a bit of a drinker and womaniser. He was welcomed to Broken Hill but tried to encourage Charles to leave his wife and family and come sailing. Fin worked in the mines as a labourer with the engineers from 19-5-1927 to 23-9-1927 before returning to Norway. There were also some Norwegian visitors that came to Broken Hill in the 70’s.
In 1938 Charles made a trip to Norway to visit his mother. He was gone for three months and spent six weeks in Norway. He had to go via England, staying in Room One at the Alliance Hotel in Oxford Street, Southampton on the 5th September. He travelled to Norway aboard the steamship ‘City of Nagpur’. Returning home his ship stopped off in Colombo.
Later in his working life, when his health began to fail after a slight stroke in May 1944, he was transferred to lighter duties of a supervisory nature in connection with the mine plantations and gardens, including the North mine park.
During his life he was a member of the North Mine Staff Club committee. As a group they played bowls and engaged in other social activities. Charles also socialised on occasions with other Norwegians living in Broken Hill. They would come over on Sunday nights, play their piano accordions and sing songs in Norwegian quite loudly. Charles was a good singer. He could play the accordion and the piano by ear. Although born in Norway he had very little accent and spoke English well. He had learnt English whilst sailing and visiting ports around the world. Though he did mix up his J’s & Y’s.
He retired on the 25th May 1952 on his 62nd birthday, completing just over 25 years of continuous service.
He and Beatrice moved to Adelaide and lived at 78 Welland Ave, Welland S.A. Charles regularly attended a Lutheran Church in Adelaide.
They celebrated their 50th Wedding anniversary at the North Mine Hall.
He died on 23rd July 1963 at the Royal Adelaide Hospital at the age of 73. He was buried in Broken Hill cemetery on 26th July 1963.
Beatrice continued to live in Adelaide until she died on 7th June 1967 in Broken Hill whilst on holidays. She was 74. She caught a train to Adelaide on a Friday night and died the next morning at her sister Agnes' house.
Charles & Beatrice share the same grave in the Broken Hill cemetery along with their son, Neil, who died at age 12.
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Andreas NILSEN was born on 17th January 1856 in Strømm, Vestfold, Norway and baptised there on 9th March 1856. It is unusual that he was born in Strømm as all his brothers and sisters were born in Lier. It does appear, however, that he grew up in Lier, as this is where he was living in 1865 when he appears on the census with his parents and 3 sisters. Andreas’ father worked as a day labourer, probably on farms. Their domicile was named ‘Lian’.
He was confirmed in Lier on 27th April 1873.
Andreas married first of all on the 1st October 1878 at the Frogner Church in Lier to Maren Hansdtr (b.1854). At the time he was living at the Stoppen farm in Lier. There is record of three daughters born to them before Maren died on 8-2-1887 in Drammen.
1)Anna Marie Nilsen. (2-8-1879 – 13-1-1965).
2)Helga Nathalie Nilsen (20-9-1881).
3)Agnes Mathilde Nilsen (4-10-1883 – 18-4-1884.
Andreas NILSEN then married Svendine (Dina) Marie Nilsen on 22nd April 1889 in Frogner Church, Lier.
His marriage record lists his occupation as a ships mate. On other documents his occupation is listed as sailor. He was living in Drammen at the time. Dina was living in Bragernes but claimed she was from Nøstestrand in Lier.
Andreas gave Dina a wedding ring with the inscription, “evig din, A. Nilsen” (Eternally Yours)
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Svendine (Dina) Marie Nilsen was born on 14th August 1859 in Sande, Vestfold, Norway. Her parents were Nils Svendsen (born 29-1-1832-Lier) and Hanna Kistine Olsdtr (born 10-7-1831-Sande). Nils and Hanna were married 2nd November 1856 in Sande. Parts of Dina’s family have been traced back to the late 1600’s. They originated from Lier in Buskerud.
Dina had an illegitimate child before her marriage to Andreas Nilsen.
Nils Harald Nilsen was born on the 8-8-1885 in Lier.
The father was Borge Rangvald Mortensen. He was a 27 year old 'Handelsbetjent' from Strømsgodset.
At the time Dina was living in Lierstranda.
We find Nils Harald living with Andreas, Dina, Anna Marie & Helga Nathalie (Andreas' other two daughters) and Nils (Andreas & Dina's first son) in the 1891 census. They are living in Strømm, Vestfold.
By 1900 we find him living with Anna Marie Olsen (his step-sister) who is now married and living in Drammen.
He departs Norway on 8-4-1902 from Kristiania aboard the S/S Manchester Shipper travelling to Halifax, Canada. He is part of a contingent of nearly 500 Norwegians who had their passage paid to go to North America to work on the Algoma Commercial Railway.
It is not known when he returned but we find him back in Norway in 1908 as he gets married to Anna Sofie Andersen on the 2nd May.
We know they had at least seven children; Astrid Helene Nilsen (1910-1966), Nils Nilsen (1911-1983), Halfdan Arne Nilsen (1912), Harry Nilsen (1914-2004), Øyvind Nilsen (1918-1995), Ingrid Ilmi Nilsen (1919-2000) & Lilly Sofie Nilsen (1923-2007).
Nils worked at the Norcem paper mills in Drammen
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Andreas and Dina had 8 children:
1)Nils NILSEN. *Born 25-5-1890 in Strømm. Baptised 6-7-1890 in Strømm parish.
*Died 23-7-1963 in Adelaide, Australia. Buried in Broken Hill.
*Married 14-5-1913 to Beatrice Mary Mudie in Broken Hill, N.S.W., Australia. They had nine children, all born in Broken Hill, NSW.
2)Fiengael (Finn) NILSEN. *Born 3-7-1891 in Strømm. Baptised 6-9-1891 in Strømm parish.
*Died 24-12-1980.
*Married Astri Nielsen in Brooklyn, New York.
Issue:
a)Solveig NILSEN. b.1916-New York.
d.1987.
b)Roy NILSEN. b.1918–New York.
d.2001.
married in Norway, probably in Kleven near Mandal. Two daughters.
c)Egil NILSEN. b.1920-Klevin near Mandal..
d.1924-Klevin near Mandal.
d)Agnes NILSEN. b.1924.
married in Norway. Two daughters and one son.
e)Edith NILSEN. b.1927-Klevin near Mandal.
d.1997.
married Evensen in Norway. Two daughters and one son, Finn Evensen.
Finn went to sea as a young boy and travelled the world. Met Astri Nielsen at the Norwegian Seaman’s Church in Brooklyn, New York. They married there and had 2 children, after which Astri moved back to Norway with the children but Finn stayed on for a while, working on steamships on Lake Michigan. When he returned to Norway they lived in Astri’s parents’ house in Kleven near Mandal, which they purchased with Astri’s brother. It was a big house by the sea with 16 rooms and a yard on each side. Finn & Astri lived in half the house and Astri’s brother lived in the other half. After WW2 their house in Kleven burned down and so they moved into Mandal.
In 1927 Finn went to Australia to visit his brother, Nils, and was gone for 7 years. He was found in Tasmania by the Salvation Army, and then returned home. He worked in the mines in Broken Hill (as a labourer with the engineers from 19-5-1927 to 23-9-1927) whilst visiting Nils, and went whale hunting in season. He never talked about why he was away so long. When he returned in 1934 he made a living from fishing, trading and small jobs. They had a hot-dog stand near the Mandal town hall and did quite well.
3)Asta NILSEN. *Born 18-12-1893 in Drammen. Baptised 26-3-1894 in Strømsø parish.
*Married to Ludvig Opsahl.
Issue:
a)Andreas Opsahl. b.1922.
d.2003.
m.Agnes.
b)Grethe Opsahl. b.1927.
4)Dora NILSEN. *Born 5-3-1896 in Drammen. Baptised 12-4-1896 in Strømsø parish.
*Died c1975.
*Married c1948 to Hans Jacob Opsahl. No Issue.
Dora & Hans moved on 31-12-1937 from Rygge to Ås near Oslo where Jacob was the station master of the local railway station. In May 1936 Dora & Jacob went on a holiday with Dina to Copenhagen & Stockholm.
5)Alfred NILSEN. *Born 29-10-1896.
Alfred played the accordion. He often played at family parties, got drunk and told jokes. In 1918 he was working as a crew member on the barque ‘Mentor’ travelling up the west coast of Norway transporting timber.
6)Carl NILSEN. *Born 14-10-1897 in Drammen. Baptised 21-11-1897 in Strømsø parish. Moved to the USA.
*Poss. died April 1965-Brooklyn, New York.
Carl moved to the USA and most likely spent the rest of his life there. It has been difficult to trace what happened to him and where he lived. There is a 34 year old Carl Nilsen who appears in the 1930 USA census living in Brooklyn, New York who may be him. He has a Norwegian wife named Emma (married c1927), and a step son named Bennett Latand (born c1921 in New Jersey). The census states that he arrived in the USA c1920. I cannot find this family in the later census.
7)Agnes Mathilde NILSEN. *Born 24-10-1899 in Drammen. Baptised 10-2-1900 in Strømsø parish.
*Died before 1910.
8)Edith NILSEN. *Born after 1900.
*Died before 1910.
The 1900 census has their domicile named ‘Nordbyeie’ in the municipality of Skoger. By 1908 their address was Tordenskjolds farm number 27. This location is in Drammen just south of the fjord. Their last home before Andreas died was ‘Frydenlund v Lierstranda’. This house is also close to the Drammen fjord, but on the northern side, a little further east.
Andreas listed his occupation as a ‘waterclerk’. He lived in Drammen and owned a small rowboat with which he would row out to the visiting ships to take orders to supply wares like tools, goods and groceries. Nils and Fin worked with him as they rowed out and anchored in the Drammen Fjord. It was known that they made official business with the officers of the ships and un-official trading with the sailors afterwards. This occasionally involved rowing out in the middle of the night.
Dina’s mother Hanna was living with them at the time. She lived to the age of 97 and “smoked like a steam engine”. Even late in life she ate and slept well, was strong and didn’t need medication.
He was a man of big integrity. He ran several businesses’ in his life including some transport businesses. In 1908 he was managing a spinning mill/factory in the Drammen area. His last occupation was a vegetable selling business at the Bragernes marketplace in Drammen. At times they were known to live very well. Dina always called him by his last name, ‘Nilsen’. He enjoyed good health most of his life, though late in life his beard went grey and he became a little stiff and short of breath.
After Andreas had died Dina moved to Ås near Oslo and lived with her daughter Dora and Hans Opsahl. Hans was a railway stationmaster. Later she moved to live with her other daughter Asta and Ludvig who lived in Åneby, Hakadal. Ludvig was also a railway stationmaster. Her last residence was also at the home of Dora and Hans Opsahl in Kongsberg, when Hans was stationmaster of Kongsberg railway station. Dina was known to be a warm and kind person.
Andreas NILSEN died at home at Frydenlund in Drammen on 25th April 1926. He was buried in the Frogner cemetery, Lier on 2nd May 1926.
Dina NILSEN died later on 27th May 1946. She was buried in the Frogner cemetery on the 4th June 1946, you would assume with Andreas. The gravesite lease was renewed until 1966. After that it would have been made available for someone else.
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Nils NILSEN was born illegitimate on 20th November 1811 in Lier. He was baptised at home in the Tranbye Parish on 8th December 1811.
Usually this meant that the newborn was so weak that the parents didn't want to risk taking them out to a church for the baptism.
His mother, Ingeborg, worked as a servant to Torsten Gulbrandsen and lived at Brastad.
She fell pregnant to Nils Torstensen and gave birth to an illegitiamte child.
By 1815 Nils is living with Peder Olsen and his wife Aase Andersdtr. Peder & Aase were married in Lier in June 1794. They had no children of their own.
It is most likely that Peder & Aase fostered Nils as a child and became his parents.
He is living at the same farm as them during the course of their lives, and he was the informant to Peder's death notification in 1830.
Nils was confirmed on 28-5-1826 at Frogner Church in Lier. At the time he was living at Sørvågeie
As an adult he worked as a day labourer.
Nils first married Oline Pedersdtr on 15th November 1830 at age 20. Oline was 28 at the time. Her father was Peder Halvorsen.
I found three children born to them:
1)Peternille NILSDTR. Born 26-12-1830 in Lier.
Died April 1843 in Lier, aged 12.
2)Johannes NILSEN. Born 16-3-1834 in Lier.
3)Andreas NILSEN. Born 1-12-1839 in Lier.
Died 6-9-1843 in Lier. Aged 4.
Oline Pedersdtr died 27th October 1844 at Svangseie, aged 42
Nils NILSEN then married Anne Christophersdtr on 7th March 1847 in Lier. He was 36 years old at the time and she was 23.
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Anne Christophersdtr was born c1824 in Lier. According to her marriage record her father’s name was Christopher Hansen Kittelsrud. There is no birth record for her with these details.
She is most likely the daughter of Christopher Halvorsen and Marte Nilsdtr. This Anne was born on 10-11-1825 in Lier. Christopher Halvorsen married Marte Nilsdtr in March 1816 in Lier. They had children Marte Carine (b.1816), Anne (b.1823 & d.1826), Hans (b.1820),Nils (b.1828) and Christen (b.1830). There is a lot of evidence to prove this may be correct. Anne’s second child was named Marte, potentially after her mother and a Chresten Christophersen was a witness at the baptisms of Anne’s first two children. Christopher Halvorsen is mentioned as living in Kittelsrud when he is a witness to other baptisms.
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In the 1865 census they are living at the farm of Lian North in Lier.
I found 8 children born to Nils and Anne:
1)Petronelle NILSDTR. *Born 2-12-1847 at Kopperud. Baptised 23-1-1848 in Lier.
*Married 26-2-1871 to Ole Johannesen in Frogner parish, Lier.
2)Marte NILSDTR. *Born 4-9-1850 at Kopperud. Baptised 13-10-1850 in Lier.
3)Carl NILSEN. *Born 8-8-1852 at Ovreneie. Baptised 2-10-1853 in Lier. Occupation: Ships captain.
*possibly died pre-1866.
4)Andreas NILSEN. *Born 17-1-1856 in Strømm.
*Died 25-4-1926 in Frydenlund (Drammen).
*Married 1st 1-10-1878 to Maren Hansdtr in Frogner parish, Lier.
Issue:
a)Anna Marie Andreasdtr. b.2-8-1789. Baptised in Frogner parish 31-8-1879.
*Married 2nd 22-4-1889 to Svendine Marie Nilsen in Lier.
Issue:
a)Nils NILSEN. b.25-5-1890 in Strømm.
d.23-7-1963 in Adelaide, Australia. Buried In Broken Hill.
m.14-5-1913 to Beatrice Mary Mudie in Broken Hill, NSW, Australia with issue.
b)Fiengael (Finn) NILSEN. b.3-7-1891-Strømm.
d.24-12-1980.
m.Astri Nielsen in Brooklyn, New York.
Issue: See above.
c)Asta NILSEN. b.1893-Drammen.
m.Ludvig Opsahl.
Issue: See above.
d)Dora NILSEN. b.1895-Drammen.
d.c1975.
m.c1948-Hans Jacob Opsahl. No Issue.
e)Alfred NILSEN.b.c1896.
f)Carl NILSEN. b.3-8-1897-Drammen.
d.April 1965-Brooklyn, New York.
g)Agnes Mathilde NILSEN. b.24-10-1899-Drammen.
h)Edith NILSEN.b.after 1900.
5)Lena Andrea NILSDTR. *Born c1858 in Lier.
6)Anette NILSDTR. *Born 5-12-1860 at Hovigstrand.. Baptised 3-3-1861 in Lier.
7)Louise NILSDTR. *Born 6-7-1865 in Lier. Baptised 29-4-1865.
*Married 1885 to Gustav Hansen in Frogner parish, Lier.
8)Otto NILSEN. *Born 1-12-1867 at Lian. Baptised 21-6-1868 in Lier.
*Marriage possibility: c1887-Rindi Unknown-probably in Lier.
Issue:
a)Anne Elise Nilsen.b.c1888-Lier.
*Possibly moved to Orange, Massachusetts, USA in 1888 with Rindi and Anne.
Nils Nilsen died 1-4-1891 in Lier, aged 79. He was buried at Frogner 12-4-1891.
Anne Christophersdtr died 20-11-1900 at Grorud, Aker, Oslo.
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Nils Torstensen was born on 25-8-1785 in Landfaldhaugen, Lier. He was baptised on 28th August 1785 in the Frogner Church. It seems as though he grew in the parish of Frogner, Lier where his father was a farmer.
Nils Torstensen had a child with Ingeborg Christensdtr in 1811.
Ingeborg worked as a servant to Torsten Gulbrandsen and lived at Brastad.
She fell pregnant to Nils Torstensen and gave birth to an illegitiamte child.
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Ingeborg Christensdtr was born on 23rd December 1788 in Tranby, Lier and baptised on 26th December 1788. Her parents were Christen Olsen and Ragne Bjørnsdtr. Christen Olsen married Ragne Bjørnsdtr on 12th July 1788 in Lier. I found record of 7 other children born to them including: Ole b.1794, Ellen b.1795, Bernt b.1799 & Marte b.1803.
When Ingeborg was 22 years old she was working as a servant of Tosten Gulbrandsen at Brastad farm.
She fell pregnant to Tosten's son, Nils Torstensen, and gave birth to a child, Nils Nilsen.
She was unable to care for her child. Her parents had passed away, and all her siblings were younger.
She gave Nils to Peder Olsen & Aase Andersdtr to be raised by them.
It is not known if Nils had contact with his mother during the course of his life.
Clearly Nils knew he was a fostered child. When he informed the church in 1830 that Peder Olsen had died, he stated that he was notifiing them of the death as Peder had no children of his own.
Ingeborg can be found 1814-1818 living at Wiger (Viker) farm with her siblings.
It appears she never married or had other children.
Ingeborg Christensdtr died 19-1-1874 at Holmen. Aged 86.
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I found record of only one child born to them:
1)Nils NILSEN. *Born 20-11-1811 in Lier. Baptised 8-12-1811 in Tranbye Parish.
*Died 1-4-1891-Sandaker, Lier.
*Married 1st November 1830 to Oline Pedersdtr in Lier. Oline died 27-10-1844-Lier.
Issue:
a)Peternille NILSDTR. b.26-12-1830-Lier.
d.April 1843-Lier. Aged 12.
b)Johannes NILSEN. b.16-3-1834-Lier.
c)Andreas NILSEN. b.1-12-1839-Lier.
d.6-9-1843-Lier. Aged 4.
*Married 2nd 7-3-1847 to Anne Christopherdtr in Lier.
Issue:
a)Petronelle NILSDTR bap.23-1-1848-Lier.
b)Marte NILSDTR bap.13-10-1850-Lier.
c)Carl NILSEN. bap.2-10-1853-Lier.
d)Andreas NILSEN. b.17-1-1856-Strømm.
d.25-4-1926-Drammen.
m.22-4-1889-Svendine Marie Nilsen-Lier with issue (see below).
e)Lena Andrea NILSDTR. b.c1858-Lier.
f)Anette NILSDTR. bap.3-3-1861-Lier.
g)Lovise NILSDTR. bap.29-4-1865-Lier.
h)Otto NILSEN. bap.21-6-1868-Lier.
m.poss. c1887-Rindi Unknown-probably in Lier.
Issue: See above.
It would appear Nils fathered another child to his fiancée’s sister, Ingeborg Pernille Paulsdtr before he married in 1812.
1)Elisabet NILSDTR. *Born 29-5-1813 in Lier. Baptised 6-6-1813 at Frogner Church.
NilsTorstensen married Brynild Paulsdtr. They married on 18-11-1812 in Lier. Brynild born 13-1-1786 and died 16-10-1870.
Nils & Brynild had seven children, all born in Lier:
1)Torsten NILSEN. *Born 22-10-1814.
2)Paul NILSEN. *Born 13-9-1816.
3)Erich NILSEN. *Born 2-3-1818.
4)Elisabeth NILSDTR. *Born 20-9-1820.
5)Anne Kirstine NILSDTR. *Born 1-6-1822.
6)Peder NILSEN. *Born 25-8-1824.
7)Andreas NILSEN. *Born 8-2-1827.
Nils Torstensen died on 16-11-1861 in Lier, aged 76. He lived in Nedre (lower) Brastad towards the end of his life.
Ingeborg Christensdtr died 19-1-1874 at Holmen. Aged 86.
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Tosten Gulbrandsen was probably born in late 1747 or early 1848 at the Veme farm in Norderhov, Buskerud. He was baptised in Norderhov on the 28th January 1748. He was one of four children born to Gulbrand Tostensen Veme and Elie Olsdtr. Gulbrand Tostensen married Elie Olsdtr on the 28th December 1847 in Norderhov.
Tosten is mentioned in the probate register for the Veme farm on the 19th March 1763. His father Gulbrand died on the 25th April 1762 when Tosten was 14. He is mentioned along with his mother and sisters. At the time they were residing at Sandager.
Sometime between 1762 and 1779 Tosten moved south to Lier. My guess is that he moved to Lier not too long after his father died. A lot of people from Norderhov and Sigdal at that time moved to Lier and Bragernes in Drammen.
Tosten Gulbrandsen married Else Nilsdtr on 6th April 1780 at Frogner Church, Lier. At the time Torsten was living in Landfald-haugen and Else was living at the Frogner parish farm.
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Else Nilsdtr was born in 1752. Her father was Niels Borgersen and her mother was Aase Arnesdtr. It would appear that her mother was married four times. Aase Arnesdtr was born in Lier and christened on 11-6-1719. Her father was Arne Torstad.
Aase was first married to Engebret Thoresen on 14-5-1749 in Lier.
Aase apparently then married Niels Borgersen, possibly on 1-11-1751 in Eiker, Buskerud. This would have when she moved to Myrehagen in Åssiden. Niels inherited this farm when his father died in 1750.
Niels & Aase had two children:
1)Borger Nilsen. *Born c1751 probably at Myrehagen.
2)Else Nilsdtr. *Born 1752 probably at Myrehagen. Baptised 24-6-1752 in Lier.
*Died 14-4-1821 at Brastad, Lier, aged 72.
Niels Borgersen died in November 1754 at Myrehagen. The owner ship of the farm passed to Aase after Niels death.
Aase Arnesdtr then married Gulbrand Olsen on 28th June 1756. He is mentioned as the owner of Myrehagen after this.
1)Niels Gulbrandsen. *Born 1757. Baptised 23-1-1757. Appears in 1801 census aged 51.
*Died 7-3-1803 at Strømsø.
*Married Helene Rasmusdtr.
Issue:
a)Kirsti Nielsdtr. b.c1784-Myrehagen. Baptised 1-2-1784 in Skoger parish.
b)Gunild Nielsdtr. b.1894-Myrehagen. Baptised 18-11-1792 in Skoger parish.
c)Ellen Nielsen. b.c1896-Myrehagen. Baptised 17-1-1796 in Skoger parish.
d)Aase Nielsdtr. b.c1800-Myrehagen. Baptised in Stømsø parish.
2)Anne Gulbrandsdtr. *Baptised 2-3-1760 in Lier (Myrehagen).
*Died 1762 in Myrehagen.
3)Gunnild Gulbrandsdtr. *Baptised 20-4-1766 in Lier (Myrehagen).
Aase Arnesdtr then married Jacob Jørgensen on 24-3-1773 in Lier. . He is mentioned as the owner of Myrehagen after this. Jacob died in 1819.
Aase Arnesdtr died at Renskog in February 1790.
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Tosten was a farmer. The 1801 census lists him as renting land on the estate owned by the church in the parish of Frogner in Lier. He has his own house and has a labour contract to grow crops for the parish priest as well as some land to grow food for his own family.
There are other references to his age which imply he was born as late as 1755:
In the Militærrulle for Lier 1800-1815.
In 1800 as a 50 year old.
In 1810 as a 55 year old.
In 1813 as a 58 year old.
In all 3 he is living in Bradstad.
He also appears with his wife, Else, on the 1815 Lier census living at Frogner. Living nearby is his son Nils with wife Brynild Paulsdtr and their son Torsten Nilsen.
Torsten and Else had 4 children:
1)Gulbrand TORSTENSEN. *Born 19-3-1781 in Landfaldhaugen, Lier. Baptised 25-3-1781 at Frogner Church.
*Married 1st 18-12-1809 to Marie Andersdtr in Lier.
*Married 2nd July 1838 to Mari Torgersdtr in Lier. He was living at Øde Øksne.
2)Ellen Kierstine TORSTENSEN. *Born 21-10-1782 in Landfaldhaugen, Lier. Baptised 27-10-1782 at Frogner Church.
*Died 1784 in Lier. Aged 2.
3)Nils TORSTENSEN. *Born 25-8-1785 in Landfaldhaugen, Lier. Baptised 28-8-1785 at Frogner Church.
*Died 16-11-1861in Brastad, Lier.
*First child born out of wedlock to Ingeborg Christensdtr.
Issue:
a)Nils NILSEN. b.20-11-1811-Lier.
d.1-4-1891-Lier.
m. 1st November 1830-Oline Pedersdtr-Lier. Oline died 27-10-1844-Lier.
Issue: See above.
m.2nd 7-3-1847-Anne Christophersdtr in Lier.
Issue: See above.
*Married Brynild Paulsdtr on 18-11-1812 in Lier.
Issue:
a)Torsten NILSEN.
b)Paul NILSEN.
c)Erik NILSEN.
d)Elisabeth NILSDTR.
e)Anne Kirstine NILSDTR.
f)Peder NILSEN.
g)Andreas NILSEN.
4)Ellen TORSTENSEN. *Born 15-12-1788 in Landfaldhaugen, Lier. Baptised 26-12-1788 at Frogner Church.
*Died 1864.
*Married Marte Kristoffersdtr.
Records show that Torsten took control of the farm, Landfald-haugen, in about 1779, when it was signed over to him by Anders Torsen Haskoll. Landfald is situated on a partly hilly landscape on clay ground not far from the Frogner Parish church. He renewed his contract in 1799 at a cost of 10 riksdaler under the same conditions as his neighbour, Isak Jøgensen Landfall. It would appear though he had left the farm by 1801as he appears on the 1801 census living at the Frogner Parish farm. Tosten was ordered by the Supreme Court in 1803 to leave the farm and sold it for 185 riksdaler in 1804 to Didrik Kristoffersen Kornerud. The farm had double storey apartment with a living room, kitchen and chamber downstairs and an additional built-on chamber. There were probably bedrooms upstairs. Of the outbuildings there was a barn with two floors covered with spon (thin wooden material) and part with bricks, a cow shed with room for 12 cows and 3 horses, a woodshed and a kjone (used for drying oats and barley). He was also owner and user of Lower Brastad Homestead 11. When he bought it he took over a mortgage loan of 500 dlr. (dlr = national dollar). In 1807 he paid 140 dlr. for the allodial right and in 1810 he paid additional 600 dlr. In 1824 his sons take over the land.
Torsten Gulbrandsen died on 15-10-1818 in Brastad, Lier, aged 73 years. He was buried in Frogner cemetery on 23-10-1818.
Else Nilsdtr died 14-4-1821 at Brastad, Lier, aged 72.
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Gulbrand Tostensen was born in 1708 at Veme and baptised in Norderhov on the 18th November. He was one of nine children born to Tosten Narvesen and Guri Pedersdtr. They were married in 1695 in Flå, Buskerud. It was Tostens' second marriage.
There is record of a son born to Gulbrand Tostensen by a Gunild Andersdtr. As there is no record of a marriage I assume the child was illegitimate.
Iver Gulbrandsen was baptised on the 11th September 1740 in Norderhov.
On the 28th December 1847 Gulbrand married Elie Oldstr, but not before fathering two children with her. (Engaged 5-11-1747 in Lunder). Elie had also had a child before she started her relationship with Gulbrand. This is possibly Kirstine Olsdtr baptised 29-1-1741 in Norderhov. The father was Ole Iversen. There is no record of a marriage.
Gulbrand and Elie had four children:
1)Kristine GULBRANDSEN. Born 1745 at Veme. Baptised 8th August 1745 at Lunder parish in Norderhov.
2)Torsten GULBRANDSEN. *Born 1747/8 at Veme. Baptised 28-1-1748 at Haug parish in Norderhov.
*Died 15-10-1818 at Brastad in Lier.
*Married 6-4-1780 to Else Nilsdtr at Frogner in Lier.
Issue: See Above.
3)Guri GULBRANDSDTR. *Born 1749 at Helgerud. Baptised 7-4-1749 at Norderhov parish.
*Died 1809 in Norderhov.
Issue:
a)Gulbrand Olsen. b.1792-Veme farm. Baptised 2-12-1792 in Norderhov. Son of Ole Knudsen.
4)Ane GULBRANDSDTR. *Born 1751 at Vågård. Baptised 14-6-1751 at Haug parish in Norderhov.
*Died bef 1801 most likely in Norderhov.
*Married 5-12-1779 to Peder Christensen in Norderhov.
Issue:
a)Kari Pedersdtr. b.1780-Norderhov. Baptised 1-1-1780.
b)Gulbrand Pedersen. b.1781-Norderhov. Baptised 18-11-1781.
c)Eli Pedersdtr. b.1787-Norderhov. Baptised 1-1-1787.
m.16-11-1814-Johannes Michelssen-Norderhov.
Issue:
i)Iver Johannessen.b.1-10-1820-Norderhov.
d.1820-Norderhov.
ii)Anders Johannessen.b.1-10-1820-Norderhov.
d.1820-Norderhov.
iii)Peder Johannesssen.b.4-4-1817-Norderhov.
iv)Mari Johannesdtr.b.4-9-1818-Norderhov.
v)Kirstie Johannesdtr.b.6-5-1825-Norderhov.
vi)Kjerstie Johannesdtr.b.9-4-1829-Norderhov.
Gulbrand Tostensen died 25-4-1762 at Sandager in Norderhov.
Elie Olsdtr died 27-8-1801 at Kolbjørnrud farm in Hole.
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Torsten Narvesen was on the 22nd April 1662 at the Veme farm in Norderhov. He was one of two children born to Narve Halvorsen and Kirsti Eriksdtr of Veme.
Torsten was first married to Rønnaug Aasledtr in Norderhov. They had three children. Kristoffer Torstensen Bergsund, Kari Torstensdtr Bergsund/Hjelmerud and Ragnhild Torstensdtr Bergsund/Jonsrud. Rønnaug died c1695.
Torsten then married Guri Pedersdtr in 1695 in Flå.
Guri was born c1675 in Medbøen, Flå. She was the daughter of Peder Knudsen and Kari Ellefsdtr. They were married in 1647.
Torsten and Guri had nine children:
1)Narve TORSTENSEN. *Born 1696 at Veme.
*Died 1733 in Norderhov.
2)Halvor TORSTENSEN. *Born 1697 at Veme.
*Died 1765 in Norderhov.
3)Peder TORSTENSEN. *Born 1701 at Veme. Later lived at Fonkalsrud.
*Died 12-4-1751 in Norderhov.
4)Guro TORSTENSDTR. *Born 1703 at Veme.
*Died 1743 in Norderhov.
5)Mikkel TORSTENSEN. *Born 1705 at Veme. Baptised 14-2-1705. Moved to and in 1751 bought Brastad in Lier.
*Died 1770 in Lier.
*Married 7-10-1734 to Kirsti Gudmundsdtr Roen.
Issue:
a)Tosten Mikkelsen. b.1741-Lier. Baptised 19-2-1741-Norderhov.
b)Guri Mikkelsdtr. b.1744.Baptised 18-5-1744-Norderhov.
d.1810-Lier.
m.Bernt Evensen Brastad.
Issue:
i)Even Berntsen.
ii)Ole Berntsen.
iii)Kirstine Berntsdtr.
iv)Mathea Berntsdtr. m.Ole Gundersen Sagvollen.
c)Kari Mikkelsdtr. m.Rasmus Olsen Svang.
6)Gulbrand TORSTENSEN. *Born 1708 at Veme. Baptised 18-11-1708. Later lived at Kittelsby, but returned to Veme.
*Died 25-4-1762 at Sandager in Norderhov.
*Married 28-12-1747 to Elie Olsdtr at Norderhov.
Issue: See above.
7)Bjørn TORSTENSEN. *Born 1709 at Veme. Later lived at Borgen.
8)Guri TORSTENSDTR. *Born c1710 at Veme. Later lived at Helgerud.
*Died 1743 in Norderhov.
*Married 1st 10-10-1828 to Tron Hansen in Norderhov. Tron died in 1738.
Issue:
a)Hans Tronsen,
b)Marte Tronsdtr.
c)Kiersti Tronsdtr.
d)Kari Tronsdtr.
*Married 2nd 12-7-1739 to Tosten Aslesen Helgerud in Norderhov.
Issue:
a)Gjertru Tostensdtr. chr. poss. 10-4-1740-Norderhov.
m.Gulbrand Samuelsen Hjelle.
b)Guri Tostensdtr. chr.20-8-1741-Norderhov.
d.28-6-1814-Sørum, Lier.
m.1st Peder Pedersen Sørum.
Issue:
a)Peder Pedersen Sørum in Norderhov.
m.2nd Håkon Nilsen Buttedal in Lier.
m.3rd Poss. 12-7-1739 in Norderhov to Tosten Helgerud Asleson
9)Kirsti TORSTENSDTR. *Born 1711 at Veme. Later lived at Nøleby.
*Died 1775.
Torsten Narvesen owned Fonkalsrud in Ytre Soknedalen before 1700. He bought in 1703 Upper Veme including the cottage Kvernvolden from his sister, Kirsti Narvesdtr (married to Gulbrand Pedersen Medbøen, Guris' brother). Torsten owned both farms (Fonkalsrud and Veme) and passed them on to his children. Halvor Torstensen lived at Veme and Torsten Torstensen lived at Fonkalsrud.
Torsten Narvesen died on 4-9-1745 at Veme.
Guri Pedersdtr died in 1738 at Veme.
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Narve Halvorsen was born 1618 in Sole, Eggedal, Buskerud. He was one of eleven children born to Halvor Torstensen and Kari Håkonsdtr. They married in 1616 in Eggedal.
Narve makes the move 40km west to settle in Norderhov, most likely before he gets married. His father owned farms in Glesne in Krødsherad. It is possible he moved here and this is where he met Kjersti Eriksdtr.
On the 4th December 1661 Narve is mentioned in the judicial assembly book from Norderhov. He was having a dispute with his relatives about a property and ancestral farm. He was disputing the neighbourhood limits of the farm and also about woodcutting and timber trade rights.
Narve married Kjersti Eriksdtr from Slevika in Krødsherad. They married in 1661, most likely in Slevika.
Kjersti was born c1630, the daughter of Erik Trulsen and Sissel Jonsdtr. They married in 1629.
Narve & Kjersti moved to Lower Veme, sometime before 1669, but must have resided in Bergsund as well as their first child was born there.
Kjersti Eriksdtr inherited the farm Lower Veme in Norderhov from her father. The ownership passed to her on the 13th June 1679.
At the judicial assembly on 4th Jul 1683 Erik Trulsen sued his son-in-law Narve for land rent of Veme.
Narve & Kjersti had two children:
1)Torsten NARVESEN. *Born c1662 at Bergsund.
*Died 4-9-1745 at Veme in Norderhov.
*Married 1st to Rønnaug Aasledtr in Norderhov.
Issue: See above.
*Married 2nd 1695 to Guri Pedersdtr in Flå.
Issue: See above.
2)Kjersti NARVESDTR. *Born 1669 at Veme/Bergsund.
*Died 10-10-1745.
*Married Gulbrand Pedersen Medbøen.
Narve Halvorsen died in 1697 at Veme.
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Halvor Tostensen was born in 1585 in Sole, Eggedal, Buskerud. He is the only known child of Torstein Bjørnsen and Åse Reinarsdtr of Sole. They married in 1584 in Sigdal, Buskerud.
Halvor married Kari Håkonsdtr in Eggedal in 1616.
Kari was born c1595 in Baasum, Sigdal. The daughter of Håkon Knutsen of Orpen, Krødsherad, Buskerud. He married in 1594, wife unknown.
Halvor and Kari had ten children, all born at Sole, Eggedal:
1)Torstein HALVORSEN. *Born 1617.
*Died 1676.
2)Helge HALVORSEN. *Born 1620.
3) Åse HALVORSDTR. *Born 1623.
*Died May 1704 at Kopseng, Eggedal.
4)Narve HALVORSEN. *Born 1625.
*Died 1697 at Veme.
*Married 1661 to Kjersti Eriksdtr.
Issue: See above.
5)Reidar HALVORSEN. *Born 1627.
*Died 1676 at Omlia, Eggedal.
6)Sigri HALVORSDTR. *Born 1633.
7)Helga HALVORSDTR. *Born 1635.
*Died 1676.
8)Mikkel HALVORSEN. *Born 1635.
*Died 1683.
9)Gullaug HALVORSDTR. *Born 1640.
10)Bjørn HALVORSEN. *Born 1646.
Halvor took over the farm and is mentioned here in 1624. He traded away 6 setting in Ørpen in Krødsherad to Tord Larsen in Krødsherad and got in return 7 setting in Sole in 1631.
Halvor leased the 20 lispund that Mikkel Løken of Valdres owned at Sole, (19th February 1616).
Halvor controlled quite a few properties, among them he had with his wife inherited 3½ lispund in By and a part of Omlia. For a time he had 2 'hud' in Makestad in Valdres, and 18 'setting' grain in nedre Teige, 7½ lispund in Glesne in Krødsherad, 5 lispund in Hamre, 5 lispund in Strand (1634). He bought and traded and redeemed parts of Sole, buying out the owners of that farm.
Halvor paid the head tax himself in 1644.
During the war in the 1640 Halvor was supposed to travel to Vinger with the monthly pay for the conscripts. But he hired his neighbour to go for him. The bailiff Johan Snell had sentenced him to a 25 daler fine for that. Halvor appealed to the governor in 1648 to be excused from the fine. The governor replied: "Now Johan Snell should give his opinion, and the present bailiff, should decide with that". But there seem to have been no changes according to what we find in a complaint, that Halvor made against the bailiff in 1651.
He had also been 'ripped-off' by Hans Eggertsen who had contracted to sell Nerdalen to Halvor for 30 riksdaler, but Halvor got neither the farm or the money back.
The owners of Sole in 1647 were: Halvor with 35 lispund 3 setting, Nils nedre Grønhovd 2½ lispund ½ setting, Helge Skår 2½ lispund and the Bishop 5 lispund property which at some time had been given to Vår frues alter in Mariakirken in Oslo. According to this the total assessment was 45 lispund 3½ setting. In the registry of 1665 it is listed at 45 lispund.
Mikkel Løken from Valdres owned 20 lispund in Sole, and Halvor Sole leased this property from 1616 to 1668 when he took it over together with Torstein Medalen as mortgaged property for 200 riksdaler to Alf Mikkelsen Makestad.
At the probate after Halvor Sole in 1675 there was close to 30 lispund properties in Sole, Omlia and By for division, this was 3 lispund and ½ setting for each son.
Halvor Torstensen died in 1675 in Sole.
Kari Håkonsdtr died in 1682 in Sole.
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Torstein Bjørnsen was born c1555 in Sole, Eggedal, Buskerud. He was the son of Bjørn Eivindsen and his first wife Siri Torstensdtr of Sole.
Bjørn Sollem was a juryman in 1524, he is the first we find mentioned at Sole.
In 'Diplomatarium Norvegicum' is a letter from 1570, written in Lunde in Uvdal. It is known that three jurors from Sigdal were at Lunde and heard that property was exchanged between parties. Such that Bjorn Elvindson and his wife (2nd) Tynni Narvesdtr gave Gunnar Areson 8 'kyrlag' in Jeljorden in Nore, which was the inheritance to Tynni, and got from Gunnar 8 'kyrlag' in Sole, which was the inheritance to his wife, Rønnaug Olsdtr.
Torstein Bjørnsen married Åse Reinarsdtr in 1584 in Sigdal.
They had only one child in the records.
1)Halvor TORSTENSEN. *Born 1585 in Sole.
*Died 1675 in Sole.
*Married 1616 to Kari Håkonsdtr in Eggedal.
Issue: See above.
Torstein Sole is mentioned in 1600. That year he got 4 'kyrla' in Sole from Nils Gardsen Albjørk in trade for 4 'kyrlag' in østre Blekaberg, freehold for freehold.
There was a probate after them in 1627, but we have no written record of it, we only know that it involved 12½ lispund 1½ setting freehold in Sole.
Both Torstein Bjørnsen and Åse Reinarsdtr died in 1627 in Sole.
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