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TFOlsen
Junior member
USA
32 Posts |
 Posted - 19/08/2007 : 10:27:28
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We have been in Norway for two weeks and, using the help provided on this forum, we have had significant success finding family farms in Norddal. Thanks again to Jan Peter and others for your assistance! We are in Alesund now, headed for Trondheim on the Hurtigruta this evening.
(For US Dollar tourists, vacationing now in Norway is expensive, but we highly recommend it anyway.)
When we personally examined the graveyards at the Norddal and Valldal churches, we noticed how few tombstones were 19th Century, or earlier. We thought we would pose this question on this expert forum: why so few earlier tombstones?
It is not the age of the church (both Norddal and Valldal date from the late 18th Century). Could few farm families afford durable grave markers? Do the modern Norwegians reuse grave sites because of limited space (like in New Orleans)?
Most to the point of genealogical research, is it a practice in Norway to catalog the tombstone inscriptions, graveyard by graveyard? (As you probably know already, this practice is widely practiced in North American genealogy, although the coverage is hit-and-miss and the indexing is not at all standardized in my experience.) If such comprehensive graveyard documentation exists in Norway, at least for individual graveyards, does anyone have any suggestions for tracking down Norddal and Valldal (More og Romsdal) specifically?
We inspected both these churches on 16 Aug, and signs on the respective doors said that tours and open hours ceased on 15 August. That was a little frustrating, may I say. So there was no sexton or priest or other person at these churches to answer any of our questions.
But I have had such helpful feedback on this forum with past questions, I thought I would add this new query. Thanks in advance for your help.
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Tom Olsen
2024 Falcon Court
Bellingham, WA 98229 |
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Hopkins
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
3351 Posts |
Posted - 19/08/2007 : 13:07:21
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quote:
Do the modern Norwegians reuse grave sites because of limited space (like in New Orleans)?
Yes. but I feel uncomfortable assuming any similarity to New Orleans.
quote:
If such comprehensive graveyard documentation exists in Norway, at least for individual graveyards, does anyone have any suggestions for tracking down Norddal and Valldal (More og Romsdal) specifically?
I've been researching in old Norwegian records for years - such a thing as a "cemetery list" from Norway is very very rare. If you feel compelled to check for one anyway - check with a genealogical and/or historical society for the area. Also check database listings of the Digitalarkivet.
The death records found in most parish records are usually very good - why need 'cemetery list"? |
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eibache
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
6495 Posts |
Posted - 19/08/2007 : 14:15:03
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Do you have the persons names, farms where they lived and parish they belonged to it is simple to find available death records.
May we help? |
Einar |
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Kċarto
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
5861 Posts |
Posted - 19/08/2007 : 20:30:49
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Memory stones has been used in Norway before the Christianity, but it was first in the Middelage cemeterys was build in connection to the churches, made for the nobilities.
You er right about the cemeterys in Norway where short of space, many still have that problem today, but since only rich people had money to buy a headstone with incriptions made of stone or cast iron, ordinary people could only afford a cross or stick made of wood which didn´t last long.
Have a plesent trip with Hurtigruta, if you are going to visit Lofoten you will likely enter the narrow Trollfjorden where you almost can "touch" the land on both sides of the ship.
Kċre |
Edited by - Kċarto on 19/08/2007 20:33:46 |
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Borge
Veteran Moderator
Norway
1297 Posts |
Posted - 20/08/2007 : 00:20:46
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The graveyards in Norway are owned by the local "kommune" municipality, and administrated by the parish office by "kirkevergen". When someone dies the family must rent the grave place, it is common to pay for 20 years in advantage, and it is not very expensive in most places. At some stage, when the graves are not paid for any longer, and no one is taking care of the grave, it is usual for the church office to try track down living relatives to find out if anyone wants to keep the rental going. If they can not find anyone who wants to take responsibility for the grave place, the stone will be removed, and after some years it will be reused.
In many places the local church officials will have maps and records of where people are (or were) buried. However, the records and maps might not go way back in time in all places. You can make inquiries to the "Kirkeverge", or clerk at the parish office. To get in touch it is often a good idea to find the kommune web site, there you might find the contact information you need, or ask for guidance.
You will be passing my home early in the morning on you way in the fjord to Trondheim, I hope you will have a nice voyage. Unfortunately the weather is of the rather gray and misty type here right now.  |
Bĝrge Solem |
Edited by - Borge on 20/08/2007 00:22:33 |
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Lislcat
Advanced member
USA
690 Posts |
Posted - 20/08/2007 : 02:34:31
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Tom,
I found the location of my great great grandfather's grave by using this site. http://www.disnorge.no/gravminner/vis.php?mode=x
Maybe it will help you.
Good luck! I'm interested to hear about your trip, since I will be traveling there next summer. Have fun!
Take care, Wanda |
Lislcat |
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TFOlsen
Junior member
USA
32 Posts |
Posted - 20/08/2007 : 20:33:25
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Message Preview
Thanks to all for responding. Your feedback also confirms what I learned talking with local historians in Alesund. In sum, the combination of limited graveyard space and the inability of poor farm families to afford expensive grave markers of stone or iron together account for the result we observed.
Coming from North America, we are accustomed (in most places) to grave plots being "permanent" and markers being left in perpetuity. In practice, of course, very old grave markers erode and deteriorate (especially limestone in areas afflicted by "acid rain") or are damaged or vandalized. So really old American cemeteries, and especially ones that are poorly maintained, can go to ruin.
As to the very good question of just using church records, I would like to make two comments. I am pleased and impressed with the scanned and digitized Norwegian church registers available online. I have used them and find them invaluable. But, unfortunately, some of them are so faded as to be illegible.
And, second, grave markers can also provide clues to other relationships. For example, spouses, children or parents are sometimes referenced on grave markers (including markers I observed in Norddal and Valldal).
And missing dates can be found -- although, in my experience, dates of birth on tombstones can often be in error, since such details are often provided by surviving relatives who just do not know the correct dates. For obvious reasons, dates of death are usually very close.
Thanks again for the excellent advice.
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Tom Olsen
2024 Falcon Court
Bellingham, WA 98229 |
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Lislcat
Advanced member
USA
690 Posts |
Posted - 20/08/2007 : 21:23:26
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Tom,
The one thing I found when using the site I listed above, is that my great great grandfather is not buried in his parish cemetery and that was not listed in the parish records of his death. I would of mistakenly gone and tried to find his grave at the parish cemetery and just thought that I couldn't find it. In reality, ...
Good luck, Wanda |
Lislcat |
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Tombstones
