Several men in the line I am researching (Johannessesen-Pedersen-Bjornsen in the Dovre area) were listed as sheriffs in local records. Can anyone tell me what it meant to be a sheriff back then? What geographcial area did they serve? How were they selected? What were their duties?
The traditional lensmann (sheriff) goes back to 1270 and was elected by free farmers.
When autocrasy /dictatorship was introduced during the time Norway was in union with Denmark the Bailiff office was introdused and the "rural district" Lensmann was now employed by the county governour, but still he was recommend by the population in the parish he performed his profession. Next to his everyday duties he was also the outhorities supervisor.
He was a policeman keeping law and order in his district, performing traditional police-work. The sheriff in USA, was´n´ he a district policeman? I think our Lensmann was like your Sheriff?
That is very helpful. Yes, our sheriff's typically serve a county inthe US. I did not know if a Norwegian sheriff was perhaps similar to our game wardens who enforce hunting laws.
Sheriffs in rural Norway 1600-1800
Posted - 09/10/2007 : 00:00:15
