Norway Periodicals

Example of an article found in a periodical
Who is Bernt Conders?

Information found in the periodical “ Bøgda Vår” page 29, 2001.

Bernt Conders was a traveling salesman (Kramkaren) who eventually became an innkeeper and sheriff in Oppdal, Norway. Bernt came to Oppdal in the fall of 1692 and stayed with the innkeeper Rasmus at Skjørstad [farm] in Oppdal. Skjørstad [farm] served as an inn for travelers in the late 1600s. To support himself he visited the farms in the surrounding communities bringing goods which he sold. He was able to make a good living doing this. Bernt Conders is said to be of Dutch origin. He was actually a resident Trondheim city, possibly the son of Captain Albright Conders of the 2nd Trondhjemske Infanteriregiment. Albert Conders died in 1686 and during his time he actually participated in the war with Sweden in the 1650-1660s.

Bernt Conders traveled to the communities in the counties of Sør-Trøndelag and Møre og Romsdal to sell his goods. However, such business was prohibited by law at this time and after a while of selling his goods in the Oppdal area, the sheriff heard about it. Soon the community bailiff was notified and he ordered the sheriff to go to Skjørstad and confiscate all of the goods that belonged to Bernt Conders and to serve him with a subpoena to show up in court. This case was brought before the judge at the fall court at Ranum, where Bernt Conders met the sheriff who produced all the goods he had confiscated earlier.

Bernt Conders must have had a large collection of goods. His property that he had left that was brought to court was: 30 alen (1 alen is about 63 centimeters) which is about 90 feet of blue and white yarn, material used to make sheets, 28 alen red, white of same kind (about 84 feet), and another 20 alen (about 60 feet) of the same kind also red and white, 1 ½ alen (about 42 feet) dark striped leather, 24 alen (about 72 feet) cotton material, and 19 alen (about 57 feet) white of a more refined type, a wooden basin shaped like a barrel, and 3-4 jugs (7-8) liter of liquor, as well as 4 rolls of tobacco.

Conders claimed that he had paid customs on all his goods, but was not able to produce a receipt at that time, but claimed he could get one from the customs office in Trondheim. The Judge did not want Conders to go free even if he could produce a receipt proving that he had paid customs on his goods. He wanted to sentence Conders according to the law. The judge also felt that the innkeeper at Skjørstad (farm) should pay a fine for giving Conders a place to stay and allowing him to store his goods at Skjørstad. Then the judge (on a more mellow note) stated that since this was a first offence for Conders he would let him go, but if he should sell goods to the farmers without permission again he would be judged to the full extent of the law. The court would keep all his goods that they confiscated and give them to the king. It was also suggested that the innkeeper where Conders stayed should lose the right to the Skjørstad farm since he had observed what Conders was doing and had stored his goods anyway. This should be done as a warning to others in the area. After some debate he (the innkeeper at Skjørstad) was able to avoid punishment and keep his farm Skjørstad as well.

Bernt Conders becomes an innkeeper and owner of a farm in Oppdal. In 1697 Conders is back in Oppdal and this time as an innkeeper. He had been commissioned by “the high leaders” presumably in Trondheim, to obtain a farm and make it into an inn so that travelers could have a place to stay. It just so happened that the farm Bjerke in Oppdal was for sale. Conders met at the court and brought a letter from the county official (stiftsamtsmann), Mr. Kaas that he wanted Conders to purchase a farm to use as an inn. Bernt Conders, who met some opposition at first, was finally able to obtain a lease on the farm Bjerke in 1698. He had to pay retirement to a previous resident “Marit Toresdatter” for as long as she lived.

Trouble with his neighbors. Conders lived at Bjerke from 1698 but he did not know much about farming and therefore had to get hired help to farm the land. He hired Elias, a son of Lucia of Gorset (farm) and a stepson of Ole Simensen. This caused problems for Conders later as Ole Simensen was a troublemaker. There were several court cases between Ole Simonsen and Conders which are great for us as genealogists, as the court records begin before the parish records starts in Oppdal. The court records list the names and farm address for each participant and official involved as well as the name of Bernt Conders’ wife.

Bernt Conders the Sheriff. Ole Rise had been the sheriff in Oppdal from around 1680. The last time he is mentioned in the court records is at the fall court of 1702. Already from New Year 1703 it is reported that Bernt Conders is appointed to be the next sheriff. Why he was appointed is not listed. Usually only the best farmers in the community would be appointed the next sheriff. Bernt Conders was appointed sheriff by a county official by the name von Ahnen. Now it was up to Conders to uphold the law, and even though he was the sheriff, he was subject to the law as well.

Disputes and trouble The farm Grøttingen was a mensalgods (land belonging to the church), belonged to Orkdal church. The owner of the Bjerke farm was responsible to see to it that there was a leaseholder at Grøttingen. The land that belonged to Grøttingen farm bordered the land belonging to Rasmus and Kirsti Bjerke as well as the two Bjørndal farms and on the other side was Bernt Conders’s farm. In 1697 when at first Conders was unable to obtain the farm of Bjerke, it was stated by the Judge Mathias Skaanlund in behalf of pastor Meyer that Conders could have the farm Grøttingen. He declined as there was only farm land and not any buildings where people could live. The minister at Orkdal then gave a letter of lease to the men at Bjørndal (farm). But when Conders moved to Bjerke he demanded that he wanted Grøttingen as well. This caused a feud that lasted for some years and Conders was no longer popular with several of the farmers in the area. The court records give detailed information including names of several of the farmers in the area.

Allodial rights at Bjerke Already by the winter court in February 1705, did Tore Knutsen Bjerke go to court and demand that he wanted the farm Bjerke back. He was born there and it was his allodial right to take it back. The land records were searched and indeed it was his birthright according to the law. Conders wanted to let him purchase half the land, but Tore did not want to hear of it as he said the farm was not to be divided. It ended that the judge ordered Conders to give the farm back to Tore Knutsen for 50 Riksdaler (dollars). Conders produced documents that he had spent 271 riksdaler (dollars) in upkeep and repair of the farm and wanted his money back, but the court would only pay him back 12 riksdaler (dollars) in compensation. In the meantime Marit Toresdatter who was to receive retirement form Conders came to court and claimed that Conders did not live up to his obligation of her support. Conders denied her claim, stating that he had supported her according to the retirement agreement, but now the neighbors testified on her behalf. The judge tried to mediate between them, but by now Conders was so angry that he would not hear of any mediation. The judge called for a recess in the court for a later time.

The sheriff gets in a fight with the bailiff. At the summer court of 24 July 1706 the court continues. Conders lost his temper and ended up saying things he should not have said to the bailiff (judge). A new court date for the fall court was set and Conders had to meet and apologize for the words he had called the judge. Bernt Conders gives up his office as the sheriff and gives up the farm Bjerke. The last time Conders is listed as a sheriff is in the court records of 1706 at which time a new sheriff was appointed. Conders only served for about 4 years. It states that Tore Knutsen Bjerke purchased the farm, Bjerke, April 5th 1707 from Bernt Albrigthsen Conders Bernt Conders married Maren Reinhodsdatter Surland a few years prior to moving to Oppdal. She was the daughter of Reinholdt Surdal, a merchant in Nordland. They had the following children: Jochum born in 1696, and around 1698 the twins Albert and Reinholdt. The family moved to Tingvoll as soon as the farm Bjerke was sold. Here, among others they had a daughter they named Kirsten. The son Jochum later moved to Gjøen on the Island of Smøla, and Reinholt was an innkeeper at Becken in Tingvoll. Albert died at Edøy, Møre og Romsdal, Norway August 1st 1785. He is listed being born in Tingvoll.

Even though it was a difficult time for Bernt Conders and his family, these court cases give information about him and his family that would not otherwise be available. These court records are available before the parish records of Oppdal were kept. If it was not for the information in the court records the information about these early ancestors would never have been found.