Gjerstad Parish, Aust-Agder, Norway Genealogy

Norway &gt; Aust-Agder County &gt; Gjerstad

Church Records
Microfilm at the for Gjerstad prestegjeld (clerical district). Contains priest and sexton records for the parishes Gjerstad and Vegårshei. Included Sønneløv (Søndeled) and Risør parishes until 1745. Vegårshei was annexed to Holt clerical district in 1812 but in 1828 was returned to Gjerstad clerical district. Parish registers for the years 1695-1924.

Digitized parish registers available online at Digitalarkivet [Digital Archives]

Gjerstad: 1695-1893, 1903-1914

Gjerstad/Gjerstad: 1816-1925

Gjerstad/Vegårshei: 1783, 1879-1910

Census Records

 * 1664-1666: Sogneprestenes manntall 1664-1666.  The census records for Gjerstad prestegjeld (clerical district) is available on microfilm at the Family History Library, and include the parishes of Vestre Moland, Risør, Søndeled, Austre Moland, and Gjerstad.  This census was taken by the local parish priests. It lists the name of the farms, names of farm owners (including widows), the sons of the farm owners, male farm hands, cottagers and their sons, and the ages of each person. There was another census taken by the civil authorities at this same time. Both censuses should be searched as they supplement each other. This clerical census is more complete.


 * 1664-1666: Fogdernes og sorenskrivernes manntall 1664-1666.  The census records for Gjerstad prestegjeld (clerical district) is available on microfilm at the Family History Library, and include the parishes of Søndeled, Gjerstad, Vegårshei, and Risør.  This census was taken by the local civil authorities. It lists the names of the farms, farmowners (including widows), sons of farm owners, male farm hands, cottagers and sons of cottagers and the age of each person. The clerical authorities took a census during this same time period. Both censuses should be used as they supplement each other. The clerical census is more complete.


 * 1701: Manntall 1701 optatt av fogderi, sorenskrivere og sogneprester ifølge kongebrev av 26 Juli 1701.  The census records for Gjerstad prestegjeld (clerical district) is available on microfilm at the Family History Library, and include the parishes of Gjerstad, Søndeled, and Risør.  The census of 1701 was taken for military purposes. It lists only the males living in rural districts who were over the age of one year. It includes the farm name, name and age of the owner, names and ages of sons and servants. Also includes the residence of all unmarried males living away from home when the census was taken.


 * 1801: Folketelling 1 Feb 1801, Norge.  The 1801 census for Gjerstad prestegjeld (clerical district) is available on microfilm at the Family History Library. The 1801 census (b. 32) for Gjerstad clerical district includes Gjerstad and Vegårshei parishes. It lists the farm name, person's name, position in the household, age, marital status, and occupation.  A typewritten edition with indexes is available on microfiche. It is called "Mikrokortutgåva av 1801-teljina".  It is also available in a searchable database online at Digitalarkivet (Digital Archives).


 * 1835: Folketelling 1835 Gjerstad prestegjeld (Aust-Agder).  The 1835 census for Gjerstad prestegjeld (clerical district) is available on microfilm at the Family History Library.  The 1835 census of Gjerstad clerical district in Aust-Agder county which includes these parishes: Gjerstad and Vegårshei. It lists the farm name, persons name, age, position in the family and occupation. It also lists statistics.

Probate Records
1688-1852 Probate records are kept in Østre Råbyggelag judicial district.

1825-1857 Probate records are kept in Holt (Austre Nedenes) judicial district.