PARISH RECORDS FOR ØYER AND TRETTEN

The parish books (records) for Øyer and Tretten from 1671 to 1893 have been transcribed and published by Øyer and Tretten historic society in altogether 8 volumes (the first and second book are in volume I). Most of the volumes are still available for sale in local shops. Lately parts of the records have been digitized and is available in a searchable way on the web pages of the Oppland county archives. The intention is to make all the records available in this database in due course. The original records are in the State Archive at Hamar. Copies of these on paper and microfiche are available in the reading room of the archive. It is possible to order the records on microfiche from the National Archive.

Book 1: 1671-1733

The parish records for Øyer dates back to 1671, the first record is dated May 6. this year and concerns the engagement between "Halfvor Høffre and Martha Høffre". In the first book engagements and marriages are recorded separately.

From 1672 baptisms and burials are registered as well, the first baptism is dated January 21. and concerns "Erich Rindals child Frants". The first burial is for "Amund Mougs child salig Birgitte". Who was buried on February 25.

Until the beginning of the 1680's the church records seems to limit themselves to activities taking place in the Øyer part of the parish. It also looks as though the vicar took his newly imposed duties as record keeper fairly lightly, for a number of years there are no records for several months at an end. Of course this might reflect reality, but rather that the vicar had other things to do during these periods.

In connection with baptisms only the name of the father of the child is recorded. The exception is if the child is born out of wedlock, when both parents are mentioned and the child recorded as illegal.

The vicar at this time, Fridrich Monrath, must have regarded the records as fairly private, at least his descriptions of the deceased are quite personal. This example is from the burial list in 1692:

"March 28. S(alig) Erich Gudmundsøn Moshuus buried, died on March 24, after having laid senseless for a couple of days. God be praised for letting him die, as he was a inconsiderate and evil man, his behavior against his vicar in lies and deceptions never found. 29 years old."

The same Erich Gudmundsøn was earlier described in the records as a "hoffvid skalch" (not possible to translate, but it's not very nice). This description was used after Erich had knifed his brother in the tigh, resulting in the death of the brother.

To be fair to Fridrich Monrath, he was quite good at praising the members of his congregation as well. Halfvor Høffre (who is identical to the first person mentioned in the records, see above) was recorded as a "loyal and honest friend" when he died in 1683, while Kari Bøe, who died the same year, goes down as a "lovely and wise woman".

After Fridrich Monrath (he was succeeded by his son Christian Wolfgang Monrath in 1698) the parish records become more "official" and the practice of describing persons on an individual base disappears. The exception is when Christian W. Monrath described his own engagement and the birth (and sometimes) deaths of his children.

The records in the parish book gradually became more regular, but the first book shows a number of gaps. From 1716-1733 several years are completely unaccounted for and the rest have serious short-comings.

Book 2: 1733-1784

The second book starts the same way the first ended, until 1740 most years lack and the few records that exist are highly incomplete.

From 1740 the records became more organized, and it looks as though most events have been recorded. Engagements and marriages are recorded together, and the persons vouching for the wedding (one person for the bride, one for the groom) are listed almost without exception.

Until and including 1761 only the fathers name is recorded when a child is christened, but the records contain the names of all the sponsors. From 1762 the mothers name is included, this happens at the time as Christian Hanssen Schmidt takes over from Andreas Wielsgaard as vicar in Øyer. From 1780 the date of birth is included in the christening records, until then only the date of christening was recorded. Burials in this book is partly listed with the age of the deceased given i years, months, weeks and even days. Checks against persons with known birth dates show that the vicar weren't always on target with their calculations.

The second church book also contains information about those who were "publico absolveret" each year, but these records are not include in the printed edition. Absolution in public was a punishment where the accused had to confess their sins in front of the congregation, it was mainly used in connection with so-called "leiermål", i.e. sexual relations out of marriage that resulted in a child. Compared to other parishes the vicars in Øyer never seemed to be very concerned with the length of pregnancies, there are no records of couples having to confess because their first child was born a little too soon after their marriage.

Book 3: 1784-1824

The third churchbook mostly contains the same type of records as the second. In the the transition to the next book a few records (4-5 marriages) are illegible.

Book 4: 1824-1841

The fourth church book contains several new types of information compared to the earlier books. A listing of children who have been inoculated against small pox is available from 1824. Confirmations are recorded from 1825, giving the name of parents and the date for inoculation (against small pox, see above), gradually also place of birth. From 1830 the church records also contains lists of persons who have moved to or from the parish, with information about where they came from or left to. The burial lists hereafter contain the date of death and eventually also the cause of death, at least when age wasn't a cause. The marriage lists also become more detailed, in addition to the dates on which the marriage was announced from the pulpit, the records now contains information about whether the bride and groom have had or been inoculated against small pox, and if a probate record exists (in case of an earlier marriage) and the date of such a record.

Book 5: 1842-1857

The fifth book is mostly a continuation of the fourth. Records regarding confirmation and marriages are somewhat more detailed, since the place of birth and the full name of the father of the bride and groom are recorded systematically.

Book 6: 1858-1874

The sixth parish book also mainly contains the same type of information as its two predecessors. From 1865/1866 the emigration to the US soars (after the end of the civil war) and checks made against the emigration protocols and ship lists shows that the church no longer was able to keep the records of those leaving the parish up to date. After 1870 these list must be viewed as incomplete.

Bok 7: 1875-1877

From the 1877 the records of children receiving inoculation are terminated. The records of children being christened now contains the marriage date of the parents. The printed book also contains a list of men who have received a permit to buy poison between 1877 and 1881. The poison in question is strychnine, and all permits given lists lure for foxes as intended use.

Book 8: 1878-1893 (Øyer) and Book 9: 1878-1893 (Tretten)

From 1878 the records for Øyer and Tretten are kept in separate books, and the published books reflects this.

The records are more or less the same as in the previous book, but information pertaining to burials are somewhat more detailed. Date of birth and cause of death is recorded almost without exception, in addition is it noted whether a medical doctor was present, and the date for the probate.

Parish records after 1893:

The original records are stored by the State Archive in Hamar. The records are protected against public viewing for 90 years. This means that it possible make public information up until about 1915 without a special reason, but there are no plans at the moment to transcribe and publish these records.