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Early Norwegian ancestors

Here is a map of southwestern Norway that shows the locations where the earliest Finnestad family resided throughout the ages:



Click on the map to enlarge it.

As I mentioned the previous post, the earliest known ancestor (Torgeir, last name unknown) was born around 1390. While I have been unable to confirm where he lived, his grandson was born around 1434 and died in Vikedal.

It's probably likely that Torgeir (Gen #1), his son Ingemund Torgeirsen (Gen #2), grandson Torgeir Ingemundsen (Gen #3), and great grandson Torkell Torgeirsen (Gen #4) also lived in the same area, Vikedal.

Vikedal is depicted as point "A" on the above map.

In 1521, Torgeir Ingemundsen's son Torkell Torgeirsen was born in Vikedal but died in Sauda.

Sauda is depicted as point "B" on the above map.

Vikedal to Sauda is 50 kilometers. (31 miles).


It wasn't until the 13th generation when my great great great grandparents, Ole and Mari Olson moved to Fister, Norway.

Fister is depicted as point "C" on the above map.

Sauda to Fister is 87 kilometers (54 miles).

Then, in 1862, Ole and family moved to the farm known as Finnestad, just north of Stavanger.

Stavanger is depicted as point "D" on the above map.

Fister to Stavanger is 56 kilometers (35 miles).


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Kenneth and Lillian Finnestad obituaries

I have had previously posted the obituary for my great great grandfather Ole Finnestad several posts back. I have not yet been able to locate an obituary for my great grandparents Oliver and Mary Finnestad, though here are the obituaries for my grandparents, Kenneth and Lillian Finnestad.

Ole Finnestad Jr obituary

Here is the obituary for my great, great grandfather, Ole Finnestad Jr from the Dixon Evening Telegraph of July 9, 1928. Note the misspelling of his first and last name, though Finnestad was spelled correctly within the content of the article. You will also note that his brother Rasmus had moved from Canada to Washington by the time of his brother's death. Oddly, there is no mention of the sisters that survived him, leading me to believe they may have lost touch by the time of his death.

Finnestad Farm - Stavanger, Norway

It was customary in Norway to take the farm name as the family name. Prior to arriving in America, Ole Finnestad was known as Ole Olson. According to the Regional State Archives of Stavanger, in 1862, Ole Olsen bought a farm from Bjørn Larsen. The following link provides some farm information along with the family members in 1865: http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&sidenr=59&filnamn=f61126&gardpostnr=582&sokefelt=vis “Merknad 387b” now means property nr. 16 of the farm Finnestad. (Please keep in mind that accuracy of records is less than perfect - so ages and other information are not always correct) For more information on Stavanger and a map of the area, please go to the following wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stavanger